Movie Review: "The Artists"

This delightful black and white movie features French actor Jean Dujardin as George Valentin, a silent movie star, who watches his fame and popularity decline with the advent of talking movies. He sparks with a young dancer, Peppy Miller, who is trying to break into movies. As Valentin’s fortunes fade, Peppy Miller’s star rises. The wonderful period musical score is always in synch with the plot. John Goodman plays the studio mogul. Due to the lack of voiced parts, the acting performances of the main characters were superb.

Movie Review: "Hugo"

Set in 1930’s Paris, this mystery is about an orphan who lives in the walls of a Parisian train station. After the death of his watchmaker father, he spends his days clandestinely maintaining all the time pieces of the train station. His father has left him a broken robot that he assumes has left him a secret message. He is befriended by an orphan girl whose god father (Ben Kingsley) runs a small toy shop in the station. The movie is a wonderful story of redemption and self discovery. The acting, particularly Ben Kingsley and Chloe Moretz as the orphan girl, are superb.

Review: “Reformation Era Bibles and Prints”

This display is a small, but high quality collection of mainly prints and two Geneva Bibles. Most of the 15th & 16th century prints are by the German artists Albrecht Durer and Heinrich Aldegrever. Durer is arguably the greatest artist of the Northern Renaissance. Most of the prints are apocalyptic or scenes of Christ’ Passion. The 16th century Geneva Bible preceded the popular King James Version by over 50 years. It was the first mass produced English language bible and is regarded as the primary bible of the Protestant movement. Two very nice examples are displayed in the middle of the gallery. This exhibition is currently in the Special Exhibitions Gallery at the Brooks Museum until 1/8/2012.

Movie Reivew: "In Time"

This Sci-Fi adventure film stars Memphis’ Justin Timberlake as Will Salas, a down and out worker in a futuristic ghetto. Cillian Murphy plays a policeman or “Time Keeper” in perpetual pursuit of Salas. In the near future, humans are genetically engineered to only live 25 years. To live beyond 24 years, life is extended by purchasing time- a literal time is money. The working masses eek out small extensions of life by toiling away in industries controlled by a wealthy few. Salas obtains a large extension of time from a wealthy donor. After abducting a wealthy sympathetic heiress he attempts to bring down a corrupt establishment that keeps the masses enslaved to the wealthy few.

The premise is interesting. Timberlake’s acting is marginal. The plot could have been developed better.

Review: “Jean Louis Forain: La Comedie Parisienne”

This current exhibit at the Dixon Museum includes over 130 works of Impressionist artist, Jean Louis Forain. This assemblage of water colors, paintings, and prints produced in partnership with Paris’ Petit Palais includes museum and private holdings. His works include numerous late nineteenth century Parisian theater scenes, periodical illustrations, war scenes, prints of biblical stories and even commercial mosaics. Of interest, is his style change and focus after his “rediscovery” of Christianity. My personal favorite is the sketch of Christ on the road to Emmaus. The exhibit will be ending October 9.

Movie Review: "Seven Days in Utopia"

A young professional golfer, Luke Chisholm, washes out during his professional debut. He unexpectedly ends up stranded on the small hill country Texas town of Utopia. There he encounters an eccentric rancher, Johnny Crawford, played by Robert Duvall. Over the period of one week, he learns about life, golf and faith. Lucas Bear gives a stellar performance in his portrayal of Luke Chisholm. Duvall, as usual, is as good as his recent roles in “Get Low” and “Second Hand Lions.” Unlike many “faith based” movies, this has a fairly good script, good production quality and great performances.

Movie Review: "Buck"

This film is basically a documentary about horse trainer Buck Brannaman. He is the inspiration for the book and movie “Horse Whisperer.” He also served as technical director to Robert Redford in the movie of the same name. I am not really a horse enthusiast, but found the movie fascinating. Buck and his brother were child prodigies in the 1960’s and 1970’s in trick roping circles. After his mother died, he and his brother were removed from their abusive father and raised by foster parents.

Horse breaking and training methods are often a result of the owner’s personality and conflicts. How Buck interacts with owners is as interesting as his almost magical way with horses.