70s Suburbia and Irish Terrorists

These two films have nothing in common, except that I enjoyed them both immensely and they each feature a good ensemble cast.

LYMELIFE (2009): A period drama focusing on two Long Island families in 1970s suburbia, this is a fine first attempt for the Martini Brothers (Steven and Derick wrote, Derick directed). It has a bit of a somber tone and while it is very much a coming of age tale, it doesn't focus exclusively on the teen protagonists; but rather gives us deep insight into their parents lives as well (and in fact, it is very much about how our parents and their decisions and actions shape who we are and will become). The movie benefits from some well-placed dark comedy and an excellent ensemble cast including Alec Baldwin, Timothy Hutton, Kieran and Rory Culkin (Macaulay's brothers), Jill Hennessey, Cynthia Nixon and Emma Roberts. Well-acted, written and directed, but it didn't quite blow me away. All in all, it's just an above average dysfunctional family film elevated by outstanding performances and commendable insight into human behavior. One of the better films of 2009 so far, but not the best. Rated R for language, some sexual content, violence and drug use. Genre: Drama/Comedy. 95 minutes. Available on DVD on 9/22/09. My score: 7.3/10

JOHNNY WAS (2006): Excellent British action/drama about a criminal who's gone straight and how he gets sucked back in to the world of crime. Sure, that premise sounds cliched, but this movie is actually quite original and takes this familiar storyline in interesting directions. I've never seen another film with both Irish terrorists and Jamaicans as central characters, and I'll be damned if that wasn't a captivating dynamic. Vinnie Jones plays Johnny, an ex-IRA bomber who wants to forget his past and now lives in London, sandwiched between a yardie drug dealer (Eriq LaSalle) and a Rastafarian DJ (Lennox Lewis). When someone from his past (Patrick Bergin) pays him a visit, demanding help and a place to hide, trouble ensues. Good performances by all involved, although Samantha Mumba was a bit wooden as a junkie for my taste. I was thoroughly entertained throughout and it must be mentioned that the Reggae soundtrack is top-notch and perfectly apt. Rated R for violence, pervasive language, drug use and brief nudity. Genre: Action/Crime/Drama. 93 minutes. Available on DVD on 9/19/06 . My score: 7/10