PICK OF THE WEEK
The Extra Man
Peculiar characters act oddly in this curious adaptation of Jonathan Ames’ novel The Extra Man. Louis (Paul Dano) is fired from his teaching job when his impulse for ladies undergarments is discovered. Moving to New York City, he rents a room from Henry Harrison (Kevin Kline), an eccentric playwright who works as an “extra man”—an escort for society widows. Dano is inexplicably drawn to Henry, and some viewers will be too. Kline plays this outrageous character—who dances wildly and thinks sex is the cause of society’s problems—with his typical comic flourish. In contrast, Louis, who mostly behaves like a gentleman—is, as a narrator explains—“in constant negotiation” with own sexual urges. He pays a woman (Patti D’Arbanville) to help him cross dress, and he is fascinated with trannie bars. The mannered Dano is less convincing in his role, and a subplot in which he obsesses over his comely co-worker Mary (Katie Holmes) is the weakest part of the film. While The Extra Man celebrates all the individuality by featuring a gallery of abnormal characters, viewers are more likely to be laughing at these offbeat folks than with them. The notable exception is Henry’s wacky neighbor Gershon (John C. Reilly, stealing every scene), who provides hilarious comic support and the meaning of the word bissextile.
ALSO OPENING
Farewell
A lukewarm Cold War “thriller,” this true story depicts Pierre (Guillaume Canet) assisting Sergei (Emir Kusturica), a KGB agent codenamed “Farewell” who smuggles secrets out of the country. Talky and often didactic, Farewell focuses on the Sergei’s efforts to “change the world.” His story is fascinating, but writer/director Christian Carion tells it too coolly, never letting the espionage elements crackle as the main characters meet discreetly. The only scenes that have any tension are the personal dramas: Pierre’s wife Jessica (Alexandra Maria Lara) doesn’t trust him, and Sergei’s affair causes a rift with his wife and son. The film, set in the 1980s, uses music by Queen and scenes of the Borg vs. McEnroe U.S. Open to give a sense of time. Fred Ward appears from time to time as President Reagan, and he is oddly amusing. Ultimately, Farewell is a disappointing film because the severity and impact of the events depicted are never palpable, even though Kusturica expresses his internal conflict quite well.
Lottery Ticket
Bow Wow stands to win $70 million with his lottery ticket—if he can keep it away from all his friends and relatives and cash it in.
Mao’s Last Dancer
The ballet is beautiful, but the drama is clumsy in this uneven biopic of Li Cunxin (Chi Cao, as an adult), a dancer who defected to the United States as an adult in the 1980s. Based on the performer’s autobiography, director Bruce Beresford’s film opens with Li’s arrival in Houston for an exchange trip. In the U.S., Li has culture shock with the clothes and various freedoms; he responds with fear when someone criticizes the president. As flashbacks show, as a youth in China, Li’s life was all about following the system. In Houston, Li gets his big break when a dancer is injured and he gets the opportunity to be showcased on an important benefit performance. Li quickly becomes an valuable asset to the company, and when his exchange program ends, he makes the politically-charged decision to stay in the U.S. Mao’s Last Dancer generates mild excitement as Li creates an international incident by secretly marrying his girlfriend Liz (Amanda Schull) to subvert authority. However, the personal and professional repercussions of Li’s decision play out in a forced manner. Cao is captivating on stage in the lead role, and he makes Li sympathetic even when the script sabotages him, but he’s slightly wooden in the dramatic moments. Bruce Greenwood injects some life into the film as the company’s artistic director, but Kyle MacLachlan is mostly laughable with his Texas accent as Li’s lawyer. Mao’s Last Dancer tells a worthy story, it is a shame it doesn’t tell it with a little more gusto.
Nanny McPhee Returns
And so does Emma Thompson in the title role.
Patrik, Age 1.5
A queer comedy-drama from Sweden about a gay couple who adopt what they think is an infant, but turns out to be a rather unpleasant 15 year-old. Mayhem ensues as family values are tested.
Piranha 3-D
Not exactly Oscar bait for Oscar nominee Elisabeth Shue, this horror film is coming-at-you with sharp teeth and hopefully a sharp sense of humor.
The Switch
Jennifer Aniston thinks her baby is from the sperm donor she chose. Her friend Jason Bateman, however, believes it to be his.
Vampires Suck
A spoof of Twilight, True Blood, and every other vampire film that has captured the cultural zeitgeist lately.
AroundPhilly Staff
