The Lost Weekend

THE LOST WEEKEND (1945) - Jan. 30, 2011
I really liked this film. It takes what seems like a fairly limited premise and turns it into something pretty special. Kudos must go to star Ray Milland for his nuanced performance. When he tries to rationalize his addiction near the beginning of the film, he’s so charming that you almost believe him.  It quickly becomes apparent, however, that this is a man who is completely ruled by his nearly crippling addiction. Milland does a great job of really selling everything that his character goes through, from his near-exuberance at the start of the movie to his increasing desperation to satisfy his cravings (he has limited funds, and spends all his time either drinking or figuring out where his next drink is coming from).  There’s something grimly compelling about watching Milland’s inexorable descent and his complete powerlessness to his own addiction. Every time you think “surely, this is rock bottom,” things manage to get even worse. The whole thing might have come off as over-the-top or even preachy under a lesser director, but Billy Wilder directs the film with a sure hand, and never allows it to be overtaken by melodrama.  ***

Maid in Manhattan

MAID IN MANHATTAN (2002) - Jan. 29, 2011
An enjoyable romantic comedy about a maid and a politician who fall in love; only, the poltician thinks the maid is a rich socialite.  Typical romcom drama ensues.  This was a by-the-numbers romantic comedy, elevated by good performances (it's bizarre seeing Ralph Fiennes in a romantic comedy, but he does quite well and has definite chemistry with an equally good J-Lo) and solid direction from Wayne Wang.  ***

Whip It

WHIP IT (2009) - Jan. 28, 2011
A basically entertaining film about a girl from a small Texas town who discovers her love for roller derby.  The film was well made and well acted, but it definitely drags in parts; it's 111 minutes and it probably shouldn't have been much longer than 90.  Drew Barrymore does fine in her first directorial effort, and all the performances were good (and it was a treat to see Daniel Stern again, even in a small part -- the man definitely needs to act more).  **1/2

Down by Law

DOWN BY LAW (1986) - Jan. 27, 2011
I have a few issues with Down by Law. My main issue is that the two main characters, played by Tom Waits (in a fairly mediocre performance) and John Lurie (in a performance that isn’t exactly great, but which looks pretty good next to Waits) are not particularly compelling at all. Neither is particularly likable or interesting, so spending 107 minutes with them becomes a bit of a chore. This is exacerbated by the total absence of a plot, which makes the shoddiness of the characters all the more apparent. Then there’s the boisterous Roberto Benigni, who seems to be playing a variation on himself (complete with the name Roberto). He’s a much more interesting figure than the other two, though he does kind of seem out of place, like he randomly wandered onto the set and was inserted into the movie on a whim.  The movie also really takes its time, with long stretches in which not all that much happens.  I did like Robby Müller’s black and white cinematography. Aside from that? The film wasn’t terrible, I suppose. I’ve certainly seen worse. But considering its stature as an American independent classic, I was disappointed.  *1/2

The King's Speech

THE KING'S SPEECH (2010) - Jan. 26, 2011
An enjoyable crowd-pleaser about King George VI's struggles to lose his stutter, and the friendship that blossoms between him and his doctor.  A solid film, though perhaps a tad overrated (I mean, I certainly enjoyed it, but I'm not sure if it would even be in my top 20 of the year, let alone my top 10).  Colin Firth was definitely really good though, as were all of the performances.  Tom Hooper's direction was good, though his pervasive use of ultra-wide angle lenses was a bit odd.  ***

Me and You and Everyone We Know

ME AND YOU AND EVERYONE WE KNOW (2005) - Jan. 25, 2011
An enjoyably odd film about a recently divorced father of two, and a quirky performance artist.  The film really isn't about much -- there's the father, the artist, and some of the people surrounding them (the father's kids, his friend, the artist's older friend, a woman she submitted her art to, etc.) and we just sort of see them go about their lives, and the effect they have on each other.  It works, partially because director/star Miranda July never allows the film to become overwhelmed by the quirk (as tends to happen in indie films of this ilk); there is an endearing earnestness here that keeps the film likable and relatable despite its stylization.  It's also really well acted, both by July herself, John Hawkes (who I am just now starting to really appreciate, after being marginally aware of him for several years), and the supporting cast.  ***1/2

Inhale

INHALE (2010) - Jan. 23, 2011
A gritty drama/thriller about a father who travels to the seedy underbelly of Mexico in an attempt to secure an organ transplant for his dying daughter.  Featuring an above average performance from Dermot Mulroney, the film is quite engaging throughout, and pretty tense in parts.  It feels sort of familiar, but it's well directed by Baltasar Kormákur and overall very well made.  ***1/2

The Green Hornet

THE GREEN HORNET (2011) - Jan. 22, 2011
A fun, if somewhat slight superhero film about a party-animal millionaire whose dad dies, and who then decides to take on a crime-fighting persona.  Stylishly directed by Michel Gondry, the film was not without its problems -- Christoph Waltz made for a completely ineffectual villain, as seemingly all of his scenes were played for laughs; the lengthy fake break-up between Seth Rogen and Jay Chou seemed completely unneccessary (and certainly didn't need to go on for as long as it did); the final action sequence overstayed its welcome a bit -- but Rogen and Chou had good chemistry, and the film was entertaining throughout, even if it played out more like an Apatowian bromance than a typical superhero film.  ***

The Open Road

THE OPEN ROAD (2008) - Jan. 21, 2011
Meh.  Not nearly as compelling as the premise/cast would lead you to believe, this was a decent film about a guy who, at the behest of his ailing mother, goes on a road trip with his estranged father.  The film was decently made, but it was never particularly involving.  Jeff Bridges was expectly good as the reluctant father; Justin Timberlake was fine as the son, though his character was fairly one-note.  **1/2

Love and Other Drugs

LOVE AND OTHER DRUGS (2010) - Jan. 10, 2011
An enjoyable dramedy about a slick pharmaceutical salesman who winds up falling in love with a Parkinsons patient.  Though the lighter first half probably worked better than the more melodramatic latter half, the whole thing was well made and entertaining enough.  Jake Gyllenhal and Ann Hathaway were both very good, though oddly enough, I'm not sure how great their chemistry was -- it occured to me towards the end that while I liked both characters and cared about both of them, I wasn't necessarily rooting for them to be together like I should have been.  ***

Season of the Witch

SEASON OF THE WITCH (2011) - Jan. 7, 2011
A fairly mediocre though basically entertaining film about a couple of Crusades-era soldiers who wind up getting recruited to trasport a witch across the country.  The film was almost absurdly low-rent, and looked pretty cheesy, though I'm not sure if it's the all-out disaster everyone is making it out to be.  I don't know -- I was super tired when I watched it, so it's hard to say.  **1/2

Despicable Me

DESPICABLE ME (2010) - Jan. 6, 2011 (Second Viewing)
I fell asleep towards the end (it was a long flight), but aside from that this was just as charming as I remember it being.  ***

The Other Guys

THE OTHER GUYS (2010) - Jan. 6, 2011 (Second Viewing)
Perhaps not quite as funny/entertaining as I remembered, but still enjoyable enough.  ***