| Movie | Rating | Review | Date | Your Rating | Match | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brothers - R | December 5, 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 | ||||
| Inglourious Basterds - R |
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. |
August 26, 2009 | N/A | |||
| Lars and the Real Girl - PG-13 |
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". |
August 22, 2009 | N/A | |||
| Wonder Boys - R | 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. | August 2, 2009 | N/A | |||
| Rescue Dawn - PG-13 |
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. |
August 2, 2009 | N/A | |||
| The Happening - R |
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. |
July 26, 2009 | N/A | |||
| You Kill Me - R |
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. |
July 17, 2009 | N/A |
201 ratings
135 reviews
