Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (2006)

NetFlix Rental
Leighton: *** 1/2, Sabine: * 1/2
Roger Ebert: ****

This was Sabine's rental choice and I ended up liking it a lot more than she did. I wasn't even aware of the book this was based on, but apparently Traudl read it years ago. From director Tom Tykwer (Run Lola Run), this is a very dark and somewhat disturbing movie about a man born in 18th century Paris with a highly accute sense of smell (Ben Whishaw). He becomes obsessed with capturing and preserving the most alluring scents, those of beautiful women. This leads him to kill to collect the scents. Right from the beginning when he is born to a poor fish market vendor, I was hooked. The cast includes Dustin Hoffman and Alan Rickman.

Trailer for Perfume: The Story of a Murderer...

Manchild (2002)

NetFlix Watch-Instantly

Leighton & Sabine: ****

I had been meaning to try out the NetFlix Watch Instantly program. Considering we get 9 hours a month and I haven't used any of it since they started, I figured I'd better start getting my money's worth. So we tried it out with this very funny BBC comedy. It's basically Sex and the City for late-40s men in Britain. I was interested in it mainly because it stars Anthony Stewart Head who played Giles on Buffy the Vampire Slayer for seven years. The other three main stars are Don Warrington, Nigel Havers, and Ray Burdis. One of the friends is married, two are divorced, and one is happily never married. We watched the first two episodes, and they were very funny.

Art School Confidential (2006)

NetFlix Rental

Leighton & Sabine: ***

This was a pretty funny black comedy about a freshman, played by Max Minghella (Syriana), at an art school obsessed with one of the classroom models, played by Sophia Myles (Tristan + Isolde). The school is full of oddball students including his film major roommate Ethan Suplee (My Name is Earl). Oh, and there is a strangler on the loose. Other cast members include John Malkovich, Jim Broadbent, and Anjelica Huston.

Trailer for Art School Confidential...

The Bourne Ultimatum

Boompa and Nanna ****

This was a great action film. And the pace never slowed down. Once again Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) continues his search to discover his true identity and those responsible for his training.

His is joined again by Nicky Parsons (Julia Stiles) and Pamala Landy (Joan Allan) who get called back into play to assist the "bad guys" in catching Jason.

This time, we have a stellar cast of bad guys with Ezra Kramer (Scott Glen) as the director of the CIA, Noah Vosen (David Strathairn) the deputy director, and the evil Dr. Albert Hirsch (Albert Finney) who was responsible for the training of Jason.

Mom and I had smuggled two cans of Diet Coke into the theater to drink during the movie. As it happened, the film kept us on the edge of our seats such that I didn't think to ask for my soda until the credits were rolling up the screen.

Trailer for The Bourne Ultimatum...

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

PoP *** 1/2


Owing to production delays, the actors appear to me somewhat older than their presumed 15. However, I did enjoy the film. I did experience a few disappointments as this was the largest of the Harry Potter books. In order to cut it down to the film's 2:18 time, many things had to minimized or eliminated all together.

A central theme of this episode is the attempt by Lord Voldemort, and his followers, to acquire a glass container holding "a prophecy" involving him. In the book, we found out that Professor Trelawney (Emma Thompson) was the person that made the prophecy. In this film, she is treated almost as a supernumerary.

As in all the Potter films, the casting of newly introduced characters is fantastic, with Imelda Staunton playing the sadistic Dolores Umbridge, Helena Bonham Carter portraying the mad Bellatrix Lestrange, the cousin of Serius Black (Gary Oldman). Also, we are introduced to Natilia Tena as Nymphadora Tonks and George Harris as Kingsley Shacklebolt.

The pace was good, and the training sessions for Dumbledore's Army were entertaining. It was good to see Neville Longbottom coming of age with his magic. I found the many vertical shots (birds-eye views) distracting.