MOVIE: The Dry Land

If you live in Los Angeles, Dallas, or New York City, be sure to check out a film that is sure to be on some critics' lists come Oscar season. The Dry Land tells the story many people know about but too many want to ignore - how troops returning from war handle the transition back to civilian life and what can be done to make it easier.

Starring Ryan O'Nan as James, a soldier returning to Texas from Iraq, the film looks at the human side of the mental roller coaster many soldier go through upon leaving a traumatic and daily-stressing life overseas to return to their often mundane lives of before. With a stellar supporting cast, including America Ferrera as James' wife and Jason Ritter as his hometown friend, the movie hits all the right points. Wilmer Valderrama also flexes his dramatic acting muscles with a turn as James' army buddy, who plays a pivotal part in his coping and recovery.

The movie also contains a gorgeous soundtrack, including two new original songs by Texas' own Lyle Lovett. The film has been winning rave reviews since it debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in January and will surely continue to do so as it opens across the nation during the month of August.

Sergio del Limónar

MOVIE: Inception

Your friends are probably already singing it's praises, (most of) the critics love it, and judging by the box office numbers you have most likely seen it too. Nevertheless, Inception is a must-see this summer on the big screen. Written and directed by the über-talented Christopher Nolan, who creative genius never ceases to amaze (see Momento, Batman Begins, The Dark Night, etc.), the complex story unfolds like an M C Escher piece, with twisting layers that both reveal and hide secrets about the story and the characters within it.

Starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Dom Cobb, the troubled head of a team of "dream thieves," people who break into others' subconscious and discover their secrets while they sleep, the film starts strong and never lets up. Ken Watanabe plays a business mogul who wants an idea planted, not stolen, from a competitor, played by Cilian Murphy; in exchange he will give Cobb his life and freedom back, allowing him to return to his children in the United States. The team, including Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page, and the scene-stealing Tom Hardy, venture deep into the dream of Murphy's character, in the process discovering far more than they had intended.

Marion Cotillard shines as Cobb's deceased wife, who shows up in flash-backs and occasionally in his dreams, and the dreams of others, causing added issues for the team. I expect to see her name on some lists come awards season, along with Nolan's. Also popping up in smaller yet important roles are the always welcome Michael Caine and severely underrated Tom Berenger.

One aspect of the film that I loved, other than the special effects which were incredible (Paris folds in on itself!), is the timing aspect of the dream sequences. Most of us have heard that although a dream or nightmare may feel as though it went on all night, in reality, it was only a matter of seconds. Nolan has used this notion to the film's benefit, bending time in the different dream states. Therefore a few seconds in real life might give someone several hour's time in a dream. Now what happens if the person dreaming then dreams that they are dreaming? The possibilities are endless and mind-boggling and Nolan knows this and clearly loves it.

See this movie and you will too.

Sergio del Limónar

MOVIE: Precious

Oscar season can be an exciting time. Personally, I enjoy being up to date with as many of the contending films as possible so when I make my water-cooler arguments, I can speak with some intelligence. Many times, films, directors, or actors chosen by the Academy for this annual honor are quite deserving. Other times its hard not to get the feeling someone was just saying "isn't it about time..." or there were a few greased palms in the nomination process.

The later is definitely not the case with Precious. Although the book, entitled Push, by Sapphire, is much more graphic and its vivid descriptions of the brutality the main character endures, the movie does not shy away from them either, although most of them are brought up in dialogue and not through actual imagery. The story is minimally adorned and powerfully acted. Many of the actors involved go so deep into their roles they become virtually unrecognizable as their very different public personas. Mariah Carey, in her minor role as a social worker for the welfare office, is impressive in her caring yet tired office worker stripped of make-up and fashionable designer duds. Comedienne, Mo'Nique, famous as one of the sassy founding "Queens of Comedy," also tones it down and turns it up as the lazy and angry mother of the title character. Also virtually unrecognizable is musician Lenny Kravitz, who plays a nurse is a small but meaningful role, during several hospital scenes.

