Aisle Say: Science Of Sleep (R)
by Sam Mitchell

Science Of Sleep (R)
Genre: Whimsical Drama
Director: Michel Gondry
Cast: Gael Garcia Bernal, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Alain Chabat

AISLE SAY RATING: 2.5 out of 5 popcorn buckets

Wow, I have had a habit of seeing movies lately that are directed by artists who have a resume of working with musicians. Michel Gondry like my other Aisle Say subjects is perhaps more well known. You may recognize his video work with Bjork, Beck, Kylie Minogue and Kanye West. The multi-layered director even plays drums on Kanye's "Diamonds From Sierra Leone" on his most recent album "Late Registration."

But enough of his professional accolades; those of you who are not familiar with Gondry's video work may recognize the last drama that he directed, 2004's Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Starring Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet. Needless to say, The Science of Sleep did not reach my emotional expectations based on his previous film.

I am not always disappointed by sophomore efforts (I'm not including his documentary Dave Chapelle's Block Party). In it's defense, the visual style that Gondry has developed for directing music videos DOES interpolate well for the big screen. His ever present visual style which hastens back to stop motion animation in live settings and mathematical repetitions dazzle the viewer's eye. The body of work, thus far, that he has chosen to direct fits his pattern driven musings very well. In Eternal Sunshine... as well as The Science of Sleep, the fantasy moments are illustrated magically and seem to define the mental states of the characters superbly.

My error in viewing this movie was reading other reviews ahead of time. I came to the conclusion that lead character Stephane (Gael Garcia Bernal) was a disillusioned graphic artist who teetered inbetween waking life and his dreams due to his creative mind being stunted in an office workplace. He eventually begins a relationship with the aptly named neighbor Stephanie (Charlotte Gainsbourg). Aptly named because she is his counterpart creatively. The difference being, she can distinguish between her imagination and reality.

I was expecting a whimsical romance and instead I found a story about mental illness. Watching Stephane regress through the movie socially hit too close to home with my relationship with family members who suffer from mental illness. It was upsetting to see that none of the characters treated Stephane's actions as such and dealt with his delusions as mere cuteness. The cuteness eventually fades and turns into emotional pain for those who care for him including Stephanie, whose relationship with Stephane is never clearly defined.

My own personal feelings may be leaking into this review, but well done movies evoke personal connections. As meticulously crafted as the movie was made I still have to say that I was ready to leave twenty minutes in and only prayed for things to change in a way that they never did.

Quote from film: "Isn't life already in 3-D?"

Aisle Say: "ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ"

Next Week: The Illusionist

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Aisle Say: Idlewild (R)
by Sam Mitchell

Idlewild (R)
Genre: Musical
Director: Bryan Barber
Cast: Andre Benjamin, Big Boi Patton, Paula Patton, Terrence Howard, Ving Rhames

AISLE SAY RATING: 2.5 out of 5 popcorn buckets (The .5 this week for the sleek look)

I disagree with whoever said that musicians shouldn't act, but it's not because of this movie. In the last review, I sang the praises of video directors who have made the transition from directing videos to directing in the long playing format of the big screen.

The key to mastering this step, I believe, is content. Do not direct a two hour movie that is related to the music video genre. Writer/Director Bryan Barber's work includes Outkast videos: "Hey Ya", "I Like the Way You Move" and "The Whole World." If Barber decides to direct again for thelarge screen, he should consider a drama with a cast change. It's too obvious that Idlewild is promoting a soundtrack which itself is only a device to promote it's movie. Neither are too solid.

Again, I brought my friend Ryan to the movie theater. I know that there are bigger fans, but he is the closest I know to being an Outkast superfan. I've only seen bigger fans at the record signing for Speakerboxxx/The Love Below at the CD Warehouse on Peachtree Street in Atlanta.

The woman standing in front of me had an Outkast logo tattooed roughly on her left breast. Ryan is a true fan, but would never go to the lengths of promoting the band on his chest. He knows every lyric to every song, owns each album and will not burn copies for his friends under any circumstances. He doesn't want Andre and Big Boi to feel the monetary loss from the "sharing" of one's music. "It's the principle," he says.

I can't recommend Idlewild, but if you're a "dyed in the wool" fan you're not going to miss it. I understand that. Just remember, it is what it is and it's not much.

Andre Benjamin has been quietly trying to break into acting for the last few years. He shows up in the "Get Shorty" sequal "Be Cool" and even handles a heavier role in 2005's "Four Brothers". Already, he has been in the company of many hollywood heavyweights. My advise to Barber would be well suited to Benjamin as well; stay away from the big screen musical. Benjamin should let the audience see him acting as someone other than himself.

