Shane Life

While Alli was recovering this weekend, I took a run at Blockbuster to pick up a few movies. I’ve got a couple things to say about them. Watched two inspirational teacher-type stories, Half Nelson and Freedom Writers, and a bleak near-future story, Children of Men.

Children of Men

Clive Owen is one of my favorite actors out there right now. He’s suave, he’s versatile and he’s British. To be honest, before I saw Casino Royale with Daniel Craig, I was convinced that he was meant to be the next James Bond (I’ve since changed my mind about Craig…he was quite good). Clive Owen pushes Children of Men forward as a government worker asked a favor of his ex-wife (who is now considered a terrorist) in the now completely infertile world. Imagine that. A world that is infertile. How messed up is that?

Alfonso Cuaron puts together a bleak view of the near future (2027, only 20 years away), but one that has its roots in today’s world. Britain in 2027 looks somewhat like the United States in 5 years perhaps, where people are segregated into the very poor and the very rich. I found the movie certainly depressing, but well-made. It ends quite abruptly, which bothered me a little…I would have appreciated just a little more resolution.

That being said, Clive Owen is fantastic and Michael Caine provides just enough comic relief as a drug-selling John-Lennon-lookalike revolutionary to make the bleak landscape tolerable. I still don’t know how I feel about the movie. It is one that makes you think, but I think that it could have been done better. If you like Clive Owen and you don’t mind depressing movies, I’d check it out. Otherwise, stay away from it.

Half Nelson

Ryan Gosling’s performance as a drug-addled inner-city history teacher garnered him an Oscar nomination. And he deserved it. He is absolutely terrific in this movie about inner conflict and how we find support in the most unlikely places. It is certainly a rough look at a teacher, but in all his flaws, you couldn’t help but relate to him on some level - he was a guy who was unhappy in life and used drugs to sedate himself against what he saw as failure, yet he was redeemed every time he stepped into the classroom or onto the court as the basketball coach and he reached someone.

Now there were certainly some weird scenes, and the chemistry between Gosling and his primary student, a young African-American girl who just “gets him”, is almost uncomfortable at some points, but at the same time, it is sweet and it makes sense. I liked the movie, particularly for the acting of Gosling and Epps (aforementioned student), but I don’t know if I’d recommend it.

Freedom Writers

I’m never sure just what to think of Hilary Swank. I don’t know if she’s the luckiest actress in all of Hollywood or if she’s really as good as her movies. She got pretty lucky here, playing a first-year inner-city teacher who wants to change the world one gang member at a time. It’s a noble cause and a good movie with a great message. I didn’t want to like the movie as much as I did…I don’t know why, but after watching it, I found myself really appreciating what it represented, and appreciating that it was based on a real person who really did all these things for her students.

I’ll admit, there were a couple of times that I was brought to tears thinking, “Is it really that easy to make a difference in the world? Why haven’t I done it yet?”

When the movie was over, I found myself smiling and glad that I had pushed aside the pre-judgements I had about Hilary Swank and just watched the movie for what it was - the story of a remarkable woman and a remarkable group of students who overcame a lot of adversity to inspire many people. I really enjoyed it and I would certainly recommend it to just about anyone.