Cargo ships regularly sale through the treacherous waters around the Horn of Africa.  It's the only way to get shipments from the Port of Dubai to the western world.  It's not easy and the constant threat of Somali Pirates lingers in the back of every crew member's mind.  While most ships ably pass through without incident, this wasn't the case for The Maersk Alabama and her 20 crew.  Not only did pirates quickly approach, they all too easily boarded and took control of the captain and the ship.  Without any security or weapons (something very common and oddly not explained) the crew were rendered helpless and left to their own creativity in fending off the pirates.  Using the same frenetic, though not confusing, style from United 93 and The Bourne Supremacy, director Paul Greengrass has created a dynamic, pulsing film that hums along while still taking necessary moments to breathe, develop character, and a strong narrative. 

I skipped To Rome With Love, mostly due to the fact that if I don’t see movies in theatres, I lose interest quickly.  It’s an unfortunate....quality.  But, judging on reviews and word of mouth, I don’t think I missed much.  I am glad, however, that I did make it to my local theatre (and I mean local - Vintage Cinemas in Los Feliz) to see Blue Jasmine, Woody Allen’s homage to the distressed Tennessee Williams’ heroine.  Relocating to San Francisco, Allen sets his sights on the contrast between wealthy upper class and lower middle class America.  While Blue Jasmine strives for, and hits, the upper echelon of the great Woody Allen films, it’s still clear that he has a much better understanding of the upper class.

I imagine that the story of Cecil Gaines, the titular character in Lee Daniel’s The Butler, when told properly and concisely is interesting and engaging.  I understand that screenwriters Danny Strong and Wil Haygood had a vast amount of story to cover.  After all, Cecil Gaines worked in the White House for ____ years, serving eight different US Presidents.  Yet, by the end, it seemed unnecessary to cover his entire  life (the film opens with an _____ year-old Cecil.)  The film is a two and a half hour version of A&E’s Biography.  And, there’s a reason why Biography was kept to only one hour.  At times meandering, at times rushed, always uneven, The Butler strips away meaning and development to become a parade of ‘who’s who’ and the only real excitement gleaned from watching the film is waiting to see which famous actor will play the next president.

A quarter of the way through Prince Avalanche, Alvin (Paul Rudd) comes across an elderly woman, combing through the ashes of her charred home.  He engages with her and inquires what she might hope has been spared.  For most of us, we would hope to find anything that reminds us of our past - photographs, heirlooms, a wedding band.  For the old woman, it's her pilots license.   A simple piece of paper that would allow her to continue living her past, not just remember it.  For Alvin and his co-worker Lance (Emile Hirsch) the past is not important to them.  Though, like an avalanche, it can quickly catch up to you. 

You don't realize until later how important that first job is.  And I'm not talking about a paper route or weekend babysitting.  That first job where you log in hours, get a paycheck, and have that boss.   Yes, that boss who becomes a role model and an influence without even trying.  All he wanted to do was make work fun.  The first job you have comes at a pivotal moment in a your life.  The first step into adulthood and the first time you feel free.  In The Way Way Back, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash's directorial debut, a first time job provides a liberating place for Duncan (Liam James) to escape his misery.

Director Neil Blomkamp returns to sci-fi, four years after making a name for himself with District 9.  Where he tried, and mostly failed, with District 9 at making an honest political statement, Elysium also starts off with much promise and a unique premise, but quickly dissolves into a paint-by-number action flick with out any real consequences for our main character.  In the same way District 9 misguidedly gave up on it’s interesting apartheid, documentary-style format, Elysium quickly gives up on its ‘border crossing’ political storyline, to ill-effect.