UP IN THE AIR

12/29/2009

Directed by Jason Reitman (Juno) and starring George Clooney and the bewitching Vera Farmiga (she bowled us over earlier this year as the mother in Orphan...boy is she having a year!)...

The screenplay (Reitman and Turner) is apparently based on a novel by Walter Kim...

This is a refreshing breath of air in the midst of action adventures, 3-D mythic marvels, robot infested tripe and pedestrian light romance that have been fed to us this year in the large release arena...

Original yet allegorical at this time of so much economic difficulties, a perfectly crafted film with a seamless screenplay about a man who lives a life with his feet barely touching the ground so to speak...

Kudos to this cast (Anna Kendrick is a delight as the perfectly authentic note of the upwardly mobile know it all just out of grad school) and to Mr. Reitman. What a fine film.

SHERLOCK HOLMES

12/29/2009

And...

A new franchise kicks off for director Guy Ritchie...

Lovely ambiance of 19th Century London...interesting play with the editing on using flashback for different points of views with the same scene...

Felt a little uneven because I personally could have done with less fight scenes and more intimate moments of deductive reasoning in this Holmes opus that were given rather manic treatments when I'd have preferred they be the centerpiece...

There's some nice chemistry between Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law as sidekick Watson...in fact...downright weird...but that's good???

Robert Downey Jr. is incredibly strange in behavior in this film but it's a fun take as a choice for a Sherlock Holmes with an actor who (ahem) might have a greater insight into the dope fiend Holmes of literature.

IT'S COMPLICATED

12/27/2009

The interesting thing about this film is it's by writer/director Nancy Meyers who according to the imdb is now the highest grossing woman director in the business...

Probably her most successful work is the addictive Something's Gotta Give though she also created the annoying What Women Want.

Here she's again created a highly diverting little romantic comedy about an older divorced couple but I think it falls between her other two films in terms of being fully realized...I felt the Alec Baldwin character was sketched out a bit too patly and it was a relief that Steve Martin WASN'T given the room to stretch in this film that she kept pretty down to earth; giving it moments of feeling like a french bedroom farce rather than a 50s American Doris Day film.

Meryl Streep is, as always, that breezy actress who does full justice to what she's given...it's been great to see her in comic material of late as she manages to pull original screen moments out of her hat no matter the depth or shallowness of the material.

Anyway, it seems the new "in" thing in films is to make single female heroines owners of bakeries and the people in this film, having no money issues in their lives, live in luxurious palatial garden estates and attend cocktail parties so I was thinking wait...I don't care about this character's pain and suffering nor that of her perfect grown children who have not a single issue in their lives so I'll just try and watch it through without feeling the resentment....then I realized if I'm even THINKING this while I'm watching this film then it isn't transporting me to the magic "movie time" place I definitely went to with Something's Gotta Give though THAT film took place in a beautiful garden palatial estate in the Hamptons and this in Santa Barbara...

...and I was thinking...now wouldn't this film be more interesting with Diane Keaton in the part? She HAS more gray hair than Streep these days...oh why oh why was I thinking that as I was sitting there watching the perfectly cast Meryl Streep in this part?

So in conclusion for the umpteenth time I'd say...oh hell...diverting, laughs, Meryl is fun in this film as always, but otherwise the screenplay though toying with the satisfaction a woman can get besting the younger woman that stole the husband away, is in other ways rather pedestrian and ordinary...you go to see this film for Meryl and because it's ok entertainment but isn't groundbreaking otherwise.

AVATAR

12/26/2009

Hi XXX...

I hear your complaints about the simplicity of the story...you've seen it before sort of (except with that avatar twist well...that's new)...yeh it's a vehicle...

And yes...just visually stunning...I hate to say it even after seeing the lovely "Up" in 3D...Avatar, though pedestrian in story unlike the highly original "Up", is the film that's the breakthrough for those guys out there saying 3D is the next wave in cinema...if blockbusters are going to keep "up"ping the ante with these action adventures, this is the film that married so well with 3D that you know it just won't go over the same way without it....it's a MUST SEE in 3D.

