Nebraska is, well, home

It's only natural that someone living in Nebraska (Omaha) should review Alexander Payne's newest movie, Nebraska. Who knows the vibe better than a longtime resident?

Did I mention that Payne grew up in Omaha as well?

Nebraska is opened this weekend in "selected cities," including Omaha (at Film Streams). Judging from the reaction of the preview crowd, people are going to love this movie. (early reviews of both critics and audiences are very, very good.) The crowd applauded at the end and left the theater smiling and happy. Me too.

In the front seat, Bob Odenkirk as Ross Grant and June Squibb as Kate Grant. Riding in the back are Bruce Dern as Woody and Will Forte as David.

Payne made the choice to shoot the film in black and white, which is entirely appropriate at setting the right mood for this melancholy, sometimes sad, and sometimes hilarious film. What is not "sometimes" is the quality of this film, its actors, and its uncanny ability to capture the feel of small town mid-America.

It stars Bruce Dern as an aging, delusional father – with some wild hair! – who is convinced he has won a $1 million sweepstakes. The movie takes us on the odyssey undertaken by Woody Grant (Dern) and his son David (SNL's Will Forte) from Billings, Montana to Lincoln, Nebraska. (Dern turns in the performance of his career and is a sure Oscar nominee. Forte delivers a nuanced performance for which I would gladly give him an Oscar  nod.)

After trying to convince his irascible father that he had not won anything, David decides to humor him and drive him to Nebraska – especially after Woody tries over and over to walk there, in the winter, by himself. They leave despite the adamant disapproval of Woody's very funny wife Kate (June Squibb) and son Ross (Bob Odenkirk). Ross has just landed as a fill-in news anchor in Billings. David sells stereo systems. The parents' home is a very modest house in a lower middle class neighborhood. Life has not been financially kind to Woody, who used to live and work in the fictional small town of Hawthorne, Nebraska.

Woody is not only suffering from just a touch of dementia, but is an unrepentant alcoholic. He's painfully thin and has an empty stare and speaks in monosyllables. His last wish is to pick up his million dollars so he can buy a new pickup truck (despite no longer having a driver's license) and a new air compressor to replace the one he insists his onetime business partner Ed Pegram (Stacey Keach) stole from him when they owned a garage in Hawthorne. In fact, that's their first stop (after a hilarious quick visit to Mt. Rushmore).

Woody and David make the rounds of Woody's old haunts – mostly bars – including his former garage. They visit Woody's brother Uncle Ray (Rance Howard – yup, Ron's dad), where Aunt Martha (Mary Louis Wilson) flits around and her two slobby sons Bart (Tim Driscoll) and Cole (Devin Ratray) get to work baiting their cousin David. The two dissolve into hysterics every time they think that it took David more than a day to drive from Montana to Hawthorne. It is clear that they were way back in line when the Good Lord handed out smarts.

When Woody blabs that he has won a million dollars, some of the hometown crowd reveal their greed and try to collect past "debts" from him. This despite David's repeated explanations that Woody has not won anything. If anyone is the "villain" of this tale, it is Ed (Keach).

But this story is to be enjoyed for its small details, not necessarily the plot (for which writer Bob Nelson earns kudos). Rich performances by the principal cast are only part of the story. Actors in small roles, like that of former Omaha sportscaster Ray Stevens, also shine.

It is a talent of director Payne that he coaxes such subtle performances out of his actors. Although Woody and David exchange a minimum of words, we learn volumes about them. We come to view Woody with affection, despite his character flaws, especially as a father. While never articulated, David's love for his dad becomes evident, especially in the final heartwarming scenes.

This movie is more than the sum of its parts. You leave with a deeper understanding of people you might have dismissed. Your faith in mankind, while shaken, is ultimately renewed. And you get to see small town and rural Nebraska in amazing detail, like the blades of grass in an Andrew Wyeth painting.

