WEEKEND PIC -- March 30 to April 1

Your Guide To The Weekend Viewing

1. PERFUME: The Story Of A Murderer (psychological thriller with Ben Whishaw, Dustin Hoffman and Alan Rickman) Rated: * * * (out of 4): A dark, brooding and macabre tale about a man who kills young girls just to get that perfect 'essense' for the ultimate perfume. Not everybody's cup of tea, though.

2. MEET THE ROBINSONS (animated futuristic adventure voiced by Angela Bassett, Tom Selleck, Harland Williams, Laurie Metcalf) Rating * * 1/2: An animated kiddie-styled "Back To The Future" adventure with a sprinkling of "The Matrix" and "Terminator". It is about an orphan named Lewis who gets whisked off to the future by a 'Wilbur Robinson'.

3. JUST FOLLOW LAW (Singapore’s fantasy comedy with Gurmit Singh and Fann Wong) Rated: * * * (Out of 4): Somewhat like "Freaky Friday", this is Jack Neo’s satire on office politics, with Singh and Wong ‘exchanging’ bodies.

4. Mr. BEAN’S HOLIDAY (comedy with Rowan Atkinson and Willem Dafoe) Rated: * * ½ (2.5 stars): Mr Bean wins a trip to Cannes and we get the usual infantile antics about him being mistaken for a kidnapper. For those who still find Atkinson funny.

5. CHERMIN (local thriller in Malay with Deanna Yusoff and Natasha Hudson) Rated: * * ½ (2.5 stars): The plot, about a vengeful spirit trapped in a mirror, is cliched and predictable but its message about one’s quest for beauty is interesting. The scares are derivative, smacking of "The Exorcist".

6. FOREST OF DEATH (horror thriller in Cantonese with Shu Qi and Ekin Cheng) Rated: * 1/2 (1.5 star): Just two words for those thinking of giving this flick a try -- Forget It!

MUKHSIN: A Tribute to First Love

MUKHSIN (local drama in Malay)
Cast: Mohd Syafie Naswip, Sharifah Aryana, Irwan Iskandar and Sharifah Aleya
Director: Yasmin Ahmad
Time: 93 mins
Rating: * * * (out of 4)


WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL? Film-maker Yasmin Ahmad continues her satire on Malaysian life in this prequel to "Sepet" and "Gubra". "Mukhsin" deals with 10-year-old Orked’s first love – plus the usual delightful and delectable takes on life and love in a not-so-typical Malaysian kampung (a village near Kuala Selangor).
While "Mukhsin" is not as engaging as the ground-breaking "Sepet" (2004), it is more charming and accessible than last year’s "Gubra" – displaying all the strengths and quirkiness of Yasmin Ahmad, as well as some of her weaknesses.

WHAT'S IT ABOUT? "Mukhsin" opens with a neat introduction to Orked’s (Sharifah Aryana) character: She is self-confident, writes essays that even her teacher looks forward to reading, and a tomboy who readily stands up to the school bullies. We also get a look at Oked’s loving parents, Pak Atan (Irwan Iskandar) and Mak Inom (Sharifah Aleya, the real-life sister of Aryana) who, we are given to understand, are modelled after Yasmin’s own parents. And of course, their housemaid Kak Yam (Adibah Noor) who abets in the family’s exploits, provides comic relief and helps to ‘iron out’ the loose ends in the plot.
Enter Mukhsin (Mohd Syafie Naswip), a 12-year-old boy who is sent to the kampung to live with his aunt for the school holidays. Mukhsin first sees Orked when she is dancing in the rain with her mother. When he is introduced to her at a rough-and-tumble game with the boys, he develops enough respect and liking for her to ask her out on bicycle rides and other dates. In kampung tradition, when a boy ‘borrows’ his brother’s best shirt and plasters his hair with globs of gel just to go kite-flying, he is considered smitten by love. Ultimately, some misunderstanding occurs to throw the proverbial spanner in their relationship, culminating in a heartbreak sequence that should bring tears to our eyes…

