ztanlines

Do you like well made movies with good acting and cinematography? Do you like trashy exploitation? If you answered yes to both of these questions then this is the movie for you. Some people are frustrated that someone would dare bring a story that belongs in a lurid paperback to screen with the former qualities, calling it cheap erotica with art-house pretensions. This is not true. "Secret Things" never overplays its hand and never asks to be taken as anything but what it is. It does not achieve things that a film like "Last Tango in Paris" does, but it doesn't try to (a good thing, given that it lacks Marlon Brando...). Instead, it tells a lurid story of manipulation and social climbing that is both quiet and operatic, sexy and repulsive. There's naked bodies present and food for thought if one is interested. A very well-made movie.

Some good visual effects. Great athletes. Mike Simpson. Jeff Bridges is alright. Some muddled stuff about being good without being a conformist. That's the good stuff about this movie. The rest is awful. If you enjoyed Bring It On - either genuinely or as a guilty pleasure - you'll still probably hate this movie. There is so much forced "attitude" in here you just want to hit somebody. They spent more money on spray paint graphics yanked from a Target ad and vintage metal tees for the rebellious main character to wear than they did on script or acting coaches.

Plus, in the last scene you can clearly see Jeff Bridges' penis moving in his pants. Thanks.

In "Jesus Camp," the viewer is plunged immediately in the middle of Evangelical Christians and that's where they stay for most of the movie with a few merciful counterpoints delivered by a liberal, Christian radio host. We see pure, unadulterated indoctrination of the very, very young. The leaders of the camp in question, the children's parents, and every other adult we see, admits that they are intent on creating an army of conservative zealots. Fundamental Christian tenants like "thou shalt not kill" fall by the wayside when the Iraq war is in question but are suddenly important again when, abortion, for example, is brought up. Global warming and evolution are disregarded by name in lieu of Creationism and rhetoric. Science is claimed to have proved nothing but then cited when proving that a fetus develops human features early in the womb.

And the worst part is that all of the information is being fed to children, some under five years old.

Bonus points for Ted Haggerts cameo (telling young Levi to use his "cute kid angle" to win converts until Levi can develop his preaching style), coming right before he is nationally exposed for the hypocrite he is.

An excellent, eye-opening documentary.