1/31/08

Bob's Big Screen

Best of 2007? Two new DVD releases are top contenders

by Bob Connally

Two of the absolute best films of 2007 are about to arrive on DVD and chances are you missed these in the theater. Both are stories of legends. Turns out there’s no need to be a decent human being in order to be considered a legend.

The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters (PG-13, available 1/29)

In a time when mockumentaries reign supreme, you could be forgiven for thinking that "The King of Kong" was yet another in a long line. The people in it are far too funny--and painful to watch--to be believable. In fact, it is all real, which is what makes this film so mesmerizing.

In 1982 a young man named Billy Mitchell became the all-time record holder on "Donkey Kong," a video game that old-schoolers consider to be the most difficult to master. No one had gotten anywhere close to breaking this record for over two decades until a Renton man, Steve Wiebe (pronounced Wee-bee), decided to step up to the plate.

Mitchell is a legend in the gaming community, and his cronies include Walter Day, the founder of Twin Galaxies, which confirms and posts all video game records, and protégé Brian Kuh. This crew was wary of outsiders, so when Wiebe broke Mitchell's record and submitted the tape of him doing so (which includes his son shouting at him to "stop playing 'Donkey Kong' and clean my poopy!"), Twin Galaxies became suspicious. So suspicious that two of their members even wrangled their way into Wiebe's house over the objections of his wife.

After taking apart his machine, the “experts” arbitrarily decided that Wiebe's record shouldn't count because it didn't occur live in an arcade in front of witnesses. The rest of the film is about Wiebe's attempts to publicly break Mitchell's record, and Mitchell's devious attempts to keep it.

Director Seth Gordon has chosen a side here and it's easy to see why. Wiebe is a good man who loves his family. He's had a lot of hard luck in his life and his pursuit of the record has nothing to do with "Donkey Kong." He needs to prove to himself that he can be a winner, something that’s long eluded him.

Mitchell is clearly the villain, embarrassing himself repeatedly. At first we laugh at his ridiculousness which finally gives way to genuine anger. This is an awful human being, making it even easier to root for the likable Wiebe.

Characters this fascinating and well-rounded are hard to come by and it’s difficult to believe they could have been invented so richly.

Often hilarious and occasionally heartbreaking, "The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters" is a must-see, whether you’re a fan of video games or not. 10/10.

The Assassination of Jesse James By the Coward Robert Ford (R, available 2/5)

By 1881 the glory days of the James Gang were far behind them. Aside from Frank and Jesse, the gang consisted of “country rubes” desiring to bask in the glow of two American legends.

Written and directed by Andrew Dominik, based on Ron Hansen’s novel, "Assassination" is the story of a young man's need for validation from his idol and what happens when he doesn’t receive it.

Robert Ford (Casey Affleck) first sees his hero, Jesse James (Brad Pitt) sitting around a campfire. It is a very human moment, but one look at Robert's face suggests it is far greater than that.

Robert’s older brother Charlie (Sam Rockwell) is a member of the gang--maybe the only one who isn't there for reflected glory. Robert begs Frank James (Sam Shepard) to take him into the gang. Frank wants no part of him but his persistence wins Jesse over.

What follows is a sequence that reminds us just how magical cinema can be. The train robbery is brimming with atmosphere and a sense of wonder. It's as if we are seeing it through Robert's imagination, the smoke and train lights making it all feel like a dream. It is in stark contrast to the brutality that Jesse displays on the train.

After the robbery, the gang splits up, Frank gives up criminal life, and Jesse is forced to move his family once again. Taking Robert into his home leads to some uncomfortable moments. "Do you wanna be like me, or do you wanna BE me?" Jesse asks, just before asking him to leave.

In the years to come their paths only occasionally intersect, but each time Jesse falls several notches in Robert's eyes. Jesse is not the man he'd grown up reading about in dime novels.

"Assassination" shows Robert Ford as the first celebrity stalker, and we see wide-eyed wonder turn to disappointment and finally bitter resentment. Affleck's performance is truly incredible. He is childlike and off-putting in the same moment. Rockwell's work as Charlie is almost as impressive. No one does the "Please don’t kill me” smile like Rockwell. Charlie knows his brother well and, while he often treats him poorly, there is a fierce loyalty between the two.

But it is Pitt who gives the performance of his career. His eyes speak volumes and yet he never fully lets us in, just as the character never fully lets anyone in, even his own family. Every time we think we have Jesse figured out, Pitt takes him in a direction that we don’t expect. He makes the man unknowable in the same way that a celebrity, or a legend, is unknowable. In a career full of great performances, this is his best work.

We know from the title what the outcome of this film is going to be. What makes this a great movie is the journey there. The "assassination" scene is a moment of perfection, and the aftermath lifts this film into the stratosphere.

Dominik writes some of the best dialogue of the year and his direction is every bit as great. The cinematography of Roger Deakins and the musical score of Nick Cave and Warren Ellis combine to create a mood that is beautiful and mournful. The supporting cast, including Mary-Louise Parker as Jesse's wife Zee, Ted Levine, and Paul Schneider does incredible work. There is also a brief appearance near film's end by the always welcome Zooey Deschanel.

An enthralling experience, it is a film that takes its time, running 2 hours and 40 minutes, but never drags. It will stick with you for days afterward. 10/10.