HIGHLIGHTS & LOWLIGHTS: Yasmin is a maverick at ‘quirky comedy’ and here we laugh at the disarming way she ‘paints’ her characters. The kampung boys are wary of playing with Orked not because she is a girl but because she ‘main kasar’ (plays rough). Another delight is the way Mak Inom ‘punishes’ Orked over a row with the school bully. And with commendable performances by the young leads, and catchy songs like a joget number and Nina Simone’s catchy French tune thrown in, the scenes resonate with fun and heart-warming sentiments.
The subplots, however, deviate from the movie’s idyllic set-up and make the narrative flow murky, especially in the middle of the film. Yasmin’s ‘commentary’ on marital relationships has a subplot on Orked’s Casanova of a neighbour and his long-suffering wife, and another on Mukhsin’s dysfunctional family that includes a problematic, wayward brother. Juxtaposed against Atan and Imon’s lovey-dovey life together, the subplots show the ‘darker’ side of kampung life that Yasmin fails to develop further.
No Yasmin Ahmad movie is complete without a ‘controversial’ sequence, and here, we have the offbeat cameos by Sharifah Amani and Ng Choo Seong (from "Sepet"), playing a couple that seems to have come out of a time-warp (given that Ng’s character had been killed but gets ‘recalled for duty’ here and in "Gubra").

THE LOWDOWN: Yasmin has dedicated this movie to her parents -- and we see them singing their own composition at the closing credits, together the film crew. Perhaps this is to remind us that we should take the movie for what it is intended to be – a funky fun ride in memory of our first love or infatuation.

CHERMIN: Ghost in the Mirror Caper

CHERMIN (local horror thriller in Malay)
Cast: Deanna Yusoff, Natasha Hudson, Kathijah Tan and Farid Kamil
Director: Zarina Abdullah
Time: 90 mins
Rating: * * ½ (out of 4)

WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL? From the onset, it is clear that "Chermin" is reflective of the Malaysia Boleh spirit -- that they can make a 'beautiful and classy' horror movie without having to spend big bucks. Well, they have succeeded in many aspects although the movie is in need of a better treatment.

WHAT'S IT ABOUT? "Chermin" deals with a young woman's quest for beauty which she seeks through the ghost of a woman (said to be her great-grandma) trapped in an antique mirror (chermin). When Nasrin's (newcomer Natasha Hudson) face is disfigured in a road accident, she succumbs to the mystic powers of Mastura (Deanna Yusoff) who demands blood in her quest for revenge.
Mastura, we are told in flashbacks, was once the most beautiful woman in the village. She was involved in an arranged marriage to Hassan but for some reason, her love was unrequited and Hassan took a second wife, blaming her for being childless. A woman spurned, Mastura resorted to delving in black magic with her mirror...

HIGHLIGHTS & LOWLIGHTS: This ghost-in-the-mirror plot is nothing new, especially in the Asian horror genre. What is new here is the treatment writer-director Zarina Abdullah gives to her theme about Nasrin's quest to regain her beauty. The scar on her face (which changes shape in various scenes) could easily have been treated with plastic surgery but she is so caught up by Mastura's spirit -- and later by her evil power -- that she succumbs to it. An interesting plot device but rather confusing in its execution. However, Natasha's portrayal of Nasrin, as a 'difficult' and demanding fiancee to Yusuf (Farid Kamil), denies her of audience sympathy and when we stop caring for her, her protagonist gets relegated to the narrative limbo.
Kathijah Tan, as her anxious mother, is more convincing although she tends to overact with her eyes sometimes. Still, she helps to enhance the kampung atmosphere and lends solid support to the main cast -- together with the extras who play the village gossips. Deanna Yusuf, expectedly, is stunning to look at but again, we feel nothing for her as the pretty ghost with that irritatingly eerie laugh.
Kudos to Zarina for adding a few touches of humour, especially in that scene with the kampung headman. Considering the budget, the special effects are minimal but effective, given that Zarina has opted for subtle scares instead of 'loud', gory ones. The bloody exorcism sequence reminds us of Linda Blair's in "The Exorcist" but it lacks tension and suspense.

THE LOWDOWN: "Chermin" is undoubtedly a good effort by another promising woman director. We look forward to more from her.

WEEKEND PIC -- March 23-25

1. JUST FOLLOW LAW (Singapore’s fantasy comedy with Gurmit Singh and Fann Wong) Rated: * * * (Out of 4): Somewhat like "Freaky Friday", this is Jack Neo’s satire on office politics, with Singh and Wong ‘exchanging’ bodies.