But major praise should go to Gabourey Sidibe, who plays Clareece 'Precious' Jones with the truth of a girl well beyond her 26 years. Precious is a teenager who has endured incestuous sexual abuse, as well as physical and emotional abuse her entire life. Pregnant with her second child, by her own father nonetheless, she and her mother live in Harlem, on welfare, as her mother continues to work the system. Precious is a good person trying to do right in a world that seemingly doesn't want her. She escapes this hell she lives in through fantasies, based on her desired life as a model, singer, actress, Hollywood super-star with a "light skinned boyfriend." Precious is by no means societies model of beauty, but Sidibe's performance makes us not only care about and love Precious like not many do, but also see that Precious is beautiful.


SPOILER: One of the most powerful and incredible scenes for me was when Precious, upon returning home after giving birth to her second child, a boy named Abdul, is accosted by her mother in a fit of jealous rage, boldly decides to leave home, once and for all. In fight with her mother, the television, her mother's life-blood of sorts, gets broken. After falling down the apartment stairs with her baby in her arms, exhausted from her hospital stay and the fight, Precious then must dodge the broken TV set as it is dropped on her from several stories above by her own mother, back fro one last 'punch.'

As difficult as this film was to watch at times, it occurred to me that this is some peoples' reality. We really have no idea what goes on behind other walls and doors and our "bad days" might be spilt milk to many other people. This movie is beautiful, but just like the book, it was created to make point. I think all Oscar-quality movies should meet this standard before anyone writes anything on a ballot.

Sergio del Limónar

*Good luck to both Gabourey Sidibe and Mo'Nique for being nominated for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress, respectively. Also to director Lee Daniels for Best Director and the entire ensemble for Best Picture. (Precious was also nominated for Best Editing and Best Writing - Sceenplay.)

MOVIE: Avatar

When I saw the first preview for Avatar, James Cameron's first movie since Titanic, I thought it looked terrible and was certain no amount of hype would entice people to go see some film about a bunch of giant blue aliens and their epic-looking battle against what looked like robots, dinosaurs, and humans. But then the reviews came in from usually reputable critics, and even some friends of mine were impressed.

I couldn't believe this was possible so I had to investigate. I was even a little less thrilled to see the film when I realized it was in 3D and the ticket was more because of the cost of the glasses. The stakes were getting higher for this movie exponentially by the emptying of my wallet.

Go and see Avatar. For real.

It is by no means an Oscar-dominating movie, but it will blow your mind. If you have the option of seeing the 3D version, do it. The magic of the animation and the mysticism of the story are enhanced tremendously by donning these glasses.

The story, while not over-complicated, is both timely and captivating. A scientist researching life on the planet of Pandora dies and his paraplegic twin brother, an injured marine name Jake Sully, is asked to take his place because of their identical DNA. Electronically linking to a biologically manufactured alien-body, resembling the native Na'vi. Over a course of three months Sully befriends and learns from the Na'vi and is then asked by the military to betray them for the sake of the humans' wish to mine for a particular mineral in the ground.

Taking on social commentary - the environment, eminent domain, racism, and power - without being preachy, the movie will have you on the edge of your seat the entire time. Or off it occasionally if you're wearing the 3D specs!

Sergio del Limonar

BOOK: Go Ask Alice

The diary-book, Go Ask Alice, is by no means a literary masterpiece. It is really no more than the rambling thought of an average teenage girl in the late 1960's. The only difference is this girl got messed up in the drugs of the era and wrote about it in detail.

The extraordinary thing about this piece of work, published in 1971, is not only the candor and emotion the anonymous author exhibits, but the remorse she feels toward her family, friends, and herself. It's difficult to read at times, especially as she relapses. Sometimes this seems to occur suddenly as we are only privy to her diary entries which are often times sporadic and even lacking dates at times.

Although the authenticity of the book - whether it was an actual diary or really a work of fiction - is still up for debate. Regardless, the ideas in the various entries and the roller coaster of emotions the girl goes through are enough to influence another generation to stay off drugs.

