rack_focus Reviews

Phoebe in Wonderland (2008)

Surprisingly Fantastic

[10/10 · 24 June 2009]

**May contain slight spoilers** Wow. I put this on at 2 am thinking it was a kids movie that I could watch as I drifted to sleep. I was very wrong. Instead, it's a complex, deep, insightful masterpiece that made me cry two or three times.

Don't be fooled by the cover. This is not a movie for children. The story focuses on a free-willed family with writer/scholar parents, and very bright young daughters. The lightheartedness slowly gives way to a deep heartfelt story of a young girl developing OCD and Tourettes while just trying to keep her lead in the school play of Alice in Wonderland. Her drama teacher, played by Patricia Clarkson, is a quiet, Nanny McPhee-type who is able to connect to Phoebe a little bit better than everyone else. I almost got annoyed with that, since it is rather cliché, but it's really Phoebe's mom (the brilliant Felicity Huffman) who connects with Phoebe the most. You'll laugh one moment and cry the next as you take this journey with such an endearing and interesting family. Phoebe befriends a young boy named Jamie who has a lot more theater experience than she does, and wants nothing more than to play not the White Knight, nor the King of Hearts, but rather the Queen of Hearts. This decision leads the other children to call him "homo" and "faggot", which results in the usually wisely reserved Miss Dodger (Clarkson) showing the only anger she shows in the film when she confronts them and challenges their mimicry. Maybe I am mistaken...maybe some older children should be exposed to this film. Not only will they learn how to imagine, but they will also learn how to tolerate differences, and to love a person for who he or she is, despite wanting to go against gender roles and play the Queen of Hearts, or having to wash her hands a certain number of times.

If I am not mistaken, this is Elle Fannings first lead role, and man does she do an amazing job. She's already begun to surpass her sister when it comes to acting chops. I can't wait to see where she goes.

Life on Mars (2008–2009)

Pleasant Enough

[7/10 · 9 October 2008]

I love British TV, but I have not seen the original. I liked this show, especially the situation with the female cop. I'm a big fan of period pieces, so it is nice to have the 70s angle that the short-lived Swingtown thrived on.

Don't listen to those who have seen the original if you want to determine whether or not you should watch this show (unless you have seen the original and want to know if it compares.) I'm going to watch this show until it's over, then check out the original.

Awesome music (but kinda weak audio editing in the sense that they are just throwing in the music to have the awesome music and not really suit the scene), and O'Mara has been pleasing thus far. We need a little more of the subtle nostalgia of Swingtown, but other that, it's pretty good. (The nostalgia is based off of my dad and not me since I was -12 in 1973.)

Watch it.

Life (I) (2007–2009)

Quirky and fun

[10/10 · 27 September 2007]

Quirky leads have been very big lately. In the aftermath of the success of Gil Grissom, Monk, and House, quirky leads are seen as a guaranteed hit. We love when the lead is sarcastic, or does odd things that turn out to be completely logical. And that is what pulled me to Charlie Crews, played by the under-rated Damian Lewis.

The writers did a great job with the pilot. It is clean, and clear what the storyline is. Charlie Crews is an ex-cop who was set to prison for murder. 12 years later, he is released, compensated, and reinstated. His wife is remarried (presumably an amicable break-up), and he still doesn't know who framed him, but he has an anally set up system to try and figure it out.

Adam Arkin is in the cast playing his friend and financial adviser. He was in the same prison as Charlie for a white-collar crime, and Charlie saved his life. Now, he lives above Charlie's garage, and sometimes destroys his car with a tractor... Adam Arkin is fantastic.

Sarah Shahi plays Charlie's new partner, Dani Reese. The two actors have great chemistry and it shows on-screen. She is the typical straight laced cop, whereas he is the goofy, brooding, Sherlock. She's also got her own demons. It is clear that she has made a mistake that got her the "honor" of getting Charlie as a partner, and she is seen having a one night stand.

The storyline is clean, and not just focused on Charlie. The writers manage to do a good job juggling his character storyline, and the story of a murdered little boy. Good luck, "Life". I'll be watching.

And if you like Damian Lewis, check him out in Colditz. Excellent movie.