If you enjoyed the first film, "28 Days
Later", you will probably want to see this sequel. Cillian Murphy decided
not to participate in this one but Robert Carlyle kick starts the action
as a surviving father of "the virus", reunited with his teenage daughter
and 12 year old son.
From the opening moments,
there are unexpected twists in the story and no one is safe which keeps
the suspense level high. The camera work is frenetic and the various
scenes of a deserted England are very convincing. There is plenty of
violence and bloodshed as you would expect when fighting off blood thirsty
zombies but there is also an underlying social commentary
on the government's actions to contain the virus.
The ending leaves the door open for a third
installment, probably to be known as "28 Months Later". And in this day
and age of endless sequels, we'll probably have "28 Years Later" to look
forward to at some point. There's always an audience for a good "zombie"
movie.
Author- 30 Second Critic, posted 5/19/07
"3:10 To Yuma"
Not quite a
remake but more of a enhanced version, "3:10 To Yuma" is a new take on
the classic American western, based on a short story by Elmore
Leonard. I have to admit, I love a good western and "Yuma" doesn't
disappoint.
Russell
Crowe is just magnetic as the dashing criminal, Ben Wade. Playing
against him is Christian Bale as rancher, Dan Evans, who ends up part
of the group escorting Wade to the 3:10 prison train to Yuma. Mr.
Crowe is just terrific, whether he's turning on the charm or killing
one of his own men. Mr. Bale, as usual disappears into his character,
and while it's the less showy part, he brings an air of realism to the
role.
The film also features Ben Foster,
playing an intense sociopath (so good in these types of roles), Peter
Fonda as a aged bounty hunter, Dallas Roberts, and Gretchen Mol as Mr.
Bale's wife. The film is directed by James Mangold, who directed "Walk
The Line".
Expect serious confrontations, lots of gunplay, beautiful scenery and
even a few surprises.
Author- 30 Second Critic, posted 9/7/07
A
"A Dirty Carnival"
Screening
at The Tribeca Film Festival, "A Dirty Carnival" is about the rise and
fall of a Korean gangster. The title is a metaphor for the life gangster,
Byung-doo, leads on the mean streets of Seoul.
The
film is an exciting crime drama filled with all the elements you would
expect including greed, betrayal, violence, and tragedy. Interestingly,
there is very little on screen blood for such a violent film. The weapon
of choice for these Korean gangsters is a metal bat and while it inflicts
much pain, it leaves the film without the usual bloodshed. In fact, there
are practically no guns at all in the film, which for that fact alone,
makes it very interesting to watch.
The action scenes are choreographed
beautifully and are very exciting. The story has been told before but the
acting and charisma of the lead characters keep the viewer involved
throughout the 141 minute running time.
The film is in Korean with English subtitles. No American release date is
set.
Author- 30 Second critic, posted 5/5/07
"The Air I Breathe"
Another screening at the Tribeca Film Festival, "The Air I Breathe"
features a great cast entwined in 4 overlapping stories. Forest Whitaker
is a quiet businessman who bets his life on a horse race, a gangster's
enforcer (an excellent Brendan Fraiser) sees the future, a pop star (a
better than expected Sarah Michelle Gellar) gets involved with a crime
boss ( a typical Andy Garcia), and a doctor ( always reliable, Kevin
Bacon) must try to save the love of his life.
The director, Jieho Lee, uses the overlapping technique we've seen before
in films like "Pulp Fiction" and "Amores Perros" and for the most part
makes it work (although just a little too neatly).
The stories are based on a Chinese proverb focusing on the four
cornerstones of life: happiness, pleasure, sorrow and love. It is a strong
drama with some harrowing scenes but it does reward in little ways
throughout the film.
Author- 30 Second critic, posted 5/5/07
"Alpha Dog"
It's January and the
tradition of dumping the Hollywood trash continues with the release of
"Alpha Dog". Another in a long line of films about wealthy disaffected
California youth, "Alpha Dog" is memorable for a decent turn by Justin
Timberlake and the scary thought that's based on a true story.
In 1999, A lowlife drug
dealer "kidnapped" the younger brother of a druggie who owed him money.
This is the story of that incident in all it's tattoo'd glory. Emile
Hirsch is miscast as Johnny Truelove, the dealer with a dopey plan. If
this is supposed to be based on a real person, I don't know how he ever
became a successful dealer in the first place. Playing Frankie, his right
hand man, is Justin Timberlake. With tattoos all over his body, Timberlake
brings life to his pseudo-gangster and acts as the somewhat moral center
of the story. Playing the "kidnapped" teen is Anton Yelchin who is best
know for playing Birdie on Showtime's "Huff". Yelchin is a very good one
dimensional actor. if you need a naïve, innocent, virginal character, he'd
be the first one to call. As his drugged out and really scary older
brother, Ben Foster continue to shine in very edgy roles. Picking up a
paycheck is Bruce Willis as truelove's father and Sharon Stone as
Yelchin's step mom. I'm sure they, along with Harry Dean Stanton,
only did this film as a favor to director Nick Cassavettes.
If you're attracted to
reenactments of true crime tales or a major fan of Mr. Timberlake's, then
wait for the DVD otherwise adopt a different movie than "Alpha Dog".
Author- 30 second critic, posted 1/12/06
"American Gangster"
The new film from director Ridley Scott is based on the true story of
Harlem Drug lord, Frank Lucas. It is another in a long history of
gangster movies with not much new to tell. A gangster rise to the
top and is brought down by a relentless cop. What keeps you watching are
the strong performances.
Mr. Scott captures the gritty streets of New York in the early '70's and
the film has the look and feel of a "Serpico" or "Prince of The City". As
Frank Lucas, Denzel Washington has never been smoother. Whether shooting
someone point blank or serving Thanksgiving dinner, he inhabits his
character completely but we never see much of the man behind the criminal.
As Richie Roberts, the cop who eventually brings him down, Russell Crowe
is just as good in the less flashy role. In many ways, we learn more about
Robert's character than we do Lucas as too much screen time is devoted to
a custody battle with his ex-wife and his internal struggles within the
police department.
The story behind Mr. Lucas's
rise to the top is actually fascinating. Thinking like a businessman and
not a street thug, he devised an ingenious way to bring heroin into
the US and distribute high quality drugs for low prices.
His rise and fall certainly makes for a good
story but this dark film is more informative than entertaining and anyone
looking for sparks between Washington and Crowe will be disappointed. They
literally only have a few scenes together towards the end of the film.
Author- 30 second critic, posted 11/17/07
"Atonement"
You know you're watching a film of merit when it unfolds like a good book
and you get lost in the story. "Atonement" is adapted from the book of the
same name by Ian McEwan. I didn't read the book but I have read others by
Mr. McEwan and I can only imagine that the screenplay for "Atonement"
faithfully follows the book. Mr. McEwan is a gifted author who writes
powerful novels. This is a powerful film.
It is a sweeping story of depth, filled with romance, and devastating
drama. There is great chemistry between it's lead actors, Keira knightley
and James McAvoy. Saoirse Ronan is a wonder as Ms. Knightley's 13 year old
sister who sets the story in motion with one horrible lie.
This is a period film set in England and war torn France in the late
1930's. The cinematography, sets and costumes are all wonderful. There is
an amazing single tracking shot on the French beach that is remarkable in
it's beauty and horror at the same time.
"Atonement" has already been nominated for many Golden Globe Awards and
will surely garner many Oscar nominations as well. It deserves all of
them. Once it ends, it will haunt you for days. It will have that kind of
impact.
