Friday, October 5, 2012

Two Movies

Although never mentioned in the movie, The Master is widely thought to be about L. Ron Hubbard's Church of Scientology. The direction and acting are superb. The nudity and sexual scenes and references exceeded the boundaries of my comfort zone so be prepared for that. You probably wouldn't want to take your mother. It is long and a little slow but never boring. To me, it is a challenging psychological study without a message or purpose except as a vehicle for great performances and brilliant cinematography. Expect it to be a contender for several awards. Some will hate it and others will find it the best film of the year.

A couple of weeks ago we attended a free screening of Won't Back Down, a film about education bureaucracy. I found it somewhat engaging but flawed. The continuity was a bit jerky and the direction inconsistent ... good in spots and unrealistic in others. Some might see it as anti-union. I was reminded of the 2010 documentary, Waiting for Superman which I recommend.

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