“The Truth About Charlie” Starring Mark
Wahlberg and Thandie Newton Directed by Jonathan Demme
1 Paw
Don’t be fooled by the glitz and glamour of the movie ads.
“The Truth About Charlie” is a major disappointment. As
an adaptation of the classic Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn film
“Charade,” it is no surprise that this film fails to
live up the original. What is surprising, however, is how insipid
and tacky it is, even by today’s standards.Â
The only thing more infuriating than having to watch Mark
Wahlberg don a beret for two hours (the setting is France after
all) is watching Mark Wahlberg attempt to act. During the course of
the film, he alternates between two looks: confused and
constipated. In fact, it is unclear whether Wahlberg was even aware
that he was shooting a movie.
The plot is equally horrendous. The film opens with a murder and
the potential for thrills, but the over-the-top characters and
ridiculously heightened drama quickly turn the movie into
unintentional comedy. Jonathan Demme (“The Silence of the
Lambs”) uses one film cliche after another. Aside from
Wahlberg’s beret, the film constantly reminds the viewer of
its Parisian setting by alternating between French and English
dialogue at very odd moments and by showing that every shopping bag
contains at least one French baguette. Â
The one saving element of the film is the leading lady ““
Thandie Newton (“Mission Impossible II”). The exquisite
English beauty lights up every scene. However, not even her
gorgeous looks are enough to save this tedious film.
For a real dose of mystery and witty banter, skip this film and
save your money to rent “Charade” ““ you will not
be disappointed.
-Emily Camastra
“The Trials of Henry Kissinger” Directed by
Eugene Jarecki
3.5 Paws
Putting former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger on trial for
crimes against humanity is dangerous because it’s a bit like
putting America on trial. Kissinger defined American foreign policy
for more than a decade, and to criticize Kissinger is to criticize
American international power itself.
Filmmaker Eugene Jarecki and screenwriter Alex Gibney feel the
burden of their claims in their new documentary, “The Trials
of Henry Kissinger.” They make their points forcefully, but
also cautiously, finding credible people who were intimately
involved with Kissinger to call him a liar. But, as a concession to
fairness, they include Kissinger’s public rebuttals of his
role in massacres in Cambodia, East Timor, Chile and Vietnam.
Most of the documentary is spent on Vietnam, sifting through
archival footage, old documents and eyewitness accounts. The other
things mentioned, especially a short segment on Kissinger’s
swinger lifestyle complete with a Motown soundtrack, tend to seem
like side notes. The filmmakers felt their strongest cases were
Vietnam and Cambodia, which seem to slight other atrocities
Kissinger was allegedly involved with.
This film remains powerful because of its content and message.
Even with poor editing, the film questions America at a time when
it is even more dangerous and more relevant to do so.
-Howard Ho