And now, movies I've seen on the small screen, since I last blogged about such things:
Gasland A-
Kind of an EPA companion piece to Charles Ferguson's Inside Job - and more evidence that Big Money wins out over the little guy - even when the damage is quite clear and convincing. Its amateurish "who me" approach could have been a liability, but it actually works to the movie's benefit.
The Next Three Days C+ Well-made decently acted thriller with an intriguing premise, but the execution simply strains credibility past the point of no return. Good performances by Russell Crowe and Elizabeth Banks deserve a better vehicle.
Soul Surfer B-
If I were grading this movie by its sincerity, it would definitely be in the A-range. And there can be no doubt that the story of a teen surfer who rebounded after losing her arm to a tiger shark is inspiring. Unfortunately, the movie pushes too many manipulative buttons to ring completely true. A strong performance by AnnaSophia Robb helps keep it afloat.
Ride the High Country B+
An early Sam Peckinpah western gets most of its juice from seeing two old-timers like Joel McCrea and Randolph Scott face off. The story occasionally lags and the ending is a bit abrupt, but it's fascinating to see the seeds of The Wild Bunch being planted here.
Shock Corridor B+
Fascinating Sam Fuller pulp that I watched not long after revisiting One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. The premise (reporter fakes being mentally ill to crack a murder case) requires more suspension of disbelief than I was willing to give. Still, the acting and the visuals are powerful, particularly when stock color sequences break up the black and white.
Godspell B+
This was on the same night as Norman Jewison's Jesus Christ Superstar, and comparing the two pictures is very telling. Godspell is just as dated as Superstar, perhaps even more so with all those afros. But Godspell is a much livelier picture because A) The song score is considerably superior, and B) Godspell wasn't so ponderous, slackly paced and convinced of its own self-importance. Godspell is especially valuable as an NYC time capsule.
Since the theatrical slate is about as exciting as a bowl of bran flakes, I've taken to watching mostly the small screen lately. Here's a rundown of DVDs of movies I've seen, and other titles I've seen via the cathode ray tube (Yeah, I still have one of those.)
New DVDs
Edge of Darkness - Very solid police procedural that I believe was unfairly tainted by the cloud that hovers around Mel Gibson. Point blank, the man still holds the screen and does so very well here as a vengeful cop investigating the murder of his daughter. Solidly directed, as usual, by Martin Campbell (Casino Royale) and well written by William Monahan (The Departed). GRADE: B+
Invictus: Decent yet somewhat lacking sports melodrama from Clint Eastwood. It suffers a bit from over-earnestness, and Eastwood errs in the sports sequences by playing too many shots in slow motion. The film benefits, as expected, from strong performances by Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon. GRADE: B
Leap Year: Well, of course I liked it. It's Amy Adams. And no, had any other actress been in the lead I probably wouldn't have forgiven the extremely predictable plot, but my bias is my bias, so there ya go. Full review - GRADE: B
The Messenger: This drama focuses on a side of the military that is too little thought about, because to think about it too much is unbearable. The leads are two Army officers who have the grave mission of telling families their loved one has died in the line of duty. The performances are so poweful I wish the drama hadn't gone somewhat muted by the end, but it's well worth seeking out. GRADE: B+
Nine: When I saw this in December, I enjoyed the energy of the musical numbers, and - that was about it. The songs are well sung, but I didn't connect with the drama of Daniel Day-Lewis' tortured director at all. Hence, the film faded quickly from my memory. GRADE: C+
Small-screen viewing
Annie Oakley: No, no one sings "There's No Business Like Show Business" in this version, and to be honest, I didn't miss it all that much. George Stevens' 1935 drama about the Ohio sharpshooter. Stevens' comedy rhythms are a bit awkward, and the plot is certainly hokey/dated, but it gets a ton of charm from its performances, most especially that of Barbara Stanwyck in the title role. GRADE: B+
