Daniel Day Lewis deservedly earns his Oscar nod in the dark There Will be Blood, based on the novel Oil! by Upton Sinclair. The movie is quite an exploration of human greed and ambition.
Lewis's character, Daniel Plainview is the epitome of these base human traits, and from the beginning of the movie he has no qualms about treading heavily upon all who stand in his way. What makes this movie even more interesting, is that his character is juxtaposed with another ambitious figure, the local preacher. The two spar and dance around each other grasping for power and influence. There are moments in the movie when you think Plainview might just have an inkling of humanity as he cares for his son - but it becomes evident that even if he did, his son is not as important as his ambition.
There are two scenes in particular that really stand out (see two embedded videos below). One in which Plainview must be baptized in the local church in order to get the lease on a piece of property owned by one of the church parishioners. The confession of his sins is quite moving, and is one of those moments that you wonder if Plainview might just be a good man at heart. The second is the final scene in the movie, in which the preacher and Plainview square off, and Plainview revels in his triumph over his rival by mercilessly berating him after the preacher begs him for money.
The ideas portrayed here about religion, capitalism, the affluent, the poor, ambition, humility, and ultimately egoism and selflessness are sublime. Although there is some impressive scenery, the movie is subtle in its message, and very insightful. It is a movie that will make you think for many days and weeks afterwards about what it all means. And it is one of my favorite movies of the year.
The first scene:
The second scene:
Showing posts with label Year: 2007. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Year: 2007. Show all posts
May 31, 2008
April 29, 2008
Juno (2007)
One of the most talked about movies of 2007 was Juno, a low key comedy about teen pregnancy. The movie was funny, but ultimately a little overrated in my opinion. Just a little though - still a good movie.
The Oscar nominated Ellen Page does a great job as Juno, a teen that finds out she is pregnant in the first few minutes of the movie. She goes on to struggle with the choice between abortion and adoption, eventually choosing the latter. The rest of the movie is full of quirky funny moments of her coping with her pregnancy, and dealing with the family that will adopt her child.
This movie will be quite entertaining for those of you who have been pregnant and had a baby. My wife and I enjoyed it thoroughly. Ellen Page was nominated for an Oscar for her role, and I can see why - she is a very talented actress. However, as much as I liked it, the dialog between Juno and her best friend was a little over the top and somewhat annoying for me - but maybe thats because I am no longer a teenager. I still recommend this movie though, you will get a lot of laughs.
The Oscar nominated Ellen Page does a great job as Juno, a teen that finds out she is pregnant in the first few minutes of the movie. She goes on to struggle with the choice between abortion and adoption, eventually choosing the latter. The rest of the movie is full of quirky funny moments of her coping with her pregnancy, and dealing with the family that will adopt her child.
This movie will be quite entertaining for those of you who have been pregnant and had a baby. My wife and I enjoyed it thoroughly. Ellen Page was nominated for an Oscar for her role, and I can see why - she is a very talented actress. However, as much as I liked it, the dialog between Juno and her best friend was a little over the top and somewhat annoying for me - but maybe thats because I am no longer a teenager. I still recommend this movie though, you will get a lot of laughs.
April 7, 2008
Atonement (2007)
Got a hold of another best picture nominee - Atonement. The first half of the movie portrays life on a large estate in England, where a romance blossoms between the caretaker's son (played by James McAvoy), and the daughter of the estate (played by Keira Knightly). Tragedy strikes as the jealous younger sister witnesses the rape of one of her young friends, and bends the truth to falsely indict McAvoy's character of the deed. He is scurried off to prison, and ends up enlisting in the war during the buildup to World War II. He still pledges his undying love for Knightly's character, and longs to return home. As the young sister grows up, she realizes how horrible her fib really was, and how it has ruined the lives of two people she dearly loves. Atonement for her misdeed consumes her, but the trio are already caught up in the madness of the war - the two women working as nurses tending to the maimed and dying, and the young man stuck at the infamous Dunkirk where the British Army is pinned down by the German Panzers.
Quite an epic story. However, I was underwhelmed. The acting was good, and the plot was good too - but after McAvoy's character is sent away about half way through the film, it seemed to try and be too much of an epic, and lost a lot of its authenticity. I give the first half of the film a hearty recommend, and the second half a very mild recommend. Verdict: Good, not great. Definately not Oscar material - I am surprised it was nominated for Best Picture. Once, and Into the Wild were much better in my opinion.
Quite an epic story. However, I was underwhelmed. The acting was good, and the plot was good too - but after McAvoy's character is sent away about half way through the film, it seemed to try and be too much of an epic, and lost a lot of its authenticity. I give the first half of the film a hearty recommend, and the second half a very mild recommend. Verdict: Good, not great. Definately not Oscar material - I am surprised it was nominated for Best Picture. Once, and Into the Wild were much better in my opinion.
April 5, 2008
Into the Wild (2007)
Into the Wild is a deeply introspective film that is based on the life of Christopher McCandless. McCandless is the son of wealthy parents, and appears headed towards Harvard law school, when suddenly he decides to forsake everythin, and search for a deeper meaning and spirituality. He donates his life savings (about $20,000) to charity, burns his Social Security card and what little cash he has left, and wanders the country. Along his journey he meets a variety of people, shares tender moments with them all, but eventually leaves them all behind. Eventually he decides to go to Alaska, far away from anything to do with modern society.
