SV's Talk

The Proposal

Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds together?? Well it didn't work much for me... No chemistry between those two.
Very predictable and boring....

(500) Days of Summer

A great movie about love even though it claims that it's not one. Tells the story of a 500 day relationship in a mixed editing. It has some really original scenes, some funny moments and some references to classics like Persona and Seventh Seal. Everyone who has been in love, or came close, or even dated once, will find something familiar in this one. And some will find more..

I love the writers note in the beginning: "The following is a work of fiction.
Any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental. Especially you Jenny Beckman. Bitch."

After summer comes the autumn, and I think autumn is great, summer is a bit overrated.

The Terrorist

this beautiful and suspenseful film will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to the end... highly recommended.

Waking Life

Amazing,like a breath of fresh air! Wow this movie really surprised me,so intellectual as a film. In fact it very well make the average viewer feel like an idiot. The whole movie takes place in a dream like state,the main character talking to or rather listening to people rant on a particular subject. Each one is memorizing and captivates you almost like you are in a college course or something.
Another plus is the amazing animation. They switch between animators so each scene seems refreshing to me. Although I must admit some of the scenes gave me a headache.
I think my favorite scene was when he was talking to the man about dreams. This really opens your mind to some interesting stuff. Like controlling your dream once you are aware that it is a dream and that you can tell its a dream when you can't turn off the light switch.
Some may be bored by this film,but the one thing you can't say is that its not original. Its one of the most original movies I have ever seen,always kept me captivated! On top of all of this it has a great ending. What more can you ask for in a film?

Guy Forsyth: Did you ever have a job that you hated and worked real hard at? A long, hard day of work. Finally you get to go home, get in bed, close your eyes and immediately you wake up and realize... that the whole day at work had been a dream. It's bad enough that you sell your waking life for minimum wage, but now they get your dreams for free.

The Brood

An interesting premise.

While it's a little slow on the uptake...if you hold out, it redeems itself in the end.

Paranormal Activity

Nicely done.

Sadly I think there are many people out there who will not appreciate this film. These are the people who do not know the meaning of the world "subtle" or that simply have no use for it in the context of a horror film. The folks that want every detail and backstory spelled out for them, preferably in blood and gore. Those folks are missing out!

But if (like me) your tastes run the gamut and you can appreciate the fine art of building tension and being "creeped out"...then you are in for a treat with this film.

This film owes much to it's predecessor "The Blair Witch Project", but does a really good job of "doing it's own thing" and (for the most part) doing it better.

Our two main characters Katie & Micah really knocked it out of the park, which was not an easy task. In order for this premise to work they had to walk a fine line between being over-done and being wooden and both of these actors(?) delivered.

The fact that they both seem like people that you know and that what is happening to them is happening in a house not all that different then your own all contribute to the power fo this story.

I highly recomend seeing it in a theater if you can, but believe that it would also be a really great "shut off all the lights and curl up on the couch with a blanket" movie. Provided you have someone to curl up with and who will stay the night with you.

Dark City

Overlooked futuristic noir modern classic blending crime thriller, sci-fi and philosophy into one metaphysical mix. As well visual artistry at its best, bleak urban landscapes and perpetual night enclosing an imaginative, wild story imbued with skill and substance. Rufus Sewell excellent, brooding, paranoid, Kiefer Sutherland delightfully creepy.

THX 1138

A pretty cool concept, nicely executed.
It's easy to say that it is a bit slow in parts, but if you think of it...that feeling contributes well to the general feel of the society being depicted.
There are bits and pieces of future "film inspirations' littered throughout.
Not a perfect film, but all things considered...an impressive one.

It Happened One Night

Loved this charming and very funny film from Frank Capra. It deserved the five Oscars it garnered in 1934. Highly recommended.

Zombieland

entertaining throughout, with some great humour action and gore throughout, jesse eisenberg plays what he plays whatever hes in,but exellent here, and woody harrelson,again superb, the film flys by, and a centrepiece,where it does slow, will have you in stiches when a actor playing himself steels the show,very funny, yes logic sometimes goes out the window for some scenes, but its a horror comedy, so its cool, a great score, and especially a opening 5 minutes, sets tone perfectly, and doesent let up,heres to more adventures in zombieland

The Invention of Lying

like ghost town, although that was better, gervaise keeps it going,and makes it so much better than it should be. any gervaise fan will like this, and forgive some things, the story isnt perfect, but sometimes concept does grab you, and is funny, and sometimes, it doesent work, but the comedy to drama moments work i guess,and some amusing cameos help the film along,

Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon

A great concept, not very well executed (no pun intended).

