Tod Browning is probably best known today for the 1931 version of Dracula (6) and for the cult film Freaks (5), but The Unknown is probably his best film. Like Freaks and The Show, Unknown is set in the strange world of the carnival circus, full of sideshow characters with various odd deformities.
Lon Chaney gives an astonishing performance as a murderer in disguise as a no-armed circus performer. Browning got a real circus performer to manipulate objects with his feet, in place of Chaney's, but they work together so convincingly that even when you know the trick you still find it believable. Daniel Day-Lewis won an Oscar in 1989 for My Left Foot (5), with a shadow of Chaney's performance here, but Chaney was too far ahead of his time to receive accolades, as this film was not considered one of his best until years after his death.
Joan Crawford plays the ingenue love interest, and gives us a taste of the great star she would become. Sure, there is some over-acting here, but that is the style for the silent era. The supporting cast is very solid as well.
The bizarre plot is what both ruined this film in its day and makes it all the more intriguing today. Chaney murders Crawford's father and is aware that she has witnessed his hands, which somewhat conspicuously have three thumbs. Crawford has some bizarre phobia about being touched by men, so she is drawn to the faux-armless Chaney and rejects the amorous advances of strongman Malabar The Mighty. Chaney maliciously fuels this phobia by encouraging Malabar to embrace her.
Chaney loves Crawford with an insane passion but is stymied because she can never discover that he is not really armless. So, with the help of his dwarf sidekick, he blackmails a doctor into removing his arms, so that he can declare his love for her! While he is recovering from this horrific operation, Crawford gets over her phobia for men's arms, and for Malabar's in particular, and becomes engaged to him. Chaney's expressions when he learns of this are unforgettable. Ironies abound because of Chaney's earlier encouragement of Malabar and the fact that Malabar once saved his life at the hand of Crawford's father.
Browning is not yet done with the ironies though. Chaney sees a chance to rid Malabar of both of his arms during his circus act and tries to seize his opportunity. He underestimates what Joan Crawford can do with a whip though, and love conquers all in the end.
This is one of Chaney's last performances. A child of two deaf-mute parents, you could almost say that Chaney was born for silent film, and his career would basically end with the silent era and throat cancer. Browning planned to have him play the lead in Dracula, but he died before it was shot. His son went on to have a long, famous career in talkies.
A 7 rating.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Saturday, November 21, 2009
X-Men Origins: Wolverine; Hood, 2009
I had high hopes for this film, first because I've liked the X-Men movies so far (6, 7, and 7 ratings for the first three) and Wolverine is clearly the most interesting character. But this movie falls short in many ways.
First, the plot is both confusing and convoluted. Even someone like me who knows the X-Men comics is often left head scratching. Liev Schreiber does a fine job of playing the creepy brother, in a role he almost seems to be reprising from Defiance (6). But if that is supposed to be Sabortooth, then why doesn't he look anything like the Sabretooth from the comics? And I thought he was supposed to be Wolverine's father, not his brother?
That's not the real problem with the plot though. The writers simply plucked bits and pieces from the large store of Wolverine lore from the comics, but didn't bother to include any kind of plot continuity or pacing. All the dialogue scenes with Stryker just seem lame. And Gavin Hood is no director. How did he even get this gig?
Jackman does his best with the lead role, and fits the bill about as well as in the previous films. It's cool to see Agent Zero and the rest of Stryker's task force in action. And speaking of action, there are some good scenes (New Orleans fights) and some bad ones (yet another motorcycle chase scene). The supporting cast is likable enough to push this to a 5 rating, but I was expecting more.
First, the plot is both confusing and convoluted. Even someone like me who knows the X-Men comics is often left head scratching. Liev Schreiber does a fine job of playing the creepy brother, in a role he almost seems to be reprising from Defiance (6). But if that is supposed to be Sabortooth, then why doesn't he look anything like the Sabretooth from the comics? And I thought he was supposed to be Wolverine's father, not his brother?
That's not the real problem with the plot though. The writers simply plucked bits and pieces from the large store of Wolverine lore from the comics, but didn't bother to include any kind of plot continuity or pacing. All the dialogue scenes with Stryker just seem lame. And Gavin Hood is no director. How did he even get this gig?
Jackman does his best with the lead role, and fits the bill about as well as in the previous films. It's cool to see Agent Zero and the rest of Stryker's task force in action. And speaking of action, there are some good scenes (New Orleans fights) and some bad ones (yet another motorcycle chase scene). The supporting cast is likable enough to push this to a 5 rating, but I was expecting more.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Dragnet - Mankiewicz, 1987
The only reason I even mention this movie is because it is interesting to contrast the director's career with those of his more famous father's and uncle's. Joseph L. Mankiewicz (pere) was one of Hollywood's best writers for decades, and he also proved to be a very capable director. He wrote and directed one masterpiece: All About Eve (10), and produced another: The Philadelphia Story (9). He started writing titles for silent films in the 1920's, and either wrote, directed, or produced up until 1972, when he directed Sleuth (6). He's clearly a Hollywood icon and one of its most talented and versatile.
Joseph's brother Herman, also had a stunning movie career. Although he primarily just worked as a writer, he penned (or helped write) some huge films, including Citizen Kane (10), and The Wizard of Oz (8).
On the other hand, Joseph's son (and Herman's nephew) Tom has a thankfully small number of credits over an unfortunately long career. Like his dad he was a writer/director/producer and even creative consultant, but the list of films he worked on gives us names like Superman II (1), Ladyhawke (2), and Dragnet.
Tom Hanks has some embarrassing performances during his career, but this one has to rank as one of the worst. Dan Aykroyd has plenty of trash on his resume, but even he must cringe a bit when he thinks back on this one.
The premise actually had promise because the old Dragnet TV series had plenty of semi-non-intentional comedic moments. I can vividly remember as a kid watching the (I think first) episode, where Joe Friday listens to a hippie with his face painted two colors freaking out on LSD (which was new as a recreational drug and not yet illegal): "on the train, on the train, on the train... I am the chair, I am the chair, I am the chair". It was great stuff. The contrast between the straight-laced Jack Webb and Harry Morgan and 1960's LA was full of humorous moments, particularly when Friday would fill us in on the latest street slang terminology. Unfortunately, translating that to the 1980's completely failed. A 2 rating.
Joseph's brother Herman, also had a stunning movie career. Although he primarily just worked as a writer, he penned (or helped write) some huge films, including Citizen Kane (10), and The Wizard of Oz (8).
On the other hand, Joseph's son (and Herman's nephew) Tom has a thankfully small number of credits over an unfortunately long career. Like his dad he was a writer/director/producer and even creative consultant, but the list of films he worked on gives us names like Superman II (1), Ladyhawke (2), and Dragnet.
Tom Hanks has some embarrassing performances during his career, but this one has to rank as one of the worst. Dan Aykroyd has plenty of trash on his resume, but even he must cringe a bit when he thinks back on this one.
The premise actually had promise because the old Dragnet TV series had plenty of semi-non-intentional comedic moments. I can vividly remember as a kid watching the (I think first) episode, where Joe Friday listens to a hippie with his face painted two colors freaking out on LSD (which was new as a recreational drug and not yet illegal): "on the train, on the train, on the train... I am the chair, I am the chair, I am the chair". It was great stuff. The contrast between the straight-laced Jack Webb and Harry Morgan and 1960's LA was full of humorous moments, particularly when Friday would fill us in on the latest street slang terminology. Unfortunately, translating that to the 1980's completely failed. A 2 rating.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Angels & Demons, Howard, 2009
Even before viewing Angels & Demons, it was clear that it has all the earmarks of a disaster -- a sequel (to DaVinci Code (4)), bad director (Ron Howard), and based on an awful book. So, to come away with it just being a very bad movie is something of a victory.
I like Tom Hanks in general, but the Robert Langdon character that he's played in the two Howard/Brown films has not been a good choice for him. I blame the character more than Hanks because there's simply nothing for him to do but spout out one ridiculous revelation after the next, all the while looking serious and grim. Ewan McGregor is also pretty bad in this film, particulary at the end. Basically, Dan Brown is an awful writer and the two guys translating his crazy story into a screenplay can't do anything to improve it.
One of the few saving points of the film is the Vatican location shooting -- looks pretty awesome. Ayelet Zurer is pretty, and usually a good actess, but she has almost nothing to do in this movie but follow Tom Hanks around and listen to his awful lines. Nikolaj Lie Kaas does the best job of anybody with his limited role as the assassin.
A 3 rating.
I like Tom Hanks in general, but the Robert Langdon character that he's played in the two Howard/Brown films has not been a good choice for him. I blame the character more than Hanks because there's simply nothing for him to do but spout out one ridiculous revelation after the next, all the while looking serious and grim. Ewan McGregor is also pretty bad in this film, particulary at the end. Basically, Dan Brown is an awful writer and the two guys translating his crazy story into a screenplay can't do anything to improve it.
One of the few saving points of the film is the Vatican location shooting -- looks pretty awesome. Ayelet Zurer is pretty, and usually a good actess, but she has almost nothing to do in this movie but follow Tom Hanks around and listen to his awful lines. Nikolaj Lie Kaas does the best job of anybody with his limited role as the assassin.
A 3 rating.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Austraila - Luhrmann, 2008
Australia is a supremely unoriginal, overly-ambitious bomb that spews out one cliched scene after another. It tries to be an old-fashioned epic but falls flat on its face. This is Baz Luhrmann's first film since his vastly over-rated Moulin Rouge (5) and we can only hope he doesn't make another film for seven years.
