Sequim Gazette Editorial and Letters to the Editor
SOFA CINEMA
Read More Editorial
The movies selected for review are the choice of the reviewer. Depending on your source for DVDs, they may or may not be available that particular week, so you may want to clip the SOFA CINEMA column for future reference. Suggestions for DVD titles are welcome. Enjoy the movies.
NEW RELEASE
"Mamma Mia!"
Rated PG-13
The merit of ABBA songs has been debated ad nauseum in the music world. People either love or hate their music. Similar lines have been drawn in the sand regarding the film version of the smash stage musical, "Mamma Mia!" People either love or hate the movie.
Having seen the stage version twice (once in London and once in Los Angeles), I wanted to "love" the film. Well, I didn't hate it.
The story of "Mamma Mia!" is based on an improbable wedding day on a beautiful Greek island and the plot, what there is of it, is forwarded by the lyrics and upbeat tempos of ABBA hits. The movie is fun. It's just not all it could have been with better direction.
Not that long ago Rob Marshall changed the approach to directing musicals with his clever adaptation of Kander & Ebbs, "Chicago." If only director Phyllida Lloyd had his vision. Instead she single-handedly set back film musicals at least one decade. And it was not for want of a super cast.
Meryl Streep can sing and everyone in the world knows she can act. She is a tad old to play the mother of a 20-year-old, but who cares? This musical deals with fantasy. Seeing (and hearing) more of Christine Baranski and Julie Waters would have been nice as well as Colin Firth. Pierce Brosnan proved you don't have to be able to sing to sell the part as long as you look good. And the introduction of Amanda Seyfried as Meryl's daughter to a wide audience was a visual and musical plus.
Bottomline? "Mamma Mia!" is fun as long as you don't take your movie time too seriously.
DOCUDRAMA
"Iron Jawed Angels"
Rated R
If a good docudrama encourages you to research the film's topic, then it has succeeded not only in entertaining, but enlightening. That's what "Iron Jawed Angels" does.
Hilary Swank portrays real-life suffragist Alice Paul. Born a Quaker and determined that women and men should be treated equally, Paul traveled to Washington, D.C., in the early 1900s. Along with Lucy Burns (Frances O'Conner) and a small but strong cadre of determined women, Paul demanded that attention be paid to women's right to vote.
Carrie Chapman Catt (Angelica Houston) and her established politicos opposed the parades and White House vigils Paul's group thrived on and openly opposed their tactics.
The struggle for "equal pay for equal work" is ongoing in the 21st century, but watching "Iron Jawed Angels" helps to fill in the details either overlooked or long forgotten. Any number of sacrifices made by these Americans (i.e. being imprisoned and beaten without cause), are brutally, but accurately demonstrated in this HBO film.
Make no mistake, men who care about their mothers, wives and daughters have a vested interest in watching "Iron Jawed Angels." Likewise, women should appreciate and honor those who came before and fought for equality.
"If you want to understand today, you have to search yesterday." - Pearl Buck
DOCUMENTARY
"One Woman, One Vote"
Unrated
"One Woman, One Vote" is the perfect double feature with "Iron Jawed Angels." So often, documentaries are blatant opinion films for the filmmaker. That is not the case with "One Woman, One Voice."
Narrated by Susan Sarandon, the film chronologically details the long struggle of suffragettes in attaining the right to vote after the Civil War.
Director Ruth Pollak compiled hundreds of photos and film clips and paced the historical timeline in such a way that the two-hour movie never wavers in keeping the viewer's interest. During the late 1800s and early 1900s, popular songs with catchy tunes often carried the message of the marchers.
Given our recent political campaign where a woman came "this close" to being nominated for president of the United States, the history lesson offered in "One Woman, One Vote" is that much more amazing for both men and women to appreciate.
Rebecca Redshaw worked in the film industry in Los Angeles for 25 years. A novelist and playwright, she has been published in numerous magazines and newspapers in addition to teaching fiction. She can be reached at r2redshaw@hotmail.com.