Broken Embraces: Pedro Almodovar's latest, about the melodrama surrounding a blinded movie director doesn't live up to its early intrigue, with the third act being a bit rote, but there's enough fascination to make it highly watchable. I would have much rather seen Penelope Cruz Oscar nominated for this film than her unsurprising work in Nine. GRADE: B+
A Foreign Affair: Well of course I liked it, it's Billy Wilder. And I haven't met a Wilder movie yet that wasn't at least decent. This one, about a love triangle in post-war Germany isn't as fresh as the best Wilder, but the sharp performances by the ever-sultry Marlene Dietrich and the always delightful Jean Arthur make it hold up quite well all the same. Fun character actor recognition: the commanding officer in the film is Millard Mitchell, who would later play the somewhat dotty studio head in Singin' in the Rain. GRADE: A-
Red Cliff (extended version): John Woo's return to foreign language film isn't quite the return to form I hoped it would be. As expected, it's filled with dazzling camerawork, with exciting battle scenes, but Woo stacks the deck too much with the sprawling story. The drama, though solid, never leaves the conflict in enough doubt. GRADE: B
Seconds: Underrated, thoroughly engrossing and eerie paranoid thriller about a man who changes identities so completely that he gets a whole new face and, indeed a whole new life. Striking direction by John Frankenheimer and innovative camerawork by James Wong Howe power this movie, which dilutes only a little at the end with a somewhat abrupt denouement. GRADE: A-
Summertime: This David Lean film isn't as strong as his early British movies (e.g. Great Expectations) or his later massive epics (e.g. Lawrence of Arabia), but it's kinda hard to miss with a romance fronted by Kate Hepburn, isn't it? GRADE: B+
Targets: I saved the best for last. Peter Bogdanovich's 1968 thriller at first seems to be two completely different movies. One is about an aged star (Boris Karloff0 who is disillusioned with the movie business, and the other is about a crazed gunman who goes on Charles Whitman-like shooting sprees. Bogdanovich cleverly and chillingly dovetails the two plots; this is his second-best film, after The Last Picture Show. GRADE: A
Hmm. Considering the title, one wonders if I've been spending TOO much time on Facebook of late. Probably have.
But I'm only a few sentences into the post and already I'm digressing. I had gotten away from doing DVD posts largely because I'd found them a bit of a chore. And last month was pretty dull for releases. However, I did want to alert you to/remind you of titles I think are worth checking out - or not.
Confirm
Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans: The script never quite takes hold the way it should because the crime Nicolas Cage's titular lieutenant is investigating never really registers. Perhaps it's too much of a McGuffin that way. Still, it remains compulsively watchable, thanks to Cage's live-wire performance and director Werner Herzog's excellent atmospherics. GRADE: B
An Education: Find out why Carey Mulligan would have an Oscar if I were the only one voting. Full review: GRADE: A
It's Complicated: Pretty decent at male/female relationships. not as deft with fall-down comedy. Pretty typical Nancy Meyers, really. Entertaining, if not exceptional. Full review: GRADE: B
The Imaginarium of Doctor Paranassus: It's not QUITE a return to form for director Terry Gilliam; the sequences in the "real world" tend to fall flat. But when it goes into the imaginarium, and Gilliam lets rip with his visual flair, the movie is a feast for the eyes. Full review: GRADE: B
The Lovely Bones: Not the excellent film it could have been, but not the grave misfire some made it out to be *cough* Ebert * cough*. The tone is too inconsistent for the film to hold together very well, but Saoirse Ronan's haunting work in the lead, plus some imaginative direction, make it a fascinating mess. Full review: GRADE: B+
Ignore
Avatar: Some might be surprised to find this hear. After all, I did put it on my ten best list, and I'm really tired of all those glib Dances with Wolves/Ferngully put-downs. I still love the film - but I do not love movie-only discs. I'm waiting for the deluxe set. BTW, I was meaning to ask - how does this play in normal 2D? I never saw it that way.
Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakuel: OK. this is a little unfair. I haven't actually seen this movie, but I'm still putting it here because I cannot stand that STUPID title!
