Delays, Delays

Due to various work/life business, blog posts have been a bit delayed. Rest assured, next week we'll be back to business as usual...which really isn't that usual since we've only had two posts on here so far. Next month's selection of movies is quite amazing so look forward to more reviews. I'll also be starting up two new columns. One for watching a new movie a day on Netflix (which I'll hopefully stick to) and a column about vaporware, or better known as "Films That Sound Awesome But Never Really Happened." Until then loyal reader, if you are out there, we'll return shortly.

Obediently yours,
Brett

Another Welcome and Yet Another Visitor Review

Hello potentially faithful new readers!

To start, I want to address the title of the blog. Yes, it’s a cliché but sometimes the cliché works better than creating a new phrase. It’s comfortable. It’s homely and familiar. It allows you, the new reader, to become more at ease with the blog as we go on a wonderful, wacky journey down the deep trenches of film and food. There may be some things on here that may fly over your heads or things you don’t quite get. However, like a cliché, we’ll keep coming up again and again. So, (as long as we’re using similes) like a great serialized TV show, it’s probably best that you start now before you get totally lost.

Also, yes, there was a show on TBS called Dinner and a Movie a while ago before they decided to put on crappy sitcoms and endless Family Guy repeats. The gist of it was that TBS would play a film with the wraparound segments consisting of this guy and girl (who were always vaguely hitting on each other without it becoming completely uncomfortable between them or the family-oriented audience) making food based on the film that would be on that night. Our blog isn’t about making food and film complimentary to each other. Each one encompasses its own sphere of sensual delight. You can’t watch food and get the same pleasure as eating it. And if you eat a film, you will either A) die or B) get horrible indigestion. There will be no Silence of the Lambs “Fava Beans With Chianti Reduction” or Pulp Fiction “Gimp Casserole Surprise.” Just film and food. Okay, maybe some other stuff too, but that’s pretty much the theme here.

We made this blog because we both share a unique passion for film and food. Personally, whenever I go to the movies, I never get disappointed with anything during the experience. The film may blow but it’s that feeling of going into a cinema that has been so endearing to many others and me for generations. One of my favorite things to do as a kid was to go to the cinema. In fact, some of the happiest moments of my life have been at movie theaters. True, I can always find a terrific film I haven’t seen in the theaters and enjoy it just as much on DVD or television. Nevertheless, I can never remember where I would watch a film if it wasn’t at the theater. It could’ve been on my laptop. It could’ve been on at a friend’s place. When I was younger, I moved around a lot so I can never pinpoint at what home I watched a film I loved. Maybe I’m just a romantic for those sorts of things…but I always feel at home at a movie theater.

The same is true for restaurants but only certain ones have a similar aura of mystique. Some of them are forgettable. Some can linger in your memory for a while. Not just because of the food but also because of the experience. A birthday. A memorable get together. The terrific food. There are restaurants that will always linger in my mind like a good theater going experience. However, like I said earlier, it cannot replicate the feeling of going to the movies as the movies cannot replicate the feeling of going to an amazing restaurant.

So, to sum up: don’t panic, stay awhile, and make yourself at home.

Now to my review of…

THE VISITOR

I think Andrea covered most of the bases with her review but I want to add my two cents. BEWARE! SPOILERS FROM HERE OUT!

When I started watching this movie, the first thought that came into my head was “Oh, great, another dull, pretentious indie flick about how genius is a curse.” Then something magical happened. After the first thirty minutes, Tarek gets arrested. From here out, the film shoots out like a bullet train and never stops chugging.

This film’s brilliance is how it walks the thin line like a trained acrobat into cliché territory but never crosses it. At times, the film could have been a message film about immigration issues in this country. Other times, it could have been a film about troubled genius. Also, it could’ve been like Gran Torino, the tale of bigot that comes to love the people he so ignorantly dislikes. Instead, like all good filmworks, it focuses on making a good story first with real stakes. We see this develop as we follow Richard Jenkins’ character, Walter, as he grows from a withdrawn, down-on-his luck professor to a man of true passion.

Richard Jenkins’ work on this film is something truly marvelous to behold. Like the film, he plays a character that, under a lesser actor’s hands, could just be a figure of pity but, instead, he turns Walter into a multi-dimensional human being that feels love, anger and resentment. Jenkins’ best skill he brings to this film is restraint. The whole film is a slow burn as all these terrible things happen to this man’s life and how he reacts in a soft-spoken way. It makes his final, angry outburst at the immigration officer that much more poignant. Walter has had everything in his life taken away from him. When they take Tarek away, it’s the last straw.

