INTERMISSION (2003) - Mar. 30, 2008
Though this wasn't quite as good as John Crowley and Mark O'Rowe's most recent effort, the stunning Boy A, it was still a very enjoyable film about a bunch of characters in the Dublin area. And despite the surfeit of characters, the film does a very good job developing all of them and making them people we care about (unlike something like Stop-Loss, which had less characters and more time to work with and still failed to make us care about any of them). ***1/2
Short reviews of all the movies I see, rated out of four. Reviews containing spoilers are marked with an (S).
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Stop-Loss
STOP-LOSS (2008) - Mar. 29, 2008
A well acted but otherwise mediocre film about a soldier who comes home from his tour of duty in Iraq, only to find that he has been stop-lossed and must return for another tour. Meandering and overlong, the film was heavy-handed and featured some surprisingly bland/inept direction from Kimberly Peirce. The performances were quite good, though, particularly Ryan Phillippe in the main role. **
A well acted but otherwise mediocre film about a soldier who comes home from his tour of duty in Iraq, only to find that he has been stop-lossed and must return for another tour. Meandering and overlong, the film was heavy-handed and featured some surprisingly bland/inept direction from Kimberly Peirce. The performances were quite good, though, particularly Ryan Phillippe in the main role. **
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Nez Rouge
NEZ ROUGE (2003) - Mar. 27, 2008
A poorly-directed but essentially entertaining romantic comedy that seriously overstays its welcome (why is it so hard for a lot of directors to wrap their minds around the simple fact that romantic comedies over 90 minutes rarely work?). About a woman who befriends a notoriously tough critic in order to get revenge over a bad review, the film is more enjoyable in its first half, before it becomes a fairly standard romantic comedy. The performances were fine for the most part, though the chemestry between the two leads was questionable. And the bizarre twist at the end, in which it's revealed that one of the main characters is actually Santa Claus, seems like it belongs in another movie. **
A poorly-directed but essentially entertaining romantic comedy that seriously overstays its welcome (why is it so hard for a lot of directors to wrap their minds around the simple fact that romantic comedies over 90 minutes rarely work?). About a woman who befriends a notoriously tough critic in order to get revenge over a bad review, the film is more enjoyable in its first half, before it becomes a fairly standard romantic comedy. The performances were fine for the most part, though the chemestry between the two leads was questionable. And the bizarre twist at the end, in which it's revealed that one of the main characters is actually Santa Claus, seems like it belongs in another movie. **
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
MISS PETTIGREW LIVES FOR A DAY (2008) - Mar. 26, 2008
Featuring very good performances all around, this was an enjoyable romantic comedy set in 1930s London. Frances McDormand is quite good in the main role, as are the supporting cast (Ciarán Hinds in particular is really good as her would-be suitor). ***
Featuring very good performances all around, this was an enjoyable romantic comedy set in 1930s London. Frances McDormand is quite good in the main role, as are the supporting cast (Ciarán Hinds in particular is really good as her would-be suitor). ***
Monday, March 24, 2008
21
21 (2008) - Mar. 24, 2008
What happened? Adapted from a fairly decent book, this was a bad, bad film. Filled to the brim with paper-thin characters -- none of whom seem authentic in the least -- the movie wasn't interesting, and worse, it was boring. The screenplay was a mixed bag of all the cheesiest cliches you can imagine, and Robert Luketic's aggressively bland direction ensured that the film was never interesting to look at (pretty much the polar opposite of the last film I watched, Police Beat). None of the actors make any kind of impression, even the usually reliable Laurence Fishburne and Kevin Spacey (who are both completely wasted here). Boo-urns. *1/2
What happened? Adapted from a fairly decent book, this was a bad, bad film. Filled to the brim with paper-thin characters -- none of whom seem authentic in the least -- the movie wasn't interesting, and worse, it was boring. The screenplay was a mixed bag of all the cheesiest cliches you can imagine, and Robert Luketic's aggressively bland direction ensured that the film was never interesting to look at (pretty much the polar opposite of the last film I watched, Police Beat). None of the actors make any kind of impression, even the usually reliable Laurence Fishburne and Kevin Spacey (who are both completely wasted here). Boo-urns. *1/2
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Police Beat
POLICE BEAT (2005) - Mar. 23, 2008
An oddly hypnotic film about a Rookie cop in Seattle. The film contains absolutely no plot -- it follows the cop over the course of a few days, with occasional narration in an African language about his girlfriend, who is away on a camping trip with another guy. It sounds bizarre, and it is, but it really works. Despite its complete plotlessness the film is absolutely never boring; the 81 minute running time probably helps, as does the beautiful direction and cinematography, which assure that the film is always interesting just to look at. ***1/2
An oddly hypnotic film about a Rookie cop in Seattle. The film contains absolutely no plot -- it follows the cop over the course of a few days, with occasional narration in an African language about his girlfriend, who is away on a camping trip with another guy. It sounds bizarre, and it is, but it really works. Despite its complete plotlessness the film is absolutely never boring; the 81 minute running time probably helps, as does the beautiful direction and cinematography, which assure that the film is always interesting just to look at. ***1/2
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
The Bank Job
THE BANK JOB (2008) - Mar. 18, 2008
A stylish and enjoyable film about a group of small-time criminals who are recruited to rob the vault of a bank in London in the 1970s. Jason Statham is quite good in the main role, and the film is entertaining throughout, though there's probably a bit more going on here than I'd like (the overly busy plot deals with the London underground, secret photographs, blackmail, and double, triple and quadruple-crosses -- among other things). I would have probably preferred less of that other stuff and more heisting. Oh well, it was still a good film. ***
A stylish and enjoyable film about a group of small-time criminals who are recruited to rob the vault of a bank in London in the 1970s. Jason Statham is quite good in the main role, and the film is entertaining throughout, though there's probably a bit more going on here than I'd like (the overly busy plot deals with the London underground, secret photographs, blackmail, and double, triple and quadruple-crosses -- among other things). I would have probably preferred less of that other stuff and more heisting. Oh well, it was still a good film. ***
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Doomsday
DOOMSDAY (2008) - Mar. 15, 2008
Though it definitely isn't as good as Neil Marshall's previous effort, The Descent, that's hardly even a slight against it, as that film would have been next to impossible to top. The film owes a large debt to stuff like Escape from New York and (I assume) Mad Max, but it never feels like a mere ripoff of any of those films. Marshall wears his influences on his sleeve, but he definitely goes his own way with them. This is a really enjoyable, fun film, and though it has its flaws, it's still one of the better and more memorable action films I've seen in a while. ***1/2
Though it definitely isn't as good as Neil Marshall's previous effort, The Descent, that's hardly even a slight against it, as that film would have been next to impossible to top. The film owes a large debt to stuff like Escape from New York and (I assume) Mad Max, but it never feels like a mere ripoff of any of those films. Marshall wears his influences on his sleeve, but he definitely goes his own way with them. This is a really enjoyable, fun film, and though it has its flaws, it's still one of the better and more memorable action films I've seen in a while. ***1/2
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Semi-Pro
SEMI-PRO (2008) - Mar. 13, 2008
How will Ferrell can be so funny on SNL, and so flagrantly un-funny on the big screen is one of life's great mysteries. Though there are a few chuckles here and there, the film is mostly laugh-free and worse, it's boring and doesn't really feature any characters worth rooting for. It's also badly directed and murkily shot (in fact this has to be one of the ugliest looking films I've seen in a long time). *1/2
How will Ferrell can be so funny on SNL, and so flagrantly un-funny on the big screen is one of life's great mysteries. Though there are a few chuckles here and there, the film is mostly laugh-free and worse, it's boring and doesn't really feature any characters worth rooting for. It's also badly directed and murkily shot (in fact this has to be one of the ugliest looking films I've seen in a long time). *1/2
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Devil in a Blue Dress
DEVIL IN A BLUE DRESS (1995) - Mar. 9, 2008
A noirish thriller about a man who's hired to find a missing woman, and who winds up getting mixed up in all kinds of shenanigans. It definitely reminded me of films like the Big Sleep (complete with a somewhat hard-to-follow plot). Denzel Washington was, of course, very good, and the film also featured a memorable supporting role from Don Cheadle. ***
A noirish thriller about a man who's hired to find a missing woman, and who winds up getting mixed up in all kinds of shenanigans. It definitely reminded me of films like the Big Sleep (complete with a somewhat hard-to-follow plot). Denzel Washington was, of course, very good, and the film also featured a memorable supporting role from Don Cheadle. ***
Saturday, March 08, 2008
Larceny, Inc.
LARCENY, INC. (1942) - Mar. 8, 2008
An enjoyable film about a criminal who gets released from prison and, having a hard time going straight, starts planning his next heist. Edward G. Robinson gives a charismatic lead performance, and the film is quite enjoyable throughout. ***
An enjoyable film about a criminal who gets released from prison and, having a hard time going straight, starts planning his next heist. Edward G. Robinson gives a charismatic lead performance, and the film is quite enjoyable throughout. ***
Friday, February 29, 2008
Terror on a Train
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
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
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. ***
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Rambo
RAMBO (2008) - Jan. 29, 2008
A fitting conclusion to the Rambo series (assuming that this really is the last one). About Rambo, very grizzled and working as some kind of snake-wrangler, who must rescue a group of missionaries in Burma. Stalone does a good job showing what this character would be like in his 50s, and (as the director) updating the film's style for modern audiences while still making it feel like a Rambo film. It's entertaining throughout, and then there's the film's spectacularly violent climax, which has to be one of the better things I've seen in a while. ***
A fitting conclusion to the Rambo series (assuming that this really is the last one). About Rambo, very grizzled and working as some kind of snake-wrangler, who must rescue a group of missionaries in Burma. Stalone does a good job showing what this character would be like in his 50s, and (as the director) updating the film's style for modern audiences while still making it feel like a Rambo film. It's entertaining throughout, and then there's the film's spectacularly violent climax, which has to be one of the better things I've seen in a while. ***
Monday, January 28, 2008
Rambo III
RAMBO III (1988) - Jan. 28, 2008
Like the second one, this is a full-out over-the-top '80s action film -- this one finds Rambo helping Afghan rebels fight the Russians in order to rescue his mentor. Though the action isn't quite as satisfying as the action from the second one (the action here is a bit explosion-heavy), this was still basically entertaining. Plus, it featured one of the better bad guy deaths I've seen in a while (Rambo pulls the pin off a grenade attached to a guy's vest, then pushes him down a pit with a rope tied around his neck, his neck snaps, and then the grenade blows him up. Good stuff.) **1/2
Like the second one, this is a full-out over-the-top '80s action film -- this one finds Rambo helping Afghan rebels fight the Russians in order to rescue his mentor. Though the action isn't quite as satisfying as the action from the second one (the action here is a bit explosion-heavy), this was still basically entertaining. Plus, it featured one of the better bad guy deaths I've seen in a while (Rambo pulls the pin off a grenade attached to a guy's vest, then pushes him down a pit with a rope tied around his neck, his neck snaps, and then the grenade blows him up. Good stuff.) **1/2
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Rambo: First Blood Part II
RAMBO: FIRST BLOOD PART II (1985) - Jan. 27, 2008
An enjoyable sequel. Rambo is in full '80s-action mode here; all traces of the conflicted, somewhat mentally imbalanced soldier from the first one are gone, replaced with a much more straightforward action hero. It's good, but definitely in a different way than the first one -- by the end of the film it has become even more over-the-top than Commando, with Rambo taking on an entire army, first on foot then in a helicopter. It's silly, but fun. ***
An enjoyable sequel. Rambo is in full '80s-action mode here; all traces of the conflicted, somewhat mentally imbalanced soldier from the first one are gone, replaced with a much more straightforward action hero. It's good, but definitely in a different way than the first one -- by the end of the film it has become even more over-the-top than Commando, with Rambo taking on an entire army, first on foot then in a helicopter. It's silly, but fun. ***
Saturday, January 26, 2008
First Blood
FIRST BLOOD (1982) - Jan. 26, 2008
About a Vietnam vet who gets himself arrested, goes crazy, breaks out of jail and then wages war on the local police force from the forest, this was a pretty good film. It's probably at its best at the beginning, before it becomes Rambo versus a bunch of inept cops in the forest (not that that stuff was bad, but it starts to drag a bit in the middle), but it was short, and pretty much enjoyable throughout. ***
About a Vietnam vet who gets himself arrested, goes crazy, breaks out of jail and then wages war on the local police force from the forest, this was a pretty good film. It's probably at its best at the beginning, before it becomes Rambo versus a bunch of inept cops in the forest (not that that stuff was bad, but it starts to drag a bit in the middle), but it was short, and pretty much enjoyable throughout. ***
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Cloverfield
CLOVERFIELD (2008) - Jan. 23, 2008
