2 years ago when I first heard about this movie, I was immediately intrigued. The movie is about a fourteen year old girl who meets thirty something guy on-line, then they meet in person and the audience is supposed to believe that this girl is innocent and sweet. Of course, things take an interesting turn and the film becomes something totally different. Ellen Page (X-Men3) stars as the girl and the brilliance of this film is in casting her. One would almost expect a sex pot to be cast or perhaps a girl who looked a lot older than the 14 yrs this girl is supposed to be, but Ellen looks every bit of 14 and is an impish tomboy. She plays up her innocence, even in the opening flirting scenes but then makes a remarkable transformation to vindictive and vengeful vixen. Patrick Wilson ( Phantom of the Opera) plays the creepy photographer wonderfully. Granted, for the last hr all he really does is beg, plead and sweat, but there are moments when he actually made me think he might not be the guy the girl thinks he is.
The argument could be made that this movie isn't about these two characters. The movie plays as if Ellen is a symbol for every person who was ever molested, or even more so, she could be representing any person who has ever been raped or nearly raped and is tired of being a victim. Whereas Wilson symbolizes every single disgusting pedophile that ever existed. The movie plays as a cat and mouse type movie, except the person you expect to be the cat is actually the mouse. You see what happens when the predator becomes the prey and when the prey is smarter than your average fourteen year old girl. This line of dialogue kind of sums up what this movie is about:
Hayley Stark: I don't know that's that whole nature versus nurture question isn't? Was I born a cute vindictive little bitch or... Did society make me that way? I go back and forth on that...
The movie isn't perfect suffering from a music video director who sometimes doesn't trust his two actors. He resorts to that overly done shaky camera syndrome, to make his point that the girl is freaking out, when it was noticeable in her face. It detracts from the content a bit but the overall acting ultimately makes this movie very much worth the watch. However, there is a scene that no guy should ever really watch. WOW!
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Hollywoodland
Ben Affleck is an actor. I know we often forget that when we think of Gigli, Daredevil or Jersey girl. However, he rose to fame through Chasing Amy and Good Will Hunting, which both required him to have talent. After seeing Hollywoodland, you start to remember Ben Affleck the actor and forget ben Affleck, Jennifer Lopez cast off. Mr. Affleck plays George Reeves in this semi- biopic. Reeves was Superman before Christopher Reeves and before Superman was, well Superman. He played him in black and white, when the program was aimed specifically at children and eventually killed himself. Or did he? That is the question posed in this better than good film.
Adrien Brody plays a sleazeball private eye just looking for a headline and a quick buck until he lands the case of the suicide. Reeves mother believes it was murder and Brody, with a nose for trouble, jumps on the case. What a time it was for Hollywood. You had mob ties, buy offs, dirty cops and an insane ability to make people disappear. Brody thinks the murder maybe tied to Reeves affair with Diane Lane, who is married to a big time MGM producer. Lane, looking beautiful yet sad throughout the movie, appears mostly in flashbacks, but her one scene towards the end is mesmerizing, and she doesn't even say a word. Bob Hoskins plays her husband, who doesn't do much other than huff and puff his way through pretty trite dialogue.
This film plays as a great who-dun-it and as a great drama. It captures a side of what it must be like to be an icon. An idea of what it is like to be defined by one role and how that can take its toll on an actor. Affleck handles Reeves with genuine energy and sincerity. He plays him as boisterous, but never conniving. You want Reeves to succeed and Affleck handles the age range beautifully. Brody, whom I haven't seen in much added a tremendous amount of nuance to his character. The gum chewing and throwing, the twirling of the keys. His character stayed true to the mannerisms all the way through and it is terrific to watch. The movie is bogged down by an elongated ending sequence but it doesn't hamper the pace of the rest fo the film. I think it is a great movie and deserves to be seen!
Adrien Brody plays a sleazeball private eye just looking for a headline and a quick buck until he lands the case of the suicide. Reeves mother believes it was murder and Brody, with a nose for trouble, jumps on the case. What a time it was for Hollywood. You had mob ties, buy offs, dirty cops and an insane ability to make people disappear. Brody thinks the murder maybe tied to Reeves affair with Diane Lane, who is married to a big time MGM producer. Lane, looking beautiful yet sad throughout the movie, appears mostly in flashbacks, but her one scene towards the end is mesmerizing, and she doesn't even say a word. Bob Hoskins plays her husband, who doesn't do much other than huff and puff his way through pretty trite dialogue.
This film plays as a great who-dun-it and as a great drama. It captures a side of what it must be like to be an icon. An idea of what it is like to be defined by one role and how that can take its toll on an actor. Affleck handles Reeves with genuine energy and sincerity. He plays him as boisterous, but never conniving. You want Reeves to succeed and Affleck handles the age range beautifully. Brody, whom I haven't seen in much added a tremendous amount of nuance to his character. The gum chewing and throwing, the twirling of the keys. His character stayed true to the mannerisms all the way through and it is terrific to watch. The movie is bogged down by an elongated ending sequence but it doesn't hamper the pace of the rest fo the film. I think it is a great movie and deserves to be seen!
