Tom Cruise in "Lions For Lambs"
courtesy of United Artists
“Cruisin’ For A Bruisin’”

Tom Cruise’s career has not been going so good as of late. He has been taking a licking and the question is how long he will keep on ticking. His latest movie on DVD is certainly not one of his best. Meryl Streep, Robert Redford and Cruise star in the new film "Lions For Lambs." From beginning to end the movie is basically a non-stop talkfest; and the talk is all political. Streep's character gives the argument of the left while Cruise's character pontificates for the right. Redford's character just urges us all to do the right thing. Blah, blah, blah and on and on it goes.

Redford, who also directed the film, plays college professor Stephen Malley. He meets with one of his students, a bright young man named Todd (Andrew Garfield). Malley is upset that Todd doesn't seem to be applying himself. During their talk he mentions two other students that he taught who were bright like Todd. They were named Arian and Ernest (Derek Luke and Michael Pena).

Arian and Ernest ended up going into the military after graduation. They wanted to be part of the history of their country. Now they are in Afghanistan and trapped behind enemy lines. You see this in scenes that are intercut with those between Malley and Todd.

Meanwhile TV reporter Janine Roth (Streep) is summoned to the office of Senator Jasper Irving (Cruise). He wants to give her an exclusive story about a new war initiative in Afghanistan. In keeping everything in the movie related, this is the initiative in which Arian and Ernest are involved.

During their discussion Janine and Irving argue the war in Iraq and other US efforts for the past six years. Irving is a gung-ho Republican and a smooth politician while Janine is older and more anti war. 

After all the talk in this movie the theme appears to be "everyone should be more involved and do more." I may have missed the message by a mile but that is what came across to me. I have to admit it was so preachy and teachy that I did tune it all out from time to time.

The acting in the movie is solid with Streep once again being the best of the best. This woman is amazing. Plus she actually seems to alter her physical appearance in some magical way and becomes a new character with a new look in every film.

There are probably some good thoughts and messages in this movie but they never come across clearly. They are lost in the babble of voices that drone on and on. Message movies also need to entertain and this one does not. It has good acting but that alone isn't enough to hold an audience.

"Lions For Lambs" may have been a movie the three leads wanted to make because of the subject matter, but it is not going to enhance their reputations as entertainers. Tom Cruise needs a hit and this is definitely not going to be the one he needs.

Then there is “There Will Be Blood,” a film, now available on DVD, that won star Daniel Day-Lewis an Oscar but isn’t entertaining in any way, shape or form. The film’s creator/director Paul Thomas Anderson is one of the most gifted and imaginative in the business today. 

Anderson’s "Magnolia" was a work of pure genius and "Punch Drunk Love" was staggeringly unique. In fairness I do have to say that though those two movies appealed to me, millions were left cold by them. Now he has created "There Will Be Blood" and though it is a film of incredible acting demonstrations and beautiful cinematography, the film itself left me on the outside looking in. I was at times bewitched by his craftsmanship, but mostly bothered by his execution that resulted in my overall impression being one of boredom.

The film tells the story of Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis) a prospector for silver who inadvertently discovers oil. This happens in the first fifteen minutes of the film, and the rest of the two hour and thirty-eight minute running time explores his obsessive greed and his pathetic relationships.

His main nemesis in the movie is a religious fundamentalist named Eli Sunday (Paul Dano). Oil is discovered on Sunday's family land and Plainview negotiates rights to it. Sunday is constantly trying to get Daniel to do more for his church and Daniel resists. This antagonism between the two men culminates in a battle royal at the end of the film.

Getting to that climactic sequence is like getting on board a slow boat to China. It takes forever, and it is tedious and boring most of the journey. There is no romance in Plainview's life, and basically no relationships based on anything other than greed.

Day-Lewis is excellent in the main role. He gets inside Daniel Plainview's skin and makes you believe he has become the man. It is not his fault the man himself is not that interesting. He does everything he can to make him more appealing in his intensity.

Dano's character is quirkier and therefore a bit more interesting than Plainview, still he is basically one dimensional in his religious fervor. The best scenes are when the two men are pitted against each other for something the other wants or demands.

Dillon Freasier provides interest in his character of H. W. Plainview, son of Daniel. Freasier does this mostly with his bemused looks, but with very little dialogue. He manages to hold his on when on screen with Day-Lewis and that takes talent.

"There Will Be Blood" is a film that has garnered critical acclaim only did moderate business at the box office. It's sluggish pace and non-involving story line will turn most viewers off. Only the true student of film will find redemption for the movie in its acting and complex storyline. And they too might finally admit it is just too much ado about nothing.

Many of us remember “Party of Five” as being one of our favorite TV series of a few years back. This family drama starred Matthew Fox pre “Lost” and Jennifer Love Hewitt pre “Ghost Whisperer.” Neve Campbell, Scott Wolf and Lacey Chabert were also featured.

In keeping with the trend to present complete seasons of popular shows we now have “Party of Five: The Complete Third Season” on DVD. This means we can watch all twenty-five episodes and see the full range of problems facing the Salinger family.

This was the season that Bailey (Wolf) faced his drinking problems. It was also the year that Carroll O’Connor guest starred as the grandfather. So there is a lot in this DVD collection to watch and enjoy along with some bonus features.

Another family affair is “The Good Night.” It is a family affair because Gwyneth Paltrow stars in the film and her brother Jake directed it. Martin Freeman, Penelope Cruz and Danny DeVito are also in the cast.

The film concerns a man (Freeman) who is not having the best luck with his girlfriend (Paltrow). He has a better relationship with a girl (Cruz) in his dreams. So how can this guy sleep more and enjoy it more.

This film gives the term “sleep deprivation” an entirely new meaning, and “dreamgirl” a new glow. It sounds silly but a solid cast makes the most of it. It isn’t a “dream” flick but an enjoyable one.

Finally we have “Wristcutters: A Love Story.” This is a strange movie about love and suicide or vice versa. It stars Patrick Fugit and Shannyn Sossamon as two people who have killed themselves and end up in a kind of purgatory for suiciders. It is like life with all the angst and confusion.

This was a movie that aimed to be different and entertaining but missed it by a mile. Fugit and Sossamon are good but the movie is deadly. Not for me, thank you very much.
 

 

 

 

 

©2008 Jackie K. Cooper

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