Reel-View Ratings: The Bigger The Beard, The Better The Movie
OUR BRAND IS CRISIS
Sandra Bullock is a force to be reckoned with in this political dramedy that takes a (very) fictionalized look at the 2002 Bolivian presidential race — but she’s just about the only thing that is in this underwhelming film. Political strategist “Calamity” Jane Bodine (Bullock) goes to South America to help a shady politician win an unwinnable race with her best, most American tactics. But what wants to be a scathing critique of American political campaigning is really just a lukewarm, vague indictment, with good actors stuck as bland background pieces to Bullock’s radiance. This film is worth seeing for her, and little else. Opens Oct. 30 in wide release
TRUTH
The Memogate that ended the careers of multiple journalists — including Dan Rather — is the centerpiece of Truth, a film that knows exactly which side of its bread is buttered here. Truth follows producer Mary Mapes (Cate Blanchett, amazing as ever) and her news team, including Rather (Robert Redford, being very Redfordian), as they piece together a story that claims President George W. Bush lied about his military service. The film is overwhelmingly sympathetic to the disgraced journalists, sometimes too obviously so, and thus makes for an odd showcase of what “truth” actually entails. Though, maybe that’s the point? Opens Oct. 30 at Kahala
HOUSE
Seven young girls travel to the country home of an eccentric old woman, only to be beset upon by all kinds of child-like horrors: a piano that eats the player’s fingers; a flying, biting head; a terrible cat. The movie isn’t scary, exactly; it’s surreal and bizarre and even funny, occupying a strangely trippy realm of anxiety — in no small part because director Nobuhiko Obayashi was inspired by the fears of his 10-year-old daughter, Chigumi. It’s not a movie so much as it is a Thing That Happens, something that doesn’t quite maintain a fully formed narrative but never spends longer than 10 seconds without something thrilling flashing by. It’s weird, but still mostly wonderful. Plays Oct. 31 at 7:30 p.m.
