As con films go, the audience is meant to get caught up in the guess work, wondering what is real and what is fake. The classic, ‘Dirty Rotten Scoundrels’ rides the line perfectly, and by the very last flip, you are still hoping to figure out the con but most likely leave the theater surprised at the resolution (con is short for confidence, I learned). In ‘The Brothers Bloom’ though, I found myself tired by the last reel and not interested in what was real. Though ‘Vanilla Sky’ was not a con film, I felt the same disinterest in discerning reality as this film. I was, however, engrossed in the remarkable costumes, sets, photography, and charming work from a favorite actress (Rachel Weisz). Adrien Brody was a bit too mumpish and did not carry the film as the script required. I was compelled to listen to the commentary, as I am a fan of the director, and along with the deleted scenes, which revealed a lot of the back-story, I learned to love the film. I can’t believe it cost $20m and only make $5m. Depressing.
• 9:31 am 0
Chaplin (4/5)
It is quite difficult to fairly rate a bio-pic as you must differentiate between the quality of the story-telling and the quality of the historical figure. Chaplin was a womanizer, married often and married young, was neurotically committed to his craft and was tragically haunted by Hoover’s FBI to the point of being exiled from the States when he shipped off to holiday in England. Being a great artist is not enough. I often forget this as I pursue my own artistic goals; sadly mistreating those whom I love most. My priorities have been skewed for most of my adult life and I have paid dearly for it, leaving a wake of dysfunction. Sad. This film reminded me of such reality… I’m also really annoyed that Downey lost Best Actor to Pacino in ‘Scent Of A Woman‘. A make-up Oscar if there ever was one.
9 Oct 2009 • 3:25 am 1
Die Hard 4: Live Free Or Die Hard (4/5)
Despite having one very sad title, and dipping into the very tarnished ‘Die Hard’ franchise once again, this film was quick, cocky, and enjoyable to the final scene. I was rather distracted by the ‘Apple’ commercial guy playing co-lead, and a villain who had diminishing returns. Sequel franchising is a tricky business that rarely goes well, actors get desperate, studios make good money dragging things out as long as the brand has a name. ‘Terminator’, ‘Aliens’, ‘Predator’, ‘Batman’ (1989), ‘Lethal Weapon’, ‘Raiders’, ‘POTC’ are all examples of brilliant action/adventure films that got driven into the ground by lamer directors/screenwriters and bloated budgets (or as ‘AVP’ proved, not enough of a budget). The ‘Bourne’ and ‘LOTR’ trilogies stand as the only series’ that somehow avoided the problem–perhaps they were approached as single, seamless productions with a comprehensive narrative and not just a cash cow that got thrown up the flagpole every few years.
8 Sep 2009 • 8:57 am 0
Charlie Wilson’s War (4/5)
This picture moved along well and ended with the obvious revelation: that the Cold War covert op in 1980s Afghanistan screwed up a lot of things. Though Mr. Wilson and co. had good intentions, the funding to rebuild the war-torn country was sadly neglected. I like to believe the State Dept. learned some valuable lessons here but I doubt it–especially since they were decidedly kept out of Iraq this last go around.
…and, it is nice to see Tom Hanks in a film that doesn’t suck Dan Brown adaptations.
• 8:52 am 1
Dawn Of The Dead (4/5)
Zack Snyder updates the classic zombie picture with good gore and reasonably compelling drama. Even a surprising redemption of the jackass security guard. My housemate and I liked to guess who would die and who would live–we got all but 2, well, until the closing credits rolled and screwed up everything.
31 Aug 2009 • 9:00 am 0
Valkyrie (4/5)
As a fan of the World War II genre, this high budget, well cast film directed by a Hollywood elite was good cat nip for me. I can see why the concept didn’t fly as high as it could have though, it is a downer sell from the onset. How do you pitch a film based on a failed coup attempt. “Titanic” could have certainly failed with its inevitable ending, but the fictional love-against-odds story easily superseded the demise of the ship, and well, one of the leads went on to live a rich life and most of the a-holes get their comeuppance. They attempted similar narratives within the “Pearl Harbor” story, with pathetic results. I can’t say exactly why “The Great Escape” or “Sophie Scholl” eluded the inevitable injustice that mark their final acts. Well, I have notions: “Sophia Scholl” is Germany’s most celebrated martyr who did not necessarily fail, and “The Great Escape” is so much fun that you don’t mind watching McQueen ride his Bonneville into a barb fence. If anything, this film serves as a well-crafted homage to the German underground resistance, which is rare material and reminds us that many just and defiant people lived and served in the Third Reich.
8 Aug 2009 • 9:32 am 0
The Breakfast Club (4/5)
A classic, indeed, but I can’t call this a perfect film anymore. I am not convinced that the Princess and the Criminal hook-up by the last scene–he confronts her with some of the most offensive statements possible and ten minutes later she breaks into the office so they can make-out. Oh ya, the Jock does a floor routine and shatters a glass door by screaming at it.
22 Jul 2009 • 2:01 pm 0
The International (4/5)
Corporate conspiracy, Europe, spy games, Clive Owen, what is not to like people. The shootout at the end in the Guggenheim is fantastic, so is the movie poster based on said scene. Why no one has successfully made a serial out of the spy-thriller genre is anyone’s guess–it must be expensive.
30 Jun 2009 • 7:19 am 0
The Hurt Locker (4/5)
There was plenty of good press for this Iraq War film, so much that I ran out to see this in the theater–full price, with popcorn and soda. They did a fantastic job of growing the intensity in each scene and the action moved things along with diverse settings and fascinating technological/warfare details. There wasn’t much of a narrative to sustain the third act though, and if it weren’t for the sublime final moments showing the soldier’s culture shock at the supermarket, I’d say the film missed the mark–it didn’t.
25 Jun 2009 • 10:38 am 0
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