Sherlock Holmes: It's a mystery fit for the great detective: A movie that's faintly entertaining, yet fairly forgettable at the same time. It was decent enough while I watched it, but it hardly stayed with me at all. Guy Ritchie's typical sensory overload couldn't mask the fact that neither the story nor the characters were particularly compelling. Full review: GRADE: C+
Hello, all. I'm sorry for the gap in posts, but I was on vacation and for one reason or another, lacked the wherewithal to write.
But did I still watch movies? Oh, sure. This post will catch you up with most everything I've seen lately, and then I'll take this blog in a somewhat new direction. More on that later.
Big-screen viewing
How to Train Your Dragon: Hands down, this is the best picture DreamWorks has ever made. Do I consider it a coincidence that it just happens to be directed by two guys who used to work for Disney? Oh hell no. Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois made Lilo & Stitch, and some of the same "strange alien = endearing creature" sensibility reappears here, but this film is very much its own animal. While too many DreamWorks movies are iPod Shuffles of pop culture references, this one tells a story with real heart. Wall Street may say the movie underperformed at the box office last weekend, but I firmly believe the test of time will trump the test of short-sighted shareholders. The animation is superb, both in its creative character design, and the absolutely breathtaking 3D visuals. It's the best use of the technique I've seen outside of Avatar. Will young kids like it? Some scenes are intense, but the immensely charming 5-year-old I saw it with immediately started drawing dragons when she got home, if that's any indication. GRADE: A
Chloe: Pulpy sexual melodramas are director Atom Egoyan's stock in trade, and I liked this one better than most critics, thanks to excellent performances by the three leads: Julianne Moore as a woman who suspects her husband is cheating on her, Liam Neeson as the suspected philanderer, and especially Amanda Seyfried as the titular escort who taps into Moore's vulnerabilities. The climax felt a bit too much like it was drafted in from an Adrian Lyne film, but for the most part, the film works. GRADE: B+
The Ghost Writer: This film will forever be known as The Movie Roman Polanski was Making When he was Arrested, which is sort of a shame because it deserves notoriety for being pretty good. It takes perhaps a bit too long to get going and didn't feel very Polanski-esque in the first half, but the second half gains momentum as the director's knack for sinister mysteries takes hold. GRADE: B+
Small-screen viewing
American Pimp: I watched this documentary about pimps because it was directed by the Hughes brothers, who broke through with Menace II Society and most recently made The Book of Eli. The film doesn't do a lot more than say "Pimps are people too," but it does so in visually arresting fashion.
The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer: Solidly entertaining puffball of a comedy that's often mislabeled as a classic. It's not. Oh sure, it has classic stars in Cary Grant, Myrna Loy and Shirley Temple, but let's face it - they're A-listers working with B material. If they weren't in the film, nobody would remember it today. But since they were, it still endures. And it stands as proof that even though Shirley lost her star power as she got older, she was still damn cute as a teen. GRADE: B
An Education: I didn't actually see this again on the small screen, but it is available on DVD today. Watch it and discover Carey Mulligan, AKA The Main Reason I am Jealous of Shia LeBeouf. If my vote were the only one in the Oscars, she would have won. GRADE: A
Where the Truth Lies: More Atom Egoyan, which I watched in preparation for Chloe. This look at a murder mystery between a Martin and Lewis-like team is not as good as it could have been, largely because it tries too hard to surprise with its twists and turns. Still, performances hold it together, although the best work coms from the least-known name. Kevin Bacon and Colin Firth are good, as one would expect, and even though Alison Lohman is slightly miscast as a naive book writer, she makes a valiant effort. Outshining them all is Rachel Blanchard as the murder victim, who is alternately touching and alluring. GRADE: B
Time for an extensive review catch up, on all fronts
In theaters now
Green Zone: Matt Damon and Paul Greengrass' latest collaboration isn't the great film I hoped it would be. By now, a look at malfeasance in Iraq feels like old news, and this was the first time it seemed like Greengrass was repeating himself. I found myself thinking"OK, we know you can do hyperkinetic action (Bourne) and mix it with contemporary history very well (United 93) - what else is in your arsenal?" Slight staleness aside, Green Zone is still a gripping and extremely well-made thriller, with a terrific performance by Damon. Many reasons have been bandied about for its underperformance at the box office, but people are missing a good story well told - and that's a shame, whatever the reasons are. GRADE: B+