2. MUKHSIN (local drama in Malay with Mohd Syafie Naswip, Sharifah Aryana and Sharifah Aleya) Rated * * * (3 stars): This prequel to "Sepet" and "Gubra" has all of director Yasmin Ahmad’s strengths (for narrative, quirky style, et al) plus her weaknesses.

3. Mr. BEAN’S HOLIDAY (comedy with Rowan Atkinson and Willem Dafoe) Rated: * * ½ (2.5 stars): Mr Bean wins a trip to Cannes and we get the usual infantile antics about him being mistaken for a kidnapper. For those who think he is still funny.

4. STOMP THE YARD (dance flick with Columbus Short, Meagan Good and Brian J. White) Rated * * ½ (2.5 stars): It’s goodbye break-dancing and welcome to steppin’ in this energetic dance movie that should only delight hip-hop fans.

5. CHERMIN (local thriller in Malay with Deanna Yusoff and Natasha Hudson) Rated: * * ½
(2.5 stars): The plot, about a vengeful spirit trapped in a mirror, is cliched and predictable but its message about one’s quest for beauty is interesting. The scares are derivative, smacking of "The Exorcist".

PAN'S LABYRINTH: Fantasy Merges With Reality

PAN’S LABYRINTH (fantasy thriller)
Cast: Ivano Baquero, Maribel Verdu, Sergi Lopez, Ariadna Gil, Alex Angulo, Doug Jones
Director: Guillermo del Toro
Time: 116 mins
Rating: * * * ½

WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL? From Guillermo del Toro, the director of "Helboy", "The Devil’s Backbone" and "Blade 2", comes a gothic fantasy that infuses fairy tale elements into the real-life horrors of the Second World War. "Pan’s Labyrinth" interweaves the two in such a way that it is sometimes difficult to discern which is scarier: the fairy tale realm of ghouls and monsters, or the atrocities of war that man does unto his own kind. We are, however, wont to think that it is the latter…

WHAT'S IT ABOUT? Set in Spain during the WW2, before and after D-Day, "Pan’s Labyrinth" is about a young girl named Ofelia (Ivano Baquero) who is taken by her widowed mother (Ariadna Gil as Carmen) to a villa in the countryside to begin a new life with her new husband, the vicious and sadistic Captain Vidal (Sergi Lopez) of General Francisco Franco’s army.
Mommy, who is heavily pregnant, has been summoned to the front lines by Vidal because he believes that his ‘son’ should be born close to him. Ofelia dislikes his stepfather the minute she sets eyes on him. When she discovers a maze in front of her new home, she sees fairies and a faun (Doug Jones) who tells her that she is a long-lost princess, daughter of the King of the Underworld.
However, to enter her kingdom, she must perform three dangerous tasks before the next full moon. These include descending into a cave to retrieve a key from a giant toad; and using the key to open a box to get a magic dagger. These tasks are made more complicated when Ofelia’s mother falls ill, and when she gets involved with her housekeeper’s (Maribel Verdu as Mercedes) ties with the rebels in the woods.

HIGHLIGHTS & LOWLIGHTS: Director del Toro, working on a script by Guillermo Navarro, shifts back and forth, from reality to fantasy, with incredible ease. Both are equally compelling and we even feel a tinge of regret when we are taken away from one story to the other. Indeed, both worlds are dark, dank and dangerous for young Ofelia, but she seems to be more at home in the labyrinth, with its crumbling stone structures and mythical monsters.
Among the cast, newcomer Baquero is captivating as a child caught in two nightmarish worlds and our heart goes with her throughout the movie. Sergi Lopez is deliciously wicked as Capt Vidal – without ever going over the top with his role. Another actress who stand out is Verdu (of "Y tu Mama Tambien's"), while Alex Angulo plays a compassionate doctor.

THE LOWDOWN: This is not a movie for young children who may find the proceedings too violent and brutal. For adults and teens, however, it is an edge-of-the-seat fantasy-thriller. "Pan's Labyrinth" has won three Academy Awards for Art Direction, Makeup and Cinematography. That should say something about del Toro's effort.

WEEKEND PIC March 16 -- 18

Your weekend movie guide:

1. PAN'S LABYRINTH (fantasy thriller in Spanish with Maribel Verdu, Sergi Lopez and Ivana Baquero) Rated: * * * 1/2 (Out of 4): A combination of hideous fantasy and stark brutal reality set in WW2 Spain. Not for young children but a gem by Mexican film-maker Guillermo del Toro.

2. AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH (documentary on global warming by Al Gore and director Davis Guggenheim) Rated: * * * (3 stars): Captivating and thought-provoking warning about the effects on global warming on our planet. Watch and be stirred into action!

3. 300 (stylised war action with Gerard Butler, Lena Headey and Vincent Regan) Rated: * * * (out of 4): Pulsating battle scenes of the Spartans vs Persians with blood and gore enhanced by CGI to give a surrealistic effect. Based on Frank Miller's graphic novel.

4. BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA (fantasy adventure with Josh Hutcherson and AnnaSophia Robb) Rating: * * * (3 stars): A feel-good rites-of-passage movie about the power of friendship and imagination between two classmates. Don't expect another "Chronicles Of Narnia" epic, though.

5. CHARLOTTE'S WEB (fantasy drama with Dakota Fanning and voice of Julia Roberts) Rating: * * * (3 stars): This live action rendition of E.B. White's novel about loyalty and sacrifice is both heartwarming and emotional. Great for the family.

BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA: Realistic Family Fare

BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA (fantasy adventure)
Cast: Josh Hutcherson, AnnaSophia Robb, Zooey Deschanel, Robert Patrick, Bailee Madison and Lauren Clinton
Director: Gabor Csupo
Time: 95 mins
Rating: * * * (out of 4)

WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL? If you are looking for an epic-styled sword-and-sorcery action the likes of "The Chronicles Of Narnia" or "Harry Potter", you will be sorely disappointed with "Bridge To Terabithia". However, if you're into the feel-good escapist fare that you can sink your teeth into, this Bridge will get you there…

WHAT’S IT ABOUT? "Bridge To Terabithia" is a tale about friendship and imagination. It is not all about giant trolls, magical castles and flying insect warriors that you may have seen in its posters and trailers. Its protagonists, Jesse Aarons (Josh Hutcherson) and Leslie Burke (AnnaSophia Robb), are the kids-next-door type who face problems with their classmates at school. Jesse is a gifted artist but his drawings are considered silly and weird by the other boys in class.
Leslie, the new girl at school, is a writer with a heightened sense of imagination. She clicks off well with Jesse, her neighbour, and when they find a rope across a stream near their homes, they use it to get to the woods on the other side. Leslie imagines the place to be a magical kingdom called Terabithia and together, they explore a world of giant trolls, dragonfly warriors and other fanciful creatures.
‘Terabithia’ offers Jesse and Leslie their escape from the realities of school bullies, household chores and neglectful parents. Their friendship blossoms into what may be called ‘first love’. The movie is also a down-to-earth story that does not discard the harsh lessons of life -- and death – even in a movie about make-belief.

HIGHLIGHTS AND LOWLIGHTS: Adapting from the book by Katherine Paterson, director Gabor Csupo (of "The Simpsons" and "Rugrats"), keeps the computer-generated effects to a minimum to allow the book’s material to shine through. It helps that Paterson’s son, David, is also the screenwriter, together with Jeff Stockwell.
The young leads, Hutcherson (of "Zathura" fame) and Robb (of "Charlie And The Chocolate Factory"), represent the middle class families of America and they display natural screen chemistry, helping to keep us enthralled throughout the movie. The other cast members are solid too, like the cute Bailee Madison as Jesse’s younger sister May Belle; Robert Patrick as Jesse’s strict but caring father; and a spirited Zooey Deschanel as their inspirational music teacher.

THE LOWDOWN: "Bridge to Terabithia" is a touching and heart-warming movie without trying too hard to tug at our heartstrings. Children who watch it would probably learn how to handle adversity (like the problems at home and in school) and to let their imaginations fly; parents may understand their children more and adapt to nurturing creativity in their offspring.

WEEKEND PIC March 9 - 11

Your guide to the Weekend Viewing:

1. 300 (stylised war action with Gerard Butler, Lena Headey and Vincent Regan) Rated: * * * (out of 4): Pulsating battle scenes of the Spartans vs Persians with blood and gore enhanced by CGI to give a surrealistic effect. Based on Frank Miller's graphic novel (like "Sin City").