A scene in a cemetery is at once sad and gloriously funny. A search for missing teeth is genius. In fact, you'll take many indelible memories with you after you see this gem. Unlike most releases, this one takes you on a journey during which you think, and feel, and laugh, and perhaps shed a tear, then leave satisfied, with that feeling of fullness you'll enjoy after Thanksgiving's dinner. So, I give thanks for this movie and to all who had a hand in it.

See you at the Oscars, Nebraska.

Three and a half stars!

The Book of Mormon

Despite the song "Turn It Off," they really know how to turn it on in the Tony Award-winning musical, The Book of Mormon, now on stage at the Orpheum.

As you walk past the souvenirs in the lobby, you begin to get an idea of what's to come. Besides the usual coffee cups and key chains (and of course T-shirts) there are boxer shorts and umbrellas with crude messages that only become fully understandable when you hear the lyrics. Funny, if cringe-inducing, stuff.

The totally irreverent, off-color, in-your-face musical is not for the faint-of-heart, but it definitely delivers the laughs. So turn off your PC filter and your inhibitions, and sit back for a wild ride with Elder Kevin Price (Nic Rouleau) and Elder Arnold Cunningham (A.J. Holmes) to their mission in Uganda. It's a long, long way from "Sal Tlay Ka Siti," and Orlando for that matter.

Elder Price dreamed of doing something amazing during his two-year mission. And he wanted to do it in Orlando. But he learns that the self-absorbed young man ["You and Me (But Mostly Me)"] has been paired with Elder Cunningham on a two-year stint in the poverty-stricken country in Africa.

Elder Cunningham is a bumbling, incompetent follower who is excited with his posting and his "new best friend."

Their arrival in Uganda begins with being robbed at gunpoint by the local warload, General Butt F-ing Naked, who shoots people just to make a point. (Interestingly enough, I learned that his namesake, General Butt Naked, an African warlord, actually exists and was every bit as evil as the play's villain until his conversion to Christianity. Art imitates life!)

Joining the other missionary young men posted there, the two learn how difficult their mission will be. The people are being terrorized by the warlord and his followers, are suffering from extreme poverty and most of them have AIDS. Men are killed, women are being circumcised, and virgins (mostly babies) sacrificed. Hope is elusive and the villagers sing a song ("Hasa Diga Eebowa!") to cheer themselves up. When the missionaries learn that the translation is profane and blasphemous, they see what they are up against.

Okay, long story short, Elder Price tries and fails to capture the minds and hearts of the villagers – in fact he gets himself kidnapped by the warlord. Encouraged by the beautiful young villager Nabulungi (Syesha Mercado), Elder Cunningham takes over ("Man Up"). Because of his fragile grip on the Mormon teachings and his propensity to lie, he tells some whoppers to relate to the villagers' needs. But his motives are pure; he really wants the people to have hope and a better life.

And, praise be, it works! He baptizes her and the rest of the village follows, to the delight of the church hierarchy. In a hilarious scene, the villages put on a play to demonstrate what they have learned and Elder Cunningham's lies are revealed. The hierarchy, furious, sends all of the missionary elders packing.

Is that the end of it? Go see for yourself ... there are still six performances left, tonight,Friday night, and twice on Saturday and Sunday.

Okay, so this reads more like a synopsis than a review. That's because I am reluctant to reveal too much with details of the very clever songs. Running gags like Elder Cunningham's inability to get the beautiful Nabulungi's name right are laugh-out-loud funny ... some scatological, many drawn from other Broadway musicals ("Nala" for instance). I'd love to write a list of the names, but this is a family-friendly blog.

Who takes a hit during this show, in words and visuals? Just about everyone: Besides the Mormons, Catholics, Jews, homosexuals (especially homosexuals), even Jesus. And many more.

Penned by the writers of “South Park” (Trey Parker, Matt Stone) and “Avenue Q” (Robert Lopez, they comically pay homage to musicals, When you go, see if you can match the musical to the song:
Tomorrow is a Latter Day, The Lion King, The King and I, A Chorus Line and Les Miz.