DVDs out today
The African Queen: Bogie and Kate. Simply put, no self-respecting movie fan has any excuse not to see this classic now that its finally out on DVD, in a newly restored edition. I'm getting the Blu-Ray box that comes with Kate's memoir about the making of the movie. GRADE: A+
Bigger Than Life: I first discovered this Nicholas Ray (Rebel Without a Cause) film courtesy of Martin Scorsese's Personal Journey Through American Movies. In a way, it's very much of its 1950s era, but it was also ahead of its time in even daring to tackle the dangers of prescription drugs. James Mason, whose talents history still has not fully appreciated, powers the film with an unforgettable performance. GRADE: A-
Brothers: This drama about a military man's presumed death in Afghanistan has a rather large plot hole, in that the military would never lead a family to believe their loved one was dead, as this movie tells it. Regardless, powerful performances by Tobey Maguire, Jake Gyllenhaal, Natalie Portman and (in a small but key role) Carey Mulligan make up for any lack of credibility. GRADE: B+
The Blind Side: I can understand why people loved this movie, even if it never struck me as anything more than well-made hokum. Like so many films about the disadvantaged, it pats itself on the back too hard for being noble, but the story remains affecting, thanks in no small part to Sandra Bullock's Oscar-winning performance. GRADE: B+
Fantastic Mr. Fox: Think Wes Anderson's indie sensibilities wouldn't be entertaining for kids? Give this one a try and you might be surprised. His quirkiness meshes rather well with Roald Dahl's mordant humor. Great fun - and as an added bonus, it features one of the year's coolest soundtracks. Full review - GRADE: A-
The Men Who Stare at Goats: If this movie were as goofy as its title, it would have been one of the funniest films of last year; as it is, it feels curiously restrained. I wanted it to cut loose more. It's an amusing goof of a movie, no more, no less. Full review - GRADE: B
DVDs out now
Astro Boy: Is it just me, or did this look like Frisch's Big Boy became an animated superhero movie?
Broken Embraces: Pedro Almodovar and Penelope Cruz are always worth seeing, even if this one doesn't have the reputation of Volver.
Did You Hear About the Morgans?: Yes, and I heard they sucked, thank you very much.
The Fourth Kind: Hm, strange, I can't find much to say about this Milla Jovovich sci-fi thriller. Even people who saw it can't seem to find much to say about it, best I can tell.
The Princess and the Frog: Better than even Disney thinks it is, given all the Rapunzel/Tangled foolishness. Full review - GRADE: A.
The Twilight Saga: New Moon: The very fact that there are dolls that show Pattinson's/Lautner's ripped physiques is enough to make me reject this franchise altogether. For a series that supposedly caters to teen girls, it's uncomfortably close to Playgirl territory.
Small-screen viewing
The Confederate States of America: Clever idea for a satire: what if the South had won? There's just one teensy problem with the faux documentary - it's not funny. GRADE: C-
The Diary of Anne Frank: Here is the very model of how to turn a stage play into a movie - George Stevens' insightful direction conveys the claustrophobia of the Franks' hideaway, yet very cleverly and cinematically opens up the action with skillful editing and camera moves. Some of the dramatics, especially the romance between Anne (Millie Perkins) and Peter (Russ Beymer) feel a little too "Hollywood," but the film is still very moving on the whole. GRADE :A-
Lady for a Day: One of Frank Capra's earlier films is also one of his lesser known works, and that's a shame - it's a very charming fable about a band of hoods who tries to pass off a beggar as an aristocrat to please her long-lost daughter. The story doesn't stand up to scrutiny if one thinks about it too hard, so it's best to just go with the improbable flow. GRADE: A-
Seven Days in May: When this political thriller was remade for cable in the 1990s as The Enemy Within, my best friend who once managed a video store told me a story about a guy who asked to rent the original. He promptly returned it saying "I don't like black and white movies." (Facepalm) That guy missed an excellent drama. Maybe it's a little dry in places, but powerhouse acting by Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas and Fredric March carries the film. GRADE: A-
Time to get back in the swing of things vis-a-vis D-V-D. Since I have a fair amount of titles to catch up on, and I have another post in mind, I'll do these pithily.
