Gil Mansergh’s Cinema Toast

New Releases 11/13/09

2012 (PG-13)
Starring: John Cusack, Chjwetel Ejiofor, Amanda Peet, Oliver Platt
Director: Roland Emmerich
If someone hands you an envelope with the date of your death, would you open it? What about the date of the end of the world? Well, the filmmakers want you to think it’s going to be 2012, and to make sure this is universal destruction, they have waves crash over, earthquakes level or volcanoes swallow the Eiffel Tower, the Washington Monument, the Vatican, LA’s freeways and Rio’s statue of Christ. Deciding mankind’s only hope is to build gigantic arks (in China no less), the President, his advisors, scientists, and a failed sci/fi novelist head to find safety on the steppes of Asia.
1 and 1/2 pieces of almost 3-hours long toast
 
 
Pirate Radio  (R)
Starring: Philip S. Hoffman, Bill Nighy, Rhys Ifans, Nick Frost
Director: , Richard Curtis
Richard Curtis (who directed “Notting Hill,” and Rowan Atkinson’s Black Adder TV series) helms this anarchistic film about the sex, drugs, and rock and roll which shivers the timbers of a fictional Pirate Radio ship churging through international waters and broadcasting thousands of watts of powerful music to Britain in the early 60’s. (Actually, the sex is intermittent—females only board for overnight stays every other week). The soundtrack is great (over 60 songs are showcased), there are four Oscar nominees signed on, and even if the “freedom of the airwaves” banner is hoisted too many times, it’s still fun.
3 pieces of aaarrrrggggh toast
 
 
An Education (PG-13)
Starring: Peter Sarsgaard, Carey Mulligan, Alfred Molina, Rosamund Pike
Director: Lone Scherfig
Newcomer Carey Mulligan gets it just right as she plays an intelligent young woman who must chose between the safe and sane road suggested by school counselors and parents or the seductive lure of jet-setting, do-nothings who fly to Paris for dinner and drinks. Actually, I’ve said too much. This coming of age film, and Mullligan’s performance, should be experienced rather than described.
4 pieces of a star is born toast
 
 
NEW ON DVD
 
UP (PG)
Starring the voices of:  Ed Asner, Jordan Nagai, Christopher Plummer, John Ratzenberger, Bob Peterson, Delroy Lindo
Director: Pete Docter, Bob Peterson
The curmudgeonly old man is a movie staple. Ed Asner  was great as Mary’scurmudgeonly boss on Mary Tyler Moore’s TV show.  Well Asner is back in all his curmudgeonly glory  in Pixar’s newest film. But the treat for us, ids the Pixar folks use the first part of this animated treasure to explain how the old grouch got to be that way, why he wants to escape in his house, and why he uses helium-filled balloons to do so. By the way, the Boy Scout they show in the TV trailers isn’t officially sanctioned by the BSA, so he is correctly called a “Wilderness Explorer” (but then you’re not supposed to call facial tissues Kleenex unless you attach the trade mark logo).
4 pieces of up, up, and away toast