Author- 30 second critic, posted 12/27/07
"Aurora Borealis"
A sweet comedy/drama starring Joshua Jackson as
a 25 year old with a stagnant life in Minneapolis. The film also stars
Juliette Lewis as the free spirit who enters Jackson's life, forcing him
to re-examine his priorities and consider new options. Donald Sutherland
and Louise Fletcher play Jackson's grandparents. Sutherland, in
particular, shines in his role, balancing wisdom and love with Parkinson's
disease, bad kidney's and a weak heart. No new territory here but many
tender moments mixed with light comedy make it a pleasurable experience.
author - 30 Second Critic, posted 6/20/06
B
"Baby Mama"
Basically a 90 minute Saturday Night
Live skit strung together with pieces of "Baby Boom" and "The Odd
Couple". I was disappointed by the weak script which gave us all the
good parts in the coming attractions. While the film was written by an
ex-Saturday Night Live Scribe, it wasn't Tina Fey and that's pretty
clear throughout the film ( a mushy sentimental ending, oh please).
As if to overcome the script, "Baby
Mama" stuffs itself full of well known co-stars. Steve Martin plays Ms.
Fey's new age boss. Sigourney Weaver is the owner of the Surrogate
Service that tries to help Ms. Fey and Greg Kinnear plays her love
interest. Mr. Martin is amusing, Ms. Weaver is over the top and Mr.
Kinnear sleepwalks through the film. And of course, anything with Tina
Fey has to have cameos by some of her SNL buddies, which is distracting
and makes it feel even more like a TV skit.
Amy Poehler is probably the funniest
woman on the planet right now and she does her best with the flimsy
material. Tina Fey plays smart funny and the two women make for a great
comic duo. One day they will make a truly funny buddy movie (if Tina Fey
writes it). "Baby Mama" isn't it.
Author- 30 second critic, posted 4/2
"The Bank Job"
Sorry for the lag time between
reviews, dear readers, but there just isn't a lot of quality out there
right now worth my time or money (or yours for that matter). However,
"The Bank Job" is definitely worth a look.
Based on a true story about a very
infamous British crime, the film stars Jason Statham and Saffron
Burrows. The rest of the cast is made up of British acting regulars
mostly unknown in the US. Fans of Mr. Statham's action films may be a
bit disappointed by the lack of the car chases and fights he is known
for but he still has a great screen presence and carries the weight of
the film solidly on his back.
There is a good bit of humor
sprinkled throughout and lots of suspense as things get even more
complicated after the robbery. Director Roger Donaldson does such of
great job of creating a 70's retro feel, you'd think the film was
actually made in 1971. The acting and script are solid although the
dialog is very distinctively British.
If you miss it in the theaters,
definitely rent it on DVD. You won't feel robbed.
Author- 30 second critic, posted 3/8/08
"Before The Devil Knows You're Dead"
At 83 Sidney Lumet proves
he's still got his directing chops. This is a taut little crime drama
that puts ordinary people into extraordinary situations when a simple
robbery goes very wrong. Philip Seymour Hoffman and Ethan Hawke play
brothers, Andy and Hank, who for different reasons both are mired in
money problems. Andy hatches a plan to rob their parents jewelry store
and everything spirals out of control from that point on.
The film is shot in and out of sequence with a time line at the bottom
of the screen keeping things in proper perspective. This allows us, via
different camera angles, to view the same events from different points
of view. Hoffman and Hawke are very good in their roles but not very
convincing as brothers. The film co-stars Albert Finney as their father
and Marisa Tomei as Hoffman's wife. Finney, in particular, is excellent.
The film is reminiscent of an earlier film (from a terrific book), "A
Simple Plan", which has a similar storyline and theme. It's a stronger
story of ordinary brothers who's lives unravel when a simple plan goes
bad. The saving grace of this film is Finney (so strong in his quiet
devastation), Hoffman (oozing desperation) and Lumet's tight direction.
Author- 30 second critic, posted 11/17/07
"Beowulf"
Using a technique he debuted with "The Polar
Express", director Robert Zemeckis takes it to another level with
"Beowulf". The film is a combination of live action with animation
layered over it. The resulting image looks like a very realistic video
game. The best way to view this film is in IMAX 3-D. The images are
stunning. The audio and video are a feast for the senses.
The cast is pedigree. Ray
Winstone, Anthony Hopkins, Angelina Jolie, Brendan Gleeson, Crispin
Glover, John Malkovich, and Robin Wright Penn all add their vocal talent
as well as their animated images to the story. "Beowulf is an ancient
tale told many times through the ages but with a script by Neil Gaiman
and Roger Avery, it becomes a modern day sword and sorcery tale with
liberal amounts of violence.
While visually amazing, "Beowulf" opened
at #1 but overall has limited appeal. Fans of Norse mythology or the
film, "300" will find much to appreciate here. Beyond that is hard to
say.
Author- 30 second critic, posted 11/24
"Black Book"
A great return
to form for director Paul Verhoeven. Going back to his Dutch roots,
Verhoeven co-writes and directs this WWII story inspired by real events.
The story centers on a Jewish woman hiding from the Nazi's in 1944
German occupied Holland.
After a series of horrific circumstances
force Rachel Stein to join the Dutch resistance, she dyes her hair
blonde and changes her name to Ellis de Vries. When she meets a high
ranking Nazi officer, Ubercaptain Muentze, on a train, Ellis goes
undercover as his clerk and lover. An unlikely romance begins between
them and their situation become more complicated and dangerous as the
film goes on.
At a very
quick paced 2 & 1/2 hours, this film has it all. Romance, sex, intrigue,
action, last second escapes, double and triple crosses, and terrific
acting from the principle cast. Carice van Houten is wonderful as
Rachel/Ellis and Sebastian Koch, so good in "The Lives of Others", stays
true to form as her sympathetic Nazi lover, Muentze.
For the most part Verhoeven drives the
story with some restraint towards bad taste however, be warned, there a
few few scenes that push the envelope. After all, this is the same man
who brought us "Basic Instinct" and "Showgirls". But don't let that
stop you from a exciting and satisfying movie experience. "Black Book"
is in English, German and Dutch.
Author- 30 second critic, posted 4/20/07
"Bee Movie"
Animated Seinfeld is better than no
Seinfeld at all in this slightly bizarre new film. It's one thing to
have cute animated bees talking and acting like humans but to create an
interspecies love story (even if it is chaste) takes it to another
level.
The plot was reminiscent of "Antz" starring Woody Allen. A young bee
isn't satisfied with life in the hive and longs for something different.
This takes him out of his own environment into a new world of
adventures. This is where the story takes a very strange turn. Unlike
"Antz", which stayed in the insect world, "Bee Movie" takes young Barry
Beeson into the human world where he is easily accepted as a "talking"
bee and spends time as a lawyer and airline plot among other things.
Rene Zellweger is the voice of his human love interest, a florist named
Vanessa. Also along for the ride (literally) is Chris Rock as a cocky
mosquito and Matthew Broderick, as his best bee friend. There are visual
cameos from Larry King, Sting and oddly enough, Ray Liotta. Oprah
Winfrey also lends her voice to the part of a judge.
Kids will like the animation and the slapstick. Adults will enjoy the
Seinfeld humor but find themselves distracted by the cross-species
sub-plots.
Sorry but I can't resist....I give it a B.
Author- 30 second critic, posted 11/10/07
"Bobby"
The title will mislead you
into thinking this is a film about Bobby Kennedy. The film is actually
about Kennedy's impact on an assortment of real and fictitious
characters at the Ambassador Hotel on the day he is shot. An all star
cast including Sharon Stone, Demi Moore, William H. Macy, Christian
Slater, and Anthony Hopkins just to name a few, play the various
characters working or staying at the hotel on that historical day. In
total, 22 recognizable actors worked for scale in this labor of love by
writer/director, Emilio Estevez.