Maybe it's because my expectations were lowered considerably after hearing about how shaky the camerawork is in this film, but I actually really enjoyed this. Perhaps it's the lack of quick cuts, but I found that the action -- even at its very shakiest -- was never as disorienting or hard to follow as something like 28 Weeks Later or the Paul Greengrass Bourne movies. In fact, the faux home-video style was actually really effective in drawing the viewer in, and some of the action sequences were amazingly visceral. The characters could have been better, but they were probably good enough considering how short the film is and how much stuff happens (I think they managed to strike a fairly good balance between developing the characters just enough so that you care about them, and maintaining a fast/exciting pace throughout). ***1/2
Maybe it's because my expectations were lowered considerably after hearing about how shaky the camerawork is in this film, but I actually really enjoyed this. Perhaps it's the lack of quick cuts, but I found that the action -- even at its very shakiest -- was never as disorienting or hard to follow as something like 28 Weeks Later or the Paul Greengrass Bourne movies. In fact, the faux home-video style was actually really effective in drawing the viewer in, and some of the action sequences were amazingly visceral. The characters could have been better, but they were probably good enough considering how short the film is and how much stuff happens (I think they managed to strike a fairly good balance between developing the characters just enough so that you care about them, and maintaining a fast/exciting pace throughout). ***1/2
The Wrestler
THE WRESTLER (2008) - Jan. 23, 2009 (Second Viewing)
Yep, this was just as good as I remember it being. ****
Yep, this was just as good as I remember it being. ****
Friday, January 11, 2008
The Bucket List
THE BUCKET LIST (2007) - Jan. 11, 2008
About a couple of guys who find out that they're dying and set out to achieve their dreams before they kick the bucket, this was pretty much just as cheesy and manipulative as you'd think it would be. What saves it are two very engaging lead performances from Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, who have great chemistry together and ensure that the film is always watchable, even in the cheesier stretches. **1/2
About a couple of guys who find out that they're dying and set out to achieve their dreams before they kick the bucket, this was pretty much just as cheesy and manipulative as you'd think it would be. What saves it are two very engaging lead performances from Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, who have great chemistry together and ensure that the film is always watchable, even in the cheesier stretches. **1/2
Thursday, January 10, 2008
There Will Be Blood
THERE WILL BE BLOOD (2007) - Jan. 10, 2008 (Third Viewing)
PT Anderson is scary talented. And I think I've seen this film enough times to rank it with the rest of his films:
1. Punch-Drunk Love
2. Magnolia
3. There Will Be Blood
4. Boogie Nights
5. Hard Eight
But honestly, they're all so super close, I could switch any of those around and still be happy with the list. ****
PT Anderson is scary talented. And I think I've seen this film enough times to rank it with the rest of his films:
1. Punch-Drunk Love
2. Magnolia
3. There Will Be Blood
4. Boogie Nights
5. Hard Eight
But honestly, they're all so super close, I could switch any of those around and still be happy with the list. ****
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
The Best and Worst of 2007
THE BEST AND WORST OF 2007
THE BEST:
10. We Own the Night
9. Ratatouille
8. Michael Clayton
7. Gone Baby Gone
6. Vacancy
5. No Country for Old Men
4. Black Book
3. Persepolis
2. The Darjeeling Limited
1. There Will be Blood
THE WORST:
10. The Hitcher
9. Hannibal Rising
8. The Kingdom
7. Transformers
6. Lions for Lambs
5. 300
4. 28 Weeks Later
3. License to Wed
2. Sicko
1. Redacted
THE BEST:
10. We Own the Night
9. Ratatouille
8. Michael Clayton
7. Gone Baby Gone
6. Vacancy
5. No Country for Old Men
4. Black Book
3. Persepolis
2. The Darjeeling Limited
1. There Will be Blood
THE WORST:
10. The Hitcher
9. Hannibal Rising
8. The Kingdom
7. Transformers
6. Lions for Lambs
5. 300
4. 28 Weeks Later
3. License to Wed
2. Sicko
1. Redacted
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
The Asphalt Jungle
THE ASPHALT JUNGLE (1950) - Jan. 8, 2008 (Second Viewing)
A superlative heist film. Features some really eye-popping black and white cinematography, and expectedly stellar direction from John Huston. It's definitely one of the better looking films I've seen in a while. And of course few people can play a tough-guy better than Sterling Hayden. The film feels a tad overlong, but that's a minor complaint. ***1/2
A superlative heist film. Features some really eye-popping black and white cinematography, and expectedly stellar direction from John Huston. It's definitely one of the better looking films I've seen in a while. And of course few people can play a tough-guy better than Sterling Hayden. The film feels a tad overlong, but that's a minor complaint. ***1/2
Monday, January 07, 2008
There Will Be Blood
THERE WILL BE BLOOD (2008) - Jan. 7, 2008 (Second Viewing)
I need to see this again. This is an almost indescribably amazing film, filled with so many great scenes and moments. I honestly can't think of a single complaint; the direction, the cinematography, the score, the performances... all superb. I'm not sure if this is my favourite PT Anderson film, which just shows how scary talented he is (this film clinches it -- he is right up there with Kubrick). ****
I need to see this again. This is an almost indescribably amazing film, filled with so many great scenes and moments. I honestly can't think of a single complaint; the direction, the cinematography, the score, the performances... all superb. I'm not sure if this is my favourite PT Anderson film, which just shows how scary talented he is (this film clinches it -- he is right up there with Kubrick). ****
Saturday, January 05, 2008
No Country for Old Men
NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN (2007) - Jan. 5, 2008 (Second Viewing)
Though the movie is just as slow as I remember it being, there's so much good stuff here that it doesn't really matter. The Coens are certainly in peak form here, and I think that this may be their best looking film. And of course there is Javier Bardem, who I would have previously said gave the most memorable performance of the year, but, well... Daniel Day Lewis. Still, good stuff. ***1/2
Though the movie is just as slow as I remember it being, there's so much good stuff here that it doesn't really matter. The Coens are certainly in peak form here, and I think that this may be their best looking film. And of course there is Javier Bardem, who I would have previously said gave the most memorable performance of the year, but, well... Daniel Day Lewis. Still, good stuff. ***1/2
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Charlie Wilson's War
CHARLIE WILSON'S WAR (2007) - Jan. 3, 2008
It probably wasn't such a good idea to watch this immediately after watching There Will Be Blood. This was a cute film -- fluffy almost to the point of floating away -- and it was certainly entertaining enough. But I couldn't help but think about Blood throughout pretty much the entire film. It is nice to see Tom Hanks back in peak form here -- it's good to know that Tom Hanks is still the most charming man in Hollywood, and that the Da Vinci Code was just some weird misstep. I should probably see this again at some point when I haven't just watched one of the most magnificent and stunning films I've seen in a long time (it's sort of like trying to follow Watchmen with an Archie comic). **1/2
It probably wasn't such a good idea to watch this immediately after watching There Will Be Blood. This was a cute film -- fluffy almost to the point of floating away -- and it was certainly entertaining enough. But I couldn't help but think about Blood throughout pretty much the entire film. It is nice to see Tom Hanks back in peak form here -- it's good to know that Tom Hanks is still the most charming man in Hollywood, and that the Da Vinci Code was just some weird misstep. I should probably see this again at some point when I haven't just watched one of the most magnificent and stunning films I've seen in a long time (it's sort of like trying to follow Watchmen with an Archie comic). **1/2
There Will Be Blood
THERE WILL BE BLOOD (2007) - Jan. 3, 2008
Wow! Wow. This was an astounding film, from the extended, dialogue-free sequence that opens the film, to the absolutely jaw-dropping finale (which has to rank among the best and most memorable endings of all time). There are so many great moments in this film I can't even begin to list them all. I think that this film has confirmed it: Paul Thomas Anderson is the greatest director working today, and yes -- maybe even the greatest director ever. It might be a bit soon for that pronouncement, but if he makes a few more films of this caliber then it is a done deal. And as awesome as Anderson's work is, he is matched in awesomeness by Daniel Day Lewis' performance, which is shockingly, astoundingly good. Wow! That's all I can really say. I need to see this again. ****
Wow! Wow. This was an astounding film, from the extended, dialogue-free sequence that opens the film, to the absolutely jaw-dropping finale (which has to rank among the best and most memorable endings of all time). There are so many great moments in this film I can't even begin to list them all. I think that this film has confirmed it: Paul Thomas Anderson is the greatest director working today, and yes -- maybe even the greatest director ever. It might be a bit soon for that pronouncement, but if he makes a few more films of this caliber then it is a done deal. And as awesome as Anderson's work is, he is matched in awesomeness by Daniel Day Lewis' performance, which is shockingly, astoundingly good. Wow! That's all I can really say. I need to see this again. ****
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Every Girl Should be Married
EVERY GIRL SHOULD BE MARRIED (1948) - Jan. 2, 2008
A very enjoyable though at times ridiculous romantic comedy starring Cary Grant and Betsy Drake. The plot, involving Drake's character bumping into Grant and immediately deciding that she must marry him (and subsequently stalking him to learn everything down to his choice of underwear), was silly and more than a little contrived. But Grant was as charming as ever, and the film was essentially entertaining throughout. **1/2
A very enjoyable though at times ridiculous romantic comedy starring Cary Grant and Betsy Drake. The plot, involving Drake's character bumping into Grant and immediately deciding that she must marry him (and subsequently stalking him to learn everything down to his choice of underwear), was silly and more than a little contrived. But Grant was as charming as ever, and the film was essentially entertaining throughout. **1/2
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Sweeney Todd
SWEENEY TODD (2007) - Dec. 19, 2007
Though featuring expectedly handsome visuals (there is no mistaking this for anything but a Tim Burton film) and some better-than-average performances, the film is undone by its meandering staginess, and its ridiculous overabundance of not-particularly-memorable songs, many of which do absolutely nothing to advance the plot and feel more like filler than anything else. Wow, that was a long sentence, but I think it covered everything. Disappointing. **
Though featuring expectedly handsome visuals (there is no mistaking this for anything but a Tim Burton film) and some better-than-average performances, the film is undone by its meandering staginess, and its ridiculous overabundance of not-particularly-memorable songs, many of which do absolutely nothing to advance the plot and feel more like filler than anything else. Wow, that was a long sentence, but I think it covered everything. Disappointing. **
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
I Am Legend
I AM LEGEND (2007) - Dec. 18, 2007
Anchored by an impressive performance from Will Smith, for the first hour or so this is a very good film. About the lone survivor of a disease that either kills or turns people into bloodthirsty vampires, the film is very compelling just on a visual level -- the film's deserted New York looks great. And for a while, when the film is just about Will Smith's character and his day-to-day life in this deserted wasteland, it really works. But then the action kicks in, and the director takes the disastrous route of making the vampires entirely CGI, and they just do not look convincing at all. There's never really any moment where they seem like a real threat, because they're just so fake looking. And the last act is pretty much nothing but action with the vampires, so... yeah. It's a bit of a disaster. It's too bad, because the first half is very good. ***
Anchored by an impressive performance from Will Smith, for the first hour or so this is a very good film. About the lone survivor of a disease that either kills or turns people into bloodthirsty vampires, the film is very compelling just on a visual level -- the film's deserted New York looks great. And for a while, when the film is just about Will Smith's character and his day-to-day life in this deserted wasteland, it really works. But then the action kicks in, and the director takes the disastrous route of making the vampires entirely CGI, and they just do not look convincing at all. There's never really any moment where they seem like a real threat, because they're just so fake looking. And the last act is pretty much nothing but action with the vampires, so... yeah. It's a bit of a disaster. It's too bad, because the first half is very good. ***
Friday, December 14, 2007
Killer of Sheep
KILLER OF SHEEP (1977) - Dec. 14, 2007
Man. I haven't seen a film this slow-paced in quite a while. It has a sort of Italian neorealist vibe, only... even slower. There are no real characters, the direction isn't that great, and there are very long scenes in which almost nothing happens. It's engaging for a while as a interesting slice-of-life in a poor black neighbourhood, but by the end it has seriously overstayed its welcome. **
Man. I haven't seen a film this slow-paced in quite a while. It has a sort of Italian neorealist vibe, only... even slower. There are no real characters, the direction isn't that great, and there are very long scenes in which almost nothing happens. It's engaging for a while as a interesting slice-of-life in a poor black neighbourhood, but by the end it has seriously overstayed its welcome. **
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Atonement
ATONEMENT (2007) - Dec. 12, 2007
A very well directed and well acted film about the fallout after a young girl lies about a rape. This was a really visually impressive film (and includes one of the more impressive Steadicam shots I've seen in a while), and the performances were definitely worthy of the Oscar nominations they will no doubt receive (James McAvoy in particular proves that there's a reason that he's getting so much work). Though at two hours and ten minutes the film is overlong (the whole film feels like it could use some trimming, but it's the bloated first act that really overstays its welcome). ***