The plot may seem a little bare - but the reality is, the film was very moving for me. McCandless seems to exude authenticity, sadly a rare attribute in today's world, and something I have always striven to have myself. The story of his rejection of society as a fake and invented system is something that is not new for the thousands of drifters in the world, but is a breath of fresh air, and gives a new perspective on life and love and the things that really have meaning to all of us. Well, there I go, blithering about the story - you can tell I loved it. The story is all the more poignant since it is a true story - the film is based on the book about McCandless. For those who haven't heard about McCandless before, I won't ruin the ending.
The acting was great, the music was great, the story was great, and the scenery was incredible -- definitely one of the best movies of 2007, and I highly recommend this to anyone.
Here is the trailer from youtube:
The plot may seem a little bare - but the reality is, the film was very moving for me. McCandless seems to exude authenticity, sadly a rare attribute in today's world, and something I have always striven to have myself. The story of his rejection of society as a fake and invented system is something that is not new for the thousands of drifters in the world, but is a breath of fresh air, and gives a new perspective on life and love and the things that really have meaning to all of us. Well, there I go, blithering about the story - you can tell I loved it. The story is all the more poignant since it is a true story - the film is based on the book about McCandless. For those who haven't heard about McCandless before, I won't ruin the ending.
The acting was great, the music was great, the story was great, and the scenery was incredible -- definitely one of the best movies of 2007, and I highly recommend this to anyone.
Here is the trailer from youtube:
March 28, 2008
August Rush (2007)
Before I start this review, you have to realize that I am a big fan of music - all types - and there is a soft place in my heart for movies about music. That being said...
August Rush follows the fortunes of an 11 year old orphan that, as cheesy as it sounds, believes in the power of music so much, he thinks he can find his parents by following it. His parents are musicians in their own right, and conceive Evan after a one night stand. In order to avoid derailing her promising career as a concert cellist, Evan's grandfather tells Evan's mother that Evan died in child birth, which lands Evan in an orphanage. Evan's mother and father go their merry ways, not knowing that they have a child.
Turns out he is a musical prodigy, and after wandering away from the orphanage which he lives in he ends up on the streets of New York City. He ends up living with a bunch of homeless boys and their twisted leader "Wizard" (played by Robin Williams). At this point in the movie, it becomes clear this is a remake of Oliver Twist. The "Wizard" realizes Evan's gift for music, gives him a guitar, dubs him "August Rush", and duo start to make a lot of money busking on the streets. In the mean time, Evan's mother finally finds out what her father did with the child, and starts a quest to find him. Evan breaks from the Wizard, and through a series of circumstances ends up a Julliard where his musical gift is finally recognized for what it is. Can he use the power of his music to actually find his parents?
The thing you have to realize about this movie is that it is very unrealistic. There are lots of scenes where people just know that someone is looking at them, or that there is something going on on the other side of the world. And even the best of musical prodigies cannot learn to play a guitar within 15 minutes at the level that Evan breaks out. The film also unabashedly plays on peoples emotions. It is completely cheesy and preposterous. However, I bought it all - once I realized that the movie wouldn't be grounded in reality, it was a wonderful story. The final scene in the movie where Evan inevitably does bring his parents together is touching, even though it defies logic and reason. I guess what I am saying is, there are a lot of people who will hate this movie, but I say, get over it, its just a movie. There is a lot of great music to enjoy and a heartfelt message.
August Rush follows the fortunes of an 11 year old orphan that, as cheesy as it sounds, believes in the power of music so much, he thinks he can find his parents by following it. His parents are musicians in their own right, and conceive Evan after a one night stand. In order to avoid derailing her promising career as a concert cellist, Evan's grandfather tells Evan's mother that Evan died in child birth, which lands Evan in an orphanage. Evan's mother and father go their merry ways, not knowing that they have a child.
Turns out he is a musical prodigy, and after wandering away from the orphanage which he lives in he ends up on the streets of New York City. He ends up living with a bunch of homeless boys and their twisted leader "Wizard" (played by Robin Williams). At this point in the movie, it becomes clear this is a remake of Oliver Twist. The "Wizard" realizes Evan's gift for music, gives him a guitar, dubs him "August Rush", and duo start to make a lot of money busking on the streets. In the mean time, Evan's mother finally finds out what her father did with the child, and starts a quest to find him. Evan breaks from the Wizard, and through a series of circumstances ends up a Julliard where his musical gift is finally recognized for what it is. Can he use the power of his music to actually find his parents?
The thing you have to realize about this movie is that it is very unrealistic. There are lots of scenes where people just know that someone is looking at them, or that there is something going on on the other side of the world. And even the best of musical prodigies cannot learn to play a guitar within 15 minutes at the level that Evan breaks out. The film also unabashedly plays on peoples emotions. It is completely cheesy and preposterous. However, I bought it all - once I realized that the movie wouldn't be grounded in reality, it was a wonderful story. The final scene in the movie where Evan inevitably does bring his parents together is touching, even though it defies logic and reason. I guess what I am saying is, there are a lot of people who will hate this movie, but I say, get over it, its just a movie. There is a lot of great music to enjoy and a heartfelt message.
March 24, 2008
Wild Hogs (2007)
Tim Allen, Martin Lawrence, William H. Macey, and John Travolta team up as a suburban gang of Harley riding wannabes that hit the open road in Wild Hogs. I was sold into watching this movie from the tantalizingly hilarious previews – unfortunately, as happens all too often with comedies like this, the previews pretty much sum up all of the funny moments in the whole movie.
I am sitting here trying to think of how to summarize the plot, but my first sentence pretty much captures it. Oh yea, they all hate their jobs, that’s why they ride bikes. And there is some random romance in there somewhere too.
