The Duchess (2008)

Newly wed to the Duke of Devonshire (Ralph Fiennes), Georgiana (Keira Knightley), the new Duchess, has been given two tasks: produce a male heir and undying loyalty to the Duke. With a husband who is cold and indifferent and seemingly unable to produce a male heir, Lady Georgiana indulges in her popularity as a fashion plate and other vices for happiness. Turning a blind eye to her own husband's dalliances with Georgiana's best friend, Bess (Hayley Atwell), the Duchess begins her own with dreamer politician Charles Grey (Dominic Cooper). In turn, the Duke uses his influence, wealth, and authority to limit her freedom all the while parading his own infidelities.

The Duchess takes a more soap operatic tone to the tale of Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire. Opinionated and self-aware, unheard of in women of her time, Georgiana was immensely popular and influential in socio-political circles. It was in her own home, that Georgiana suffered the most. Director Saul Dibb creates an extravagant, if fluffy, period drama.

Ralph Fiennes and Keira Knightley give remarkable performances, providing depth where there is little. The two have a tortured chemistry, playing a severely unhappily married couple. Fiennes is able to make the Duke thoroughly evil, but still human. As the Duchess, Knightley gives a beautifully nuanced, tortured performance. The supporting cast of characters are the ones that need further development. There is no chemistry between the Duchess and Cooper's Grey. Additionally, for being the other woman, the 'third wheel', the other lady in the marriage, Atwell's Lady Bess Foster is sadly flat and inconsequential. Charlotte Rampling as Lady Spencer, the Duchess' mother and primary counsel is a pleasant surprise.

Opulent costuming and settings help create a stunning piece, but subtlety seems to be the mark of our director. The film is uncluttered with dialogue. Instead, Dibb allows subtle palate changes to mark our character's place in the aristocracy. Delicately nuanced gazes, a slight of hand, or heated silence take precedence.

Period pieces as such always fascinate. Whether it's the wigs or the torrid underbelly of a straight laced society, The Duchess is no difference. Knightley's performance as Georgiana, navigating the treacherous waters of an unhappy marriage and the confining rigors of polite aristocracy makes it worth watching.

Eagle Eye (2008)

Aimless underachiever, Jerry Shaw (Shia LaBeouf) returns home after the funeral of his overachieving twin brother to find his apartment filled with weapons and bomb-making ingredients. Single mother Rachel Holloman (Michelle Monaghan) is out for night with friends after sending her young son off to Washington with his school. A phone call from a mysterious voice, thrusts these two strangers into a series of increasingly dangerous situations and into the eye of various law enforcement agencies. Evading Agent Morgan (Billy Bob Thornton) and Air Force liaison Zoe Perez (Rosario Dawson) while working to prevent catastrophic political assassinations and clear their names, pits Jerry and Rachel against every day technologies.

Eagle Eye is an effective, if average, thriller. If you successfully enjoy the popcorn and suspend reality, you'll enjoy it more. Shia LeBeouf is on par to becoming a leading man and even with this screenplay, LeBeouf obviously enjoys himself and makes the best. Monaghan is believable and sorely underrated. Thornton, aging well, turns in a nice, if rote, supporting role.

Loaded with intense and unrelenting action sequences, Eagle Eye entertains. As much as I want to spoil the movie's ending, I trust my readers are smart enough to figure this one out in ten. Therein lies, my one disappointment. The story...

It could have been much more {like Enemy of the State}. It's as if our writers couldn't determine what to do with the protagonist. As with Taking Lives, director D.J. Caruso is there to edit and cajole solid performances.

Eagle Eye has summer blockbuster all over it with explosions, action sequences, and scoring to equal any Die Hard or Armageddon. The film never reaches, but rather languishes in what it was meant to be... pure popcorn entertainment.

Unser täglich Brot (2005)

This German born documentary takes a look at the highly clinical and uber-mechanized process of bringing food to the table. From the opening title card, the viewer can sense something unusual here. That assessment would be correct.

Our Daily Bread is an artful and aesthetically chilling film. Director Nikolaus Geyrhalter seems content to allows images and rhythm to speak for itself--that is the movie's crowning glory. Geyrhalter's camera is an observer, not an interferer and as each vignette unfolds, it's the viewer's own reaction that will ultimately define the film's tone.

As I see it, Unser täglich Brot, is a quiet examination of the dehumanizing of our food.

Man on Wire (2008)

This fascinating documentary recounts the 1974 feat of Frenchmen and high wire-walker Philippe Petit. Obsessed with the Twin Towers before they were built, Petit, begins to prep for the stunt. Joined by an assortment of odd fellows, Petit's obsession has them sneaking into the building on several occasions to learn more before the epic walk.

