by Ethan Johnson
August 2, 2006

I was hoping to get out and see at least one first-run movie before I ran the next installment of this time-honored feature, however the fact is here in Dallas, we're right in the peak time of what amounts to being our "winter". Temperatures have consistently been in the 90s and 100s (F), and we basically have to get anything outdoors-y done no later than 11:00am. With this being the case for at least one more month, we now have Netflix going on, which means lots of catching up on DVDs. Here's what's been gracing our TV lately:

Transamerica: Felicity Huffman was robbed of an Oscar. I realize that Reese Witherspoon had to learn to sing and play the autoharp for Walk the Line (reviewed below), but Huffman had to convince everyone that she was a man trying to become a woman. The transformation is amazing. One line that struck me funny regarding the "surgery" that Huffman's character is anticipating was to the effect that when it was over, "a gynecologist wouldn't be able to tell the difference." Now, my understanding (such as it is) is that male-to-female transgendering involves a lot of "cut and paste". I'm thinking a gynecologist would notice that. Unless this involves a transplant of some sort? I don't know enough about this to speak very intelligently about it but I'm tossing that out anyway. In short, worth the rental, and very interesting.

Walk the Line: Now that we're getting into the Netflix groove, I have been alerted to the practice of writing snide remarks on a yellow sticky note and enclosing it with the DVD for the presumed amusement of the return counter clerks. One such note concerned this movie, and said "it's just like Ray, but with no black people." I didn't realize it at the time, but ohhhh yeah. Very white cast. A good cast, though, and I never was into Johnny Cash but we were surprised to learn that he had a drug problem and had what I call an "empathetic" songwriting style, in that he wrote songs about things that didn't actually happen to him, such as serving time at Folsom Prison. Joaquin Phoenix was good, but my only beef is, he is always Joaquin Phoenix. There's no window of disbelief to suspend with him, kind of like Bill Maher claiming to play "characters" at the start of his HBO show. No, he's Bill Maher using a fake name. Other actors that come to mind are Alan Alda and Gene Hackman. Anyway, worth the rental if musical biopics are your thing.

Shaolin Soccer: I'll start by referring you this cartoon. That should be all you need to know about this. I thought it was brilliant. Essentially, the Chinese got ahold of Matrix-style special effects technology and Stephen Chow decided to have fun with it instead of being overly serious. The actual soccer sequences are hilarious, and Chow really has a gift for illustrating that great power and ability can be bested, which requires even greater power and ability to overcome. Oh come on, rent the damn thing, and be ready for some dumb yet soulful entertainment. FYI, select the "original Chinese version" from the menu screen.

Kung Fu Hustle: Stephen Chow's other recent movie. MUCH different than Shaolin Soccer, while still using over-the-top visual effects. In this movie, Chow is more of an anti-hero, and is absent from long stretches of the movie, allowing the viewer to appreciate his filmmaking style without it being "all about him". Chow's knack seems to be for comic exaggeration, which my books on fiction writing keep stressing but prior to seeing this film it was hard to visualize. This movie delivers. Check out the "Axe Gang" as they roll into the featured slum: Dark storm clouds advance across the screen overhead in time with their march. Chow's visual cues leave little doubt as to who's who in the greater story. Chow's films contain lots of homage, if you know what to look for. Someone said not to watch this movie and Shaolin Soccer in one sitting. If one had to choose, I would say go with this one for the sheer moviemaking artistry, or SS for the totally obnoxious fun.

Shopgirl: There are days, when I either hear about or observe some attempt at courtship going awry, when I shrug and say, "ah, the hunt." I have lived alone and felt crushing lonliness, and Claire Danes' character really captures this lonliness and hope for "the one" to come along. But certain expectations have a tendency to creep up and multiply, rendering the victim unable to see what's right in front of him or her. I mean statements like "[the one] will propose to me on a horse," or "[the one] will only wear Armani and Prada." Danes' character is working a throwaway department store job, living in a crappy apartment, and drives a small pickup truck. She is wooed (in their own way) by apparent loser (and very brilliant in this role) Jason Schwartzman, and rich-and-single Steve Martin. Very nicely played, and worth the rental.

Super Size Me: This is essentially the extended dance remix version of what is now the FX show 30 Days. Morgan Spurlock's template works in either setting, and his experiment in eating nothing but McDonald's food is gripping and effective. Back when this movie first ran, McDonald's claimed that they were no longer going to either sell or offer to sell "supersized" items anymore. Here in Texas, tagged as one of the fattest states in the US, that lasted for about a week. Fortunately, I can say that I have not eaten a meal at McDonald's for several months, with the exception of one breakfast stop a few months ago. Ultimately, I want to flat-out eliminate ALL fast-food from my diet and focus entirely on "real" food. This movie really provides a lot of eye-opening and motivating material. And 30 Days is now into its second season, so we're all set in the Morgan Spurlock department. Worth the rental, but be advised that there are some gross-out scenes. They're short but they happen. FYI.

I bought movie passes this past weekend so for sure, the next installment will contain at least one first-run movie. If you're having less apocalyptic weather in your part of the world, print these reviews and save them for the next time you're cooped up in the house with a stack of DVDs. <EM>