This Sunday, Nov. 17, we are in for a real treat. The film The Intouchables sounds like a movie we really can't miss. Everyone who's seen it, absolutely loves it. The film tells the story of a quadriplegic millionaire and his African care-giver, Driss. In the course of the story we'll see how Driss changes the boring life of the millionaire and his employees as well.
John Anderson has come up with the following questions:
1. What aspects of THE INTOUCHABLE'S' "Bro-manticism" allow the characters to appreciate their differences in class and culture?
2. Why does the film align social class and cultural taste so precisely?
3. How are the roles and functions of women proscribed in the film?
4. How does race and disability represent "loss" in the film, and how does the "Bromance" plot restore wholeness to its character's lives?
Think about the answers and come prepared Sunday to enter into the discussion after the film.
Critics Corner
Gail Brown sends us the following review of 12 Years a Slave (based on a true story).
Rated: Hard R for violent scenes aplenty
2 hrs, 13 min.
Ratings: Four of us rated it 8 - 10, IMDB - 8.6, Rotten Tomatoes - 9.0
Starring: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Paul Giamatti, Paul Dano, Benedict Cumberbatch, Brad Pitt (very small but pivotal role)
Director: Steve McQueen (not the actor who died years ago!)
Synopsis: Solomon Northup, A NY state citizen is kidnapped and sold into slavery in New Orleans in the 1800's. The movie is based on his memoir.
One Critics Opinion: The extraordianry 12 Years a Slave thrusts its lead character and the audience into slavery's moral and psychological morass more fully and directly than any movie before it.
Gail's Opinion: I felt every minute of this movie. The brutality was over the top but was, most assuredly, a true depiction of slavery in those times. It makes you wonder how and why man is so inhumane to man.
The casting, acting and directing could not have been better. (Although some in our group thought it was a bit slow. My thought was that it was intentional so you could feel the pain and suffering of those who lost their freedom).
And the Oscar nominations go to:
Lead Actor - Chiwetel Ejiofor
Supporting Actor - Michael Fassbender
Director - Steve McQueen
Best Movie of the year.
Note: If you thought Django was brutal...you have not seen brutal.
A friend sent me this video which I thought I'd post because it's so fantastic. Maybe you've already seen it, but it's fun a second time. Supposedly this Oscar performance didn't make it to the television audience. I wonder why. Too long of a show? How horrible for the performers though to not get exposed to one of the biggest television audiences.
See you at the Digiplex on Sunday, 3:00 pm for The Intouchables.
We saw "Twelve Years a Slave" and were mesmerized by the film. It was disturbing to know, as a white woman, I am connected to people able to commit such atrocities in the name of "culture, civility and whatever else they assured themselves of. It was a sobering experience to witness America at such moments in time.
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