Show highlights include Rouleau's singing of "I Believe," a song which is both funny and inspirational and sincere. It's a beautiful song with an infectious rhythm that will stay stuck in your head long after you leave the theater.

In fact, all of the songs are catchy ... I'm sure the soundtrack CD sounds great. And the songs lend themselves to some great production numbers and fantastic choreography (by Casey Nicholaw, who also co-directed). There are no weak links in the cast: all possess great skill at singing, dancing and acting.

Sets are very effective and draw us right in to the action.

The star's fellow missionaries – outfitted in the familiar short-sleeve white shirt, black tie and sans-a-belt, are hilarious (loved looking at each one in turn during the song and dance numbers), especially Pierce Cassedy as Elder McKinley who has learned to switch his homosexual desires and sings about it ("Turn It Off").

The villagers, especially the guy with the intestinal problem, are equally effective.The end result of the show is a message of hope and surprising faith. While not endorsing a specific religion, it does endorse a belief system ... something you may not have expected from the naughty lyrics.

I often say that the touring cast is just as good as Broadway's. In this case, it's more than true. Lead actor Nic Rouleau came from the role in Broadway. He understudied Omaha's own Andrew Rannells, who won a Tony nomination for his original role. Another star in the cast is Syesha Mercado, whom you may have voted for in season seven of "American Idol." She came in third (behind winner Dave Cook and Dave Archuleta). After seeing her performance here, she probably should have won!

So ... short story long, The Book of Mormon is highly infectious and surprisingly uplifting. I found myself smiling until it hurt. I loved getting permission to laugh at very un-PC things. If you are the tolerant sort who is not too easily offended, and you are over 18 (21 is better), then go see this clever musical – THIS WEEK. Some tickets are still available, but I wouldn't wait too long. Go "Two by Two" or more ... just GO!

Visit http://omaha.broadway.com/shows/book-mormon-baa/ for information and tickets.

Lion King Roars!!!!

This is the final week of The Lion King at the Orpheum Theater.
If you haven't seen it yet, bribe someone for a ticket and get there asap! Seats were flying out of the box office from the start of the show's four-week run.
And rightly so.
This is the second time I've seen the show, and it has not lost any of its luster. In fact, it was better than ever!
It's hard to pick a favorite character, but I really, really liked Scar, played by the incredible Timothy Carter. The villain manages to evoke both disgust and sympathy for his complicated character. At the cast party, where I was fortunate enough to meet many of the the wonderful cast and crew members, I spoke to Mr. Carter, leaving me even more impressed! What a bright, insightful actor!
Likewise Simba (grown up), a gorgeous young man with a great voice, and a wonderful personality as well. Jelani Remy reminded me of Shemar Moore in Criminal Minds, and there's nothing bad about that!
The children who played the young Simba (Zavion Hill that night) and Nala were adorable (oh, the boys would kill me for saying that!) and so sweet and talented. Little Kailah McFadden came over to my husband at the cast party and introduced herself and asked if she could sit with him. What a lovely little lady who just turned 12.
I had the pleasure of visiting with the dance captains Jason Lewis and Kendra Moore. They both serve as "swing" performers as well, filling in for just about any part. Smart, friendly, and – there's that word again – talented people! I am so grateful I was able to meet and visit with them.
I'm sure I will be leaving out many wonderful performers, but I certainly need to talk about four in particular: Timon (Nick Cordilleone), Pumbaa (Ben Lipitz), Mark David Kaplan (Zazu), and Rafiki (Nteliseng Mkhela)! The first two are of course the characters known for "Hakuna Matata." They are hilarious. They have to be seen to be believed!! LOL
Zazu, who is Scar's very funny right-hand-bird, injects some really smart humor throughout the show. Ah, and Rafiki is the character (a baboon) who holds the plot together as narrator and more. And she is the most surprising in person. This tiny little young woman wears a large and heavy costume, rendering her unrecognizable in person.
I can't say enough about the music and voices. Simply spectacular.
Then there are the rest of the animals, including my favorites, the giraffes. I got to meet both of them and we had a great time comparing notes about walking (and dancing and prancing) on stilts. Both of them (I'd write their names if I could read their autographs on my poster that they signed!) were funny and very brave. It takes ladders to get them on and off their costumes but they are fantastic to watch.
We all know the story, so I won't even bother (rent the Disney movie!) to recap it. But it is at once funny, moving, inspirational, and most of all, perfect entertainment for the whole family. Everywhere I go, when I talk to people who have seen it and have brought their children, they can't stop raving. Or should I say ROARING?
Go. You'll love it!

