16 發光的城市 A R O U N D T O W N FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 2010 • TAIPEI TIMES FILM REVIEW OTHER RELEASES Compiled BY Martin Williams

Whip It There’s a real-life Rollerball- type sport in the US, but without all the killing: It’s called Roller Derby. This directorial debut from Drew Barrymore fuses sports drama, youth interest, updated (pragmatic) feminism and teams of girls whacking each other on skates. Ellen Page (Juno) is the newbie in a highly competitive social and sporting environment, but it should come as no surprise that this sassy actor then takes the sport by the horns and hurls it across the stadium. Barrymore co-stars in what may be as big a stepping-stone for her as it is for the awesome Page. Also stars Juliette Lewis.

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel Surprisingly positive reviews greeted this squeakquel to the lucrative original from 2007, but there were also tired notices that should keep childless adults away. If male crooning chipmunks never did it for you, then maybe a rival female troupe might; this is the chief distraction in an otherwise derivative movie as Alvin, Simon and Theodore do their chipper shtick. Still, some of The rise the effects are great — though they have to be these days. Old Dogs If you thought the fag jokes in Wild Hogs were the funniest thing since ... well ... humor was invented, then good news: of the house of Buddenbrooks There are more of them in this largely despised comedy from Hogs director Walt Becker and returning star John Travolta. fall Slapstick maneuvers abound as comes to terms with his unexpected fatherhood; he and biz associate Heinrich Breloer’s screen adaptation of Thomas Mann’s novel attempts to Travolta suddenly find themselves babysitting — and the rest you can imagine. This pair of well-loved stars just can’t get under the bourgeoisie’s skin, but only scratches the surface help confounding their fans by putting sub-DVD projects into theaters. Bernie Mac also appears; he died soon after By Ian Bartholomew completing work on this project. Staff Reporter amily sagas do not usually adapt well to the the Buddenbrook family. Mueller-Stahl, one of a small The Hedgehog screen. With their profusion of characters number of German actors to have broken into the and incidents, the two-hour plus format of the international mainstream (he was brilliant in David A girl decides to kill herself F when she turns 12 so she can conventional feature film does not give them time Cronenberg’s Eastern Promises and was on the cast to develop and they often seem like a race, with the of The West Wing, The International and Demons avoid becoming like all the director working frantically to cram in all the main and Angels), exudes a palpable aura of menace from adults around her, documenting elements. Thomas Mann’s novel Buddenbrooks, which beneath an avuncular exterior, and is captivating to the countdown on video and was published in 1901 and contributed to his winning watch — when the family business is taken over by commentating along the way. This pretty grim premise of the Nobel Prize for literature in 1929, covers the his son Christian (August Diehl), his presence is sorely was the basis for a bestselling book in France; here the decline of a mercantile dynasty over four generations. missed by the audience. result is appropriately quirky and loquacious. The girl, Central themes include the emotional price paid August Diehl does a perfectly fine job in portraying Paloma (Garance Le Guillermic) eventually opens up to the by various family members to maintain the family’s Christian, a young man who sacrifices everything to concierge (the prickly “hedgehog” of the title) in the family’s prosperity, and the conflict between the disciplined life continue the success of the Buddenbrook enterprise. apartment block and is further inspired by a perceptive of commerce and the expressive life of art. Christian doesn’t possess his father’s steely assurance, Japanese gentleman who makes her acquaintance. and Diehl hasn’t quite got Mueller-Stahl’s charisma Notable for visual flourishes and presenting a child in such to fully flesh out this complex character who finds sophisticated terms; Taiwanese films rarely allow children himself suffocated by a Faustian pact through which Buddenbrooks such a complex voice. Original title: Le Herisson. he becomes totally subsumed by the family business. While Christian’s fate is imposed on him, his DIRECTED BY: Heinrich Breloer Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva two siblings find themselves drifting on uncertain Anime time again, though this currents. Thomas (Mark Waschke) becomes a STARRING: drunken man-about-town, totally dependent on his Armin Mueller-Stahl one is based on an interactive brother’s generosity, and Tony (Jessica Schwarz) (Johann ‘Jean’ Buddenbrook), Japanese video game, not a makes a series of disastrous marriages that Iris Berben (Elisabeth ‘Betsy’ manga. Archeologist Layton contribute to the family’s woes. Buddenbrook), Jessica Schwarz gets tangled up in a mystery With the birth of Hanno, heir to the dwindling (Antonie ‘Tony’ Buddenbrook), involving a beautiful opera Buddenbrook fortune, the struggle between self- August Diehl (Christian singer, a missing persons case, fulfillment and family responsibility reaches a new level, Buddenbrook), Mark Waschke a child claiming immortality and — naturally — lots of as the young man dedicates himself to music, and finds (Thomas Buddenbrook), Raban puzzles. He is joined by two youthful acolytes in this first of himself unable to take an interest in the hurly-burly of Bieling (Hanno Buddenbrook), a promised series of puzzling theatrical excursions for kids. commercial life. That tragedy awaits is patently clear, Lea Bosco (Gerda Arnoldsen/ Buddenbrook) and despite the fine settings and solid acting, by this Ting Shan-hsi Retrospective  Photos courtesy of Swallow Wings The complexities of the narrative are deftly handled time it really can’t come soon enough. RUNNING TIME: by director Heinrich Breloer, whose experience Hanno is never fully realized as a character, and 151 MINUTES This Tuesday SPOT — Taipei directing a major German television docudrama on the this diminishes the human aspect of the family’s Film House (台北光點) is Language: Mann family, Die Manns — Ein Jahrhundertroman, disintegration, and contributes to the feeling that the featuring another of its In German with Chinese interesting retrospectives on has clearly helped in priming him to key elements director is struggling to tie off the story as quickly subtitles of Mann’s ideas and style. Buddenbrooks certainly as possible. Breloer manages to maintain a sense of Taiwan-based filmmakers. This falls into the category of worthy film adaptations, structure, which has the virtues of discipline, but TAIWAN RELEASE: time it’s in honor of prolific writer-director Ting Shan-hsi and has a strongly literary quality, but as a cinematic doesn’t have the space to truly immerse the audience TODAY (丁善 ), who died two months ago aged 73. Ting covered experience it is sometimes rather flaccid. This is made in the Buddenbrook’s world. many genres, including time capsule-worthy movies up for by strong performances from an excellent Despite these shortcomings, Buddenbrooks is a recounting the exploits of the Republic of China’s military. ensemble cast, particularly Armin Mueller-Stahl as perfectly adequate film, but like many such sagas, it The five titles on Tuesday include The Battle for the Johann Buddenbrook, a man whose life is totally would probably have been much better as a six or Republic of China (辛亥雙十) from 1981 and 1977’s Eight dedicated to maintaining the position and wealth of eight-hour made-for-television miniseries. Hundred Heroes (八百壯士). There’s also a symposium at 4pm. See www.spot.org.tw/time for session details. FILM REVIEW Dealing with the devil

