Life of Pi

Starring: Suraj Sharma, Irrfan Khan, Adil Hussain, Tabu
Director: Ang Lee
Running Time: 2 hours, 5 minutes
Rating: PG

After reading Yann Martel’s novel Life of Pi, a colleague said the story “altered” him. Although Ang Lee’s film version didn’t have quite the same effect on me, the stunning visuals left me fulfilled, almost hypnotized, and the questions about spirituality had me thinking long after the credits rolled. The not-too-distracting CGI (computer-generated imagery) was beautifully reminiscent of “Avatar,” most notably a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. We feel as if we’re truly in this magical world – I almost felt seasick from being on the lifeboat with Pi – and we remain engaged in this story of discovery and survival for the entire duration of the film.

We first meet Pi, born Piscene, in present day. Irrfan Khan’s beautiful portrayal of this character makes it seem as if he truly lived the story. As a child, Pi’s family ran a zoo in India, and from an early age, Pi is heavily influenced and intrigued by religion. His father tells him that he’d rather have Pi believe in something he did not agree with, than to believe in everything. His family decides to relocate to Canada, bringing the majority of their zoo animals with them. After a wildly powerful storm sinks the ship, Pi is stranded on a lifeboat with an orangutan, a hyena, a zebra and Richard Parker, the Bengal tiger.

One of the most prominent conflicts in the story is Pi’s relationship with Richard Parker. We, like Pi, are frightened by the beast, yet our heart breaks when Pi almost chooses to let him drown. It’s also difficult to believe that Pi and Richard Parker could share something more meaningful than “you’d be a yummy snack,” though it’s what we root for.

We become totally invested in Pi’s and Richard Parker’s survival. A pencil and a survival guidebook quickly become Pi’s most cherished treasures, until he sadly loses them both. It’s apparent that Pi wants salvation – both physically and spiritually. The conflict of real versus imagined is present throughout the film – do any of us know what truly happened? Perhaps Pi’s spirituality allowed him to experience this adventure in the way that he did.

I won’t say too much about the ending, though it is a bit open-ended. We’re not given all the answers we want. Though the film is saturated with metaphors, the beautiful animals (namely the hilarious meerkats!) and striking images are enough for young children to enjoy. I opted not to see this in 3D, but have no doubt that those who do will be even further transported into this world. It’s too easy to call this a “coming of age” story; the revelations Pi experiences in this film are on a much grander scale.

Cuban Revolution

Durham is home to dozens of fantastic restaurants - Geer Street Garden and Bull City Burger to name a few favorites - but I should have known that the weird emoticon beside the word “open” on the sign outside Cuban Revolution was a red flag. In fact, I chose to ignore all warning signs – an uneducated server, not nearly enough lighting, no complimentary chips and salsa – but I decided against my gut and perused the menu anyway. Or rather, squinted at it. Unfortunately, the four people in my party also had difficulty identifying anything that sounded remotely appetizing, and we all left satiated but not satisfied.

Creepy emoticon = bad news

The description of the Santiago Wrap sounded delicious – Adobo Chicken, rice, black beans, mushrooms, onions, peppers and cheese, all in a nicely toasted tortilla. I could have made this at home. Correction – I could have made something better than this at home. I asked for what I thought was the Adobo sauce on the side, but was given ¼ teaspoon of what was essentially garlic salt. Someone was very confused. Why would anyone want Adobo seasoning on the side? Having said that, the wrap desperately needed pico de gallo or some form of salsa to bind everything together and give it some wetness. The rice was essentially sushi rice, the black beans must have gone on strike, as they were nowhere to be found, and the under-seasoned vegetables were disappointing. The entire meal tasted like nothing.

The menu wasn’t sure how to describe the Burrito Bowl. What was listed as "a salad OR rice and beans bowl” was essentially offering a bowl of rice and beans, on which you could build a salad at the salad bar, or an empty bowl for a trip to the salad bar, for the same price. Keep in mind that the restaurant just re-did the menu. I’m surprised no one realized this item needed a little more clarification.

Besides the untimely and sparse check backs, our server asked if it was our first time in the restaurant, and although it was, he didn’t provide any guidance to the menu, and seemed rather baffled by our many questions.

Sorry, Cuban Revolution. When I think Cuban food, I think bold flavors, and these were terribly weak. The restaurant seemed totally disjointed and did nothing to honor their so-called “theme" -1960s Cuba. My four dining companions and I question how the restaurant has stayed in operation so long.

