Over the past few days of laying around I’ve been fortunate enough to see three really great films. Here are my thoughts…

Pan’s Labyrinth- One of the best things I can ever say about a film is that it’s unique. Sounds like light praise, I know, but in this world of been there/done that, it’s really not. I absolutely loved Pan’s Labyrinth, it’s got to be the most unique film I’ve seen in a long time.

As for what it’s all about… well, the answer isn’t simple. It’s about war, oppression (many kinds of oppression), fairies, monsters, hope, cruelty, imagination, violence, imaginary worlds… you name it. One of the aspects I loved best though, was the clear tribute paid to books and reading and imagination.

The story unfolds through the eyes of Ofelia, a dreamy girl forced to leave everything familiar behind and build a new life with a cruel & sadistic stepfather. As her mother’s health deteriorates, Ofelia escapes the horrors of her life by creating a hauntingly beautiful world of good and evil, where, if she is brave enough, she’ll eventually find the peace and comfort she and her sick mother so desperately crave.

It’s easy to see the parallels between the harsh realities of life and the dangers within the labyrinth, but it makes them no less powerful. This is an extremely violent and unsettling film (definitely not suitable for children), but the payoff is unbelievably great. When the movie ended we immediately re-watched it to pick up on subtleties missed the first time through… it was that good.

Pan’s Labyrinth may well end up being my favorite film of 2007. Kudos to Guillermo Del Toro.

Blood Diamond- Another understated, strong performance from Leo. Having said that, this film is owned (lock, stock & barrel) by Djimon Hounsou. After seeing his performance it’s even more of a travesty that Alan Arkin won the best supporting actor oscar. I thought this was just a great, great film… my critique being that the director/screenwriter obviously didn’t have a lot of faith in the viewer’s ability to pick up on the atrocity, hypocrisy & injustice at the heart of the film. That’s the only reason I can figure why parts of it came off as an ethics lecture. It’s always good to make your point, but isn’t the purpose of a film to tell a story through guided imagery and trust your audience to understand your vision? I guess in ways I felt talked down to…

And even with that slight critique this is still an extremely good film, with several scenes bordering on brilliant.

Children of Men - Clive Owen is such a joy to watch. His portrayal of Theo, a man worn down by life, who finds himself in the dubious position of escorting a heavily pregnant woman (in a time when fertility has been eradicated) to safety, is spot-on. You sense his wariness in each shot and realize, without the manipulation of words, what a giant leap it is for this man to (in a sense) join the living again.

Some of the chase & fight scenes are just incredible, and Michael Caine delivers an extremely unique and endearing performance plaing the optimistic yin to Owen’s yang. My only critique… and it’s a small one… is that the ending felt a little abrupt for me. Still, another great film…

On this day..

• How sweet to be an idiot, as harmless as a cloud... - 2006