Matt's Talk

Inglourious Basterds

What a brilliant film!!!
When I heard of it's length, I thought it sounded a bit long. However, this film is so well executed by Tarantino, and brightened with an outstanding character portrayal by Brad Pitt who plays Lieutenant Aldo Raine that it seemed to fly by. Raine organizes a group of Jewish soldiers to engage in targeted acts of retribution, and even take the Nazi's scalps which I thought was a perfect touch and slam to the Nazi scum who couldn't deserve it more.
Raine's squad, known to the enemy as "The Basterds" join a German actress who is also an undercover agent on a mission to take down the Third Reich. The fates converge under a cinema marquee in Paris where a girl(Shosanna Dreyfuss) who witnessed the execution of her family in a German-occupied France has forged a new identity as the owner and operator of a cinema, and is poised to carry out a revenge plan of her own.
After seing this, I realized why it took so long for Tarantino to write(10 years), and how perfect it was that it came to the point where he was writing with Brad Pitt in mind who is the perfect actor for this role with his excellence in characterizing.
There are bits of the soundtrack reminiscent of the spaghetti western scores by Ennio Morricone, but he did in fact work on the score as I discovered upon the end credits adding to the film's intrigue.
This is without question a Tarantino masterpiece, and showcases how he's willing to go in different, more extreme directions with a topic so dismal that it keeps you on the edge of your seat, but not without the reward of the occasional laugh which is my idea of cinematic perfection.

Lars and the Real Girl

This is certainly a different film, but quite good in it's own right.
Ryan Gosling portrays the affable introvert Lars Lindstrom who is in near solitude for years; only to have a "friend" he's met on the internet come and visit. He introduces Bianca to his brother and his wife who are stunned at the fact that Bianca is in fact a life-size "love" doll that Lars is treating and representing as a human being.
The family doctor explains after meeting Bianca in Lars's presence that this is a delusion he's created for reasons unknown, but believes that the best thing is for them to do is go along with it. The subsequent events show the emotional journey for Lars and the people around him, and how Bianca is more helpful than one may think for Lars.
I know that sounds odd, but it's something you have to see to understand. The brilliant acting performance by Gosling really makes this film what it is. The vulnerability and delusional qualities Lars has are quite sad, but are also quite funny at times due to the context of the film, and the reactions of others to Bianca, the "Real Girl".

Wonder Boys

Michael Douglas portrays the pothead professor/writer Grady Tripp struggling with writer's block in this brilliant, comical film. Tripp befriends one of his students James Leer(Tobey Maguire) who he believes in as a writer. There are some humorous situations involving Tripp and James trying to find a jacket once owned by Marilyn Monroe, a college girl and student of his boarding at his home who is quite enamored with him, his publisher portrayed by Robert Downey Jr, and the colossal book he's been writing that even he can't explain. There's a lot going on in this film, so it's rather difficult to summarize in a brief review. I believe this 2000 film is definately one of the better, funniest films of the twenty first century thus far.

Rescue Dawn

This film is based on the true story of Air Force pilot Dieter Dengler(Christian Bale) who is shot down and captured by Vietcong guerrillas in Laos on his first mission to Vietnam. Bale's portrayal of the headstrong pilot is very well done.
This film is pretty dim as it shows emaciated, traumatized war prisoners doing their best to stay alive. Jeremy Davies's character portrayal is haunting as one of the prisoners who's been there for a couple of years surviving on next to nothing, and Steve Zaughn's character is the opposite of what you normally see him portray. Definately a film meant to tell an important, real horror story, and a representative of the heroes from the Vietnam war.

The Happening

This film is a bit of a bore. I like Zooey Deschanel, so most of my rating goes to her despite her stale performance. Mark Wahlberg has become a decent actor, but this is not one of his better performances. However, I don't think the actors had much to work with here, so I need to be fair. Bad, unoriginal screenplays do happen all too often these days.
The story revolves around a couple and a little girl of a friend they are watching who are on the run from a natural crisis that presents a large scale threat to humanity.
There are some creepy moments here and there, but not enough to keep me too interested.

You Kill Me

An alcoholic hitman from a Polish mob family in Buffalo, N.Y. gets sent to San Francisco by his uncle to clean up his act when he messes up a critical assignment, and puts his family in peril.
Frank(Ben Kingsley) attends AA meetings, gets a sponser, and a job at a mortuary which is clearly an ironic place for him to be. The acting in this film is quite good, and is humorous despite the morbid premise.
Tea Leoni, Luke Wilson, Dennis Farina, and Bill Pullman help wind this film into the entertaining tale it is.

Whatever Works

Brilliant film!
It revolves around the existence of an eccentric, self thought genius(Larry David) who abandons his dismal beliefs about pretty much everything in an attempt at a second marriage with a young girl(Evan Rachel Wood) who ran away from home in the South, and shows up to become part of Boris's life in NYC. Is the crossing of their paths meant to be?
Then the girl's mother and father show up to add to the entanglements adding various aspects of humor in this tale of a man who spends way too much time in his intelligent yet quirky head.