New This Week
Ponyo: Should it have been Oscar nominated? Only The Secret of Kells knows for sure. GRADE: A-
This week's DVD selection is pretty paltry. so I'm going to bolster this post by reviewing titles I've seen on the small screen.
DVDs
Black Dynamite: This spoof of blaxploitation films got some positive notice when it came out,
Clint Eastwood: 35 years, 35 Films at Warner Bros: This massive box covers every movie the former mayor of Carmel, California released under the WB - although that leads to the odd split of Flags of Our Fathers (A DreamWorks title) not being included, while its companion piece, Letters from Iwo Jima, is. Much as I admire Eastwood, I already own many of his films I want, and besides all that, I don't know if I really want to say I have his orangutan films in my collection.
Coco Before Chanel: I like Audrey Tatou, but am not much of a fashion maven and reviews of this film about the fashion designer were never high enough to spark my interest.
Law-Abiding Citizen: You know, Gerard Bulter is a very talented guy, but his choice of scripts (also including the regrettable The Ugly Truth) makes him look like a reverse barometer of quality lately. And yes, that means I can't honestly say I'm looking forward to The Bounty Hunter with Jennifer Aniston.
What I'm Watching
Baby Doll: This 1956 Elia Kazan film hasn't worn quite as well as some of his other picture, primarily because it was tearing the envelope of the Production Code - and the movie knows it. So what might have seemed shocking back in the day seems a touch self-conscious and overheated today. Still, it's well worth seeing for its powerful performances, especially by Carrol Baker in the title role. GRADE: B+
Cleopatra (1934) Good 'ol Cecil B. DeMille has a high old time vamping it up with the story of the ancient Egyptian queen, and Claudette Colbert's performance in the title role is strong enough to keep the enterprise from seeming too silly. I still haven't watched the notorious 1963 version with Taylor and Burton, but I'm willing to bet its not as entertaining as this. My favorite moment - a sex scene cover-up that turns into something akin to a Busby Berkeley number. GRADE: B+
Deception: Made by the same stars (Bette Davis, Claude Rains, Paul Henreid) and director (Irving Rapper) behind Now, Voyager, this strangely unheralded melodrama is almost as good as that more famous movie. Davis stars as a woman torn between two men: her long lost cellist lover (Henreid) and a fiery temperamental
composer. Rains is particularly outstanding, and his performance here is a potent reminder he was one of the best character actors of the Golden Age. GRADE: A-
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof: I watched this as a double feature with Baby Doll, I suppose because I was in the mood for overheated melodrama by way of Tennessee Williams. On the whole, it's an excellent film with Paul Newman and Liz Taylor exerting a riveting push/pull dynamic - and that helps overcome the fact the story was slightly neutered from its original intentions. GRADE: A-
In the Loop: As the chant at football games goes: O-VER-RATED. This film clearly means to be kind of the board room version of Dr. Strangelove, but it's more like the bored room version of Dr. Strangelove. There are some good performances and a few good dialogue exchanges, but it's turgidly paced and fatally self-satisfied. It's a movie made by and for the "hipper than thou" crowd. GRADE: C-
The Paradine Case: Quite possibly the most disappointing Hitchcock picture I have yet seen. It boats a decent story and strong performances, but courtroom dramatics are not Hitch's strong suit, because they rely too heavily on dialogue and not heavily enough on visuals. This movie tells much more than it shows, and that doesn't suit the best director of pure cinema. GRADE: C+
A friendly reminder: Whenever I post my list of movies I've been watching, readers are always welcome to tell me what movies you've been watching, on the big or small screens. Tell us what you've seen
This week's DVDs are, on the whole, pretty underwhelming, but one particular title redeems the whole lot of 'em.