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Lucky Number Slevin
I saw this movie in theaters and now that it has come to video, I thought I would review it and hopefully sway a few people to give this under seen movie a shot. Josh Hartnett stars as an unlucky man who is mistaken for his friend. His friend owes someone a lot of money and Harnett must come up with it or be killed. Bruce Willis is a hitman, Morgan Freeman is the mob boss, Ben Kingsley is the Jewish mod boss and Lucy Lui is the new love interest of Hartnett. The plot is supposed to be kept under wraps as it quietly unfolds and the twist at the end is supposed to keep you on your toes, but I saw it coming pretty early on. So if it is not as shocking as it wants to be why watch the movie? It is all about the dialogue.
The movie borrows a lot of Tarentino, like a lot of indie type films do these days. The story is told in sections of time often switching between past, present and future but the director is certainly capable and pulls it off nicely. The movie is peppered with clever hilariously sly dialogue and the characters seem to know they are speaking in that kind of dialogue, but Hartnett especially looks like he is having a blast busting out of that broody thing he has been doing for most of his career. He still doesn't do much acting but at least he is having fun with dialogue like this:
The Boss: They call him "the Fairy"
Slevin: Why do they call him "the Fairy"?
The Boss: Because he's a fairy.
Slevin: What, he's got wings... He flies around sprinkling magic dust on people?
The Boss: [angry] He's a homosexual!
or
Brikowski: Who are you?
Slevin: Philosophically speaking?
Brikowski: Name. Slevin: Rank, serial number?
Dumbrowski: You should really play ball kid.
Slevin: Really? You think I'm tall enough?
Brikowski: [hits Slevin in stomach]
Brikowski: What is your name?
Slevin: [gasping for breath] Oh yeah, now I remember, Slevin Kelevra
Yes, it is mostly pretty simple but it is fun, fast in the context of the movie it is is funny and manages to fly off the tongues of all the actors. The biggest feat this movie manages though is, it makes me not hate Lucy Lui and usually I cannot freaking stand that chick. I really recommend this movie for people who are looking for a break from the norm and enjoy those off beat style movies.
The movie borrows a lot of Tarentino, like a lot of indie type films do these days. The story is told in sections of time often switching between past, present and future but the director is certainly capable and pulls it off nicely. The movie is peppered with clever hilariously sly dialogue and the characters seem to know they are speaking in that kind of dialogue, but Hartnett especially looks like he is having a blast busting out of that broody thing he has been doing for most of his career. He still doesn't do much acting but at least he is having fun with dialogue like this:
The Boss: They call him "the Fairy"
Slevin: Why do they call him "the Fairy"?
The Boss: Because he's a fairy.
Slevin: What, he's got wings... He flies around sprinkling magic dust on people?
The Boss: [angry] He's a homosexual!
or
Brikowski: Who are you?
Slevin: Philosophically speaking?
Brikowski: Name. Slevin: Rank, serial number?
Dumbrowski: You should really play ball kid.
Slevin: Really? You think I'm tall enough?
Brikowski: [hits Slevin in stomach]
Brikowski: What is your name?
Slevin: [gasping for breath] Oh yeah, now I remember, Slevin Kelevra
Yes, it is mostly pretty simple but it is fun, fast in the context of the movie it is is funny and manages to fly off the tongues of all the actors. The biggest feat this movie manages though is, it makes me not hate Lucy Lui and usually I cannot freaking stand that chick. I really recommend this movie for people who are looking for a break from the norm and enjoy those off beat style movies.
The Black Dahlia
I was very excited about this movie because it is based on a book from an author I love, James Elroy. I have not read this particular book but I love his story telling, plus, the trailer looked amazing. The trailer does not lie, the movie does look amazing. The style, the clothes, the colors, the people all look good. In fact, everything about this movie is good except the script.
The movie stars Josh Hartnett and Aaron Eckhart as cops in the 1940's who are trying to solve the brutal killing of a girl, played by Mia Kirchner seen only in incredibly creepy looking flashbacks of her screen tests. Scarlett Johansen and Hilary Swank round out a cast of phenomenal looking people who all look cool as they smoke and speak fast yet bland dialogue. I will admit that the trailer is misleading because the movie is not really about solving the murder. The movie is about what trying to solve this murder does to its characters. We watch Aaron Eckhart quickly unravel, Josh Hartnett try and keep focus and Scarlett Johansen slowly lose her mind as Eckhart becomes obsessed.