Estevez does a decent
job blending fact and fiction, inserting many news clips of Kennedy into
the story, rather than recreating the man himself (with the exception of
a few back shots). The storytelling is ambitious with so many characters
(including Estevez himself as Moore's husband and manager) but Estevez
fails to develop some of them along the way. His overall effort though
succeeds in entertaining and enlightening us as well.
Watching the
film brings to mind, old disaster movies like "Airport" and "The
Towering Inferno". Star studded affairs linked by a central theme. You
care for some characters more than others and in this case, you know
going in, who is sure to be killed. Kennedy's impact on this particular
generation and the hope he represented reverberates throughout the film
and when he is shot, you instantly feel that shattered moment. That
hope, like that of Martin Luther King and JFK before him, lives on, to
one day come to fruition.
Author- 30 Second Critic, posted 12/3/06
"Borat"
Based on Sacha Baron Cohen's fictional
character, Borat makes the successful jump from a TV sketch to the big
screen. This formula has a shaky past and most of the time doesn't work.
Fortunately for us, Borat lends itself perfectly to a full length film
and is unlike anything you've ever seen.
The film is
outrageous, offensive, and hysterically funny. It is "Blazing Saddles"
for a new generation. When that film opened in the 70's audiences could
not believe what they were hearing and seeing but it left them weak from
laughter while breaking taboos at the same time. Borat is a TV
personality from Kazakhstan who journeys to America to learn of our
culture. Much like "Saddles", the film sets up outrageous situations in
familiar settings but the big difference is most of the people Borat
encounters are real and not in on the joke.
This sets
up biting social, political, and sexual commentary. Many of the
reactions to Borat's behavior are extremely funny but it's also scary to
think some people in this country still have the opinions revealed in
the film.
Just as the story begins to wear thin, a new encounter or situation will
have you laughing out loud. This is not a film for everyone as many will
NOT get the joke but if you go with an open mind and realize this is
satire, you may find yourself weak from laughter.
Be warned, there is plenty of gross comedy and
bad behavior but underneath there is method to the madness and it's name
is Borat.
Author- 30 Second critic, posted 11/03/06
"The Bourne Ultimatum"
Picking up where the last film ended, Matt Damon is still on the run
trying to figure out how it all started. Director Paul Greengrass does
an excellent job of putting the viewer right into the action and
maintains a solid pace throughout.
From the intense camera angles to the
live action stuntwork, the film pulls you in and never lets go. The
character of Jason Bourne is the ultimate escape artist as he
continually finds clever ways to elude the CIA. The film tries hard to
bring you up to speed if you haven't seen the first two Bourne
adventures but the new film makes more sense taken in context of the
full Bourne saga.
Joan Allen and Julia Stiles are
back reprising their earlier roles and playing the CIA chief, with nasty
secrets to protect, is the always excellent, David Strathairn. As for
the role of Jason Bourne, Matt Damon has found a defining character.
Given little dialog, Bourne is a man of action and Damon slips back into
the character with ease and maturity.
The film travels the globe with
fantastic action sequences at every turn. If you're a fan of the series,
this is a threequel that delivers the goods.
Author- 30 Second Critic, posted 8/10/07
"Breach"
Six years almost to the day
of the actual events, "Breach" tells the story of the most infamous spy
in American History and how he was eventually exposed and arrested.
Robert Hanssen, an FBI agent of the highest
order was eventually tried and convicted to a life sentence for selling
secrets worth billions (not to mention a few lives lost as well) to the
Russians. The film opens with footage of Robert Ashcroft's press
conference about Hanssen's capture and then moves back in time to reveal
how he was brought down.
Chris Cooper plays
Robert Hanssen without a false note. Mr. Cooper is one of our finest
character actors working today and "Breach" is one of his best
performances. Playing the FBI "agent" that wins his trust but ultimately
gets him caught is Ryan Phillippe, who continues to grow as an actor.
His work in "Flags of Our Fathers" and now "Breach" show a new level of
maturity on his part. Together they make "Breach" a great game of cat
and mouse (even though you already know the outcome). Co-starring in
this cerebral thriller is Laura Linney and Dennis Haysbert as the FBI
agents building the case.
The film moves
at a leisurely pace and is devoid of the usual spy movie "car chase"
moments but there are still plenty of tense scenes. A taut script and
solid acting makes "Breach" an exception to the usual Hollywood
leftovers released this time of year.
Author- 30 Second Critic, posted 2/24/07
"Brothers of The Head"
And now for something completely different...
this is a fictitious documentary recounting the rise and fall of "Bang
Bang", a British rock band from the mid 70's. What sets this apart is the
totally original concept of Siamese conjoined twins as the lead guitarist
and lead singer. The movie, while mockumentary is not played for laughs
but takes itself very seriously. The brothers (joined as the midsection)
are "sold" by their father to an entertainment mogul who hires people to
groom them to be rock stars. We follow their story through guitar and
singing lessons, rehearsals, and lots of live shows before they eventually
record their debut album. We also get parts of their back story,
and pieces of a very funny "film" by Ken Russell about their life
together. The movie features many British cameos, including director Ken
Russell and Jonathan Pryce. It is a wild, musical ride through a dark and
sometimes very twisted world.
author - 30 Second Critic, posted 6/20/06
C
"Cassandra's Dream"
Shooting "Matchpoint" in England revitalized Woody Allen. It didn't
last long however, as "Snoop" was a disappointment and now comes
"Cassandra's Dream" another rehash on the consequences of murder.
While we've seen the story before from Woody, he does manage to
capture terrific performances by Collin Farrell and Ewan McGregor as
brothers Terry and Ian. The brothers find themselves in dire straights and
turn to their rich Uncle Howard (always good Tom Wilkinson) for help. The
drama turns on his proposal.
Mr. Farrell plays against type as the meeker of the two brothers
and it's refreshing to see him in a role like this. His chemistry with Mr.
McGregor is excellent and you can easily believe they are brothers caught
in tangled web of their own making.
Mr. Allen remains an excellent writer and director. Refreshed by
England's change of scenery, he must now turn to a new muse for
script inspiration and give us something original.
Author- 30 Second Critic, posted 1/26/08
"Casino Royale"
And on the 007th day God
created the REAL James Bond...Sean Connery can finally stop
looking over his shoulder, cause Daniel Craig has captured
the essence of what was in Ian Fleming's mind when writing
the Bond novels...Not since Connery hung up his license to
thrill, has the world been a safer place...It is as if
someone finally decided to ACTUALLY READ one of Fleming's
novels & capture their essence..albeit, updated some 50
years...With stunts that were amazing, exotic locales,
the perfunctory evil doer & gorgeous women....the franchise
that is Bond has finally moved forward, by starting with
Bond's beginning....See boys & girls, James Bond
once didn't have a license to kill, managed without amazing
gadgets (Q was nowhere to be found in this film) & actually
fell in love. We see his transition & watch him grow
over the course of 2.5 hours of a flick that seems the
producers and directors didn't want to end...Gone (at least
in Royale) are the larger than life megalomaniacs looking to
either blow up, dominate or otherwise destroy the
planet...We have upscaled Bond, by downsizing the
adventures...Not to say the action & sheer brutality doesn't
exist in grand style...but money seems to be the greatest
evil here...Judy Dench as M does her usually fabulous work
and we again get introduced to the CIA's Felix Leiter who
apparently doesn't watch the World Series of Poker on
ESPN....