The Oscars have arrived!

As usual, I am posting my picks. My confidence is only moderately high, since this is SUCH a competitive year. I have not see every nominee, but have seen quite a few, and I think all the major contenders. So, here goes:

Best Picture: Argo   (Lincoln is so close that it's almost a toss-up. Lincoln does hold the slight edge of having its director nominated as well. They are usually selected together. So, we'll see! I liked them both and perhaps even liked Zero Dark Thirty more, so I have not real preference.)

Best Actor: Daniel Day Lewis  (Personally, I thought Hugh Jackman's performance was amazing, but Day Lewis was phenomenal too. Still, Day Lewis is the closest thing to a lock this year!)

Best Actress: Jennifer Lawrence (A really tight race, with amazing performances all-round. If Jennifer doesn't get it, I believe Jessica Chastain will. There has been renewed interest in the performance of Emmanuelle Riva in Amour -- and she was terrific, but I think it goes to one of the younger actresses. At first I thought Naomi Watts would win, but there's no buzz there anymore.

Best Supporting Actor: Tommy Lee Jones   Another tough category, with Christoph Waltz winning some earlier awards, and Robert De Niro always a favorite. But I think I'll stick to Jones, who was such a key player in Lincoln.

Best Supporting Actress: Anne Hathaway  Early buzz was for Sally Field, but that faded. And after I saw Les Miserable, I saw why Hathaway was the favorite. She (and the movie) was marvelous.

Best Director: Steven Spielberg for Lincoln. I haven't yet seen it, but I've read quite a bit of sentiment for Ang Lee for Life of Pi. But I'm betting the academy will want to spread the love for Lincoln by giving this to Spielberg.

Best Song: Skyfall by Adele. At least the Bond movie will get something for one of the best pictures of the year!! (Should have gotten a nomination for best picture!)

Cinematography: Hoping it's Roger Deakins for Skyfall, but will most likely go to Caludio Miranda for Life of Pi. And where is the nomination for cinematographer for The Impossible?

Best Original Screenplay: Mark Boal, Zero Dark Thirty

Best Adapted Screenplay: I'm going with Chris Terrio for Argo, but it could be Tony Kushner for Lincoln.

Foreign Language Film: Amour (oddly enough, from Austria) A slam dunk. And a very depressing movie, by the way!

Sound Editing: I'm going to agree (again) with the World Herald reviewer and pick my favorite movie -- Zero Dark Thirty.

I'm not going to pick "Visual Effects" because I'm ticked off that Skyfall isn't nominated! (Life of Pi should win.)

So there you have it. I don't know enough to pick in the other categories. May the best man, or woman, win!!!