It does have some merits though. The art direction is excellent, probably thanks to Ian Gracie. And Luhrmann's one positive signature move is the overhead tracking shot that drops into a reverse pan. These were also the only saving graces of Moulin Rouge.
This isn't enough to overcome a botched story and shoddy direction though. A 3 rating.
It does have some merits though. The art direction is excellent, probably thanks to Ian Gracie. And Luhrmann's one positive signature move is the overhead tracking shot that drops into a reverse pan. These were also the only saving graces of Moulin Rouge.
This isn't enough to overcome a botched story and shoddy direction though. A 3 rating.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Apocalypto - Gibson, 2006
I had low expectations for this film, expecting another Gibson gore-fest. And while there is plenty of blood and guts tossed about here, it is also an entertaining action movie. I give Gibson credit for sticking with native languages and subtitles, as this film wouldn't work without that. He also includes some very good details during the village and city scenes.
Gibson is a simple message kind of director, much in the Clint Eastwood style, but this is his best work. Better than Braveheart (5) and far better than the nauseating Passion of the Christ (3). The action is way over the top in some places (such as the baby being born under water while his mother struggles against drowning) and that helps knock it down a notch, but I still give it a 6 rating.
Gibson is a simple message kind of director, much in the Clint Eastwood style, but this is his best work. Better than Braveheart (5) and far better than the nauseating Passion of the Christ (3). The action is way over the top in some places (such as the baby being born under water while his mother struggles against drowning) and that helps knock it down a notch, but I still give it a 6 rating.
Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust - Kawajiri 2000
Definitely a better than average anime flick, full of action and stylishly drawn backdrops. The characters are pretty stock, but there are plenty of good action sequences.
This is a sequel and I didn't see the first movie, but it was easy to catch on to what the characters were up to. Also, the dvd I saw this on played badly and I expect that detracted a bit from the excellent animation. A 6 rating, and close to a 7.
This is a sequel and I didn't see the first movie, but it was easy to catch on to what the characters were up to. Also, the dvd I saw this on played badly and I expect that detracted a bit from the excellent animation. A 6 rating, and close to a 7.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
The Reader - Daldry, 2008
The Reader is a very slow paced, serious film. Like Daldry's earlier The Hours (7), it is told in non-linear fashion with flash-forward scenes. While not quite as good as Hours, it is still a solid effort. Kate Winslet won an Oscar for her performance here, and I guess she deserves it, although Meryl Strep was quite good in Doubt (7).
I haven't read the book that this was based on, but I suspect that it suffers from trying to be true to the original material, while at the same time staying within a two hour format. It moves along slowly, yet at the same time there are moments when it seems like we've jumped though the story very quickly, as if we've skipped ahead a few chapters in the book. This is a typical problem with novel adaptations.
It's still a good film though. A 6 rating.
I haven't read the book that this was based on, but I suspect that it suffers from trying to be true to the original material, while at the same time staying within a two hour format. It moves along slowly, yet at the same time there are moments when it seems like we've jumped though the story very quickly, as if we've skipped ahead a few chapters in the book. This is a typical problem with novel adaptations.
It's still a good film though. A 6 rating.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
I'm Not There - Haynes, 2007
A stylishly complicated pseudo-biopic that is extremely uneven. I'm enough of a Bob Dylan buff to catch the many references and to appreciate the nuances in the various Dylanesque performances. I'm certain that non-Dylan experts would find this about as comprehensible as a vintage Dylan soliloquy.
No amount of Dylan expertise can quite hide the fact that this is a confusing mess. The early scenes with the Woody boy are embarrassingly bad, and the Richard Gere scenes seem like they should be in a different movie. Ledger's characterization also seems out of place. Both Bale and Moore seem to be taking this as parody.
Blanchett clearly steals the show and salvages the film to some degree. She deserved her Oscar nomination, and perhaps even a bit more, since she was better than Swinton was in Michael Clayton (7). Or perhaps, more accurately, both deserved nominations and no statue, and the other nominees deserved neither.
Scorsese's documentary, No Direction Home (8), is a far better film, but I give Haynes some credit for being ambitiously creative. He put together a great soundtrack, with both Dylan and others singing. And the film has some interesting cinematography, including many striking black and white sequences. A 6 rating.
No amount of Dylan expertise can quite hide the fact that this is a confusing mess. The early scenes with the Woody boy are embarrassingly bad, and the Richard Gere scenes seem like they should be in a different movie. Ledger's characterization also seems out of place. Both Bale and Moore seem to be taking this as parody.
Blanchett clearly steals the show and salvages the film to some degree. She deserved her Oscar nomination, and perhaps even a bit more, since she was better than Swinton was in Michael Clayton (7). Or perhaps, more accurately, both deserved nominations and no statue, and the other nominees deserved neither.
Scorsese's documentary, No Direction Home (8), is a far better film, but I give Haynes some credit for being ambitiously creative. He put together a great soundtrack, with both Dylan and others singing. And the film has some interesting cinematography, including many striking black and white sequences. A 6 rating.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Doomsday -- Marshall, 2008
Doomsday is so bad on so many levels that it is almost watchable, just to marvel at how awful it is. When they are handing out Razzies for 2008, serious consideration must be given to Splat Pack Marshall (both for writing and directing this mess), whatever twisted individual created the truly horrific soundtrack, and both Malcolm McDowell and Bob Hoskins (and their agents) for being in this disaster.
If Road Warrior (6) was directed by a demented 13 year old and performed by monkeys, you'd get a pretty good imitation of this film. A 1 rating.
If Road Warrior (6) was directed by a demented 13 year old and performed by monkeys, you'd get a pretty good imitation of this film. A 1 rating.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Monkeybone - Selick, 2008
Monkeybone is a bizarre film that is not completely devoid of creativity but is ultimately a failure. They were aiming for Crumb (8) and got Howard The Duck (3). Brendan Fraser tries to do his best Jim Carrey imitation and puts in his worst work since Dudley Do-Right (2).
No surprise that this film bombed and equally no surprise that it's a bit of a cult film. A 3 rating.
No surprise that this film bombed and equally no surprise that it's a bit of a cult film. A 3 rating.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Casino Royale - Campbell, 2006
This is the best of the Bond series, which isn't saying a whole lot since they tend to range from awful to mediocre. This version of Casino Royale is clearly an exception though, as there is solid action throughout and a much more series film than others in the series. It's all the more surprising because this is the same director as Goldeneye (4) and Vertical Limit (2), two movies which are about as ridiculous as any around.
And it isn't just Daniel Craig either. He's wonderful here, but much less so in the follow-up, Quantum of Solace (5). Casino Royale is just one of those films that is better than the sum of its parts. A 7 rating.
And it isn't just Daniel Craig either. He's wonderful here, but much less so in the follow-up, Quantum of Solace (5). Casino Royale is just one of those films that is better than the sum of its parts. A 7 rating.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
The Spirit - Miller, 2008
I'm not a huge Frank Miller fan, like some people, but I think he does have artistic flair. This movie is a lot like Sin City (6 rating) except that it is funnier and a bit less visually appealing. It also seems to owe a lot to Batman and the story doesn't make any sense at all.
Fans of the original Eisner comics will either be sadly disappointed or outraged because the characters in the movie: Octopus, Sand Serif, Silken Floss, etc, don't act anything like their comic book originals. And curiously, the movie includes Lorelei Rox, who was a minor character in the stipes, and omits P'Gell, who was a major character.
Anyway, it is funny and looks good in some spots, so I'm giving it a 5.
Fans of the original Eisner comics will either be sadly disappointed or outraged because the characters in the movie: Octopus, Sand Serif, Silken Floss, etc, don't act anything like their comic book originals. And curiously, the movie includes Lorelei Rox, who was a minor character in the stipes, and omits P'Gell, who was a major character.
Anyway, it is funny and looks good in some spots, so I'm giving it a 5.
The Warriors - Hill, 1979
The Warriors was a very influential movie for a lot of people I grew up with, giving us the catch-phrases: "Can you dig it!" and "Warriors - come out to plaaaaay." And Walter Hill is great at combining action with artistic styling. I seem to remember some fights and protests at certain theaters when this film came out, so it clearly made a big impact and is something of a cult film today.
I resaw this as the "Ultimate Director's Cut" and the only differences I can remember from the theater version is a bunch of added comic book animation interludes between the scenes. That didn't do much for me. In fact, I think the film was better without those. I was hoping that Hill would reconsider the awful ending scene on the beach, where David Patrick Kelly's gang stands idly by when their leader has a knife thrown at him and his gun taken away. Then about 200 guys mysteriously show up out of nowhere.
I originally gave this film a 5 and would give it at least a 6 without that ending, but I'm sticking to the first impression.
I resaw this as the "Ultimate Director's Cut" and the only differences I can remember from the theater version is a bunch of added comic book animation interludes between the scenes. That didn't do much for me. In fact, I think the film was better without those. I was hoping that Hill would reconsider the awful ending scene on the beach, where David Patrick Kelly's gang stands idly by when their leader has a knife thrown at him and his gun taken away. Then about 200 guys mysteriously show up out of nowhere.
I originally gave this film a 5 and would give it at least a 6 without that ending, but I'm sticking to the first impression.
The Day The Earth Stood Still - Derrickson, 2008
Unlike most people, I found the original 1951 version of this film, generally considered a classic, a bit slow and gave it a 5 rating. However, that is a far better film than this one, which justly deserved its Razzie nomination for "Worst Prequel, Remake, Rip-Off or Sequel". This is a film that is unintentionally funny in parts. And, it is film like this that make Keanu Reeves (who I'm not as down on as most) a laughing stock in some circles.