A very well directed and well acted film about the fallout after a young girl lies about a rape. This was a really visually impressive film (and includes one of the more impressive Steadicam shots I've seen in a while), and the performances were definitely worthy of the Oscar nominations they will no doubt receive (James McAvoy in particular proves that there's a reason that he's getting so much work). Though at two hours and ten minutes the film is overlong (the whole film feels like it could use some trimming, but it's the bloated first act that really overstays its welcome). ***
Monday, December 10, 2007
Walk Hard
WALK HARD (2007) - Dec. 10, 2007
An enjoyable spoof of musical biopics, about Dewey Cox, a Johnny Cash-like singer, and his rise to fame (and the requisite fall). Though it wasn't always laugh-out-loud funny, it was always entertaining, and there were some very funny moments (such as Cox's habit of angrily ripping out sinks, and his frequent barging in on a bandmate as he does drugs -- "you don't want this!"). ***
An enjoyable spoof of musical biopics, about Dewey Cox, a Johnny Cash-like singer, and his rise to fame (and the requisite fall). Though it wasn't always laugh-out-loud funny, it was always entertaining, and there were some very funny moments (such as Cox's habit of angrily ripping out sinks, and his frequent barging in on a bandmate as he does drugs -- "you don't want this!"). ***
Friday, December 07, 2007
Gong Tau
GONG TAU (2007) - Dec. 7, 2007
An unpleasant and mostly boring horror film revolving around a man who finds himself embroiled in the world of black magic after his baby is killed (and quite graphically, I might add), and his wife is cursed, seemingly by a black magician. The problem with the film is that none of the characters are particularly well developed, and the whole thing just gets more and more ridiculous as it goes along (at one point the characters get cursed with something called "flying head" black magic -- "flying head", in this case, being quite literal). *
An unpleasant and mostly boring horror film revolving around a man who finds himself embroiled in the world of black magic after his baby is killed (and quite graphically, I might add), and his wife is cursed, seemingly by a black magician. The problem with the film is that none of the characters are particularly well developed, and the whole thing just gets more and more ridiculous as it goes along (at one point the characters get cursed with something called "flying head" black magic -- "flying head", in this case, being quite literal). *
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Enchanted
ENCHANTED (2007) - Dec. 5, 2007
A delightful romantic comedy about a classic Disney heroine who finds herself in modern-day New York -- wackiness ensues. Though not quite as good as the similarly themed fish-out-of-water romantic comedy Kate & Leopold, it was still very enjoyable. Amy Adams was pretty much perfect as a Disney character brought into the real world, and Patrick Dempsey was suitably charming in the main role. ***
A delightful romantic comedy about a classic Disney heroine who finds herself in modern-day New York -- wackiness ensues. Though not quite as good as the similarly themed fish-out-of-water romantic comedy Kate & Leopold, it was still very enjoyable. Amy Adams was pretty much perfect as a Disney character brought into the real world, and Patrick Dempsey was suitably charming in the main role. ***
Friday, November 30, 2007
Rififi
RIFIFI (1955) - Nov. 30, 2007 (Second Viewing)
A classic heist film -- features a twenty minute heist scene which is almost silent (there's no dialogue or score), and which is probably the best twenty minutes in any movie ever. It's riveting and absolutely fascinating to watch. The rest of the film is also quite excellent, featuring some stellar direction by Jules Dassin, and a really phenomenal lead performance from Jean Servais. ****
A classic heist film -- features a twenty minute heist scene which is almost silent (there's no dialogue or score), and which is probably the best twenty minutes in any movie ever. It's riveting and absolutely fascinating to watch. The rest of the film is also quite excellent, featuring some stellar direction by Jules Dassin, and a really phenomenal lead performance from Jean Servais. ****
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Barton Fink
BARTON FINK (1991) - Nov. 27, 2007
This was easily the Coen brothers' most flat-out strange film -- about a writer who moves to Hollywood as a screenwriter and promptly gets writer's block, this gets more and more bizarre as it progresses. It's very well made, and features a really impressive performance from John Turturro. This seems like the type of movie David Lynch wishes he could make; it's got a similarly odd vibe, but it never feels like weirdness for weirdness' sake. I've been thinking about it a lot since I watched it, so I think a repeat viewing is definitely necessary. ***1/2
This was easily the Coen brothers' most flat-out strange film -- about a writer who moves to Hollywood as a screenwriter and promptly gets writer's block, this gets more and more bizarre as it progresses. It's very well made, and features a really impressive performance from John Turturro. This seems like the type of movie David Lynch wishes he could make; it's got a similarly odd vibe, but it never feels like weirdness for weirdness' sake. I've been thinking about it a lot since I watched it, so I think a repeat viewing is definitely necessary. ***1/2
Saturday, November 24, 2007
The Mist
THE MIST (2007) - Nov. 24, 2007
About a sinister mist that rolls into a small town, trapping a bunch of people in a supermarket and bringing with it an assortment of strange monsters, this was a sporadically very well made horror film. It begins and ends very strongly, and there are some fairly tense scenes peppered throughout. The main problem is that the film is very talky, and the dialogue is sometimes somewhat iffy. There's also a whole subplot involving an ultra-religious nutjob (effectively played by Marcia Gay Harden) which is ridiculously over-the-top, and -- unless you have a very pessimistic view of humanity -- almost completely implausible. Frank Darabont's direction was quite good, though, and Thomas Jane proves yet again that he has what it takes to be a leading man in Hollywood. **1/2
About a sinister mist that rolls into a small town, trapping a bunch of people in a supermarket and bringing with it an assortment of strange monsters, this was a sporadically very well made horror film. It begins and ends very strongly, and there are some fairly tense scenes peppered throughout. The main problem is that the film is very talky, and the dialogue is sometimes somewhat iffy. There's also a whole subplot involving an ultra-religious nutjob (effectively played by Marcia Gay Harden) which is ridiculously over-the-top, and -- unless you have a very pessimistic view of humanity -- almost completely implausible. Frank Darabont's direction was quite good, though, and Thomas Jane proves yet again that he has what it takes to be a leading man in Hollywood. **1/2
Saturday, November 17, 2007
The TV Set
THE TV SET (2006) - Nov. 17, 2007
A really enjoyable and oddly depressing film about a writer who tries to make a TV show for a major network, and the many compromises he has to make along the way. It was well written and well directed, David Duchovny was expectedly good as the writer, Ioan Gruffudd was surprisingly not terrible, and Sigourney Weaver was quite effective as a horrifyingly clueless executive (it's a bit scary to think that people like her actually exist out there). ***1/2
A really enjoyable and oddly depressing film about a writer who tries to make a TV show for a major network, and the many compromises he has to make along the way. It was well written and well directed, David Duchovny was expectedly good as the writer, Ioan Gruffudd was surprisingly not terrible, and Sigourney Weaver was quite effective as a horrifyingly clueless executive (it's a bit scary to think that people like her actually exist out there). ***1/2
Friday, November 16, 2007
Invisible Target
INVISIBLE TARGET (2007) - Nov. 16, 2007
Though I certainly wouldn't put it in the same league with the scary-awesome Flash Point, this was a sporadically effective action film about a group of cops trying to take down some jewel thieves. Or something like that, I dunno -- one of the film's problems is that the plot, involving double crosses and way more plot threads than it needs, is almost ludicrously convoluted. All I really want is to see people getting kicked in the head, I don't need all this back-story and setup. Aside from that, the action is generally pretty good, though it's a bit more over-the-top and wirey than I'd like. But there are some good fights here, and I was never completely bored. **1/2
Though I certainly wouldn't put it in the same league with the scary-awesome Flash Point, this was a sporadically effective action film about a group of cops trying to take down some jewel thieves. Or something like that, I dunno -- one of the film's problems is that the plot, involving double crosses and way more plot threads than it needs, is almost ludicrously convoluted. All I really want is to see people getting kicked in the head, I don't need all this back-story and setup. Aside from that, the action is generally pretty good, though it's a bit more over-the-top and wirey than I'd like. But there are some good fights here, and I was never completely bored. **1/2
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Futurama: Bender's Big Score!
FUTURAMA: BENDER'S BIG SCORE! (2007) - Nov. 15, 2007
Futurama is back, and it's just as glorious as I would have hoped. No... more glorious. This film manages to take everything that was great about Futurama -- the characters, the humour, the interesting sci-fi plots -- and crams it into a very entertaining hour and a half film. Good stuff. ***1/2
Futurama is back, and it's just as glorious as I would have hoped. No... more glorious. This film manages to take everything that was great about Futurama -- the characters, the humour, the interesting sci-fi plots -- and crams it into a very entertaining hour and a half film. Good stuff. ***1/2
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Beowulf
BEOWULF (2007) - Nov. 14, 2007
About a warrior who comes to a town to fight the monster that has been plaguing them, this was sporadically very engaging, but a failure for the most part. A couple of the action scenes, at the beginning and then the end of the movie, were very well done and quite exciting. But for the most part the film falls flat. It isn't really about anything, and aside from Beowulf himself (and a memorable character played by John Malkovich) none of the characters were very well developed or interesting. The movie just sort of goes from one random scene to the next. Then there's the animation. It works quite well whenever there's action on the screen, but once the characters actually start talking it completely falls apart. The technology has seemingly not improved at all since the Polar Express, as all the characters still have that off-putting, creepily zombie-like pallor. They look all wrong, and worse, they can't even properly convey a full range of emotions -- there are times where the voice work is very good, but it's clear that the limitations of this technology simply can't keep up with them. They're stiff. It's like the voice of Marlon Brando being superimposed onto Josh Hartnett's face (though in defense of Hartnett, even he is able to convey more emotion than these plasticy people-impostors). Blech. **
About a warrior who comes to a town to fight the monster that has been plaguing them, this was sporadically very engaging, but a failure for the most part. A couple of the action scenes, at the beginning and then the end of the movie, were very well done and quite exciting. But for the most part the film falls flat. It isn't really about anything, and aside from Beowulf himself (and a memorable character played by John Malkovich) none of the characters were very well developed or interesting. The movie just sort of goes from one random scene to the next. Then there's the animation. It works quite well whenever there's action on the screen, but once the characters actually start talking it completely falls apart. The technology has seemingly not improved at all since the Polar Express, as all the characters still have that off-putting, creepily zombie-like pallor. They look all wrong, and worse, they can't even properly convey a full range of emotions -- there are times where the voice work is very good, but it's clear that the limitations of this technology simply can't keep up with them. They're stiff. It's like the voice of Marlon Brando being superimposed onto Josh Hartnett's face (though in defense of Hartnett, even he is able to convey more emotion than these plasticy people-impostors). Blech. **
Saturday, November 10, 2007
P2
P2 (2007) - Nov. 10, 2007
A simple and surprisingly effective thriller about a young woman who gets trapped in an empty parking garage and finds herself being terrorized by a psychotic security guard. The film wastes no time setting everything up, and does a good job keeping a fairly consistent level of tension throughout. It's well directed, and the cinematography gives the parking lot a nicely ominous look. There's nothing particularly fresh here, but the movie takes a familiar story and executes it quite admirably. I don't think Wes Bentley is ever really fully convincing as the villain, but that's a minor complaint. ***1/2
A simple and surprisingly effective thriller about a young woman who gets trapped in an empty parking garage and finds herself being terrorized by a psychotic security guard. The film wastes no time setting everything up, and does a good job keeping a fairly consistent level of tension throughout. It's well directed, and the cinematography gives the parking lot a nicely ominous look. There's nothing particularly fresh here, but the movie takes a familiar story and executes it quite admirably. I don't think Wes Bentley is ever really fully convincing as the villain, but that's a minor complaint. ***1/2
Friday, November 09, 2007
Blade Runner
BLADE RUNNER (1982) - Nov. 9, 2007 (Fourth or Fifth viewing)
Wow. This is pretty much a masterpiece, and getting to see it, restored and looking pristine on the big screen, was amazing. For one thing, this has to be one of the best looking movies ever made -- Ridley Scott's direction is pitch-perfect (the whole future noir look is a stroke of genius), and the look of the futuristic city is absolutely stunning. The special effects are also really impressive; this film looks a lot more convincing than most contemporary movies, despite being 25 years old. The plot, involving a private investigator who has to take down errant androids, is almost secondary to the visuals and the atmosphere, but it still manages to make an impact. We never learn all that much about the central character, but we get snippets here and there, and he certainly becomes a compelling character. There are also some really great moments, such as the final cat-and-mouse chase between Harrison Ford's character and Rutger Hauer's, culminating in what has to be one of the greatest scenes in the history of cinema. There's no doubt about it, this is an absolute classic. ****
