Reel Critics: Romance rules the day in ‘Aloha’

Cameron Crowe is known for quirky movies full of tongue-in-cheek humor. His credits go all the way back to “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” “Jerry Maguire” and “Almost Famous.” His new offbeat project “Aloha” is a jaunty romantic comedy with a side dish of political correctness.

Good actors populate the story. Bradley Cooper is Brian Gilchrist, a wounded veteran returning from the Middle East. As a civilian he works for a billionaire aerospace magnate played absurdly by Bill Murray. Emma Stone sparkles as an Air Force captain assigned to accompany Gilchrist as he tours her military base in Hawaii.

His mission is to coordinate the launch of a private satellite for Murray’s company with the help of a crafty Air Force General (Alec Baldwin). Corporate greed and social issues have their limited plot lines in the sometimes tangled screenplay. But the offbeat romance between Cooper and Stone’s characters is the real center of the story.

“Aloha” exhibits all the cinematic qualities of a root beer float. It’s sweet, effervescent, a little spicy with vanilla overtones. There’s no substantial nutrition, but it’s a fluffy treat that leaves a nice aftertaste.

— John Depko

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Disturbing body of lies in ‘About Elly’

Iranian writer-director Asghar Farhadi’s “A Separation” won the Oscar in 2012 for Best Foreign Film, a tale that continues to haunt me.

The newly released “About Elly” was made before it but has just now been released in the U.S. Farhadi again proves he is a master storyteller of thought-provoking human dramas.

A group of well-to-do friends from Tehran decide to take a vacation by the sea, wives and children in tow. Sepideh (the excellent Golshifteh Farahani) planned the trip somewhat haphazardly and also invited her daughter’s pretty teacher Elly to join them. Sepideh is hoping to find a wife for newly divorced friend Ahmad, who has the film’s best line, “A bitter ending is better than an endless bitterness.”

The entire group subjects Elly and Ahmad to a lot of teasing about their love match; Sepideh even tells the proprietor of their seaside villa they are newlyweds, to avoid the appearance of any impropriety.

That little white lie will prove to be highly significant later after a serious crisis leads to Elly’s disappearance. It forever changes the dynamics of the group as resentments, secrets and lies among spouses and friends alike are brought to the surface.

Director Farhadi knows how to film a story for maximum suspense, totally immersing us in his characters with searing performances, skillful editing and photography. Even the ocean has a key role: relaxing waves become menacing and add a chilling intensity to this gripping drama.

“About Elly” is another memorable film from this sensitive, talented director and possibly the best I have seen this year.

— Susanne Perez

JOHN DEPKO is a retired senior investigator for the Orange County public defender’s office. He lives in Costa Mesa and works as a licensed private investigator. SUSANNE PEREZ lives in Costa Mesa and is an executive assistant for a company in Irvine.