Bronson: Actually, no, this title isn't it. but this film, about a man regarded as "Britian's most dangerous prisoner" garnered enough acclaim in some circles that I'm curious to check it out. And yes, he was named for the actor.
Couples Retreat: No, this wasn't it either. I like a lot of the players in this movie, but it just never generated enough buzz to make me want to see it.
A Serious Man - Yes, THIS is that one particular title. The Coens latest was one of 2009's very best films, and this DVD is SO mine. And it prompted (so I was told) one of my best pieces of writing.
The Stepfather: Ho-hum. Another horror remake that made nary a tremor.
Today I return to a hybrid of DVD reviews and short takes on some movies I've seen on the small screen.
Today's DVDs
Michael Jackson: This is It: The documentary assembled from hours of rehearsal footage for the Michael Jackson extravaganza that never was could have been exploitative. Instead, it's a fascinating glimpse that raveled the Michael of old was still very much there. He remained too hung up on slick bombast and gooey sentiment when he didn't need them - but he was also still one of the most magnetic performers of our age when he simply sang and/or danced. By it's very nature, this portrait is incomplete, but at its best, it's enthralling. Full review - GRADE: B+
Surrogates:
This sci-fi actioner gets points for some inventive ideas and
well-staged action scenes, but it failed to make me care about the
characters very much. It's a little too robotic for its own good. Full review - GRADE: B-
Whip It: I was very disappointed that Drew Barrymore's scrappy, winning directorial debut got precious little attention in theaters. Her chronicle of a girl (Ellen Page) who finds herself when she gets into roller derby is the sort of solid storytelling people keep saying is missing from movies - and then they don't go to see it when it arrives. I hope it finds the audience it deserves now. Full review - GRADE: A-
What are You Watching?
A Guy Named Joe: Having recently bought The Wizard of Oz on Blu-Ray, I decided to check out this movie also directed by Victor Fleming. I had always been curious to see it because Steven Spielberg remade it into the one film of his I can't recommend: the pallid Always. Is the original better? Yes, but not by that much. The soapy World War II story, about a deceased Spencer Tracy trying to guide his girl (Irene Dunne) and the hotshot flyer who loves her (Van Johnson), takes WAY too long to get going. As it settles into the third act, however, the superbly talented cast gives it their all, and the melodramatics got to me. I can see why Spielberg liked it - too bad even he couldn't improve upon it. GRADE: B
Moonlight Serenade: People who know me know well my penchant for Amy Adams and for girls who can sing. So since Amy sings in this film, it should be an automatic winner for me, right? Alas and alack, no, I am surprised to say. Naturally, it's fun to hear Amy croon the standards, but she's stuck with a barely Lifetime-worthy plot, a washout of a male lead (Scott G. Anderson) and production values that aren't much slicker than those of Paranormal Activity. Never mind that it's not up to Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day - it ain't even Leap Year. GRADE: C
Bright Star: Abbie Cornish deserved every bit of praise she got for her performance as John Keats' muse. Too bad the rest of this underwhelming film didn't support her. Keats, as portrayed in this movie, is a real fop. I couldn't invest much in the film when I was rooting for only half the couple. Full review - GRADE: B-
Che: Steven Soderbergh's chronicle of the legendary rebel is ambitious - to a fault. The first half, which chronicles his rise in Cuba, is compelling, but the second half, which covers his long, slow demise in Bolivia, drains the film of most of its energy and interest. Benicio Del Toro's performance in the lead is outstanding and helps carry the movie through its lulls. GRADE: B
The Invention of Lying - Ricky Gervais' film starts with an intriguing and funny idea - a world where no one lies until Gervais comes up with the concept - and then devolves when it hits the religious satire a little too stridently. A little Gervais goes a long way. Full review - GRADE: B-
Pandorum - I'm a sci-fi fan, and I could never summon up much interest for this one.
