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January 7, 2008
50 Movies You Might Have Missed (21-25)
21. Osama

This is the first Afghan film shot after the fall of the Taliban. We are told the story of a young girl who lives under the brutal regime. Both her and her mother are thrown out of work by the Taliban and ordered to remain indoors unless accompanied by a male. Since the girl’s father and brother are dead, this condemns the women to a life of endless poverty. Under the rules of the Taliban, the women sneaking out alone for food to live would be a capital offense. The only choice is to send the girl out, dressed as a boy to find work and food. The girl takes on the name Osama and ventures out into the Taliban control world of Afghanistan. It is only a matter of time before she is found out.

This is a great film that expresses quite strongly the difficult path of women under Muslim rule. If you have any interest in what our men and women have saved people from “over there”, this film may give you a glimpse. It is easy for Americans to ignore and dismiss the suffering of people in lesser cultures. Films such as this plead for us to pay attention to what is happening in this world. The barbaric notions of our ancient past are actually still breathing just around the corner.
22. The Shootist

The film is a strange one for many reasons. Wayne plays John Bernard Books an aged gunslinger that learns he is dying of cancer. The bulk of the piece is watching Books quickly accept his painful fate and attempt to squeeze some final moments of life from the time he has left. Intersecting this fascinating character study are a number of essentially faceless and nameless bad guys who wish to kill Books out of revenge or for the glory. The violent parts of the film don’t mesh comfortably with the brooding drama that acts as the main thrust of the piece. While they connect in the final moments of the film, there is a strong disconnect that interrupts much of the production. The reason for this can easily be identified. The lack of an equally dynamic antagonist weighs the film totally in Wayne’s favor. Luckily, Wayne was able to handle this burden and deliver the goods one last time.

The film is deepened by the fact that John Wayne (the actual man) was also dying of cancer as the film was in production. This movie is the final bow from a man who knows he won’t return. Wayne performs a number of scenes with his peers James Stewart and Lauren Bacall. These are the finest portions of the movie. In particular the scenes between Stewart and Wayne. Like their characters, they are two old men who have histories and see their time coming to a close. It is as if they came back out to show the youngsters how it’s done.


23. The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara

One of the most fascinating documentaries I've ever seen. This 95-minute explanation of Vietnam and The Cold War and the mistakes that were made by McNamara himself is absorbing. Drenched with history and darn good film making, this is a must see movie.




24. Babette’s Feast

The story revolves around the lives of two deeply religious sisters who restrict their lives to serving their fellow man in the name of God. The two sisters and the denizens of their small, isolated Danish village sustain themselves on a pale diet of boiled fish and bread. They also survive on the memory of the sister’s dead father, a charismatic pastor who bonded the citizens of the village with teachings of Christian piety and sacrifice. When a French woman named Babette arrives as a refugee from the French Revolution, the two sisters must adjust to the new addition in their lives. When Babette wins the French lottery and demands to spend her winnings serving a real French feast to the aging members of the community the world is turned upside down. The introduction of pleasure into the village has some amazing results.

Don't let the timid plot fool you, this is a powerful movie of heavy significance. If you're not a moron and also love a good, thoughtful film, this is an absolute must-see. If you are a moron and you loathe good, thoughtful films, I'm sure there's some Ben Stiller piece of crap you can tug out of that garbage heap you call a DVD collection.
25. The Exorcism of Emily Rose

Less about possession and more about the court case that follows one, this film’s revolutionary element is reality. Director/Co-Writer Scott Derrickson infuses a strong sense of the real into his film which only serves to buttress the horror. Exorcism and demonic possession is a serious topic and Derrickson has the intelligence to take it sincerely. His honest look at the subject is what makes this film brilliant. The Exorcist took its subject matter very seriously as well, but upon reflection took loose translations of reality. This film doesn’t go the pea soup and head-spinning route. It keeps its characters and their troubles within the realm of the possible.


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posted by Michelle Obama's Left Nut at 6:00 PM




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