advertisement

What happened to originality in movie titles?

No more entitlementsHere are the top 10 most overused Hollywood movie titles that should be placed on a permanent moratorium immediately:1. "The Last (Something)"2. "The Good (Something)"3. "Night of the (Something)"4. "The Secret (Something)"5. "Blood of the (Something)"6. "Finding (Something/Somebody)"7. "Mr. (Something)"8. "Hour of the (Something)"9. "Return of the (Something)"10. Anything involving "Uninvited" or "Eclipse" or "Road."Have other suggestions? Let me know at dgire@dailyherald.com.Reel Life review: 'Lourdes'Two women at a table talk about the power of miracles and how God works through them. One woman poses a situation that suggests God isn't in control of the universe.The other replies, "If He's not in control, who is?"This is just one of many small moments that unexpectedly explode like detonating hand grenades in Jessica Hausner's blackly comic, curiously respectful look at the role miracles play in the lives of the afflicted souls searching for cures at Lourdes, a settlement in southwestern France famous for its powers to heal the sick."Lourdes" focuses on Christine (Sylvie Testud), a young woman who cannot move her arms or legs and must rely on the kindness of strangers and her nurse for simple tasks.She has come to Lourdes along with many hundreds of other seekers to participate in a pilgrimage lasting several days, during which time religious devotions and physical activities are on the agenda.We know little about Christine, except that she has her eye on a handsome guard named Kuno (Bruno Todeschini), who prefers to socialize with available young volunteers, like Maria (Lea Seydoux).Things change for Christine when she slowly regains movement in her arms, then legs, and eventually rises from her wheelchair. Her dream of Kuno's affections suddenly becomes possible, and her world shifts. But for how long? And why?"Lourdes" is practically a silent movie with its minimal dialogue. Hausner's camera carefully studies her characters' faces for meaning, and they give up nothing easily.Hausner builds her film into a series of dramatic firecrackers with a long, lengthy fuse. But when they begin to go off, these little bursts of revelation turn "Lourdes" into a drama of quiet, emotional devastation. "Lourdes" opens today at the Music Box in Chicago. In French with subtitles. Not rated. Suitable for general audiences. 99 minutes. #9733;#9733;#9733;'MacGruber' blows?Will Forte's new comedy film "MacGruber" - based on his unfunny, redundant "Saturday Night Live" sketches - opens May 21.Guess when the official press screening is? At 9 p.m. on May 20. That's way after all print deadlines for newspapers to get reviews in for the opening day.Apparently, Universal Pictures thinks this is one bomb not even MacGruber can defuse.Nice 'Iron Mann,' DannDann,As an avid Iron Man fan for decades, I just wanted to say I thoroughly enjoyed your review of "Iron Man 2," particularly your writing style and pacing. Although I haven't seen the film yet, your review seems to be a bit more generous than the international reviews I've read, which have ranged from downright nitpicky to needlessly brutal. Of course, I think these reviewers are too obsessed with their own self-absorption and artificial self-importance. - Rick Dana BarlowDear Rick: I've been working on increasing my self-absorption and artificial self-importance for several weeks now. With any luck, I'll be able to match those international critics in no time. - Dann