Britain’s Leona Lewis (3-time Grammy Award nominee) performs the end title song, “I See You” for the epic movie adventure Avatar. The Hollywood Foreign Press has honored “I See You” with a Golden Globe nomination for Best Original Song – Motion Picture. Avatar was also nominated for Best Motion Picture – Drama, Best Director – Motion Picture (James Cameron), and Best Original Score – Motion Picture (James Horner).

Lewis, who just released her new album “Echo,” was hand-picked by Cameron to record the song for Avatar, which opened this weekend. “I See You,” is produced by James Horner and Simon Franglen, the team behind the movie, Titanic’s blockbuster theme song, “My Heart Will Go On.”

Avatar is a visual masterpiece and it is wonderful. Unlike anything you’ve ever seen before. It’s as if James Cameron, the Oscar winning director of Titanic, entered into his dream worlds and came back to earth and recreated scenes that are beyond the physical. Avatar is sensational entertainment. It is technology of the future. And, it comes with a message of love. Love for life. And, a message of anti-war. It’s a technical renaissance. In fact, it is a new way of making movies. It contains such stunning visuals that one could see it repeatedly and see new things each time. It also invents a new language, Na’vi, as “Lord of the Rings” did.  It is a moment in time that will live forever. What a great way to start the beginning of a new decade in the 21^st century.  

James Cameron wrote and directed Avatar, proving once again that he is a master when it comes to movie-making. There is no doubt about that. His use of visual effects, motion-capture mavens, stunt performers, dancers, actors and music and sound magicians, brings science-fiction movies into the 21st century with the jaw-dropping wonder that is Avatar. And he did it almost from scratch. 

Plus, he has written a story that has a profound message. There is no underlying novel, legend or myth to generate his story. He draws from the Native American Indians as well as today’s adventurous cliff-diving and parasailing, along with Western movies like Dances With Wolves. He touches on the problems of earth like our resources being depleted and the American tragedy in Vietnam.

Cameron conceived this story 15 ago, but didn’t have the technology to bring it to fruition. So, he went out and created it in collaboration with the best “special effects” minds in the business. This is motion capture brought to a new high where every detail of the actors’ performances gets preserved in the final CG character as they appear on the screen. The eyes are big and expressive as if the human entity walked into the blue body. It took Cameron 4 years to produce this, and after watching it, you can understand why. His attention to detail is impressive.

The story takes place in 2154, three decades after a multinational corporation has established a mining colony on Pandora, a planet light years from Earth. A toxic environment and hostile natives forces the human colony to interact with the natives on Pandora through the use of their “Avatar.”  

The lead male, Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), is a disabled former Marine who has lost the use of his legs and is now in a wheelchair. He takes his late twin brother’s place in the Avatar program. His job is to study Pandora, become one of them (through the use of his Avatar which looks like the Na’vi) and hopefully, convince them to relocate from their current location on their planet. The earthlings want something that is priceless on this planet and in the specific location of this tribe of people.

Without any training, Jake must learn how to link his consciousness to an Avatar, a remotely controlled biological body that mixes human DNA with that of the native population, the Na’vi. Jake loves this because, in this new body, he can run and walk again. He immediately becomes entangled with Pandora’s inhabitants.

The planet is a fairyland – a fantasy land – dreamed up by Cameron. Sigourney Weaver, who plays Dr. Grace Augustine, a scientist who has studied the Na’vi for a long time and also uses an Avatar body to intermingle with them, commented on the Craig Ferguson TV show that Cameron used his extensive knowledge of the deep sea to create this planet, Pandora. And one can easily see the connection. There are flying dragons, magic plants, gigantic out-of-this-world colored flowers, wispy “seeds” that float with luminescent light and much, much more. Instead of looking like a far-flung corner of our own world, the lush, verdant planet of Pandora is like nothing we have seen before. The plant life here is shockingly unearthly, while the inhabitants appear to have followed a completely different evolutionary path to those we are used to; the sentient ones are sleek, ten-foot tall, blue-skinned creatures. They have large, round yellow eyes. Everything is in bright 3D realism. Along with the people, there are ferocious animals and hypnotic creepy-crawlies and feral dogs that fly through the air in a rain forest with a highly advanced spiritual design.  It seems there is a flow of energy that serves as a conduit through the roots of trees and the spores of the plants, which the Na’vi know how to tap into. This energy contains all the memories and thoughts of their planet – a kind “Book of Knowledge.”

