| Movie | Rating | Review | Date | Your Rating | Match | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ghost Rider - PG-13 |
I can't really be hard on a movie that doesn't take itself at all seriously. It is what it is and doesn't try to be anything more. In the comic book world, Ghost Rider doesn't have as distinguished a history as Spider-Man, Batman or Daredevil. He's - at best - a B character. There is no definitive Ghost Rider story, which gives the filmmakers a lot of flexibility to create their own vision. It might not have been the vision I'd have gone with, but it was the right tone for popular appeal and a couple of sequels. Nicolas Cage has fun with the role, creating a whole new set of ticks and quirks for his resume. Eva Mendes, however, was just distractingly uninteresting, unconvincing and unable to keep her shirt buttoned all the way up. But the supporting performances from Sam Elliott, Donal Logue and Peter Fonda were very strong, despite how little screen time they got and what little they were given to work with. |
June 16, 2007 | N/A | |||
| The Fountain - PG-13 |
This film isn't as mind-blowingly profound as it thinks it is, but it's still an ambitious and challenging look at the most important - and least understood - aspects of life: love and death. Aronofsky is a visual wizard and the performances from Hugh Jackman and Rachel Weisz help hold things together even when it starts to get far out. It is definitely worth a watch, and if it helps you ponder out the secrets of the universe, all the better. |
June 16, 2007 | N/A | |||
| Red Dawn - PG-13 |
It's sad that this film is looked at as little more than 80s nostalgia or a punch line. As unrealistic and right wing goofy as it might be, I can't think of a better populist time capsule for the Cold War fears and patriotism felt in those years. And let's not forget that it was written and directed by John Milius, the man who wrote "Apocalypse Now." There is a film pedigree here. Ignore the terrible movies that came later from the young cast. Here, in this film, they are something special as an ensemble. Is it the most believable, politically correct depiction of war? No. Do I love every single RPG-firing, Geneva Convention-ignoring, bug-swallowing, father-avenging, snot-bubbling second of it? You bet. Wolverines! |
June 16, 2007 | N/A | |||
| Children of Men - R |
This film is an amazing achievement. It is an instant landmark of science fiction and feels so far ahead of its time that I am left baffled by how it was accomplished. It doesn't dazzle with big budget special effects and overblown action. It lets the characters carry the brunt of the story and grounds it in an ultra-realistic setting. Therefore, when violence does break out, it is more startling and affecting than a desensitized American like myself could ever expect to experience again. (A single bullet striking a man's hand - shown in real time and seen from a hundred yards away - made me jump in my chair, while I yawn through the most gruesome horror movies.) And, of course, the whole thing is captured by some of the most intricate and innovative direction of the digital age. I'm sure Cuaron's more impressive shots are already being studied in film schools. "Children of Men" probably deserves the full 5 stars, but it needs time and repeat viewings to work its way into my brain and settle as the groundbreaking classic I'm sure it is destined to be. |
June 15, 2007 | N/A | |||
| Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus - R | An interesting - if not completely cohesive - look at the emergence of artistic talent from repressed roots. The acting is good, the style is unique and the theme of finding beauty in things the world finds ugly is important. The film as a whole just didn't hold together well enough for me to truly enjoy it. | June 15, 2007 | N/A | |||
| Sherrybaby - R |
This film about addiction, recovery, family and second chances doesn't give the viewer any easy answers or neat resolutions. It is incredibly compelling, but often hard to watch due to the raw emotions it conjures and refuses to let go. Maggie Gyllenhaal is completely fearless in the role, playing it without a speck of vanity. Her intentions are noble, so you root for her, despite how she fails so miserably over and over again. She apparently didn't impress Academy voters, since she forwent the usual routes to an Oscar nomination like gaining weight, wearing prosthetics to make her ugly or spouting off overly-melodramatic monologues in a period piece. Instead, she just gave the most honest, emotionally naked performances the screen has seen in years. |
June 15, 2007 | N/A | |||
| The Big Lebowski - R |
This movie is brilliant. There's no other word for it. I honestly can't believe a comedy with a plot this convoluted, characters this iconoclastic and humor this subtle is beloved by so many people. I guess that speaks to its brilliance. It works on several different levels and is still funny no matter how many times you watch it or how many college kids quote it. The Dude abides. |
