Hey folks, Harry here... back doing the Toronto thing as editor-in-chief of this great gigapolitan movie news source! Il Matto is back covering Stephen Fry's directorial debut with BRIGHT YOUNG THINGS which sounds as he puts it, like "a lot of fun." His rather bland take on LOST IN TRANSLATION is a bit bizarre, as that movie is super-wonderful... ZHOU YU'S TRAIN must've really been something, and then he's also chiming in on CASA DE LOS BABYS! Here ya go...
BRIGHT YOUNG THINGS
"Bright Young Things", based on the Evelyn Waugh novel, "Vile Things", is the directorial debut of Stephen Fry. Set in the 30's pre-jetset word of the British idle rich, the ensemble cast really delivers. Gossip columnists, motor racers, deposed monarchs, and parties, plenty of parties, whether they be at a mental hospital, or surreptitiously at 10 Downing Street. Plenty of very funny eccentric characterizations by Stephen Campbell Moore, Emily Mortimer, and especially the unknown to me Fenella Woolgar, with terrific smaller roles by Dan Aykroyd, Jim Broadbent, Simon Callow, and even Peter O'toole. Some of the characters come to unhappy ends, but this film is a lot of fun. Bravo, Stephen Fry.
LOST IN TRANSLATION
Even though "Lost in Translation" opens in theaters next week, I chose to see it here in hopes that, even though this was the second showing, Sofia Coppola or Bill Murray or Scarlett Johannsen would be in attendance. No go. Well, since everything I have heard about this film has been super positive, at least I would have a sneak peak at its wonderfulness. Alas, It didn't do it for me. Murray is a star with an ennuiistic marriage, Johanssen has a few little problems in her marriage. Murray does a lot of shtick, which is mildly entertaining, but that's about it. Coppola tries to show two lonely people interacting, but it didn't work that well for me. After "Zhou Yu's Train", this seems minor league.
CASA DE LOS BABYS
I don't generally like message pictures, unless the message is well integrated into the film. I usuallu enjoy John Sayles movies even though his themes of social unjustice stick out of them. "Casa de los Babys" is no different.The hopes, dreams, and fantasies of potential adoptive mothers (Daryl Hannah, Marcia Gay Harden, Mary Steenbugen, Rita Moreno, Lili Taylor and Maggie Gyllenhall) are what makes this film for me. Great performances on a one million dollar budget.
Il Matto