If you are fan of Bond and
actually read the some of the books, you will be thrilled
with Casino Royale...If reading isn't your forte, you will
still love this depiction of a larger than life character
brought back down to earth for the first time in 40
years...And if you used to be a card carrying member of the
James Bond fan club as a child, are contemplating an 007
tattoo where only Bond girls can see it, own 2 Bond
encyclopedias and a souvenir gun with 007 on it (geez, noone
I know!!!)...you will revel in the notion that Bond is back
and is better than ever....
Author-Alan, posted 12/2/06
"Casino Royale"
I am very happy to report that James
Bond is back... shaken, not stirred. Much has been written since the
announcement of Daniel Craig taking over the franchise, and most of it
very critical. Mr. Craig has taken the iconic role and completely made it
his own. While I'm sure this will be debated by die-hard fans everywhere,
he is the best Bond since Sean Connery.
This film revitalizes the
franchise by literally taking it back to it's roots. Staying pretty
faithful to the Ian Fleming novel, "Casino Royale" introduces Bond to his
first 00 mission. The film is full of the action we expect from a Bond
film but this action is grounded (for the most part) in reality. The stunt
work is terrific. The CGI, from what I can tell, is kept to a
minimum. There is a plot that makes sense, real dramatic moments and a
very human James Bond. Mr. Craig plays him as a diamond in the rough. This
Bond is serious, intense, and flawed. This Bond bleeds... repeatedly. He
is beaten, shot with a nail gun, poisoned, tortured, nearly
drowned, and beaten some more. I could criticize his incredible healing
ability but why bother, it's James Bond.
The screenwriters (including
Paul Haggis. What doesn't he write these days?) have done a great job
infusing the Bond elements we all love (Judy Dench as M, the exotic
locations, the women, a creepy villain) into a story that, while bloated,
never goes as over the top as we've seen in the recent past. The film runs
two and a half hours and could have easily been cut by 20 minutes or so.
There is a point when you think it may never end but end it does and it
will leave you with anticipation for Mr. Craig's next turn in the tuxedo
Author-30 second critic, posted 11/15/06
"Charlie Wilson's War"
This film is a strange mix of serious
politics and light comedy. Written by Aaron Sorkin and directed by Mike
Nichols, "Charlie Wilson" plays like an episode of "The West Wing". The
dialog is fast and furious. Much of the political nature of the film may
go over the head of the casual viewer. The story, however, is an amazing
one especially when you consider it's based in truth.
Those expecting a light hearted romp
with Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts will be surprised by the turn of events
when Congressman Wilson visits an Afghanistan refugee camp. The sights and
sounds will shock the audience just as they do Charlie. It's that turn of
events, spurred on by a wealthy Texas socialite (played by Ms.
Roberts) that moves Wilson to begin a covert war aiding the Afghan people
against the Russians. He is aided in his mission by a unorthodox CIA agent
played by Philip Seymour Hoffman, who steals every scene. Mr. Hanks
exhibits both charm and gravity as Charlie Wilson. He's a terrific actor
and both he and Mr. Hoffman are adept at inhabiting their roles.
The story is remarkable and will certainly hold your attention. The ending
should anger you, especially if you stop and consider what has happened in
Afghanistan since it's liberation from the Russians. The quote that closes
the film could not be more haunting.
author- 30 second critic, posted 12/26/07
"Children of Men"
This
is an intelligent but bleak vision of the future. Women are infertile and
the human race faces extinction in a matter of years. The story takes
place in and around London and the country is in chaos. All immigrants
have been labeled illegal and are rounded up and placed in refugee camps.
A rebel group, calling itself "The Fishes" is fighting back against the
government and there are frequent bombings and firefights. The city is in
ruins. Julianne Moore is one of the rebel leaders who recruits star Clive
Owen to help with what might just be the future of mankind. Michael Caine
co-stars as Owen's friend, an aging hippie, who provides help and shelter
as the story progresses.
Filmed through a cold blue/gray lens, the story grows bleaker by the
minute but it is Mr. Owen's new found hope for the future that drives him
forward. His resolve becomes the audience's strength and we rally around
him as he strives to complete his mission.
This was a risky film to release at the
holidays as it certainly is far from cheery but along with solid
acting and a smart script, it's ultimate message of hope for the
future makes it worthy viewing.
Author- 30 second critic, posted 12/28/06
"Cloverfield"
"Cloverfield" allows us to relive 9/11 in the safety of a movie
theater using a never explained Godzilla-like monster to represent
terrorism. Real subtle.
This 75 minute exercise in "Blair Witch" camera theatrics uses
the shaky video camera POV to make us physically and emotional queasy as
we watch downtown New York, once again, reduced to rubble.
The camera follows a small group of friends who are one minute
are enjoying themselves at a farewell party, only to be thrust into the
carnage as the ridiculous "monster" attacks for no reason.
There is nothing redeemable in this mess except for terrific
special effects destroying Manhattan block by block. As good as the
effects are, it's hard to admire them as their result is unnerving and
disturbing.
There are many famous monster movies prior to 2001 featuring
the destruction of New York and they're always fun to watch because you
thought nothing like that would really happen. In a post 9/11 world, it's
just not fun anymore.
Author-30 second critic, posted 1/26/08
"The Counterfeiters"
Winner of the Academy Award for
best foreign film, "The Counterfeiters" tells the little known true story
of Jewish prisoners forced to counterfeit money for the Nazi's.
The film is seen through the
eyes of Salomon "Sally" Sorowitsch, the "King of the Counterfeiters".
Sally is living the good life in Berlin until he is arrested and sent to a
concentration camp. When the Nazis learn of his skill, he is transferred
to Sachsenhausen where along with other prisoners of similar skills, he is
put to work forging English pounds and American dollars in order to weaken
the allied economy.
The film is grim and utterly
realistic. It recreates a horrible period when people would do anything to
survive. The acting is amazing, especially Karl Markovics, who plays
"Sally". His gaunt frame and dark demeanor suit the character perfectly.
Mr. Markovics is so convincing in the role, you'll think you're watching
an actual documentary, rather than a scripted story.
This is a remarkable story of
survival that should not be missed.
Author- 30 Second Critic, posted 3/9/08
"Curse of The Golden Flower"
If you enjoyed "Crouching Tiger, Hidden
Dragon", "House of Flying Daggers", or "Hero", you will certainly be
looking forward to this latest period piece out of China. I know I was.
Starring Chow Yun-Fat and Gong Li and directed by Yimou Zhang, "Gold
Flower" had all the ingredients for a smash hit. Unfortunately, the film
does not perform up to the standards of the previously mentioned films.
The story is full of family secrets, double
crosses, incest, and betrayals but bogs down terribly in the first half.
The setup for all this intrigue is very slow and not much actually
happens but Zhang redeems himself in the second half of the film
when secrets are revealed and betrayals are set in motion. The good news
is the film is beautiful to watch. The color, sets, and pageantry are
outstanding. The CGI work in the climatic battles scenes could have been
better. Much of the fighting resembles a videogame but the close-up
martial arts work is terrific.
Yun-Fat, playing the
Emperor, (aside from a quick sword fight he performs sitting down)
doesn't have much to do except brood and Gong Li, beautiful as always,
plays her part as the Empress pretty much the same way with much biting
of the lip. The story is Shakespearean in scope (although it actually
predates Shakespeare) and for fans of this genre, it satisfies by the
end.
Author-30 Second Critic, posted 12/21/06
D
"The Dark Knight"
Well, having just come back
from the latest Batman flick, The Dark Knight, may I say…Iron Man
rules!!!! There’s a movie with wit, charm, and intelligence. The Dark
Knight is just…dark.