This movie was one of the few of 2007 that I 1) wish I hadn’t wasted my time, and 2) after a stroke of sensibility stopped watching before the movie was over in an effort to salvage my evening.
Avoid this movie at all costs. I won't pain you with the preview on youtube - if you are that hell bent on seeing it, you can look it up yourself.
I am sitting here trying to think of how to summarize the plot, but my first sentence pretty much captures it. Oh yea, they all hate their jobs, that’s why they ride bikes. And there is some random romance in there somewhere too.
This movie was one of the few of 2007 that I 1) wish I hadn’t wasted my time, and 2) after a stroke of sensibility stopped watching before the movie was over in an effort to salvage my evening.
Avoid this movie at all costs. I won't pain you with the preview on youtube - if you are that hell bent on seeing it, you can look it up yourself.
March 21, 2008
No Country for Old Men (2007)
I finally got my hands on the Best Picture Oscar winner for 2007.
No Country is a raw and dark movie that really makes you think. The movie is set in a dusty small Texas town, where a small town guy (played by Josh Brolin - remember the Goonies?) stumbles upon the aftermath of a drug deal gone wrong. After sifting through the dead bodies, he finds a satchel with 2 million dollars in cash, and decides to take his chances in keeping the money. Little does he know that one of the most frightening and heartless killers you are likely to see in a movie (played by Javier Bardem) has been hired to recover the loot. What follows is an immensely engaging cat and mouse game, in which the cat spreads death and destruction everywhere he goes. Then of course is the local Sheriff (played Tommy Lee Jones) that is trying to make sense of the aftermath, always one step behind the hunted and the hunter.
Several things about this film really stick out:
The first thing I noticed is that there was almost no music at all, I only remember some odd strains starting a good 60 seconds after the final credits start to roll. The effect is that everything feels very realistic and in-your-face. The last time I remember such an approach was with one of my favorite movies, Castaway.
Secondly, Javier Bardem's character, Anton Chigurh, is perhaps the most frightening and memorable villain of the decade - I put him in the same class as Darth Vader, Hannibal Lecter, and Mr. Smith. I am actually surprised that Bardem was up for the supporting actor Oscar, he could easily be considered the lead character. This guy is literally out of this world, and something of a case study in psychology. From the first scene, Chigurh almost guided by principle in his killing, as if it is his calling in life - no one is immune, and even in some of the tender moments where innocent bystanders are pleading for mercy, Chigurh's face reveals that they might as well be flies to be swatted.
Third, the setting of the film is quite reminiscent of Fargo, one of the Coen's previous films. It reveals a real down to earth people. Coming from a small town in the west myself, I have to say this movie absolutely nailed it. I could point to half a dozen people in my town that mirror the people that I grew up with.
The ending of the movie was a little strange - but honestly, the more I think about it, the more I like it - I won't give it away. Suffice it to say that this movie was easily one of the best movies of 2007, and one that I am dying to watch again. The movie is not just a violent movie for guys who like violence, but a deeply introspective film that challenges your perceptions on what is right and what is wrong, the reality of violence no matter what part of the world you live in, and how people cope with it and try to make sense of it. I heartily recommend this movie to anyone (who can stomach the violence).
Just wanted to show one of my favorite clips from the movie, where Chigurh meets a random guy at a gas station and starts a tense and fascinating dialog:
And here is one of the trailers:
No Country is a raw and dark movie that really makes you think. The movie is set in a dusty small Texas town, where a small town guy (played by Josh Brolin - remember the Goonies?) stumbles upon the aftermath of a drug deal gone wrong. After sifting through the dead bodies, he finds a satchel with 2 million dollars in cash, and decides to take his chances in keeping the money. Little does he know that one of the most frightening and heartless killers you are likely to see in a movie (played by Javier Bardem) has been hired to recover the loot. What follows is an immensely engaging cat and mouse game, in which the cat spreads death and destruction everywhere he goes. Then of course is the local Sheriff (played Tommy Lee Jones) that is trying to make sense of the aftermath, always one step behind the hunted and the hunter.
Several things about this film really stick out:
The first thing I noticed is that there was almost no music at all, I only remember some odd strains starting a good 60 seconds after the final credits start to roll. The effect is that everything feels very realistic and in-your-face. The last time I remember such an approach was with one of my favorite movies, Castaway.
Secondly, Javier Bardem's character, Anton Chigurh, is perhaps the most frightening and memorable villain of the decade - I put him in the same class as Darth Vader, Hannibal Lecter, and Mr. Smith. I am actually surprised that Bardem was up for the supporting actor Oscar, he could easily be considered the lead character. This guy is literally out of this world, and something of a case study in psychology. From the first scene, Chigurh almost guided by principle in his killing, as if it is his calling in life - no one is immune, and even in some of the tender moments where innocent bystanders are pleading for mercy, Chigurh's face reveals that they might as well be flies to be swatted.
Third, the setting of the film is quite reminiscent of Fargo, one of the Coen's previous films. It reveals a real down to earth people. Coming from a small town in the west myself, I have to say this movie absolutely nailed it. I could point to half a dozen people in my town that mirror the people that I grew up with.
The ending of the movie was a little strange - but honestly, the more I think about it, the more I like it - I won't give it away. Suffice it to say that this movie was easily one of the best movies of 2007, and one that I am dying to watch again. The movie is not just a violent movie for guys who like violence, but a deeply introspective film that challenges your perceptions on what is right and what is wrong, the reality of violence no matter what part of the world you live in, and how people cope with it and try to make sense of it. I heartily recommend this movie to anyone (who can stomach the violence).
