Z/Web

Author: Wes Anderson and Owen Wilso

Director: Wes Anderson

I was expecting this to be more of a “laugh out loud” comedy. Instead it’s a humorous drama. Nicely done, though slow and puzzling in places. It’s a character piece about a bright, nerdy kid who’s an overachiever with an active fantasy life. On scholarship, he attends prestigious private school Rushmore, where he is president of all sorts of clubs. He falls for a teacher and tries to scheme to “get” her (even he doesn’t seem to know what that means), but then his rich adult friend (played straight by Bill Murray) begins dating the teacher, and the two go to war. It’s a funny look at a remarkable kid trying to figure out his life. Entertaining, a little on the odd side, but ultimately I’m not sure we exactly learn anything.

Author: Jake La Motta (book) and Joseph Carter

Director: Martin Scorsese

I was prepared to not like this movie. It’s about boxing (ugh), Italian mobsters (double ugh), and a charming lead who beats women (triple ugh). About half-way through, however, I found myself really entertained. I hadn’t planned to watch the whole thing last night, but I couldn’t not finish it. It’s a very good film. I can’t vouch for the realism of the boxing or anything — the fights were often confusing to me, being the opposite of a boxing fan — but it was interesting. What I liked most was that this wasn’t about a single fight but about a man’s entire career, his whole life. Boxing, ultimately, is a small part of his life. It’s not a pretty life, but it is a life. Strangely sympathetic despite my revulsion. DeNiro’s performance is definitely one of the classics of film. Absolutely amazing. He transforms so well into the character that you forget this is only a movie. He is boxer Jake La Motta. Definitely worth seeing, at least once.