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CINEMA SEEN - "Eat, Drink, And Be WARY!" By William Margold The second (or middle) day of the recent Memorial Day weekend was one of those extended moments in time during which everything started out really good, and simply got better and better as well as more cryptic and cryptic. Accompanied by Jon B (the eternally patient web master designer of www.billmargold.com), the day began fairly early with us attending the first showing (and therefore matinee priced) of X-MEN: THE LAST STAND at The Mann's Chinese in Hollywood. I only mention "matinee priced" here, because Jon and I have a delightfully "Dutch Treat" manner of spending quality time together: I pay for the films that we see together, and he pays for the meals that we enjoy in each other's company. Although highly touted by Imperial Awards' Ray Wilson, another movie-going and dining friend, I had been truly under whelmed by the first two installments of X-MEN (both which had been directed by Bryan Singer), and had in fact, sheepishly admitted to Ray of "getting lost" in the second chapter, to the extent that I dreaded seeing the third go-round. BUT… as smartly helmed by director Brett Ratner…"The Last Stand" absolutely delivered the goods, albeit perhaps a little too simplified or "dumbed-down" for Master Wilson's tastes, but certainly richly satisfying enough for my far less demanding expectations when it comes to comic book movies based on the exploits of "super heroes." Epically mounted, but at the same time emotionally sincere, the continuing struggles of misunderstood mutants against the machinations of intolerant humans, reaches a compelling level of both scope and soul here. Gifted or cursed (depending on your point of view, or perhaps jealous misunderstanding) evocative characters abound in "Last Stand" with the painfully noble Hugh Jackman as Wolverine, and an even more painfully conflicted Famke Janssen as Jane Grey/Phoenix, leading the way. I am rarely "blown away" by action-packed set pieces, but Ratner's stunning assault on Alcatraz Island by utilizing an amazingly twisted Golden Gate Bridge is an image that can only be acknowledged by the term "awesome." And the ending (for now) is truly "angelic." With hunger gnawing at our innards, and with our next movie-going experience set at The Bridge in Culver City, Jon and I parlayed our excursion into a visit to Pann's, a wonderful Fifties-styled eatery located at the junctures of La Cienega and La Tijera. Deviating off my self-imposed diet by ordering a side of Pann's magnificently prepared chicken wings, I found stomach-filling solace in my ample plate of what I consider to be the best chicken salad I've ever eaten. Meanwhile, Jon, much less diet-conscious that I, virtually inhaled one of their justifiably famous waffles as well as its many delectable trimming including, of course, a half dozen of "those" wings, plus a few of mine, when he thought that I wasn't looking. And then…it was off to see THE DA VINCI CODE. While about as shocking as finding a mouse in a box of communion wafers, director Ron Howard's captivating creation (adapted by Akiva Goldsman from Dan Brown's novel, which I hope to read sometime this summer) is an immensely entertaining, and supremely engrossing motion picture table game for those who like to barter and bandy about historical (and perhaps heretical) theories against the backdrop of must see Old World landmarks. Tom Hanks astutely underplays a hero by default who gets caught up in the never take anything on the face value imageries (and/or imaginations) of The Bible. Becoming protector as well as tour guide for pixie-esque Audrey Tautou, Hanks' and our preconceived biblical-based "notions" about just who was what, and who did what to whom, are rattled about like a pair of demonic dice. And while some of you might be tempted to damn me on the spot for daring to be so sardonic about the whole affair---I can't resist saying I have always felt that Mary washed much more of Jesus than just his feet! And having presented that concept for you to swallow, I'm sure that you will find it only fitting that Jon and I spent the final hours of the day having supper at The Yukon Mining Company in West Hollywood, wherein I thought that it was truly appropriate, and hardly innocent, to partake of the lamb shank special. You know what I mean? end NOTE: Originally published in LA Xpress, June 22, 2006, issue. |