Granted, Heath Ledger is
EVERYTHING all the critics are saying…brilliant, sadistic, amazing,
brutal, incredible, evil, sinister, the next Hannibal Lecter, etc…His
Joker is the movie…unfortunately its wrapped around by a confusing plot
filled with chaotic twists and false endings. Aaron Eckhart does a great
turn as Harvey Dent. The rest of the cast is fair, all being diminished
by Ledger’s performance, especially Christian Bale.
The worst part of this
movie is its PG-13 rating. I don’t know WHAT the ratings board needs to
rate a movie R, but this movie had it all…I was appalled by some of the
scenes of violence and then looking down in the next row and seeing a 6
year old girl and a 7 year old boy cowering against their mother. At the
end of this movie is a scene that no child should see…it completely ruined
the movie for me. All I could think about is the number of toys, happy
meals, cereal boxes aiming for the under 10 crowd and the stupid parents
that will take these hapless kids into seeing this cruelly warped movie.
I know, I know, parents should know better. But so should the marketing
team at Warner Bros. Unfortunately, they’ve lowered the bar and the next
blockbuster will be even more violent with a PG-13 rating.
Author- Irma, posted 7/19/07
"The Dark Knight"
Dark is not the word. Black would be
more like it. While entertaining, this film is very, very, grim. Heath
Ledger is brilliant and carries the film, but his untimely death adds an
aura of additional darkness to an already bleak tale.
As Batman, Christian Bale continues to
prove he's the best choice for the role. He does a terrific job as the
tortured cape crusader but is overshadowed by Mr. Ledger. Most of the
supporting cast from "Batman Returns" are also back although Maggie
Gyllenhaal has replaced Katie Holmes as Rachel Dawes and Aaron Eckhart is
introduced as DA Harvey Dent. Both welcome additions to the film.
The action sequences are very exciting
and well staged. The plot tends to get very thick though and is a bit
confusing at times. Was a sequence in Hong Kong really necessary? The
themes of the film are very adult and the visuals can be scary for
children, especially in a scene where a child is directly in harms way(
but makes an amazing recovery in the next scene).
For my money, the top superhero of
the summer remains Iron Man.
Author- 30 Second , posted 7/23/08
"Deja Vu"
An interesting action/thriller that, if you buy into its premise, will keep
you entertained. Denzel Washington plays an agent for the ATF (Alcohol,
Tobacco, and Firearms) who is investigating the bombing of a New Orleans
ferry loaded with U.S. servicemen and their families. The film starts out as
your typical “find the killer” story but takes a huge detour into science
fiction when the plot hinges on time travel.
Val Kilmer and Adam Goldberg play FBI agents working on a “top secret
government project” who bring in Mr. Washington as their investigative
expert. When he realizes their project can send actually send things into
the past, Mr. Washington uses it to prevent the tragedy from happening in
the first place. Why the FBI needs an ATF agent, as their “investigative
expert” is our first leap of faith. Paula Patton plays the woman who is the
key to finding the killer and of course, ends up Mr. Washington’s love
interest. Another leap of faith.
You sense you seen these plot elements before…Hmmm, Déjà vu? What keeps the
story grounded is the serious and committed acting of Denzel Washington. He
believes it so we believe it too. Time travel plots are very tricky. If you
change the past, then there’s no longer a need to go into the past but if
you don’t go, you don’t change it…very complicated stuff, which raises all
kinds of questions at the end of the film. Don’t try to figure it all out.
Movies like this are all about the ride and Director Tony Scott along with
Producer Jerry Bruckheimer is very adept at giving you a fun ride. I have a
strange sense they’ve done it before….
Author- 30 second critic, posted 11/24/06
Author- Irma, posted 10/11/06
"Disturbia"
A.O. Scott and Richard Roeper recommended this film on Ebert & Roeper
and I've been a fan of Shia LeBouef since I saw Project Greenlight's
Battle of Shaker Heights, so I went to see Disturbia. I'm not a
horror fan anymore, too much these days they're mostly gore & violence
and not enough true thrills. But Disturbia takes the 1st half
setting up a realistic situation of an older teenager, played by LeBouef, serving
house arrest with an ankle monitor for the summer. Being bored and
having lazed through his mother's patience, well played by Carrie Anne
Moss, he starts peeping in on the neighbors' lives. One in
particular gets his interest, David Morse playing it very creepy. Kale
enlists his friend and the new girl next door to help him.
Although cliched in bits, and a bit too Rear Window-ish, this film kept
its scares realistic enough to get me jumping and biting my fingernails.
Should work just as well as a DVD at home, as long as you remember to
keep a light on.
Author- Irma, posted 5/6/07
"The Diving Bell And The Butterfly"
Directed by Julian Schnabel, the
film is based on the true story of Elle Magazine editor, Jean-Dominique
Bauby, who was paralyzed by a stroke at age 43. Unable to move any part of
his body except for his left eye, Bauby learns to communicate through a
series of blinking the alphabet. And in doing so, "writes" the book that
becomes "The Diving Bell And The Butterfly.
With the help of a translator,
Henriette Roi, Bauby manages to communicate his thoughts through a very
repetitive process that, while a triumph for him, begins to grate on the
viewer. What saves the film, is the imaginative way Mr. Schnabel shows us
what is going on in Mr. Bauby's mind. His imagination and memory are the
only things that sustain him. The artistic flashbacks and dream sequences
that connect all the elements of the film are very well done.
Mathieu Amalric gives an
outstanding performance as Bauby. To express oneself though only one eye
is remarkable. It's also his witty and emotional voiceover that guides us
and allows us an intimate link to the character.
The film is in French with
English subtitles.
Author- 30 Second
critic, posted 12/30/07
"Dreamgirls"
Dreamgirls, a huge Broadway musical success,
tells a story about a girl group in the 60's (think Supremes) that gets
picked by an R&B impressario (think Berry Gordy/Motown) to make it big
only to have the lead singer be dumped for a more svelte, "whiter"
sounding singer (think Diana Ross). This is directed by Bill Condon,
the director of Gods & Monsters and Kinsey and also the screenwriter for
Chicago, another musical turned film. Chicago was the right way to
make that transition, Dreamgirls is the wrong way.
This is one of those musicals where instead of
dialogue, suddenly the characters start singing to each other. That
works on stage but not on film, especially this one that includes too many
different settings and superfluous background montages. The segues
from scene to scene are harsh and disjointed. The costuming
was really disappointing, making even Beyonce look ugly and especially
unflattering to Jennifer Hudson. There were camera shots that should
have been left on the editing room floor and frankly, I was bored by this
movie. I kept thinking of better films, like What's Love Got To Do
With It or Chicago or even Mahogany.
The acting/singing on the other hand was a treat
by half the performers. I was BLOWN away by Jennifer Hudson playing
the part Effie, made famous by Jennifer Holiday. She can sing and she
can act. She has several numbers but the best by far is And I'm Telling
You I'm Not Going that at the end had many people clapping and me with
goosebumps. Eddie Murphy gives his career defining performance as
James Early, a James Brown like singer. Who knew he could really
act? Although Murphy used to do James Brown on SNL, this performance
is dead on with heart and depth.
But then there's Beyonce and Jamie Foxx.
Beyonce is beautiful and by the end of the film when her character really
has to deliver the singing, she does, but for most of the film, she's
stiff and cardboard. But that doesn't even begin to describe how bad
Jamie Foxx is. He's got one expression on his face the whole time
making me convinced that Oscar for Ray was a fluke.
All in all not enough to recommend this poorly
directed mess, except to say when it does come on DVD, rent it for
Jennifer Hudson and Eddie Murphy, two sure thing Oscar nominees for
Supporting Actress/Actor.
Author- Irma, posted 1/1/06
"Dreamgirls"
What seemed
like a dream project on paper doesn't quite turn out that way on screen.