10 … 20 … Zero Dark 30

It finally opened wide, after an agonizing wait. The wait was worth it.
Zero Dark Thirty, the controversial movie about the killing of bin Laden, turned up the suspense (a remarkable feat in a story in which we all know the end) and never let it wane.
The movie covers the 10 year span after 9/11 when the CIA embarked on a long and tedious search for the al-Qaeda kingpin. At the center of the search is the character Maya (Jessica Chastain), the agent who becomes obsessed with finding him. Maya is based on a real person (and is also said to be part compilation). Director Kathryn Bigelow (outrageously passed over for an Oscar nomination) has said the movie is based on the first-hand accounts of unnamed persons. That the government is trying to unearth names tells me that Bigelow got close. And that flap about the use of torture? C'mon, who doesn't believe it was employed in the early hunt, especially when Obama expressly forbid it after taking office? I, for one, think the movie makers got this pretty darn close to the truth. And the final assault on the compound was probably as close as we're ever going to get to the truth. It rang true and showed us just how treacherous and dangerous the mission was and how brave and well-equipped those Seals were. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

There is a gritty reality to the whole film. I'm still spitting dust and sand out of my mouth.
I've come to admire not only the people who spent years of frustration running down thousands of leads and coming up short most of the time, and the talented cast who portrayed them. We get a unique insight into how the CIA works and how incredibly tedious their work is. People rotate in and out of the Middle East, while Maya stays the course. Her first co-worker, Dan, played to perfection by Jason Clarke, is an expert at torture, but there's very little payoff in terms of information. Those being "interrogated" – in a blisteringly hot, bleak bunker, chained in a standing position for hours when they aren't lying face-up being water-boarded – are either hardcore terrorists or small frys who don't know anything. Either way, information leading anywhere is hard to come by. And while he's tough, Clarke's character shows his softer side in surprising ways.
The CIA does know (probably) that a very elusive carrier may be the key, but finding him is proving as hard as finding bin Laden. Clue after clue dries up. And still Maya persists.
Chastain is supported by a terrific cast, including Kyle Chandler as the CIA station chief, Jennifer Ehle as another colleague, James Gandolfini in a small but pivotal role as the head of the CIA, and Chris Pratt and Joel Edgerton as Navy Seals, and many more.
The action is often quiet, but always tense. Throughout the movie's two and a half hours, no one left the auditorium, remaining riveted on the screen. My only quibble with the movie is the length … I think a little bit could have been trimmed in the early going. But Chastain makes up for that by being a constant luminous presence. She certainly deserves her Oscar nomination.
The violent scenes, including torture and killing, are handled with restraint. The language is what you would imagine if you were working under the conditions they were. Even Chastain joins in as "one of the boys."
One of the pluses of the film is getting the recent history we all know (or think we know) presented to us visually, putting everything into context. How many times have we said: Why can't they find that guy? What's taking so long? This helps to answer those questions. It also gives us a close-up look at the conditions our military have been enduring.
This is a meticulously-crafted film about an important topic. Never over-the-top, it feels real at all times. And the final raid is a real nail-biter, as we move right alongside those Seals, seeing the action through night-goggles just as they are. Fascinating.
I highly recommend this powerful movie. While it may have taken a few liberties, it's about as close to a history lesson as we're going to get.
Four reels for this one. 

Good Evening…

"The Master of Suspense" started each episode of his television show, "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour," with that greeting, then proceeded to set the scene for the week's episode. The show ran at same time as some of the director's best motion pictures, including the subject of this movie.
In Hitchcock, we are introduced to the eccentric filmmaker and his wife and uncredited collaborator, Alma Reville, as he struggles to get Psycho made in 1959.

