A Couple Flicks Worth Watching

My recent Netflix adventures turned up two movies that each spent about 1 week in the theater here in Philly. I can't even imagine either of them being released outside of major cities, so I know many of you did not see them. My suggestion is you give them a chance....

A Love Song For Bobby Long

Now I know that John Travolta can be revolta in most of his work, but this little drama actually showcased his minimal talents. Plus he gets to sing a couple of songs, and if you recall from Grease the man has a beautiful voice. But seriously, the movie is centered around a dead songwriter who leaves behind a couple of alkies in her house for her estranged daughter to contend with when she comes back to inherit the mess of a house her junkie mother left behind. I liked the slow pace and the way the movie kept you guessing about the relationships all the men had with this deceased woman prior to her death. Many movies like this get caught up with flashbacks that try to spell out shit for you, and this one didn't do that. What I'm kind of torn on is Scarlet Johanson. There is no doubt in my mind that she is a knockout, but I'm not sure if she can act. Lately I've seen a couple movies with her in it and I wasn't impressed. Here she is the worst of the bunch, and being alongside Travolta that is an acheivement in itself.

Birth

Nicole Kidman, looking like a pixie, plays a Manhattan socialite who is on the verge of remarrying 10 years after her first husband unexpectantly died while jogging. Along comes a 10 year old boy with her husband's name and a lot of information that he uses to convince her and her family that he is her dead husband reincarnated. The movie plays a lot less corny than this description, and because it's down right creepy at times I am recommending it. It's more or less 60 minutes of Twilight Zone, enhanced by the score, and the final act is just plain tragic. For fear of spoiling the whole thing, I'll just say that seeing Nicole Kidman take a bath with a naked 10 year old boy is the kind of scene that you don't get a chance to see everyday. This is why I constantly defend Nicole Kidman and the choices she makes. Like Dogville, this is a movie that is more intense and disturbing that your normal popcorn fare, and an actress of her caliber doesn't have to take these kinds of roles. The fact that she can balance doing Stepford Wives and Bewithced with indie movies like this make her more appealing to me. I'm giving her a free pass for making shit. Where as someone like J. Lo or Sandra Bullock....well, they just make crap over and over again.