Six Degrees Of Separation

Will Smith's performance in The Pursuit Of Happyness made me want to see more of his dramatic work. Sure, the action stuff is a hoot. And he's quite good in a comedy. But I really dig his dramatic turns. But, I have this thing about watching most movies twice...Which ruled out Ali, and I, Robot and Enemy Of The State.


While looking over his resume, I realized I had never seen Smith's Six Degrees Of Separation.

Netflix, work your magic.




I was eager to see the flick, mostly because I've read for years how Smith came off like a huge pro in his first significant, big-time movie role. But, the day the red envelope arrived I sat it aside. It's been a busy, busy week and I was just barely getting by. Watching a movie from 1993 that I knew all about anyway wasn't a high priority.

It felt almost as senseless as watching movies more than once.



I mean, what sort of goofball does that?

My Aunt Linda and this guy are the only two I know...



Life settled down last evening and I popped the red envelope open and slipped the wide-screen version into the DVD player. Settled in, ready to take in that Will Smith magic. I knew the story, which was loosely based on real events, about a confidence man in New York City who pretended to be the son of Sidney Poitier in order to get close to (and sometimes burglarize) wealthy folks. I expected Smith to have the meatiest role, and to carry the film.

I was surprised to discover that it's Stockard Channing, the film's female lead, who really carried Six Degrees. Her Ouisa Kittredge opens the film (in which she co-stars with Donald Sutherland) portraying the character as a shallow aristocrat who flits about sampling life rather than really participating in it. She expects this is how rich folks live, I think, and designed an existence to fit that stereotypical lifestyle. We quickly realize that the introduction to Smith's character Paul changes Kittredge. It makes her feel for, maybe, the first time. To question herself, and her direction. Makes her realize the power of relationships, and from connecting intimately with another human beings.

(Even if that other human being is a con man.)

I really enjoyed Six Degrees Of Separation, especially after I realized the whirlwind that is the first 20 minutes is intended--and necessary--in order to understand the shallow, moment-by-moment existence of the Kittredge couple. The flick is entertaining, and reminds you to pay attention to the really important things in life.

And Will Smith wasn't too bad, either.

Will You Be Mine?

Or: The Single Most Romantic Movie Scene Of The Last 20 Years.


Simply, to know Lloyd Dobler is to love him.


Photo courtesy of 20th Century Fox

Thank You

I know, it goes against the core principles of real blogging: Being concerned with what others think of your blog, and what you write.

But I ain't no real blogger, and I never much followed the rules. Rules about things like blogging were established by people much cooler and in the know that I'll ever be.

The truth is, I am interested in what other people think of The Film Geek. I like hearing from people regarding my comments on movies, and how many of those movies (Basic Instinct 2 being an exception) have effected me in some way. And besides, I do need a place to store my rants about Oprah.

Please! Make it stop!

Yep, I write The Film Geek because I really do enjoy the people who stop by. It may sound cheesy, but I appreciate the folks who are regular visitors, and I get a kick out of those anonymous readers who stumble upon this site because one day they wondered what happened to Meeno Peluce.

When I first wrote a brief paragraph about the movie Elizabethtown last February, I recall being painfully aware that I didn't have an identity. I didn't have my own voice. I also was uncertain what to expect, and would not have predicted that-- one year later-- I would have written 322 posts, commented on 95 movies and developed relationships with a diverse community of bloggers.

You helped me find my voice, and you made the year really interesting.

Thank you.

Put On the Red Light

Was it just me? Or, were you disappointed in the Police one-song reunion that opened last night's Grammy show.

I thought the updated version of Roxanne was too Sting-y, really. And I haven't been a fan of his since the 1986 break-up.

But Stewart Copeland rocked on drums! And the harmony was tight.


Maybe I expected too much. I was riding the nostagia wave pretty hard, telling my ten-year-old Maddisen how, in the early 80s, the band she was seeing really was that great.

"What's he saying?" she asked.

"He's singing 'Put on the red light," I answered, while simultaneously shussing her so I could hear the gig.

"Why is he just humming and stuff after the chorus?" she asked, even after I'd talked myself into believing that was not what he was doing.

"He's Sting. That's what he does." It's all I could muster.

Was it just me?

Nanny McPhee

Cedric Brown has seven ill-behaved children who have chased away a dozen-and-a-half nannies with their disruptive behavior, ill-manners and diabolical schemes.


I have only three children, only one of whom is [possibly] diabolical. Somehow, though, I still identify with the guy.



Recently widowed, Mr. Brown struggles not only with how to parent his children, but also with re-discovering his own direction in life. To make matters worse, his purse-holding Aunt wants him married again within a month. If he isn't, he loses the financial allowence she gives him, and the kids will be seperated.

He's desperate. Enter Emma Thompson as Nanny McPhee to, ultimately, lead the effort to sove all the problems.
Based on the book series Nurse Matilda, Nanny McPhee is a terrific movie about restoring hope with discipline, humor and acceptance. It's also about the importance of personal growth, and how luck and lifestyle can improve with a simple change in perception.