The center of life is a holy tree where tribal memories and the wisdom of their ancestors is theirs for the asking. This is what the humans want to strip-mine. Jake manages to get taken in by one tribe where a powerful, dread-locked Amazonian/warrior named Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) takes him under her wing to teach him how to live in the forest, speak the language and honor the traditions of nature. And, eventually, they fall in love. When Jake is awake in his human body, he is “asleep” in his Na’vi body. And when he’s in his Na’vi body, he’s asleep in his human body. Jake pilots his Na’vi body remotely from an orbiting spaceship. What he doesn’t realize is that he may be part of a covert strategy to investigate the planet’s potentially lucrative natural resources.

Jake becomes so involved in his life on Pandora that he comments that he doesn’t know which world is real anymore. For anyone who has adventurous dreams, you’ll be able to relate. (Sometimes, a dream may seem more real than waking life.) It is this way in this movie. Cameron touches on many spiritual principles and beliefs, as well as love – no matter what your body looks like. Jake and Neytiri must overcome obstacles and learn each other’s heart. The Na’vi have a saying, “I see you,” which goes beyond the visual. It means I see into you and know your heart. Sigourney Weaver is wonderful as Dr. Grace Augustine and is a friend to the Na’vi. She provides the heart for her “team” of scientists and has more knowledge of the planet than anyone else. Joel Moore plays a wonderful supporting role as Norm Spellman, who also likes the Na’vi and travels to intermingle with them with his Na’vi body. Michelle Rodriguez plays a helicopter pilot who is one of the “good guys” and Giovanni Ribisi is excellent as Parker Selfridge, one of the corporate “greedy” guys. The entire cast is excellent.

Jake’s orders are to gain the trust of the Na’vi and provide solid intelligence about the Na’vi defensive capabilities to Colonel Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang), the ramrod head of security for the mining consortium and the movie’s villain. But as Jake comes to see things through Neytiri’s eyes and the eyes of her people, he hopes to establish enough trust between the humans and the natives to negotiate a peace. But the corporation wants the land the Na’vi occupy for its valuable raw material so the Colonel sees no purpose in this.

Toward the end of the movie, there is a massive battle. The planet’s animal life, including the flying dragons and fierce creatures on land, all go into battle with the Na’vi. The humans attack them with projectiles, bombs and armor. The Na’vi have little hope of surviving against the humans.  

Mauro Fiore’s cinematography is dazzling as it melts all the visual elements into a science-fiction whole. You believe in Pandora. You could see yourself living there and romping through the gorgeous fields of light-filled flowers and rainforests. Rick Carter and Robert Stromberg’s design brings Cameron’s screenplay to life with disarming ease and stunning visuals.

James Horner’s score subtly transports the action on while the editing attributed to Cameron, Stephen Rivkin and John Refoua maintains a breathless pace that exhilarates and keeps you on the edge of your seat. I found myself holding my breath at times – the beauty was so intense – the romance so heartfelt.  Now, I am wishing for Avatar: Part II. This is a movie I will go and see several times.

 Note: Avatar storms worldwide box office with $232 million according to Screeninglog.com. Although hampered by furious snow storms in the north-eastern United States, James Cameron’s big-budget action feature Avatar took the No. 1 spot at the North American box office over the weekend. James Cameron’s Avatar also topped the international box office this weekend with a stunning opening of $159.2 million in 106 markets. Domestically, the 3D sci-fi epic adventure bagged $73 million. That brings the weekend total of the action spectacle to $232.2 million; an impressive result. The film’s budget is now estimated at a massive $280 million, not including the 100+ million for marketing.

Also making a lot of money is The Twilight Saga: New Moon, which bagged another $10.7 million at No. 2 for a total overseas gross of $381.1 million. Worldwide, the sequel has now grossed $655.7 million.  