Wow. This is pretty much a masterpiece, and getting to see it, restored and looking pristine on the big screen, was amazing. For one thing, this has to be one of the best looking movies ever made -- Ridley Scott's direction is pitch-perfect (the whole future noir look is a stroke of genius), and the look of the futuristic city is absolutely stunning. The special effects are also really impressive; this film looks a lot more convincing than most contemporary movies, despite being 25 years old. The plot, involving a private investigator who has to take down errant androids, is almost secondary to the visuals and the atmosphere, but it still manages to make an impact. We never learn all that much about the central character, but we get snippets here and there, and he certainly becomes a compelling character. There are also some really great moments, such as the final cat-and-mouse chase between Harrison Ford's character and Rutger Hauer's, culminating in what has to be one of the greatest scenes in the history of cinema. There's no doubt about it, this is an absolute classic. ****
Monday, November 05, 2007
Lions for Lambs
LIONS FOR LAMBS (2007) - Nov. 5, 2007
Less a movie and more a ham-fisted screed, this had to be one of the preachiest movies I've seen in a long time. I'm talking Michael Moore levels of preachiness. There wasn't a single character here who felt authentic, or who wasn't there to put across some point of view. Matthew Michael Carnahan, who wrote this year's equally mediocre The Kingdom, is quickly shaping up to be a really terrible writer, and has absolutely no idea how to create characters who are interesting or seem real in the slightest. The film is reasonably well directed and very well acted, but it's all pretty much moot, as there is only the vaguest pretense here that this is anything but a blatant political statement. **
Less a movie and more a ham-fisted screed, this had to be one of the preachiest movies I've seen in a long time. I'm talking Michael Moore levels of preachiness. There wasn't a single character here who felt authentic, or who wasn't there to put across some point of view. Matthew Michael Carnahan, who wrote this year's equally mediocre The Kingdom, is quickly shaping up to be a really terrible writer, and has absolutely no idea how to create characters who are interesting or seem real in the slightest. The film is reasonably well directed and very well acted, but it's all pretty much moot, as there is only the vaguest pretense here that this is anything but a blatant political statement. **
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
American Gangster
AMERICAN GANGSTER (2007) - Oct. 31, 2007
Denzel Washington is awesome as usual in this otherwise underwhelming and way overlong crime drama about a drug kingpin and the gritty cop trying to take him down. One of the film's main problems is that Washington's character is far more interesting than Russell Crowe's, and they probably get an equal amount of screentime -- and this being a two hour and forty minute movie, that's a lot of time. Though Washington is clearly the standout, all the performances are quite good. Another problem with the film is that the direction is surprisingly bland; it's hard to believe that it's directed by the same man who made Blade Runner, which is probably one of the most visually stunning movies ever made. The scene in which Crowe and Washington finally confront each other was pretty much electrifying, and I was always entertained, but this was still pretty disappointing. **1/2
Denzel Washington is awesome as usual in this otherwise underwhelming and way overlong crime drama about a drug kingpin and the gritty cop trying to take him down. One of the film's main problems is that Washington's character is far more interesting than Russell Crowe's, and they probably get an equal amount of screentime -- and this being a two hour and forty minute movie, that's a lot of time. Though Washington is clearly the standout, all the performances are quite good. Another problem with the film is that the direction is surprisingly bland; it's hard to believe that it's directed by the same man who made Blade Runner, which is probably one of the most visually stunning movies ever made. The scene in which Crowe and Washington finally confront each other was pretty much electrifying, and I was always entertained, but this was still pretty disappointing. **1/2
The Darjeeling Limited
THE DARJEELING LIMITED (2007) - Oct. 31, 2007 (Second Viewing)
Yep, this was pretty awesome. Compelling characters, eye-popping direction, humour, warmth -- what more can you ask for. If I had to rank Wes Anderson's films I would do so as follows:
1. The Life Aquatic
2. Rushmore
3. The Royal Tenenbaums
4. The Darjeeling Limited
5. Bottle Rocket
Darjeeling may be towards the end of that list, but that's only because Wes Anderson is awesome. These are all four star movies (except maybe Bottle Rocket -- I've only seen it once and I need to see it again). ****
Yep, this was pretty awesome. Compelling characters, eye-popping direction, humour, warmth -- what more can you ask for. If I had to rank Wes Anderson's films I would do so as follows:
1. The Life Aquatic
2. Rushmore
3. The Royal Tenenbaums
4. The Darjeeling Limited
5. Bottle Rocket
Darjeeling may be towards the end of that list, but that's only because Wes Anderson is awesome. These are all four star movies (except maybe Bottle Rocket -- I've only seen it once and I need to see it again). ****
Friday, October 26, 2007
Saw IV
SAW IV (2007) - Oct. 26, 2007
Though the Saw films have been getting progressively worse, this is the first one that's outright bad. It probably doesn't help that aside from Tobin Bell's Jigsaw, there isn't a single decent character in the bunch -- they're all underdeveloped and uninteresting, and a couple of them look pretty similar, making things even more confusing than they have to be. Then there's the film's plot, which gets more and more convoluted as it goes along, and by the end... so, that guy on the chair was in on it all along? Is he the new Jigsaw? Why? I don't get it. Did the projectionist miss a reel, or what? Plus, Darren Lynn Bousman's direction is as mediocre as ever, and the whole film has a really flat, unpleasant look to it. Even the sequences with Jigsaw's traps weren't that great; they were starting to get old two movies ago, and now they've definitely lost whatever impact they might have once had. Boo-urns. *1/2
Though the Saw films have been getting progressively worse, this is the first one that's outright bad. It probably doesn't help that aside from Tobin Bell's Jigsaw, there isn't a single decent character in the bunch -- they're all underdeveloped and uninteresting, and a couple of them look pretty similar, making things even more confusing than they have to be. Then there's the film's plot, which gets more and more convoluted as it goes along, and by the end... so, that guy on the chair was in on it all along? Is he the new Jigsaw? Why? I don't get it. Did the projectionist miss a reel, or what? Plus, Darren Lynn Bousman's direction is as mediocre as ever, and the whole film has a really flat, unpleasant look to it. Even the sequences with Jigsaw's traps weren't that great; they were starting to get old two movies ago, and now they've definitely lost whatever impact they might have once had. Boo-urns. *1/2
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Gone Baby Gone
GONE BABY GONE (2007) - Oct. 24, 2007
I guess Ben Affleck has been on the wrong side of the camera all along. This was a surprisingly good movie about a private investigator who's called in when a little girl is kidnapped. Affleck's direction is actually quite good, and the film is entertaining throughout. The film is also filled with some really good actors and they're all at the top of their game. Casey Affleck, in particular, gives a really impressive performance; he was excellent in the Assassination of Jesse James, and he may just be even better here. ***1/2
I guess Ben Affleck has been on the wrong side of the camera all along. This was a surprisingly good movie about a private investigator who's called in when a little girl is kidnapped. Affleck's direction is actually quite good, and the film is entertaining throughout. The film is also filled with some really good actors and they're all at the top of their game. Casey Affleck, in particular, gives a really impressive performance; he was excellent in the Assassination of Jesse James, and he may just be even better here. ***1/2
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
A Clockwork Orange
A CLOCKWORK ORANGE (1971) - Oct. 23, 2007 (Fourth or Fifth Viewing)
This is it. From the indescribably awesome opening shot to the equally awesome closing shot, this is as good as it gets. Stanley Kubrick is at his best here, and every shot is pretty much perfect. The use of music is perfect, as is, well... pretty much everything else. This is easily one of the best films of all time. ****
This is it. From the indescribably awesome opening shot to the equally awesome closing shot, this is as good as it gets. Stanley Kubrick is at his best here, and every shot is pretty much perfect. The use of music is perfect, as is, well... pretty much everything else. This is easily one of the best films of all time. ****
Saturday, October 20, 2007
30 Days of Night
30 DAYS OF NIGHT (2007) - Oct. 20, 2007
A violently effective horror film about a group of vampires who descend on a small Alaskan town (which happens to have no sunlight for a full thirty days). It was entertaining and well directed, though it can't quite top David Slade's previous film, Hard Candy, which -- even on a much smaller scale -- managed to have an almost consistent level of tension which this film wasn't quite able to maintain. ***
A violently effective horror film about a group of vampires who descend on a small Alaskan town (which happens to have no sunlight for a full thirty days). It was entertaining and well directed, though it can't quite top David Slade's previous film, Hard Candy, which -- even on a much smaller scale -- managed to have an almost consistent level of tension which this film wasn't quite able to maintain. ***
Friday, October 19, 2007
The Last King of Scotland
THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND (2006) - Oct. 19, 2007
An entertaining film about a young Scottish doctor who goes to Uganda and winds up becoming Idi Amin's personal physician. Forest Whitaker was deserving of all the accolades he received for his performance, and James McAvoy held his own and actually managed to give a performance that was just as good as the doctor. ***
An entertaining film about a young Scottish doctor who goes to Uganda and winds up becoming Idi Amin's personal physician. Forest Whitaker was deserving of all the accolades he received for his performance, and James McAvoy held his own and actually managed to give a performance that was just as good as the doctor. ***
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Things we Lost in the Fire
THINGS WE LOST IN THE FIRE (2007) - Oct. 17, 2007
A well acted (particularly Bencio Del Toro, who is probably one of the best and most intense actors working in Hollywood today) and well made film about how a man's death affects his wife and his best friend, a recovering heroin addict. There was nothing particularly wrong with it, but the egregiously slow pace keep me at a consistent arm's length. **1/2
A well acted (particularly Bencio Del Toro, who is probably one of the best and most intense actors working in Hollywood today) and well made film about how a man's death affects his wife and his best friend, a recovering heroin addict. There was nothing particularly wrong with it, but the egregiously slow pace keep me at a consistent arm's length. **1/2
The Darjeeling Limited
THE DARJEELING LIMITED (2007) - Oct. 17, 2007
Awesomeness. Pure awesomeness. If there were any doubt remaining that Wes Anderson is one of the greatest living filmmakers, this movie completely squashes it. I don't think anyone else has his knack for consistently, eye-poppingly good visuals and well-drawn, compelling characters. Wow. ****
Awesomeness. Pure awesomeness. If there were any doubt remaining that Wes Anderson is one of the greatest living filmmakers, this movie completely squashes it. I don't think anyone else has his knack for consistently, eye-poppingly good visuals and well-drawn, compelling characters. Wow. ****
Friday, October 12, 2007
Michael Clayton
MICHAEL CLAYTON (2007) - Oct. 12, 2007
Featuring a really strong performance from George Clooney (as well as equally good performances from people like Tom Wilkinson and Tilda Swinton) this was a well made drama about a fixer who gets embroiled in shenanigans involving a crazy lawyer and a massive lawsuit. First time director Tony Gilroy does a really good job keeping the film compelling, even during the more baffling stretches (the film takes its time giving out all the pertinent information, which actually works really well). ***1/2
Featuring a really strong performance from George Clooney (as well as equally good performances from people like Tom Wilkinson and Tilda Swinton) this was a well made drama about a fixer who gets embroiled in shenanigans involving a crazy lawyer and a massive lawsuit. First time director Tony Gilroy does a really good job keeping the film compelling, even during the more baffling stretches (the film takes its time giving out all the pertinent information, which actually works really well). ***1/2
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
We Own the Night
WE OWN THE NIGHT (2007) - Oct. 10, 2007
Wow! I guess I need to watch the Yards again. Though I remember that movie as being interminably slow, if this film is any indication then James Gray is a much better director than I gave him credit for. Gray, who obviously has more than a passing affection for crime movies of the '70s, takes his time telling this story, but it's absolutely never boring, and riveting in parts (including one of the most thrilling car chases of recent memory, and a really fantastic scene in which a drug deal goes horribly wrong). This is definitely a character-driven film, so it helps that the performances are uniformly excellent. Joaquin Phoenix, in particular, gives a really stunning performance that's probably his best ever. Maybe it helps that I went into this film with very low expectations, but I liked it quite a lot. ***1/2
Wow! I guess I need to watch the Yards again. Though I remember that movie as being interminably slow, if this film is any indication then James Gray is a much better director than I gave him credit for. Gray, who obviously has more than a passing affection for crime movies of the '70s, takes his time telling this story, but it's absolutely never boring, and riveting in parts (including one of the most thrilling car chases of recent memory, and a really fantastic scene in which a drug deal goes horribly wrong). This is definitely a character-driven film, so it helps that the performances are uniformly excellent. Joaquin Phoenix, in particular, gives a really stunning performance that's probably his best ever. Maybe it helps that I went into this film with very low expectations, but I liked it quite a lot. ***1/2
Saturday, October 06, 2007
Flash Point
FLASH POINT (2007) - Oct. 6, 2007 (Second Viewing)