June 15, 2007 | N/A | |||
| The Messengers - PG-13 |
This horror flick is visually interesting but conceptually dull. It relies on too many artificial, out-of-nowhere "boo!" scares with bursts of loud music meant to make you jump instead of actual spookiness or psychological horror. I gave it a try because of Sam Raimi's involvement and the fact that the Pang brothers are supposed to be hot shots, but I didn't see anything that won't be in a dozen other horror movies this year. It's got creepy kids with big eyes who see dead people, weird contortionist ghosts skittering up walls and pale, grabby hands coming out of the ground. Yawn. |
June 15, 2007 | N/A | |||
| Salvage - Unrated |
This movie is way better than anything made so cheaply has a right to be. It looks like your run-of-the-mill slasher flick, but there's more to it. (And it was selected to play at Sundance, so someone must agree with me.) Filmed in my hometown of Marietta, Ohio, I was able to see it in a public screening hosted by the filmmakers. I didn't expect much, but was pleasantly surprised. It is tense and scary, with solid performances from a mostly amateur cast. It is also one of the rare cases when a twist ending actually ties things together and feels like a genuine payoff, rather than cheapening what came before for the sake of a shock. Well done, Crook brothers, and I hope to see more from you. |
June 15, 2007 | N/A | |||
| Smokin' Aces - R |
Okay, look: A movie can be GOOD or a movie can be AWESOME. All I ask from my entertainment is that it be one or the other. It is the oh-so-rare film that manages to be both. Bless its heart, "Smokin' Aces" tried. It did everything it could to walk that line. The trouble is, it wasn't nearly good enough for me to call it GOOD, and it wasn't awesome enough by half for me to call it AWESOME. If Carnahan would have tightened up the plot and fleshed out the characters, it might have been a good movie. Or he could have taken the leash off and made it as nuts as the trailer pretended it was. Either way, I would have liked it more. As it stands, it's certainly not a bad way to spend two hours, but it won't go down in cult movie history like I'm sure he hoped. |
June 12, 2007 | N/A | |||
| Tremors 2: Aftershocks - PG-13 |
It might be blasphemy in some circles, but this sequel is nearly as good as the original. Yeah, I said it. It's just as fun, just as exciting and just as quotable. Fred Ward, perhaps bitter about starring in direct-to-video sequels, flawlessly channels Earl, older now and himself bitter about missing his shot at fame and fortune. Michael Gross steals the show again with his "just doing what I can with what I got" shtick. And while no one can replace Kevin Bacon, Christopher Gartin brings a fresh energy that plays just right off his two gruff costars. If you've only seen the first "Tremors," you've been denied critical, need-to-know information. |
June 12, 2007 | N/A | |||
| Notes on a Scandal - R | This is a passable drama, given much more depth by the strong performances of its two leading ladies. A movie about obsession doesn't work unless the actors commit completely. Luckily, what might have been a blah melodrama becomes something a little more. | June 12, 2007 | N/A | |||
| El Laberinto del Fauno (Pan's Labyrinth) - R |
This is one of the best, most original films I've seen in ages. Powerful and haunting, it creates a world that entices you as much as it scares you. Filled with wonderful makeup and effects, acted to perfection and guided by the sure hand of Guillermo Del Toro, "Pan's Labyrinth" was a breakthrough film in 2006, and hopefully paves the way for more smart, adult-themed fantasy. |
June 12, 2007 | N/A | |||
| Little Children - R |
Movies about bored suburbanites and unhappy marriages are just about played out. So I'm not sure what chord this film struck to make it stand out, but I enjoyed it immensely. It felt real, without any plot contrivances or easy answers. The affair happens between two lonely people who feel a connection, not played like some whirlwind romance where a new lover will save them from an abusive marriage. Each of the characters are likable, but with flaws. There are no heroes or villains, just real people trying to figure out what they want from life. "Little Children" is an affecting drama with moments of sharp, black humor and top notch acting. My only complaint is the narration. It was distracting and unnecessary. I'm sure it was taken from the novel, and some of the turns of phrase are clever, but too often it just felt obtrusive and repetitive. Why have a narrator say "this made her sad and worried," when Kate Winslet is more than capable of conveying a more nuanced moment with just the look in her eyes? |
June 12, 2007 | N/A | |||
| The Good Shepherd - R |
I wanted to like this movie. I tried. But it bored me to tears. The acting is impressive all around, especially the brilliantly understated performance from Matt Damon. But 2 hours and 48 minutes? Are you kidding me? That's an awfully long time to put up with an "understated" protagonist and talky cloak and dagger nonsense with no payoff. |