2. DREAMGIRLS (musical with Beyonce Knowles, Jennifer Hudson, Jamie Foxx and Eddie Murphy) Rating: * * * 1/2 (3.5 stars): Mesmerising musical about Black singers in the 60s and 70s (like Diana Ross & The Supremes), with powerful performances by Hudson and Beyonce. Watch how Hudson has managed to win the Globe and Oscar for her first movie role.

3. THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS (biodrama with Will Smith, Thandie Newton and Jaden Smith) Rated: * * * (3 stars): This rags to riches story of multi-millionaire Chris Gardner is a bit cliched and contrived but the heart and scene-stealer is Smith's son Jaden who should make the women reach for their tissues.

4. BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA (fantasy adventure with Josh Hutcherson and AnnaSophia Robb) Rating: * * * (3 stars): A feel-good rites-of-passage movie about the power of friendship and imagination between two classmates. Don't expect another "Chronicles Of Narnia" epic, though.

5. CHARLOTTE'S WEB (fantasy drama with Dakota Fanning and voice of Julia Roberts) Rating: * * * (3 stars): This live action rendition of E.B. White's novel about loyalty and sacrifice is both heartwarming and emotional. Great for the family.

6. PRIMEVAL (thriller with Dominic Purcell and Orlando Jones) Rating: * * (2 stars): Story about a hunt for a giant killer croc in Africa with a military villain thrown in. Trouble is, you would feel pity for the croc, not the hunters.

DREAMGIRLS: Power-packed Musical

DREAMGIRLS (musical)
Cast: Beyonce Knowles, Jennifer Hudson, Jamie Foxx, Eddie Murphy and Keith Robinson
Director: Bill Condon
Time: 123 mins
Rating: * * * 1/2 (out of 4)


WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL? Just the buzz about newcomer Jennifer Hudson’s award-grabbing performance is enough to compel any moviegoer to catch "Dreamgirls". If anything, this movie is the American Dream come true for the former American Idol contestant who won 17 awards for her role, including the Golden Globe and the coveted Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.

WHAT’S IT ABOUT? "Dreamgirls" is not just the story of Effie White (Hudson) but of a young Afro-American vocal group in the Sixties called The Dreamettes. Besides lead singer Effie, the group also comprises Deena Jones (Beyonce Knowles) and Lorrell Robinson (Anika Noni Rose).
The girls meet talent scout Curtis Taylor Jr (Jamie Foxx) at a talent contest and are persuaded to sing back-up for soul star James ‘Thunder’ Early (Eddie Murphy). The subsequent road shows and recordings are a success – and that’s when Curtis decides to market them on their own steam as The Dreams. To facilitate that, he makes a drastic change: he makes Deena the lead singer because of her looks and relegates Effie to the sideline. Soon, Effie leaves the group, including her brother C.C. (Keith Robinson) who writes their songs. Curtis employs a new member (Sharon Leal as Michele) – and Effie is all but forgotten.
Curtis takes The Dreams to international fame after breaking into the ‘white music’ market – and the rest reads like the pages from American music history (think Diana Ross and The Supremes and you get the picture). Curtis even plans a movie for his wife Deena, while Effie, now a single mother living on social security cheques, resorts to singing at neighbourhood pubs.

HIGHLIGHTS AND LOWLIGHTS: "Dreamgirls" is also an expose on public relations and marketing in the music business. Curtis sees the real potential in his clients and exploits it accordingly. He steps on a lot of toes and breaks a few hearts along the way but is he really the villain of the piece?
Director Bill Condon leaves that verdict to the audience. What is unanimous is that "Dreamgirls" is powerful entertainment packed with a multi-layered storyline, cool music and strong performances. Condon films part of the narrative in operatic style – with the characters breaking into song every now and then. This tends to give viewers the goose-bumps but it is easy to get used to it after a while. Like the Oscar-winning dance-musical "Chicago", Condon also takes us on a nostalgic trip to the ‘problematic birth’ of black music when white singers copy their songs at will – and make chart-toppers out of them.
However, it is the power-packed performances that make "Dreamgirls" a must-watch and those who complained that it was ignored by the Academy (for Best Picture nomination) certainly had a point. Hudson’s Effie comes out as the girl-next-door who has a huge talent and a stubborn streak. But we feel for her despite her attitude and flaws. Beyonce, on the other hand, is magnificent as the beautiful Deena and she even manages to sound and look like Diana Ross with Afro hairstyle. Foxx delivers first class performance as the scheming Curtis, a rather demanding role that skirts between hero and villain. Murphy does a good impersonation of James Brown but it is certainly not an Oscar-worthy role. That Best Supporting Actor nomination should have gone to Foxx instead.

