Paragon’s Mike Whalen with Lt. Commander Leo Gray and Mayor Peggy Noland.

By Dave Montalbano

AdventuresOfCinemaDave.com

The Paragon Theater in Deerfield Beach deserves honors for screening Red Tails last Friday evening with a featured appearance by Tuskegee Air Core pilot, Lt. Commander Leo Gray, (ret.) USAF.

More than 14 World War II veterans were acknowledged with prolonged applause in the sold-out auditorium.

In the past, I have written how certain movies from my childhood provided inspiration. These older films contain outdated production values today, yet a film like The Alamo still influences my life. I wonder how young people will respond to a movie like Red Tails (Many were in attendance, wearing cadet uniforms).

Red Tails tells a traditional story with a clear beginning, middle and end. With the backdrop of the World War II European campaign, Red Tails celebrates the Negro pilots from the Tuskegee Air Core training program.

The characters are archetypes. The flight commander secretly drinks alcohol to cope with the stress of command and the second-in-command has a rebellious streak because he is an excellent daredevil pilot. Then, there is “the innocent,” a young pilot who is yet to be tested in battle. Each character fulfills his character arc with little emotional connection with the audience.

Fifty-two years after release, The Alamo retains classic status due to the well-directed action sequences. The same can be said of Red Tails, which features five aeronautical action sequences that even impressed Lt. Commander Gray.

Avoiding attention deficit disorder editing techniques, Director Anthony Heming-way provides clear and concise attention to detail without sacrificing human empathy.

Red Tails has not been a critical darling of the elitist critics circle, yet the sold-out audience at Paragon applauded the film at its conclusion. This crowd behavior is a harbinger for Red Tails durability for the next five decades.

Lt. Commander Gray best sums up my feelings of Red Tails with this quote: “This is a Hollywood version and enjoy it as such. Don’t let it bother you that a little bit of history was overlooked. It is still a good movie and the aeronautical sequences are going to blow your mind.”

By Dave Montalbano

AdventuresOfCinemaDave.com

Robin Williams took on his first serious role in The World According to Garp, though his costars Glenn Close and John Lithgow earned Best Supporting Oscar nominations. Lithgow portrayed Roberta Muldoon, an ex-NFL football player who became a transsexual. Thirty years later, Close has been nominated for best actress for Albert Nobbs, which explores the issues of sexual identity.

As the title character, Close portrays a woman who is identified as a skinny but reliable butler in 19th Century Ireland. Since it is not safe to be a single woman in that land, Nobbs blends into the scenery of an upper class household.

When handyman Hubert Page (Janet McTeer) takes on a job, Albert is forced to take in a roommate. This chance encounter forces the repressed Albert to think about other possibilities in living an authentic life.

With an attention to detail and a steady pace, Albert Nobbs is a thought-provoking movie in line with James Joyce’s short story, The Dead. A passion project produced by Close (who also co-wrote the theme song), this film captures the thin line between Irish tragedy and comedy.

With a strong ensemble cast, it shines with reliable performances. Upon first stereotypical appearances, both Close and Janet McTeer manage to invest audience empathy through nuanced performances. Both actresses have earned their actor’s kudos on the awards circuit.

Floating around at local art house cinemas is The House of Pleasures, writer/director Bertrand Bonello’s ode to the last brothel in Paris. A French film with English subtitles, House of Pleasures examines the business of lust. Like an employee primer, one is given a textbook procedure on how to seduce a person for cash.

Many characters cross the fine line between fantasy and reality in this film. One Madam scars her face into a permanent smile in a quest for eternal happiness. Both Albert Nobbs and House of Pleasures explore this fine line between fantasy and reality with stunning results.

By Dave Montalbano

AdventuresOfCinemaDave.com

War Horse is a modest motion picture; it raised $67 million since it’s Christmas Day release. It got shut out of last weekend’s Golden Globe Awards, but earned Best Picture Award through the National Board of Review and the AFI Movie of the Year Award.