Just wanted to show one of my favorite clips from the movie, where Chigurh meets a random guy at a gas station and starts a tense and fascinating dialog:
And here is one of the trailers:
Dan in Real Life (2007)
I a fan of the Office, the Daily Show, and Little Miss Sunshine, so naturally I was excited to see Steve Carell in Dan in Real Life. Though the movie had its moments, I was rather underwhelmed.
The movie features Dan (Carell), widower, advice columnist, and father to three daughters. In the first 10 minutes of the movie, the clan packs up to go to a family reunion at a cabin somewhere. Leaving the girls behind to get a grip on his problems, Dan stumbles across a woman in a book store, played by Juliette Binoche, and the two instantly hit it off in the way only Hollywood can make serendipitous meetings seem so wonderful. They part ways after exchanging numbers, only to meet again at the reunion, where Binochet's character is revealed to be Dan's brother's new girlfriend. And so the rest of the movie is Dan being extremely depressed while getting himself into rediculous situations as he tries to avoid Binochet at all costs.
There are a few really funny scenes, but overall it was just slightly above mediocre for me. Carell demonstrates that he is a pretty good dramatic actor (even though this is comedy), and the end makes everyone feel good. My wife might kill me for this (she loved the movie), but I only give this a mild recommendation.
The movie features Dan (Carell), widower, advice columnist, and father to three daughters. In the first 10 minutes of the movie, the clan packs up to go to a family reunion at a cabin somewhere. Leaving the girls behind to get a grip on his problems, Dan stumbles across a woman in a book store, played by Juliette Binoche, and the two instantly hit it off in the way only Hollywood can make serendipitous meetings seem so wonderful. They part ways after exchanging numbers, only to meet again at the reunion, where Binochet's character is revealed to be Dan's brother's new girlfriend. And so the rest of the movie is Dan being extremely depressed while getting himself into rediculous situations as he tries to avoid Binochet at all costs.
There are a few really funny scenes, but overall it was just slightly above mediocre for me. Carell demonstrates that he is a pretty good dramatic actor (even though this is comedy), and the end makes everyone feel good. My wife might kill me for this (she loved the movie), but I only give this a mild recommendation.
March 2, 2008
Michael Clayton (2007)
I was finally able to see one of the Best Picture nominees, Michael Clayton, which was also nominated for Best Actor (George Clooney), Best Supporting Actress (Tilda Swinton), and Best Supporting Actor (Tom Wilkinson). My thoughts on their performances? George Clooney was good, Tilda Swinton was good, and Tom Wilkinson was awesome (I am still waiting to see Javier Bardem in No Country for Old Men, but until then, Wilkinson is definitely my favorite supporting actor performance for 2007).
Michael Clayton (played by Clooney) is a "fixer" at a prestigious law firm in New York City. What is a "fixer" you say? Basically, he cleans up difficult situations with sometimes unconventional methods. The plot really gets kicked off as one of the senior partners at the firm (played superbly by Tom Wilkinson) has a mental breakdown of sorts in the middle of a deposition for a 3 billion dollar class action lawsuit. Clayton is dispatched to get the situation under control and try to ease the minds of the General Counsel of the firm's client (played by Tilda Swinton). It soon becomes apparent that Wilkinson's character will not be settled, and starts working against his former client. With 3 billion at stake, how far are people willing to go to silence him? Dunh dunh duuuuuuh....
I thought this movie was superb. Easily one of the most memorable films of 2007 - I actually watched it twice, and then the good parts version a third time. The acting is great, the plot intricate, the moral questions deep, and even little details like the cinematography, and music were just perfect for dramatic effect at just the right moments. Another thing I really liked about it was that it didn't waste time talking down to the audience, to explain things, which happens sometimes with movies like this. It was sharp and direct, and the drama carried me through the movie without me thinking once about when it was going to end. Oh, and the ending, by the way, was perfect.
I still have a deep love for Once so I can't put this at my top movie for the year, but so far, it neatly slides into second place, with a strong recommend.
The movie is rated R for language - though this is no Scarface in that regard, it is definitely not one I would watch with my grandmother :).
Michael Clayton (played by Clooney) is a "fixer" at a prestigious law firm in New York City. What is a "fixer" you say? Basically, he cleans up difficult situations with sometimes unconventional methods. The plot really gets kicked off as one of the senior partners at the firm (played superbly by Tom Wilkinson) has a mental breakdown of sorts in the middle of a deposition for a 3 billion dollar class action lawsuit. Clayton is dispatched to get the situation under control and try to ease the minds of the General Counsel of the firm's client (played by Tilda Swinton). It soon becomes apparent that Wilkinson's character will not be settled, and starts working against his former client. With 3 billion at stake, how far are people willing to go to silence him? Dunh dunh duuuuuuh....
I thought this movie was superb. Easily one of the most memorable films of 2007 - I actually watched it twice, and then the good parts version a third time. The acting is great, the plot intricate, the moral questions deep, and even little details like the cinematography, and music were just perfect for dramatic effect at just the right moments. Another thing I really liked about it was that it didn't waste time talking down to the audience, to explain things, which happens sometimes with movies like this. It was sharp and direct, and the drama carried me through the movie without me thinking once about when it was going to end. Oh, and the ending, by the way, was perfect.
I still have a deep love for Once so I can't put this at my top movie for the year, but so far, it neatly slides into second place, with a strong recommend.