In contrast, Bruce Willis did not make the path easy by taking on the blues persona of Bruno for his 1987 album The Return of Bruno. We all know that Willis never made it in music, but Andre may still prove to be a good mainstream actor by being steadfast and taking on more varied roles.

If I bring it up to friends in the presence of Ryan, we unanimously give our opinions for Idlewild. Not surprisingly, our assessments are different. Visually, I felt the movie was consistent with Barber's video directing style; fast paced, but too glossy. Unfortunately, it's better suited for television.

Quote from film: Pick a lyric from Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. They were in there.

Aisle Say: "This movie really smells like poo poo poo"

Next Week: Science Of Sleep

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Aisle Say: Snakes On A Plane
by Sam Mitchell

Snakes On A Plane (R)
Genre: Action, Thrillier?, Campy!
Director: David R. Ellis
Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, Julianna Margulies, Kenan Thompson, and Nathan Phillips

Aisle Say Rating: 2.5 of 5 Popcorn Buckets

Months ago, maybe in June, I saw a preview at LeFont Sandy Springs for "Snakes On A Plane." I believe it was before the viewing of X-Men 3, but I'm not sure.

Anyway, the reason I mention the preview is this: the applause. I felt like Regina and I were the only ones who had not heard of this movie gauged by the audience's emphatic reaction. They all seemed to be "in the know." Was there some sort of media blitz that I had been oblivious too? I entered "the know" shortly after.

A friend of mine even gave away my unlisted cell number in exchange for my audio pleasure. Sure enough, Sam Jackson's voice blistered my ear in a very canned "fill in the blank" speech that encouraged me to see this movie and to bring a friend, with nary a curse word.

I was slightly annoyed that my number had been given away, but I still kind of liked hearing a celebrity on my phone using my name. I couldn't help but admit that I was excited to hear Sam Jackson say something to the effect of, "die you motherfucking snake" at the movie -since he didn't on my cell.

The best way to face any phobia is in a controlled environment. I hate snakes or rather I have a healthy respect for them and I'm not a great or easy passenger on plane rides. Take my two biggest fears, throw in a half a dozen, "hey, I know that man/woman" actors and Samuel L. and there you have it, "Snakes On A Plane."

The Ritz in Thomaston is a one screener that sometimes houses a double feature. Each movie in T-Town usually has a life span of one week. On it's second week at The Ritz, I took it as a sign to dish out my five dollars to see this finely marketed movie. My good friend Ryan supported my decision and by doing so increased the audience size by twenty five percent, literally.

Within the first fifteen minutes I knew that I was in for a campy movie. Camp is what you get when a Jack Johnson song is used as a tropical motif during the opening titles. I love camp, but usually at the expense of a serious effort. Exceptions include early Sam Raimi, whose work is deliberate and unadulterated camp.

During my viewing I couldn't help but wonder if Stephen J. Cannel had his hand in producing or writing the movie. He didn't, but my point was that "Snakes On A Plane" played out like a two-hour episode of any of his '80's handy work such as The A-Team, Hunter or 21 Jump Street. The movie was pure entertainment, but the kind of terrible entertainment that's usually expected for a straight-to-video release.

To it's credit, there are many memorable scenes. I did chuckle at a scene where one male character is urinating on a snake in the plane bathroom unbeknownst to him. When I was a small child living in the country, I almost peed on a rattlesnake. Luckily my dad grabbed me away just in time and then he tried to clobber the snake with a large rock.

Whew! Thanks, Dad!!!

My personal story still makes me jump and quiver, "Snakes On A Plane" did not, save one scene.

The only actor's performance worth mentioning is Kenan Thompson's. Only one other performance made me laugh harder - the fake snakes. For your wallet's sake, if you must see "Snakes On A Plane" now, go to a matinee.

Quote from film: "Remember, time is tissue." This next quote is the runner because I say it when I tell my friends about the movie, "Enough is enough! I've had it with these motherfucking snake on this motherfucking plane!" ...motherfucker

Aisle Say: "Hey, that 'time is tissue' line gets funnier the more I think about it." and "They didn't list trouser snake as a species." Thanks, Ryan.