I am far from a Hilary Swank fan, but here she makes a vicious vixen and she is loving every second of it. Josh Hartnett makes a case for himself being more than a bushy eye browed broody pretty boy. As he does more in than looked confused. He cries, he looks mean and he gets to kiss all the pretty girls. Scarlett, looking as amazing as ever, is probably too young for the role she is playing, but really when you look and sound like she does, it doesn't really matter. The movie plays like a 1940's film noir movie, except you get the blood and you get a little sex. However, the only real sex in this film is creepy and uncomfortable to watch, which is the desired affect. The last 30 minutes of this film are a bit confusing and at times there are just too many plots for a 2 hour movie to really wrap up, but it is a great stylish film. It certainly makes me want to read the book and makes me believe Aaron Eckhart is going to be a long time amazing character actor.
The movie stars Josh Hartnett and Aaron Eckhart as cops in the 1940's who are trying to solve the brutal killing of a girl, played by Mia Kirchner seen only in incredibly creepy looking flashbacks of her screen tests. Scarlett Johansen and Hilary Swank round out a cast of phenomenal looking people who all look cool as they smoke and speak fast yet bland dialogue. I will admit that the trailer is misleading because the movie is not really about solving the murder. The movie is about what trying to solve this murder does to its characters. We watch Aaron Eckhart quickly unravel, Josh Hartnett try and keep focus and Scarlett Johansen slowly lose her mind as Eckhart becomes obsessed.
I am far from a Hilary Swank fan, but here she makes a vicious vixen and she is loving every second of it. Josh Hartnett makes a case for himself being more than a bushy eye browed broody pretty boy. As he does more in than looked confused. He cries, he looks mean and he gets to kiss all the pretty girls. Scarlett, looking as amazing as ever, is probably too young for the role she is playing, but really when you look and sound like she does, it doesn't really matter. The movie plays like a 1940's film noir movie, except you get the blood and you get a little sex. However, the only real sex in this film is creepy and uncomfortable to watch, which is the desired affect. The last 30 minutes of this film are a bit confusing and at times there are just too many plots for a 2 hour movie to really wrap up, but it is a great stylish film. It certainly makes me want to read the book and makes me believe Aaron Eckhart is going to be a long time amazing character actor.
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Method Man "4:21...The day after" album review
About 15 years since starting in the rap game as part of The Wu-Tang clan, Method Man is angry. He is angry with fans, critics, labels and just the general state of rap music these days. That anger has fueled his best solo album to date. To be honest, it wasn't that difficult because he hasn't really produced a solid solo album yet. This album is certainly a return to a darker grimier past and tries to erase all memory of the way overly produced last effort.
unfortunately for Mr Method Man, the content on the album isn't stunningly new or interesting. We get a club song, a anti industry song, a girl song and a few posse cuts. However, Meth is also more charismatic on a mic than most and he manages to stay pretty witty even as he lashes out at everything. Particularly on "say" he unleashes verbal venom at everyone who thinks he is past his prime. See in hip-hop some of the elder statesmen have to worry about what happens to them because for the most part hip-hop is a kids game. In Rap music, we don't have a Bruce Springsteen or Bob Dylan. Our older artists tend to fade out of the picture, even if they make good music and Method Man is entering that dangerous turf.
Even as he swears he has his label's back on one song he also claims "My label is def, that's why I scream." Of course, that's clever if you understand he is Def Jam. This album probably won't win him any new fans, but I imagine his current fanbase is plenty happy. I was pleasantly surprised with the ODB assisted "Dirty Mef" because not only does ODB not ruin the track, he actually adds something to it. Method Man's strongest point is his flow. The way the words come out of his mouth. Not only the delivery but the swagger in which they leave his mouth and enter the ear of the listener. He has a confidence about him but you never think it is over the top nor do you ever doubt it. He has perfectly that grimy sense of style. I guess that's really why I continue to check for Method Man's music. He has an undeniable sense of Likeability. That album is a good album and it has replay value and minimal tracks that you have to skip over which today is fairly rare!
unfortunately for Mr Method Man, the content on the album isn't stunningly new or interesting. We get a club song, a anti industry song, a girl song and a few posse cuts. However, Meth is also more charismatic on a mic than most and he manages to stay pretty witty even as he lashes out at everything. Particularly on "say" he unleashes verbal venom at everyone who thinks he is past his prime. See in hip-hop some of the elder statesmen have to worry about what happens to them because for the most part hip-hop is a kids game. In Rap music, we don't have a Bruce Springsteen or Bob Dylan. Our older artists tend to fade out of the picture, even if they make good music and Method Man is entering that dangerous turf.
Even as he swears he has his label's back on one song he also claims "My label is def, that's why I scream." Of course, that's clever if you understand he is Def Jam. This album probably won't win him any new fans, but I imagine his current fanbase is plenty happy. I was pleasantly surprised with the ODB assisted "Dirty Mef" because not only does ODB not ruin the track, he actually adds something to it. Method Man's strongest point is his flow. The way the words come out of his mouth. Not only the delivery but the swagger in which they leave his mouth and enter the ear of the listener. He has a confidence about him but you never think it is over the top nor do you ever doubt it. He has perfectly that grimy sense of style. I guess that's really why I continue to check for Method Man's music. He has an undeniable sense of Likeability. That album is a good album and it has replay value and minimal tracks that you have to skip over which today is fairly rare!