This would have been more enjoyable as an actual "dark comedy", but it never really progesses past "dusk". Which makes it feel (at times) more like an attempt at a "edgy" new puplic television series (CW or FOX perhaps?) then an actual film.

There is some really ammusing writing (especially for fans of the horror genre), but it's never quite as clever as it presumes to be.



I just felt like the finished product could have been a lot better.

Before Sunrise

Great movie! Nothing short of a masterpiece,in my eyes this is a perfect love story. Screw,the Notebook,fuck A Walk To Remember,this is the ultimate romance of out time! This movie so original,taking you into a journey into two strangers live for about 1hour and 40 mins. They enrich us with their deep conversations. The stories about their first love experiences,never before have I have to engaged in to what two characters had to say on screen. For the most part the dialogues felt natural and unforced. Ethan Hawke and Juli Delpy felt almost perfect for each other and the part. There wasnt a second that I denied their chemistry on screen. I could tell that they were falling in love,they may never meet again,but that didnt matter to me,just that they were in the moment for one night. Perfect...

Jesse: You know what's the worst thing about somebody breaking up with you? It's when you remember how little you thought about the people you broke up with and you realize that is how little they're thinking of you. You know, you'd like to think you're both in all this pain but they're just like "Hey, I'm glad you're gone".

The Invention of Lying

Let me preface this by saying that I went into this with the belief that Ricky Gervais is pretty much a comedy genius. This film only served to cemented that belief.

Those of you who might go see this (or avoid it) thinking "oh that movie has been done before", trust me when I say that this film is much deeper then any variaton on the "it's funny to always tell the absolute truth" premise.

Part of it's genius is the fact that if you go into this looking for a mindless romantic comedy, you might very well leave the theater thinking that is all that is was. But for those of us who long for something more, there is plenty to process.

Mark's (Gervais) first lie is selfish. Not premeditated by any means, simply a desperate attempt to get himself out of a bind. And it opens a "Pandora's Box" of similar self promoting "untruths". Leading to a series of pretty funny moments as Mark tries to grasp the magnitude of the new power he has "invented".

But It is not until he creates a lie to help sooth his dying mothers fears, that the trouble begins. It's at this point that your thoughts start to be "provoked" in between the belly laughs and giggles.

As a matter of fact, this films only downfall may be the fact that it is probably too deep for much of the "average American" audiences. Fortunately if you are one of my Flixster friends, your film tastes are (mostly) ABOVE average. So I think you are in for a real treat.

The film has a pretty solid and "all star" cast (a reflection of just how popular Gervais's work is?), though most of the big names appear only in small roles or cameos. Extras fans watch for a cameo from "Darren" (Stephen Merchant) and "Barry from Eastenders" (Shaun Williamson). Jennifer Garner is delightful as "Anna" Mark's love interest.

While it is not AS funny as I had hoped it would be...and it is not as consistent as one might expect...it is probably one of the most thought provoking and intelligent comedies I have seen in a very long time.

Trick 'r Treat

Got to preview this last weekend at Long Beach Comicon and sat through a Q & A with the director.
I highly recomend this film to fans of both Halloween and horror films.
It has a wonderful feel and look and is both creepy and whimsical.
The four stories are very cleverly woven together.
A real treat with lots of fun tricks!

The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog

Hitch's third film as Director. The first of many to use the wrong man theme and the first Hitch cameo.

Wait Until Dark

All things considered, a really well done and engrossing film for it's time.

The plot line is overly complicated for it's own good, but the trick here is NOT to over analyze it. Just sit back and enjoy the ride.

The cast is solid and everyone does a good (if not a bit hammy at times) job in their roles.

Lot's of fun and creative ideas come into play which have (over the years) been borrowed from in other films.

I really good "old fashioned" thriller.

Happy-Go-Lucky

date viewed: 10/3/09 Sally Hawkins is irrepressible as Poppy. Karina Fernandez has a terrific scene as the flamenco teacher, "MY SPACE, stomp-stomp". Happily Recommended.

Orphan

Good perfermances (Isabelle Fuhrman is great as Esther!). In general, it's a very decent thriller.
The most important reason you have to watch this movie? You REALLY won't expect what's wrong with Esther....