My kids loved the flick, too. Here's what Griffyn (6) had to say:

1. What did you like best about Nanny McPhee?

Answer: "When the Dad and the girl got married! They had a food fight that was funny."


2. Do you wish you had a nanny, like Nanny McPhee?

Answer: "Uh, no. She had a big tooth that came over her lip, and a thing that made noise and magic. She made the kids drink ink."


3. Are you going to be good from now on, so I don't have to hire a Nanny McPhee?

Answer: "I'm always good."

Yep, you are.

Hoot

Roy Eberhardt is a typical teen who's moved with his family to different areas of the country six times in the last eight years. His Dad is on the fast track at work, and the bottom-line is his promotions cause his son to be the new kid in school more often than not. Roy's been bullied a lot, and he's learned how to fight back.

Develop a plan, stick to it and don't back down.

Bullying behavior is central to the theme of Hoot. The movie tells the story of three teens who fight against the development of property that is home to several families of burrowing owls. The development company bullies most everyone to get the property developed quickly, regardless of the owls. The kids--Roy and his friends--act on behalf of the owls, believing the vulnerable birds need help to avoid being ousted from their homes.

Hoot clearly strives to be more message movie than entertainment, which allows for some characters to be cartoonish, and poorly developed. And the obvious message of the film may make some non-tree huggers frustrated. It's a simple film, really, with a simple message:



We humans make a lot of noise, and disrupt a lot of nature in our efforts to make a buck. Sometimes we need reminded to be quiet, and simply listen to what's going on around us.





That's a fine message, and one I buy into. But, Hoot would have made the point better, I think, had Jimmy Buffett not played a supporting role in the flick. I admit to not being a fan of the Parrot Head, but I'm even less a fan of his commercial efforts. I've seen too many neon "Margaritaville" signs across the south--and too many overpriced T-shirts sold in his gift shops--to buy anything Buffett is selling about the enviornment and commercialism.

Despite Hoot not being really well developed, I liked it. And, so did my kids, even after the snacks were gone. That says something, anyway.

Date Movies I Should See Again

In the late 1970s and through the mid-80's, Groves Theater was the second favorite place for teens to hang out together in Summersville, WV.

The first choice was the parking lot of White's Funeral Home. Some kids claimed to gather there because it was the most centrally located parking lot in town, and you could see the passers-by so easily.

But I'm convinced it was for the macabre.



That, and the faint smell of formaldehyde.




But Groves' was a happenin' place. It had the only movie screen for 45 miles, a fairly well-stocked concession stand and a reputation for allowing 15 year-olds in to see R-rated flicks like Porky's.

So, after some Pac-Man at the Go-Mart and a thick crust at the Pizza Hut, those of us lucky enough to have a date for Saturday night would head over to the theater, regardless of what movie was on. Some of the stuff we saw was magical; others turned out to be just a way to kill a couple of hours. Once in a while, though, I'd walk out of the movie unsure of what I'd seen. So caught up in trying to impress a date, or simply too absorbed in teenagery, I'd let the plot of what I'd just seen slip by.

Some of those date movies I'd like a second chance with are:

Super Fuzz (1982). Here's what I remember: (1) A cop gets dunked in some kind of toxic waste; (2) Cop develops super powers that help him fight crime; (3) Cop temporarily loses newly-gained super powers when he sees the color red; (4) Rather than simply drop me off at the movies my Mom went too, and sat a few rows behind me while I tried to get busy on a first date with Mary Beth.

I don't recall the movie in detail. And, there was never a second date with Mary Beth.



On Golden Pond (1981). Henry Fonda's final big-screen flick was, I'm told, well acted and highly sentimental. But c'mon, I wasn't paying attention to anything other than my girlfriend's tearful reaction.
Sentimental movie + tears + sensitive-guy act from me = a fun time someplace other than White's parking lot after the movie. It took some concentration, but it worked!



My Tutor (1983). The father of a horny rich teen hires a gorgeous 30-year old blond to tutor him in French.

OK, I have to be honest. I remember a lot about this movie.

I have, however, forgotten the name of my date.



The China Syndrome (1979). Jill, my date that night and my first real girlfriend, really dug Michael Douglas with the rugged beard and hippie-looking hair. I was jealous. So much that I had trouble watching the movie any time he was on screen.

Now that I take a second glance, she was right. He is pretty hot.



Private Benjamin (1980). Even the beautiful Goldie Hawn couldn't keep my attention when I saw this movie as one half of my first double date. Both couples were on our first dates, and nervous as hell. I remember Goldie crying a lot in this movie, and a funny reference to oral sex. Other than that, I draw a complete blank.


Later that night, we mixed things up by going to the Go-Mart before White's parking lot.

Crazy kids...

Whatever Happened To...Chad Allen

I loved St. Elsewhere. A lot. In fact, I consider myself more than just a common fan of the show.

Truth is, I really did love it. Every episode. The show, which ran on NBC from 1982 through 1988 was brilliant; it combined very human stories with a unique visual presentation, excellent writing that helped the show feel authentic and a cast of talented actors who seemed to do their best individual work while being part of a large ensemble.