Given these under-publicized honors, War Horse is destined to become a literary cinema classic for years to come.

Based on Michael Morpur-go’s award-winning juvenile fiction novel, War Horse tells the story of Joey, a horse raised on a farm in Ireland. Joey and Albert (Jeremy Irvine) develop a symbiotic relationship that saves the farm from a greedy landlord (David Thewlis) for one more year. When World War I raises its ugly head, Ted’s father sells Joey to the military effort.

Being the last war involving a Calvary charge, Joey is put in the front line against the German Army. Through war’s inferno, Joey ends becoming a German War Horse, but not before encountering such interesting characters as two war deserters, a farmer and his frail granddaughter.

Director Steven Spielberg is the perfect director for this type of motion picture, with echoes of E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial and Schindler’s List. The most powerful violence occurs off-screen, but the consequences of war are presented without blinking.

Being a student of film master John Ford, Spielberg’s visual homages are apparent.

The human actors are perfectly cast. If young Albert Narracott keeps his nose clean, War Horse will be a launching pad to a long career as a leading man.  Emily Watson and David Thewlis provide reliable support. While Joey is portrayed by 17 horses, the fictional character becomes real in War Horse.

Besides being technically proficient about the horrors of war, War Horse is a heartwarming movie about peace. Without special effects, explosions and computer animation, the thematic climax involves scared enemies in the trenches, barb wire and Joey trapped in the neutral zone. Resolution of this subtle scene is real.

For stoic people who shield their emotions, animals serve as a conduit. For me, the loss of Bill Elliott, who graduated with me from Deerfield Beach High School, became real when I saw his dog, Dinghy, standing guard over the dearly departed master during the memorial.

By Dave Montalbano

AdventuresOfCinemaDave.com

Grief is a confusing emotion. One reacts differently under each situation.

Last December, I lost my Uncle Paul and my buddy (“Scary”) Gerry Carter within three days of each other. The only emotional release I found was Matt “Guitar” Murphy’s Blues performance at Satchmo Blues Bar in Ft. Lauderdale a few nights later (see picture pg. 1).

A member of the original Blues Brothers Band who performed with Howlin’ Wolf and Etta James, Murphy was backed-up by Albert Castiglia.

Castiglia will be performing at the Florida Blues Film Festival at Satchmo on Martin Luther King weekend. Presented by BlueAtHeart Productions, this festival features three documentaries that have been honored in the past year, Full Moon Lightnin’, Hard Times and M is for Mississippi. While the Blues acknowledges pain and suffering in the world, it’s often also the first step toward redemption. (www.bluesfilmfest.com).

For many, The Mill and the Cross could be considered a transformative motion picture. Featuring Rutger Hauer, Charlotte Rampling and Michael York, this Art House motion picture details Pieter Bruegel the Elder’s masterpiece The Way to Calvary, circa 1564.

The film is an entertaining art history lesson that looks at many phases of putting oil on canvas. It opens with models being positioned, while Bruegel (Hauer) provides commentary about character placement.

While the suffering of the Christ is the focal point, Bruegel explains why he hides Jesus in the painting while characters vie for the spotlight. A hit at last year’s Sundance Film Festival, The Mill and the Cross is the next best thing to going to an art museum this weekend.

For more traditional movie-going fare, The Adventures of Tintin is a fun diversion. The first of a planned trilogy, Tintin was produced by Peter Jackson, directed by Steven Spielberg and based on the much-loved European comic book character created by Brussels-born artist Herge.

From the opening notes of John Williams post-modernist score, the viewer is plunged into the animated world of Tintin (Jamie Bell) and his loyal companion Snowy, a dog. After purchasing a model ship at a street fair, Tintin learns about a valuable secret inside the vessel.

Unfortunately for Tintin and Snowy, the evil Sakharine (Daniel Craig) wishes to obtain the same secret.