Smokin' Aces 2: *Cough Cough Cough Cough Retch HACK HACK HACK HACK Wheeeeeeeeze*. Sorry. I HATED the first Smokin' Aces. A 43rd Children of the Corn installment would actually make more sense to me.
Surrogates: This sci-fi actioner gets points for some inventive ideas and well-staged action scenes, but it failed to make me care about the characters very much. It's a little too robotic for its own good. Full review - GRADE: B-
Whiteout: HEE hee-hee-hee-heeeeeee, Wipeout! (Cue the Safaris). What? You say the song has nothing to do with this flop about Kate Beckinsale in the snow? And your point is?
The Brothers Bloom: This was released to on-demand feeds months ago, and only today gets a disc release. It tries a little too hard to be stylish and off-kilter, but it's charm of this oddball heist picture is still endearing, especially whenever Rachel Weisz is onscreen. GRADE: B+
Departures: Won the best Foreign Language film Oscar. Did it deserve it?
Fame: I watched the original last year and quite liked it. Something tells me I don't need to see a glossy, sanitized remake.
Halloween II: I hated the first one, or the ninth one, or the 219th one, or whatever the hell number it was. Rob Zombie may have some technical skill as a director, but as a storyteller, he's worthless.
The Hurt Locker: Talk about going from one extreme to the other! That said, I'm not quite as sky-high on tis Iraq war movie as many critics are, because, in a way, the film is almost TOO good. It does such an amazing job of putting the viewer in the desert with the troops and ratcheting up the tension, that when the movie makes a homefront detour, it loses steam. I suppose that's partly the point, but I didn't need to see the homefront to know the lead character feels out of place there. It felt like a superfluous deleted scene. On the whole however, the movie is excellently acted, especially by lead Jeremy Renner, and brlliantly directed by Kathryn Bigelow. GRADE: A
In the Loop: This got some acclaim on some best-of lists last year; I will be checking it out.
Moon: Absolutely fascinating take on isolation and identity with a sterling performance by Sam Rockwell as a moon explorer who meets his double. It cribs perhaps a little too obviously from 2001, but it's still an impressive debut by director Duncan Jones - son of one David Bowie. GRADE: A-
Post Grad: Too bad Alexis Bledel can't find better vehicles than this, I always thought she was pretty cute - maybe that's just because I saw her from a distance on the Gilmore Girls set on the WB lot years ago.
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs: I must confess I never got around to this animated film, even though it did surprisingly well. Anyone want to fill me and the readers in on this one? Is it worth it without the 3D?
The Final Destination: Whatever - they say "final" every damn time and it never is. Maybe George Carlin was wrong. All destinies are NOT final after all.
Out Now and as Yet Unreviewed by Me (so much for pithy)
Jennifer's Body: This movie suffered rigor mortis at the hands of most critics and most people who saw it. Consider me scared away.
9: I can recommend this film on the strength of the visuals alone. Simply put, this is the most gorgeous computer-animated film not made by Pixar. Now if only it didn't have such a wisp of a story. Full review - GRADE: B+
Paranormal Activity: The scariest movie of all time? Hardly. That said, it is an often ingenious thrill (chill?) ride, although it poses an interesting question. Having been shot via camcorders, one would think this movie would play ideally at home - but will the effect be the same without a large audience? Full review - GRADE: B
A Perfect Getaway: Never made many waves one way or the next. I can only wonder when David Twohy will direct somethihng as lean and proficient as Pitch Black again.
Twas the day before Christmas, when here on the Net,
The film critic felt guilty and started to fret
The reviews were placed in a blog post with care
In the hope that page views and such soon would be there
That's just my rhyming way of saying I'm sorry I've been lax about posting on this blog of late. Crazy busy-ness with my job and the holidays, and attempts at playing Beatles Rock Band have all slowed me down to some degree. But before some of us plunge TOO headlong into the holly-days, I'd like to leave you with a bevy of short reviews of fare on the big and small screens.
