TERROR ON A TRAIN (1953) - Feb. 29, 2008
An essentially entertaining film about the efforts to find and diffuse a bomb on board a train that's transporting dozens of highly explosive mines. The film contains some nicely moody black and white cinematography, and is well acted, though even at 72 minutes it feels padded-out and overlong. **1/2
Short reviews of all the movies I see, rated out of four. Reviews containing spoilers are marked with an (S).
Friday, February 29, 2008
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Awake
AWAKE (2007) - Feb. 28, 2008
Another sad example of a film which is completely spoiled by its own trailer. This was a basically decent, though somewhat mediocre film about a young millionaire who undergoes open-heart surgery only to find himself conscious during the procedure. It was entertaining enough (for the most part), and featured a refreshingly brief running time of under ninety minutes, but it probably would have been a bit more enjoyable if every twist hadn't been spelled out in the trailer. Oh well. **1/2
Another sad example of a film which is completely spoiled by its own trailer. This was a basically decent, though somewhat mediocre film about a young millionaire who undergoes open-heart surgery only to find himself conscious during the procedure. It was entertaining enough (for the most part), and featured a refreshingly brief running time of under ninety minutes, but it probably would have been a bit more enjoyable if every twist hadn't been spelled out in the trailer. Oh well. **1/2
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Vantage Point
VANTAGE POINT (2008) - Feb. 20, 2008
About an assassination attempt on the President told from several different points of view, this film featured a second half which was much better than the first. The first half, in which the action is constantly being rewound (literally rewound) so that the story can be told from a different point of view, feels a bit more gimmicky than anything else. The film becomes much more involving when it abandons this and becomes more conventional. The film's other big problem is Pete Travis' direction, which is mediocre, for the most part. Most of the action scenes suffer from the usual quick-cut/shaky-cam laziness, though there is a lengthy car chase towards the end which is surprisingly exciting. The film also feels like it was clearly watered-down for a PG-13 rating, which is unfortunate. The performances are all quite good, though Matthew Fox is less-than-convincing when he tries to speak Spanish. (Also: I've heard this film described as being Rashomon-like. Anyone who still compares it to Rashomon after seeing it deserves to be punched in the nose). **1/2
About an assassination attempt on the President told from several different points of view, this film featured a second half which was much better than the first. The first half, in which the action is constantly being rewound (literally rewound) so that the story can be told from a different point of view, feels a bit more gimmicky than anything else. The film becomes much more involving when it abandons this and becomes more conventional. The film's other big problem is Pete Travis' direction, which is mediocre, for the most part. Most of the action scenes suffer from the usual quick-cut/shaky-cam laziness, though there is a lengthy car chase towards the end which is surprisingly exciting. The film also feels like it was clearly watered-down for a PG-13 rating, which is unfortunate. The performances are all quite good, though Matthew Fox is less-than-convincing when he tries to speak Spanish. (Also: I've heard this film described as being Rashomon-like. Anyone who still compares it to Rashomon after seeing it deserves to be punched in the nose). **1/2
Saturday, February 16, 2008
There Will Be Blood
THERE WILL BE BLOOD (2007) - Feb 16, 2008 (Fifth Viewing)
This is a great, great film. I've seen it five times now and I still feel like I should see it again. Good stuff. ****
This is a great, great film. I've seen it five times now and I still feel like I should see it again. Good stuff. ****
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Definitely, Maybe
DEFINITELY, MAYBE (2008) - Feb. 13, 2008
Sort of like How I Met Your Mother: the movie, this is about a father who tells his daughter the story of how he met her mother, only without telling her which woman in the story turns out to be her mom. The director definitely gets props for trying something a bit different in a well-worn genre, though the film is otherwise entirely conventional (not that that's necessarily a bad thing). The film does overstay its welcome a bit (no romantic comedy should be over 90 minutes -- no exceptions!), and it is a bit disheartening to see an actor as good as Derek Luke relegated to playing the sassy black friend, but this is generally an enjoyable film. **1/2
Sort of like How I Met Your Mother: the movie, this is about a father who tells his daughter the story of how he met her mother, only without telling her which woman in the story turns out to be her mom. The director definitely gets props for trying something a bit different in a well-worn genre, though the film is otherwise entirely conventional (not that that's necessarily a bad thing). The film does overstay its welcome a bit (no romantic comedy should be over 90 minutes -- no exceptions!), and it is a bit disheartening to see an actor as good as Derek Luke relegated to playing the sassy black friend, but this is generally an enjoyable film. **1/2
Monday, February 11, 2008
There Will Be Blood
THERE WILL BE BLOOD (2007) - Feb. 11, 2008 (Fourth Viewing)
I DRINK YOUR MILKSHAKE! I DRINK IT UP! ****
I DRINK YOUR MILKSHAKE! I DRINK IT UP! ****
Friday, February 08, 2008
In Bruges
IN BRUGES (2008) - Feb. 8, 2008
A really well made film about a couple of hitmen who go to Bruges to hide out after a job goes bad. Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson were both really good as the two hitmen, and made each of their characters people who we really come to care about. The film does a really good job mixing drama and comedy, and features some surprisingly funny parts mixed in with dramatic moments, without it ever feeling incongruous or forced. I also liked how the film takes its time at the beginning setting up the characters, which just makes it all the more effective once the plot stuff starts kicking in. And then there's Ralph Fiennes, who is perfect as the two hitmen's somewhat psychopathic boss, and who steals absolutely every scene he's in. ****
A really well made film about a couple of hitmen who go to Bruges to hide out after a job goes bad. Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson were both really good as the two hitmen, and made each of their characters people who we really come to care about. The film does a really good job mixing drama and comedy, and features some surprisingly funny parts mixed in with dramatic moments, without it ever feeling incongruous or forced. I also liked how the film takes its time at the beginning setting up the characters, which just makes it all the more effective once the plot stuff starts kicking in. And then there's Ralph Fiennes, who is perfect as the two hitmen's somewhat psychopathic boss, and who steals absolutely every scene he's in. ****
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
The Hulk
THE HULK (2003) - Feb. 6, 2008
Hmmm... I guess there's a reason that this flopped. It's clearly too long, and worse, the whole father/son dynamic between Eric Bana and Nick Nolte just doesn't work (and takes up the bulk of the film). It's too silly. Eric Bana does the best he can do with the material, and Jennifer Connelly somehow manages to pull off a performance that is far better than the film deserves. But Nick Nolte is just way too over-the-top. **
Hmmm... I guess there's a reason that this flopped. It's clearly too long, and worse, the whole father/son dynamic between Eric Bana and Nick Nolte just doesn't work (and takes up the bulk of the film). It's too silly. Eric Bana does the best he can do with the material, and Jennifer Connelly somehow manages to pull off a performance that is far better than the film deserves. But Nick Nolte is just way too over-the-top. **
Saturday, February 02, 2008
The Great Debaters
THE GREAT DEBATERS (2007) - Feb. 2, 2008
About a black debating team in the 1930s and the many obstacles they face, this was mostly entertaining, if somewhat overlong and a bit ham-fisted. It's elevated by some excellent performances -- Denzel Washington and Forest Whitaker are as good as ever, and all the members of the debating team are quite good as well. ***
About a black debating team in the 1930s and the many obstacles they face, this was mostly entertaining, if somewhat overlong and a bit ham-fisted. It's elevated by some excellent performances -- Denzel Washington and Forest Whitaker are as good as ever, and all the members of the debating team are quite good as well. ***
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