I think Jennifer Connelly is in this movie just to prove that Hulk (2003, 2 rating) was no fluke for her. She really needs to read those scripts ahead of time because she is all over the spectrum when it comes to role quality.
A 2 rating and it only gets that for a few good visual effects.
I think Jennifer Connelly is in this movie just to prove that Hulk (2003, 2 rating) was no fluke for her. She really needs to read those scripts ahead of time because she is all over the spectrum when it comes to role quality.
A 2 rating and it only gets that for a few good visual effects.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Doubt - Shanley - 2008
Doubt has two things I ordinarily don't like in a film -- it is all too trendy topical and it is based on a play. Add in very average direction and things looks bleak. However, the acting here is outstanding. Streep and Hoffman certainly deserved their Oscar nominations, and Adams probably deserved hers. Davis is very good, but I'm surprised she got one because she only has one short scene!
A 6 rating.
A 6 rating.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Burn After Reading - Coen&Coen, 2008
After a long string of average movies, the Coen Brothers return to Fargo/Lebowski form with Burn After Reading. This movie is something of a cross between Fargo (7) and Raising Arizona (7) in tone, with some violent/suspense scenes intermixed with comedic ones.
An extremely good cast moves the whimsical storyline along nicely. A 7 rating.
An extremely good cast moves the whimsical storyline along nicely. A 7 rating.
Leatherheads - Clooney, 2008
Leatherheads is a potentially good movie that suffers from being a bit too cartoonish at times. The three leads - Clooney, Krasinski, Zellweger - all do a decent enough job, and I like the sepia tones in the cinematography, but it's hard to take this film seriously when it clearly seems "tossed off" in parts.
A 5 rating.
A 5 rating.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Pride and Glory - O'Connor, 2008
A very uneven movie. In some ways, this is extremely top-notch, with some great acting and some very good scenes. There's a superbly realistic fight scene and some good camera work. However, the plot is a bit weak and the editing is bad. This is the type of movie that deserves a re-cut edition to be put out.
As it stands, it is a 6 rating, but it is very close to being a star or two higher.
As it stands, it is a 6 rating, but it is very close to being a star or two higher.
The Last Mimzy - Shayne, 2007
The Last Mimzy is a very entertaining childrens' film that has one glaring plot hole for grownups. If the people of the future are able to build a machine that could go back in time and give people super powers, wouldn't you make it a lot better at doing the task it was built for -- collecting DNA? Maybe the pollution in the future messed with the scientists' brains, so that they got "feature-happy" with their device and forgot about what it needed to do.
A 6 rating.
A 6 rating.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Religulous - Charles, 2008
First off, I'll say that I'm not a Larry Charles fan. "Curb Your Enthusiasm" made me cringe and I only found "Seinfeld" occasionally funny. I'm kind of neutral about Bill Maher. So, my hopes were not high for Religulous, although I certainly gave them credit for taking on the subject of religion in an irreverent documentary.
And in fact, that is the real strength of this movie, the fact that so few documentaries have criticized religion in such a straight-forward fashion. Basically, Maher interviews religious people, often on the extreme end of the spectrum, and questions their unquestioning belief, often with humorous comments. It's a simple film, but it mostly works because of some clever editing.
I'm a religious person myself, so I can understand how some people might be offended here, but that's part of the point. Personally, I found their agnostic certainty to be almost as dogmatic as some of the people they were making fun of, but I also enjoyed watching a film with a perspective that isn't often expressed.
I'm on the 6/7 border for this one but will side with the 7 rating for being daring.
And in fact, that is the real strength of this movie, the fact that so few documentaries have criticized religion in such a straight-forward fashion. Basically, Maher interviews religious people, often on the extreme end of the spectrum, and questions their unquestioning belief, often with humorous comments. It's a simple film, but it mostly works because of some clever editing.
I'm a religious person myself, so I can understand how some people might be offended here, but that's part of the point. Personally, I found their agnostic certainty to be almost as dogmatic as some of the people they were making fun of, but I also enjoyed watching a film with a perspective that isn't often expressed.
I'm on the 6/7 border for this one but will side with the 7 rating for being daring.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Speedy - Wilde, 1928
An uneven Harold Lloyd comedy. There are two fabulous scenes: where he takes his girl on the cable car to Coney Island, and then at Coney Island itself. There's a cute cameo by Babe Ruth, and then the rest of the movie is pretty ordinary. Well worth seeing just for those good scenes though, and the location NY shots as well.
A 6 rating.
A 6 rating.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Somebody Up Their Likes Me - Wise, 1956
I'm not a big fan of biographical movies. They are just too unrealistic and one-sided for my taste. The fight scenes are laughable in this film, but it has several things going for it though. One is Paul Newman, who does a great job here. Next is the excellent cinematography by Ruttenberg, who started out in the silent film era and worked until 1968. Finally, the supporting cast is solid.
If it wasn't so hokey I'd give it a 7, but I give it a 6 rating and blame it on the 50's.
If it wasn't so hokey I'd give it a 7, but I give it a 6 rating and blame it on the 50's.
Resurrecting the Champ - Lurie, 2007
This has a good story and a good cast, but suffers from being too much like a "movie of the week". I can spot some TV directors straight off because they are so obvious and lack any kind of distinctive style. And that holds back a potentially good film like this one.
A 5 rating.
A 5 rating.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Saturday's Heros - Killy, 1937
This film is interesting primarily because it addresses issues in college football that are still relevant today, and because it stars a young Van Heflin. Other than that it is ordinary at best.
A 4 rating
A 4 rating
Show People - Vidor, 1928
I'm a huge King Vidor fan, and while this certainly isn't his best film, it is very interesting and a must-see for movie buffs. There are plenty of great cameos here, including Vidor and Davies themselves. This is your basic "Star is Born" plot, but the inside look at the movie studio world is just great.
This is probably Marion Davies best film and there is plenty of irony here, as there are parallel's with her real career. A 7 rating.
This is probably Marion Davies best film and there is plenty of irony here, as there are parallel's with her real career. A 7 rating.
Frost/Nixon - Howard, 2008
Ron Howard is another director I think is vastly over-rated. In fact, I mostly detest his work. And this is a weird choice for a subject. The Frost/Nixon interviews are fascinating to watch on their own, so why make a movie about them when you can just watch the originals?
That was my first reaction anyway, but I have to say that Howard did add some interesting background here. And, Sheen and Langella are both very good as the title characters.
So, this is Howard's best film and a 6 rating.
That was my first reaction anyway, but I have to say that Howard did add some interesting background here. And, Sheen and Langella are both very good as the title characters.
So, this is Howard's best film and a 6 rating.
Dead Like Me: Life After Death - Herek, 2009
Never caught the tv series this is based on, but hears good things about it. This film is likable, but it just falls short just about everywhere you could imagine. When I see a film like that I blame the director. He should share the blame with the writers, who are both from tv. The movie definitely feels like a tv show, and not a good one at that.
A 3 rating.
A 3 rating.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
You Kill Me - Dahl, 2007
A comedy about an alcoholic hitman? Or is this a love story? Whatever it is, it is kind of a mess. There's some decent acting here, but the entire concept just doesn't work. And how cliche is the music here?
A 3 rating.
A 3 rating.
Revolutionary Road - Mendes, 2008
Revolutionary Road can be seen as Mendes' companion piece to American Beauty (8 rating). This film is darker and more stark, and with far less humor. It's well written and surprisingly well acted though. DiCaprio may not be the best actor around, but ever since Gangs of New York (7 rating), he's chosen very good roles and been fine in them. Winslet has made a career out of playing flaky women, which is probably not too big a stretch for her. Give her credit though, she's good here as she is more often than not.
This is a notch below Beauty, but still a good film. A 7 rating.
This is a notch below Beauty, but still a good film. A 7 rating.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Step Brothers - McKay, 2008
Step Brothers is about as low-brow as you can get. It's clearly a movie aimed at the lowest of lowest common denominator.
A 1 rating.
A 1 rating.
Changling - Eastwood, 2008
Typically heavy-handed approach by Eastwood, but the story is very interesting. Of course it is based on a true story, so not a lot of credit to the screenwriter. Clint often insists on doing his own music and he's not very good at it at all. However, he's not as bad with the music here as say, Mystic River (6 rating). He does usually work with a very solid cinematographer, Tom Stern, so the movie looks good.
Seems like I rate all of Clint's recent movies as a 6, and this is no exception.
Seems like I rate all of Clint's recent movies as a 6, and this is no exception.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Jumper - Liman, 2008
Kind of a cute idea about teleporters, but this story doesn't make any sense and it doesn't go anywhere. Just an excuse for exotic local shots. And what are Samuel Jackson and Michael Rooker doing in these stinker roles?
A 3 rating.
A 3 rating.
Bangkok Dangerous - Chun, 2008
Nicolas Cage has made far too many stupid action flicks. Here's another one, but with some nice Thailand backdrops. A 3 rating.
Shanghai Express - von Sternberg, 1932
Marlene Dietrich did her best work with Joseph von Sternberg: Blue Angel (8), Blonde Venus (7), Morocco (7), and this film, Shanghai Express. This film has extraordinary cinematography for its day, most shots look fabulous. And Civil War China is a great backdrop for a train ride. The love story angle doesn't exactly hold up, but everything else works here.
A 7 rating.
A 7 rating.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Brick - Johnson, 2005
Brick is the hard-boiled detective story retold at a California High School. And it mostly works, much as Clueless (7) worked in retelling Jane Austen. Hard to say if it is noir parody or noir hommage, but either way, it is stylistic and enjoyable.
Makes me interested in seeing The Brothers Bloom. A 7 rating.
