January 14, 2010 - Snow Cake; The Fantastic Mr. Fox

Watched a damn good movie in the early hours of the day, and I suggest you watch it too. Watched a damn good moving in the waning hours of the day, and I suggest you also watch it.

(18) Snow Cake (2006): A very decent cast consisting of Alan Rickman, Sigourney Weaver, and Carrie-Anne Moss unfold this funny and sad and redemptive story of loss, understanding, and acceptance. Emotional from nearly the beginning, almost immediately you know you're watching something off the beaten path. Alan Rickman plays a character who has had his fair share of loss. Sigourney Weaver is a high-functioning autistic woman who also knows loss. Carrie-Anne Moss is a single, attractive woman who lives next door to Weaver, and is living a life full of loss that she created. The particular loss each person has suffered and endured is less important than what it means personally and privately. Weaver's character says it best when she says, "You can't know how I'm feeling because you're not me."

Good writing always trumps everything else, and this movie is exceedingly better than others of similar content because of the terrific writing. Tears and laughs abound, as well as some very warm, tender moments. Definitely worth watching. Savor the performances.

4 Stars

(19) The Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009): This is an animated film from Wes Anderson, based on original source material from Roald Dahl, and involves the animals of a forest, led by Mr. Fox (George Clooney), and Mrs. Fox (Meryl Streep), battling to keep their homes against the three human inhabitants, Mr. Bean (Michael Gambon), Mr. Boggs (Robin Hurlstone), and Mr. Bunce (Hugo Guinness). This movie is laugh-out-loud funny, so that's what we did from nearly start to finish. The movie is witty and clever, and the animation style will suck you into the film right out of the gate.

I'm not usually an fan of animated films, but I do like Wes Anderson (Bottle Rocket, Rushmore, The Royal Tennenbaums, Darjeeling Limited), and how can you miss with the brilliant source material from Dahl (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, The Witches, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang)? Grab some friends and go see this movie. It's hilarious throughout, and dares you not to laugh until you can't any longer, then you'll laugh, heartily.

3.5 Stars