Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day      (Reviewed 4/21/08)

Now here’s piece of fluff that’s really a lot of fun to watch. Mostly because of the two wonderful women – the very talented Frances McDormand and the very hot Amy Adams (“Enchanted”) – really carrying this rather lightweight period piece set in London during World War II. Great costumes and sets will remind you of the heyday of screwball comedies and elegantly fashionable movies where no one really looks like they need a bath or wears torn clothing. Not even poor Miss Pettigrew, destitute and out of work and played deliciously by McDormand. You may vaguely recognize actress Shirley Henderson (playing rival Edythe); she plays Moaning Myrtle in the “Harry Potter” films. “Pettigrew” is in limited screening at the dinky Kahala Theatres. Check it out on DVD. (PG-13)

Persepolis          (Reviewed 4/17/08)

No longer playing in Honolulu, those who love a moving biographical story may want to check out this animated feature in DVD. Based on two graphic novels (or comic books) by Iranian author Marjane Satrapi, this English-dubbed animation – hand-drawn, flat and mostly black-and-white – lacks the subtlety of today’s Next Gen CGI animation, but makes up for it in a powerful biography of a young girl growing up in war-torn and repressive Iran.  Critics generally raved about this, but viewers, by and large, gave it less glowing reviews and can see why. The content of its story carries such weight and one cannot be unimpressed by the gritty, independent-thinking young Marjane, who loves American hard rock and sports tee-shirts that say “Punk is not Ded.” Remember, she’s growing up during the totalitarian regime of the Shah of Iran and later under the religious zealotry of the Ayatollah Khomeini. Here’s the rub: it drags in parts and teenage girls will more readily (as they have Satrapi’s graphic comics) embrace the adolescent rebellion, broken love affairs, and snappy talk-back.  English version features voices of Catherine Deneuve, her real-life daughter, Chiara Mastroianni, Sean Penn, Gena Rowlands and yes, Iggy Pop, as the political activist Uncle Anouche. (PG-13)

Shine a Light             (Reviewed 4/08/08)

Love the Rolling Stones? Then go see, as the live performances of Stones’ classics is worth the expense of a movie ticket and gas to burn to get there. Directed by Martin Scorsese, this 57-minute concert film of two benefit performances for the Bill Clinton Foundation (yep! Bubba and Hilary are there to meet-and-greet) at New York’s intimate Beacon Theatre bears the steady hand and eye of a veteran director at the helm. First problem is the Stones (Mick actually who decides every performance’s playlist based on what he feels like singing), who couldn’t give a rat’s-okole who Scorsese is. The opening of the film is hilarious as a nervous Scorsese, a precise and controlled filmmaker, can’t get a playlist commitment from the elusive Jagger. The Stones are amazing (Mick’s energy especially), wrinkles and all, and many critics have raved about how “cool” they are. Effortless. For a band that’s been there and done that and whose sum of the parts is better than each individual part, it’s pure instinct driving their planned spontaneity. Old footage and guest stars. Worth seeing on DVD. (PG)

21           (Reviewed 3/31/08)

DVD Hit or Miss?

Amazing Grace