Makes me interested in seeing The Brothers Bloom. A 7 rating.
W - Stone, 2008
I've already commented on Oliver Stone a bit. He has some talent but I often cringe at the way he portrays historical incidents. W seems like a TV movie of the week type of thing, very cheesy, and often stooping low. However, it does have some strong points, the first being Josh Brolin's performance as the title character. He nabbed the supporting actor Oscar this year for Milk, but he's excellent here as well.
Everyone here is more or less portrayed as a parody of their real selves, so if you can get by that a bit and not dwell on Stone's motives there, then this is a fairly entertaining film. A 5 rating.
Everyone here is more or less portrayed as a parody of their real selves, so if you can get by that a bit and not dwell on Stone's motives there, then this is a fairly entertaining film. A 5 rating.
Quarantine - Dowdle, 2008
Quarantine is basically The Blair Witch Project (4 rating) in an apartment building complex full of rapid zombies. I like the faux-documentary style to some extent, but there's not a whole lot of talent displayed here. Jennifer Carpenter clearly spent too much time working on her "trembling".
A 3 rating.
A 3 rating.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Seven Pounds - Muccino, 2008
Seven Pounds is a slow, sad, but basically moving story about a man trying to redeem himself. Will Smith does a decent job as the tragic hero. It's by no means a great film, but it is honest enough to merit applause. Rosario Dawson is much better than she usually is as his doomed girlfriend.
A 6 rating.
A 6 rating.
No Such Thing - Hartley 2001
A very odd, slow moving satire (I guess) about a monster and the media. I liked the monster, but just about nothing else. It's just very flat, with extremely bad music.
A 3 rating.
A 3 rating.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Righteous Kill - Avnet, 2008
Like everyone else, I'm a big fan of De Niro and Pacino, so it's great to see them in a film together, even if they are both too old for their roles. And they are both good in this film, better than most work they've done in years.
The only big problem with this film is that the script is obvious. It is supposed to be a crime thriller, but everyone will know the ending ahead of time. Avnet is more known as a producer rather than a director. He work is basically good here, but not outstanding. This is the same writer as in Inside Man, which was also pretty easy to guess. Maybe fooling the audience is either out of fashion or too difficult, so writers just try to make things all too clear?
Anyway, it's still well worth a look to see the interactions between the two leads. A 6 rating.
The only big problem with this film is that the script is obvious. It is supposed to be a crime thriller, but everyone will know the ending ahead of time. Avnet is more known as a producer rather than a director. He work is basically good here, but not outstanding. This is the same writer as in Inside Man, which was also pretty easy to guess. Maybe fooling the audience is either out of fashion or too difficult, so writers just try to make things all too clear?
Anyway, it's still well worth a look to see the interactions between the two leads. A 6 rating.
Gran Torino - Eastwood, 2008
Clint Eastwood is another director who I think is vastly over-rated. He's not bad, just not worthy of the many accolades he receives. He's all to obvious and his characters are very one-dimensional. He also uses no subtlety whatsoever, and will pound his message in with a hammer.
Gran Torino is a typical film for him. It's pretty good, but by no means great. The biggest problem I have with it is the stereotypical roles everyone plays. I liked the ending, but it was obvious, just like Eastwood. A 5 rating.
Gran Torino is a typical film for him. It's pretty good, but by no means great. The biggest problem I have with it is the stereotypical roles everyone plays. I liked the ending, but it was obvious, just like Eastwood. A 5 rating.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Swing Vote - Stern, 2008
Swing Vote is a real stinker. The plot is stupid, the acting is awful, the pacing terrible, etc, etc. Kevin Costner performance has got to be a lock for a Raspberry Award, and several of the supporting actors here need nominations as well. Madeline Carroll certainly gets my vote for Worst Child Actress for the year.
You really have to wonder how movies this bad get made. A 2 rating.
You really have to wonder how movies this bad get made. A 2 rating.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Vantage Point - Travis, 2008
Vantage Point is exactly like watching a longer episode of a TV show such as 24, which I'm not a fan of. There's lots of motion and explosions and shooting and impossible plotting, and not much else. I guess that isn't surprising since this is Travis' first film outside of TV.
It's OK, but over-acted and all too pat. A 4 rating.
It's OK, but over-acted and all too pat. A 4 rating.
Beowulf - Zemeckis, 2007
First off, I saw the 2D version, not the 3D, so take that into consideration.
Zemeckis is a director who often relies on gimmicks for his films, often losing focus on his story: Who Framed Roger Rabbit (4 rating), Forrest Gump (6 rating), and The Polar Express (5 rating) are examples. So, it makes it all the more surprising that he manages to give us a rousing good adventure story here.
There's plenty of action and heroic battles. The computer animation is fairly good. I'm sure it will look very dated in few years, but technically, it is quite a nice job.
Beowulf is depicted as a flawed hero who, like the king he took over for, pays a price for his weaknesses. The screenplay takes great liberties with the original story, but it tells an interesting tale. Nothing super deep here, but it does scratch below the service and is flat-out entertaining.
It is Zemeckis' best film and a 7 rating.
Zemeckis is a director who often relies on gimmicks for his films, often losing focus on his story: Who Framed Roger Rabbit (4 rating), Forrest Gump (6 rating), and The Polar Express (5 rating) are examples. So, it makes it all the more surprising that he manages to give us a rousing good adventure story here.
There's plenty of action and heroic battles. The computer animation is fairly good. I'm sure it will look very dated in few years, but technically, it is quite a nice job.
Beowulf is depicted as a flawed hero who, like the king he took over for, pays a price for his weaknesses. The screenplay takes great liberties with the original story, but it tells an interesting tale. Nothing super deep here, but it does scratch below the service and is flat-out entertaining.
It is Zemeckis' best film and a 7 rating.
Man On Wire - Marsh, 2008
Man On Wire is a capable documentary about Philippe Petit's tightrope walk across the World Trade Towers. Overall, it is very good, but the music is bad and it sometimes gets a bit slow.
Well worth a look, but nothing special. A 6 rating.
Well worth a look, but nothing special. A 6 rating.
Tropic Thunder - Stiller, 2008
I hugely despise Ben Stiller's work overall, often equating his participation in a movie as a fairly reliable bellwether of crappy content. Every once in awhile though, he does something moderately interesting. It's still mostly trash, but some of it is good. Dodgeball (5 rating) is a good example of this. Stupid, but it has its moments.
The same is true of Tropic Thunder. It's a parody of both the movie making industry and of war films, such as Apocalypse Now (8 rating). The movie never takes itself seriously, and is clearly self-parody, and it has several moderately interesting moments.
It's by no means a great film, but it is better than expected and mostly watchable. I was originally going to give it a 5, but after sleeping on it, the cheap parts stayed with me more that the good bits. A 4 rating.
The same is true of Tropic Thunder. It's a parody of both the movie making industry and of war films, such as Apocalypse Now (8 rating). The movie never takes itself seriously, and is clearly self-parody, and it has several moderately interesting moments.
It's by no means a great film, but it is better than expected and mostly watchable. I was originally going to give it a 5, but after sleeping on it, the cheap parts stayed with me more that the good bits. A 4 rating.
We Own The Night - Gray, 2007
We Own The Night is a generally solid police drama with a few serious plot holes. Phoenix and Wahlberg are the sons of police chief Duvall. Initially, only Wahlberg is in the police force, but Phoenix gets dragged in after Duvall gets wacked. The acting by the main three is generally good.
The scenes with Phoenix and his girl friend are weak. And the scene where his friend accidentally mentions the hotel Phoenix was hidden away in is just laughable. What a cheap plot line!
Still, there is more good than bad here. The atmosphere is gritty and aside from a few scenes, it feels real. A 6 rating.
The scenes with Phoenix and his girl friend are weak. And the scene where his friend accidentally mentions the hotel Phoenix was hidden away in is just laughable. What a cheap plot line!
Still, there is more good than bad here. The atmosphere is gritty and aside from a few scenes, it feels real. A 6 rating.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Inside Man - Lee, 2006
It may seem like I'm in Bizarro world when I give two positive Spike Lee pictures in a row, but here goes. I'm also going to update my last Lee review and say that this is his best film.
Now, that said, this isn't a great film by any means. It's just a better than average bank heist flick, but that's much more than I'd expect from Lee. Owens and Washington are excellent as robber vs cop, and the supporting cast is good. A 6 rating.
Now, that said, this isn't a great film by any means. It's just a better than average bank heist flick, but that's much more than I'd expect from Lee. Owens and Washington are excellent as robber vs cop, and the supporting cast is good. A 6 rating.
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist - Sollett, 2008
Really had hopes for this film because I like the two leads, Michael Cera and Cat Dennings, but this movie just falls flat. First, what is with that disgusting running joke about the gum? That is just sick and no one wants to watch that. Next, the gay stuff is just so 1990's, and everyone else has moved on. Finally, Sollett is a decidedly untalented director.
Too bad because the music, the leads, and the setting were all promising. A 3 rating.
Too bad because the music, the leads, and the setting were all promising. A 3 rating.
Pizza - Christopher, 2005
Pizza is a sparse and bizarre film about an obese teenage girl who hangs out with a handsome older pizza delivery guy for an evening. Not sure if it is a comedy, a comment about fitting in, or a coming of age film. This movie has its heart sort of in the right place, but it just doesn't go anywhere.
A 2 rating.
A 2 rating.
Run Fat Boy Run - Schwimmer, 2007
Run Fat Boy Run seems like a very curious choice for Schwimmer's feature film directorial debut. An out-of-shape loser (Simon Pegg) decides to run a marathon to gain back respect for his former fiancee. Most of the cast is British and the comedy is pretty fluff.
