| Movie | Rating | Review | Date | Your Rating | Match | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (500) Days of Summer - PG-13 |
A realistic (funny, tragic, honest) look at relationships. It stars two of my favorite "indy" actors, Jospeh Grodon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel who are always a delight to watch and deliver here performances that are quirky, charming and painfully believable.
Perhaps a close second (after the two actors) favorite "star" of this film is (my home town) Los Angeles. Shown here in rare form and reminding me (and the rest of the world) of all the beauty that can be found here. Which for once is shown to be more then just palm trees and "beautiful" people. And almost as enjoyable is the eclectic soundtrack featuring: The Smiths, Carla Bruni, Regina Spektor, Feist, Hall & Oates and Simon And Garfunkel (to name a few). The only problem that I had (SPOLIER ALERT) is the fact that after (500 days) of alternating between leading Tom on, putting him off and declaring that she doesn't want/need to be with anyone...Summer can both find and marry her "soul mate" in a matter of just a few weeks. While I can see a writer wanting this to be a sign of her "quirkiness" and possibly the fact that she might be a littIe unstable (an ultimately not a great match for Tom)...I feel like it would have been just as effective (and would have allowed her character to remain both quirky AND likable) if she would have just gotten engaged to the other guy. But other then that, I enjoyed the story and the clever way that it was told. |
December 31, 2009 | N/A | |||
| Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire - R |
I went into this expecting to be an emotional wreck when it was over, but that never happened. Though it was quite disturbing and very moving.
I will say that the cast is AMAZING and they all do a phenomenal job. Especially the two leads (Sidibe and Mo'Nique) who really loose themsleves in their roles and drag you right into their dark and twisted world. While Paula Patton as Precious's teacher, gives a very powerful performance and offers one of the few rays of hope in Precious's otherwise bleak world. And, I never thought I would EVER say (much less write) a kind word about Mariah Carey as I think she is a talentless singer and one of the most annoying personalities on the planet...but (mark this on your calendars) I have to say that her performance was solid and totally believable. Her brief but powerful part is well worth noting. My only problem with the film is with the WAY that the story is told, especially the fantasy/escape scenes. While I can see someone feeling like Precious needed some sort of escape/relief (for fear her story might otherwise be far too horrific for some people to take), but to me it really cheapens the feel of the film and trivializes to some extent the overall power of the story. Because of this It felt to me (at times) a little too much like a (R rated version ) of a "Lifetime Movie" or an "After School Special". But perhaps that was the intent...to make it accessible to a wider audience? |
December 30, 2009 | N/A | |||
| Avatar - PG-13 |
A must see. And to truly appreciate the visual and technological beauty of this film...you really should see in 3D.
Unfortunately to spite the technological & visual majesty and an intriguing mythology, the film suffers from some painfully predictale plot lines and terribly trite caricatures. Pretty much the same problems that plagues most of Cameron's films. I really wish the studios would start to insist that he spend a fraction of the time on his scripts as he does on his effects. His sole concern always seems to be the visual aspects of his films. But I guees money talks and as long as people will pay for the eye candy, everything else will remain unimportant in his mind. Having said that, the visual aspects are truly AMAZING. You should really check this one out. Just don't expect anything too exciting in the dialog or character department. |
December 30, 2009 | N/A | |||
| The Proposal - PG-13 |
Sandra Bullock does her best "Sandra Bullock being bitchy".
Ryan Reynolds is sexy but completely annoying. Mary Steenburgen is beautiful and charming. Betty White is hilarious and under used. |
December 30, 2009 | N/A | |||
| Tokyo Godfathers - PG-13 |
A "delightful" little Christams story.
Beats the hell out of that horrible "It's A Wonderful Life". |
December 29, 2009 | N/A | |||
| Bakjwi (Thirst) - R |
An interesting spin on vampire lore.
While it starts out a little on the slow side, the last 45 minutes are quite enjoyable and worth the wait. Almost a sort of (slightly more subtle) vampiric version of a Tarantino film, without having to deal with Tarantino's penchant for excessive dialog and self indulgent cameos. |
December 18, 2009 | N/A | |||
| The Broken Hearts Club - R |
A very interesting cast for a mostly average film.
Nothing ground breaking here, but it was an enjoyable little journey. Seemed to enforce stereotypes (there is always at least a little truth in them) while giving a fairly realistic look at some of the (internal) issues that the gay community has to deal with. A bit like a gay version of one of those "Lifetime" movies. |
December 14, 2009 | N/A | |||
| Zombieland - R |
Great fun for fans of horror/zombie films.
Though I have to say that while both Harrelson & Eisenberg are great and the film was pretty consistantly ammusing...Bill Murray's 10 minutes of screen time was by far the high point of the film. |
December 11, 2009 | N/A | |||
| Psycho Beach Party - Unrated |
An amusing little homage to 50's/60's beach party/surfing & horror b-movies.
Lauren Ambrose is great (as usual) and the rest of the cast seems to be having a lot of fun with all of the silliness and sexual undertones. Nothing ground breaking, but it was enjoyable. |
December 10, 2009 | N/A | |||
| Rear Window - PG | December 4, 2009 | N/A | ||||
| Citizen Kane - PG | December 4, 2009 | N/A | ||||
| Small Town Gay Bar - Unrated |
While very thoughtfully made, this has to be one of the most depressing films that I've seen in a long time.
As if the blatant homophobia and prejudice were not depressing enough...the fact that the "bars" that these folks relish and take refuge in are often little more then rundown houses or shacks with a strobe light, beer cooler and a CD player was just heartbreaking. So desperate for a place to "fit in" and make some sort of honest connection with like minded people, these folks were just happy to be anywhere where they could be themselves. But I was more then a little amazed that in such a repressed part of the country that nearly every gay or lesbian shown in this film was "off the charts" on the gay meter. We are talking Flaming Boys/Men, Raging Drag Queens, and some pretty Butch Lesbians. Not that I'm advocating hiding who you are. I just feel that if I were living in an area where my life could be at stake for "being who I am" I think I would make more of an effort to "blend in" or move to somewhere more civilized. Let the bigots and the Jesus freaks have the backwoods! My main problem with the film is that I didn't feel that the point came across as clearly as it needed to, about how all of the negative aspects of "gay lifestyle" that the bigots and hypocrites always seem to focus on (promiscuity, infidelity, drugs, etc.) are for the most part just a prevalent in "hetero lifetyles" as well. I guess as documentaries go...it does it's job for the most part. It makes you think. |
December 4, 2009 | N/A | |||
| Aliens in the Attic - PG | December 2, 2009 | N/A | ||||
| My Sister's Keeper - PG-13 | December 2, 2009 | N/A | ||||
| The Yellow Handkerchief - PG-13 | December 2, 2009 | N/A | ||||
| I Love You Phillip Morris - Unrated | December 2, 2009 | N/A | ||||
| Agora - Unrated | December 2, 2009 | N/A | ||||
| Edge of Darkness - PG | December 2, 2009 | N/A | ||||
| Creation - PG-13 | December 2, 2009 | N/A | ||||
| Legion - R | December 2, 2009 | N/A | ||||
| Bitch Slap - R | December 2, 2009 | N/A | ||||
| Youth in Revolt - R | December 2, 2009 | N/A | ||||
| Vivaldi (Antonio Vivaldi) - Unrated | December 2, 2009 | N/A | ||||
| The White Ribbon (Das weisse Band) - R | December 2, 2009 | N/A | ||||
| Giallo - Unrated | December 2, 2009 | N/A |
3140 ratings
471 reviews
