Kris Rasmussen: January 2009 Archives

I probably shouldn't like the indie comedy "The Deal" as much as I do. There have been plenty of movies spoofing the bizarre wheelings and dealings of the filmmaking process, and many of them have been better than this screwball take on a little known moment in Jewish history. Still, no one plays a loser like William H. Macy, and he has a great supporting cast around him to back up an unlikely movie premise, which means there are just enough lighthearted, satirical moments in this film to make me recommend it as my DVD pick of the week.

Earlier this month I started a list of favorite "haunting" moments in film. Haunting moments aren't necessarily inspiring in a feel-good, happy ending sense-- though sometimes they can be. Instead they are those cinematic points in time that bring revelation to our souls in some big or small way. Here is my second round of choices --a list considerably darker than my first. As always, continue to share your suggestions in the comment box below!

Witness: Ring the bell
There are two moments in this film that are great visuals of innocence and corruption-- not to mention two different cultures-- colliding. This scene comes at the end of the film when the young boy Samuel saves police officer Book's (Harrison Ford) life by ringing the farm bell and bringing the e other Amish farmers to stop the bad guys-- not with violence-- but by being witnesses to the impending crime.

"Fargo": The Woodchipper
To some, this is going to seem a strange choice, I know. But this is one of the greatest movies about how crime doesn't pay, but there is still no more disturbing, paradoxical scene than when pregnant police officer Marge finally catches one of the criminals as he is rather creatively disposing of his partner's body.

The last time I wrote about the film "Fireproof" I had admittedly not seen it yet.
But now that it has become the indie hit of 2008 and has been released on DVD, I have taken the time to watch it. Unfortunately, the viewing experience did nothing to change my opinion about the fundamental flaws of this movie specifically or even of this genre of movie in general.

Sure, I have already written about the spiritual themes, the social issues, and the family values of NBC's best drama, "Friday Night Lights." But watching the season three premiere of the show last week, I had a small revelation: For a great series about football, it also has some of the most authentic, intelligent female characters on TV.

In last week's episode alone we saw the coach's wife, Tami, become his boss at school as she took on the daunting task of principal; the feisty Tyra told the chauvinist school counselor she will get into a college despite his lack of support; and former bimbo cheerleader Lyla chastised a rally girl for throwing herself at Riggins. These are women who are not diminished by all of the Texas-style testosterone flowing around them, yet neither are they man-haters.

Well, today's Oscar nominations have left a movie buff like me feeling a lot of mixed emotions. There weren't too many surprises--movies that received Golden Globe nods, such as "Frost/Nixon," "Doubt," and "Slumdog Millionaire" received plenty of nominations from Oscar too. But the most heartbreaking category for me on Oscar night will be Best Actor. Richard Jenkins and Frank Langella are both amazing actors who deserve to win for their performances. What's worse is that this is probably the last shot for both of them to win one, too. Add to that the comeback story of the year with Mickey Rourke for "The Wrestler" and I don't know who to cheer for.

I am happiest about the Oscar nominations for Best Screenplay and Best Actress for the movie I continue to say was wrongly overlooked last year by audiences and some critics, "Frozen River." There won't be wins in either category, but maybe a few more people will see the film now when comes out on DVD.

If the Oscar nominations left me with feeling that there is an absolute slam-dunk category, I think it has to be Best Supporting Actor. It's actually a pretty weak category, leaving Heath Ledger to win the much-discussed posthumous Oscar.

Surely that will provide at least one must-see moment on Oscar night.

I have no idea how I missed this tidbit of insight from a Hollywood celebrity. Spike Lee went on MSNBC a few days ago and made the declaration that God caused all of the economic woes we are experiencing just...

Because 2008 was a pretty lackluster year at the movies and because award season has kicked into high gear, I have been thinking about some of my favorite moments in film-- more specifically, my favorite haunting moments. No, I'm not...

Though it is extremely frustrating that the "Friday Night Lights" season finale has already aired this week on DirecTV, for the rest of us, the Dillon Panthers finally return to play football tomorrow night on NBC after too long of...

Early last year reports surfaced that Patrick Swayze may only have weeks to live. Now almost a year later, the actor opened up to Barbara Walters last night in a TV interview that was, at least for Swayze fans, riveting....

The first tragic celebrity news of 2009 came way too early as reports quickly appeared on Friday that Jett Travolta, son of actor John Travolta and actress Kelly Preston, died in The Bahamas over the New Year's holiday. Jett was...

I don't find as much time as I used to for snuggling up with a good book, but when I do I relish the opportunity. One of the few fiction books I have had time to read in 2008...