The film has some serious problems, including having Pegg and his rival (Hank Azaria) outpacing the elite runners in the race for a bit!! Also, Azaria's abrupt change from seemingly decent guy to complete jerk seems bizarre, yet predictable. Plus, the excessive news coverage Pegg gets for refusing to quit the race (never mind that he's running for about 12 hours and most every marathon ends after 6 or 7) is just surreal.
It's too bad, because it could have been a passable film. The supporting characters tend to outshine the leads, and a better film could have been made by paying less attention to the main love story, which doesn't really work. A 3 rating, and really closer to a 2 1/2.
The film has some serious problems, including having Pegg and his rival (Hank Azaria) outpacing the elite runners in the race for a bit!! Also, Azaria's abrupt change from seemingly decent guy to complete jerk seems bizarre, yet predictable. Plus, the excessive news coverage Pegg gets for refusing to quit the race (never mind that he's running for about 12 hours and most every marathon ends after 6 or 7) is just surreal.
It's too bad, because it could have been a passable film. The supporting characters tend to outshine the leads, and a better film could have been made by paying less attention to the main love story, which doesn't really work. A 3 rating, and really closer to a 2 1/2.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Quantum of Solace - Forster, 2008
I'm not a big fan of the James Bond films. Most of them are pretty wretched. This one is better than most of them, but still nothing to write home about. Daniel Craig does a capable Bond (he certainly takes a beating), the scenery looks great, the women are hot, and the action sequences are well done. The problem is with the story. It seems very shallow and comic book.
Still, hmm, it is OK. Between a 4 and a 5. I'll give it a 5.
Still, hmm, it is OK. Between a 4 and a 5. I'll give it a 5.
Crash - Haggis, 2004
Crash is an over-hyped and greatly over-rated film. It's just the kind of trendy baloney that wins an Oscar.
Now, putting all of that aside, it isn't that bad. There is some interesting dialogue and the story fits together nicely. Most of the acting is reasonably OK. The music is pretentious. The direction seems like a TV show. A 5 rating.
Now, putting all of that aside, it isn't that bad. There is some interesting dialogue and the story fits together nicely. Most of the acting is reasonably OK. The music is pretentious. The direction seems like a TV show. A 5 rating.
Butterfly On A Wire - Barker, 2007
Butterfly On A Wire is a variation on the much imitated Fatal Attraction (5 rating) theme. Other than a better than average performance by Pierce Bronson, there isn't much new or interesting here. It isn't terrible, just not terribly original.
A 4 rating.
A 4 rating.
Get Smart - Segal, 2008
Get Smart has surprisingly very little to do with the TV series of the same name and much more in common with Segal's other lame films. Carrell's performance is basically the same as in 40 Year Old Virgin (5) or The Office series, only with less sensitivity. It's not very funny and not at all clever.
Plenty of cheap, tasteless jokes here too. A 2 rating.
Plenty of cheap, tasteless jokes here too. A 2 rating.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Miracle At St. Anna - Lee, 2008
First off, I'm not a fan at all of Spike Lee. In fact, I think he's one of the worst and most over-rated directors working. Now, here he comes out with a long movie that generally gets poor reviews and I'm going to tell you that it isn't that bad at all. In fact, I think it is his best film, which isn't saying a whole lot in my eyes, since the only film of his I have rated above a 3 is She's Gotta Have It (5 rating).
One of the main flaws is that it doesn't seem realistic throughout, but the point of the story (I think) is about miraculous events, even in the shadow of tragedy. So, I'm inclined to be a bit more forgiving about that. And even though it is a long film, it doesn't really seem overly so. Another of the most common criticism of this film is that it is boring, but I think the pacing is pretty good overall.
A lot of people have castigated the acting, and I think that goes along with the suspension of reality. These people are not behaving the way people do in real life, but rather in a story about a miracle.
Now, there are a few scenes which display Spike Lee at his very worst, including the horrible "white bigot owner of the soda shop" scene, or the "spit in the white bigot officer's canteen" scene. That is the Spike Lee I despise, but there isn't much of that in this film. Without those scenes, I'd give this a 6. But, a 5 rating.
One of the main flaws is that it doesn't seem realistic throughout, but the point of the story (I think) is about miraculous events, even in the shadow of tragedy. So, I'm inclined to be a bit more forgiving about that. And even though it is a long film, it doesn't really seem overly so. Another of the most common criticism of this film is that it is boring, but I think the pacing is pretty good overall.
A lot of people have castigated the acting, and I think that goes along with the suspension of reality. These people are not behaving the way people do in real life, but rather in a story about a miracle.
Now, there are a few scenes which display Spike Lee at his very worst, including the horrible "white bigot owner of the soda shop" scene, or the "spit in the white bigot officer's canteen" scene. That is the Spike Lee I despise, but there isn't much of that in this film. Without those scenes, I'd give this a 6. But, a 5 rating.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Eagle Eye - Caruso, 2008
First, I want to bemoan the fact that some of the most ridiculous movies ever made have Chicago as their backdrop. We can add Eagle Eye to that list. The plot can be perfectly summed up by saying this movie takes the evil HAL computer from 2001 (8 rating) and lets it control people via the beginning of The Matrix (7 rating).
The computer decides to get ordinary people to carry out a crazy plan to assassinate the president. There's so many plot holes here that I couldn't possibly mention them all, but the biggest one is that the computer demonstrates fantastic, god-like abilities, including being able to kill them by electrocution. So, what does it need those humans for in the first place?
That's just the tip of the iceberg. Plotwise, this is a 1, but there are some saving graces, including some good action shots and a very good (although we've seen it before) performance by Billy Bob Thornton. Caruso is a TV director and it shows. He probably doesn't even read the script. A 3 rating.
The computer decides to get ordinary people to carry out a crazy plan to assassinate the president. There's so many plot holes here that I couldn't possibly mention them all, but the biggest one is that the computer demonstrates fantastic, god-like abilities, including being able to kill them by electrocution. So, what does it need those humans for in the first place?
That's just the tip of the iceberg. Plotwise, this is a 1, but there are some saving graces, including some good action shots and a very good (although we've seen it before) performance by Billy Bob Thornton. Caruso is a TV director and it shows. He probably doesn't even read the script. A 3 rating.
The Wrestler - Aronofsky, 2008
The Wrestler is clearly a vehicle to get Mickey Rourke an Oscar nomination. It succeeded at that, deservedly, and bagged one for Marisa Tomei as well. I suppose Tomei got hers for still looking good with her clothes off, and maybe that's as good a reason for an Oscar nomination as any.
Aronofsky is a capable director, but the subject matter here is uncomfortable, much as it was in Requiem For A Dream (6 rating). It's all very stylish, but do we really want to watch that? At least that is better than being boring, as he was with Pi (5 rating) and The Fountain (4 rating).
Rourke is very believable as an aging profession wrestler, but unless you are interested in that genre, the film doesn't offer much more. This isn't Raging Bull (8 rating), where both De Niro and Scorsese were able to create something much more than the story of a boxer's career. It's a good effort with an excellent performance, but not as good as it is hyped up to be.
It also has one cheap, sensationalistic scene, where Rourke punches a meat saw in frustration. No need for that. A 6 rating.
Aronofsky is a capable director, but the subject matter here is uncomfortable, much as it was in Requiem For A Dream (6 rating). It's all very stylish, but do we really want to watch that? At least that is better than being boring, as he was with Pi (5 rating) and The Fountain (4 rating).
Rourke is very believable as an aging profession wrestler, but unless you are interested in that genre, the film doesn't offer much more. This isn't Raging Bull (8 rating), where both De Niro and Scorsese were able to create something much more than the story of a boxer's career. It's a good effort with an excellent performance, but not as good as it is hyped up to be.
It also has one cheap, sensationalistic scene, where Rourke punches a meat saw in frustration. No need for that. A 6 rating.
A Love Song For Bobby Long - Gabel, 2004
A wordy, pretentious, and mostly dull effort from a new (and poor) director. John Travolta can be quite good, but when he's bad, such as here, he's very, very bad. Ditto for Scarlet Johansson, who has that sulk down, but not much else. Haven't read the book, but it seems like a story that just doesn't translate well to the screen. I'm very surprised that someone tried to make this film, and it was clearly a mistake.
Gabriel Macht is actually pretty good here, but it isn't enough to salvage the film. A 3 rating.
Gabriel Macht is actually pretty good here, but it isn't enough to salvage the film. A 3 rating.
One Point O - Renfroe/Thorrson - 2004
Paranoia 1.0 is an under-rated (at least on imdb) and very stylish-looking sci-fi film. The premise is fairly simple - people in an apartment building are infected with an experimental biotechnology that is supposed to compel people to purchase specific products.
The real strength of the film is its mood and setting. The colors and sound enhance this dilapidated high tech future. The creepy characters in the apartment building and the strange events happening to them give a great feel to the paranoia theme. A 7 rating.
The real strength of the film is its mood and setting. The colors and sound enhance this dilapidated high tech future. The creepy characters in the apartment building and the strange events happening to them give a great feel to the paranoia theme. A 7 rating.
We Went To College - Santley, 1936
We Went To College is a very light, broad comedy set around a college reunion. It's mostly forgettable, aside from an excellent performance by Una Merkel, as a dissatisfied wife pining for an old flame. A 4 rating.
Deception - Landgenegger, 2008
Deception is pretty typical of what we get from Hollywood these days, mediocre story and sub-par direction. In fact, it is better than most because McGregor and Jackman are fairly good here. Michelle Williams gets my vote for one of the worst Oscar-nominated actresses working today. If it weren't for Halle Berry, I could possibly remove the "one of" in the last sentence.