With the exception of the visuals, this adventure may not contain an Oscar-winning narrative, but is 107 minutes of pure cinematic escapism.

In the summer of 2009, I wrote an article about Jim McNalis and his statue of “The Lady,” Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, who was finally released in 2010 from a nearly two decade imprisonment by the country of Myanmar (Burma). Jim was granted an audience Dec. 28.

By Dave Montalbano

AdventuresOfCinemaDave.com

You know you got to go through hell before you get to Heaven.

– “Jet  Airliner,” Steve Miller Band

This song lyric best summarizes my thoughts about 2011.

This year, I faced the devilish dark soul of show business, yet have been saved by the grace of so many Back Stage Angels: volunteers at Mega-Con, PBIFF, Spooky Empire, FLIFF, the Geeks of Comedy, C.J. Comics and anyone who purchased The Adventures of Cinema Dave in the Florida Motion Picture World.

While celebrity scandal and divorce made mainstream headlines, Florida was blessed with visitation by many Class Acts: Max Winkler, Kyra Schon, Doris Roberts, Jon Provost, Pamela Poitier, Orianthi, Pat Novak, Matt “Guitar” Murphy, Danny Murphy, Doug Jones, Steve Hunter, Tommy Hen-riksen, John Hamblin, Chuck Garric, Peter Ford, Dennis Farina, Barry S. Anderson and The Amazing Randi.

2011 Top films, in reverse alphabetical order: X-Men: First Class, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, The Muppets, Midnight in Paris, Hugo, The Help, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II, Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark, Captain America: The First Avenger and The Artist.

Honorable Mention: War Horse, Soul Surfer, The Rum Diary, Into the Abyss, Insidious, Happy Feet 2, Gains-bourg: A Heroic Life, Drive, Dolphin Tale and Born to be Wild 3-D.

The Oscars are set for Feb. 26. Look for Glenn Close in Albert Nobbs and the movie Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close starring Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock.

Warner Brothers is projected to be King of the Box Office next year, based on two movies: The Dark Knight Rises (opens July 2012) and The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, which opens 12-14-12, a week before the “end of the world” on 12-21-12, according to the Mayan Calendar. Although, world-renowned magician and hoax debunker James Randi predicts, “The end of the world will not happen.”

So we can rest easy, and I can expect to write another 52 columns.

Dear Reader, thank you for your interest in Flicks, which now begins its 13th year with The Observer.

By Dave Montalbano

AdventuresOfCinemaDave.com

While the story and characters are as interesting as the first movie, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows does not hold up as well as the original film.  Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law and Kelly Reilly reprise their roles with relish. While Noomi Ropace (the original Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) adds dimension to author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s world, the attention deficit disorder editing distracts from the action sequences.

Still, Director Guy Ritchie deserves credit for providing an interesting film that will satisfy both modern audiences and diehard fans. Like the first film, the organic musical score is a highlight. During a mountain trek, one can hear the theme song from Two Mules for Sister Sarah, which creates a subconscious link between Sherlock Holmes and the American cowboy.

By Dave Montalbano

AdventuresOfCinemaDave.com

Alice Cooper looked me in the eye and asked, “So what’s worth seeing at the movies?”

“For pure entertainment, The Muppets, I responded.

“Oh, that’s a good movie!” Alice responded.

As Christmas week wraps up, many family movies like The Muppets and Arthur Christmas will be in their final big screen performances, before being delegated onto the small screen at home. Local theaters will begin receiving their Oscar buzz movies like The Iron Lady and Albert Nobbs, while fulfilling escapist desire with films like Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows and The Adventures of Tintin.

Young Goethe in Love opens this weekend. A philosopher best known for his existential pessimism, Young Goethe (Alexander Fehling) is an energetic young man full of passion. He meets and courts Lotte Buff (Miriam Stein) and lands a municipal job as a bureaucrat.