The movie is rated R for language - though this is no Scarface in that regard, it is definitely not one I would watch with my grandmother :).
February 29, 2008
Paris, je t'aime
One of the more interesting movies of 2007 that I have seen is Paris, je t'aime. As the title indicates it is a portrait of Paris. Why is it so interesting? Well, it is actually a collage of 18 short films that loosely tie together, with the only really common factor being that they all take place in Paris, and most have something to do with love. Sounds shmoozy and there are a few of those short films that were strange or odd, but the majority of them were quite good. There are a ton of well known actors and actresses that you might recognize, and each of the segments was directed by a different director. The clips with Natalie Portman, Steve Buscemi, Nick Nolte, and Catalina Sandino Moreno were particularly memorable for me.
It is kind of hard to rehash any kind of a plot to give you a peek, so I will just say that there were about 6 of the segments that I really liked, about 10 that I liked, and 2ish that I didn't like - so I am giving this a solid recommend.
It is kind of hard to rehash any kind of a plot to give you a peek, so I will just say that there were about 6 of the segments that I really liked, about 10 that I liked, and 2ish that I didn't like - so I am giving this a solid recommend.
February 25, 2008
No Reservations (2007)
On the cover this is a romantic comedy right? Although I don't reject that classification outright, there is a dramatic and depressing streak in this movie. That is not to say I didn't like it, or that it wasn't funny.
Zeta-Jones plays Kate Armstrong, a master chef in a prominent New York City restaurant, who, within the first 15 mins of the show, loses a sister in a car accident. Her niece is sent to live with her, and throughout the movie the two struggle to adjust to one another – Zeta-Jones as the New York affluent sophisticate with a sought after career, and her niece Zoe (played by Abigail Brenlin, of Little Miss Sunshine fame) who is struggling to cope with the loss of her mother. So that is the depressing undertone of the movie. The light hearted Nick Palmer (played by Aaron Eckhart), joins Kate's restaurant as the sous-chef at the behest of its owner, to the chagrin of Kate, who rules her kitchen with an iron fist. Of course, you probably guessed they end up together.
There is some good comedy here – especially when the customers of the restaurant send food back to the kitchen, and the brooding Kate has some choice words and deeds to express her displeasure, despite the fact that they are paying customers (See the embedded trailer for a good example). The interplay between Eckhart and Zeta-Jones is better than I thought it would be. I guess what I am saying here is that this is a surprising recommend from me – I am not usually a huge fan of romantic comedies, but this one was quite well done.
By the way, I know nothing about the restaurant business (other than my mandate to tip generously regardless of the service – at the behest of my wife, who is a former waitress). But after having seen this movie and Ratatouille I feel rather enlightened :). It sure seems to confirm the hypothesis that movies come out in twos (Think Braveheart vs. Rob Roy, Tombstone vs. Wyatt Earp, and The Illusionist vs. The Prestige).
Zeta-Jones plays Kate Armstrong, a master chef in a prominent New York City restaurant, who, within the first 15 mins of the show, loses a sister in a car accident. Her niece is sent to live with her, and throughout the movie the two struggle to adjust to one another – Zeta-Jones as the New York affluent sophisticate with a sought after career, and her niece Zoe (played by Abigail Brenlin, of Little Miss Sunshine fame) who is struggling to cope with the loss of her mother. So that is the depressing undertone of the movie. The light hearted Nick Palmer (played by Aaron Eckhart), joins Kate's restaurant as the sous-chef at the behest of its owner, to the chagrin of Kate, who rules her kitchen with an iron fist. Of course, you probably guessed they end up together.
There is some good comedy here – especially when the customers of the restaurant send food back to the kitchen, and the brooding Kate has some choice words and deeds to express her displeasure, despite the fact that they are paying customers (See the embedded trailer for a good example). The interplay between Eckhart and Zeta-Jones is better than I thought it would be. I guess what I am saying here is that this is a surprising recommend from me – I am not usually a huge fan of romantic comedies, but this one was quite well done.
By the way, I know nothing about the restaurant business (other than my mandate to tip generously regardless of the service – at the behest of my wife, who is a former waitress). But after having seen this movie and Ratatouille I feel rather enlightened :). It sure seems to confirm the hypothesis that movies come out in twos (Think Braveheart vs. Rob Roy, Tombstone vs. Wyatt Earp, and The Illusionist vs. The Prestige).
February 22, 2008
American Gangster (2007)
If there is one movie genre that I love more than zombies and sci-fi, it is a good mob movie. And if there are two actors that I had to say are my favorites of all time, on a given day you probably would hear me annoint Russell Crowe and Denzel Washington. So needless to say, I was super hyped when I first saw the cutouts for American Gangster at the movie theaters last year. I never made it to the theater to see it, but it finally came out on video this last week.
The movie is based on the real life story of Frank Lucas (played by Washington), a Harlem crime lord that smuggles heroin from Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War in the coffins of dead service men. Crowe plays cop Richie Roberts who makes a name for himself as a good cop in a corrupt New York City police force.
I was really hoping to see some fireworks as the colossal actors faced off, but there is surprisingly little screen time when the two are together - it only happens in the last 10 minutes of the film. Don't get me wrong, the acting was superb, as you would expect, but it didn't quite live up to what I had imagined in my mind. Overall the movie was good, but I can't shake this nagging feeling that it could have been truly great. I give it a qualified recommend - as with Scarface, Blow, and any of those other unknown-ambitious-ruthless-dude-makes-it-big-in-the-drug-business type of movies, there is a lot of language, drugs, and sex, so the sensitive should beware.
