| Movie | Rating | Review | Date | Your Rating | Match | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nine - PG-13 |
Penelope Cruz brought me into the theatre, and after her scintilating dance in the beginning, I said it wasn't going to get any better, and I was right at least from my point of view. So most of my two and a half stars goes to her.
I wasn't expecting a full blown musical because that's not my thing, but this is a musical indeed. If it wasn't for Penelope Cruz and Marion Cotillard, I would have run out of the theatre. Objectively speaking, I was impressed with Kate Hudson's ability to sing and dance, and Stacy Ferguson(Fergie) certainly can deliver a song and put on a show as well. Daniel Day-Lewis is clearly a fine actor, but his performance in this as a world famous director with his mistress, etc., just seemed to fall flat. However, I'm not into musicals, so that really hurts my opinion of this film. I'm sure there are people who'll like this, but if you're expecting a film with good acting and a well told and shown story, I suggest you look elsewhere such as the film this was based on, Fellini's "8 1/2". |
January 4, 2010 | N/A | |||
| Pride and Glory - R | Gripping, intense film regarding a family of police officers(father, two sons, and son in law) who deal with corruption in their precinct in Washington Heights, NYC. Edward Norton turns in yet another brilliant performance in this somewhat dark film about the dubious brother in law's involvement in an incendiary case, and what is actually going on in the precinct which is primarily held together by this family whose moral codes are tested to the utmost. Do their loyalties belong to the department, or to each other? | January 1, 2010 | N/A | |||
| Taken - PG-13 | Quite a gripping film about two girls who go abroad to follow U2 despite the concern of the one girl's former spy father. This film shows the vulnerability of young girls traveling alone to areas unknown to them, and is most likely something that really happens. Liam Neeson turns in a fine performance as the former spy who relies upon his training experience to save his beloved daughter from certain doom which is so prevalent in our world. | December 30, 2009 | N/A | |||
| Judgment Night - R |
Denis Leary's portrayal of a deadly gang leader is a perfect example of playing the "oppposite" with his dry sense of humor, and that hard to distinguish smile. Definately someone who deserves much more credit as an actor.
The film consists of four friends on their way to a boxing match that get caught in gang-land as they get off the freeway in hope of a quicker route to their destination. All hell breaks loose when they believe they hit a young man who they bring aboard their RV to help, but learn that help is something devoid in this particular area. |
December 27, 2009 | N/A | |||
| The Hangover - R |
Hilarious flm about four friends who go to Las Vegas for a night they'll never forget, and perhaps never remember as a bachelor party goes awry including the misplacing of the groom to be.
Upon awaking after an unexplained evening that is unfolded as the film progresses, a tiger is in the bathroom, and a six-month year old child is in the closet of their luxury suite at Caesar's Palace. The clever storyline lets just enough out at a time to make this film a cinematic hangover that may just stay with you. |
December 25, 2009 | N/A | |||
| Brothers - R |
A mesmerizing, gloomy depiction of a tortured Marine captain's return from duty in Afghanistan to his once happy family.
Natalie Portman, Tobey Maguire, and Jake Gyllenhaal turn in brilliant performances in this film, and the premise is something that needs to be addressed due to the number of soldiers who come back carrying the war with them, and have it flashing consistently in their fragile minds. Tobey Maguire portrays the Marine captain, and Jake Gyllenhaal portrays his brother who was recently released from prison. As an ex-Marine himself in Vietnam, the father(Sam Shepard) is inclined to favor the son serving his country, but learns that heroes are not only needed on the battlefields of war, but on the battlefields of life itself. |
December 11, 2009 | N/A | |||
| Drugstore Cowboy - R |
Matt Dillon delivers a brilliant performance as the leader of a small group that robs drugstores for the drugs they live for. Bob's(Dillon) superstitious antics are quite effective, and really capture the feel of a paranoid, outlaw drug user. However, they are too silly to be taken seriously.
A drama with the appropriate humor, perfect cinematography, and a memorable cameo by writer William S. Burroughs who portrays a junkie man of the cloth. Kelly Lynch plays Bob's unsatisfied wife and close partner in crime. Heather Graham and James LeGros play a young couple who are tagging along to help and learn how to steal, but their dubious beliefs in Bob's superstitions are tested, and shows that the drug addled Bob may not be far from the truths he clings to in his desolate journey as an addict of the early 1970s. |
December 11, 2009 | N/A | |||
| Sid & Nancy - R |
Gary Oldman turns in a brilliant performance as the Sex Pistols's bassist Sid Vicious in this 1986 film. Vicious's raw charisma is what I believe helped push this band in the "real" punk direction, and Oldman's portrayal captures that essence.