It's not terrible, but it not all that great either. A 4 rating.
It's not terrible, but it not all that great either. A 4 rating.
Nightfall - Tourneur, 1957
Jacques Tourneur has an usual film history as director. He mostly did B pictures, and plenty of low budget horror, most notably the cult classics Cat People (6 rating) and Night of the Demon (6 rating). He also did Westerns and Film Noir, including one of the best of that genre, Out of the Past (8 rating). He wrapped up his career as a television director in the 60's.
Nightfall is a classic B film noir, and the kind that makes you wish it had the production values of Out of the Past. Before Brian Keith went Disney, he excelled in these quiet/creepy B-movie villan rolls, and he's never been better than here. Anne Bancroft, James Gregory and Aldo Ray sometimes seem a bit too 50's stereotypical, but get the job done. Rudy Bond mostly did bit roles in his career, but he steals the show here as the Keith's nasty sidekick. A 7 rating.
Nightfall is a classic B film noir, and the kind that makes you wish it had the production values of Out of the Past. Before Brian Keith went Disney, he excelled in these quiet/creepy B-movie villan rolls, and he's never been better than here. Anne Bancroft, James Gregory and Aldo Ray sometimes seem a bit too 50's stereotypical, but get the job done. Rudy Bond mostly did bit roles in his career, but he steals the show here as the Keith's nasty sidekick. A 7 rating.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
So Young, So Bad - Vorhaus, 1950
So Young, So Bad is a very erratic B movie that suffers both from an uneven script and poor production values. The sound quality is terrible and the movie looks much older than 1950. Paul Henreid has a few crazy bad lines and his character is a bit dull.
On the plus side, the young cast of girls in the reform school, headed by Anne Francis and Rita Moreno, are really compelling. There are some believable and daring scenes of life in the streets and within the correction system.
This movie has some guts and is almost cutting edge at times, but most of it is wasted. A 4 rating.
On the plus side, the young cast of girls in the reform school, headed by Anne Francis and Rita Moreno, are really compelling. There are some believable and daring scenes of life in the streets and within the correction system.
This movie has some guts and is almost cutting edge at times, but most of it is wasted. A 4 rating.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
The Hidden Fortress - Kurosawa, 1958
The Hidden Fortress is more known today as being one of the inspirations for Star Wars (7) but that doesn't do it justice, since it is at least as good as , if not better than, the Lucas film. Few director/actor pairings are as successful as Kurosawa/Mifune, and they are both near the top of their form here. And you can certainly understand why Lucas was drawn to the idea of centering the story of a grand battle around two peasants, comically thrown together despite their animosity.
This movie is lighter in tone than Kurosawa usually delivers, and I think that resulted in it being overshadowed by "serious" films such as Rashomon (10) and Ikiru (8). This was my second viewing and I had it at a 7 the first time. Now I'm inclined to rate it as an 8.
This movie is lighter in tone than Kurosawa usually delivers, and I think that resulted in it being overshadowed by "serious" films such as Rashomon (10) and Ikiru (8). This was my second viewing and I had it at a 7 the first time. Now I'm inclined to rate it as an 8.
The Fugitive - Ford, 1947
This was a second viewing for me of Ford's retelling of a Graham Greene novel. It's about a fugitive priest in Mexico, not to be confused with the later tv series and movie based on that. It starts very slowly, but it's a solid piece of work. Henry Fonda is the beleaguered priest and Ward Bond and Deloris Del Rio head up a list of excellent character actors.
The religious message grates a bit, but definitely worth a viewing. I stick with my original 6 rating.
The religious message grates a bit, but definitely worth a viewing. I stick with my original 6 rating.
That Certain Woman - Goulding, 1937
Way, way over the top melodrama in which Bette Davis is willing to sacrifice everything - reputation, true love, and even her own son! - just be noble. Modern audiences are sure to be rolling their eyes at the end. And of course she gets her reward in the end when the good, crippled wife she gave up Henry Fonda and her son to, kicks the bucket.
It's well made and well acted, but just too much to swallow. A 3 rating.
It's well made and well acted, but just too much to swallow. A 3 rating.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Shampoo - Ashby, 1975
Hal Ashby's star burned for a very short time, but it was bright for his first few films. Harold and Maude (7), The Last Detail (7), and Shampoo are all daring, intelligent, iconoclastic works. Outstanding performances here by Warren Beatty, Julie Christie, and Jack Warden. Curiously, Lee Grant is the one who received the Oscar in this film, and she is good, but certainly no better than anyone else. Oscar's are rarely logical or just though.
This film is truly a 6 1/2, being just a bit below Ashby's previous two movies, but I'll give it a 7 for its gutsy, realistic dialogue.
This film is truly a 6 1/2, being just a bit below Ashby's previous two movies, but I'll give it a 7 for its gutsy, realistic dialogue.
Satan Met A Lady - Dieterle, 1936
Saw this without knowing anything about it ahead of time, but it didn't take very long to recognize the story as The Maltese Falcon. This version is much lighter, and the acting is rather broad, but essentially the story and most of the characters are the same. Warren William plays the rather goofy, devil-may-care detective and Bette Davis is great as the femme fatale.
Of course it isn't as great as the Huston/Bogart version that came out five years later, but it's good fun and the twisting plot moves right along. A 6 rating.
Of course it isn't as great as the Huston/Bogart version that came out five years later, but it's good fun and the twisting plot moves right along. A 6 rating.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
The Notorious Landlady - Quine, 1962
The Notorious Landlady is another Quine/Jack Lemmon film, with Blake Edwards helping out with the script. It needs more help than that though. And Jack Lemmon's performances in these Quine films just don't hold up. And while Kim Novak is OK in yet another "beautiful woman with a secret" role, it isn't terribly enthralling.
Still, it's an average murder mystery, with some comedic elements. The film looks good, with the sets and the camera work. If it weren't for the goofy slapstick at the end I might be tempted to give it a 5, but I really don't like Blake Edwards' slapstick at the end of a film, so a 4 rating.
Still, it's an average murder mystery, with some comedic elements. The film looks good, with the sets and the camera work. If it weren't for the goofy slapstick at the end I might be tempted to give it a 5, but I really don't like Blake Edwards' slapstick at the end of a film, so a 4 rating.
It Happened To Jane - Quine, 1959
Richard Quine was prolific during the late 50's on through the 60's, sometimes hitting the mark squarely , as in World of Suzie Wong (8), but more often just missing, as in Paris - When It Sizzles (3), My Sister Eileen (4), and How To Murder Your Wife (4). This one is a clear miss. Doris Day has never been more annoyingly goody, and Jack Lemmon has never been more boringly boy scout. And, as in far too many Doris Day movies, you'd love to have the chance to strangle the kids.
Ernie Kovacs is good as the villian, but even he turns saccharine in the end. This movie was one of Day's few box office bombs during her peak period, and this despite intense studio publicity. You can understand why. It's tiresome and a 3 rating.
Ernie Kovacs is good as the villian, but even he turns saccharine in the end. This movie was one of Day's few box office bombs during her peak period, and this despite intense studio publicity. You can understand why. It's tiresome and a 3 rating.
The Day After Tomorrow - Emmerich, 2004
The Day After Tomorrow has some excellent special effects, but everything else is crap. The plot is particularly egregious. In one scene, escaped wolves from the Central Park zoo attack some students trying to get medical supplies off of a drifting Russian freighter. I mean, could they possibly have come up with anything more ridiculous?
The acting is pure cliche, and the direction is awful. Of course this is the same director who gave us stinkers like Independence Day (2) and the truly terrible 1998 Godzilla (1). He also did The Patriot, which I was generous enough to give a 4. For this mess, I'd like to give it a 2.5, but I'm confining myself to whole numbers. It is certainly stupid enough to merit a 2, but the effects are definitely cool, so 3 it is.
The acting is pure cliche, and the direction is awful. Of course this is the same director who gave us stinkers like Independence Day (2) and the truly terrible 1998 Godzilla (1). He also did The Patriot, which I was generous enough to give a 4. For this mess, I'd like to give it a 2.5, but I'm confining myself to whole numbers. It is certainly stupid enough to merit a 2, but the effects are definitely cool, so 3 it is.
World Traveler - Freundlich, 2001
World Traveler is a strange film that drifts along as aimlessly as its unlikable protagonist, Billy Crudup, an architect who leaves his family and wanders around meeting unusual people. In one long section, he drives an insane woman (Julianne Moore) to Montana. Is he trying to find some redemption but just can't get there? Does he just need to be reminded of what he had back home? The movie is unclear on all points. And it is hard to feel sympathy for a muddled selfish main character.
Despite all that, the scenery is great and the acting is pretty good. It's just quirky enough to deserve a 4 rating.
Despite all that, the scenery is great and the acting is pretty good. It's just quirky enough to deserve a 4 rating.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Duane Hopwood - Mulhern, 2005
Hard to believe this is a movie and not a one hour tv show, because it seems a lot more like the latter. Not surprising from a director who has mostly only worked as a tv actor. It's not like there's a lot wrong here, there just isn't much of anything at all.
Schwimmer and Garofalo usually give completely unwatchable performances, but here they are at least average. The story basically revolves around an alcoholic coming to understand his problem. Not terrible, just not terribly interesting or creative. I'm going to be generous and give it a 4 for at least not being too hokey.
Schwimmer and Garofalo usually give completely unwatchable performances, but here they are at least average. The story basically revolves around an alcoholic coming to understand his problem. Not terrible, just not terribly interesting or creative. I'm going to be generous and give it a 4 for at least not being too hokey.