The movie is based on the real life story of Frank Lucas (played by Washington), a Harlem crime lord that smuggles heroin from Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War in the coffins of dead service men. Crowe plays cop Richie Roberts who makes a name for himself as a good cop in a corrupt New York City police force.
I was really hoping to see some fireworks as the colossal actors faced off, but there is surprisingly little screen time when the two are together - it only happens in the last 10 minutes of the film. Don't get me wrong, the acting was superb, as you would expect, but it didn't quite live up to what I had imagined in my mind. Overall the movie was good, but I can't shake this nagging feeling that it could have been truly great. I give it a qualified recommend - as with Scarface, Blow, and any of those other unknown-ambitious-ruthless-dude-makes-it-big-in-the-drug-business type of movies, there is a lot of language, drugs, and sex, so the sensitive should beware.
February 21, 2008
Ratatouille (2007)
Back when the movie Cars was coming out, I thought I finally lost interest in Pixar movies - the previews were just so dumb. Thankfully someone sat me down to watch it and my faith was restored. The fact is - Pixar never misses a beat, and I should have known that by now. Every single one of their movies has been a home run as far as I am concerned.
So it was with great anticipation that my wife and I went and saw Ratatouille, in the theater no less (yes we do get out sometimes). The movie is about a rat who loves to cook. He is ostracized from his clan of rats that eat garbage, and moves to Paris to follow his destiny. He soon meets up with an aspiring chef, and almost by accident the young man realizes that this rat can cook. Comedy ensues as the rat learns to control the actions of this young chef by sitting on his head and pulling his hair. Hiding under the chef's hat, the rats culinary creations are the talk of Paris, and soon the pair is squaring off against the premier food critic (voiced by Peter O'Toole).
Smaller children will have trouble keeping their attention - I think this is more for an older audience. However, I loved it. The story was fun, the comedy was fresh, and in general, just another great Pixar movie. As I think back to all the movies I have seen this year, this movie sticks out more and more and is climbing on my list of favorites for 2007.
So it was with great anticipation that my wife and I went and saw Ratatouille, in the theater no less (yes we do get out sometimes). The movie is about a rat who loves to cook. He is ostracized from his clan of rats that eat garbage, and moves to Paris to follow his destiny. He soon meets up with an aspiring chef, and almost by accident the young man realizes that this rat can cook. Comedy ensues as the rat learns to control the actions of this young chef by sitting on his head and pulling his hair. Hiding under the chef's hat, the rats culinary creations are the talk of Paris, and soon the pair is squaring off against the premier food critic (voiced by Peter O'Toole).
Smaller children will have trouble keeping their attention - I think this is more for an older audience. However, I loved it. The story was fun, the comedy was fresh, and in general, just another great Pixar movie. As I think back to all the movies I have seen this year, this movie sticks out more and more and is climbing on my list of favorites for 2007.
February 20, 2008
Grindhouse (Planet Terror and Death Proof) (2007)
OK - So I saw this movie out of a bit of self indulgence - I just get a kick out of zombie movies for some reason - plus, I remember watching those terrible movies from the 1970s (not because I was even alive back then, but because during summer vacation they were always on the weird channels in the middle of the day). So needless to say, this double feature that pokes fun at both genres was a blast to watch.
The plot of Planet Terror is pretty senseless, and the details won't do you much good - by some crazy plot device the locals in a small town start turning into zombies, and a small group bands together to fend them off. By far the coolest part of the movie (I am laughing out loud as I type this because it is going to sound so ridiculous) was when they attached an assault rifle onto Rose McGowan's leg, and she starts wasting people with it.
Death Proof is a little more grounded in reality, with Kurt Russell as "Stunt Man Mike" a sadistic serial killer who kills people by smashing into them with his souped up stunt car. The film is slow getting going, but gets quite exciting towards the end, as his next victims turn out to be more than a handful themselves.
I loved both films - and laughed through a lot of it, enjoying the spoof/tribute. However, I think you have to be of the right persuasion to like them - as evidenced by the fact that Grindhouse got great critical reviews but did poorly at the box office.
The plot of Planet Terror is pretty senseless, and the details won't do you much good - by some crazy plot device the locals in a small town start turning into zombies, and a small group bands together to fend them off. By far the coolest part of the movie (I am laughing out loud as I type this because it is going to sound so ridiculous) was when they attached an assault rifle onto Rose McGowan's leg, and she starts wasting people with it.
Death Proof is a little more grounded in reality, with Kurt Russell as "Stunt Man Mike" a sadistic serial killer who kills people by smashing into them with his souped up stunt car. The film is slow getting going, but gets quite exciting towards the end, as his next victims turn out to be more than a handful themselves.
I loved both films - and laughed through a lot of it, enjoying the spoof/tribute. However, I think you have to be of the right persuasion to like them - as evidenced by the fact that Grindhouse got great critical reviews but did poorly at the box office.
February 18, 2008
Gone Baby Gone (2007)
Ben Affleck's directorial debut finally came out on video, and I snatched it up. There has been a lot of buzz around this movie, and I was interested.
Casey Affleck (Ben's brother) stars as a private detective hired to help search for a kidnapped little girl in inner city Boston. Turns out the girl's mother (portrayed by Amy Ryan) is just about as despicable of a person as you could find - addicted to crack, prone to leaving the little girl alone for long stretches at a time - and yet, she is guilt ridden for leaving her daughter long enough to be taken from her. Affleck's character knows "the people" around the neighborhood - meaning of course, he knows all the drug dealers and shady people that lurk around. One clue leads to another as he searches for the girl, and well... the plot is a little complex, and it has a twist ending, so I won't ruin it for you.