Don't get me wrong, "Dreamgirls" is very entertaining but it fails to
raise the bar for movie musicals the way "Chicago" did a few years ago.
The screenplay and direction by Bill Condon basically portrays the
Broadway show on film. Having an opportunity to use the medium to enhance
the story, Mr. Condon plays it safe and doesn't bring anything new to the
screen. If you missed the play, you will probably appreciate the film all
the more for it's accurate reproduction. For me, this was the same problem
with the filmed version of "The Producers". "Chicago" got it right by
adding a new dimension to the story and actually made it better.
The
cast of "Dreamgirls" put forth a mighty effort and standouts include
Jennifer Hudson and Eddie Murphy. Beyonce is a wonderful singer but her
acting is pretty stiff. Jamie Foxx shines early in the film but as his
character ages, his initial energy diminishes. Danny Glover does a fine
job as the road weary manager. The costumes, dancing, and singing are
terrific but bursting into song/speak rather than dialog stops the story
dead rather than moving it forward. As written, the story and pace follow
the stage performance perfectly. You realize the end of act one and almost
expect the intermission sign to light up.
If nothing else, see "Dreamgirls" to discover Jennifer Hudson. A loser on
"American Idol", she proves they made a mistake by lighting up the screen
with her acting and singing. If the name hadn't been already taken,
"Dreamgirls" could have been called "A Star Is Born".
Author- 30 Second Critic, posted 1/5/06
E
"Eastern Promises"
The new film from Director,
David Cronenberg, delivers the goods. Following up last year's "A History
of Violence", "Eastern Promises" once again teams Mr. Cronenberg with
Viggo Mortensen who is outstanding in an Oscar caliber performance.
The story gives us a glimpse into the shadowy world of the Russian
mob where Mr. Mortensen is a "driver" working for Vincent Cassel, and his
father, played by Armin Mueller-Stahl. Mr. Cassel is excellent as the
spoiled, cowardly son and Mr. Mueller-Stahl is absolutely chilling as the
mob boss who goes from loving to violently cruel in the blink of an eye.
As the midwife who accidentally finds herself immersed in this world,
Naomi Watts holds her own with her male co-stars.
Part of the genius of "Eastern
Promises" lies in the minimum acts of violence that are so graphic that
they resonate throughout the film, making it seem far more violent than it
really is. This is signature Cronenberg and his style breathes life into
these characters like no other director. The film is intense, absorbing
and aside from one plot point that bothered me, just terrific.
Author- 30 Second Critic, posted 9/22/07
"Enchanted"
Disney has found a new way to mine box office gold. "Enchanted" borrows
from Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, and few of their other classics to come
up with the tale of a cartoon damsel in distress banished to the reality
of New York City.
Amy Adams is wonderful as Giselle, a lovely cartoon character about to
marry her Prince Charming (or in this case, Edward) played by James
Marsden. The film starts out animated but the characters soon find
themselves come to life, in New York (due to the magic of the evil Queen,
played by Susan Sarandon) where Giselle meets Patrick Dempsey, a single
parent divorce lawyer.
Other animated characters end up in the real world too as the film rolls
along to it's inevitable conclusion. There are many fun moments,
especially in the beginning as the characters adjust to becoming "real".
As I said, Amy Adams is wonderful as Giselle, lovely and bewildered at the
same time. Mr. Marsden plays the vain and clueless Edward perfectly. Ms.
Sarandon has a fine time camping it up as the evil Queen. Mr. Dempsey, on
the other hand simply plays a lawyer version of his TV doctor, Derek
Sheppard. To his defense, that's about what the role calls for. Indina
Menzel is wasted as Nancy, Mr. Dempsey's fiancé. She simply isn't given
much to do for someone with her talent.
Timothy Spall and Pip the chipmunk add comic relief. The film is colorful,
features a few clever songs, and is simple fun. "Enchanted" is great for
the kids and entertaining for adults as well.
Author- 30 second critic, posted 11/25/07
F
"The Fall"
Director Tarsem, coming off his debut film, the
visually interesting but empty, "The Cell", returns with another visual
stunner. This time with a much more fulfilling story.
The film is about a young child recuperating in
a Los Angeles hospital who befriends another patient, Roy, who begins to
tell her a fascinating story filled with romance and adventure. He fills
the story with characters taken from people in and around the hospital.
Shot practically all over the world, "The Fall" is
breathtaking to watch. Apparently most of all the visuals were real
and not CGI and they are amazing. This is a visual treat. The swimming
elephant alone is worth the price of admission.
Tarsem paints a beautiful canvas but as a director
needs to work on his pacing and action sequences. "The Fall" is a big
improvement over his last effort and it's good to see him growing as a
director without losing his flair for visual imagery.
author-30 second critic, posted 5/28/08
"Fat Girls"
A new film by a 21 year old
writer/director (youngest ever accepted at The Tribeca Film Festival),
this movie plays like a low rent gay version of "Napoleon Dynamite".
The movie centers on a gay high school senior, trying to find his "inner
fat girl". His best friends are a literal fat girl and a Cuban refugee
named Rudy. Odd ball family members, classmates and townsfolk round out
the cast.
The film completely falls apart at the
end leaving almost every plot point unanswered. From a technical
standpoint, the film is well made but the promising premise is hurt by the
disappointing script.
author - 30 Second Critic, posted 6/20/06
"Flushed Away"
The latest animated feature, in what seems like a never ending supply of
cute and cuddly animal cartoons. This time around though it's rats and
not bunnies/bears/hedgehogs, etc that is the focus. The film was made
by the same camp that put together Wallace and Gromit and Chicken Run.
Big difference here, is instead of the Clay animation process used in those
films, it's all computerized. They've kept the familiar features
and in many cases it still looks as though it's the familiar claymation.
I can't help but think that the computer has allowed them to take
their creativity to a new level with very dynamic settings and visuals mixed
with very simple clay like characters. The film centers on Roddy,
voiced by Hugh Jackman, an uppercrust Rat who get's "flushed" and enters a
world completely different than what he has become accustomed. Here he
meets a feisty female rat played by Kate Winslet who is captain of a sewer
boat and is being pursued by an evil Toad played by Ian McKellan and his
cousin "Le Frog" played by Jean Reno. This movie felt like a mix of
the Prince and the Pauper, the African Queen, and James Bond all rolled
together and starring rats. This is a fast moving 82 min runtime,
which works great. The obvious and not so obvious jokes are fast an
furious. Keep your eyes peeled for many "inside jokes" including
an homage to Hugh Jackman's superhero past, and a terrific blink and you'll
miss it Han Solo gag. Add some singing slugs into the mix, and this
one's just a lot of fun that I'll probably have to see again just to catch
all the things I missed the first time.
Author- Patrick, posted 11/06/06
"For
Your Consideration"
Christopher Guest's latest comedy, while not up to the high standards of
his earlier work, is still a fun send-up of Hollywood with solid work from
his usual ensemble of actors, including Catherine O'Hara, Eugene Levy (who
co-wrote the film with Guest), Parker Posey and Harry Shearer.
The story concerns a small budget film, "Home For Purim", starring Ms.
O'Hara's character, Marilyn Hack. When a small article appears on the
internet calling her work "Oscar Worthy", a buzz begins to grow about the
film and it's stars. Soon, Oscar buzz is growing not only for Ms. Hack,
but for Mr. Shearer's character as well as Ms. Posey's. Producers,
publicists, managers, and TV talk show hosts all get in on the growing
buzz which builds towards the actual day nominations are announced.
