Posts tagged reality
“Extraordinary Measures” Feel-Good Weepie
Jan 28th
Feel-Good Weepie
“Hotshots” looks at a movie!
EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES starts off by stating that it is “Inspired by true events,” and you wonder how that knowledge is supposed to make us feel about the movie.
Is that simply a label of truth in advertising, or have we become so bombarded by so-called “reality television” shows that filmmakers believe that audiences will be more respectful than if the source material were just pure fiction?
At any rate, Brandon Fraser plays John Crowley, who really does exist, and this movie is based on the story of him, his family, and their struggles to achieve something remarkable, whereas Harrison Ford gets second billing in the credits, and his character, Dr. Robert Stonehill, is a composite of the doctors who helped Crowley achieve what he did.
You may even be surprised at how Ford pulls out his acting chops and shows some true emotions.
The movie begins with the birthday party of eight-year-old Megan Crowley, the daughter of John and his wife, Aileen, played by Keri Russell.
Megan is confined to a wheelchair, because she has Pompe disease, a form of muscular dystrophy, which tends to be fatal in children by the time they are nine or ten years old.
Megan gets a cold the next day, but has to go to the hospital, where the doctor tells her parents that she is not responding well.
So, Crowley does some research, and he learns about a scientist in Lincoln, Nebraska, who is working on a cure for Pompe disease. Dr. Stonehill has unusual work habits, and Crowley eventually travels to Nebraska to meet with Stonehill personally.
When Crowley finally manages to find him and tell him about his daughter, Dr. Stonehill says gruffly, “I do research. I don’t see patients.”
Crowley also has a six-year-old son who suffers from the disease, too, and when Stonehill says that half of his grants don’t even get approved, Crowley makes the rash promise that he will raise the necessary $500,000 for Stonehill to complete his laboratory work.
Then the rest of the movie is about how the two men set up their own bio-tech company and their race against time to save Crowley’s children, overcome their difficulties working with each other, and raise the money to become successful.
EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES is a feel-good weepie, but it is a good feel-good weepie.
I’m Dan Culberson and this is “Hotshots.”
“Nine” Does Fellini Proud
Jan 6th
Does Fellini Proud
“Hotshots” looks at a movie!
NINE is the film production of the 1982 award-winning Broadway musical, which in turn was based on Federico Fellini’s 1963 award-winning film 8-1/2.
Expect this film to win many awards, as well, and it is great entertainment, even for those who don’t care for musicals.
The story is about how a famous Italian film director is all set to begin his next film, but he has no idea what the film is going to consist of, and all he has is the title, ITALIA.
The title of Fellini’s 1963 film, which was autobiographical, reflected that he had made 8-1/2 films, the “half” representing the one that he had co-directed. The title of the Broadway musical and this film means that the director is trying to make his ninth film, but is blocked creatively, and his personal life and professional responsibilities come crashing down and have put him into a suicidal depression.
In other words, it is a musical comedy full of beautiful women, elaborate musical numbers and songs, and gorgeous sets and locations.
Daniel Day-Lewis plays the director, Guido Contini, and the women in his life, each with a musical number, are Marion Cotillard as his wife, Penelope Cruz as his mistress, Nicole Kidman as his film star and muse, Judi Dench as his confidant and costume designer, Kate Hudson as a fashion journalist, Sophia Loren as his mother, and Fergie from The Black Eyed Peas as a prostitute from Guido’s youth.
The story mixes reality, fantasy, and memories seamlessly as we follow Guido’s impossibly difficult efforts to begin–much less make–his ninth film.
In fact, at the beginning of the story, Guido ducks out of a press conference about his next film, telling his costume designer, “I can’t face these reporters. I have nothing to say.”
You see, Guido’s last two films were flops, and he is terrified that his next one will also fail, the nightmare of all creative artists who have achieved success.
Guido escapes from Rome to a hotel at a spa, but he is recognized everywhere he goes, and his producer finds him and shows up with a film crew ready to begin work.
In addition, Guido has called on the women in his life to also come there to help him.
NINE does Fellini proud, and I give it an “11.”
I’m Dan Culberson and this is “Hotshots.”