I will say this though - it was very good. I have been hearing hype about this movie for a while now, and though it wasn't quite as good as I thought it would be (thats usually the way it is with movies that I have heard a lot about), I still consider it one of the best movies of the year, and think it does deserve the Oscar and Golden Globe nods it is getting. Casey Affleck really shines, and he has a great supporting cast which includes Morgan Freeman, and Ed Harris - two fantastic actors. Who would have thought that geeky dude from Ocean's Eleven was a headlining actor?
Casey Affleck (Ben's brother) stars as a private detective hired to help search for a kidnapped little girl in inner city Boston. Turns out the girl's mother (portrayed by Amy Ryan) is just about as despicable of a person as you could find - addicted to crack, prone to leaving the little girl alone for long stretches at a time - and yet, she is guilt ridden for leaving her daughter long enough to be taken from her. Affleck's character knows "the people" around the neighborhood - meaning of course, he knows all the drug dealers and shady people that lurk around. One clue leads to another as he searches for the girl, and well... the plot is a little complex, and it has a twist ending, so I won't ruin it for you.
I will say this though - it was very good. I have been hearing hype about this movie for a while now, and though it wasn't quite as good as I thought it would be (thats usually the way it is with movies that I have heard a lot about), I still consider it one of the best movies of the year, and think it does deserve the Oscar and Golden Globe nods it is getting. Casey Affleck really shines, and he has a great supporting cast which includes Morgan Freeman, and Ed Harris - two fantastic actors. Who would have thought that geeky dude from Ocean's Eleven was a headlining actor?
February 16, 2008
Across the Universe (2007)
I am a huge Beatles fan (or at least I was before I discovered Led Zeppelin). So naturally, I was excited when I saw the preview for Across the Universe which uses Beatles songs exclusively in its soundtrack, and reference after reference to the pop culture created by the group.
The film follows Jude, a liverpool dock worker, as he moves to New York City to find his father. He meets Lucy while in America, and quickly falls in love. The couple navigate the craziness of the 60s, drugs, sex, rock and roll, and all that jazz. Lucy''s brother Max ends up getting drafted into the Vietnam war, and Lucy becomes a die hard peace activist, while Jude explores his passion for art.
I was a big fan of the movie, even the weirder parts until they ran into Mr. Kite's circus about half way through. There were about 10 minutes of absolute weirdness, that I couldn't get over. However, the actors have great voices, and there is some really cool stuff they did visually and with the music. Plus, I love the music of the Beatles, s I give this a mild recommendation.
The film follows Jude, a liverpool dock worker, as he moves to New York City to find his father. He meets Lucy while in America, and quickly falls in love. The couple navigate the craziness of the 60s, drugs, sex, rock and roll, and all that jazz. Lucy''s brother Max ends up getting drafted into the Vietnam war, and Lucy becomes a die hard peace activist, while Jude explores his passion for art.
I was a big fan of the movie, even the weirder parts until they ran into Mr. Kite's circus about half way through. There were about 10 minutes of absolute weirdness, that I couldn't get over. However, the actors have great voices, and there is some really cool stuff they did visually and with the music. Plus, I love the music of the Beatles, s I give this a mild recommendation.
February 7, 2008
Mr. Brooks (2007)
It has been quite a while since I saw Kevin Costner in a movie that I thought was even decent - but finally after so many years, I found one. Costner plays Mr. Brooks, a successful businessman, who lives a normal life by day in the suburbs with his wife and daughter. By night however, this movie takes a dark twist as it is revealed that he is actually a serial killer with an addiction for the grotesque. William Hurt lends a supporting role as the personification of Costner's addiction, and is constantly at his side urging him to give in to his guilty pleasure. Things turn dicey as his latest murder is witnessed by a peeping tom, played by Dane Cook, but rather than turn Mr. Brooks in, he wants in on the fun.
This is a very creepy movie, but quite fascinating, as it explores the depths of Mr. Brooks' twisted psychological disorder. Costner and Hurt both do an incredible acting job, and it is their interplay that makes this movie really compelling. Sometimes they argue, sometimes they agree, sometimes they try to convince each other of some action - all the while portraying the Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde halves of the larger Mr. Brooks. In the end I was highly disturbed, and as usually happens with this type of movie, wondered if I was imagining my reality. But I never enjoyed being disturbed or prodded into solipsism quite as much as I did while watching this movie.
This is a very creepy movie, but quite fascinating, as it explores the depths of Mr. Brooks' twisted psychological disorder. Costner and Hurt both do an incredible acting job, and it is their interplay that makes this movie really compelling. Sometimes they argue, sometimes they agree, sometimes they try to convince each other of some action - all the while portraying the Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde halves of the larger Mr. Brooks. In the end I was highly disturbed, and as usually happens with this type of movie, wondered if I was imagining my reality. But I never enjoyed being disturbed or prodded into solipsism quite as much as I did while watching this movie.
February 6, 2008
A Mighty Heart (2007)
Angelina Jolie flexes here acting muscles (how is that for a totally bizarre and random metaphor) in A Mighty Heart. The film is based on the true story of the kidnapping of Wall Street Journal Reporter Daniel Pearl in 2002 by Islamic terrorists in Pakistan. Jolie portrays the Daniel Pearl's wife Mariane who relentlessly prods the police and government into pursuing Pearl's kidnappers.