IN THEATERS
Brothers - This war/coming home drama unfolds with a certain obviousness, and I had problems with a major plot hole in that the military seems to tell the family in this film their loved one has died, when in fact the military would never do such a thing without hard physical evidence (this is per my brother, who is serving in Iraq). However, superior performances from Tobey Maguire as a damaged POW, Jake Gyllenhaal as his layabout brother and Natalie Portman as Maguire's wife still make it powerful. GRADE: B
The Blind Side - I can see why this movie has gone over so well with the public, even if I can't quite praise the film so highly myself. It's inspirational and not overly melodramatic, but for a story with such serious themes, it occasionally comes across as too cutesy and glib, and I get the distinct sense it's reality glossed over. All the same, it's still affecting and well made, for the most part. GRADE: B+
Invictus - Clint Eastwood's Nelson Mandela sports movie is eminently decent - perhaps a bit too much so. It's well worth seeing mainly because of Morgan Freeman's terrific turn as Mandela, but the movie as a whole feels too earnest and loses energy in the third act, when Eastwood relies on too many slow-motion shots. GRADE: B
The Messenger - This may be the most illuminating of all the current war films in that it takes a viewpoint we so rarely see - that of the officers whose grave duty it is to tell people their loved one has died serving their country. The plot thickens when one of the officers (Ben Foster) develops an affection for a widow (Samantha Morton). Powerful performances by everyone, especially Woody Harrelson as Foster's cynical superior, carry the movie a long way, but I wish the movie had done more with Morton's storyline, which dissipates too quickly. GRADE: B+
Up in the Air - With its themes of loneliness and isolation, and its brilliant writing and directing, Jason Retiman's new film affected me personally and powerfully. It's no surprise that George Clooney and Vera Farmiga give excellent performances, but Anna Kendrick truly impresses in a career-making turn that's more complex than it seems at first glance. This film deserves every bit of effusive praise it's gotten and then some - so much so that I may like this film even better than a certain animated film with a similar but much shorter title. And if you know me, you know that's saying something. GRADE: A+
NEW DVD RELEASES
District 9 - Absolutely terrific sci-fi thriller ingeniously filmed by Peter Jackson protege Neill Blomkamp. If acting awards were given the true consideration they deserve, Sharlto Copley would be a serious Oscar contender. Full review - GRADE: A
(500) Days of Summer - Lilting, uplifting, and eye-filling, this endlessly inventive romance offers more proof that the best romances tend to be the ones with the most anguish. (Casablanca, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind et al.) If acting awards were given the true consideration they deserve, Zooey Deschamel would be a serious Oscar contender. Full review - GRADE: A+
The Hangover - I've never had one in my life, but I found the movie hilarious too. GRADE: A-
Inglourious Basterds - I remain somewhat surprised this is doing so well in year-end awards.Yes, parts of the movie are outstanding, but at the same time, they only serve to underscore how weak other parts of the movie are in comparison. It's biggest problem is that there's no emotional through-line connecting all the stories, as there is in Tarantino's best work. It's occasionally a great movie - but only occasionally. Full review - GRADE: B+
It Might Get Loud - Just as I've never had a hangover, I've also never been a huge fan of Jack White, the Edge or Jimmy Page, yet I still thoroughly enjoyed this documentary that contrasted their stores and styles in a highly entertaining way. Full review - GRADE A-
Taking Woodstock - Ang Lee's look at the forming of the legendary musical suffers from nostalgia that's too cute and twee, but terrific atmosphere and strong performances put it across. GRADE: B
I hope everyone has a great Christmas - or a great end of December, if you prefer. I'll be back next week with more reviews, my best of 2009 list and my best of the decade list.
For various reasons I will neither explain nor excuse, I have been extremely remiss in my DVD reviews. Given that I am about to go on vacation (mostly to New Orleans), this will likely be my last post for a few days. So I'd like to catch us up.
In the interest of space, and of time, and of challenging myself as a writer, I shall confine each review to a sentence of 10. words or less.
I am an arts and entertainment reporter for Cox Newspapers in Southwest Ohio who loves movies. Have any comments, questions or concerns? Email sircritc@gmail.com
