What to Watch This Week

In Theaters: Changeling (2008)

"A mother prays for the return of her kidnapped son. When her prayers are answered, however, she begins to suspect the boy who comes back is not her child. Inspired by true events that took place in Los Angeles in the 1920s."

The performance is definitely what drives this movie. The story, one of continuously-piled drama, disappointments and frustrations, is full of surprises (so long as you do not read anything about the true story behind it beforehand). A great story in a good film. It could have benefited from better pacing and tighter editing (it is a bit too long, but there is also just not enough John Malkovich, so...). Also, I could have used more heart-wrenching, soul-shaking, out-right-emotional-devastation scenes for Jolie (there is less of the violent "I want my son!" that you see in the trailers and more consistent, even tears), but I'm a masochist for that kind of drama.

It is definitely worth the watch if you like period pieces, true crime tales, Angelina Jolie, or if you want to be prepared for Oscar season. Jolie is crying for probably 85% of this film, so definitely look out for her come February 22, 2009. Fans of The Office or her performance in Gone, Baby, Gone should keep an eye out for Amy Ryan, who gives a fantastic performance in the short time she appears onscreen.

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On DVD - This Week's Theme: "Marriages that Work"
The Thin Man (1934)

"In New York, a detective, his wife and his dog solve the murder case of an eccentric inventor."

So few marriages that work in cinema these days, right? In fact, I would be hard-pressed to name a single couple in film from the last few years that has been truly "solid." My boyfriend often jokes that movies and television have led him to believe that marriage is inevitably terrible and married people are boring or unhappy (thanks, Hollywood).

He needs to watch The Thin Man, and so do you. It is a great, funny, and thoroughly modern film from 1934 that I would recommend to anyone. It fits this week's theme far better than any I could think of.

But, it is sad that I had to go back so far to find such a good example of a great, natural marriage. It's about time we have another film that defies the studios' penchant for unstable (or, if not unstable, then unrealistic) relationships. As Monika Bartyzel over at Cinematical so accurately pointed out,

"Nick and Nora are a couple that put today's Hollywood pairs to shame. Their communication is laced with quick-witted banter, which thrives not just because of its cleverness, but because of their relationship. Nick and Nora are at peace with each other. They know where they stand. They know how to communicate honestly. They don't take trivial matters too seriously. They are, for lack of a better word, solid."

How can you not love a couple where, when one gets drunk, the other orders enough drinks at once to catch up? Or, when Nora walks in on Nick hugging another woman to comfort her, she simply makes a face at him (and he makes one back)? William Powell and Myrna Loy play the couple to absolute perfection. They not only have a romantic chemistry, but also an easy friendship.

Forget the lofty romantic couplings like Jack and Rose, Christian and Satine, Inman and Ada (...okay, not entirely, of course). I would kill to have a relationship like Nick and Nora's.

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