Most of Young Goethe in Love is appropriate Christmas entertainment featuring a German countryside, family picnics and sing-alongs. Of course, the romance sours and the audience sees Young Goethe become a philosophical curmudgeon.  While there is an opportunity for the film to grow dark and sinister (the final credits present a very disturbing aspect of the film), Young Goethe in Love is about youth dancing a polka.

Seducing Charlie Barker opens this weekend at the The Living Room Theater on the Florida Atlantic University campus. Miami native Amy Glazer (who also directs) will be in attendance Friday, Dec. 23. She will introduce and host a “Q & A” after the screening of her movie.

Charlie Barker (Stephen Barker Turner) is a struggling actor who does not want to compromise his artistic integrity. His mate, Stella (Daphne Zuniga) supports him.  While attending an elitist ritzy party in Manhattan, Charlie is seduced by Clea (Heather Gordon), a siren in a red dress. Much like the fate of an Alice Cooper protagonist, Charlie Barker’s situation goes from bad to worse … or so it seems.

Thanks to Heather Gordon’s energetic performance and excellent line delivery, Seducing Charlie Barker works as sophisticated entertainment. The film gets dark, yet there are many plot twists that take a routine downfall movie into a different philosophical plane. Then again, for those seeking simple escapist entertainment, The Muppets will make a fine Christmas outing this weekend.  Merry Christmas!

By Dave Montalbano

AdventuresOfCinemaDave.com

Last weekend may go down as one of the most dismal Decembers in box office history. Gary Marshall’s New Year’s Eve was the top of the heap, with a meager $13 million and bad reviews. The award-winning Hugo is losing money. Even the positive word of mouth has done very little to boost the profile of Arthur Christmas.

Of all the movies on the big screen, The Muppets is perhaps enjoying the strongest word of mouth and steadiest revenue. From beginning to end, it is an entertaining motion picture for both children and adults who grew up with the Muppets for the past 40 years.

Brothers Walter (A new Muppet voiced by Peter Linz) and Gary (Jason Segal, who co wrote the screenplay) travel to Hollywood to meet the Muppets. Taking Gary’s girlfriend Mary (adorable Amy Adams) with them, Walter and Gary tell the Muppets that they have not been relevant to the public since 1978.

Taking advantage of the Muppet’s low profile in pop culture, Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) has plans to destroy the Muppets’ studio and build oil wells.

Of course, Kermit the Frog comes to the rescue and decides to produce a show, just like the old days.  Celebrities like Whoopi Goldberg, Mickey Rooney and Selena Gomez donate their time to serve on the Muppet Tele-phone. Along the way, Fozzie Bear tells some stupid jokes and Amy Adams gets to sing two good songs. Right up to the clever closing gag, The Muppets deserves its success for being so entertaining.

Opening tomorrow in local theaters is Blackthorn, an  intriguing western. James Blackthorn is the alias of infamous outlaw Butch Cassidy (Sam Shepard), an old man with regrets. Deciding to reconnect with his only remaining family, Blackthorn treks back to the United States after years in exile.

Lacking the big budget of last summer’s Cowboys & Aliens, Blackthorn succeeds with character development and unique situations. One shoot-out echoes the vastness of David Lean’s Lawrence  of Arabia. As Blackthorn, Shepard gives his most confident performance since playing Colonel Chuck Yeager in The Right Stuff.

For those seeking traditional Christmas fare, the Miami City Ballet will be bringing George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker to the Broward Center for six performances starting Wednesday, Dec. 21. For tickets and show times, visit www.miamicityballet.org/nutcracker.php

Cinema Dave stands with “The Blues Brothers” at Art Basel last week.

By Dave Montalbano

AdventuresOfCinemaDave.com

Opening tomorrow, Le Havre is a Finnish/French film about a sad shoeshine guy who struggles to make ends meet for his ill wife. Despite his depressive situation, he finds a person who is in a worst dilemma, a young Nigerian boy separated from his family. With this simple plot set in motion, “Le Havre” reaches its climax in a sweet and entertaining way.

