A Christmas Carol

A CHRISTMAS CAROL (2009) - Dec. 18, 2009
Another disappointing and visually unappealing mo-cap fiasco from the once-talented Robert Zemeckis.  I think I've already made my issues with Zemeckis' ill-advised ultra-real mo-cap style fairly clear, so I won't repeat them.  As for the movie itself, its main problem is that Scrooge just isn't a particularly interesting character, and since we're all abundantly familiar with his jerk to nice-guy character arc, the movie tends to feel a bit dull and pointless.  It doesn't help that there isn't really any conflict in the story -- there isn't much at stake for Scrooge to become a nice guy, other than Tiny Tim's life, I guess.  I don't know, the whole thing was basically entertaining I guess, but kind of dull.  **

The Princess and the Frog

THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG (2009) - Dec. 16, 2009
A mostly enjoyable though kind of disappointing cartoon from Disney -- Disney's first traditionally animated film since Home on the Range, which is why it's disappointing that it's not better than it is.  The film has definitely proved that there is still a place for traditional animation (or at least there should be), as it looked really really good.  The story, involving a girl who is transformed into a frog thanks to a voodoo curse, was fine, if not anything really groundbreaking -- I can appreciate that Disney is trying to play it safe since this is their first 2D outing in a while, with traditional animation  lamentably being an oddity these days.  The problem is that the film really starts to lag a bit in its midsection -- with the two main characters as frogs, surrounded by overly-quirky characters in a visually unappealing swamp (at least compared to the film's vibrant rendering of 1920s New Orleans).  However it starts and ends quite well, and I was definitely never bored.  If nothing else, the film is worth it just for its dazzling animation.  **1/2

Five Minutes of Heaven

FIVE MINUTES OF HEAVEN (2009) - Dec. 15, 2009
A really well made and extremely well acted film about a former UVF member who agrees to meet the brother of a man he killed several years earlier.  The film is really well directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel, and features some surprisingly tense moments.  However, it is the performances that really stand out, particularly Liam Neeson, who proves yet again that he's one of the best actors working right now.  ***1/2

Whatever Works

WHATEVER WORKS (2009) - Dec. 14, 2009
A really enjoyable comedy by Woody Allen about a grumpy old coot (a self-proclaimed genius) who befriends (and later marries) a young, small-town girl.  Easily Allen's funniest film in ages, this actually felt a lot like the films of his heyday, though not quite on that level in terms of quality.  It was definitely right up there with his better films of late, and a definite reminder that the Woodster can still knock 'em out of the park when he feels like it.  The film was at its strongest for the first hour or so, and runs out of steam ever-so-slightly by the end, but it was still quite enjoyable throughout and featured a surprisingly strong lead performance from Larry David.  ***1/2

Armored

ARMORED (2009) - Dec. 12, 2009
An enjoyable thriller about a group of armored truck drivers who decide to rob the truck that they're driving; things don't go according to plan.  This is Nimrod Antal's follow-up to Vacancy, which was superb.  This wasn't quite in the same league, but it was definitely enjoyable and really well directed (other than a short car chase which was a bit too heavy on the old shaky-cam).  ***