There's probably less action in this film than I remembered. The first hour or so, though punctuated with a few brief scenes of action, is basically just setting everything up. This stuff is all pretty mediocre -- it passes the time, but there's certainly nothing all that good about it. But then when the action does kick in (no pun intended)... Wow. Donnie Yen proves that he can stage and perform action with the best of them, and Wilson Yip's direction does exactly what it should do (it makes the action exciting without calling attention to itself). I cannot possibly say enough good things about the final action scene, which pretty much defines the word "awesome". ***1/2
There's probably less action in this film than I remembered. The first hour or so, though punctuated with a few brief scenes of action, is basically just setting everything up. This stuff is all pretty mediocre -- it passes the time, but there's certainly nothing all that good about it. But then when the action does kick in (no pun intended)... Wow. Donnie Yen proves that he can stage and perform action with the best of them, and Wilson Yip's direction does exactly what it should do (it makes the action exciting without calling attention to itself). I cannot possibly say enough good things about the final action scene, which pretty much defines the word "awesome". ***1/2
Friday, October 05, 2007
The Kingdom
THE KINGDOM (2007) - Oct. 5, 2007
About a group of FBI agents who go to Saudi Arabia to investigate the bombing of an American compound, this was a mediocre film. The main problem here is Peter Berg's awful direction; he takes a page from Paul Greengrass' book and shoots the film with an annoyingly jittery camera, going into overdrive during the action scenes and making them almost completely incoherent and unwatchable. Aside from that, the majority of the film isn't particularly compelling, with the stock characters investigating the explosion (sort of -- they spend days there and yet all they seem to find out is that the bad guys used ball bearings in their explosives, and that the evil mastermind may or may not have missing fingers). The whole thing would be passably mediocre -- but then there's Berg's annoying direction, which always keeps you at arm's length, reminding you at all times that you're watching a movie and making it pretty much impossible to get wrapped up in the story. **
About a group of FBI agents who go to Saudi Arabia to investigate the bombing of an American compound, this was a mediocre film. The main problem here is Peter Berg's awful direction; he takes a page from Paul Greengrass' book and shoots the film with an annoyingly jittery camera, going into overdrive during the action scenes and making them almost completely incoherent and unwatchable. Aside from that, the majority of the film isn't particularly compelling, with the stock characters investigating the explosion (sort of -- they spend days there and yet all they seem to find out is that the bad guys used ball bearings in their explosives, and that the evil mastermind may or may not have missing fingers). The whole thing would be passably mediocre -- but then there's Berg's annoying direction, which always keeps you at arm's length, reminding you at all times that you're watching a movie and making it pretty much impossible to get wrapped up in the story. **
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD (2007) - Oct. 3, 2007
To say that this film takes its time would be a huge understatement; it's two hours and forty minutes and it feels it, with a lot of long scenes in which not all that much happens. And yet there's something about it which keeps it from crossing the line from slow into boring. Roger Deakins' impressive cinematography probably helps -- this is certainly a very handsomely made movie. The performances are also a stand-out -- Casey Affleck is eye-opening as the somewhat odd Robert Ford, and Brad Pitt was just as good as Jesse James. ***
To say that this film takes its time would be a huge understatement; it's two hours and forty minutes and it feels it, with a lot of long scenes in which not all that much happens. And yet there's something about it which keeps it from crossing the line from slow into boring. Roger Deakins' impressive cinematography probably helps -- this is certainly a very handsomely made movie. The performances are also a stand-out -- Casey Affleck is eye-opening as the somewhat odd Robert Ford, and Brad Pitt was just as good as Jesse James. ***
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Bug
BUG (2006) - SEPT. 25, 2007
Oh, the humanity. This started out decently enough -- though its origins as a play couldn't be more obvious (both in the confined setting and the artificial theatricality of the dialogue), for the first half or so this was a basically enjoyable look at the blossoming relationship between two damaged characters. But then the movie just starts getting more and more silly and over-the-top, and by the end anything even remotely resembling authenticity goes out the window. The same can be said of the performances, particularly Ashley Judd; by the end of the film her whole performance essentially consists of screaming and babbling incoherently. The film also stops being even remotely entertaining at around the half-way point, so it becomes harder and harder to sit through. Blech. *1/2
Oh, the humanity. This started out decently enough -- though its origins as a play couldn't be more obvious (both in the confined setting and the artificial theatricality of the dialogue), for the first half or so this was a basically enjoyable look at the blossoming relationship between two damaged characters. But then the movie just starts getting more and more silly and over-the-top, and by the end anything even remotely resembling authenticity goes out the window. The same can be said of the performances, particularly Ashley Judd; by the end of the film her whole performance essentially consists of screaming and babbling incoherently. The film also stops being even remotely entertaining at around the half-way point, so it becomes harder and harder to sit through. Blech. *1/2
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Eastern Promises
EASTERN PROMISES (2007) - Sept. 22, 2007
David Cronenberg and Viggo Mortensen are on a roll. After the above-average A History of Violence, this is another very good film from the pair. Mortensen, sporting an absolutely convincing Russian accent, gives one of his better performances as a mysterious driver for the Russian mob. The other performances are equally good, and the film is quite well directed. Good stuff. ***1/2
David Cronenberg and Viggo Mortensen are on a roll. After the above-average A History of Violence, this is another very good film from the pair. Mortensen, sporting an absolutely convincing Russian accent, gives one of his better performances as a mysterious driver for the Russian mob. The other performances are equally good, and the film is quite well directed. Good stuff. ***1/2
Friday, September 21, 2007
Shoot 'Em Up
SHOOT 'EM UP (2007) - Sept. 21, 2007
A way over-the-top action film about a British tough-guy who takes it upon himself to protect a baby from a legion of assassins, lead by a sinister Paul Giamatti. The film is cartoonish and overblown, and features almost no down-time between action sequences. It's never all that great, though for a while it's engaging enough -- but then it starts to wear out its welcome. It doesn't help that while the action is competently done, there's nothing really special about it (it's actually kind of bland once you get past how ridiculously over-the-top it is). Clive Owen was good (though I still don't know if I buy his American accent), though Paul Giamatti was definitely the highlight. **
A way over-the-top action film about a British tough-guy who takes it upon himself to protect a baby from a legion of assassins, lead by a sinister Paul Giamatti. The film is cartoonish and overblown, and features almost no down-time between action sequences. It's never all that great, though for a while it's engaging enough -- but then it starts to wear out its welcome. It doesn't help that while the action is competently done, there's nothing really special about it (it's actually kind of bland once you get past how ridiculously over-the-top it is). Clive Owen was good (though I still don't know if I buy his American accent), though Paul Giamatti was definitely the highlight. **
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Sukiyaki Western Django
SUKIYAKI WESTERN DJANGO (2007) - Sept. 15, 2007
Another almost indescribably bizarre film from Takashi Miike. A western about two competing gangs who converge on a small town due to its proximity to some kind of gold mine. There were a few good moments here, but they were completely lost amongst all the weirdness and the superfluous interludes. *1/2
Another almost indescribably bizarre film from Takashi Miike. A western about two competing gangs who converge on a small town due to its proximity to some kind of gold mine. There were a few good moments here, but they were completely lost amongst all the weirdness and the superfluous interludes. *1/2
L'Ora di Punta
L'ORA DI PUNTA (2007) - Sept. 15, 2007
It's been about a couple of weeks since I saw this film, and I've already pretty much forgotten the whole thing. That tells you how good it is. The main problem with it (from what I remember) is that the main character is a sleazeball and a jerk; the film seems to be trying to give him a Michael Corleone-esque downfall, but since he starts out as a jerk, the fact that he's a slightly bigger jerk by the time the end credits roll doesn't quite make the impact that I'm sure the director would like it to. Aside from that it was reasonably well made and well acted, but it was slow and not particularly interesting. **
It's been about a couple of weeks since I saw this film, and I've already pretty much forgotten the whole thing. That tells you how good it is. The main problem with it (from what I remember) is that the main character is a sleazeball and a jerk; the film seems to be trying to give him a Michael Corleone-esque downfall, but since he starts out as a jerk, the fact that he's a slightly bigger jerk by the time the end credits roll doesn't quite make the impact that I'm sure the director would like it to. Aside from that it was reasonably well made and well acted, but it was slow and not particularly interesting. **
The Visitor
THE VISITOR (2007) - Sept. 15, 2007
This started out really really well, and ended really really badly. About a college professor whose life is changed when he goes to New York and finds a young couple living in his apartment. For the first forty-five minutes or so I was loving this film. Richard Jenkins gives a perfect performance in the main role, and the characters become people we really care about. It's really well directed and well written, and the whole thing just works. But then, in an embarrassingly cheesy scene that seems to come from another movie (the first of many), the main character's friend gets arrested after a misunderstanding in a subway station. It's all downhill from there. The film goes from a wonderfully understated character study to a ham-fisted Message Movie. It's clear that the director has some very strong opinions on the way immigrants are treated in post-9/11 America, and he pretty much spends the rest of the film cramming them down the viewers' throats in the absolute least subtle way possible. It's never boring I suppose, but it's a definite shame because it could have been a great movie. **1/2
This started out really really well, and ended really really badly. About a college professor whose life is changed when he goes to New York and finds a young couple living in his apartment. For the first forty-five minutes or so I was loving this film. Richard Jenkins gives a perfect performance in the main role, and the characters become people we really care about. It's really well directed and well written, and the whole thing just works. But then, in an embarrassingly cheesy scene that seems to come from another movie (the first of many), the main character's friend gets arrested after a misunderstanding in a subway station. It's all downhill from there. The film goes from a wonderfully understated character study to a ham-fisted Message Movie. It's clear that the director has some very strong opinions on the way immigrants are treated in post-9/11 America, and he pretty much spends the rest of the film cramming them down the viewers' throats in the absolute least subtle way possible. It's never boring I suppose, but it's a definite shame because it could have been a great movie. **1/2
Nocturna
NOCTURNA (2007) - Sept. 15, 2007
An enjoyable if somewhat slight cartoon about a young boy who, over the course of a long night, tries to solve the mystery behind the disappearance of a disappearing star. It's very fantastic and Miyazaki-esque, though even at 80 minutes it drags in parts. It's really well animated, though, and is almost always compelling just on a visual level. ***
An enjoyable if somewhat slight cartoon about a young boy who, over the course of a long night, tries to solve the mystery behind the disappearance of a disappearing star. It's very fantastic and Miyazaki-esque, though even at 80 minutes it drags in parts. It's really well animated, though, and is almost always compelling just on a visual level. ***
Friday, September 14, 2007
Romulus, My Father
ROMULUS, MY FATHER (2007) - Sept. 14, 2007
Umm... Well, I was tired, what can I say? Within minutes of starting this film, the tiredness hit me like a punch to the face, and as much as I tried to fight it I was asleep within the first twenty minutes. I was pretty much asleep on and off for the rest of the film, which seemed well acted but really slow. I would like to see it again at some point, hopefully when I'm a little less tired. NO RATING
Umm... Well, I was tired, what can I say? Within minutes of starting this film, the tiredness hit me like a punch to the face, and as much as I tried to fight it I was asleep within the first twenty minutes. I was pretty much asleep on and off for the rest of the film, which seemed well acted but really slow. I would like to see it again at some point, hopefully when I'm a little less tired. NO RATING
Flash Point
FLASH POINT (2007) - Sept. 14, 2007
Wow! After the terrible SPL, the most I was expecting out of this film was one or two good action scenes. But man! Everything about this movie was about a trillion times better than SPL. The plot, involving a gritty cop and his undercover partner trying to take down a group of thugs, was pretty cheesy, but it was like Serpico compared to SPL. It at least -- and this is all you really need in a movie like this -- kept things moving between the action scenes. And unlike SPL, the movie managed to have a fairly decent action scene every fifteen minutes or so. And pretty much all of the action was really exciting, and really well done. And then -- oh man -- there was the last action scene. Sweet Jesus. It was, quite literally, one of the best things I've ever seen in my entire life. It was amazingly exciting, and brutal, and gritty, and it just keeps going, and every time you think that both characters have certainly had enough, it goes on even longer. It was awesome. It was better than awesome. It was certainly one of the best action scenes I've ever seen. I just... wow. That's all I can really say about that scene. ***1/2