Following are the lyrics for I See You, sung by Leona Lewis during the end credits in Avatar. To order the soundtrack, please go to Amazon.com.  

I see you
I see you
Walking through a dream
I see you
My light in darkness breathing hope of new life
Now I live through you and you through me
Enchanting
I pray in my heart that this dream never ends
I see me through your eyes
Living through life flying high
Your life shines the way into paradise
So I offer my life as a sacrifice
I live through your love
You teach me how to see
All that’s beautiful
My senses touch your word I never pictured
Now I give my hope to you
I surrender
I pray in my heart that this world never ends
I see me through your eyes

Living through life flying high
Your love shines the way into paradise
So I offer my life
I offer my love, for you
When my heart was never open
(and my spirit never free)
To the world that you have shown me
But my eyes could not division
All the colors of love and of life ever more
Evermore
(I see me through your eyes)
I see me through your eyes
(Living through life flying high)
Flying high
Your love shines the way into paradise
So I offer my life as a sacrifice
And live through your love
And live through your life
I see you
I see you

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This is a great season for movies. Oftentimes, there aren’t any good movies at Christmas time, but this year, there are a slew of them. Up in the Air is one of the best. It is the story of a confirmed bachelor who flies all over the U.S. to tell people they’re fired. He’s a high-flying exec whose goal is to rack up 10 million frequent-flyer miles. Just as Thank You for Smoking and Juno did in their own ways, Jason Reitman’s third film cleverly taps into specific cultural aspects of the contemporary zeitgeist, although in a somewhat less comically manner. I believe Up in the Air is much more sentimental and true to life than Reitman’s other films.

George Clooney is absolutely brilliant as Ryan Bingham, a career transition counselor (code for a gun-for-hire corporate assassin), who specializes in the dirty work some corporate bosses don’t like to do themselves –  firing employees. He’s cool, detached and an expert at suggesting to devastated workers that new horizons in life can now be explored. He loves the lifestyle of spending most of his time in business class seats and upscale hotels; given that, at last count, he’s on the move 322 days per year. When he does stop at his apartment in Omaha, it resembles a cold undecorated motel room. His “home” is in the air.

Having adapted Walter Kirn’s novel with Sheldon Turner, Reitman generates a lot of humor in describing Ryan’s life. Ryan delivers occasional motivation speeches on how you should be able to fit all that’s important to you into a backpack, and he practices what he preaches by traveling with just one carry-on bag. He receives top-level, members-only treatment at airports, car rental desks and hotels and, picking up a like-minded woman, Alex, played adeptly by Vera Farmiga, in a lounge one night, impresses her by revealing he’s very close to achieving 10 million-mile frequent-flyer status.

Ryan has never been in love and Alex is the feminine version of him. Their relationship is easy and fun. They have great chemistry in the movie with a wonderful sense of play.

All is going great in Ryan’s world until his boss, Craig (played by Jason Bateman), introduces him to their new whiz-kid, Natalie Keener, played by Anna Kendrick (of the Twilight Saga: New Moon fame). Keener, having come of age in front of a computer, has no grasp of the human. She’s cold, calculated and ruthless at the ripe old age of 23. Anna Kendrick absolutely shines in this movie and steals every scene she’s in. By the way, she has been nominated for a Golden Globe for this role. Craig explains to Ryan that he can slash expenditures by firing people via video conferencing. Natalie has introduced this new concept and Ryan doesn’t like it one bit. However, faced with a drastic lifestyle change at best and his own walking papers at worst, Ryan is ultimately obliged to accompany the humorless, tight-lipped, prim and proper hotshot on a tour to show her how he does it, and then attempt the changeover.

Throughout the movie are montages of workers reacting to their sudden professional demise and the incomprehension, fury, bewilderment, sense of injustice, hopelessness and despair with which these people express themselves is touching, honest and true. It makes one pause and take a look at what’s happening in our world. The movie touches on many important economic factors. It’s poignant.