The Roots "Game Theory" album review
For those of you unaware of who the Roots are ( and I assume anyone who may actually read this is unaware) let me tell you: The roots are a rap band. Yes a band with live instruments and everything. The Roots are typically on the forefront of sound in rap music and they are the band non hip-hop loving people like to show they are down with dope music. Most of you have seen their drummer in many music videos. He is a big guy with a giant afro and they have put out classic album after classic album. To those real hip-hop fans they are like the Ramones. However, recently due to label struggles they have been putting out sub par music and even dropped 2 "best of" albums to fulfill contract obligations so they could search elsewhere.
Now with a new home at hip-hop premier label, Def Jam, they give us the single best hip-hop album to come out in 2 years. Musically it is solid and new. The drums are crisp and the rest of the band keeps up. Each song weaves into the next one like scenes from a movie and it is hard not to just nod your head as the baseline kicks throughout each track. Black Thought, the rapper, seems to have found his drive and delivers darker and harder lyrics than ever before. His flow is aggressive and raw when it supposed to be as shown on tracks like "Don't feel right", "take it there" and "long time". Yet, he can slow it down over the slower, more hopeful tracks like "baby" and "livin in a new world." He is not afraid to attack the mainstream media outlets in "False media" which uses a narrative sample as a hook as opposed to rapping or singing.
Everything on this album works. From the J. Dilla influenced intro to the J. Dilla tribute closing track, featuring real testimonials about the well respected late producer. While the label situation frustrated the group it seems like their best work is being brought out in the pain and frustration. I know I can't convince most of my friends to ever give hip-hop a real chance but listen to this album and tell me it doesn't take talent to make this kind of good music!
Now with a new home at hip-hop premier label, Def Jam, they give us the single best hip-hop album to come out in 2 years. Musically it is solid and new. The drums are crisp and the rest of the band keeps up. Each song weaves into the next one like scenes from a movie and it is hard not to just nod your head as the baseline kicks throughout each track. Black Thought, the rapper, seems to have found his drive and delivers darker and harder lyrics than ever before. His flow is aggressive and raw when it supposed to be as shown on tracks like "Don't feel right", "take it there" and "long time". Yet, he can slow it down over the slower, more hopeful tracks like "baby" and "livin in a new world." He is not afraid to attack the mainstream media outlets in "False media" which uses a narrative sample as a hook as opposed to rapping or singing.
Everything on this album works. From the J. Dilla influenced intro to the J. Dilla tribute closing track, featuring real testimonials about the well respected late producer. While the label situation frustrated the group it seems like their best work is being brought out in the pain and frustration. I know I can't convince most of my friends to ever give hip-hop a real chance but listen to this album and tell me it doesn't take talent to make this kind of good music!
Justin Timberlake "Future sex/love sounds" album review
I am not afraid to admit that I am a fan of Justin Timberlake. Have been for quite a few years and if I could change lives with one man it would be him. If you have to ask why, you don't deserve to know. I thought his first solo album was a very good polished pop album with a bit of an R&B edge to it and it had a perfectly creepy stalker type song called "cry me a river" and now it is time for JT to release another solo effort and while he doesn't have that "cry me a river" type smash hit on it, is it worth the time?
The disc opens with the title track and it has the seemingly familiar "another one bites the dust" baseline but it is molded around Timbaland type sounds. SO it sounds like it would be the child of "Another one bites the dust" and Nelly Furtado's "Promiscuous" The vocals are a bit distorted to give them that computer type sound, which is fine for the first few songs but after a little while it does start to get a bit annoying. The first 5 songs are all pretty uptempo and feature very futuristic sounds with Timbaland's fingerprints all over them. Usually I am not the biggest fan of an entire rap or R&B album being mostly produced by the same guy because at times all of the songs can run together and JT does kind of run that risk with this CD. At some point that futuristic sound starts to feel less and less futuristic because you just heard bits of it on the song before.
The standout track for me is "What goes around, comes around" because even though it runs over 6 minutes long, the music changes as the mood of the song changes and at about the 5 minute mark the song gets darker as the story he tells unfolds in a not happy way. Justin seems to have perfected his falsetto for this CD as well, as it comes across much more clearly than ever before. He also proves that crunk music is so basic that even a former boy bander can make that entire kind of music sound good as he in joined by Oscar winners(can you believe it) 3-6-Mafia on Chop me up. Another really great track is the Will-I-Am produced "Damn Girl", well its a great song until Will tries to bring his horrid brand of rap to the track.
This album may not be ground breaking or earth shattering stuff, but for a pop artist it is pretty forward thinking and Justin remains an artist willing to take risks with his fanbase and unafraid to allow the people creating the music to be creative. I know it sounds very foolish to say that, but look at the current state of pop music-cheesy guitar playing boy songs, actresses pretending to sing and bland pianists. Justin is heads and shoulders above them all.
