Director Pedro Almodovar knows what women want. And ever since "Woman on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown," he's been giving it to us.
Penelope Cruz is back in his new flick after her boffo performance in "Volver" and she steals the show in this twisting, swirling love story mystery about raging jealousy, raging ambition and raging lust. (Oh, yes, he knows what men want, too.)
As usual with Almodovar, there's nothing tepid on the screen. Zoom, don't walk, to your nearest theater and while you're at it, do rent "High Heels," the Movie Sluts fave Almodovar flick.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
Pirate Radio: Fun, fun, fun 'til...
The 1960s: A great musical moment? Or, the greatest musical moment ever?
The movie slut chooses the latter with apologies to Mozart and Beethoven.
Has music ever been so insane, frenetic, fierce, liberating, energizing and life affirming?
Pirate Radio, a British flick with all the usual characters — (Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy, Nick Frost) where's Hugh Grant? — attempts to capture this time when rock was roaring and the British government banned it from the airwaves sending a ragtag team of rock-a-holics to the high seas to broadcast.
The movie succeeds when it moves on land to capture the madness of listeners caught up in the greatest musical moment — ever. In case you're interested, this soundtrack is on the Movie Slut's holiday wish list.
The movie slut chooses the latter with apologies to Mozart and Beethoven.
Has music ever been so insane, frenetic, fierce, liberating, energizing and life affirming?
Pirate Radio, a British flick with all the usual characters — (Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy, Nick Frost) where's Hugh Grant? — attempts to capture this time when rock was roaring and the British government banned it from the airwaves sending a ragtag team of rock-a-holics to the high seas to broadcast.
The movie succeeds when it moves on land to capture the madness of listeners caught up in the greatest musical moment — ever. In case you're interested, this soundtrack is on the Movie Slut's holiday wish list.
An Education: Not your father's Lolita
She's 16. He's 36 — give or take.
She's in high school. He's a man of a glam and shady world.
Sound familiar?
Fuggedaboudit!
This girl-meets-older-guy flick defies the stereotype. Set in London, circa 1962, Jenny (Carey Mulligan) is no victim of David's (Peter's Sarsgaard) advances.
It may not be PC, but there's truth on the screen and super actors.
She's in high school. He's a man of a glam and shady world.
Sound familiar?
Fuggedaboudit!
This girl-meets-older-guy flick defies the stereotype. Set in London, circa 1962, Jenny (Carey Mulligan) is no victim of David's (Peter's Sarsgaard) advances.
It may not be PC, but there's truth on the screen and super actors.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
A Serious Man: Seriously Side-splitting
The Coen brothers had the Movie Slut at "The Big Lebowski." Now, they have her falling off her seat laughing — again.
Meet Larry Gopnik, college prof, family man, observant Jew and all around nice guy. Too bad life has turned him into Mr. Job Kafka, victim of an absurd universe.
Larry's neighbor is a redneck, gun-toting goy. His wife has taken up with a smarmyesque Sen. Joe Leiberman clone. And his teen-age kids. Oy vey!
All he wants is an answer to the big question: WHAT IN THE NAME OF YAHWEH IS GOING ON?
Larry's odyssey for answers is the heart, soul and funny bone of this comedie noir.
Hint: Pay special attention to the wise words spoken by Rabbi No. 3.
Meet Larry Gopnik, college prof, family man, observant Jew and all around nice guy. Too bad life has turned him into Mr. Job Kafka, victim of an absurd universe.
Larry's neighbor is a redneck, gun-toting goy. His wife has taken up with a smarmyesque Sen. Joe Leiberman clone. And his teen-age kids. Oy vey!
All he wants is an answer to the big question: WHAT IN THE NAME OF YAHWEH IS GOING ON?
Larry's odyssey for answers is the heart, soul and funny bone of this comedie noir.
Hint: Pay special attention to the wise words spoken by Rabbi No. 3.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Capitalism: A Love Story: Greed ain't good
She laughed. She cried. She cursed like only a slut can do.
Michael Moore had the Movie Slut right where he wanted her: Sitting in a seat in her local multiplex bowled over (not a reference to "Bowling for Columbine") by his latest documentary.