The difference between the generations is acknowledged in a humorous way through Natalie’s eyes – a young, 23 year old. (Clooney’s and Farmiga’s characters are old to her.) Natalie thinks she has it all figured out, with career, relationship, marriage, babies, and life path all configured onto a timeline. For his part, Ryan believes he’s got it all worked out as well, and he does, as long as he doesn’t mind the lack of much human connection, not to even mention marriage or family, which he scoffs at as not for him.

Ryan has to attend the northern Wisconsin winter wedding of his younger sister, Julie (Melanie Lynskey), to regular guy Jim (Danny McBride). He asks Alex to come along with him for fun – or maybe they’re falling in love – and finds himself having a wonderful time. There are some poignant questions at the wedding – such as What happens when you get married? Or choose to spend life alone?

Clooney, Farmiga, and Kendrick are all simply brilliant in their roles. I would have enjoyed seeing a little more of Jason Bateman. His role could have used more layering to clarify his relationship with Ryan, as to whether it was personal or strictly professional.

Much of the action is played out on interchangeable airport-area locations as the characters zip from city to city, but there are some interesting overhead shots of numerous American cities. The production and editing of this film was impeccable and the soundtrack is fun.

Up in the Air is rated R, but only because there are a couple of crude words in the movie and partial female nudity (backside). Honestly, don’t let that keep you from seeing it. It’s a wonderful movie and is not offensive in any way. I can’t wait to see it again!

 Please Note: If you’d like to leave a comment, please double-click on the title above, and a blank box will open below. You can leave your comments there. I appreciate all comments! Thanks, Donna 

Invictus, meaning Unconquerable in Latin, is a poem by William Ernest Henley. The movie, Invictus, is a wonderful, wonderful movie. I’ve seen it twice and enjoyed it just as much the second time as the first. It is uplifting, inspiring and heartwarming. I cried through much of it – not because it was sad, but because of its uplifting message to mankind. Clint Eastwood directed the movie which was written by Anthony Peckham, based on the book by John Carlin: Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game that Made a Nation. 

Invictus is not a biopic; rather, it is a glimpse into the world of South Africa when Nelson Mandela was freed from prison. It is a glimpse into the world of how one man strove to heal a nation that had been torn apart by apartheid. It’s about politic strategy through hope and inspiration. Morgan Freeman plays Mandela – a master of charm and soft-spoken gravitas. And Freeman does an incredible job. The message of the movie is soul-stirring and life-changing. If this were fiction, you wouldn’t believe it. The fact that it’s a true story is an amazing fact.

The movie begins with Mandela being released from prison and his winning the presidential election. We follow him through his earliest days as President, with special attention to his focus on the National Rugby team, named the Springboks, and its captain, Francois Pienaar, played superbly by Matt Damon.

To create harmony in their country, Mandela invites Pienaar to his office and discusses rugby and the young man’s sports’ strategies. The whole goal is to inspire his team to victory at the Rugby World Cup, which South Africa is hosting. Mandela aims to fuse nation and team, standing together in markedly underdog status, with the idea that while his bid for election was a victory to some, it was a defeat to others, and what his nation needs now is a victory for all.

Freeman doesn’t overplay his scenes. He is methodical, taking the time necessary to portray Mandela as both a leader and a family man who has problems with his family. And Matt Damon has never been better as the young South African rugby player. He underplays his scenes as well, giving breadth and emotional layers to his character, Francois Pienaar.

When Mandela starts studying the rugby team, he realizes that the nation’s racial tensions are somewhat symbolically tied to the team. As Mandela notes in an early match, the whites are cheering for their team, the Springboks, the blacks are cheering for the visitors’ teams and the one black player on the team: Chester. The Springboks, whose mascot had direct ties to the apartheid regime, would go on to defeat the New Zealand All Blacks that year in a victory that was given special significance by Mandela, who had hopes it would help unify the wounded and splintered aspects of his country.

There’s quite a bit of humor in the movie, too – especially amongst Mandela’s security guards. He has a staff of both white and black guards and it’s fun to watch them. At first, they are wary of one another, but as they work together, they find a common bond –  both groups love Mandela.