The disc opens with the title track and it has the seemingly familiar "another one bites the dust" baseline but it is molded around Timbaland type sounds. SO it sounds like it would be the child of "Another one bites the dust" and Nelly Furtado's "Promiscuous" The vocals are a bit distorted to give them that computer type sound, which is fine for the first few songs but after a little while it does start to get a bit annoying. The first 5 songs are all pretty uptempo and feature very futuristic sounds with Timbaland's fingerprints all over them. Usually I am not the biggest fan of an entire rap or R&B album being mostly produced by the same guy because at times all of the songs can run together and JT does kind of run that risk with this CD. At some point that futuristic sound starts to feel less and less futuristic because you just heard bits of it on the song before.
The standout track for me is "What goes around, comes around" because even though it runs over 6 minutes long, the music changes as the mood of the song changes and at about the 5 minute mark the song gets darker as the story he tells unfolds in a not happy way. Justin seems to have perfected his falsetto for this CD as well, as it comes across much more clearly than ever before. He also proves that crunk music is so basic that even a former boy bander can make that entire kind of music sound good as he in joined by Oscar winners(can you believe it) 3-6-Mafia on Chop me up. Another really great track is the Will-I-Am produced "Damn Girl", well its a great song until Will tries to bring his horrid brand of rap to the track.
This album may not be ground breaking or earth shattering stuff, but for a pop artist it is pretty forward thinking and Justin remains an artist willing to take risks with his fanbase and unafraid to allow the people creating the music to be creative. I know it sounds very foolish to say that, but look at the current state of pop music-cheesy guitar playing boy songs, actresses pretending to sing and bland pianists. Justin is heads and shoulders above them all.
The Quiet
Because so much of this movie depends on the audience not knowing too much as the "plot" unfolds, I will keep the movie summary brief on this one. Essentially this movie is about a girl(Camilla Belle) who is deaf and mute and the things that she sees happening around her. After her fathers death, she moves in with her godparents and we are introduced to an alcoholic mother, a father who may or may not be sexually assaulting her daughter and the daughter (Elisha Cuthbert) who is the most popular girl in school, yet possibly still a virgin.
What follows is sometimes revolting, sometimes hilarious (intentionally and unintentionally), sometimes suspenseful and always confusing as hell. This is not a movie for people who enjoy there movies with endings nicely tied up in a box. Nor is it a movie for people who don't want to believe teenagers use such frank sexual terms in their conversations. To be honest, the main drawback of this movie is the dialogue. None of it flows very well and while they definitely sound like words teenagers would use, something about the script just doesn't work as well as the writer probably intended.
The acting all the way around is good, particularly Elisha Cuthbert. However, she don't really break out of either of the molds she has made in her career. Here she gets to be helpless in peril and a sex kitten. But, she does get to take a darker tone in this one and she served as a producer, so she is getting more into her career, which is good I guess. Shawn Ashmore of X-Men fame doesn't get too much to do here but he plays the role nicely, even making somewhat embarrassing dialogue feel nearly natural. Martin Donovan doesn't bring anything new to a hard ass father and Edie Falco is nothing new as your typical drunk rich wife with not much to do. Actually, most of this film seems cliched, except for how it is shot and then the actual unfolding of the plot makes for some interesting ideas. I can see what the writer was going for in terms of a message behind the film, focusing on the deaf/mute girl and how she manages to keep such secrets. I can't recommend this to too many people because the content is a bit off-putting for most people, but if you want a movie that may have you screaming "what the hell" at the screen, go for it!
What follows is sometimes revolting, sometimes hilarious (intentionally and unintentionally), sometimes suspenseful and always confusing as hell. This is not a movie for people who enjoy there movies with endings nicely tied up in a box. Nor is it a movie for people who don't want to believe teenagers use such frank sexual terms in their conversations. To be honest, the main drawback of this movie is the dialogue. None of it flows very well and while they definitely sound like words teenagers would use, something about the script just doesn't work as well as the writer probably intended.
The acting all the way around is good, particularly Elisha Cuthbert. However, she don't really break out of either of the molds she has made in her career. Here she gets to be helpless in peril and a sex kitten. But, she does get to take a darker tone in this one and she served as a producer, so she is getting more into her career, which is good I guess. Shawn Ashmore of X-Men fame doesn't get too much to do here but he plays the role nicely, even making somewhat embarrassing dialogue feel nearly natural. Martin Donovan doesn't bring anything new to a hard ass father and Edie Falco is nothing new as your typical drunk rich wife with not much to do. Actually, most of this film seems cliched, except for how it is shot and then the actual unfolding of the plot makes for some interesting ideas. I can see what the writer was going for in terms of a message behind the film, focusing on the deaf/mute girl and how she manages to keep such secrets. I can't recommend this to too many people because the content is a bit off-putting for most people, but if you want a movie that may have you screaming "what the hell" at the screen, go for it!
