Abigail Breslin and Alec Baldwin in "My Sister's Keeper"
courtesy of Warner Home Entertainment
“Spare Parts”

Now that “My Sister’s Keeper” is out on DVD, you should remember this truism - don’t read the book before you see the movie! In most instances the book is going to be better and the movie is going to disappoint. That is certainly true in this case because the novel MY SISTER’S KEEPER by Jodi Picoult was head and shoulders above this pathetic attempt to cash in on that story.

The movie seems to be a wallow in misery. Brian and Sara Fitzgerald (Jason Patric and Cameron Diaz) have three children. The oldest is Brian (Evan Ellingson), who is dyslexic; next is Kate (Sofia Vassilieava) who has leukemia; third is Anna (Abigail Breslin) who is the donor child created to give parts and fluids to her ailing sister.

One day Anna appears at the office of Campbell Alexander (Alec Baldwin) and says she wants to sue her parents to be medically emancipated. She doesn’t want to give a kidney to her sister yet her parents say she must. Campbell takes the case which pits him against Sara who acts as her own attorney.

The court case should be the central focus of the film but it isn’t. Kate’s illness is. You get back and forth through time in order to see how she and the family have suffered. This leads to confusion about what is happening when. In one scene Sara shaves her head bald and in the next she has a head full of hair again.

There are also musical montages that are supposed to create misty-eyed moments, but they don’t. The basic premise of the movie is sad enough without any artificial prods to get more tears from you.

Diaz is amazingly unlikable in her role as the mother. This is one of the most likeable actresses in Hollywood but no warmth shines through here. Patric is totally wasted as Brian. This father is an absentee parent for the most part and is background material even when he is there.

Vassilieava is convincing in her role as the dying girl and Ellingson gives good support. Breslin, well you never buy who she is or what she is trying to do. Baldwin is sincere in his role and Joan Cusack has a few good moments as the judge hearing the case.

Nick Cassavetes directed the movie with no concept of depth or emotion. The characters are shallow; the situations are contrived; and the ending is a rip off. Why didn’t he stick with Picoult’s ending?

Jodi Picoult’s novel is full of heart and tragedy. The film version skims off the story and places it wafer thin on the screen. It is a movie that makes you feel manipulated, and that is not a good feeling. When you finish the DVD you owe it to yourself to read the book.

You never know when lightning is going to strike twice. Just when you thought the “Star Trek” franchise had squeezed every possible dollar out of its audience, and any new creation using these characters would be gone in sixty seconds; along comes JJ Abrams concept of “Star Trek” and suddenly everything old is new again – and worth watching. Yes, Abrams and company are geniuses for making this new film version feel fresh, fun and exciting. They prove once again that any “classic” story can be presented in a relevant and refreshing way if the talent behind the scenes is there.

The new film goes back to the future in the “Star Trek” story and gives an alternate universe type of tale to show the origins of Kirk, Spock and friends. It starts with a battle between a Romulan named Nero (Eric Bana) and the Starship Kelvin. This is the ship on which George Kirk (Chris Hemsworth) serves. His wife Winona (Jennifer Morrison) is also on board this ship and she is pregnant with their son Jim.

When Jim (Chris Pike) grows up he applies to serve in the Starfleet. He meets his future fellow officers of the Enterprise. They are “Bones” (Keith Urban), Uhura (Zoe Saldana), Spock (Zachary Quinto), Sulu (John Cho), and Chekov (Anton Yelchin). Later he meets up with Scotty (Simon Pegg). So it is Hail! Hail! the gangs all here.

The movie tips its hat to the old franchise with a cameo appearance by Leonard Nimoy and the inclusion of some well known phrases. But it goes down its own road due to the “alternate universe” theory which frees it up to travel its own path. This should satisfy the purists who would nit-pick any slight or omission to death.

Abrams keeps the movie on a fast pace and enhances his story with great special effects and a phenomenal musical score (hats off to Michael Giacchino). The acting is also solid with Pine showing true charisma as Kirk and Quinto being unbelievably perfect as Spock. He is so good it is eerie. Bruce Greenwood adds some gravitas to the proceedings as Captain Christopher Pike.

Before this film arrived there were many, many naysayers – myself included – who just didn’t think there was anything left to say about these characters. Having seen the movie and the DVD I have to say I was dead wrong. The film entranced me from beginning to end and I look forward to the next installment. Bring it on!!

Hopefully Pine, Quinto and all the rest of the wonderful cast have signed on for many more adventures, but most of all I hope Abrams has. Just like the Enterprise has to have a strong and intelligent captain, so does the “Star Trek” series need a strong director with a vision.

If you have not yet seen this DVD, set yourself for warp speed and get your copy now. Kirk and company are ready to entertain you royally for a couple of hours.

When you decide to watch a movie like “Bruno” you pretty know what you are getting, especially if you have already viewed “Borat,” its movie cousin. You know there will be embarrassing ambush scenes where unsuspecting individuals will be conned into exposing their fears, prejudices, etc on camera. There will also be graphic nudity, and fairly explicit sexual sequences. You know all this going in, but with “Bruno” you might not expect it to be boring. It is!

“Bruno” follows the adventures of Bruno (Sacha Baron Cohen), a flamboyantly gay Austrian who comes to America seeking fame. He does this in a variety of ways, none of them particularly interesting. Along the way he decides to interview former Presidential candidate Ron Paul. He decides if he can get involved in a scandal with Ron Paul then it will give him fame.

This is one of the most embarrassing moments in the movie. As Bruno begins his seduction attempt, Paul seems to be completely blindsided and flees. He also hurls an epithet as he is departing which will probably haunt any further campaigns he might make.

There is also an extended sequence where Bruno brandishes a black baby he says he has adopted. The baby is adorable, Bruno is not. Although it is assumed he is trying to make a point about celebrity “baby accessories” the joke falls flat. An add on involving parents of baby models is just depressing.

Some of the sequences seem real and others seem staged. By the time the movie ends and Elton John, Bono, Sting and others appear singing a Bruno anthem all tolerance for celebrities major and minor has disappeared. This is an indication the film is ending; and this should make you happy if you haven’t already cut it off earlier.

Censorship is basically dead and nowadays mostly anything goes, but it is still shocking that a major studio would be behind such a film as this. Is this entertainment? Hardly. It may be shocking and it may be gross but overall the main feeling generated by Bruno’s antics is boredom.

“Rome: The Complete Series” also has nudity, profanity and violence but it is all an integral part of a production which is done with talent and expertise. That is where the difference lies. This twenty-two episode series was one of the best things on television (HBO) in recent years.

It begins fifty years before the rise of Christianity and goes from there as we see the rise and fall of the rich and decadent. The historical figures such as Antony and Cleopatra as well as Caesar are all on the scene but they don’t take centerstage. The surrounding characters of politicians, businessmen, courtesans and slaves do.

Kevin McKidd (now of “Grey’s Anatomy”), Ciaran Hinds, Polly Walker and Ray Stevenson head the cast and they are each excellent. The supporting cast of lesser known players is also good as are the sets and music. This is a first class production and it is worth watching through all 22 episodes. You won’t want it to end.
 

 

 

 

 

©2009 Jackie K. Cooper

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