Sergio del Limonar

MOVIE: The Hurt Locker

I can't say that I have ever had to look at someone in my life, let alone someone I work with, and say that my life depended on them and theirs on me. The heroes in The Hurt Locker do that every day.

This movie brought out so many emotions for me. I felt pride, hope, pain, devastation...it was an exhausting couple of hours. The story, based on probably true, every day events, follows a military bomb-disposal team as they go about their job. (Their job is getting rid of exploding devices!!! What do you do?) I found it incredible to think that while disposing these bombs, they are in a war zone and are also at risk of being shot; as if eliminating a bomb threat isn't stressful enough, add some bullets.

Guy Pearce place the leader of this particular team who dies as a result of the hazardous nature of the job. He is replaced by a new Sargent, played my Jeremy Renner, who I had never seen before but really enjoyed. Also making appearances worthy of note are Ralph Fiennes and Evangeline Lilly, as Renner's wife.

As the war in Iraq continues and gets seemingly little notice on this side of the world anymore, except by negative media outlets, it is good to remind ourselves of the horrors of daily life for some of the servicemen and women over there. Plus, it will make me think twice about complaining about my own job.

Buzzy

MOVIE: Public Enemies

Growing up in the midwest and having relatives in both St. Paul, MN, and Chicago, I've been exposed to the history and lore of the gangsters from the 1930's. Capone, Dillinger, Nelson, the Barkers, etc. all came up from time to time either in school or around the cities on various tours and such. (My mother even bought a couch from a lady who lived in an apartment building that Dillinger had lived in for a time.)

For those reasons, I had been wanted to see the new Johnny Depp movie, Public Enemies, about the last years of John Dillinger's life, for some time. I was not disappointed. At one point in the film Dillinger asks the lead detective in charge of his capture, Melvin Purvis, played by Christian Bale, if he's ever watched anyone die and then goes on to say that its all in the eyes. The director, Michael Mann, seems to take his cues from that same mantra; using many facial close-ups and letting the eyes tell the story, Public Enemies is a histoy lesson and a work of art.

People who need to be reminded that Depp is one of the finest actors alive today and can indeed act without covering himself in make-up and over the top costumes, need to see this movie. Aside from Depp and Bale, Billy Cudrup is fantastic as FBI founder J. Edgar Hoover, and French actress and Oscar winner Marion Cotillard is astounding as Dillinger's girlfriend, Billie Frechette.

I'm glad I added this to my list of movies to see and even more glad I got around to doing it. Add it to your list!

Sergio del Limónar

BOOK: The Children of Men

Written in the not too distant past of the early 1990's, British author P.D. James has crafted a frightening novel set in the not too distant future. The book is frightening, not in a Stephen King-like way, but in a realistic human nature kind that causes the reader to question our own vulnerability.

The Children of Men begins in the year 2021 with the murder of the youngest person alive on the planet, a 25 year old Argentinian. The world of 2021 has not had a human birth since the mid-nineties when, inexplicably, all men became sterile. Since this point the world has slowly crawled into a cycle of hysteria. Borders have been closed, mandatory monthly fertility testing has become law, towns slowly shut down do to lack of citizens as the old die, and an entire generation does not know what a crying baby sounds like.

Theo is a history professor at a local University in Oxford, England, where the story takes place. He is divorced after a painful marriage made more so after the loss of his only child, who was born in one of the last years leading up to the age of infertility. His simple life is thrown for a loop when a small group of dissenters approach him with a proposition that he, for a variety of reasons, is not able to reject.

Even though I had seen the movie, staring Clive Owen and Julian Moore, by the same name back in 2006, I enjoyed the book just as much and I'd recommend both. There is a lot different from the book to the film but I understand why the changes were made and, in the end, I think the cinematic version stayed faithful to the spirit of the novel.