Wow! After the terrible SPL, the most I was expecting out of this film was one or two good action scenes. But man! Everything about this movie was about a trillion times better than SPL. The plot, involving a gritty cop and his undercover partner trying to take down a group of thugs, was pretty cheesy, but it was like Serpico compared to SPL. It at least -- and this is all you really need in a movie like this -- kept things moving between the action scenes. And unlike SPL, the movie managed to have a fairly decent action scene every fifteen minutes or so. And pretty much all of the action was really exciting, and really well done. And then -- oh man -- there was the last action scene. Sweet Jesus. It was, quite literally, one of the best things I've ever seen in my entire life. It was amazingly exciting, and brutal, and gritty, and it just keeps going, and every time you think that both characters have certainly had enough, it goes on even longer. It was awesome. It was better than awesome. It was certainly one of the best action scenes I've ever seen. I just... wow. That's all I can really say about that scene. ***1/2
Boy A
BOY A (2007) - Sept. 14, 2007 (Second Viewing)
Yep, this is definitely my favourite movie of the festival so far, and I really doubt that anything I see tomorrow will be able to top it. It's just so well made, and well directed, and well written, and well acted. Peter Mullan is really good, but it's Andrew Garfield who really knocks it out of the park in the main role. It's a really impressive performance, and I think we'll certainly be seeing more of him in the future. There's just so many things I really like about this movie, from the strong performances to the way it unfolds to the powerful ending. ****
Yep, this is definitely my favourite movie of the festival so far, and I really doubt that anything I see tomorrow will be able to top it. It's just so well made, and well directed, and well written, and well acted. Peter Mullan is really good, but it's Andrew Garfield who really knocks it out of the park in the main role. It's a really impressive performance, and I think we'll certainly be seeing more of him in the future. There's just so many things I really like about this movie, from the strong performances to the way it unfolds to the powerful ending. ****
Thursday, September 13, 2007
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY (2007) - Sept. 13, 2007
About a magazine editor who had some kind of stroke and subsequently suffered a rare form of paralysis which left him unable to do anything but blink with his left eye, this was a reasonably well made film, but I can't say that I found it particularly entertaining. There were some things I liked about the film -- the opening series of POV shots did a good job establishing the grim claustrophobia of the character's new post-stroke world, and there were a few effective scenes (the scene towards the end, where the main character has his stroke while in the car with his son, was powerful and a definite standout), but for the most part I found this film oddly unengaging. It doesn't help that the movie is visually unappealing, thanks (I can only assume) to Janusz Kaminski. Here he takes all the stylistic quirks that have given Spielburg's films over the last decade or so their distinctive look, and multiplies them tenfold -- the film has a muggy, washed out look and an unappealing colour palette. It's pretty ugly looking, for the most part. And while the protagonist's plight is interesting for the first little while, it soon becomes clear that he just isn't a very interesting character. Maybe it would have been more effective if it were shorter, but after the hundredth time listening to the man's assistant recite the alphabet in order of use, I was tired of it. **
About a magazine editor who had some kind of stroke and subsequently suffered a rare form of paralysis which left him unable to do anything but blink with his left eye, this was a reasonably well made film, but I can't say that I found it particularly entertaining. There were some things I liked about the film -- the opening series of POV shots did a good job establishing the grim claustrophobia of the character's new post-stroke world, and there were a few effective scenes (the scene towards the end, where the main character has his stroke while in the car with his son, was powerful and a definite standout), but for the most part I found this film oddly unengaging. It doesn't help that the movie is visually unappealing, thanks (I can only assume) to Janusz Kaminski. Here he takes all the stylistic quirks that have given Spielburg's films over the last decade or so their distinctive look, and multiplies them tenfold -- the film has a muggy, washed out look and an unappealing colour palette. It's pretty ugly looking, for the most part. And while the protagonist's plight is interesting for the first little while, it soon becomes clear that he just isn't a very interesting character. Maybe it would have been more effective if it were shorter, but after the hundredth time listening to the man's assistant recite the alphabet in order of use, I was tired of it. **
Blood Brothers
BLOOD BROTHERS (2007) - Sept. 13, 2007
There's pretty much nothing fresh about this film, which features the exploits of three best friends from a small town who find themselves moving up the ranks for a local mob boss after moving to Shanghai. It all unfolds pretty much exactly as you'd expect it would, and it's a bit more melodramatic than it should be, but it's stylishly directed and mostly entertaining throughout. If nothing else, it's worth it if only for the spectacularly violent finale, which almost reminded me of the ending of Commando. **1/2
There's pretty much nothing fresh about this film, which features the exploits of three best friends from a small town who find themselves moving up the ranks for a local mob boss after moving to Shanghai. It all unfolds pretty much exactly as you'd expect it would, and it's a bit more melodramatic than it should be, but it's stylishly directed and mostly entertaining throughout. If nothing else, it's worth it if only for the spectacularly violent finale, which almost reminded me of the ending of Commando. **1/2
Paranoid Park
PARANOID PARK (2007) - Sept. 13, 2007
After the moribund Last Days, which looked great but moved at a snail's pace, Paranoid Park proves to be a very pleasant surprise. Shot in the same style as Gus Van Sant's last three films but easily the most plot-heavy (well, it has a plot, which automatically makes it more plot-heavy than the last three), this was about a young teen involved in the accidental murder of a security guard. I don't think anyone is going to be calling this film fast-paced, but like Gerry and Elephant (it's better than the former but not quite as good as the latter) it has an odd, hypnotic appeal which keeps it absolutely entertaining throughout. The film is told in a somewhat non-linear fashion, which keeps things mysterious and definitely works, and features the same flowing camera movements and dream-like tone that have characterized Van Sant's last few films. Good stuff. ***1/2
After the moribund Last Days, which looked great but moved at a snail's pace, Paranoid Park proves to be a very pleasant surprise. Shot in the same style as Gus Van Sant's last three films but easily the most plot-heavy (well, it has a plot, which automatically makes it more plot-heavy than the last three), this was about a young teen involved in the accidental murder of a security guard. I don't think anyone is going to be calling this film fast-paced, but like Gerry and Elephant (it's better than the former but not quite as good as the latter) it has an odd, hypnotic appeal which keeps it absolutely entertaining throughout. The film is told in a somewhat non-linear fashion, which keeps things mysterious and definitely works, and features the same flowing camera movements and dream-like tone that have characterized Van Sant's last few films. Good stuff. ***1/2
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Redacted
REDACTED (2007) - Sept. 12, 2007
If Brian De Palma wasn't personally present at the screening I attended, I would have seriously questioned whether he even directed this film at all. This movie goes wrong on so many different levels I'm not even sure I can list them all. For one thing, it is directed with absolutely none of De Palma's usual style. The whole thing is meant to have a documentary-like feel, with most of the footage supposed to be shot by one of the characters. But De Palma is clearly the wrong man for this type of style, as the whole thing looks unappealing and artificial. The dialogue ranges from clunky to laughable (a lot of it was supposedly improvised, which isn't surprising), and the characters are all broadly-drawn and two-dimensional. Perhaps if the actors had been good they could have elevated the material, but they were all quite terrible. Then there are the little things, like the supposed clips from a French documentary which seem very out of place, and the fact that most scenes are bridged by intentionally amateurish looking transitions (such as a page wipe and similar effects). There is a very (very very) heavy-handed anti-war message here, and I suspect that if people embrace this film it will be more for the message than the actual content (I can only assume that the best director prize at Venice had something to do with this, because this is inarguably a bad-looking film). I thought that the Black Dahlia was the nadir of De Palma's career, but boy was I wrong. Stick to the riffs on Hitchcock, De Palma. *1/2
If Brian De Palma wasn't personally present at the screening I attended, I would have seriously questioned whether he even directed this film at all. This movie goes wrong on so many different levels I'm not even sure I can list them all. For one thing, it is directed with absolutely none of De Palma's usual style. The whole thing is meant to have a documentary-like feel, with most of the footage supposed to be shot by one of the characters. But De Palma is clearly the wrong man for this type of style, as the whole thing looks unappealing and artificial. The dialogue ranges from clunky to laughable (a lot of it was supposedly improvised, which isn't surprising), and the characters are all broadly-drawn and two-dimensional. Perhaps if the actors had been good they could have elevated the material, but they were all quite terrible. Then there are the little things, like the supposed clips from a French documentary which seem very out of place, and the fact that most scenes are bridged by intentionally amateurish looking transitions (such as a page wipe and similar effects). There is a very (very very) heavy-handed anti-war message here, and I suspect that if people embrace this film it will be more for the message than the actual content (I can only assume that the best director prize at Venice had something to do with this, because this is inarguably a bad-looking film). I thought that the Black Dahlia was the nadir of De Palma's career, but boy was I wrong. Stick to the riffs on Hitchcock, De Palma. *1/2
The Passage
THE PASSAGE (2007) - Sept. 12, 2007
This started out quite badly, and I was pretty much ready to write it off as a complete waste of time, but somewhere around the midpoint the thrillerish elements started kicking in, and it actually did improve quite a bit. It was never all that great, but by the end it was downright watchable, which is much more than I can say for the first half. The film is about an American, traveling through Morocco with his British friend (or his "mate" as he keeps awkwardly calling him, which just sounds wrong when it's coming from Stephen Dorff), who meets an intriguing Moroccan girl who invites him to see the sights with her. Eventually they end up in a dark, labyrinthine series of tunnels, in which he only has a few candles with which to see, and then only the flash from his camera. This whole sequence was actually quite well done, and pretty suspenseful. The problem is everything that precedes it, which is really slow and pretty much not interesting at all. Much of this can be attributed to Stephen Dorff's remarkably wooden performance. He's the focus of the movie, but he doesn't have even a fraction of the charisma required to pull a role like this off. He's like some kind of charisma black hole. He has zero chemistry with the Moroccan woman, which makes all their scenes together a complete wash (which is pretty much the entire first half of the film). Plus, I thought the twist at the end of Shadows was obvious, but if there's anyone who is actually surprised by the twist at the end of this movie, I'd have to seriously question their intelligence. **1/2
This started out quite badly, and I was pretty much ready to write it off as a complete waste of time, but somewhere around the midpoint the thrillerish elements started kicking in, and it actually did improve quite a bit. It was never all that great, but by the end it was downright watchable, which is much more than I can say for the first half. The film is about an American, traveling through Morocco with his British friend (or his "mate" as he keeps awkwardly calling him, which just sounds wrong when it's coming from Stephen Dorff), who meets an intriguing Moroccan girl who invites him to see the sights with her. Eventually they end up in a dark, labyrinthine series of tunnels, in which he only has a few candles with which to see, and then only the flash from his camera. This whole sequence was actually quite well done, and pretty suspenseful. The problem is everything that precedes it, which is really slow and pretty much not interesting at all. Much of this can be attributed to Stephen Dorff's remarkably wooden performance. He's the focus of the movie, but he doesn't have even a fraction of the charisma required to pull a role like this off. He's like some kind of charisma black hole. He has zero chemistry with the Moroccan woman, which makes all their scenes together a complete wash (which is pretty much the entire first half of the film). Plus, I thought the twist at the end of Shadows was obvious, but if there's anyone who is actually surprised by the twist at the end of this movie, I'd have to seriously question their intelligence. **1/2
Bill
BILL (2007) - Sept. 12, 2007
This generally isn't the type of film you expect to see at a film festival, but it was enjoyable and a welcome change of pace. About a working-class schlub, under the thumb of his rich father-in-law and brother-in-law, who dreams of more for his life -- specifically, to own a franchise of a Krispy Kreme-esque donut store. Aaron Eckhart was quite good in the main role, and the movie had some memorable supporting roles (Timothy Olyphant was a standout as a smug news anchor). There wasn't anything particularly memorable about this film, but it was entertaining (though it does wear out its welcome a tad near the end) and had some genuinely funny moments (particularly one part, which I have been chuckling about for pretty much the entire day). ***
This generally isn't the type of film you expect to see at a film festival, but it was enjoyable and a welcome change of pace. About a working-class schlub, under the thumb of his rich father-in-law and brother-in-law, who dreams of more for his life -- specifically, to own a franchise of a Krispy Kreme-esque donut store. Aaron Eckhart was quite good in the main role, and the movie had some memorable supporting roles (Timothy Olyphant was a standout as a smug news anchor). There wasn't anything particularly memorable about this film, but it was entertaining (though it does wear out its welcome a tad near the end) and had some genuinely funny moments (particularly one part, which I have been chuckling about for pretty much the entire day). ***
