I received this issue of Film Capsules by Dr. Ed McNulty as an EMail from the Presbytery of Cincinnati and thought it interesting to pass along as information for all who did not have an opportunity to see it. ~ R.Lowryin this issueDistrict 9
Julia & Julie
Bandslam
Funny People
Panyo
Film Capsules is the Rev. Dr. Ed McNulty's synopses of current films plus suggested scripture readings with similar themes. Ed, an honorably retired member of the Presbytery of Cincinnati shares his work at the request of those who attended the Ministers Retreat held in October 2008. Fuller descriptions and discussion questions are available by subscription at www.visualparables.net.
District 9
Rated R. Matthew 25:43
Director Neill Blomkamp's film again proves that science fiction is an excellent means for exploring a burning social issue. In this case it is the controversial subject of the treatment of aliens, important not only in a US worried about the security of its borders, but in many European, African, and Asian countries as well during this time of turmoil when so many people are forced to flee their homelands.
In this film the "aliens" are from an unspecified planet, their giant spacecraft having come to earth 28 years before the action in the film begins. Far from being the marauders of the usual sci-fi tale, these aliens turn out to be "the huddled masses yearning to be free." South African security forces have herded them into the slum known as District 9, a reference to a real district back in the days of apartheid when the black residents were forcibly removed to make way for whites.
In this film the government contracts out to MBU, a private company ominously like Halliburton, to remove the alien population away from the city to a remote region where they will not be so pesky. Although a very violent film that will please lovers of the summer action genre, through the character development of the MNU flunky assigned to head the removal, we are shown the inhumanity of the humans compared to the aliens who, like E.T., just want to go home.
People of faith will find many references in Scripture to "the alien" as good handles for interpreting and discussing the film--such as "You shall not oppress a resident alien; you know the heart of an alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt." (Exodus 23:9).
Julia & Julie
Rated PG-13. Ecclesiastes 8:15
It will help, but you do not have to be a gourmet food lover to enjoy Nora Ephron's film that finds parallels between the lives of two women of two different generations but who share a love of cooking--and their first names both begin with "J."
Julia Child (Meryl Streep, exquisite as always!), supported by her super supportive husband Paul (Stanley Tucci), a staff member at the US Embassy in Paris, after floundering about, discovers her culinary skills at the famed Le Cordon Bleu. However, it is 1949 when male chauvinism rules in the professional kitchen, and McCarthyism threatens the careers of liberals, especially those in the State Department, so Julia faces plenty of obstacles before she can change the way Americans regard and cook their food.
Intercut with episodes from the Childs are less interesting scenes of aspiring writer Julie Powell (Amy Adams) in 2003 New York, where she also is supported by a loving husband but stuck in a dead-end job. Hitting upon the idea of cooking her way within a year through Julie Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking and writing a blog about it. Lots of drama, humor, and good feeling from all concerned triumphing over the odds in this engaging film.
Bandslam
Rated PG. Colossians 4:5
At last, a film about teenagers that does not feature bathroom humor or feature boys and girls ripping their clothes off after knowing each other for 15 minutes.
The plot is familiar, the story of a group of outsiders who form a band and struggle hard to find their voice, against great odds, of course. New student Will has grown up resenting his deceased musician father, but he shares his dad's talent, not for playing music, but for knowing how to range it and develop the talents of players.
When former cheerleader Charlotte drafts him to shape up her mediocre band, he discovers his calling at the school--to expand and improve the band so that they can compete in the tri-state competition known as "Bandslam." He also befriends fellow outsider Sa5m (the 5 is silent--how cute!), quickly developing romantic feelings for her, but not suspecting what great musical talents she has.
Lots of energetic music, an ending that is both conventional and yet with a slight twist.
Funny People
Rated R. Proverbs 18:24
It is almost a cliché that comedians, the funny people of the title, are crying on the inside while laughing on the outside.
In this Adam Sandler film his character George Simmons, a famous stand-up comic and movie star, is laboring under the dreadful news that he has a disease that will kill him in a year or so. Then, as the author of Ecclesiastes repeatedly reminds us, of what benefit to him will be all his wealth, fame, and talent?
He recruits an aspiring stand-up comic Ira Wright (Seth Rogen) to write jokes for him and then takes him on as his personal assistant. When an unexpected turn of events happens, their tenuous friendship is broken, and George must learn the importance of relationships.
The reconciliation at the end is a lovely, understated moment. Unfortunately there is so much crude language that the otherwise appealing film will put off many church folk--the film obviously being made for young adults who frequent comedy clubs or watch such cable channels as Comedy Central.
Ponyo
Rated G. Romans 13:8
Considered by many to be the greatest animator in the world, Hayao Miyazaki has gifted us with a beautiful tale based on Hans Christian Anderson's story of "The Little Mermaid"--and he has done it the old fashioned way, by hand, eschewing fancy computer animation.
5-year old Sosuke, the son of an oft-absent sailor, lives with his mother Lisa in a house high on a cliff overlooking the sea. One day he rescues a little gold fish trapped in a bottle. When he cuts his finger while smashing the glass, the grateful gold fish licks the wound, and the taste of human blood gives the magical little creature the power to become human. Naming her Ponyo, the two immediately love each other. It seems that Ponyo is the daughter of a sea wizard father and the goddess of the sea.
Lisa, who works at a home for the elderly, agrees that Ponyo can stay with them. However, for some reason Ponyo's transformation upsets the balance of nature, causing the moon to draw closer to earth, this generating a giant tsunami that washes over the land.
Through a series of harrowing adventures the children set out to save the world. This is a truly magical tale of love and relationships that will charm young and old viewers.
The opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of the Presbytery of Cincinnati or the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
