One mindless entertainment and one for the award season.

So many movies, so little time.  Friday night we decided to go for a non-thinker and saw Taken.  I have long enjoyed Liam Neeson and have kept an eye on Maggie Grace since she had the good fortune of Sayid's affection on LOST. In Taken, Mr. Neeson plays a retired father of a spoiled seventeen year old daughter(Grace), although it is not made clear what exactly retired from.  Security of some sort, since, as he tells his daughter's kidnapper, he has a particular set of well honed skills which he uses to get his daughter back.  A little contrived and occasionally completely implausible, it was still a decent film.  I prefer Liam as an academic or romantic, but he did fairly well as the white knight/save the day guy.  Filmed primarily in Paris with some lovely scenes of art and architecture.  2 1/2 stars....maybe 3.

I had the pleasure of reading Bernhard Schlink's beautiful little book, The Reader, years ago. I recall that it moved me, but the film version may very well be one of the few times that a film is as good, or perhaps even better, than the book.  The Reader is a story all about shades of gray.  No matter how black and white you think something may be, there is always a blurring, a shadowing that opens a door to a place you had not considered.  It is a story quietly overflowing with emotion and love and sadness.  I'm not going to explain here what the story is about, but simply say that you must see this film. I have always believed that history is not about dates and wars, but about people and that we must never forget what we, as people, are capable of, both good and horrendously bad.  The Reader shows us a bit of both.

I am not privy to the criteria used when choosing nominees for film awards, but I think someone missed a step when David Kross, the young man who played Michael Berg from age 15-25, was ignored. Not that Kate Winslet wasn't fabulous, but the Mr. Kross was outstanding.  The emotion and conflict of his character reached right out and touched me.  5++++stars with a MUST SEE endorsement.

Comments

[Diana]

We saw "Taken" on Friday afternoon, and I felt it was like a James Bond film, only with the fact that this was 'personal' in that his daughter was kidnapped to be sold into slavery. Liam Neeson plays a man who is retired from the CIA and retires to live closer to his daughter, because his ex-wife had remarried. We felt the film was well done, in that his 'skills' are top-notch and he remains focused, until he ALMOST has his daughter back, and some emotion takes over and he gets stopped. Liam Neeson is an excellent actor in his intelligence and abilities. Has a bit of a 'drop-off' ending, they could have spent a little more time and made the ending with a bit more film time and story ending.

[PainterWoman]

We have (accidentally) been on a movie diet. I agree with your approving appraisal of Neeson, and can't wait to see The Reader, even if it is via Netflix!