Bernard and Doris, The American, and the Fantastic Mr. Fox

The American .  I have to admit to you that I did something I NEVER do, which is read a review of a movie before I see it.  I don’t want to be influenced by some other person’s ideas so that the plot is a surprise and not a confirmation of what someone else thought.  This time, though, being a Clooney fan, I read the dang thing.  Now I have to use some of the reviewer’s words.

This is a very “European” movie.  Lots of pretty pictures, long stretches of little or very small action, conspiracies, some nekkidness, a little violence.  During the showing the power went out in the theater and I heard a woman behind us say, ”I didn’t know we were coming to a silent movie.”  Her friend said, “They certainly didn’t spend much on dialog.”

It’s a different kind of movie for Clooney and I think his very best acting, certainly the most demonstrative, is at the very end.  But it’s pretty to see, an unusual role for him and not completely unsatisfying.  I liked it, but you can’t expect to laugh or for him to be particularly charming, as per usual.  I mentioned the nekkidness?  Not him—sorry ladies.

Bernard and Doris is a really interesting character study starring Susan Sarandon as Dorothy Duke, the heiress (and crazy lady) and her last butler (She had a penchant for firing folks) Bernard Lafferty played by Ralph Fiennes.  They have a strange relationship to say the least and Fiennes is pretty creepy in his way.  Still, though, even with Dorothy’s cruelties and Lafferty’s need to be abused and his alcoholism—hell everyone is a drunk in this movie–  there is a love story and some particularly fine acting.  Not a lot of excitement, just a good, rather slowish movie.  Best Sarandan movie I’ve seen where she stays dressed.

Finally, I just needed to see The Fantastic Mr. Fox. I’m a fool for the new kinds of animation and while this was not exactly Avatar, it’s a real feel-good movie.  Silly, of course, chock full of recognizable voices.  Leads are George Clooney and Meryl Streep, but if you really listen, you’ll Bill Murray and tons of other interesting folks.  The animation is interesting and mostly very detailed and the plot is about being true to your nature- in this case, if you’re a wild animal, BE one.  I started the movie in a wallow of feeling sorry for myself and ended it smiling and feeling good.  Can’t tell you why, save for the happy ending (natch), but I just did.

Spanky, Movie Dude

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