Since my interview with Alice Cooper years ago, his band made the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame and Welcome 2 My Nightmare became his most successful album since the 1980s. Yet, his most satisfying experience may be personal.

On daughter Sonora’s acquisition of her driver’s license, he said, “She is one of the best drivers I’ve ever seen. In school, she was the more timid kid, less aggressive of my three kids. She is now a freshman in college and drives herself to school.”

Oldest daughter Calico is part of the comedy troupe Groundlings and is making a niche for herself in independent movies. His son Dashiell recently married a beautiful blond he met on the hockey rink; Dashiell hit a slap-shot and his future wife, Morgan, was the goalie.

In two weeks, Alice and his band will be ending their No More Mr. Nice Guy Tour at the Seminole Hollywood Hard Rock.

Like a good carnival barker, Alice exclaims, “This is my best live band ever. We have Steve Hunter (Cooper band mate from the 1970s), Orianthi (from American Idol and Michael Jackson’s last band) and the voice of Vincent Price opens the show.”

The Vincent Price gesture reveals debt to the past.

He explains, “My generation, like Ozzy Osbourne and I, have a harder edge, but we were all taught by the Beatles. We had good teachers and we learned to incorporate melody lines.”

The Grammy Award noms. snubbed Welcome 2 My Nightmare but Cooper was unfazed. He acknowledges the current culture of the music and radio business.

“Some of the nominations were boring; good songs are not getting played. Radio does not play what is good, but who is supposed to be the next big thing. An album like Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band would not get airplay today. I feel sorry for young bands today. My advice would be become the best live band around, learn melody and lyrics from 70s bands.”

By Dave Montalbano

AdventuresOfCinemaDave.com

There is no denying the financial juggernaut know as Twilight: Breaking Dawn: Part I, which now owns the 5th largest box office gross of 2011. While this Twilight film is as limply-directed as the previous motion picture, the story does fulfill fans’ expectations about Bella Swan, Vampire Edward and Wolf Boy Jacob with a good cliffhanger ending for Breaking Dawn: Part II.

One of the sad casualties of this vampire monster box office was Martin Scorsese’s Hugo, based on Brian Selznick’s award-winning book, The Invention of Hugo Cabret. Hugo (Asa Butter-field) is an orphan who lives in a Paris train station who is pursued by a bumbling security guard (Sacha Baron Cohen) for annoying a man named George (Ben Kings-ley).

What starts off as a standard required reading Juvenile Fiction novel becomes a mystery about cinematic history. Given Selznick’s ancestry (his cousin David produced Gone with the Wind) and the appearance of Sir Christopher Lee as a book salesman, Hugo is a film that will be discussed in academic circles long after the stars of Twilight retire.

In Into the Abyss, initially, Werner Herzog uses an academic approach in his straightforward documentary about death row. Fortunately, the iconic German director also brings both humor and humanity to this bleak subject. While interviewing death row inmates, Herzog admits he is politically against capital punishment. However, Herzog presents such a fair and balanced approach that advocates will find support for their own political bias.

With his soothing grandfatherly voice, Herzog asks some pretty off-the-wall questions. However, these questions create an emotional intimacy between the viewer and the interviewee. For example, when a chaplain discusses the final steps of an execution, the man comes across as a dispassionate bureaucrat. Yet, when Herzog asks the chaplain about “the squirrel story,” the man becomes a blubbering mess. Into the Abyss opens tomorrow.

Also opening tomorrow is Answers to Nothing, a piece of Los Angeles fiction. With a title like that, this motion picture has a tough story to sell. Obviously inspired by Robert Altman movies and the Oscar-winning movie Crash, Answers to Nothing features a cast of 1990s television actors who seek answers in the noir-ridden city of angels. The four subplots actually answer some questions, but one has to wonder if the questions were worth asking.