Hitchcock

Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Helen Mirren, Scarlett Johansson, Jessica Biel
Director: Sacha Gervasi
Running Time: 1 hour, 38 minutes
Rating: PG-13

“Hitchcock” is the result of a love triangle between a dark comedy, a nail-biter and a love story. In 98 short minutes, we’re exposed to the private life of legendary director Alfred Hitchcock, in the prime of his career. Anthony Hopkins’ embodiment of the film icon is spot-on: we’re both fascinated by and disgusted with him. Hitchcock seemed to be quite the glutton – one scene in particular shows him scarfing down cans of foie gras in the middle of the night - and he was no stranger to toddies at any hour. Helen Mirren brings grace and authority as Alma, Hitchcock’s doting wife. She attempts to keep him healthy – both physically and creatively. It’s obvious that Alma and Hitch, as they called him, need each other: Alma’s creative influence is detailed in this film. She assisted him with his many masterpieces, much more than the public realizes.

Photo courtesy of reelmovienation.com

I’ve always been fascinated with the movie “Psycho.” It was so revolutionary for its time, and it was the first film that truly terrified me. “Hitchcock” essentially surrounds the making of this classic. After “North by Northwest” soars at the box office, Hitch is on the hunt for his next feature film, and stumbles across a book called “Psycho,” based on a true story. This is where the film gets a little hokey. The director lets the fourth wall drop, and Hitch begins addressing the audience. He is transported to the occurrence of the crime on which the book is based and interviews the characters, perhaps to show that he gets totally immersed in the story.

Scarlett Johansson is beautiful (as always) as Janet Leigh, the leading lady who gets killed off 30 minutes into “Psycho,” per Alma’s suggestion. Jessica Biel is not likable (as per usual) as Vera Miles. She sees through Hitch’s talent, for what he really is – a creep. Alma overlooks Hitch’s obsession with young women – blondes in particular – until a creative partnership with a male friend becomes a temptation for her, and she becomes the one with the wandering eye. Hitchcock’s classic suspense is mirrored in this part of the film. We’re terrified for Alma, as Hitch’s suspicions about her affair grow. He sneaks up on her, leers over her while she sleeps – it’s no surprise he had such success making thrillers.

A terrific score adds to both the suspense and comedy, and the fact that it’s only 98 minutes allows it to really hold your attention. I'm thankful that Helen Mirren’s strong monologue ¾ of the way through secured her some recent nominations, but I was disappointed that neither the Hollywood Foreign Press nor SAG recognized Hopkins for his portrayal – his mannerisms and voice were so meticulous. Perhaps it's appropriate: Hitchcock never won an Oscar.

Silver Linings Playbook

Starring: Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert DeNiro, Chris Tucker
Director: David O. Russell
Running Time: 2 hours, 2 minutes
Rating: R

It took me some time to get into “Silver Linings Playbook.” For the first 45 minutes, I just couldn’t get past how nuts these characters were. Also, I think I’m the only woman in the world not weak in the knees for Bradley Cooper. He is fairly believable as Pat, a man who went berserk after catching his wife cheating with an older man. He winds up in a mental hospital for 8 months, and returns home to a less than functional household. A father with anger issues and a helpless mother seem to just encourage his instability. His cheating wife may have set him off, but it’s fairly obvious that Pat’s issues are innate.

Watching Pat's emotional turmoil is pretty distressing: he is delusional, and believes he can win back his estranged wife if he reads the books on her teaching syllabus and loses weight. Pat seeks comfort in friends Ronnie and Veronica (John Oritz and the always amazing Julia Stiles), though they are also totally dysfunctional. I was torn between laughing at and crying for them. They introduce Pat to Veronica’s sister, Tiffany. Jennifer Lawrence is pretty convincing in this role, though it was really difficult for me to get past their obvious age difference. She is far too young for him. Tiffany comes with her own bag of problems, and is possibly more unbalanced than Pat. We’re not sure if her husband’s unexpected death made her crazy, or if there were issues to begin with; most likely the latter.

Robert DeNiro is brilliant as Pat’s distant and OCD father. In one scene, DeNiro effortlessly opens the flood gates, and we get a peek into Pat’s lonely and seemingly fatherless childhood. Jacki Weaver on the other hand, was rather odd casting as Pat’s mom, and didn’t add as much to the film as she did to 2010’s “Animal Kingdom.”

Tiffany agrees to help Pat try to win his wife back, and in return, he promises to be her partner for a dance competition. As much as Pat tries to deny it, he soon realizes how fulfilling and therapeutic his time with Tiffany is. Chris Tucker makes a long-awaited return to the screen as Pat’s friend from the mental hospital. He is excellent comedic relief, encouraging Pat to “black it up” during a dance rehearsal. Though the anticlimactic dance sequence at the end leaves you wanting something more along the lines of “Dirty Dancing” or “Center Stage,” it seems these two individuals are healed and cleansed of their troubled pasts (for now.)

This film is getting major buzz, thanks to the Weinstein name attached to it. Though it’s an interesting and unique story, I was frightened for Pat and Tiffany – neither character seemed stable enough for a real relationship. It’s definitely not the best film I’ve seen this year, but I suppose I can understand why people are falling for it.