2008 Film Diary - Non 2008 Releases

Simply Heartbreaking. Fantastic Performances all around. It truly makes you understand the power of parenting. Everything wrong that happened in this film (which is based on a true story) could have been avoided with good or at least an attempt at parenting. Truly heartbreaking.

This is a near perfect film for me. Really loved it. This is the kind of hard sci-fi flick that is most important to me. The enormity of the dire situation and the sheer size and power that the sun is presented in gives great scope to this very atmospheric film. Great music as well. It's nice to see Cilliam Murphy in something other than the "bad guy" role for a change. Nice performances all around. If I really have to nit-pick the only thing that I didnt like was the film's minor dabbling in the "horr/slasher" genre for a brief period. It doesnt destroy the entire film, but probably could be a little less almost supernatural in its presentation. That overlooked this is definately one of the best sci-fi films out in a few years.

This is content over action, which is fine if the content is strong. The message was compellingly shared even if it was a little finger piointing and on the nose. A nice call to action, even if you might not agree with it.

Brilliant performance from Viggo Mortensen. I was simply blown away. Slow and fascinating, you simply become enthralled in the Russian culture that is Cronenberg is sharing with us. The Star tatto story is great. Very smart, powerful film. Great music by Howard Shore as well. Oustanding film.

Not the worst movie of 2007, but pretty damn close. Poorly executed to a massive degree, the basic idea at it's core could be a decent film if handled by the right person. It just reeks of amateur. The script itself is brain dead and needed a complete overhaul by someone with any kind of process of cohesion as this silly story dabbled in and out of the supernatural. Needless and moronic gore shots pollute the film as well.
To me, Lindsey Lohan is always likable in her films. This material is way beneath her abilities and seen mostly as an attempt to continue to distance herself from the "Disney" scene. I can just haer her saying with this film.. IM A GROWN UP NOW!! Apparently it takes her playing a Stripper to prove so. Saldy for Lindsey lovers her Stripping is a joke because apparently she is the ONLY stripper in the film that doesnt go topless. IF your gonna go this far show me show candy Lindsey, jeez.
And finally, Atrificial Limbs as "Spooky" is officially TIRED now. Moronic with a called M.

The real gem of this film is discovering Sienna Miller. Beautiful and smart she handles her role her with a lot of sass and depth. My main problem with the film itself is that that conversation doesnt feel real... it feels written. Handled well by Miller and Buscehi but still ultimately with a canned vibe. The cat and mouse game is fun, but it's difficult to follow since you never know what is real or bullshit. Nice ending. I will definately be interested to see where Miller's career goes. Was it me or was she trying to look exactly like Jessica Simpson?

simple perfection.

When it was over the only thing I could think to say is "Delightful Film". WOnderful performance by Ellen Page, who after this should have no trouble finding other great roles. Sweet movie, but the songs got on my nerves after a while.

An OK film with a totally unbelievable ending. Kind of a letdown. Crowe was great as usual. Nice Score.

Something felt like it was missing. Whereas Ricchard Shephard's previous film, THE MATADOR, nailed it with strong and fun characters this movie felt miscast or something. It felt like drinking a bottle of flat soda or bread thats a few days past it's expiration date. Not bad, but not good at all.

Maybe 2 laughs in the entire movie. A chore to sit through. Maybe the kids like it, but Shrek the 3rd doesnt even stand up to the previous one which sucked in comparison to the 1st. The law of diminishing return I guess. Im amazed that it made so much incredible bank. People really know how to throw their money away.

Hot Chicks, Bad Ass Kung Fu, Lots of Slow-Mo, WHats NOT to like. The definition of a Guilty Pleasure film that is smart enough to never take itself too seriously.

As a Time Travel/Sci-Fi fan I found this film very fun. Very touching at the end. Great film for the Family. Thanks for the recomendation, Wesley.

Absolute bottom of the barrel. Hideous. The WORST film of 2007 hands down. A chore to fight through.

What a fantastic suprise. Amazing animation. Loved the point of view shots. Laugh out loud funny. Seinfeld's script is golden. Really enjoyed this big time.

What an utterly amazing wretched piece of shit. They have actually managed to make a Alien film LESS appealing than Alien Ressurection. A chore to get through. Absolute garbage. Makes AVP1 look like a masterpiece. FOX you are a bunch of raging idiots.

WOW! Who knew Ben Affleck had this in him. It looks like an old pro directed this film. I'm stunned. An all around haunting film that will continue to ask you the question.. what is indeed better for the child? Fantastic performances all around.

Up until the last few minutes of the film I was simply transfixed. Beautiful, emotional, powerful on all counts. Fantastic and strange music score as well. Daniel Day-Lewis is simply amazing. Heartbreaking. and then BOOM.. the ending is confusing, feels oiut of place and awkward..BUT its also got me kind of floating in a sense of WTF was that? Still an amazing work from PTA.

Ya know....ZZZZzzzzzzzz..... whatever. It was fine. I see the point, I see why this is a critical darling of a film, but honestly I was bored. Wonderful performances, especially from Tom Wilkinson. Great "jam it up ya ass" ending was nice but couldnt pay me back for the haul of getting through the film. Nice film, just not for me.

The failure of this film is heartbreaking, especially since it has some true moments of brilliance in it. The use of music is strong and reminded me of Michael Mann's Manhunter. Erie, yet hauntingly beautiful. I quite enjoyed Costner in this role. The scenes where he silently prays to himself are powerful. The intteraction between Costner and William Hurt is simply fantastic and the real heart of the film. Somehow before the end that gets lost.
The failure of the film is due to " too much plot". There are nothing short of 4 seperate serial killers/wannabes in the film, not only making it unbelievalbe but also a little hokey. Can their be that many serial killers walking amongst us on a regular basis? Spread out over a longer time it might have been a little more believable. This would have worked better as a Mini-Series type of deal.. but then it would just be DEXTER (whihc is MUCHG better than this). Worst of all is the angle of following the Millionaire Cop Divorcee (Demi Moore) who is hunting multiple killers. Her plotline and character development take time away from the main plot of Mr. Brooks and sinks this ship. Demi Moore is also very mis-cast in this role. She in no way felt like a grizzled Manhunter and really just came off as an annoyance. AND we wasted time on chasing a completely other serial killer that was after her. I enjoyed the Father/Daughter relationship much more than the wasted time with Demi's character. MArk this one down as a big ol Coulda Been. To damn bad.

Nifty Polar Bears. Thats about all I can say for the big, expensive piece o' LAME.

A well made and Beautiful film (cinematography). I very much liked the perspective device used to keep us off guard and not know what is reality and what is.. something else. While the film attempts to make a big war statement it kind of feels a little empty around the middle not exactly knowing what the main point is. In the end it kind of just feels like a tragic romance chick flick.. but with very high standards. Its OK. Just OK. I'll forget it by tomorrow.

Fantastic Bio doc. on simple people with a dream to become famous. Sad yet heartwarming, the film follows these "actors" as they dress as superheros and pose with tourists for tips in front of Mann's Chinese Theater. Always inresting and endaering we follow these folks who, at the very least, have an optimisstic outlook on their quest for fame. Best of all, this Doc. just follows it's subjects and lets their world dictate the path of the film. It never tries to push any agenda, just that here are these unlikely and strange people moving through life in a way different than most of us. Christor Dennis (Superman) has slowly become a Hollywood Icon and as he says has, all of the Fame and none of the Fortune. Great Doc.

This was just great. Funny and charming across the board. Amy Adams is just GOLD in this.