| Copyright © 2006 Ed Bagley | | | | This would be a much more meaningful film if the |
| Antonia's Line - 2 Stars (Average) | | | | person who wrote the script recognized the existence |
| A disappointment for me. The postscript said "Winner | | | | of a greater power than the passage of time, simple |
| of the 1995 Academy Award for Best Foreign | | | | pleasures and enduring passions. I did not become a |
| Language Film and many other prestigious international | | | | better person for seeing this film. |
| honors, Antonia's Line is the remarkable story of a | | | | If you want to see a much better foreign film with |
| woman who builds a new life with her daughter in a | | | | subtitles than this Academy Award-winning film, try |
| quiet Dutch village after World War II. Earthy, sexy, | | | | The Chorus (Les Chroistes in French), an absolutely |
| romantic and filled with laughter and warmth, it's a | | | | superb film by first-time Director Christophe Barratier, |
| joyous, multi-generational celebration of simple | | | | which to my knowledge has won no awards |
| pleasures and enduring passions." | | | | whatsoever. |
| Shoot, sounded good to me, but it just did not live up to | | | | The Aviator - 2 Stars (Average) |
| its billing. There is a dark side to this film that the | | | | Leonardo DiCaprio stars as Howard Hughes in a film |
| postscript fails to observe or mention. Yes, there is | | | | that captures Hughes life from his arrival in Hollywood |
| some sex, some romance, some horrific moments, | | | | to the onset on his illness that forced him into seclusion |
| some tender moments, and some multi-generational | | | | for the rest of his life. |
| moments. | | | | Hughes was a billionaire who also was a great |
| There is also a daughter who wants (and gets) a | | | | visionary in the aviation field, and a movie maker of |
| baby but has no need of a husband and a father for | | | | some note. His obsessive-compulsive disorder |
| her newborn (proving, I guess, that Hollywood was not | | | | shortened his contribution to the world, but not his |
| the first to go here). | | | | impact. |
| There are two brutal rapes of children (which, of | | | | DeCaprio is nothing short of sensational in this acting |
| course, adds to the wholesomeness of a wannabe | | | | assignment. He was nominated for the Best Actor |
| family film). There is downright cruelty mixed in with all | | | | Oscar but lost to Jamie Foxx in Ray, the story of Ray |
| the fun and laughter. There is a cold-blooded murder. | | | | Charles. I have not seen Ray yet, but believe that |
| But perhaps the most distressing issue is a total lack | | | | DiCaprio could not have won the Oscar even if he did |
| of spiritual development by anyone in this film, including | | | | out act Foxx. |
| a priest, who manages to have sex with a young girl in | | | | The reason is The Aviator has a tough beginning, and |
| a confessional (no wonder Hollywood gave this film an | | | | is not nearly as likeable film as a film about Ray |
| Academy Award). | | | | Charles, who is loved by any who have heard his |
| People in this film have no belief in God, they are | | | | music and story. |
| simply passing time until their end time. Whatever your | | | | The start of this film shows his mother planting the |
| religious beliefs, having some spiritual development is a | | | | seed in his mind that he will never be safe from germs, |
| really good idea in this world, and it is possible to have | | | | which he buys into and it affects him the rest of his |
| spiritual development without practicing a religion. | | | | natural life. Cate Blanchett did win with the Supporting |
| In the Bible the word fool does not mean someone | | | | Actress Oscar for her role as Katharine Hepburn in |
| who is stupid, but rather someone who orders his or | | | | the move. |
| her life as if there is no God. | | | | |