If you are a news junkie, you know how this story ends. However, you may not know some of the nitty-gritty details of the story. I was fascinated as the Pakistani authorities followed the trail of evidence in pursuit of the terrorists. I know it is a movie - but, being based on a true story, it made the fight against terrorism very real to me, and shows that there are good people around the world that are joining in this fight. Jolie's portrayal was thought by some to be Oscar-worthy, and I tend to agree, but alas, she was snubbed.
I highly recommend this movie to anyone, except for children as it contains a good deal of vulgar language and frightening images of terrorism and violence.
If you are a news junkie, you know how this story ends. However, you may not know some of the nitty-gritty details of the story. I was fascinated as the Pakistani authorities followed the trail of evidence in pursuit of the terrorists. I know it is a movie - but, being based on a true story, it made the fight against terrorism very real to me, and shows that there are good people around the world that are joining in this fight. Jolie's portrayal was thought by some to be Oscar-worthy, and I tend to agree, but alas, she was snubbed.
I highly recommend this movie to anyone, except for children as it contains a good deal of vulgar language and frightening images of terrorism and violence.
February 3, 2008
Waitress (2007)
Now you must understand one thing about me - I like a good romantic comedy from time to time, but I am a guy, and sometimes I have to work myself up to it. So, when I saw the preview for Waitress, the romantic comedy starring Kari Russell, I was underwhelmed. However, all of my favorite critics raved about it - that and the fact that my wife is a huge (seriously HUGE) fan of Felicity (which stars Kari Russell) - and I finally gave in and rented it.
Kari Russell stars as a small town diner waitress, that loves to bake pies. Her life is the epitome of misery and depression, as her husband is verbally and emotionally abusive. As she strives to save cash so she can run away and enter a pie baking contest, she finds out that she is pregnant, which further boxes her into a life that she despises. Things turn from depressing, to maddeningly complicated as she falls in love with the new town doctor. Their relationship turns into an affair that offers her the only escape from her dark world. Sounds like a pretty depressing plot I know, but it plays like a comedy, so it is not quite as depressing as it sounds....
The movie was far more interesting than I ever thought it would be. It was full of difficult moral choices, and the drama that is the inevitable result. The acting was really good, Kari Russell won me over (and I have to admit, ever since, I have watched a few episodes of Felicity since then...). Now I will always have a hard time with a movie that justifies an extra-marital affair - however, if there was ever a case for it, this movie makes it. The ending was especially satisfying (I won't spoil it for you).
I highly recommend this movie to just about anyone - but not for kids (there are a few sexually charged scenes, and some language).
Kari Russell stars as a small town diner waitress, that loves to bake pies. Her life is the epitome of misery and depression, as her husband is verbally and emotionally abusive. As she strives to save cash so she can run away and enter a pie baking contest, she finds out that she is pregnant, which further boxes her into a life that she despises. Things turn from depressing, to maddeningly complicated as she falls in love with the new town doctor. Their relationship turns into an affair that offers her the only escape from her dark world. Sounds like a pretty depressing plot I know, but it plays like a comedy, so it is not quite as depressing as it sounds....
The movie was far more interesting than I ever thought it would be. It was full of difficult moral choices, and the drama that is the inevitable result. The acting was really good, Kari Russell won me over (and I have to admit, ever since, I have watched a few episodes of Felicity since then...). Now I will always have a hard time with a movie that justifies an extra-marital affair - however, if there was ever a case for it, this movie makes it. The ending was especially satisfying (I won't spoil it for you).
I highly recommend this movie to just about anyone - but not for kids (there are a few sexually charged scenes, and some language).
January 30, 2008
The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)
By far the best of the bazillion sequels that came out this last summer is latest Bourne film. The movie continues following amnesia-ridden Jason Bourne, who, in the first film, found out he was a government assassin working for the CIA. As the film begins, the CIA comes up with another reason why Jason Bourne is still a threat - the exact reason doesn't matter much, it is just a plot device to get us on the path to gratuitous violence, which - lets face it - is why we decided to watch this movie anyway.
As the plot develops, Bourne decides to take the fight back to CIA headquarters, and so the aforementioned gratuitous violence moves from London, to Tunisia, and finally to New York, where the headquarters of Bourne's former CIA division are located.
I was actually just so-so about half way through the movie, even though the first scene was pretty cool. However, there is an amazing chase/fight scene that occurs about 2/3 of the way in that sealed the deal for me. Bourne gets in a foot chase, and a wicked-awesome-fist/martial-artsy fight with another assassin in Tangiers, the likes of which I have not seen recently. Then, as the fight moves to New York City, there is a car chase that rivals the intensity of the culminating chase scene in The Bourne Supremacy. I was on the edge of my seat solid for the last half of the movie. I highly recommend this movie, one of the better movies of 2007.
As the plot develops, Bourne decides to take the fight back to CIA headquarters, and so the aforementioned gratuitous violence moves from London, to Tunisia, and finally to New York, where the headquarters of Bourne's former CIA division are located.
I was actually just so-so about half way through the movie, even though the first scene was pretty cool. However, there is an amazing chase/fight scene that occurs about 2/3 of the way in that sealed the deal for me. Bourne gets in a foot chase, and a wicked-awesome-fist/martial-artsy fight with another assassin in Tangiers, the likes of which I have not seen recently. Then, as the fight moves to New York City, there is a car chase that rivals the intensity of the culminating chase scene in The Bourne Supremacy. I was on the edge of my seat solid for the last half of the movie. I highly recommend this movie, one of the better movies of 2007.
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