And, yes, Andrea, I will talk about the love story that develops. What’s interesting is that it’s not really a love story as it is a reflection of Walter. The main flaw of Walter is that he can’t let go. Even though he knows he cannot play the piano, he still plays it because his departed wife wanted him too. Tarek, his mom, and his wife are the ones that finally help let go (as seen visually the piano getting sold). What’s an interesting departure from other films is that, even though he learns to let go throughout the film, he becomes exactly like he was in the beginning of the film by the time the film ends.

In a way, it comes full circle at the end as he plays the drums fiercely in the subway. He has found something new that he cannot let go of. He no longer has his girlfriend. He could not save Tarek. He’s back at square one: alone. Nevertheless, he has a drive now, which makes it even more tragic. Playing the piano, he was withdrawn but, with the drums, he shows his burning passion…that has no place now to go. Yes, it’s sad but not all movies are supposed to be happy things. I learned that the first time I saw Arlington Road.

I highly recommend this film but you need to be in the right mood for it. If you’re incredibly depressed, it would probably be better to watch The Naked Gun. If you want a great character study, check this out. It’s currently on Watch Instantly on Netflix so watch it before it gets taken down.

Score: 9

A Welcome Message and "The Visitor" Review

Introduction

Hello everyone! Welcome to the blog of me and my best friend, Bretty. We’re pretty excited to finally get this thing started, considering we’ve been talking about it for about a year and a half already. We both consider ourselves film buffs, Bretty majored in cinema studies at NYU, as did I (albeit unofficially, though I took enough coursework to satisfy the requirements for a film major). Not only that, but we’re hardcore food junkies: I’m Italian and I used to be obese (baby, I know my food!). I’m also interested in communications and journalism (as is Signor Bretty), so we hope to be uploading some videos of our commentary as well. So why call this blog “dinner and a movie”? Well, essentially, both Bretty and I will go out to dinner together and catch a flick (though this first one won’t have a restaurant review included, since I was away in Italy—we were apart for a year, gasp!) and provide a review for all of you! I think as a pre-warning, some of these reviews may contain some spoilers, so if you haven’t seen the film already, readers beware! Also, myself nor Bretty is going to review the entire movie, but only indicate certain elements that made the movie great. Plus, we are two people, so we can pretty much divide the work in half. I feel these reviews are the most successful for you guys if you have already seen the movie anyway, since we may refer to an event that happened without having to explain too much of plot.

Being that this is my first entry, I think first and foremost I should clarify what makes a “good” movie for me—since this term is tossed around far too much. Personally, I differentiate this term from an “enjoyable,” “funny,” or even “cute” movie (though not mutually exclusive, let’s be real here). I think there are many components that make a movie “good”—even “great,” such as a great character arc (think of Casablanca where we have the main character, Rick, go from a self-centered and egotistical bastard to selfless in realizing his passionate love for Elsa, only to give her up for a greater good), intriguing plot, flawless acting, good writing, etc.; as you can see, there are many. But what is really going to set one movie apart from the next?

For me the most important part of a “good” movie (or “classic,” if you will) is that it needs to haunt me. I don’t mean in the sense of a horror movie where you’re scared the entire night, thinking something is perpetually watching you. I mean in the sense that you’re constantly thinking about it. The movie has become memorable for you. Maybe it touches you in some way, perhaps you relate it to your life, or maybe you just thought the film itself was brilliant, but for some reason you can’t seem to shake it. You could be eating breakfast and still you’re thinking about so-and-so’s actions or how the film turned out. Maybe the ending just didn’t suit the brilliance the rest of the film showcased. Either way, it stays with you. That, my friends, is genius, and is a daunting task for any filmmaker to reproduce in his/her audience, though in reality it is their ultimate goal.

The Visitor Review

I have to admit The Visitor was a recommendation by Bretty, so I naturally had high hopes for it (since we typically have similar tastes in films)—didn’t think it would actually exceed these expectations!

We start off with a somewhat elderly man (Walter Vale), clearly jaded, attempting to learn the piano. We don’t find out until later why he’s been pursuing this instrument: he’s trying to fill the void in his life from the death of his wife, who used to play beautiful music to the piano. He loves the sounds it produces (hence his passion for classical music), but still cannot seem to get the hang of it, seen by his firing yet another teacher right in the opening scene.