Friday, January 23, 2009
The Bigamist - Lupino, 1953
Ida Lupino is well known as an actress but not as a director. This is probably because she mostly did television directing, and was uncredited for her help on Ray's classic On Dangerous Ground. Still, the three films I have rated for her: The Hitch-Hiker (1953), The Trouble With Angels (1966), and this film, are all at a 6 rating. For the most part, she keeps things real, and relatively intelligent in her movies.
The Bigamist is certainly an oddity, most particularly because the title character is sympathetically portrayed. That is one of the strength's of Lupino's films -- there is no real bad or good. All of the four main characters -- the double-husband (O'Brien), his first wife (Fontaine), the second wife (Lupino), and the adoption agency bureaucrat (Gwenn) who unravels the duel setup -- all have their positive and negative points.
The acting is fine and the story is told through flashbacks. I might even be tempted to give it a 7 rating, but the movie is handicapped by having to explain its morality over and over to the 1950's audience. Unfortunately, Lupino is just ahead of her time here. As I said, a 6.
The Bigamist is certainly an oddity, most particularly because the title character is sympathetically portrayed. That is one of the strength's of Lupino's films -- there is no real bad or good. All of the four main characters -- the double-husband (O'Brien), his first wife (Fontaine), the second wife (Lupino), and the adoption agency bureaucrat (Gwenn) who unravels the duel setup -- all have their positive and negative points.
The acting is fine and the story is told through flashbacks. I might even be tempted to give it a 7 rating, but the movie is handicapped by having to explain its morality over and over to the 1950's audience. Unfortunately, Lupino is just ahead of her time here. As I said, a 6.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Strange Hostel of Naked Pleasures - Motta, 1976
I think I said a few posts back that it was really hard to get a 1 rating in my system, but this mess manages to make the cut. It has all the elements of a really, really bad movie: incomprehensible plot, minuscule production values, ridiculous acting, and then they top it off with gratuitous sex and violence. It's hard to explain what is going on in this movie because I'm certain no one associated with it had any idea themselves.
The opening credits are in Italian, but I'm fairly certain there is one credit for a hamburger stand. I'm guessing they swapped ad space in their opening credits for a lunch. If so, the hamburger stand got a raw deal.
A classic 1 rating.
The opening credits are in Italian, but I'm fairly certain there is one credit for a hamburger stand. I'm guessing they swapped ad space in their opening credits for a lunch. If so, the hamburger stand got a raw deal.
A classic 1 rating.
The Incredible Hulk - Leterrier, 2008
It's strange that they made this movie so quickly after Ang Lee's god-awful 2003 Hulk (2 rating). Maybe they are real Hulk fans and wanted to get those bad images out of everyone's minds? Also, some strange casting here, but a good one with Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, William Hurt, and Tim Roth, although William Hurt is a notch below the others here. To be fair though, he does have the most ridiculous role as Tyler's father and the maniacal general who is out to caption the Hulk.
It mostly works, with the beginning being the best part, where Norton tries to escape detection and his own inner wrath by hiding in Brazil. Leterrier hasn't really done much as a director and that shows a bit as the movie fails to quite live up to it's early promise. I guess it was kind of a cool idea to turn Roth into another, evil Hulk, but it makes no sense plot wise. If Hurt is able to create Hulks on his own, why does he need Norton?
Still, overall this is a good entry to the Marvel film world. It's better than the Spiderman films and way, way better than the Ang Lee trash. A 6 rating.
It mostly works, with the beginning being the best part, where Norton tries to escape detection and his own inner wrath by hiding in Brazil. Leterrier hasn't really done much as a director and that shows a bit as the movie fails to quite live up to it's early promise. I guess it was kind of a cool idea to turn Roth into another, evil Hulk, but it makes no sense plot wise. If Hurt is able to create Hulks on his own, why does he need Norton?
Still, overall this is a good entry to the Marvel film world. It's better than the Spiderman films and way, way better than the Ang Lee trash. A 6 rating.
Strangeland - Pieplow, 1998
Strangeland was written by, and stars, Dee Snider, of Twisted Sister fame, and it is directed by some guy named Pieplow. I think that should give you a pretty good indication up front of the quality of this movie.
It starts off as a standard, throw-away, gross-out, horror flick with an internet stalker tempting kids into his torture lair. Then the plot turns into a confusing guilt/morality theme when Snider, the all-too-loquatious and ridiculously pierced villan, is caught by the detective whose daughter was tortured by Snider. The bad guy gets out four years later after an insanity defense and the detective stands idly by while an angry mob tries to hang Snider.
Unfortunately, he's saved by rain and a weak tree limb, and immediately goes on a revenge spree, both on the mob that grabbed him and the detective, by once again kidnapping his daughter. He's easy enough to find again though, and the detective tortures and kills him this time instead of bringing him to justice. Maybe Snider's self-loathing persona on-screen mimicks what he really felt about his script. When he's hung on a hook and burned to death at the end, I'm sure many viewers are wishing that all copies of the film were burned along with him.
I'm giving it a 2, because at least it is somewhat novel, and because it is difficult to get a 1 or a 10 in my rating system.
It starts off as a standard, throw-away, gross-out, horror flick with an internet stalker tempting kids into his torture lair. Then the plot turns into a confusing guilt/morality theme when Snider, the all-too-loquatious and ridiculously pierced villan, is caught by the detective whose daughter was tortured by Snider. The bad guy gets out four years later after an insanity defense and the detective stands idly by while an angry mob tries to hang Snider.
Unfortunately, he's saved by rain and a weak tree limb, and immediately goes on a revenge spree, both on the mob that grabbed him and the detective, by once again kidnapping his daughter. He's easy enough to find again though, and the detective tortures and kills him this time instead of bringing him to justice. Maybe Snider's self-loathing persona on-screen mimicks what he really felt about his script. When he's hung on a hook and burned to death at the end, I'm sure many viewers are wishing that all copies of the film were burned along with him.
I'm giving it a 2, because at least it is somewhat novel, and because it is difficult to get a 1 or a 10 in my rating system.
Friday, January 16, 2009
The Final Cut - Naim, 2004
The Final Cut reminded me a little bit of Strange Days (6, but it would have been a 7 without the terrible ending), with the memory recording technology and the consequences of it. It's OK, but neither as ambitious nor as successful as Strange Days.
Robin Williams seems like he's carving out a niche here with these creepy, quiet guy roles. I'm thinking of Insomnia (7) and One Hour Photo (6). He's about as good here as he was in those other two movies (good, but not great) but the movie overall is just a notch or two below.
Robin Williams seems like he's carving out a niche here with these creepy, quiet guy roles. I'm thinking of Insomnia (7) and One Hour Photo (6). He's about as good here as he was in those other two movies (good, but not great) but the movie overall is just a notch or two below.
American Psycho - Harron, 2000
Saw this when it came out and didn't purposely intend to see it again, but it was on the recording I made for Paranoid Park, so I went through it again. This is one of those films where I can pick the exact moment it drops down a notch, and it is the scene where Bateman drops the chainsaw down the stairs to kill the escaping hooker.
There is some surprisingly good acting here and some good content as well, but the violence is just a bit too distractingly over the top. I feel exactly the same way about the book, although the book is much worst in this respect than the movie. It works pretty well as a dark, satirical comedy about empty excesses of the Yuppie 90s. Bale's performance is excellent, and his interactions with his fiance (Reese Witherspoon) and the detective (Willem Dafoe) are hilarious, as are several of the scenes with his vapid friends. Bateman's commentary about restaurants and music, and his flimsy excuses for leaving (how dated does that "going to return a video" sound today?) are great background for social satire, as are the empty, modern buildings he inhabits.
In the end, I wound up feeling much the same way as I did about Harron's earlier I shot Andy Warhol (5)-- good performances, good commentary, but just a bit cheap in a sensationalistic manner, and flawed by not delivering any kind of satisfying ending.
American Psycho could/should have been a 7, but there are just enough problems to knock it down a notch. I originally gave it a 5, mainly because I think the violence bothered me more then and I was closer to reading the book, which was more distasteful. Now, I'm a long time away from reading the book and have seen far worse violence in many films, so I'm going to give it a 6. Really, I think it is a 5.5, but 6 will do.
There is some surprisingly good acting here and some good content as well, but the violence is just a bit too distractingly over the top. I feel exactly the same way about the book, although the book is much worst in this respect than the movie. It works pretty well as a dark, satirical comedy about empty excesses of the Yuppie 90s. Bale's performance is excellent, and his interactions with his fiance (Reese Witherspoon) and the detective (Willem Dafoe) are hilarious, as are several of the scenes with his vapid friends. Bateman's commentary about restaurants and music, and his flimsy excuses for leaving (how dated does that "going to return a video" sound today?) are great background for social satire, as are the empty, modern buildings he inhabits.
In the end, I wound up feeling much the same way as I did about Harron's earlier I shot Andy Warhol (5)-- good performances, good commentary, but just a bit cheap in a sensationalistic manner, and flawed by not delivering any kind of satisfying ending.
American Psycho could/should have been a 7, but there are just enough problems to knock it down a notch. I originally gave it a 5, mainly because I think the violence bothered me more then and I was closer to reading the book, which was more distasteful. Now, I'm a long time away from reading the book and have seen far worse violence in many films, so I'm going to give it a 6. Really, I think it is a 5.5, but 6 will do.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Paranoid Park - Van Sant, 2007
Since I just did my Van Sant summery for Gerry, I thought I'd view a more recent film by him -- Paranoid Park. The is Van Sant's best film since Drugstore Cowboy, reminding me a lot of Kids. It's a simple story of a skateboard rat who accidentally kills a security guard and is pressed by the guilt of it while he continues along in his alienated existence. Rings pretty true all around.