THE LOWDOWN: For a long time, moviegoers have been wary of musicals which are deemed ‘nice to watch and listen to but a pain to sit through’. However, with well-produced efforts like "Dreamgirls", "Ray", "Chicago" and "Walk The Line", they are certainly making their way back into our hearts and minds.

'300' - Visuals to provoke your senses

300 (war drama)
Cast: Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, Vincent Regan and Dominic West
Director: Zack Snyder
Time: 90 mins
Rating: * * * (out of 4)

WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL? "300" is the second of Frank Miller’s graphic novels to be adapted for the big screen – after "Sin City" of 2005 – and Miller should not have any complaints about how Zack Snyder has visualised his sword-and-sandal epic. Snyder has not only been faithful to Miller’s style and vision, he has also provided the adrenaline and testosterone thrills – plus a whole lot of graphically realistic violence and blood-letting (hence the 18PL classification in Malaysia).

WHAT’S IT ABOUT? Based on the Greek legend of the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC, the movie opens with a brief introduction to the militaristic traditions of Sparta where children, like Leonidas, are taught the art of sword-fighting as soon as they are old enough to hold a sword. They also learn about personal honour and respect – and never to yield to the enemy.
When he becomes king, Leonidas (Gerard Butler) receives word from a Persian emissary that Sparta and all of Greece should pay homage to King Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro) as ruler of the world – or face invasion by his massive army. When Leonidas refuses, he not only incurs the wrath of Xerxes but also that of his own council members for going against the exhortations of the Oracle (Kelly Graig) forbidding him from fighting the Persians.
The rest of the story, about how Leonidas leads 300 men against the hordes of foreign invaders, is now legend. The word ‘Spartan’ is synonymous with ‘practical, simple and disciplined.’

HIGHLIGHTS AND LOWLIGHTS: ‘Spartan’, however, does not describe the way Snyder brings the graphic novel to life. Most of the movie is filmed against a green screen backdrop where computer-generated backgrounds are incorporated into the print, giving the movie a surrealistic, comic book effect (just like what we got in "Sin City"). The costumes are specially designed to excite and provoke the imagination. The music score keeps the battle scenes 'energised'. In filming the battle scenes, the camera is speeded up and slowed down, providing slow-motion close-ups and fast-paced shots of limbs and heads being severed -- with blood splattering all over the screen. There are also many shots of dead bodies being piled up – just to emphasise the results of the battles.
For the first half-hour or so, these graphically violent scenes are cool to watch but Snyder tends to repeat them throughout the movie – numbing the audience to the brutality in the process. The Spartan warriors are all about glory and sacrifice – and the cast, including Vincent Regan as Captain, Andrew Pleavin as Daxos and Andrew Tiernan as Ephialtes – are suitably gungho to pass themselves off as sacrificial lambs all ready to accept Leonidas’ invitation to ‘dine in Hell’.
Snyder alternates the battle sequences with those of Queen Gorgo’s (Lena Headey) attempts to rally the treacherous Theron (Dominic West) to her side and persuade the Council to send reinforcements to her husband. However, this political wrangling could have been developed and expanded to heighten the suspense and tension in between the battle scenes.
Avid cinema fans would also be reading about the 'explicit' love scene between Leonidas and his queen – and the nude Oracle scene – which had been exorcised from our cinemas. But never mind, there are enough thrills and spills and eye candy here for fans of Frank Miller to enjoy on the big screen.

THE LOWDOWN: "300" is a visual feast that should provoke our senses.

WEEKEND PIC March 2 - 5

A Guide For Your Weekend Viewing

1. DREAMGIRLS (musical with Beyonce Knowles, Jennifer Hudson, Jamie Foxx and Eddie Murphy) Rating: * * * 1/2 (out of 4): Mesmerising musical about Black singers in the 60s and 70s (like Diana Ross & The Supremes), with powerful performances by Hudson and Beyonce. Watch how Hudson has managed to get the Globe and Oscar for her first movie role.


2. THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS (biodrama with Will Smith, Thandie Newton and Jaden Smith) Rated: * * * (3 stars): This rags to riches story of multi-millionaire Chris Gardner is a bit cliched and contrived but the heart and scene-stealer is Smith's son Jaden who should make the women reach for their tissues.

3. BABEL (drama with Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett and Rinko Kikuchi) Rating: * * * 1/2 (3.5 stars): Like the Oscar-winning "Crash", here's another social critique on Man's inability to communicate despite technological advances and the Internet. There are four 'stories' here, each connected to a single careless incident in Morocco.

4. ROCKY BALBOA (Boxing sequel with Sly Stalone, Burt Young and Milo Ventimiglia) Rating * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): Yes the geriatric Rocky goes for another round with a champ half his age and... Do you really need to see yet another underdog-triumph-against-the-odds flick?

5. TURISTAS: HOLIDAY OF HORROR (psychological thriller with Josh Duhamel, Melissa George and Olivia Wilde) Rated: * * (2 stars): American tourists invading Brazil for some sex, sun and fun hit nightmare territory when they are stranded at a beach. Slow-paced and incredulous plotting makes this one a forgettable flick.

PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS: Cute tyke

THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS (biodrama)
Cast: Will Smith, Thandie Newton and Jaden Christopher Syre Smith
Director: Gabriele Muccino
Time: 115 mins
Rating: * * * (out of 4)

PREAMBLE: The American Declaration of Independence of 1776 states that "all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness". This forms the basis of the so-called 'American Dream' which most immigrants seek – and the theme of this rags-to-riches story of Chris Gardner.
The one thing about "The Pursuit of Happyness" (its title deliberately misspelt to reflect a graffiti at the San Francisco daycare centre in which Gardner's son was left in) is that it does not set out to be a 'great' or creatively stylish movie. Right from the start, where Gardner (played by Will Smith) narrates the stages of his life, we get the feeling that this is an ordinary movie about an 'ordinary' husband and father doing his best not just to provide for his family but to get the best for them. And it is this 'ornery-ness' that makes us root for Gardner and his pursuit of wealth.

WHAT’S IT ABOUT? Set in the early 80s, the opening shows Gardner as a struggling salesman of an expensive thingamajig known as a 'bone-density scanner'. In the vain hope that he would make it big, Gardner has invested all his savings in that device which actually does the work of an x-ray machine – at many times the cost. Naturally, his business suffers and it takes a toll on his marriage. His wife, Linda (Thandie Newton), is tired of listening to his wild schemes and promises; and his five-year-old son, Christopher (Jaden Christopher Syre Smith) gets caught in between their squabbles.
A chance encounter with a successful stockbroker sets Chris on to his dream of a luxurious life and even lands him an unpaid internship at a prestigious brokerage firm. However, with no means of financial support for his family, Linda soon leaves him -- and Chris is left with the problem of juggling his training at the firm, his sales and taking care of his son. Things get worse when he is kicked out of his rented apartment. Since Chris does not want to be separated from his son, they have to live on the streets, sleeping in restrooms and charity homes.

BOUQUETS & BRICKBATS: Gardner's ‘pursuit’ – which is actually more of a gamble – may seem reckless and foolish but it is inspiring simply because he dares to dream and is doggedly determined to fulfil it. Of course, he has the love of his son to spur him on and this gives the movie its emotional depth. Like his Oscar-nominated rendition of the famous boxer in "Ali", Smith gives a sympathetic portrayal of Gardner, complete with his usual wide smiles and street smarts. Most of the time, he has us empathising with him. However, the show-stealer is his real-life son Jaden who tugs at our heartstrings with his tone and lines.
He displays real chemistry with Smith and mothers in the audience are bound to be moved by the performance of this curly-haired tyke. As such, remember to bring along extra handkerchiefs or tissue paper. Newton’s role as Linda gets the short shrift – but she is not the villain here. Caught in such circumstances, we sympathise with her too.
Director Muccino, who is making his English language feature debut here, takes care of little details like Gardner’s mastery of the Rubik’s Cube (which was the rage in the 80s), and Gardner’s trysts with a cab-driver. This helps to push the footage to more than two hours without forcing us to look at our watch. The ending, however, seems rather hasty – with Gardner’s success documented in a footnote at the closing credits.

THE LOWDOWN: Reminiscent of "Kramer Vs Kramer", this one should work well with Malaysian audiences too.