The rest of the large cast, including some fun cameos all contribute to
the satiric script. Fred Willard and Jane Lynch, in particular, are very
funny as an clueless "Entertainment Tonight" duo. There are many laugh out
loud moments but the subject matter may be too much of an inside joke to
the general public.
"For Your Consideration" has all but disappeared from theaters but is
definitely worth checking out in a few months when it hits DVD.
Author- 30 second critic, posted 1/4/06
"The Forbidden Kingdom"
Jackie Chan and Jet Li star
together for the first time in this American written and directed
version of an Asian martial arts epic. The film doesn't try for any
thing original except for the pairing of these two superstars. It's a
combination of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" ,"The Karate Kid" ,
"Lord Of The Rings" with a bit of " The Wizard of Oz" thrown in for
good measure.
The story itself is entertaining but suffers from anemic
dialogue. The sparks do fly with every action sequence, especially an
early fight between Mr. Chan and Mr. Li. The legendary fight
choreographer, Woo Ping Yuen is not content to have his actors battle
on the ground. There is more wire work in this film than a mouth full
of braces. Even so, the action is fast and furious and fun to
watch. Michael Angarano does his best Ralph Macchio impression
learning to fight from the two masters while trying to find his way
home.
If you enjoy this genre, you'll appreciate it more on a big
screen. The locations are a visual treat, even if there is no logic to
the trek between forest, desert and mountaintop. The desert sequence
appears to have been written solely as a set up to a crudely
humorous visual joke. Most of the humor in the film is provided by Mr.
Chan and contrasting his style against the more serious Mr. Li is what
makes the film fun to watch.
Author- 30 second critic, posted 4/19/08
"The Fountain"
Contrary to
expectations, "The Fountain" is not about the fountain of youth but rather
The Tree of Life. Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz star as lovers in this
sci-fi, time traveling love story. Jackman's acting is intense and serious
but wasted in this metaphysical mess.
The plot (or what resembles a plot) moves
between 16th century Spain, the present and the far future where Jackman
must find The Tree of Life in order to save Weisz, who appears to be
immortal but apparently, is not.
The best analogy
I can offer describing this film is when you have an intense dream and
wake in the middle of the night to write it all down. It makes sense at
the time but when you read it back in the morning, it's incomprehensible.
"The Fountain" is the result of writer/director, Darron Aronofsky's dream.
On a
positive note, the art direction is excellent although the lighting is so
dark for most of the film, you can't appreciate it. The whole thing is a
96 minute bore ruminating on immortality, faith, love and the healing
power of tree sap. Don't bother drinking from this "Fountain".
Author- 30 Second Critic,posted 11/22/06
"Frozen River"
A new independent drama starring Melissa
Leo, "Frozen River" is a bleak yet gripping drama of life in New York
State, on the Canadian border.
Ms. Leo stars as Ray, a mother of two
boys struggling to make ends meet. When circumstances pair her with
Lila, an Indian woman who smuggles illegal's across a frozen river from
Canada, their lives become intertwined in a unlikely yet necessary
relationship.
Life is hard near the border and the
film pulls no punches. Ms. Leo gives a raw and powerful performance as a
woman running out of options to protect her family. Misty Upham co-stars
as Lila, who also gives an terrific performance. The bond that develops
between these two woman is the core of the story.
There are many suspenseful
moments in the film and the winter cinematography will have you chilled
to the bone. The subject matter may be bleak but propelled by the strong
acting, "Frozen River" won't disappoint if you like good drama.
Author- 30 Second critic, posted 8/10/08
G
"Get Smart"
Way too many TV shows get remade as
feature films and fail miserably. I'm happy to say, "Get Smart" doesn't
fall into that trap. It is a fun, updated homage to the TV show starring
Don Adams but it "smartly" avoids the pitfalls that have caused so many
to crash and burn at the box office.
Steve Carrell is the perfect choice to
play Maxwell Smart, Agent 86. Mr. Carrell doesn't try to mimic Mr.
Adam's role but instead finds an original voice while staying true to
the character. Even the familiar catchphrases are spoken as casual
remarks without any forced fanfare. Ann Hathaway assumes the role of
Agent 99, originally played by Barbara Felton and she too breathes new
life into the character while remaining true to the spirit. Alan Arkin
plays the Chief as more of a departure from the original but is still
quite effective. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is well cast as Agent 23 and
there are quite a few surprise cameos.
Taking a 1/2 hour comedy to the big
screen requires the filmmakers to up the ante for action and special
effects. The film delivers on all fronts. There is plenty of action,
terrific stunt work and lots of legitimate laughs.
A very enjoyable summer comedy that
works... and sets up the inevitable sequel.
Author- 30 second critic, posted 6/22/08
"Go Go Tales"
From New York Indy director, Abel Ferrara, comes this tale of a down
on his luck strip club owner played by Willem Dafoe. While the film is
set in New York, it was actually filmed in Italy which may account for
the intimate setting of Ray Ruby's Paradise Strip Club. The entire film
takes place either inside or in front of the club.
Matthew Modine co-stars as a silent partner in the
club and his character seems to have wandered in from a David Lynch
film. The film also stars Bob Hoskins, who is wasted in an underwritten
role and Sylvia Miles, who shows the most life as the landlady looking
for her back rent.
Except for the cache of Mr. Ferrara, I don't
understand why this film was selected for The NY Film Festival. It's a
quirky little film about a seedy world that has nothing much to offer
it's audience. Mr. Dafoe sings, Asia Argento French kisses a dog, and
there are endless shots of all the strippers doing their thing.
Author- 30 second critic, posted 10/6/07
"Gone Baby Gone"
A very solid directorial debut by Ben
Affleck. Based on the crime novel by Dennis Lehane, the story revolves
around a kidnapped child and the secrets underlining the crime.
Mr. Affleck not only directed but is also responsible in part for the
screenplay and in both roles, he has crafted a taut, engrossing story
filled with memorable characters. He shows a flair for capturing the
life blood of the Boston neighborhood where the story takes place.
The film stars his younger brother, Casey Affleck, Michelle Monhagan,
Morgan Freeman, Ed Harris, and in a terrific supporting role, Amy
Ryan, as the mother of the missing child. All the acting is solid and
the film takes some interesting twists and turns towards an unexpected
ending.
This is a dark tale with difficult subject matter that some will
probably find unsettling. It aspires to the pedigree of "Mystic River"
and at times, almost gets there. Mr. Affleck has found a new home
behind the camera.
Author- 30 second critic, posted 10/29/07
"The Good German"
Director Steven
Soderburgh newest film staring George Clooney and Cate Blanchett is an
interesting experiment in filmmaking. Shot in black & white using old
style cameras and cinematography, Soderburgh strives to recreate a
1940's melodrama. For the most part he succeeds but whether or not
today's audience will embrace a film like this remains to be seen.
The story takes place
in Berlin just at the end of the war. Clooney is a war correspondent who
comes to the city to cover the peace talks and instead finds himself
caught up in the murder of a G.I. and helping his old girlfriend, played
by Blanchett, get safely out of Germany. The film also stars Toby
Maguire and Robin Weigert (Calamity Jane from HBO's Deadwood).
The closing moments
of the film deliberately mirror Casablanca's ending. Clooney channels
Humphrey Bogart and Blanchett, Ingrid Bergman. The mood, lighting, score
and seamless integration of stock footage all contribute to a faithful
film noir of the period. The only thing that breaks the mood is the
contemporary use of explicit language and one scene of a topless dancer.
"The Good
German" is intriguing and well acted. Blanchett is an amazing chameleon
(especially after just seeing her in "Notes From A Scandal"). Clooney is
the classic stoic hero and Toby Maguire tries hard to shed his
"Spiderman" image. If you're looking for something different besides
sequels, remakes, and teen comedies, this "retro" drama fits the bill.