Eastwood is a classical director in most every respect, and sometimes those instincts result in a film of unique power like Letters from Iwo Jima. Other times, they bring about accomplished but stilted ones like The Changeling or Flags of Our Fathers. For Invictus, the award-winning director peers into the South African situation and Mandela’s time as president and hones in on a particular event; the president’s 1995 support of the nation’s rugby team in the World Cup. I think Invictus is powerful. It’s subtle, it’s underplayed. But, it possesses the same strength, emotion and power of Eastwood’s other movies.

In essence, this movie is about the way Mandela uses a national sports team as an instrument of healing. Mandela talks about poetry and how it helped him in prison. One of the poems that most inspired him was Invictus by William Ernest Henley. Freeman/Mandela narrates this poem in the movie. In fact, this poem was the soul of the movie. You’ll understand why once you read it. Everyone should go see this movie today.

Invictus

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

William Ernest Henley

Please note: If you’d like to leave a comment, double-click on the title above and a blank box will appear underneath the review. Thanks and happy holidays! Donna

I loved this film and believe everyone should see it. Especially young adults who are too busy to spend time with their parents during the holidays. Everybody’s Fine makes one realize how precious and valuable time is with our loved ones. And it makes one realize that it’s not doing anyone any favors to keep the truth from your parents. They can handle the truth. They just can’t handle the deceit.

Robert De Niro plays Frank, a retired blue-collar man who put PVC on telephone wires in a factory for a living. Recently widowed, he is lonely and bored with home repairs and gardening. The movie opens with him getting ready for his 4 grown children to come home for a family reunion. This involves buying groceries, wine, filet mignon, blowing up the swimming pool and other odds’n’ends that parents do when their adult children are coming home. You can tell he’s looking forward to this visit. He wants to impress them. It means everything to him. His kids haven’t been home since their mother’s funeral eight months before, but every single one cancels on him, saying they’re too busy. (It reminds me of life today, in general. Everyone is too busy to really spend time with their friends and family. I think it’s a worldwide epidemic.)  Frank is feeling disconnected — his wife held the family together — and so, against his doctor’s advice, he embarks on a cross-country road trip by bus to visit each one.

His children include: David, the artist who is now mysteriously absent from his Manhattan apartment; Amy (Kate Beckinsale), the Chicago ad exec who lives in an ultramodern Frank Lloyd Wright type of house; Robert (Sam Rockwell), a touring orchestra timpanist who Dad surprises in Denver; and Rosie (Drew Barrymore), a beautiful Vegas dancer who seems to be hiding something even though she appears to live in a gorgeous high-rise.

Frank knows right away that everyone is lying to him and that something is terribly amiss. The truth is – no one is fine or happy. The children skirt around the truth and leave their father feeling more frustrated than ever. What he finds is that his children aren’t doing as well as his wife had him believe — and they are reluctant to see this man who had such high expectations for them without the buffer of their mother. He thought Robert (Sam Rockwell) was a big-time conductor; instead, he’s a small-time percussionist. Amy (Kate Beckinsale) is doing well in her advertising career, but her family life is going down the toilet. Rosie (Drew Barrymore), ostensibly a lead dancer in a Las Vegas revue, has issues with both. And David is MIA, though his siblings know a lot more about his whereabouts than they’re letting on with their father.

Everybody’s Fine is a remake of the Italian film Stanno tutti bene, and is something of a departure for De Niro, who generally plays grittier roles. I think this film is a serious inquiry into how grown children treat their parents and how we as a whole treat the elderly. The movie depicts the children as quite selfish and self-centered and to be honest, I think it is very realistic of the way children are today.  

Robert De Niro is excellent in this role. He underplays it and in doing so, makes this one of his most interesting performances in years. His face wears the emotions of the movie and it will leave you in tears. The actors who play his children do a respectable job and Drew Barrymore is adorable in her role as Rosie.

Directed by Kirk Jones, Everybody’s Fine is written by Kirk Jones and Massimo De Rita.  I definitely recommend seeing this movie. It will make you appreciate your parents and family more than ever.