Bongwater

It's a Fistful of Resin. lol
I don't know quite what to say about this film other than the fact that it's worth a laugh. Luke Wilson stars as a preppy burnout who's home burns down in a smoke-out splendor, then moves in with his friend played by the crazy yet oh so funny Andy Dick. Wilson has his misadventures collecting shrooms and dropping acid at a friend's "pot farm" with his high and horny friend portrayed by Brittany Murphy, and with his "ex-girlfriend" played by Alicia Witt who finds herself in unsavory scenarios as she's "moving on" with her life. Kind of difficult to give a distinct review of this film because it is what it is, bongwater.

Awake

This is a film I may not have watched, but happened to see enough of on cable which grabbed my interest. It's a psychological thriller that tells the story of a young man(Hayden Christensen) undergoing heart surgery while experiencing "anesthetic awareness" leaving him awake yet paralyzed throughout the intense operation. While he's "under", you learn there's more going on than routine surgery, and his wife's(Jessica Alba) intentions are indeed quite dubious.
I think this film will particularly interest and send some chills through those who are familiar with the surgical procedure, but will be of interest to anyone who is up for some realistic horror.

In the Bedroom

Analogous title for a flm that deals with this state in various ways. Sissy Spacek, Tom Wilkinson, and Marisa Tomei shine in this dismal tale of devastation in a Maine lobster town.
First-time director Todd Field did a brilliant job portraying the loss, rage, and desire for revenge with the help of exceptional acting performances, and the observation of the taciturn anguish so readily available in our everyday lives.

River's Edge

A truly remarkable film! Brilliant character portrayals by a top notch cast. Particularly Dennis Hopper's character portrayal of Feck, the homebound criminal ex-biker. So crazy yet so funny! Crispin Glover's portrayal of Lane is outstanding and hilarious as well, and this film is by no means a comedy. It's a rather dark film yet always watchable and entertaining.

Smiley Face

Happened to catch this one on cable, and couldn't help but watch. The story is quite inane, but it's supposed to be. Anna Faris stars as a pothead actress/slacker with "the munchies" which begins her series of misadventures while attempting to get things on her "to do" list accomplished.
A film worth seeing if you like Anna Faris, and just want to watch something that isn't in the least bit heavy. This film delivers some good, cheap laughs that you know you're in for from the onset.

The Island

I haven't seen this film since I was a kid, and it holds up quite well.
The tale is based on a Peter Benchley(Jaws) novel, and tells the story of an inquisitive reporter who flys to the Caribbean to investigate mysterious ocean disappearances. Blair Maynard's(Michael Caine) plane goes down in a questionable area where he and his son are stranded on some remote island. They are soon to be captured by realistic pirates who inflict various tortures on them forcing Maynard to devise an escape that seems somewhat impossible.
The brilliant Ennio Morricone composed the score which adds to the film's eerie mood of island purgatory

Snow Angels

Sam Rockwell and Kate Beckisale turn in brilliant performances in this moving tale of an estranged, alcoholic husband/father, the life of a teenager, an old baby sitter, and an emotionally frazzled young woman. This film is not a "pick me up" piece of drama, but worth seeing nevertheless.

Raiders of the Lost Ark (Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark)

Couldn't get better than this! This film has enthralled me since it came out when I was nine years old, and still remains a favorite to this day.
I know most of you have seen this many times, but I wanted to review and recommend it after just watching it again. It always holds up, and has something to offer for everyone.
I own the original trilogy, but this is the very best in my opinion.

Them (Ils)

This is a creepy French film reminiscent of The Strangers, scenery comparable to what's used in High(Haute)Tension, and a flavor of it's own giving it an amount of unique suspense.
The film is based on true events, and is something that we all don't expect, but conceive horrific ideas of what may arise from generations on the uprise.

The Way of the Gun

A brilliant film of two criminals portrayed by Benicio Del Toro and Ryan Phillippe who hold a surrogate mother for ransom as they seek an ultimate fortune.
The acting is first rate by Del Toro, Phillippe, and James Caan as the opposing professional hitman, and the "gunplay" scenes are very well executed allowing for optimal suspense.
The end scenes shot in New Mexico are reminiscent of the spaghetti westerns, but differ in a modern, realistic look at the violence that may result from these situations.

Ned Kelly

Story of the impoverished Irish immigrant Kelly family living in Australia in the latter part of the 19th century. Bushranger Ned Kelly(Heath Ledger) is wrongfully accused and imprisoned of stealing a horse, but emerges a few years later with his mother and siblings in which he makes money as a bare-knuckle boxer. After Ned and his mother are unjustly charged with murder, Ned Kelly is determined to avenge his family's name and strike back against his people's oppressors.
Ledger's portrayal of the Jesse James-esque Kelly is quite brilliant as he and his gang become the invincible "outlaws" of the Outback. Ned Kelly becomes a legend/hero, and still is to this day for his valor, and keen insight into justice so often ignored by so called authority figures.

The Ninth Gate

Johnny Depp portrays a rare book dealer in search of the last two copies of a book said to be written by the devil himself. The cinematography and acting is brilliant, and Polanski never fails to let you know you're watching one of his unique pieces.
This film is quite creepy as it draws pictures in ways that your imagination needs to define.

High Tension (Switchblade Romance)

Two students don't know what awaits them as they head to a remote country family home to study for upcoming exams. Horror ensues as a psychopathic "stranger" forces their way into the home as night falls.
This film does indeed have a twist that adds to the ascending tension in a unique tale of terror.