Cut to another scene of Walter’s disinterest trickling down to his profession: he’s a professor. The brilliance of this film is not in the professor outwardly stating “I hate my career” or “I am miserable.” That’s obviously not a very effective writing device. The movie shows us this attitude. While Walter is busy changing an old syllabus from a few years ago to a current one by simply whiting out the older date, a student interrupts him, claiming a family emergency for his paper not being handed in on time. Walter does not even hear the explanation or keep him any further in his office (while the student reminds him about the late syllabus they still have not received), but tells him that he must take a zero on the assignment. The Dean later reminds Walter about a book presentation he must go to at NYU (represent!) since his colleague who assisted in writing will be unable to attend, but Vale confesses his lack of interest and participation in the actual writing and publication of the book, however he reluctantly accepts the time off in New York, since it is imperative that he attends. So, here, right from the very beginning, the film establishes a man who is dissatisfied with his life (the loss of his wife) and his career (being a professor). A bleak film, ah, just what I love! Seriously, it’s one of my favorite genres (it’s obviously not even considered a genre…but it should be, damnit!).

As the film develops, these elements are developed even further, brought out through the meeting of two strangers (a couple, one Muslim named Tarek, the other Zanaib from Africa), who have unknowingly rented his apartment through someone else. Out of desperation, sheer will for companionship, or even a bit of pity, he offers to the couple to stay with him…and that’s where the film really gets interesting.

Through the interaction between the professor and the ‘visitor’ in his apartment, we see the change that he goes through (a brilliant character arc, may I add). We started off with a mild-mannered, quiet, boring, and jaded professor who goes to a passionate lover of music, a good friend, and selfless man. Tarek and Walter naturally start off just tolerating each other since they are forced roomies. Out of gratitude for letting him and his girlfriend stay in his apartment, Tarek gives the professor a chance by inviting him to his drum concert (to the chagrin of his girlfriend, who finds him relentlessly dull). Walter is enchanted by the sound of Tarek’s drumming and eventually the two bond over the playing of the drums together (though that is simply putting it, you really need to watch the movie to see the progression of this relationship).

I think I should add how grateful I was that the movie didn’t go in one particular direction: a lame love story between Zanaib and Walter. Can we just say all together how many times we’ve seen this happen? Oh, Tarek is off playing his drums at shows and Zanaib is left all alone with Walter. And even though she hates him, eventually they will hit it off and have an affair, fall in love, blah blah blah. It’s so over-done at this point, and I’m incredibly happy the movie went towards the “bromance” instead of an actual romance (though there was another romance developed that was effective). It pleasantly surprised me—I certainly did not see that coming, I must admit.

The most brilliant scene in the film by far is the outcry by Walter in the scene where Tarek gets deported. The officer at the Immigration Center is not concerned about other people’s feelings, just mindlessly and jadedly doing his job, telling Walter nonchalantly that his dear friend has been deported. Wait, this should sound familiar to us…exactly! It’s a direct reminder to the audience of the way the professor used to be! Recall the opening scene where the professor dismisses the student without any compassion? Just mindlessly doing his job? He simply just doesn’t care? Brilliant! (This writing device is called “resonance,” where the viewer either consciously or subconsciously recognizes an element that was established previously in the film that is brought back again). This, for me, is exactly where the film derives part of its power from; it happens in other scenes as well, particularly the ending. Anyway, Walter explodes at the officer as his anger and desperation surge, yelling at him that it’s just not fair, that Tarek was innocent in the first place, he’s a human being, etc. How could we ever have pictured the man we saw at the beginning of the film (the meek professor calmly sitting behind his desk) to deliver such a powerful and emotional speech towards the end? The character development of Walter seen throughout this film was absolutely flawless and should be applauded as one of the best character arcs I have seen in a while.

Final Rating: 9.5

I found it to be an excellent movie, well-thought out, and executed brilliantly! Great acting, perfect character development, and a unique plot. Fantastic resonance in several scenes. Best movie of the year, hands down.

And now I leave Bretty to fill in the rest—because there’s a lot here that makes this film great that I didn’t want to tackle on in one review, especially because this has gotten a bit lengthy. We’ll see his take now on The Visitor, hopefully more about the romance that does develop and the ending…