Author- 30 Second Critic, posted 1/8/06
"Grindhouse"
Certainly not for
everyone's taste but if you like fast cars, blood spattered zombies,
loose women and big explosions, then this one's for you. Robert
Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino have teamed up to bring you the full
experience of "Grindhouse" movies from the early 70's. "Grindhouse"
features great fake coming attractions for films like "Werewolf
Women of the SS" and "Machete". It also includes scratchy film,
missing reels, bad acting, cheesy sets and dialog, old animated
ratings messages, psychedelic previews of coming attractions and
lots and lots of blood.
Each
director has made a "grindhouse" film and both have their appeal.
The two films, "Planet Terror" and "Deathproof" are bound together
by the fake coming attractions and the three hour experience is a
fun return to the glory days of cult films being shown all along
42nd street in New York and similar neighborhoods across America.
"Planet Terror" stars Rose McGowan and Freddy Rodriguez battling
killer zombies. If you've seen the ads, you'll know Rose ends up
with a machine gun for a leg and is quite the CGI highpoint.
"Deathproof" stars Kurt Russell as a crazed stuntman driver who
likes to crash into and run down women. At first you think the film
exploits women but Mr. Tarantino is clever enough to turn the genre
on it's head and portray the women as the heroes of the
film. "Deathproof" has some great Tarantino dialog and a terrific
car chase climax. Rosario Dawson is along for the ride in
"Deathproof" but literally takes a backseat to Zoe Bell and Tracie
Thoms.
Both films have many cameos
including Bruce Willis, Naveen Andrews, and Michael Parks, as well
as cult horror film directors like Eli Roth and Tom Savini. For fans
of the genre, Grindhouse is lots of fun and a visual treat but as I
started out by saying, it's not for everyone.
Author- 30 Second Critic, posted 4/7/07
H
"Hairspray"
Recent movie versions of Broadway shows have not
really translated well to the screen with the exception of "Chicago".
"Hairspray" does a terrific job of migrating from stage to screen, bursting
off Broadway and into the streets of 1960's Baltimore. The songs and the
choreography are first rate and the casting is absolutely perfect.
John Travolta, at first seemed an odd
choice as Edna Turnblad but he makes the role his own and quickly disappears
into the character. His singing and dancing skills still come through, even
under tons of latex. Christopher Walken, Michele Pfeiffer, Queen Latifah,
James Marstan, and Allison Janney are all just wonderful in their respective
roles.
As the teenagers, Zac Efron, Amanda Bynes,
Elijah Kelly, and Brittany Snow are all excellent. Stealing the film out
from all these established stars, however, is Nicole Blonsky as Tracy
Turnblad, the teenager who helps bring integration to Baltimore. Ms. Blonsky
is a singing and dancing wonder who shows great promise for a long career in
film or on stage.
"Hairspray" will have you smiling and
tapping your feet from it's opening moments. It's a very enjoyable time at
the movies and a lot cheaper than the Broadway show.
Author- 30 second critic, posted 7/28/07
"Hancock"
Will Smith is a very engaging actor but even he can't save this meandering
script. The first half hour of Hancock delivers on the promise of the
trailer, a boozy bum of a superhero who doesn't seem to really care about
anything. This premise is fresh and there is plenty of action and some
good laughs as well. The problem is where the story goes from there.
The plot quickly takes a very
strange twist and the film heads down an entirely different road. The tone
becomes darker, the comedy is gone and suddenly we have a serious drama
unfolding. The last act of the film introduces a ridiculous villain, a
less than a spectacular fight scene, and an unlikely hero in a character
that up until the end seemed to be in a different movie. The ending just
fizzles away like extinguishing a firecracker before it explodes.
Jason Bateman is perfectly
cast as the PR man who tries to change Hancock's image but he's basically
playing Michael Bluth from "Arrested Development". Charlize Theron
overacts because she is a serious actress miscast in a confusing role.
Will Smith tries to carry the weight of the film on his shoulders but this
time out, it just collapses back on him.
I'm sure this will be a
huge audience favorite, easily #1 at the box office but...it's just not
that good.
Author- 30 second critic, posted 7/2/08
"Harry Potter & The Order of The Phoenix"
Film five
in the series continues a trend set in the last film...the darker the
better. "Phoenix" is very dark and very heavy on dialog. The action
is exciting but doesn't occur very often. This is strictly a transitional
film that continues a bridge toward the inevitable conclusion with film
seven.
The visuals
are very good and the acting continues to improve for our three central
leads, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint. The remaining
friends and foes are played convincingly by what appears to
be, every British actor living today. Imelda Staunton is a standout as
Delores Umbridge.
What
falters here is the direction. Besides a lack of action, the film suffers
from a lack of levity as well. A few jokes at Ron Wesley's expense don't
really count as comic relief. The sub-plots of the book suffer here as
well. Minor plot points come and go without much explanation making this a
film just for the hard core fan base. Casual fans who may not be familiar
with the book will soon be lost.
Author- 30 Second Critic, posted 7/13/07
"Hellboy II;The Golden Army"
Hellboy II The Golden Army is strictly for the
fans. It is a visual treat written and directed by Guillermo del Toro
based on the comic character created by Mike Mignola. Ron Perlman returns
as Hellboy as does Selma Blair, Doug Jones, and Jeffrey tambor in all
their respective roles from the first film.
This time around the art direction and
fantastic creatures are left overs from the imaginative world of "Pan's
Labyrinth". The story is silly and rather dull (shoot the giant
plant...yawn). The "Golden Army" of the title look interesting enough but
in the end, don't pose much of a threat. A good deal of the film looks
like it takes place in the Cantina from "Star Wars IV". The best part is
the opening moments in the auction house. It goes downhill from there.
The actors try hard but the script
brings them down. Still, it all looks pretty cool and will definitely
appeal to a young male teen crowd.
Author- 30 second critic, posted 7/17/08
"The Hoax"
Richard Gere, Alfred
Molina, Hope Davis, and Marcia Gay Harden star in the apparently true
story of Clifford Irving's royal scam of McGraw-Hill in the 70's. Irving
made claims that he personally knew and interviewed reclusive Billionaire,
Howard Hughes. He managed to get a million dollar advance out of McGraw
Hill for the publishing rights. The story has been documented many times
over but "The Hoax" still manages to entertain and amuse.
Gere and Molina
are a terrific team...a modern day Laurel & Hardy playing well against
each other with Gere as Irving and Molina as Dick Suskind, his best friend
and co-conspirator. Ms. Harden plays Edith Irving in what I can only
assume is a spot on depiction of the real Edith. Hope Davis plays Andrea
Tate, the lead editor at McGraw Hill who is first to be suckered by
Irving.
Director
Lasse Hallstrom captures the period of the 70's perfectly with costumes,
makeup and an accurate and appealing soundtrack. "The Hoax" is
interesting, both in subject and performance but ultimately will play just
as well on DVD.
Author- 30 Second Critic, posted 4/26/07
"Hot Fuzz"
From the folks that brought
you "Shaun of The Dead", "Hot Fuzz" is a loving satire of almost every
action cop movie from the 80's and 90's. Played for laughs and yet
deadly serious, this British comedy works on many levels.
What makes the serious
nature of the film so funny is the presence of so many distinguished
English actors. Steve Coogan, Bill Nighy, Martin Freeman, Edward
Woodward, Jim Broadbent, and Timothy Dalton are the most recognizable
faces for an American audience and they are all terrific in both minor
and major roles. The lead character, Sgt. Nicholas Angel, is played by
Simon Pegg, who also co-wrote the f