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Shadows
SHADOWS (2007) - Sept. 11, 2007
Hmm. That was odd. I was expecting a drama, but this turned out to be a horror movie, or at least a horror/drama. About a young man who gets into a serious car crash, and then one year later starts seeing some pretty odd things (such as a weird old lady crying in his kitchen). This doesn't really work as a horror film, because it isn't scary or suspenseful (I'm pretty sure it's supposed to be), nor does it work as a drama, because the main character isn't very interesting and we never really learn much about him. Another problem is that the big "twist" at the end couldn't be more obvious, and pretty much right from the start, too. It's also overlong by at least half an hour. Overall, a pretty big disappointment, especially coming from Milcho Manchevski, who directed the excellent Before the Rain (or at least I remember it being excellent; it's been a while). **
Hmm. That was odd. I was expecting a drama, but this turned out to be a horror movie, or at least a horror/drama. About a young man who gets into a serious car crash, and then one year later starts seeing some pretty odd things (such as a weird old lady crying in his kitchen). This doesn't really work as a horror film, because it isn't scary or suspenseful (I'm pretty sure it's supposed to be), nor does it work as a drama, because the main character isn't very interesting and we never really learn much about him. Another problem is that the big "twist" at the end couldn't be more obvious, and pretty much right from the start, too. It's also overlong by at least half an hour. Overall, a pretty big disappointment, especially coming from Milcho Manchevski, who directed the excellent Before the Rain (or at least I remember it being excellent; it's been a while). **
The Girl in the Park
THE GIRL IN THE PARK (2007) - Sept. 11, 2007
Sigourney Weaver gives a really good performance in this film about a mother who loses her three-year-old daughter in a park. Flash forward to 16 years later, and she's still completely messed up. The bulk of the film is about a possibly unhealthy friendship she strikes up with a young woman. The film is well made and entertaining throughout, though I'm not sure I buy that the loss of a daughter could mess a person up so thoroughly, even 16 years later (she's pretty much insane). Other than that, it was pretty good. ***
Sigourney Weaver gives a really good performance in this film about a mother who loses her three-year-old daughter in a park. Flash forward to 16 years later, and she's still completely messed up. The bulk of the film is about a possibly unhealthy friendship she strikes up with a young woman. The film is well made and entertaining throughout, though I'm not sure I buy that the loss of a daughter could mess a person up so thoroughly, even 16 years later (she's pretty much insane). Other than that, it was pretty good. ***
Love Comes Lately
LOVE COMES LATELY (2007) - Sept. 11, 2007
A slow-paced film about a writer who goes on a trip to give a lecture. This seems to be a framing device for some short films; I say "seems to be" because I'm not sure, because I fell asleep for pretty much the entire second half. The film didn't seem that great from what I saw, but obviously I can't be too sure since I missed more than half of it. NO RATING
A slow-paced film about a writer who goes on a trip to give a lecture. This seems to be a framing device for some short films; I say "seems to be" because I'm not sure, because I fell asleep for pretty much the entire second half. The film didn't seem that great from what I saw, but obviously I can't be too sure since I missed more than half of it. NO RATING
Monday, September 10, 2007
Juno
JUNO (2007) - Sept. 10, 2007
An enjoyable comedy about a sixteen year old girl who finds out that she's pregnant, and decides to give the baby to a couple she finds in a newspaper. The film is actually quite funny, and features an engaging lead performance from Ellen Page, who couldn't be more different than she was in Hard Candy. Michael Cera is a scene stealer as her would-be boyfriend, and Jason Reitman's direction is pretty good for the most part (though the choice of music in many parts seems like it's chosen more for what will make a "cool" soundtrack, rather than how it complements the visuals). ***
An enjoyable comedy about a sixteen year old girl who finds out that she's pregnant, and decides to give the baby to a couple she finds in a newspaper. The film is actually quite funny, and features an engaging lead performance from Ellen Page, who couldn't be more different than she was in Hard Candy. Michael Cera is a scene stealer as her would-be boyfriend, and Jason Reitman's direction is pretty good for the most part (though the choice of music in many parts seems like it's chosen more for what will make a "cool" soundtrack, rather than how it complements the visuals). ***
Chrysalis
CHRYSALIS (2007) - Sept. 10, 2007 (S)
It was mentioned in the introduction for this film that Julien Leclercq, the film's director, is friends with Xavier Gens, the director of the terrible Frontiere(s). They must have a lot to talk about. Namely, how they both stink at directing. Though this film wasn't quite as bad as that one, it was still quite mediocre. The film's convoluted plot had something to do with a cliched gritty cop (he even gives in his gun and badge at one point, and he has an odd habit of submerging himself in the bathtub and timing it to see how long he can hold his breath. I wonder if that skill will come in handy later on...) who's investigating a mysterious murder case while trying to deal with the death of his partner. I don't know. It's pretty muddled. Leclercq's idea of making the film look futuristic mostly involves giving everything a silvery-metallic sheen, and the whole film otherwise basically looks like a poor-man's Minority Report. The movie does feature a couple of pretty decent fight scenes, and it's never all-out boring, but aside from that it's not too great. **
It was mentioned in the introduction for this film that Julien Leclercq, the film's director, is friends with Xavier Gens, the director of the terrible Frontiere(s). They must have a lot to talk about. Namely, how they both stink at directing. Though this film wasn't quite as bad as that one, it was still quite mediocre. The film's convoluted plot had something to do with a cliched gritty cop (he even gives in his gun and badge at one point, and he has an odd habit of submerging himself in the bathtub and timing it to see how long he can hold his breath. I wonder if that skill will come in handy later on...) who's investigating a mysterious murder case while trying to deal with the death of his partner. I don't know. It's pretty muddled. Leclercq's idea of making the film look futuristic mostly involves giving everything a silvery-metallic sheen, and the whole film otherwise basically looks like a poor-man's Minority Report. The movie does feature a couple of pretty decent fight scenes, and it's never all-out boring, but aside from that it's not too great. **
No Country for Old Men
NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN (2007) - Sept. 10, 2007
An expectedly well made film which, though probably not quite up there with the Coen Brothers' absolute classics, is still really good. Although this is Joel and Ethan Coen's first adaptation of someone else's material, it still definitely feels like a Coen Brothers film (a highlight, and a clear bit of Coen goodness, is the scene where Javier Bardem terrorizes a hapless store clerk, forcing him to gamble his life in a coin toss. It's a perfect example of the Coens' brilliance in dark comedy and suspense, and is probably one of the best scenes I've seen in a long time). The performances are all really good, particularly Bardem as the gleefully sinister yet oddly principled killer. Visually, it looks great (no surprise there), and features quite a few fairly riveting scenes. It starts out a tad slow, but that's a pretty minor complaint. ***1/2
An expectedly well made film which, though probably not quite up there with the Coen Brothers' absolute classics, is still really good. Although this is Joel and Ethan Coen's first adaptation of someone else's material, it still definitely feels like a Coen Brothers film (a highlight, and a clear bit of Coen goodness, is the scene where Javier Bardem terrorizes a hapless store clerk, forcing him to gamble his life in a coin toss. It's a perfect example of the Coens' brilliance in dark comedy and suspense, and is probably one of the best scenes I've seen in a long time). The performances are all really good, particularly Bardem as the gleefully sinister yet oddly principled killer. Visually, it looks great (no surprise there), and features quite a few fairly riveting scenes. It starts out a tad slow, but that's a pretty minor complaint. ***1/2
Sunday, September 09, 2007
Frontiere(s)
FRONTIERE(S) (2007) - Sept. 9, 2007
Blech. Another disappointment. You'd think, given the premise (a group of French criminals are terrorized by a family of Neo-Nazis), that you wouldn't be able to go wrong. Nope. The film is exceptionally derivative, and everything it steals has been done better elsewhere. But the film's lack of originality is actually the least of its concerns. Its main problem is Xavier Gens' mediocre direction, who has no idea how to properly direct action (whenever there's any action, the old shaky-cam/quick-cut trope rears its ugly head), and gives the rest of the film the same ugly greenish-gray visual look featured in too many recent mediocre horror films (such as the Texas Chainsaw remake). The main characters are all either underdeveloped or downright unlikable, making it pretty hard to care when they start getting killed off (and they make some pretty stupid choices, even for idiotic horror movie characters -- such as heading into a dark cave when they should be trying to run away). As for the bad guys, they're all generic and bland. There were a few good scenes here (a scene involving a table-saw is probably one of the best horror movie kills I've ever seen), and the film improves somewhat near the end (right around the aforementioned table-saw scene), but the film is otherwise unpleasant and barely entertaining (though again, I had a chance to think about how good Boy A was). *1/2
Blech. Another disappointment. You'd think, given the premise (a group of French criminals are terrorized by a family of Neo-Nazis), that you wouldn't be able to go wrong. Nope. The film is exceptionally derivative, and everything it steals has been done better elsewhere. But the film's lack of originality is actually the least of its concerns. Its main problem is Xavier Gens' mediocre direction, who has no idea how to properly direct action (whenever there's any action, the old shaky-cam/quick-cut trope rears its ugly head), and gives the rest of the film the same ugly greenish-gray visual look featured in too many recent mediocre horror films (such as the Texas Chainsaw remake). The main characters are all either underdeveloped or downright unlikable, making it pretty hard to care when they start getting killed off (and they make some pretty stupid choices, even for idiotic horror movie characters -- such as heading into a dark cave when they should be trying to run away). As for the bad guys, they're all generic and bland. There were a few good scenes here (a scene involving a table-saw is probably one of the best horror movie kills I've ever seen), and the film improves somewhat near the end (right around the aforementioned table-saw scene), but the film is otherwise unpleasant and barely entertaining (though again, I had a chance to think about how good Boy A was). *1/2
Starting out in the Evening
STARTING OUT IN THE EVENING (2007) - Sept. 9, 2007
A disappointment. Frank Langella is literally the best thing about this movie, as he gives a really good performance and proves that he should certainly be getting more work than he does. His performance is far better than the movie actually deserves, as it is otherwise unspectacular and egregiously overlong (it particularly drags towards the end). The whole thing just seems trite and somewhat cheesy, particularly the whole subplot with Lili Taylor as Langella's daughter. Oh well. At least, during the slower stretches, I had a chance to think about how good Boy A was. **
A disappointment. Frank Langella is literally the best thing about this movie, as he gives a really good performance and proves that he should certainly be getting more work than he does. His performance is far better than the movie actually deserves, as it is otherwise unspectacular and egregiously overlong (it particularly drags towards the end). The whole thing just seems trite and somewhat cheesy, particularly the whole subplot with Lili Taylor as Langella's daughter. Oh well. At least, during the slower stretches, I had a chance to think about how good Boy A was. **
Boy A
BOY A (2007) - Sept. 9, 2007
An exceptionally well made character study about a young man, recently released from prison after committing a notorious crime as a child, who tries to make a new life for himself. The film is really well directed and written, and is anchored by a stunning lead performance from Andrew Garfield, who -- if there were any justice -- would certainly have an Oscar in his future (or at least a nomination). The film alternates between showing us Jack (his new name) in the present, and snippets of the past, leading up to the crime. This structure works perfectly, building up a fair amount of tension as we wonder what it is exactly that Jack did. It's only at the end that we finally find out; by then Jack has become a very sympathetic character, despite his previous misdeeds. Yet near the middle of the film we see Jack lash out violently at man who attacks one of his friends, hinting that there is still something somewhat sinister beneath Jack's shy exterior. Basically, Jack is a really interesting character, and this is a really interesting film. I loved it. ****
An exceptionally well made character study about a young man, recently released from prison after committing a notorious crime as a child, who tries to make a new life for himself. The film is really well directed and written, and is anchored by a stunning lead performance from Andrew Garfield, who -- if there were any justice -- would certainly have an Oscar in his future (or at least a nomination). The film alternates between showing us Jack (his new name) in the present, and snippets of the past, leading up to the crime. This structure works perfectly, building up a fair amount of tension as we wonder what it is exactly that Jack did. It's only at the end that we finally find out; by then Jack has become a very sympathetic character, despite his previous misdeeds. Yet near the middle of the film we see Jack lash out violently at man who attacks one of his friends, hinting that there is still something somewhat sinister beneath Jack's shy exterior. Basically, Jack is a really interesting character, and this is a really interesting film. I loved it. ****
Saturday, September 08, 2007
Under the Same Moon