Monday, September 04, 2006
Ask the Dust
I am never one to shy away from a movie where Selma Hayek goes skinny dipping, but perhaps this is one movie that would have better been left on the shelf at Blockbuster. The movie, set in California in the early 1900's is about as boring as a movie can possibly be. Colin Ferrel stars as a would be writer who comes to California seeking to write the great American novel and finding the California blonde to marry. Instead, he finds a fiery little Mexican woman, who waitresses and can't read English.
The movie moves at the pace of an injured snail and is even less interesting that watching grass grow. Also, I have grown tired of Colin Ferrell's barely audible mumbling, he uses to try and pass off as sexy. He and Salma have pretty much no sizzle in their flirtatious scenes and the sex scene has about as much heat as the north pole. The movie is based on a novel and the fans of the novel were none to thrilled about the movie and it is not hard to see why. After seeing this piece of garbage I have no desire to find the book and read it. Salma Hayek, who is usually at least interesting to watch, bores the hell out of me as a girl who likes when people mistreat her. She frowns, sighs and whines her way through this movie. I do have to be completely honest here, perhaps in the last 25 minutes the movie got good, but I turned it off before I got that far. Yes, it is that bad.
The movie moves at the pace of an injured snail and is even less interesting that watching grass grow. Also, I have grown tired of Colin Ferrell's barely audible mumbling, he uses to try and pass off as sexy. He and Salma have pretty much no sizzle in their flirtatious scenes and the sex scene has about as much heat as the north pole. The movie is based on a novel and the fans of the novel were none to thrilled about the movie and it is not hard to see why. After seeing this piece of garbage I have no desire to find the book and read it. Salma Hayek, who is usually at least interesting to watch, bores the hell out of me as a girl who likes when people mistreat her. She frowns, sighs and whines her way through this movie. I do have to be completely honest here, perhaps in the last 25 minutes the movie got good, but I turned it off before I got that far. Yes, it is that bad.
Sunday, September 03, 2006
American Gun
Most time we as movie goers like our movies to have specific endings. We need the closure from the characters and from the story in order to make the movie experience complete. Well, if that is the case, you may want to stay away from this little gem of a movie. American Gun is told through 4 stories- 2 stories in the forefront and 2 on the back burner, but what they have in common is they all revolve around guns. The two main stories run semi-similar with each other because follows a mother and son as they deal with the fact that the other boy in the family went on a columbine like shooting spree three years earlier and the other main story follows a high school principal as he tries to keep his mostly ghetto school away from that sort of violence. The two lesser stories follow a smart black teenager as he feels he needs a gun to survive and the final story concerns a college girl working in her grandfathers gun store and how she feels after nearly being assaulted by a frat guy.
For a movie about violence, there is very little violence involved in the actual movie, which only magnifies the intense drama involved. This movie is so intense, at time you feel like the movie is going to burst right through the screen and spill into your living room. Marcia Gay Harden stars as the mother trying to cope with a town thinking she is the reason her son went on the shooting spree and as she tries to keep her other son away from those kinds of things. She shines in the role. Her depression is never over the top and she always feels real. It makes one think about the parents of the columbine children. It makes you wonder what those families go through. Forrest Whittaker is the principal who has sacrificed his home life in an attempt to make a change for the better in a run down violence riddled school. As usual Whittaker adds a touch of subtle line readings in a part that could have easily been a scenery chewer.
If I had any complaints about the movie it would be that the two minor stories are almost not needed for the audience to feel the full impact of the message. However, unlike requiem of a dream, this movie isn't preachy and doesn't need to hit you over the head with its "guns are bad" message. The two key scenes both include Marcia Gay Harden. The knock down drag out argument she has with her remaining son will definitely have you on edge and the near climax of Harden taking on an entire block of parents who solely blame her for the massacre will almost leave you in tears. This movie is not for anyone who doesn't want to think at the movies or anyone who wants their movies tied up in a neat nice package, but if you want something different, go get this movie.
For a movie about violence, there is very little violence involved in the actual movie, which only magnifies the intense drama involved. This movie is so intense, at time you feel like the movie is going to burst right through the screen and spill into your living room. Marcia Gay Harden stars as the mother trying to cope with a town thinking she is the reason her son went on the shooting spree and as she tries to keep her other son away from those kinds of things. She shines in the role. Her depression is never over the top and she always feels real. It makes one think about the parents of the columbine children. It makes you wonder what those families go through. Forrest Whittaker is the principal who has sacrificed his home life in an attempt to make a change for the better in a run down violence riddled school. As usual Whittaker adds a touch of subtle line readings in a part that could have easily been a scenery chewer.
If I had any complaints about the movie it would be that the two minor stories are almost not needed for the audience to feel the full impact of the message. However, unlike requiem of a dream, this movie isn't preachy and doesn't need to hit you over the head with its "guns are bad" message. The two key scenes both include Marcia Gay Harden. The knock down drag out argument she has with her remaining son will definitely have you on edge and the near climax of Harden taking on an entire block of parents who solely blame her for the massacre will almost leave you in tears. This movie is not for anyone who doesn't want to think at the movies or anyone who wants their movies tied up in a neat nice package, but if you want something different, go get this movie.