Buzzy

MOVIE: Entre Les Murs (The Class)

As a teacher, I am sometimes frustrated with the portrayal of classroom life in movies. Entre Les Murs (literally "Between the Walls") is probably the first film I've seen where all the interactions, dialogue, and situations are accurately represented.

"The Class," as it is know in English, is a French production directed by Laurent Cantet and the winner of the Palme d'Or at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival. Set at a diverse inner city public high school in Paris, the story follows an academic year in French teacher François Marin's classroom. Played by novelist and actor François Bégaudeau, he is a caring but challenging teacher, who tries to be sympathetic to the tough lives of his students while, at the same time, pushing them to learn and achieve. The students, many who do not consider themselves "French" and therefore see no merit in learning the formalities of the language, often challenge him back and, as we all do, François occasionally reaches a breaking point.

What I liked about this movie, aside from the realism of classroom life, was how it shows the sometimes daily punishment for little pay many educators put up with for and from the kids they want to help. Another remarkable thing about the film is that, although it is scripted, the "students" are not trained actors and the movie feels almost more like a documentary than anything else. The faculty meetings also could not be more accurately executed.

In true "French film" style the story wanders around a bit and there are obviously subtitles so reading is required, especially with the amount of slang used by some of the characters, but the experience is worth it, in a bittersweet way.

Sergio del Limonar

MOVIE: Purple Violets

How this movie went straight to DVD (or iTunes movie release) is both tragic and understandable. For most people, a movie about a couple successful writers who were once lovers finding each other and searching for their "voices" again might not be a big box-office draw.

I felt differently. Purple Violets was about growing up and looking back. Realizing who you are, where you came from, how you've changed, and how you actually haven't. It's about how deep down inside, those characteristics that give someone their spark, never really go away; they may morph a bit but who a person truly is, not what they've done, is who they are.

Led by a phenomenal cast including Selma Blair, Patrick Wilson, Edward Burns (who also directed), and the always surprising Debra Messing, the movie moves through this self-discovery at a pleasant and yet still intriguing pace. The writing is great and the dialog and wit is both true and amusing.

One of my favorite exchanges occurs between Messing, who plays a teacher, and Burns, her ex-boyfriend from college and now successful litigator. After she tells him he's taking her to someplace nice and expensive and he inquires to why, she retorts, "Because I'm a teacher in New York and you just bought a $3 million apartment." Truer words have never been spoken.

See this movie and see a little of yourself. Put in on a shelf for a few years, watch it again, and I bet you'll see a little more. That's what I'm going to do.

Sergio del Limónar

MOVIE: Milk

Sean Penn deserved every bit of his Oscar for this performance. The movie was heartwrenching and informative and raw. It's funny (not haha) that it was only 30 years ago when they were fighting Proposition 6 (trying to get gays and those supporting gays out of teaching jobs etc) and here we are, decades later, no better off as we try to undo the last 8 months of legalized gay marriage in California. Definitely a movie that makes you think and consider what you stand for and what the world we live in stands for. SEE IT!

Mrs. Fitz 1

TV: The West Wing

It's taken me almost a year but i have now finally finished all seven seasons of The West Wing. According to IMDB and the copyright on the first season, this Aaron Sorkin masterpiece began in 1999 and ended in 2006, although I could have cared less when it was actually on television. Horrible mistake! I'm almost embarrassed to admit this, but I feel like I learned more about U.S. politics through this series than in either of the two civics classes I had in high school or the requisite political science course in college. (No offense to Mr. Rivkin in 9th grade; I loved watching episodes of "Law & Order" to learn about the court system!)

While you might not always agree with the political views and actions taken at various points, the fast pacing of the show, intelligent writing, and diversely intriguing characters will capture your attention and keep you routing for the collective executive team. This show has given me a newfound respect for the Office of the President, regardless of party, and made me realize there are people much better than I to run the country. Although, at times, I wish I too could walk around my work with the same degree of urgency and purpose that is fairly constant in every episode of "The West Wing." Sometimes I do...

Sergio del Limónar