More on "Duh Vinci"
Thanks to Joe for the reference to Anthony Lane's review of the movie, The Da Vinci Code, in the New Yorker. To read click here.
Lane says it well. Here is a sample: "As far as I am qualified to judge, the film remains unswervingly loyal to the book, displaying an obedience that Silas could not hope to match. I welcome this fidelity, because it allows us to propose a syllogism. The movie is baloney; the movie is an accurate representation of the book; therefore, the book is also baloney, although it takes even longer to consume."
This of course, is stronger logic than Dan Brown can find in the pages of this novel.
Carson Reed
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And Tom Hanks just looks goofy with that haircut. Apollo 13 - now that's your Tom Hanks movie right there.
Which gets me to thinking about some of the movies I've really liked, and have actually encouraged various Northlake adult Sunday School classes to see:
The Straight Story - Iowa man rides his lawn mower to see his dying brother in Wisconsin. Gentle, beautiful, and Richard Farnsworth is wonderful as Alvin Straight. Directed by David Lynch.
Rabbit Proof Fence - For many years Australia had an official policy to put mixed white/aborigine girls in camps to train them as domestic workers and integrate them into white society. This is the true story of three girls who escape the camp and set off on a 1,500 mile trek across the Outback to return to their mothers. Beautiful and moving, directed by Phillip Noyce.
The Constant Gardner - Complex and beautiful suspense thriller with great details of character and place. Probably has done more to convey the realities of life in modern Africa than scores of documentaries. Directed by Fernando Meirelles.
The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara - Won the Oscar for Best Documentary 2004. Fascinating history and character study of making and living with complex decisions in trying times. Directed by Errol Morris.
Any other "tell your adult Sunday School class" recommendations?
Constant Gardner is good too, but I'm starting to rethink my opinion on fictional political movies in light of Da Vinci Code. Is it responsible to create a fictional movie that inacurately portrays real entities such as the movies JFK and The Insider (both of which I love and own). My opinion- at the moment- is that just as James Fray's publisher has the duty to fact check his account of his life, so too should Dan Brown's publisher has the ethical obligation to fact check that which he states is true. Yet that would mean that there are several works that I like that would fall under this deceptive practice. So, do I place the ethical obligation on the publisher/creator, or my longstanding opinion that the individual has his own obligation to verify truth (knowing that it is impossible to verify EVERYTHING.)
Thoughts?
Oh yeah, that movie list:
Ikiru- Faced with a terminal illness, a man who has wasted his life working in a government beaucracy decides to redeem it through a single act. Wonderfully inspirational.
Read Beard- A better-than-you-young doctor learns from the wise old doctor what it takes to practice medicine. Great movie for those who have been the young doctor. ;-)
Twilight Samurai- Going from esteemed samurai to lowly beauracrat, this is a tender story of sacrificing for love and family- and it has a cool swordfight at the end!
WARNING: the previous movies are Japanese period pieces with subtitles. Not for the casual viewer! ;-)
Spanish Prisoner- One of the best con movies ever. And it has Steve Martin in a serious role! Even though it's written by David Mamet, I don't think it has one profanity in it.
Big Night- Two brothers- one the artistic chef, the other the rational businessman- have one night to save their restaurant.
Finding Neverland- Tells the story of the author of Peter Pan and his relationship with a woman and her children who inspired the classic tale.
Millions- The sweet story of a child who talks to his dead mother and various Catholic saints while deciding what to do with the million pounds that was given to him by God. Must be seen to be believed!
Sling Blade - One of my all time favorites about a man released from a mental institution and his interactions with a community - especially a 10 yeard old boy and his mother.
Babette's Feast - A story of grace and extravagant gratitude.
The Gods Must Be Crazy - Coke bottle dropped from plane - causes dissention
among tribe of bush people and one man has to take it to the edge of the world and give it back to God. On his way he encounters "The Gods" or civilization. You'll laugh a lot.