Saturday, September 02, 2006
Crank (spoilers)
When I came out of the theater after watching this, the one word that came to mind was- bizarre. This is one serious head trip of a film, visually, that is. Plot wise or story wise it is about as basic as a movie can be. A guy has to keep his adrenaline up or else his heart will stop and he dies because some gangsters gave him a shot of this poison. So, he drives very fast, gets in fights, snorts coke, has sex, sniffs nasal spray for the epinephrine(sp?) and forces a doctor to zap him back to life even though he isn't dead. In the midst of all this he is trying to get back at the guys who did this to him. All of this sounds very much like a video game and is shot very much that way.
Jason Stratham plays Chev Chelios, yes that name does kind of set the tone for the movie and in this movie he does some of his best wisecracking, but leaves most of the usual fight choreography at home. This movie is more about the camera work or the visuals in general. Paced at a neck breaking, frenetic pace, the camera shakes, zooms and cuts with lightening quick precision. The director utilizes faded colors, bright colors, sub titles, dizzying slow motions, split screen, moving split screens and any other possible camera trick to give the audience an idea of how quickly things are moving. The movie is unbelievably absurd, yet once it starts you can't help be drawn in.
the movie only lasts about 90 minutes and it doesn't slow down much because well if it did our lead character would perish. While he is alive though, he shoots many people, rides a motorcycle with no hands, runs very fast, burns his hand in a waffler, gets oral sex while driving, oh and has sex with his girlfriend in front of about 65 Asians; doggystyle no less, ass smacking and everything. Yes, it really is that kind of movie. Naked girls sitting in big glass balls during the climax for no real reason, a gay drag queen wielding a rolling pin as a weapon and Amy Smart looking sexier than ever all make this train wreck of a movie work.
Jason Stratham plays Chev Chelios, yes that name does kind of set the tone for the movie and in this movie he does some of his best wisecracking, but leaves most of the usual fight choreography at home. This movie is more about the camera work or the visuals in general. Paced at a neck breaking, frenetic pace, the camera shakes, zooms and cuts with lightening quick precision. The director utilizes faded colors, bright colors, sub titles, dizzying slow motions, split screen, moving split screens and any other possible camera trick to give the audience an idea of how quickly things are moving. The movie is unbelievably absurd, yet once it starts you can't help be drawn in.
the movie only lasts about 90 minutes and it doesn't slow down much because well if it did our lead character would perish. While he is alive though, he shoots many people, rides a motorcycle with no hands, runs very fast, burns his hand in a waffler, gets oral sex while driving, oh and has sex with his girlfriend in front of about 65 Asians; doggystyle no less, ass smacking and everything. Yes, it really is that kind of movie. Naked girls sitting in big glass balls during the climax for no real reason, a gay drag queen wielding a rolling pin as a weapon and Amy Smart looking sexier than ever all make this train wreck of a movie work.
Little Miss Sunshine
In a world where Will Farrell dominates the box office with his particular brand of unfunny, it is great to see very intelligent, soul having comedies still being made and Little Miss Sunshine is the epitome of intelligent comedy. On paper this movie looks terrible. It looks as if it belongs on Saturday Night Live, but amazing acting, a great script and brilliant directing turn this into the second funniest comedy of the year (behind Clerks 2, but just barely). The movie follows the most dysfunctional of families on a road trip to get the youngest girl to a beauty pageant and by the time they reach the hilarious and moving climax, you are ready to sit and Watch them make their way home.
Greg Kinnear, in his most spirited performance since As good as it gets, stars as a wannabe motivational speaker, obsessed with being a winner and completely out of touch with the real world. Toni Collete is his cigarette craving, bread winning wife. Steve Carrell steals the movie as the gay uncle who just tried to kill himself. Steve truly is the next Jim Carey, an actor who can be outwardly hilarious and internally hilarious, while staying in the realms of a character. Alan Arkin shines as the Heroin shooting, porn obsessed grandfather whose advice to have as much sex as possible is truly brilliant in its delivery. The children of this wild family are just as wild: Paul Dano plays a emo teen who hates everyone and has taken a vow of silence until he reaches his goal of being a pilot and Abigail Breslin plays the beauty pageant contestant and she will leave pretty much everybody falling in love with her childish innocence and amazing acting chops, Dakota Fanning better watch her back!
I really cannot say anything bad about the movie. Every single bit works-Pushing the vehicle, the horn not stopping, the mute son and the dead body in the trunk. None of it falls flat, but while you are laughing through the entire movie, you also realize something: No matter how odd they are or how much they get on each others nerves, these people love each other. Each character grows or changes in some, very real way. Greg Kinnear makes the most drastic change and is nearly effortless in his performance. The movie makes great points without having to hit the audience over the head to reach them. Seriously, go see this movie and if you don't enjoy it, I feel bad for you.