Next : Idlewild

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Aisle Say: Little Miss Sunshine
by: Sam Mitchell

Little Miss Sunshin (R)
Genre: Drama, Life Funny, Fragile Sanity, Wes Anderson(ish).
Director: Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris
Cast: Toni Collette, Greg Kinnear, Steve Carell, Alan Arkin, Paul Dano, Abigail Breslin

Aisle Say Rating: 4.5 of 5 Popcorn Buckets

I love going to a movie that hasn't been ruined by revealing trailers. My reaction to "Little Miss Sunshine" was pure. And to put it mildly, I was relieved to see a great movie.

It was love; not only for the movie's "brains or personality", but also its look.

After being slightly disappointed by "The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou", I was glad to find the movie I was looking for to follow "The Royal Tenenbaums." Surprisingly, the film I was looking for wasn't written or directed by Wes Anderson.

What didn't surprise me was the fact that the films directors had careers which began with music videos. It seems that many new feature film directors have backgrounds in directing videos and music documentaries (i.e. the creative Michel Gondry and the strictly commercial McG).

In fact, directors Dayton and Faris are husband and wife, respectively. This relationship places them in a very exclusive club. The only other family duos who direct that come to mind are the Farelly and Coen Brothers.

The beauty of this film comes the characters. Each member of the family is on a determined path that helps each to escape from the other family member's annoyances. (Many can relate considering there are times that we have all have wanted to be liberated from our families even after we've left the nest.)

The struggles of the family converge when they are forced to help the their youngest member, Olive (Abigail Breslin), reach her goal of competing in the Little Miss Sunshine beauty pageant. And t o reach the destination, the family must travel via VW bus form Albuquerque to California.

There's nothing like a road trip to test the nerves of your nearest and dearest.

Solid performances make it hard to find the flaws with this movie. It's easy to forget that Steve Carell was once Produce Pete on The Daily Show. He makes a much easier transition to drama than Jim Carrey first did with "The Truman Show."

If you're fan of Wes Anderson's films, you may be turned on by "Little Miss Sunshine." If you arn't and Anderson fan, don't worry, it definitely has its own flavor.

Quote from film: "No, I'm madly in love with you and it's not because of your brains or personality"

Aisle Say: "Those beauty queen kids are extra creepy."

Next: Snakes on a Plane

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Aisle Say: The Descent
by Sam Mitchell

The Descent (R)
Genre: Horror, Chick Adventure, 14 Year Old Boy Fantasy
Director: Neil Marshall
Cast: Shauna MacDonald, Natalie Jackson Mendoz

Aisle Say Rating: 4 of 5 Popcorn Buckets

Breeanne called around 11 on Friday night. I knew that it could be important considering we rarely talk on the phone. What could it be?

"Oh my god, mang, get it the car and go to the late showing of, The Descent."

"NO, You're kidding me, It looks like generic garbage. I heard that folks were laughing at how terrible it was in the theater."

"I know, I heard the same thing."

Breeanne's words held a lot of weight for me, especially when it comes to the horror genre. She and I were on the same page with our taste in horror movies.

28 Days Later? Good. Dawn of the Dead (2004)? Not good.

The Descent spins the tale of a group of six female adventure seekers on a spelunking trip in the Appalachian Mountain (anyone else think "Sam" is a Kelly Ripa look-alike?).

Writer/Director Neil Marshall sets the events in modern horror fiction style.

Example: A horrible personal event plagues the heroine. Although haunted by the tragedy, she tries to move on. She is reminded of the tragedy in the onslaught of elevated horrific events. Maybe she survives, but who would believe her if she did?

After mourning the death of her husband and daughter, lead heroine Sarah (Shauna McDonald) is invited to reunite on an cave exploration with her adrenaline seeking British comrades. Sarah's friends tread around her personal tragedy by trying to keep her active instead of leaving here mind idle to dwell on her personal history.

After the collapse of the cave entrance, it is revealed that their spelunking co-ordinater Juno (Natalie Jackson Mendoza) has brought her five friends into a cave system that is unmapped in hopes to do what other adventurers haven't; and in hopes to draw her and friend Sarah closer due to the fact that her personal loss is tied to Juno's.

The fact that this beautiful group of women are not alone is not the surprise. Cave dwelling humanoids that feed on on flesh are expected - as seen briefly in the trailors - but they are only the vehicle to explore the dynamics between this particular group of six.

Some scenes are so wrought with tension that when the release finally comes you may laugh with anxiety.

Quote from film: "I'm an English teacher, not Fucking Tomb Raider!"

Aisle Say: "What? I can't understand her, she's so British."

Next: Little Miss Sunshine

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