I’ve got to stop letting myself get behind on reviews. Anyhow, here are three brief reviews of movies I’ve watched recently.
Towelhead 
I don’t remember hearing about this film when it was in theaters, but I recently saw a preview for it on another DVD and was intrigued. Towelhead is the story of Jasira, a 13-year old Lebanese-American girl who is just beginning to discover her sexuality. Jasira’s combination of a physical appearance beyond her years and an age-appropriate level of naivety make her a frequent target for the sexual advances of men of all ages. Her father’s judgmental, disciplinary nature and mother’s absence leave her without anyone to talk to and, as a consequence, without the guidance or knowledge necessary to safely navigate the situations she will face. Summer Bishil (who is actually 19) is fantastic job as Jasira, and Aaron Eckhart, who I have trouble picturing as anything other than a clean-cut good guy, is surprisingly effective as the pedophile neighbor. Perhaps a bit more subtlety could have helped, because sometimes writer Alan Ball (American Beauty, Six Feet Under) can be a heavy handed with his themes, but overall Towelhead is still worth renting.
Wanted 
I had high hopes for Wanted. The previews looked awesome, leading me to believe that it would be like a more substantive version of 2007’s Shoot Em Up. Unfortunately, Wanted’s absurdity was equal to just about anything in recent memory. The plot is weak, the dialogue is campy, and it’s not a stretch to say that this film may have featured the worst performances I have ever seen from Morgan Freeman and James McAvoy (both of whom I really like). On the positive side, the special effects are pretty cool; although, the bullet-bending trick does get a bit repetitive after a while. If you’re into mindless action and special effects, then by all means give Wanted a shot. Just don’t rent it hoping for an Oscar caliber story. Also, this movie loses extra points for making Freeman drop the F-bomb twice. Freeman seems way too classy and intelligent to ever do that.
Snow Angels 
I’ve never been a fan of Sam Rockwell, and I usually don’t like Kate Beckinsale much either. Snow Angels has, at least temporarily, changed my opinion of both actors. Focusing on the lives of a woman, her estranged alcoholic husband, and a high school student she used to babysit, the film examines how, especially in a small town, the lives of individuals can be inextricably intertwined. What makes Snow Angels so great is the authenticity of the characters. Even in the film’s most extreme moments each character’s actions remain believable. The script is excellent and the performances are all exceptional. Be sure to move this one near the top of your “must-see” list.
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