Anyone remember Denzel Washington?

I think what I loved most about St. Elsewhere was how a show about a bunch of medical professionals in big-city Boston's St. Eligius Hospital could make this then-teen-aged country boy from rural West Virginia feel like family.

Not a distant cousin or some type of in-law, but real family. The kind you don't feel obligated to pull out good china for when I visit. The sort of family you get excited to see, and love to spend time with. St. Elsewhere made me feel part of something unique, something special.

Until Chad Allen, and "The Last One."

For years, Allen played Tommy Westphall, the young son of Dr. Donald Westphall. Dr. Westphall was wise, but flawed. There was a sense of sadness about him, as if he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders. But, he carried it quietly, and with dignity. That dignity was evident when he provided medical care to patients, when he taught medical students completing residency at St. Eligius and when he parented Tommy, who happened to have autism.

For six years I visited my family at St. Elsewhere, watching Dr. Morrison (David Morse) become as good a human being as he was a doctor, hoping Dr. Ehrlich (Ed Begley, Jr.) would soon stop being a kiss-ass and crossing my fingers that Dr. Axelrod (Stephen Furst) would begin to develop some confidence.

Until Chad Allen, and "The Last One."

The final episode of St. Elsewhere, titled "The Last One" ended with Ed Flanders (wearing clothes that identified him not as a doctor, but as a construction worker) walking into a small apartment. In a chair sat Norman Lloyd-- known to viewers for years as Dr. Auschlander--dressed casually, and quickly revealed to be the father of the Construction-Man Donald Westphall.

Sitting quietly in the floor, staring intently into a snow globe was Tommy.

Westphall paused, looks at Auschlander and said: "I don't understand this autism. I talk to my boy, but...I'm not even sure if he ever hears me...Tommy's locked inside his own world. Staring at that toy all day long. What does he think about?"


It was all a fantasy! My beloved characters--Wayne Fiscus, Peter White, Jack Morrison and Elliott Axelrod--each simply a fantasy conjured up by a kid staring at a snow globe!

I was crushed, and angry. So much so that I boycotted the episodes of Highway to Heaven, The Wonder Years and Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman that featured Chad Allen as a guest star. I stayed away from his guest star turns on NYPD Blue, Cold Case and Charmed. I did see him recently, though, in a small role in TV's Criminal Minds.

Maybe it's time for a healing, after all...

Sherrybaby

Sherry Swanson is a junkie ex-con struggling to stay sober, develop a relationship with her young daughter and find some meaning in her existence. She doesn't have the skills to do any of those things well, however, which leads to increased frustration and continued poor choices. Sherry's damaged, but she won't face the realities of her challenges. Something happened to her during childhood that warped her sense of self; she needs something or someone to make her feel good about herself, because she can't get to that place alone.

Most times that something is heroin. Other times it's found in how she manipulates men.



Maggie Gyllenhaall is remarkable as the lead in Sherrybaby. In perhaps her most substantial role since Secretary, Gyllenhaal displays incredible range: she is at different times desperate, independent, insecure, tough and even sexy.

Gyllenhaal morphs Sherry through these emotions and traits in very subtle ways, and always in convincing fashion.

As good a Gyllenhaal's acting is in this movie, Sherrybaby is difficult to watch. The character's main goal is to regain custody of her young daughter, all the while unaware--as the audience clearly is very much aware--that she does not have the skills to be a good mother. As she gets closer to that goal, it's difficult to remain sympathetic to the character.

We simply don't want her to have her daughter, because we know the harm it would cause the child.

Sherrybaby is an honest, in-depth look inside the life of a young woman who never had much of a chance to succeed. As tough as the film is to watch, it's honest. And that makes it worth the viewing.

The Guardian

After Waterworld, you'd think Kevin Costner would avoid the wet stuff like the plague. But he spends even more time in the drink for his latest release, The Guardian.

With only slightly better results.

Costner stars as Ben Randall, the Coast Guards most decorated and bravest rescue swimmer. Randall's also the most narrowly-focused of his team members, a guy who too often sacrifices his own safety in order to rescue people from the deep. That single-mindedness puts his team in danger during one rescue attempt, with devastating results that leave Randall--and his superiors--a little unsure about his abilities. He's getting a bit long in the tooth; maybe he's lost a step, even though he still has the swagger.

The Coast Guard re-assigns Randall to a training facility, where his job becomes training new recruits to be rescue swimmers. A star recruit--Jake Fischer, played by Ashton Kutcher--emerges after several weeks. He's a talented swimmer with a selfish bent and a narrow perspective about life.

Randall soon wishes he knew how to quit Fischer!

At the end of the flick, Fischer's rough edges are polished and Randall's heroic personality is confirmed in a dramatic rescue scene. Mrs. Film Geek cried, which caused me to awaken from my Costner-induced nap. It's a good thing The Guardian is so formulaic, as I otherwise might have missed something important!

The Guardian is Top Gun meets An Officer and a Gentleman, without the jet-fighter speed or the romance of Gere and Winger. It may be a solid story, but at well over 2 hours it is way too long.

And it feels that way.