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| Brad Pitt |
Babel What Its About: Set in Morocco, Tunisia, Mexico and Japan, Babel is an interweaving of three stories that begins with an American couple (Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett) on vacation who find their lives fall apart when tragedy strikes.
What Works: Not since 12 Monkeys has Pitt channeled his inner thespian so deeply. Director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (21 Grams, Amores Perros) is a master at making stories that seem to have nothing to do with one another all channel the same emotion. This is movie that makes you think and challenges your perception of the world at every turn.
What Doesnt: It seems a shame to cast an actress of Blanchetts caliber and then give her virtually nothing to dobut considering any other actress would have made this a completely forgettable part, I guess thats just another notch on her acting rung.
Whats In It For Us: OK, so they grey Pitt and try their darndest to age him, but he still looks pretty damn yummy. Ditto for Blanchett, one of the most intriguing faces Ive ever seen and oddly hot in every way, and Gael Garcia Bernal of Bad Education fame.
Bottom Line: Were talking likely Oscar noms, so get in line now.
20 Centimeters
What Its About: A narcoleptic transvestite who yearns to become a transsexual dreams up elaborate musical numbers in which she's the star. Yeah, I know, we thought the same thing.
What Works: Well for starters, this exceptionally talented cast will keep you smiling throughout, and director Ramon Salazar has obviously lived with these characters inside of him for years, which makes them resonate that much more.
What Doesnt: Colorful and kooky as these characters and vignettes are, you cant help but feel its all been done before, either to greater dramatic effect (Dancer in the Dark) with a stronger vision (The Singing Detective) or with greater camp appeal (The Birdcage).
Whats It It For Us: One thing I will say. Spanish, Italian and French filmmakers. They all do far better justice to gay, lesbian and transgender characters than their American counterparts.
Bottom Line: Not the best gay film ever made, but for 90 minutes of sheer enjoyment, you could do a whole lot worse.
The Return
What Its About: A young businesswoman (Sarah Michelle Gellar) begins to have nightmares of a murder that took place 15 years before. Drawn to a small town by feelings she cant explain, she slowly begins to discover the death shes investigating might just be her own.
What Works: As fans of The Grudge found, Gellar brings more to the table in a horror movie than just drawing power. She can act in a medium thats frequently lacking in talent, plus for the first time in God knows how long, this is a horror movie that makes you think.
What Doesnt: Sometimes too much! While The Return aspires to be more psychological thriller than slasher flick, occasionally the plot gets so convoluted, youre not sure whats going on.
Whats In It For Us: The ladies have certainly made known their loyalty to Buffy over the years, and you dont get much more loyal than checking out the shows star. No gay subplots to speak up, but few ladies look hotter running from a ghost.
Bottom Line: There have certainly be scarier flicks, but as these types of movies go, The Return is better than average, and Gellars even better than that.
