4 Razors

Good Time Charlie

/ / Home Video
  • Title: Charlie Wilson’s War
  • IMDB: link

“Why is Congress saying one thing and doing nuthin’?”
“Well, tradition mostly.”

charlie-wilsons-war-dvdThe film is based on the true events of a Congressman from a small district in Texas named Charlie Wilson (Tom Hanks) who with the help of a rich debutante (Julia Roberts) and a rebel CIA agent (Philip Seymour Hoffman) changed the world.

This is simply a fascinating tale written with the trademark Aaron Sorkin wit, performed by three wonderful leads and a strong supporting cast (including the beautiful Amy Adams, Jud Tylor, Cyia Batten, Hilary Angelo, and Emily Blunt), and directed with both humanity and flair by Mike Nichols.  For more on the film read the original review.

Here’s a terrific tale, all the more mesmerizing because it’s true.  Charlie Wilson and his covert war in Afghanistan is a piece of history told exceptionally well by this list of talented professionals.  Although the DVD isn’t packed with as much extra material as I would like, the featurettes are nice, and the film itself is the real prize.

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Air Guitar Nation

/ / Home Video
  • Title: Air Guitar Nation
  • IMDb: link

“To err is human.  To air guitar is divine.”

Air Guitar Nation DVD review

The documentary Air Guitar Nation takes a look at the first ever American Air Guitar Championships as men like Dan Crane (AKA Bjorn Turoque) and David S. Jung (AKA C-Diddy) compete to earn a chance to travel to the International Air Guitar Championships in Finland to compete against air guitarists from all over the globe.

The documentary accepts and celebrates the absurdity of the situation and takes us all on a wonderful ride filled with people who view air guitar as a serious art form.

We watch the early competitions in New York and Los Angeles, then travel overseas and view the two week training course in Finland where the artists are instructed on the finer points of performing (including handling groupies!).  Silly?  You bet!

By the time the final competition arrives we are fully immersed in this world with our own favorites and are ready to root for them (or even take the stage ourselves and show them how its done).  Bjorn and C-Diddy push each other and the other performers from around the world to put on their best and leave it all out on stage.  Although only one is crowned champion all the performers earn the chance to live out a dream, and so each is a winner.  In a world where competition can divide and destroy it’s refreshing to see it bring together a diverse group from around the world in a peaceful competition and a shared dream.

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Oil and Blood

/ / Home Video
  • Title: There Will Be Blood
  • IMDB: link

there-will-be-blood-dvdWriter/director Paul Thomas Anderson‘s adaptation of the Upton Sinclair novel Oil! earned well deserved praise in its release last Oscar season.  Anchored by an astounding leading performance by Daniel Day-Lewis and some terrific cinematography it was one of the best films of 2007.

The film centers around oil man Daniel Plainview (Daniel Day-Lewis) in the early 1900’s.  Plainview is a model capitalist, ruthless and a tad crazy.

After a prolonged opening sequence involving Plainview’s discovery of oil and his transformation from a silver prospector to an oil speculator the film moves to the town of Little Boston, California.  His attempts to buy the land hit a snag from the local preacher/prophet Eli Sunday (Paul Dano) who begins a behind-the-scenes battle of wills with the oil man.

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Rounders

/ / Home Video
  • Title: Rounders
  • IMDB: link

“We can’t run from who we are.  Our destiny chooses us.”

Mike McDermott (Matt Damon) is a struggling law student; he’s also a world class poker player, who, in the film’s opening scene, loses all his money in a high stakes game.

Nine-months later Mike has renounced gambling and made up with his girlfriend (Gretchen Mol).  He works a part time delivery job and works towards a law degree.  Life is hard, but good, though he still misses the game and the thrill of playing.

When Mike’s best friend Worm (Edward Norton) is released from prison with a substantial mark to be paid off Mike finds himself pulled back to the tables.

The story is presented from Mike’s perspective with commentary, which comes and goes, giving us a glimpse into the world of professional gambling and his own views on life.  The story feels authentic and real; at no time does the film cop-out with huge twists or unlikely hands.

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Nanking

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Nanking
  • IMDb: link

“We have to keep in mind that it’s not just about the numbers of people who died; it’s also the manner which many of these victims met their deaths. “
—Iris Chang

nanking-poster

To tell the story a group of actors is assembled together.  Each is assigned a role and will read the letters, diaries, journal entries, and accounts of that person which are then intercut with real footage of Nanking.  This unusual set-up takes a little to get used to, but by the time the historical context is covered and the film moves into the gory and ghastly details of the Rape of Nanking you have forgotten the actors and are completely immersed in this horrific tale.

Nanking was the Chinese capitol in 1937 when the Japanese army invaded the country and took control of the city.  The occupation of Nanking lasted for more than six weeks and visited such atrocities on the civilian population it has been named the Nanking Massacre and The Rape of Nanking.  A small group of missionaries from foreign countries including America and Germany created a safety zone in the city for refugees and survivors.

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