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Reviews
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (2011)
Nope
To me, no child star can ever come near Eamonn Owens' portrayal of Francie Brady in Butcher Boy or anything Freddie Bartholomew ever did, so, no surprise, both the lead role and its realization here were found to suck. That said, the whole cheesy, middle-class paean to 9/11 that is this movie has ruined the Xmas season for me and, I suspect, for legions of others. The unusual soundtrack was worthwhile and interesting, but am unsure as who to cite; perhaps it is Debby VanPoucke, credited as sound designer. Wonderful NYC moments, however, allow for the 3 rating, those moments, of course, not including the 9/11 ones the filmmakers chose to shove in innocent moviegoers' faces. I know it's not nice, but just call this My Extremely Mean and Incredibly Snarky review for "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close."
Bona (1980)
Phenomenal Story Links Emotional Slavery to Marcos-Variety Celebrity
Phenomenal little film combines brutality of Bunuel with the modest authenticity of neo-realism. Little Bona will do anything -- just anything -- for an ultra-narcissistic but minor-league Filipino movie star. We watch as she is used and debased -- and all but ignored -- by him and ultimately abandoned by her family, which has the distance to hate him. Things get out of hand, though, after he has Bona arrange an abortion for/act as wet-nurse to one of his lovers, and it slowly dawns on Bona that this whole arrangement is just not working out. Too bad she has to take the extreme action that she does, but really, who can blame her? Politically, film tells the story of the penultimate chapter before a revolution actually comes down. The oppressed have to be so horribly oppressed that it's no longer something they can hide from themselves. The last edifice standing is that tiny morsel of self-regard a victim finds within when they ask themselves: how could anyone possibly treat me/regard me so horribly.