It was such a departure from his other movies, although also a suspenseful plot, that he couldn't convince Paramount to bankroll it. He was so convinced he had to make this picture (after buying up every single book he could so no one could reveal the ending), he financed it himself, mortgaging his home.
While this is the story of Hitchcock's (Anthony Hopkins) making of Psycho, it is also a love story between him and his wife, Alma Reville (Helen Mirren, who just snagged a Golden Globe nomination), who backed him 100% all the while putting up with his fixations on his young, icy blonde stars. Scarlett Johansson plays Janet Leigh very capably, looking striking in the wonderful period wardrobe. James D'Arcy nails it as Anthony Perkins – he's a dead ringer. And Jessica Beal is lovely as Vera Miles, who is at odds with "Hitch." Toni Collett, Danny Huston, and the familiar faces of Ralph Macchio and Wallace Langham of "C.S.I." flesh out supporting roles.
The screenplay also serves up a generous helping of humor, resulting in some hearty laughs. Hitchcock's pronouncements were often colorful and funny, here especially concerning his battle with his weight. There is also a poignant side to the story, well-played
Besides terrific performances by the whole cast, the movie boasts wonderful period clothes, home decor, cars – everything connected to 1959.
Those of a certain age who are very familiar with Sir Hitchcock's films will delight in learning more about the man and his home life, pulling back the curtain that has always veiled the director. They will surely enjoy this movie immensely (myself among them).
For younger audiences, the appeal may be in the star power and in the romance of film making in general. Fans of Psycho will love it, especially the shaping of the iconic movie and how it evolved.
In an interesting, and artsy, addition to the movie, we become acquainted with Hitch's apparent muse, the serial killer Eddie Gein (Michael Wincott), whose grisly deeds were unearthed in 1957, who "speaks" to the director during the planning and filming, inspiring some of Hitch's innovative shooting and editing techniques.
The score by Danny Elfman was right on; not surprising as Elfman's biggest influence was Bernard Herrmann, who scored Psycho.
A very entertaining, well-made movie with terrific acting and a good screenplay, Hitchcock deserves a rating of three and a half reels (out of four).

Wow, how times flies! One evening turned into another. Because it's Friday, I am going to reverse the order of my promised reviews.

Let's start with Skyfall.

No beating around the bush: the best action film of the year. Yes, really.

But it's not just an action movie. Daniel Craig as James Bond has made the role his own with this, his third, installment. He is simply fantastic in it. He's manly, flawed (!), strong, tender, suave, funny, loyal, and vulnerable. What more can you ask for in a movie hero?

From the exhilarating opening scenes, Bond gets the adrenalin pumping!

What's new here? Bond revisits his past, revealing more about the man than has ever been shown before. We understand him so much better. And love him more.

Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes brings a relentless pace and, along with his cinematographer, Roger Deakins, breath-taking new locales. There's eye candy to spare, be it the rugged hills of Scotland or the neon beauty of Singapore, or the stunning beauty of leading ladies Naomie Harris and Bérénice Marlohe.

The acting is a cut above many films and probably all the previous Bonds. 

The story is simple: As Bond rises from the "dead," having been shot in the long, thrilling, edge-of-your-seat opening, he reluctantly returns as 007 when MI6 comes under attack. Bond's loyalty to M (once again the magnificent Judi Dench) is tested as her past comes back to haunt her (and she's pretty ruthless at the beginning of this), and he knows he must hunt down and destroy the threat, seemingly from within. It seems that when he was "killed," he let the bad guys get their hands on a vital list of secret agents, an action he died trying to prevent, M is blamed, and is being forced to retire.
There are many red herrings, but since you probably already know that a bizarre-looking Javier Bardem is the chief villain, they may or may not pan out.

The outstanding cast also includes French actress Berenice Marlohe as Severine, English beauty Naomie Harris as field agent Eve, Ben Whishaw as Q, Ralph Fiennes as government agent Gareth Mallory, and Albert Finney (I won't say who he plays ... it's more fun for you to figure that out).

This movie could easily stand alone as a great spy movie. But it is very much a Bond film, thanks especially to all of the retro references (the audience silently – or not-so-silently – speaks the lines that are left unspoken). The old "Bond" music is played more often than it has in the past several movies, and at just the right times.

The gadgets are more subtle, but just as much fun. For aficionados, it's a lot of fun anticipating their use. 

The action is spectacular and inventive. A long motorcycle chase over impossible terrain gets the heart pumping. An underground scene is magnificent. The action scene in Singapore is eye-popping. Even the routine gun-play is both scary and fun. The almost obligatory casino scene is very different from all the others. And while all Bond movies are over-the-top, this one seems more grounded than the others.