UNDER THE SAME MOON (2007) - Sept. 8, 2007
A heartwarming film about a young boy from Mexico who decides to travel to America to be with his mother. The film was melodramatic and unabashedly sentimental, and quite predictable too, but I still really enjoyed it. Maybe it was the fact that I had just been subjected to one of the most pretentiously boring films I've ever seen (or at least part of it), but I found this movie to be quite delightful. It helps that the performances were all superb, and the characters become people that we really care about (it's pretty much impossible not to root for the kid in his quest to reunite with his mom, particularly when everything starts to go wrong). It's not a very subtle film, but it was an enjoyable one; I wouldn't be surprised if this became a minor hit at the box office (it's a definite crowd-pleaser). ***1/2
A heartwarming film about a young boy from Mexico who decides to travel to America to be with his mother. The film was melodramatic and unabashedly sentimental, and quite predictable too, but I still really enjoyed it. Maybe it was the fact that I had just been subjected to one of the most pretentiously boring films I've ever seen (or at least part of it), but I found this movie to be quite delightful. It helps that the performances were all superb, and the characters become people that we really care about (it's pretty much impossible not to root for the kid in his quest to reunite with his mom, particularly when everything starts to go wrong). It's not a very subtle film, but it was an enjoyable one; I wouldn't be surprised if this became a minor hit at the box office (it's a definite crowd-pleaser). ***1/2
The Man from London
THE MAN FROM LONDON (2007) - Sept. 8, 2007
Sweet Jesus. What was that?? More of a cinematic endurance test than an actual movie, though I suppose that I can't really judge it since I walked out after only an hour. I would have stayed (though this was an awful, awful movie, I'm sure I've seen worse -- though I can't think of too many titles off the top of my head), but I made a scheduling snafu and would have almost certainly missed the next movie if I had. It was fairly clear that the movie wasn't going to improve, so I did what had to be done. But man. What was the deal with this movie? Even after sitting there for an hour there was only the vaguest whiff of a plot, and not a single character (though there were a couple of people who I guess were there most of the time, they weren't developed in the slightest). The movie consisted of ridiculously long shots in which almost nothing happens, with maybe a little bit of slow camera movement. It makes Antonioni look like Paul Greengrass. The camera would focus for minutes on end on things like a guy eating some stew, or the back of someone's head, or a building, or (and this was the first shot, and an ominous warning of things to come) a close up of a boat. Not the whole boat, just the front part of it. For about five minutes. Oh man. NO RATING
Sweet Jesus. What was that?? More of a cinematic endurance test than an actual movie, though I suppose that I can't really judge it since I walked out after only an hour. I would have stayed (though this was an awful, awful movie, I'm sure I've seen worse -- though I can't think of too many titles off the top of my head), but I made a scheduling snafu and would have almost certainly missed the next movie if I had. It was fairly clear that the movie wasn't going to improve, so I did what had to be done. But man. What was the deal with this movie? Even after sitting there for an hour there was only the vaguest whiff of a plot, and not a single character (though there were a couple of people who I guess were there most of the time, they weren't developed in the slightest). The movie consisted of ridiculously long shots in which almost nothing happens, with maybe a little bit of slow camera movement. It makes Antonioni look like Paul Greengrass. The camera would focus for minutes on end on things like a guy eating some stew, or the back of someone's head, or a building, or (and this was the first shot, and an ominous warning of things to come) a close up of a boat. Not the whole boat, just the front part of it. For about five minutes. Oh man. NO RATING
Persepolis
PERSEPOLIS (2007) - Sept. 8, 2007
About a young girl's experiences growing up in revolutionary Iran, this was a really well made, enjoyable film. Beautifully animated in a simple, stark black-and-white style that suits the material perfectly, the film manages to have a fairly epic feel without seeming overlong. It also does a really good job of developing the main character and making her someone we really care about. Marjane Satrapi, the co-director of the film and the writer of the comic memoir on which it is based, deftly mixes comedy and drama -- the movie is quite funny at times but it never feels forced or undercuts the drama. I think Ratatouille is going to have some serious competition for best animated film at next year's Oscars. ****
About a young girl's experiences growing up in revolutionary Iran, this was a really well made, enjoyable film. Beautifully animated in a simple, stark black-and-white style that suits the material perfectly, the film manages to have a fairly epic feel without seeming overlong. It also does a really good job of developing the main character and making her someone we really care about. Marjane Satrapi, the co-director of the film and the writer of the comic memoir on which it is based, deftly mixes comedy and drama -- the movie is quite funny at times but it never feels forced or undercuts the drama. I think Ratatouille is going to have some serious competition for best animated film at next year's Oscars. ****
Friday, September 07, 2007
The Pope's Toilet
THE POPE'S TOILET (2007) - Sept. 7, 2007
A disappointingly dull film about a man from a small, ramshackle village who cooks up a scheme to build a public washroom and then charge people to use it (the village is expecting thousands of people to come to see the visiting Pope). The movie may sound wacky or even lively, but it is not. It's a slow-moving character study in the vein of Italian neorealist films from the '40s and '50s, but even compared to those, it is slow. The film does a pretty decent job of developing the central characters, particularly the main schemer, but the film's pace is too big of a hurdle to get over. *1/2
A disappointingly dull film about a man from a small, ramshackle village who cooks up a scheme to build a public washroom and then charge people to use it (the village is expecting thousands of people to come to see the visiting Pope). The movie may sound wacky or even lively, but it is not. It's a slow-moving character study in the vein of Italian neorealist films from the '40s and '50s, but even compared to those, it is slow. The film does a pretty decent job of developing the central characters, particularly the main schemer, but the film's pace is too big of a hurdle to get over. *1/2
The Mother of Tears
THE MOTHER OF TEARS (2007) - Sept. 7, 2007
A very silly, cheesy and sort of mediocre horror film punctuated by moments of extreme gore (very extreme -- this is quite possibly the goriest film that I've ever seen). But it's all so silly that it's hard to ever really get into. It also doesn't help that the performances are bad all around. It definitely delivered in terms of gore, but aside from that it was a bit of a dud. **
A very silly, cheesy and sort of mediocre horror film punctuated by moments of extreme gore (very extreme -- this is quite possibly the goriest film that I've ever seen). But it's all so silly that it's hard to ever really get into. It also doesn't help that the performances are bad all around. It definitely delivered in terms of gore, but aside from that it was a bit of a dud. **
Glory to the Filmmaker!
GLORY TO THE FILMMAKER! (2007) - Sept. 7, 2007
A really bizarre film by Takeshi Kitano -- or more accurately, a series of bizarre short films. About a director (also named Kitano) who looks back at the various films he has made. This whole framing device is really only there to get to the shorts, as it maybe has five minutes of screen-time total. The movie starts out engagingly enough, with several short parodies of various genres, including the gangster films Takeshi is known for, samurai films, horror films, and even the films of Yasujiro Ozu. But then there's a film which I guess is supposed to be a parody of coming-of-age dramas, and it goes on way too long. And then, the final film, which is probably about half the length of the entire thing (but feels WAY longer), is just way too bizarre. It's about, I think, a couple of weird ladies (I think they may be mother and daughter, though it's never made clear) and their various oddball adventures. It's weird beyond description, and it just gets weirder as it goes on. And not weird in a good way, weird in a "I'm getting really sick of this" way. *1/2
A really bizarre film by Takeshi Kitano -- or more accurately, a series of bizarre short films. About a director (also named Kitano) who looks back at the various films he has made. This whole framing device is really only there to get to the shorts, as it maybe has five minutes of screen-time total. The movie starts out engagingly enough, with several short parodies of various genres, including the gangster films Takeshi is known for, samurai films, horror films, and even the films of Yasujiro Ozu. But then there's a film which I guess is supposed to be a parody of coming-of-age dramas, and it goes on way too long. And then, the final film, which is probably about half the length of the entire thing (but feels WAY longer), is just way too bizarre. It's about, I think, a couple of weird ladies (I think they may be mother and daughter, though it's never made clear) and their various oddball adventures. It's weird beyond description, and it just gets weirder as it goes on. And not weird in a good way, weird in a "I'm getting really sick of this" way. *1/2
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Halloween
HALLOWEEN (2007) - Sept. 5, 2007
The latest in a long line of unnecessary/inferior horror remakes, this definitely wasn't as bad as something like the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, but it certainly wasn't good, either. One of the film's main problems is the whole first chunk of the movie, with Michael Myers as a child. All that stuff works fairly well on its own (though it does feel a bit overlong once Myers gets to the mental hospital), but as part of a Halloween movie it is unnecessary, and worse, makes Myers a far less compelling villain (part of what made him so creepy in the original was that he had no motivation to do what he did, he was just evil -- pure evil). Then there's the rest of the film, with Myers as an adult. The problem here is that there aren't really any compelling characters, and the film essentially goes from one scene of Myers killing teens to the next (Myers kills a ridiculous amount of people -- this seems like an odd complaint for a slasher film, but the movie doesn't really create much suspense or make us care about any of these people, because it's too busy killing them off every five minutes). I didn't hate this movie; I was never all-out bored, and I thought Rob Zombie's direction was pretty good (aside from his tendancy to get a bit too jittery during action scenes). It could have been worse, basically. But it could have been a lot better. **
The latest in a long line of unnecessary/inferior horror remakes, this definitely wasn't as bad as something like the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, but it certainly wasn't good, either. One of the film's main problems is the whole first chunk of the movie, with Michael Myers as a child. All that stuff works fairly well on its own (though it does feel a bit overlong once Myers gets to the mental hospital), but as part of a Halloween movie it is unnecessary, and worse, makes Myers a far less compelling villain (part of what made him so creepy in the original was that he had no motivation to do what he did, he was just evil -- pure evil). Then there's the rest of the film, with Myers as an adult. The problem here is that there aren't really any compelling characters, and the film essentially goes from one scene of Myers killing teens to the next (Myers kills a ridiculous amount of people -- this seems like an odd complaint for a slasher film, but the movie doesn't really create much suspense or make us care about any of these people, because it's too busy killing them off every five minutes). I didn't hate this movie; I was never all-out bored, and I thought Rob Zombie's direction was pretty good (aside from his tendancy to get a bit too jittery during action scenes). It could have been worse, basically. But it could have been a lot better. **
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
Hard to Kill
HARD TO KILL (1990) - Sept. 4, 2007
A cheesy and surprisingly slow-paced film about a cop whose family is killed and who, after coming out of a coma seven years later, vows revenge. Aside from a pretty good scene in which Seagal takes down a bunch of thugs in a convenience store (which has absolutely nothing to do with the rest of the film, but which is still probably the highlight), pretty much nothing happens for the whole first hour. The film is blandly directed and badly dated (particularly the score). Steven Seagal's performance essentially consists of him squinting and whispering all his lines, which makes it kind of hard to really care about his character. There's some decent action towards the end, but it can't quite redeem the film. **
A cheesy and surprisingly slow-paced film about a cop whose family is killed and who, after coming out of a coma seven years later, vows revenge. Aside from a pretty good scene in which Seagal takes down a bunch of thugs in a convenience store (which has absolutely nothing to do with the rest of the film, but which is still probably the highlight), pretty much nothing happens for the whole first hour. The film is blandly directed and badly dated (particularly the score). Steven Seagal's performance essentially consists of him squinting and whispering all his lines, which makes it kind of hard to really care about his character. There's some decent action towards the end, but it can't quite redeem the film. **
Saturday, September 01, 2007
Death Sentence
DEATH SENTENCE (2007) - Sept. 1, 2007
That was a bit of a let-down. There was some really good stuff here (the scene in the parking garage is clearly the highlight), but the film is undone by its cheesy script and its ill-advised attempts at depth -- I don't want to see Kevin Bacon wrestle with the moral ambiguities of revenge in a silly movie like this. It doesn't work. The film is at its best when it's not taking itself too seriously, which is unfortunate, because this had the potential to be really really good. **1/2
That was a bit of a let-down. There was some really good stuff here (the scene in the parking garage is clearly the highlight), but the film is undone by its cheesy script and its ill-advised attempts at depth -- I don't want to see Kevin Bacon wrestle with the moral ambiguities of revenge in a silly movie like this. It doesn't work. The film is at its best when it's not taking itself too seriously, which is unfortunate, because this had the potential to be really really good. **1/2
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