Greg Kinnear, in his most spirited performance since As good as it gets, stars as a wannabe motivational speaker, obsessed with being a winner and completely out of touch with the real world. Toni Collete is his cigarette craving, bread winning wife. Steve Carrell steals the movie as the gay uncle who just tried to kill himself. Steve truly is the next Jim Carey, an actor who can be outwardly hilarious and internally hilarious, while staying in the realms of a character. Alan Arkin shines as the Heroin shooting, porn obsessed grandfather whose advice to have as much sex as possible is truly brilliant in its delivery. The children of this wild family are just as wild: Paul Dano plays a emo teen who hates everyone and has taken a vow of silence until he reaches his goal of being a pilot and Abigail Breslin plays the beauty pageant contestant and she will leave pretty much everybody falling in love with her childish innocence and amazing acting chops, Dakota Fanning better watch her back!
I really cannot say anything bad about the movie. Every single bit works-Pushing the vehicle, the horn not stopping, the mute son and the dead body in the trunk. None of it falls flat, but while you are laughing through the entire movie, you also realize something: No matter how odd they are or how much they get on each others nerves, these people love each other. Each character grows or changes in some, very real way. Greg Kinnear makes the most drastic change and is nearly effortless in his performance. The movie makes great points without having to hit the audience over the head to reach them. Seriously, go see this movie and if you don't enjoy it, I feel bad for you.
Invincible
I am not afraid to admit I am a sucker for a good, underdog overcoming odds, sports movie. I rank Rudy among my favorite movies and it reduces me to tears every time I see it. Of course, for every Rudy we get a movie like Hardball. Recently we have had a few basketball themed movies of this ilk like Coach Carter and Glory Road but now it is time for a good old fashioned hard hitting football movie. Mark Wahlberg stars as a hometown boy who gets invited to try our for the NFL franchise Philadelphia Eagles even though he is 30 years old and never played college ball. As fomulaic as is, it is also a very well done movie.
Wahlberg puts aside the cocky characters he has carved out lately and harkens back to his boogie nights attitude of a quiet guy with a tremendous talent. The movie moves at a pretty good pace and even in those typical heart string tugging heart to hearts with he and his friends or dad, you never feel manipulated. Greg Kinnear takes the role of the Coach willing to take a chance on Wahlberg and never falls into that possibly mundane role of monologue spewing bore. He manages to find a soul inside of the character he is playing and that becomes very evident during the first game they show and Wahlberg's character freezes at the most inopportune time.
Elizabeth Banks of 40 yr old virgin fame rounds out the cast as the too perfect to be true girl next door. She likes hanging out with the guys, loves sports and knows sports. She lights up the screen when she smiles but ultimately she is scenery here. She does provide a few good laughs for us sports fans who understand how much Eagle and Giant fans do not get along. The rest of the cast of no names do a great job of filling out the roles of Marky-Marks hometown friends. 2 of which support him the whole time and the other who think he will leave them all behind.
In order to fully understand the movie you have to understand what sports can mean to people and if you can't do that I would skip it. The only real flaw in this movie is the direction during the football sections. The director seems hell-bent on getting as many slow motion shots as humanly possible in every frame of actual football. During the climax it gets especially nauseating. I do like that after you see the Disney version of the famous play, they show you the real play during the credits. The movie makers obviously took a bit of poetic license with the climax but ultimately stayed faithful to the life lived and the city saved.
Wahlberg puts aside the cocky characters he has carved out lately and harkens back to his boogie nights attitude of a quiet guy with a tremendous talent. The movie moves at a pretty good pace and even in those typical heart string tugging heart to hearts with he and his friends or dad, you never feel manipulated. Greg Kinnear takes the role of the Coach willing to take a chance on Wahlberg and never falls into that possibly mundane role of monologue spewing bore. He manages to find a soul inside of the character he is playing and that becomes very evident during the first game they show and Wahlberg's character freezes at the most inopportune time.
Elizabeth Banks of 40 yr old virgin fame rounds out the cast as the too perfect to be true girl next door. She likes hanging out with the guys, loves sports and knows sports. She lights up the screen when she smiles but ultimately she is scenery here. She does provide a few good laughs for us sports fans who understand how much Eagle and Giant fans do not get along. The rest of the cast of no names do a great job of filling out the roles of Marky-Marks hometown friends. 2 of which support him the whole time and the other who think he will leave them all behind.
In order to fully understand the movie you have to understand what sports can mean to people and if you can't do that I would skip it. The only real flaw in this movie is the direction during the football sections. The director seems hell-bent on getting as many slow motion shots as humanly possible in every frame of actual football. During the climax it gets especially nauseating. I do like that after you see the Disney version of the famous play, they show you the real play during the credits. The movie makers obviously took a bit of poetic license with the climax but ultimately stayed faithful to the life lived and the city saved.
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