Dench and Finney are marvelous, as is Naomie Harris, who combines beauty, charm, humor and a lot of grit into the complete package (just wait until you find out who she is!).

So many memorable moments in the 2 hour and 20 minute show. And it is bookended by the beautiful theme song co-written and sung by Adele, and the iconic Bond camera lens pose.

A must-see on so many levels.

Don't let this one get away. My husband, who has not been a fan of Craig as Bond, was completely won over and insists on seeing it again! I didn't need much convincing but it made me an even bigger fan than ever. There might even be some Oscar-buzz here, deservedly so.

It's rated PG-13 for intense violent sequences throughout, some sexuality, language and smoking (!). But aside from the violence, it's pretty tame compared to, say, Flight (which is rated R).

Four Reels for this terrific movie!

After a LONG break, I'm BACK, with more enthusiasm than ever. I hope you will enjoy my comments and reviews as I go forward. First up will be a review of Flight, followed by a review of Skyfall. Fasten your seatbelts – I'll be back in just a little while this evening.

Did you vote? I did!

Spider-Man is, well, Amazing

Pardon the long, long interruption of this blog. Happily, I'm back and rarin' to go...out in Omaha!

Let's begin by looking at the latest motion picture release, the one that opened at 11:50 last night, July 3. 

That, of course, would be The Amazing Spider-Man.

The reboot of the series that started less than a decade ago with Toby McGuire has burst upon the screen – in 3D and IMAX no less – with a new title hero, Andrew Garfield.

The story returns to Spider-Man's beginnings as Peter Parker, complete with the mysterious disappearance of his parents, his being raised by his aunt and uncle (the well-cast Sally Field and Martin Sheen), and being bitten by a spider while on a sort of field trip.

But this Spider-Man is edgier and actually more believable. He really acts like an ordinary teenager (which for a 29-year-old actor is impressive). He worries a lot – about having a crush on fellow student Gwen (a radiant Emma Stone), being bullied by a bunch of nitwits at school, and about why and how his parents died (?). 

When he first discovers his new abilities after that fateful bite, he has a bit of fun with them (what boy wouldn't like to virtually fly?), and then when things take a dark turn, he uses them to exact revenge.

His actions turn him into someone wanted by the police, whose chief just happens to be Gwen's father (Denis Leary).

But when his unique abilities are needed for good, he steps up to the plate. And when things go wrong, they go really, really wrong. His father's former partner, Dr. Curt Conners (a very good Rhys Ifans), with Peter's help, takes what was a promising medical breakthrough and uses it unwisely to say the least as he transforms into a hideous lizard. That's when the special spider effects rally go on steroids.

All that is all the more impressive in 3D, to say nothing of IMAX.

Those two film treatments have undergone a real transformation in terms of their watchability. Yes, we still have to wear the glasses, but at least they're comfortable. We no longer have to put up with fuzzy red/green moments or stomach-churning, vertigo-inspiring action. Well, some of the action is supposed to be like that, but that's another story.

Anyway, the end result is a beautiful film, crystal clear and awe-inspiring, Those "flying" sequences are really beautiful, if a little bit terrifying.

So, should you go?

Did you like the first version? I'm betting you'll like this one even more. I really love the new Peter Parker. And the chemistry between Peter and Gwen is palpable (it doesn't hurt that they are an item in "real" life). All of the acting is really good, believable, never over the top. 

Ifans is a far cry from his goofy character in Notting Hill; he's all grown up and likable when he isn't turning into a lizard monster.

Even Spider-Man's creator Stan Lee makes a cameo in a very funny scene in the school library.

The film's violence and occasional gory bits make it a PG-13, but, refreshingly, the language is "G" (one of Peter's curses is "Mother Hubbard"). 