Unfortunately for Sid, he gets involved with an influential, problematic American girl named Nancy Spungen(Chloe Webb) who wants Sid all to herself, and creates various problems by filling Sid's naive head with delusions of grandeur. Oldman's ability as an actor to show the vulnerability in every character he plays is well shown in this film even though Sid Vicious was essentially a victim of someone who wanted more for themselves through his name, and by dragging him into a sordid world of addiction on many levels. |
November 23, 2009 | N/A | |||
| The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus - PG-13 | November 22, 2009 | N/A | ||||
| Barfly - R |
A brilliant film with what I believe to be Mickey Roarke's finest piece of work as an actor. The film was written by poet-author Charles Bukowski, and Roarke's character is based on Bukowski himself.
Henry(Roarke) spends most of his time at the bar, getting into the occasional fistfight with the bartender Eddie which is so well portrayed by Frank Stallone, and gets involved with a haggard alcoholic portrayed by Faye Dunaway. Henry puts all the money he wins from his streetfights into his drink of choice, scotch and water, and occasionally buys one for the house, "To all my friends!" There's really not much going on with the story itself, but this film is simply entertaining, and manages to keep some humor in it's dim premise. Simplicity is usually better, and this film is a good example of what can be done when the right group of artists are put together. |
November 21, 2009 | N/A | |||
| Kalifornia - R |
The character work by Brad Pitt as Early Grayson is brilliant!
The film is about a writer(David Duchovny) with a fascination for serial killers who plans a road trip through mass-murder landmarks for ideas on how to finish his latest writing project. He and his photographer girlfriend(Michelle Forbes) advertise for riding partners to share expenses while on their jouney to Los Angeles, California. Their ad is answered by Early and his cowed girlfriend who is very well portrayed by Juliette Lewis; and turns out to give more than ideas for the blocked writer. |
November 20, 2009 | N/A | |||
| Rush - R |
I liked this film when it came out in '91, and it holds up.
Jason Patric and Jennifer Jason Leigh star in this tale of two undercover cops(narcotics agents) who get caught up in the lifestyle as they are in pursuit of a shady bar owner who may very well be the biggest drug pusher in the area, as well as other dealers with the help of a friend and user. The performances by Patric and Leigh are brilliant in this dim film based on true events of two narcotics agents in 1974 rural Texas who literally take their work home with them which is clearly nothing but trouble in many ways. Eric Clapton's bluesy score adds to the time and tone of the film as well. |
November 20, 2009 | N/A | |||
| Pineapple Express - R |
Some movies are just too freakin' funny, and this is one of them. Well, at least in my opinion.
Seth Rogen stars as a lazy stoner that has a job serving subpoenas, and a girlfriend that is still in high school. While smoking a joint in his car, he becomes the sole witness to a murder by a drug lord and a corrupt cop. His burned-out, pajama pant wearing dealer portrayed by James Franco is the only dealer with the supreme weed known as the "Pineapple Express". They both are pursued by the mob due to the witnessing of the murder which couldn't be more chaotic for the perpetually stoned duo. "Your grandchildren are going to be smoking this." lol |
November 17, 2009 | N/A | |||
| Wendy and Lucy - R |
A mesmerizing film of a young woman and her dog on their way to Alaska from Indiana in hopes of starting a new life by getting a job at a Northwestern fish cannery. When Wendy's car breaks down in a desolate Oregon town, her financial situation becomes much more of an issue due to the fact that she's on such an extremely tight budget. The cinematography is quite effective in the sense that it really catches a dour mood, and the haunting humming from Wendy comes and goes as somewhat of a reminder of how simplicity isn't always so simple.
Michelle Williams delivers a fine performance as Wendy Carroll who just can't seem to get ahead, and of course, Lucy, the dog ready to fetch what's thrown even if it takes her into the unknown, followed by her wistful companion. |
November 10, 2009 | N/A | |||
| The Way of the Gun - R |
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. |
November 8, 2009 | N/A | |||
| Hackers - PG-13 |
A film I probably would never have watched, but happened to see enough of which caught my interest. And hey, I was curious to see Angie in her first big film role.
This film is geared towards a teen audience, but has elements most can identify with as computers have become such a big part of our lives these days. This film is from 1995, so that's around the time computer technology took another, bigger step for business and personal users. Angelina Jolie's character portrayal of "Acid Burn" is quite different than her work in films such as "Changeling", but it was interesting to see how she's evolved as an actress in the last fourteen years. Her natural ability has always been there, but she just got better with her craft. The story is of a group of young "hackers" who discover a plot to unleash a dangerous computer virus which forces them to use their computer skills to find the evidence as they're pursued by the Secret Service, and the evil computer genius behind the virus. Not too interesting, but not too bad. I'm recommending this film for people who appreciate Angelina. If you don't, there really isn't much here for you. |
November 7, 2009 | N/A | |||
| Fight Club - R |
Great film with brilliant character portrayals by Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, and Helena Bonham Carter.