NEW RELEASE
"Mamma Mia!"
Rated PG-13
The merit of ABBA songs has been debated ad nauseum in the music world. People either love or hate their music. Similar lines have been drawn in the sand regarding the film version of the smash stage musical, "Mamma Mia!" People either love or hate the movie.
Having seen the stage version twice (once in London and once in Los Angeles), I wanted to "love" the film. Well, I didn't hate it.
The story of "Mamma Mia!" is based on an improbable wedding day on a beautiful Greek island and the plot, what there is of it, is forwarded by the lyrics and upbeat tempos of ABBA hits. The movie is fun. It's just not all it could have been with better direction.
Not that long ago Rob Marshall changed the approach to directing musicals with his clever adaptation of Kander & Ebbs, "Chicago." If only director Phyllida Lloyd had his vision. Instead she single-handedly set back film musicals at least one decade. And it was not for want of a super cast.
Meryl Streep can sing and everyone in the world knows she can act. She is a tad old to play the mother of a 20-year-old, but who cares? This musical deals with fantasy. Seeing (and hearing) more of Christine Baranski and Julie Waters would have been nice as well as Colin Firth. Pierce Brosnan proved you don't have to be able to sing to sell the part as long as you look good. And the introduction of Amanda Seyfried as Meryl's daughter to a wide audience was a visual and musical plus.
Bottomline? "Mamma Mia!" is fun as long as you don't take your movie time too seriously.
DOCUDRAMA
"Iron Jawed Angels"
Rated R
If a good docudrama encourages you to research the film's topic, then it has succeeded not only in entertaining, but enlightening. That's what "Iron Jawed Angels" does.
Hilary Swank portrays real-life suffragist Alice Paul. Born a Quaker and determined that women and men should be treated equally, Paul traveled to Washington, D.C., in the early 1900s. Along with Lucy Burns (Frances O'Conner) and a small but strong cadre of determined women, Paul demanded that attention be paid to women's right to vote.
Carrie Chapman Catt (Angelica Houston) and her established politicos opposed the parades and White House vigils Paul's group thrived on and openly opposed their tactics.
The struggle for "equal pay for equal work" is ongoing in the 21st century, but watching "Iron Jawed Angels" helps to fill in the details either overlooked or long forgotten. Any number of sacrifices made by these Americans (i.e. being imprisoned and beaten without cause), are brutally, but accurately demonstrated in this HBO film.
Make no mistake, men who care about their mothers, wives and daughters have a vested interest in watching "Iron Jawed Angels." Likewise, women should appreciate and honor those who came before and fought for equality.
"If you want to understand today, you have to search yesterday." - Pearl Buck
DOCUMENTARY
"One Woman, One Vote"
Unrated
"One Woman, One Vote" is the perfect double feature with "Iron Jawed Angels." So often, documentaries are blatant opinion films for the filmmaker. That is not the case with "One Woman, One Voice."
Narrated by Susan Sarandon, the film chronologically details the long struggle of suffragettes in attaining the right to vote after the Civil War.
Director Ruth Pollak compiled hundreds of photos and film clips and paced the historical timeline in such a way that the two-hour movie never wavers in keeping the viewer's interest. During the late 1800s and early 1900s, popular songs with catchy tunes often carried the message of the marchers.
Given our recent political campaign where a woman came "this close" to being nominated for president of the United States, the history lesson offered in "One Woman, One Vote" is that much more amazing for both men and women to appreciate.
Rebecca Redshaw worked in the film industry in Los Angeles for 25 years. A novelist and playwright, she has been published in numerous magazines and newspapers in addition to teaching fiction. She can be reached at r2redshaw@hotmail.com.
![[Post to Twitter]](/module-resources/article/tt-twitter-big3.png)
© 2009 Sequim Gazette. All rights reserved. 147 West Washington, Sequim, WA 98382 • 360.683.3311 • Email the Webmaster