It makes me hopeful that Milk may live up to it's early hype. A 7 rating.
It makes me hopeful that Milk may live up to it's early hype. A 7 rating.
The Hard Word - Roberts, 2002
The Hard Word is a well-acted Aussie crime thriller that falls short because the plot is so wildly improbable. Guy Pearce is solid as one of the greasy thugs. And Rachel Griffiths is deliciously slutty, far better work than what she later did in "Six Feet Under".
Overall, it should add up to better than the 4 rating that I'm giving it, mainly because it is so handicapped by ridiculous plot twists. You just can't buy into this film and that knocks it down a notch or two.
Overall, it should add up to better than the 4 rating that I'm giving it, mainly because it is so handicapped by ridiculous plot twists. You just can't buy into this film and that knocks it down a notch or two.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Shattered Glass - Ray, 2003
Shattered Glass is quite a good directorial debut for Ray and a respectable retelling of this journalistic scandal. I'm not normally a fan of movies based on true life incidents, but I found this film to be more believable than most.
Hayden Christiansen is much better in this film than in the two Star Wars films he did directly before and after. Hank Azaria and Peter Sarsgaard are fine as the two editors. Chloe Sevingny takes on a curiously small role here.
A 6 rating.
Hayden Christiansen is much better in this film than in the two Star Wars films he did directly before and after. Hank Azaria and Peter Sarsgaard are fine as the two editors. Chloe Sevingny takes on a curiously small role here.
A 6 rating.
Gerry - Van Saint, 2002
Van Saint is another director I'm ambivalent about. I loved Drugstore Cowboy (7). I thought My Own Private Idaho (5), and his Psycho remake (5) were ok. I wasn't fond of Good Will Hunting (4). And I thought Elephant (6) was interesting.
I put Gerry in the last category. It's an incredibly sparse film, with long takes of two guys walking around, lost, in the desert. It's very, very minimalist, but it works for the most part. The landscape is both beautiful and ominous and the interaction between these two goofballs results in some dark comedy. At least for me -- I'm sure plenty of people would be impatient with this movie, but enough of it sticks with me to give it a 6.
I put Gerry in the last category. It's an incredibly sparse film, with long takes of two guys walking around, lost, in the desert. It's very, very minimalist, but it works for the most part. The landscape is both beautiful and ominous and the interaction between these two goofballs results in some dark comedy. At least for me -- I'm sure plenty of people would be impatient with this movie, but enough of it sticks with me to give it a 6.
Coogan's Bluff - Siegel, 1968
I've Coogan's Bluff about three times and while it is by no means a great movie, and the production values look extremely dated, it does hold up as being very watchable. Can't help being nostalgic for the old Clint either. I'm a bigger fan of his spaghetti westerns than of this film or the enforcer films, but Siegel and Clint definitely had some chemistry going, most notably in this film and in Dirty Harry. A 6 rating.
The Dreamers - Bertolucci, 2003
I have mixed feelings about Bertolucci. I sometimes feel like he resorts to cheap sensationalism to artificially spice up his films. On the other hand, he is often fascinating and certainly has a brilliant eye for composition. I wasn't a big fan of Last Tango (4 rating), and thought Last Emperor (6), Little Buddha (5) and Stealing Beauty (5).
I basically feel the same way about The Dreamers. The story, such as it is, basically revolves around an incestuous menage a trois between an American student in Paris and two strange siblings. They are all film buffs and the background is the student riots of the late 1960's. The film references and the riots provide some interesting diversions, and the three main characters are basically interesting. It's all enough to warrent a 6 rating, but as in most of Bertolucci's films, you can't help feeling that it couldn't have been a bit better with just a little more story. He's just great visually but just average with plot lines.
I basically feel the same way about The Dreamers. The story, such as it is, basically revolves around an incestuous menage a trois between an American student in Paris and two strange siblings. They are all film buffs and the background is the student riots of the late 1960's. The film references and the riots provide some interesting diversions, and the three main characters are basically interesting. It's all enough to warrent a 6 rating, but as in most of Bertolucci's films, you can't help feeling that it couldn't have been a bit better with just a little more story. He's just great visually but just average with plot lines.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Brother's Keeper - Berlinger/Sinofsky, 1992
I've seen Brother's Keeper twice, although I'm not sure it deserved two viewing. Not that it is a bad film, because it isn't. It's a documentary that is very much in the style of Errol Morris, but I don't think it is quite up to that standard.
Basically, it is about the murder trial of a very simple man who is accused of murdering his brother. Is it a mercy killing or a sex/hate crime? Most of the community sides with the accused.
There's good stuff here, but the movie falls into the cardinal sin of being boring too often. A 5 rating.
Basically, it is about the murder trial of a very simple man who is accused of murdering his brother. Is it a mercy killing or a sex/hate crime? Most of the community sides with the accused.
There's good stuff here, but the movie falls into the cardinal sin of being boring too often. A 5 rating.
Sex and the City - King, 2008
First, I'm not a fan of the Sex and the City tv series, but I watched this film with someone who is and we both agreed that this is a stinker. Everything about this movie is generally bad but if I had to pick one thing, I'd hold up the plot for a Raspberry nomination. And within this rotten plot, it's also hard to pick a nadir, but I'd hold up the scene where the girls are in Mexico and they all laugh at one of them shitting her pants after an intestinal attack. Really, I think that scene sums up the mentality of the moron who wrote this movie. And the real bonus is that he is the director as well! And it shows!
I could go on about how this movie pimps itself out to the fashion industry but it isn't worth it. Bottom line is that this movie was made just to suck money out of the loyal fans of the tv show and I truly feel sorry for them. As I said, I'm not crazy about the tv series, but it is far, far better than the film. A 2 rating.
I could go on about how this movie pimps itself out to the fashion industry but it isn't worth it. Bottom line is that this movie was made just to suck money out of the loyal fans of the tv show and I truly feel sorry for them. As I said, I'm not crazy about the tv series, but it is far, far better than the film. A 2 rating.
Darkness - Balaguero, 2002
I have a soft spot for a good horror flick, but unfortunately Darkness is not one of them. It seems like this film steals elements from all kinds of successful films of this genre, most notably The Shining, Amityville Horror, and Rosemary's Baby, and then chops it up into a confusing mess. A mess is clearly the result. Anna Paquin is her usual cute/edgy/vulnerable self but the rest of the cast is decidedly bad. A 2 rating.
LaTerre, Antoine, 1921
La Terre is a solid adaptation of an Emile zola novel. It's quite a sordid tale of an old man who is neglected and cheated by his family after he splits up his property between them. The story and acting are all very good, but the highlight of the movie are the stunning location shots in the Chartres' countryside.
It has some flaws in that some of the editing is choppy and some scenes drag on a bit. Also, the musical score is sometimes intrusive. I have to take into consideration that Antoine was filming directly after WWI and no doubt times were difficult in France. Still, the early naturalist film movement is well-served by this addition. A 7 rating.
It has some flaws in that some of the editing is choppy and some scenes drag on a bit. Also, the musical score is sometimes intrusive. I have to take into consideration that Antoine was filming directly after WWI and no doubt times were difficult in France. Still, the early naturalist film movement is well-served by this addition. A 7 rating.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Union Station -- Mate, 1950
Union Station is an excellent cop drama, involving a kidnapping around Union Station in Chicago. William Holden, Nancy Olson, and Barry Fitzgerald are all solid in their roles. Overall, the story, camera and direction are all on cue.
What really makes this movie special though is the location shooting. Aside from many fabulous Union Station shots, we get to see the old stockyards, a chase scene on the El, and a shootout in the city's underground tunnels. Great stuff. If you're from Chicago, this is an 8. Otherwise, my rating is 7.
What really makes this movie special though is the location shooting. Aside from many fabulous Union Station shots, we get to see the old stockyards, a chase scene on the El, and a shootout in the city's underground tunnels. Great stuff. If you're from Chicago, this is an 8. Otherwise, my rating is 7.
Stay - Forster, 2005
Stay is a stylistic, psychological thriller that is a bit hard to follow and sometimes drifts a bit. Watching it, it's hard to shake the feeling of a Sixth Sense knockoff, but ultimately, this is a very different film. It doesn't completely satisfy, yet there is enough interesting bits going on to make it watchable. A 5 rating.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Boeing (707) Boeing (707) -- Rich, 1965
Jerry Lewis and Tony Curtis team up in this bizarre sex comedy. Tony juggles three stewardess fiancees in Paris, somehow managing to live with all of them without any of them knowing about the others. Jerry wants to take his place. Thema Ritter does her usual bit as the acerbic housekeeper. The crazy script is adopted from a play and the movie feels like one. It also feels incredibly dated. Can't imagine this movie being made today, and that is probably a good thing.
A lot of people seem to like this film, but it's hard to see why. A generous 3 rating.
A lot of people seem to like this film, but it's hard to see why. A generous 3 rating.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Three Times - Hou, 2005
Three Times (Zui hao de shi guang) is an ambitious Taiwanese film made up of three separate stories. Each is set in a different time period and basically involve a man and woman. Qi Shu and Chen Chang play the couple in each story.
There are some expertly creative parts to this film and some great shots. Unfortunately, it is just too long and slow to merit a high ranking. It is a first class film that makes the cardinal sin of being boring far too often. A 5 rating.
There are some expertly creative parts to this film and some great shots. Unfortunately, it is just too long and slow to merit a high ranking. It is a first class film that makes the cardinal sin of being boring far too often. A 5 rating.
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