An intriguing film that's up for interpretation by each viewer. Therefore, it makes you think. |
November 2, 2009 | N/A | |||
| State of Grace - R | Magnificent look at the Irish mob in New York known as the Westies. Gary Oldman's character work as the ruthless Jackie Flannery is brilliant. He makes Jackie vulnerable and likable, showing he is one of the most unsung actors of our time. Sean Penn and Ed Harris turn in outstanding performances as well in this riveting film set primarily in New York City's "Hell's Kitchen". Even though Oldman's performance alone makes this film a "must see", the film is pretty much a perfect piece of cinema in every way. Very likely the best film of the last twenty years. | November 2, 2009 | N/A | |||
| Prom Night - R |
What can I say, this film's a horror classic, and one of the first slasher films that spawned many, even to this day. Sure the acting isn't great to say the least, but Jamie Lee Curtis stands on her own as the "scream queen" she was so destined to become. She just has it; plain and simple.
The lighting in this film is eerie, and the premise is familiar because you've seen it copied by many filmmakers. This film however, delivers horror and unintentional comedy in one dose which is something that can not be duplicated. And as Randy(Jamie Kennedy) says regarding the police in "Scream", "If they watched Prom Night they'd save time. There's a formula to it, a very simple formula, everybody's a suspect!" |
November 1, 2009 | N/A | |||
| Revolutionary Road - R |
An intense film, yet quite disturbing as well with it's unique edge. Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio star as a young married couple in the '50s whose lives are based on what they believe to be of the higher ideals, only to find themselves on emotional rollercoasters due to the inadequacy of their stereotypical existence in Connecticut. Frank(DiCaprio) works at a job he hates because he feels that is the way, and never gives himself the chance to find out who he really is. April(Winslet) has a desire to start over again in Paris which was once fondly spoken of by Frank. But do the pieces fit into the puzzle of their dream of the "perfect" life they imagined themselves living?
I was impressed with Kate Winslet's performance as the daydreaming housekeeper, and Leonardo DiCaprio's performance as the guy who just does what he thinks he has to do as a father and husband. However, each character does questionable things which helps define this union as unsavory indeed. The "Stepford Wives"-esque feel of the film is eerie even though it may not have even been planned, and I feel a film like this is scarier than the average horror film of these days. Show me a good thriller of the horror genre, and it's an enjoyable ride. But when it comes to harsh reality so often prevalent in the world, it scares the hell out of me. And ironically enough, Kathy Bates of "Misery" portrays a real estate agent who shows them a house on Revolutionary Road. "Ozzie and Harriot", I think not. |
October 28, 2009 | N/A | |||
| Radio - PG |
This is quite a powerful film.
Cuba Gooding Jr. turns in a brilliant performance as the mentally challenged loner James Robert Kennedy nicknamed "Radio" due to his vintage radio collection in which one is always in his hand playing music he loves, and gives a "score" to his lonely existence of pushing a grocery cart up and down the streets of a South Carolina town. Ed Harris is brilliant as usual as the town's popular high school football team coach who takes an interest in Radio upon seeing him watching a practice session. His friendship and concern for Radio develops into something that means much more than football to the very well respected coach, Harold Jones. Jones allows Radio to be part of the team's practices and games on the sidelines, and sit in on his classes in school which opens up a whole new world for James(Radio), and essentially gives him a life that he is in dire need of. |
October 14, 2009 | N/A | |||
| Changeling - R |
Clint Eastwood shows his directorial prowess yet again with this powerful, moving film of a mother seeking her son who has been kidnapped and mis-identified as another child in 1920s Los Angeles.
Angelina Jolie portrays the mother who literally goes through hell for reasons only known to the dubious federal authorities, and undergoes various amounts of torture in hope that things will be seen as they are, and her son will be found and brought back to her. This film is based on true events, and shows how scary things can be in misguided hands of the law, and the criminal minds so eager to prey upon the young and defenseless. |
September 5, 2009 | N/A | |||
| Downloading Nancy - Unrated |
First of all, this film is by no means a feel good, popcorn popping piece of cinema. It's a rather dark, disturbing tale shot in quite dismal premises to tell a story that is real, but not one people want to hear.
However, I was glued to the screen due to the brilliant acting performances by Maria Bello and Jason Patric. They portray characters whose tattered souls take comfort in one another through the internet using e-mail, pictures, and promises of sordid sexual encounters. Nancy(Bello), is a severely damaged woman due to being a victim of child abuse, and self mutilation is something that she simply can't keep herself from comitting. Her husband only cares about his virtual golf game he's set up in a downstairs room as she is suffering above. She sees a therapist, but what is it that Nancy ultimately needs? When it comes down to it, a download can contain various information, good and bad, but it does not however contain a pulse. |
August 27, 2009 | N/A | |||
| The Final Destination - R | August 27, 2009 | N/A | ||||
| H2: Halloween II - R | August 27, 2009 | N/A |
206 ratings
141 reviews