Okay, so she knows he's a spinmeister. And he's been known to play loose and free with the facts. And sure, he's a Drama King, who'll stop at nothing to inject a punch of vitality to his flicks. Still, anyone who's been on this planet in the last year knows his central thesis is correct.
Capitalism caught a crummy bug and has spread it to the rest of us.
The Movie Slut was engrossed every second of this movie but still has a quibble with the title. As Moore himself points out, Capitalism was chugging along beautifully until the greedy 1980s rolled around. (Check out "Wall Street" with Michael Douglas if you need a reminder.)
So, isn't it greed that is to blame? Why can't we go back to the old Capitalism, which worked so well until a certain Movie Star president rode into office?
Moore doesn't explain this but he does a yeoman's job of convincing viewers that we can't let the forces of greed hijack our country. And he does it with heart, soul and the inimitable Moore sense of humor.
Michael Moore had the Movie Slut right where he wanted her: Sitting in a seat in her local multiplex bowled over (not a reference to "Bowling for Columbine") by his latest documentary.
Okay, so she knows he's a spinmeister. And he's been known to play loose and free with the facts. And sure, he's a Drama King, who'll stop at nothing to inject a punch of vitality to his flicks. Still, anyone who's been on this planet in the last year knows his central thesis is correct.
Capitalism caught a crummy bug and has spread it to the rest of us.
The Movie Slut was engrossed every second of this movie but still has a quibble with the title. As Moore himself points out, Capitalism was chugging along beautifully until the greedy 1980s rolled around. (Check out "Wall Street" with Michael Douglas if you need a reminder.)
So, isn't it greed that is to blame? Why can't we go back to the old Capitalism, which worked so well until a certain Movie Star president rode into office?
Moore doesn't explain this but he does a yeoman's job of convincing viewers that we can't let the forces of greed hijack our country. And he does it with heart, soul and the inimitable Moore sense of humor.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Coco Before Chanel: Oo la la!
So, the Movie Slut ran into a large editor-at-large, who shall remain nameless.
"There's nothing interesting about Coco before Chanel," he insisted. "She's only interesting after she became Chanel."
He has a point.
Still, the Movie Slut thoroughly enjoyed this orphanage-to-haute couture biopic, even if adorable Audry Tautou was miscast as the smile-averse Coco.
Who could resist bearing witness to the birth of the Little Black Dress? Who wouldn't kill to be there when our heroine notices the chic-potential of fishermen's shirts? And voila, jersey!
Will you adore this movie?
Only if you're a rabid fashionista. The Movie Slut hopes you are.
"There's nothing interesting about Coco before Chanel," he insisted. "She's only interesting after she became Chanel."
He has a point.
Still, the Movie Slut thoroughly enjoyed this orphanage-to-haute couture biopic, even if adorable Audry Tautou was miscast as the smile-averse Coco.
Who could resist bearing witness to the birth of the Little Black Dress? Who wouldn't kill to be there when our heroine notices the chic-potential of fishermen's shirts? And voila, jersey!
Will you adore this movie?
Only if you're a rabid fashionista. The Movie Slut hopes you are.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Bright Star: A thing of beauty
Bright Star, Australian director Jane Campion's latest gift to movie-goers, outshines anything The Movie Slut has seen at the multiplex for ...well, as long as she can remember.
You got your poetry. You got your music. Mozart! You got your period costumes. You got scenery. Lush and swoon-worthy.
As poet John Keats, the subject of this biopic, might say, It is a movie of sensations rather than thought, though those who wish to think about the fragility of life and the frustrations of love in a time of tuberculosis can ruminate to their brain's content.
Bright Star is a joy, if not forever, than at least for one hour and fifty-nine minutes.
You got your poetry. You got your music. Mozart! You got your period costumes. You got scenery. Lush and swoon-worthy.
As poet John Keats, the subject of this biopic, might say, It is a movie of sensations rather than thought, though those who wish to think about the fragility of life and the frustrations of love in a time of tuberculosis can ruminate to their brain's content.
Bright Star is a joy, if not forever, than at least for one hour and fifty-nine minutes.
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