I loved the heart of this, the good acting, the great look of it, and the eye-popping action. It is a fun, fun summer film and one of the best action movies in recent years. I recommend it for all those who like fast action, smart actors, dialogue that rings true, and a little sentiment to boot. It's a little dark, but not as dark at the current Batman series.

Go ahead. Go see it. In 3D. In IMAX if possible. Let it spin its web around you!

Three and a half (out of four) reels

2012 Oscar Picks

 My Oscar Picks, some by reasoning, some by sentiment:

My reasoning:
I think The Artist will win, because the momentum is all theirs now. There was a time when The Descendants had the steam, and before that The Help. Hugo is mounting a last-minute attempt to grab the spotlight, but I think that’s too late.
The other Best Picture nominees (9 in all) are:
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (reviews are either very good or very critical); Midnight in Paris (a personal favorite of mine, but no buzz); Moneyball (also a very good film, but it just lacks that “Wow” factor; War Horse (a fine movie with no acting nominations…it is the kind of sweeping movie that may have won 30 years ago); and The Tree of Life (which I did not see, and apparently neither did anyone else, and is reported to be a touch too arty).
I would really like for The Help to win (it really sticks with you and it has a story both poignant and heroic), but I won’t quibble if (and when) The Artist does. I liked The Descendants from our very own Alexander Payne, but don’t think it has the heft to win. The Help will get their love with acting statues (and deservedly so). The Descendants will earn Payne another writing award, and probably a Best Actor acting award for Clooney. I say probably, for this race is too close to call really. Jean Duiardin did a great job in a difficult role, having to convey everything with his face and body language, and pulling it off. Gary Oldman was also terrific in the underrated  Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. But I think Clooney has the love (his only “con” is that he has an acting Oscar).
The Best Actress race is equally hard to pick. Merle Streep has her incredible body of work leading up to a performance that critics have lauded (I haven’t seen it yet, but knowing Streep, she’s great). Viola Davis has turned in some terrific performances in the past few years, including a nomination for Doubt (her co-star? Merle Steep!). This one is too close to bet any money on, but I’m going with Davis because I just thought she was magnificent.
Supporting Actress is easy: Octavia Spencer (The Help) all the way. I’m in love with Minnie. Loved her in the book; loved her in the movie. She is the movie’s mojo. The other actresses are good, but Spencer just blew everyone away. Bet on this one if you must bet.
Supporting actor will apparently go to longtime superb actor who has yet to earn an Oscar, Christopher Plumber. It will probably help the film get some viewers; I doubt if anyone watching tonight has seen Beginners!
I have one quibble: that Rooney Mara from The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo didn’t get a more serious look. I thought she was amazing. I walked out of the (fabulous) movie knowing she would get a nomination. Talk about transformation! I guess she would be up there with Glenn Close if that were the criteria (didn’t see her movie, yet, but of course she’s wonderful).I loved Mara and can’t wait to see the two sequels. I can’t get her portrayal out of my head. She absolutely broke my heart.
In my picks in other categories, I gave some love to Mara’s movie (which may not win, but I thought it should) and even a couple nods to Harry Potter, because I never did think it got enough attention from the Academy (old white men). I hope someday they give it an honorary Oscar. After all, it was a record-shattering success from start to finish and it was a stupendous undertaking done well all along the way, by several directors. The series will stand the test of time to be sure.
Oh, since the Best Director prize usually goes to the director of the Best Movie, I’m assuming that Michel Hazanavicius (maybe we’ll find out how to pronounce it tonight!) will win. If on the other hand The Help wins, then maybe Payne or Scorsese will win, since inexplicably, The Help’s director was not nominated (I guess they didn’t need him to so lovingly bring the best-selling book to the screen).
I guess you can hear my little nitpicks, so I’d better wrap up by saying that Octavia Spencer will be dressed exquisitely, and Merle Streep will not. But then there Sasha Baron Cohen…
And now, it’s OFF TO THE OSCARS!