‘The Imaginarium by Tom Waits, is hanging around , left, and Christopher and Parnassus is fretting. Plummer, far left, star in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus’ Doubling down, the mystical of Doctor Parnassus. Photos: Bloomberg codger and his nemesis make is a dark send-off yet another bargain: Whoever ancient temple and time travels for Heath Ledger gains five souls first wins. Their to the grimy margins of a post- The Imaginarium of marks are folk who agree to walk industrial London. By Lisa Kennedy through Parnassus’ magic mirror, As for the worlds discovered Doctor Parnassus NY Times News Service, Denver where they are eventually faced in the Imaginarium, they are with a decision, right or wrong. dreamscapes, broodingly dark DIRECTED BY: Traveling the more iffy or candy colored. The stuff one wise man chanting in an byways of modern-day London, expects after falling through the Eastern monastery wins an Parnassus and his troupe of looking glass. And this adventure STARRING: unwise bet with the devil actors call out to passers-by from marks a renewed collaboration Heath Ledger (Tony), A Johnny Depp (Imaginarium Tony and gains immortality. their mobile stage. Many of those between the director and the No. 1), Jude Law (Imaginarium Centuries into his longevity, enticed by the barkers are dodgy co-writer of those two wild rides, Tony No. 2), characters themselves. Charles McKeown. he meets the love of a very long (Imaginarium Tony No. 3), lifetime and decides on another An ugly, menacing drunk Will the quasi-Eastern mystic (Doctor bargain with Mr Nick, as the Devil introduces us to the altering hanging from a bridge. The latter is Parnassus’ gruff if Their strange yet game luck out or will Mr Nick triumph? Parnassus), Andrew Garfield is called in Terry Gilliam’s latest magic of the Imaginarium. mysterious Tony is rescued, pint-sized associate portrayed by performances are a tribute to the And what will become of (Anton), Verne Troyer (Percy), artistic fable The Imaginarium of Gilliam was in the midst of somewhat reluctantly, and Verne Troyer, who has dined often spirit of Ledger. Valentina and Tony? The journey Lily Cole (Valentina) and Tom Doctor Parnassus, which is, sadly, filming this artist fable (Parnassus slowly becomes a member of the on this sort of mini-meanie turn. Ledger brings an intensity to to answers is a winding, though Waits (Mr Nick) Heath Ledger’s last film. is a true believer in the eternal wandering troupe. Once Gilliam regained his the role, but Tony himself is inten- not fully satisfying, one. The good but greedy Doctor power of storytelling) when Ledger This doesn’t entirely sit right bearings after Ledger’s death, he tionally a cipher. He has amnesia. The Imaginarium of Doctor RUNNING TIME: Parnassus (Christopher Plummer) died of an overdose of prescription with the two menfolk who round decided on a solution that makes The mesmerizing performance Parnassus is a strange trip. 122 MINUTES promises his daughter to Mr Nick pills. So it is difficult not to treat out Parnassus’ motley crew: Anton the fantastical adventure more here belongs to Plummer. It teases with magnificently when she turns 16. Now Valentina this wounded work with special and the irascible Percy. The first, so. He cast Johnny Depp, Jude The film is visually extravagant tantalizing moments that don’t TAIWAN RELEASE: (model Lily Cole in her debut) care. The final credit reads, “A film played winningly by Andrew Law and Colin Farrell as three — as suits the maker of Brazil quite add up to one grand insight. TODAY is on the cusp of that age. Nick, from Heath Ledger and Friends.” Garfield, hankers for Valentina versions of Tony, once he enters and The Adventures of Baron Which, come to think of it, is an played with a grave insouciance Ledger arrives on the scene and a life beyond the caravan. The the Imaginarium. Munchausen. It begins in an epiphany of its own.