Capsule Film Reviews

So, I was recently made aware of the lack of recent movie reviewing. Yeah, I know I was caught up in stuff and alot of "Dreamgirls" drooling, so to placate youse guys, here's a couple capsule reviews of recent films I saw and am willing to recommend:

Marie Antoinette

In my opinion, this is probably the most beautifully designed film of the last two decades. The costume and set design alone are worthy of a viewing. While Sofia Coppola's previous films have been somewhat hit-or-miss with me (hated "Lost In Translation," liked "Virgin Suicides"), this one hit all the right notes and establishes her as a visionary filmmaker, much like her father. Based on a recent, more sympathetic, biography, this movie fuses history with 80s music, not unlike Baz Luhrmann's "Moulin Rouge."

Virtually dialogue-free, Kirsten Dunst embodies the role of the young Austrian queen who was thrust upon Louis XVII as a teenager and her emotional struggle to become the historical figure she was destined to be. Because of its design and superficiality, the movie feels sterile but I think it replicates the lifestyle of separation of class the the French Royals experienced in the last days before the Revolution. This is definitely a big-screen kinda movie. Grade: B⁺

Running With Scissors

As with "Dreamgirls," it's no secret that I loveAugusten Burroughs, so I was naturally anticipating "Nip/Tuck's" Ryan Murphy's adaptation of his first memoir, Running With Scissors. I had been following its development, casting and release with great interest. The interviews with Ryan Murphy and Augusten Burroughs showed great admiration and respect between each man and their work and Augusten's enthusiasm for the movie when he spoke here in DC about the accuracy of bringing his experiences to film only increased the hype to me.


Well, there's something to be said for being too reverent and respectful of a literary work (and what is up with the freaky poster image?). Ryan Murphy does succeed at displaying life in the early/late 70s, down to the print wallpaper and fashions, but in being so attached to the book, he drains some of the life out of Augusten's expereinces in my opinion. That's not to say that the acting the anemic. I thought that each performer, with the exception of a couple, gave their all and were very convincing in their roles. The buzzed-about Annette Benning was at turns hilariously over-the-top and heart-breakingly vulnerable and she truly deserves an Oscar nod for her work here. The actress who really shocked me with her subtlety was Jill Clayburgh's performance as Agnes, the wife of the psychiatrist & Augusten's guardian. In just a few facial expressions and a non-sequiter line, she conveys wisdom and heartbreak and becomes the mother that young Augusten needs.

Joseph Cross is fine as Augusten as is Joeseph Feinnes as Augusten's child molester boyfriend, but the roles of Hope and Natalie (Gwyneth Paltrow and Evan Rachel Wood, respectively) are woefully underwritten, especially with the pivotal nature of Natalie in Augusten's life in his memoir. I think being too respectful, while gaining some authenticity, drains the life out of this movie and, dare I say it, the heart, too. If you're still interested, see it for the performances. Grade: C⁺