Man on Wire is an engaging example of a man and his passion. Philippe Petit makes a great interview. He is so expressive. His passion for life is infectious; his determination, arresting. By contrast, the group of friends that assist him with this feat are equally awed and frightened. Petit relates the numerous and unexpected issues--wind sheer, building flex, even the angles at which the building are set, create hurdles that Petit and his fellows must surmount.

The story is breathtaking. The documentary showcases a few other walks with stills, eye witness accounts, and footage as it builds to that fateful day. The walk across the Notre Dame cathedral is incredible.

As docs go, Man on Wire, is artfully conceived with equal parts actual footage and dramatization. With it's gorgeous play on color and editing, the film has a fresh art house feel. Additionally, the score is beautiful.

Walking on a wire in itself is an amazing feat. That fact that it was accomplished on what is now a symbolic pair of buildings brings a poignancy to the film. The footage of the NYC policeman, post high-wire, is sweet.

Man on Wire showcases a man with a true zest for life--we all should be jealous! This one is a must see for fans of the genre.

The Inauguration (2009)

To be honest, I've avoided the television and radio today because of the overwhelming canonization of Barack Obama. The media darling of the moment, the inauguration is the topic of all conversation as it should be. Be forewarned. The following are my opinions alone. No, I didn't vote for Barack Obama. I didn't vote for McCain either.

A few things strike me:

• The overwhelmingly negative comments from Baby Boomers about Barack Obama. I'm surprised. Are you concerned a new generation is stepping into power? Concerned that we will push you out or worse, forget you? Why the disparaging remarks? There seems to be a consensus that this President, much like JFK, won't survive his term. Rubbish. Unlike those who grew up during the tide of Civil Rights, we, the young people of this fine nation don't think/speak/act in terms of color. Racial jokes and stereotypes aside, we don't care. We see a man with fresh ideas, willing to go against the popular vote, willing to engage in discourse, willing to try for change.
• Reading the transcript of Barack Obama's speech, I am filled with hope and excitement. His words evoke a patriotism, a love for this great nation, that I didn't really know was there. Sure, we all are in the honeymoon stage, but if we would call take this feeling we have today, bottle it, remember it two years from now when American really struggles to right the gluttony, pride, deception, and consequences of our actions, we would all be better off. Barack Obama is well spoken.
• Barack Obama's call for volunteerism and being involved is close to my heart. If only we all would pause to consider. As cliche as it may be, let's get back to family--let's celebrate it and stop allowing outside influences to corrupt our children. Imagine if we did that they might even be less influence after all.
• Regardless of how you vote, you must respect Barack Obama. I didn't see like him, I said respect him. I, for one, have tremendous respect for a man who refuses to play along as the media continues to throw the 'race card'.
• Joseph Lowry, EXCUSE me?! How do you go from, "We thank you for the empowering of thy servant, our 44th president, to inspire our nation to believe that, yes, we can work together to achieve a more perfect union. And while we have sown the seeds of greed, the wind of greed and corruption, and even as we reap the whirlwind of social and economic disruption, we seek forgiveness and we come in a spirit of unity and solidarity to commit our support to our president by our willingness to make sacrifices, to respect your creation, to turn to each other and not on each other..." to "Lord, we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get back, when brown can stick around — when yellow will be mellow — when the red man can get ahead, man — and when white will embrace what is right." Your comments are perverse and hardly appropriate, dumba** How ignorant and careless of you.
• It's pretty incredible to see the hordes of people waving, crying, chanting, and smiling all for our President. I'd like to think that for this moment, perhaps all of America really was united.

The citizens of this nation owe it to our children and the generations to come to clean up this mess. Yes, we are facing the greatest deficit ever seen, unemployment in ever increasing numbers, outsourcing is rampant, health care costs are soaring... it's daunting and overwhelming, but we've got to begin somewhere. I hope we can begin with Barack Obama's leadership. Pitch it. Start holding yourself accountable.

America loves an understory. Well, she's in one. I hope that in a few years, all of this potential isn't laying by the wayside. But aside the tide of emotion and allow logic to take hold. Here are your inevitables:

• The media will need an enemy at some point. Fickle as it is, I'm guessing less than a year.
• Barack Obama is just one man. You must remember that thanks to our blessed Forefathers, power is held by the rich few. Capitol Hill is where the money is; it talks. You and I don't have a special interest group, so we are screwed.
• Rising health care, Social Security, the massive nation debt--it's not going away and until true reform is enacted no amount of 'hope' from an idealistic President can change sh*t.
• America will always be at odds with the world as long as we are aligned with Israel. It's Biblical fact. No amount of peacemaking will change the hearts and minds of that are filled with hate for centuries.

As Ghandi said, "Be the change you want to see in the world." Until citizens of this nation take that to heart, true change will never come. Considering being that change in your world. You don't have to be elected to the White House to make a difference at some level.