June 12, 2007 | N/A | |||
| Flags of Our Fathers - R |
The concept of the film is terrific, exploring not just the battle of Iwo Jima but the psychological impact that the famous photo had back home and the way it was used to manipulate public opinion. The interplay of the military and the media is fascinating, and of great relevance today. But in execution, "Flags of Our Fathers" falters. While the battles are intense and realistic, the pace during the stateside scenes drags to the point of boredom and the acting is stiff and uncertain. Only Adam Beach as drunken Ira Hayes gives a truly human performance, self destructive and unable to cope with his new status as a hero. I could put up with Eastwood's slow, deliberate pacing if it wasn't built around Paul Haggis' cliche-filled screenwriting. He turns these sympathetic characters into platitude-spouting cartoon drawings of soldiers. It's worth a watch because it is such an important part of our history, but I felt let down by the final product. |
June 12, 2007 | N/A | |||
| Letters from Iwo Jima - R |
It's not the masterpiece some critics have made it out to be, but it's still a very good film. The acting is top notch, and I applaud the effort to tell the story not only from the Japanese perspective but with a Japanese sensibility. But like any Eastwood film, it could have been improved by cutting out half an hour and keeping Paul Haggis the hell away from the script. |
June 12, 2007 | N/A | |||
| Norbit - PG-13 |
No. I won't and you can't make me. Anyway, critic Walter Chaw from Film Freak Central said it better than I ever could: "It's a thoughtless, cancerous, viral, irresponsible pollution whose existence speaks ill of the society that produced it and of any society that would endorse or defend it." |
June 11, 2007 | N/A | |||
| Tremors - R |
I make no apologies. This is one of my favorite films of all time. It is a flawless monster movie, immanently quotable, with a terrific ensemble cast and a sense of humor. Kevin Bacon and Fred Ward play the bickering, reluctant heroes to perfection and Michael Gross gives a tour de force as right-wing gun nut Burt. I watched this almost daily as a kid and still can't change the channel when I see it on. It taught me that no disagreement is so serious that it can't be solved with rock, paper, scissors and no matter what, "stay on them residual boulders!" |
June 11, 2007 | N/A | |||
| Bottle Rocket - R |
Is it possible that the funniest film ever made doesn't have a single punchline? Don't expect big jokes or broad situations. This is a movie of the highest subtlety and the most nuanced of character. As such, it only improves the more times you view it. Wes Anderson's eye for detail and the brilliant, true-to-life performances of the actors involved mesh to create a comedy masterpiece. |
June 11, 2007 | N/A | |||
| Bobby - R |
The problem with having such a huge cast and so many intersecting stories? No development. The actors do their best, but their characters end up being cardboard cutouts of "types," there to teach us important lessons about race and class, whose storylines feel forced to a conclusion rather than evolving organically. The ending was powerful, though. Perhaps that had more to do with RFK's speech hammering home the sad fact that we don't have politicians any more that can so genuinely rally people for positive social change. |
June 11, 2007 | N/A | |||
| Deja Vu - PG-13 |
This is a decent thriller with a metaphysical twist. Denzel Washington is good, but he can carry any movie and instantly make it seem more interesting than it otherwise would have been. And it earns extra points for the very cool VR-helmet car chase and the smarm of Adam Goldberg. |
June 11, 2007 | N/A | |||
| Let's Go To Prison - R |
There is some amazing talent going to waste in this lame, cliche-filled bomb. I don't know whether it was studio tampering, test-audience fidgeting, or just some great comedians phoning it in. Whatever the case, it's a big swing and a miss. |
June 11, 2007 | N/A | |||
| The Good German - R |
I didn't expect much from Steven Soderbergh's homage to 40s noir. I assumed style would trump substance, leaving a thin, experimental try at remaking "Casablanca." And yes, the film was a technical triumph. The look perfectly evoked the period, from the lighting to the editing. But it was also a surprisingly good movie. It might not be for everyone, but I really enjoyed it. |
June 11, 2007 | N/A | |||
| Night at the Museum - PG |
Can it be? A mainstream film made for kids that's actually... wholesome? A family film that doesn't rely on sneaking in risque adult humor to keep the parents awake? Believe it or not, "Night at the Museum" is a warm-hearted comedy that really is fun for the whole family. And bravo to Mr. Van Dyke for his scene-stealing role, hopefully introducing a new generation to one of the finest comedic talents of the past century. |
June 11, 2007 | N/A |
82 ratings
82 reviews