This is the ultimate "step into your cyber game" experience to date in the theater. I did jump in my seat when things seemed to fly at me and I'm sort of embarrassed to say as pat and simple as the story was I was moved by the relationships between the characters and the environment of the story which was evocative and gorgeous...the big disappointment of course stems from the one note "bad guy" that made me long to be in a room with Darth Vader as his psychoanalyst or something...note to self...if you make a good vs. bad adventure create some depth to the bad people.

A friend told me today that she saw an interview with Cameron about this film and he said after he did Titanic he took sort of a break and spent a lot of time diving and exploring underwater and this was a big influence on the world he created...well...bravo for that...

Even if you hate the action/adventure blockbuster, Avatar really is a not to be missed oeuvre...I almost skipped it because the commercials running here (2D!) made it look like a dumb Disneyesque sort of adventure and didn't convey the experience of sitting in a theater and watching it...and yes there are moments it really is a tad Bambi...ok very Bambi...maybe in the future films like this will be passe and even more trite, banal in content...but right now in a way its a first so go see it.

2012

11/16/2009

Roland Emmerich fascinates me.

Here he has another world ending disaster roller coaster ride...he racks up fun casts, he destroys the earth, he always leaves a little hope...

Now, let's put aside for a second the "this movie sucks" hoopla...I know I know...but...I'm going to focus on three films that fall into this genre of world end by Emmerich...

Independence Day

The Day After Tomorrow...

and now...

2012

So I'm looking up his background...born in 1955...hmm hmm...ok...yes...in 1977 he entered film school in Munchen around the time of E.T., Close Encounters...hmmm yes...he now is focusing on bringing the public's attention to global warming...consequences...

Ok he's doing this...

I just want to send a message to Roland and use this thread to do so...

Roland...your aliens were fun, Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum kicked intergalactic a** and shared a cigar, they threw lines away like the cellophane wrapper on a little debbie cake...ok...it wasn't approached so SERIOUSLY dude, it's a keeper, it's a holiday special...

The Day after Tomorrow...hmm I thought this was more dramatic...you chose to romeo and juliet this with Jake and Emmy...I mean these were young actors with talent...things iced up...didn't have the classic cult feel of Independence Day...but it had a little charm...I did enjoy the eyes of the wolves glowing in the abandoned ship...I can watch it a lot...

and now...

2012...perhaps with age a better toleration for the genre of the soap opera...? I mean dude why?

Global warming is serious business...you get millions of people into the theater...please Roland...I don't want to sit next to one more friend doing fake weeping next to me during your "dramatic moments" acting out...destroying "moments" for me but...yes...this is what happened as I tried to watch your 2012...please PLEASE...it distracts me from the horror, the close calls, the polar shifts...

Roland there must be better ways of presenting pathos than the choices you throw in like clockwork into this film...yes...it worked beautifully in the Poseidon Adventure when Shelly Winters doesn't survive her last "olympic swim"...study that scene...

Sincerely...

yadda yadda me

DISTRICT 9

8/15/2009

I'd just finished brunch with a friend visiting from Atlanta who commented endlessly on and on about how ghastly the crowds of Manhattan are and how WONDERFUL Atlanta is because she can walk down a sidewalk without running into PEOPLE and how SMART of her to have moved there!

After this I had to escape into the air-conditioning of the Union Square theaters for a movie.

Ah...District 9...a new sci fi...PERFECT!

So here is my review.

If you go see it hang in there well worth it...this is a satire/mockumentary that would make Jonathan Swift proud and I'm sure the filmmakers are aware...For all the silliness, I found myself profoundly moved and disturbed by the ending regardless...this film is an extremely strong comment on how inhumane humanity can be for the sake of greed.

And with that let me say, District 9 is crowded, it's a slum of off-planet aliens that got stuck on earth because their vehicle broke down over Johannesburg. Why all the harping about Manhattan and over-crowding for goodness sakes one must have perspective????

In addition: This is the first film I've gone to see where I was surrounded by Hollywood's concept of filmgoers..18-22 year old guys! There were very few women in the theater and the audience was rather sparse for a new "blockbuster"...It looked like a bunch of NYU students playing hooky from advanced calculus class...however, HOLLYWOOD, considering I just saw Julie and Julia packed to the gills with predominantly female but essentially a mixed audience, aren't you ashamed of yourselves yet for feeding into this myth you perpetuate in terms of what you think is your distribution model? Look at how these films were marketed golly gee maybe the 3 or 4 front page print ads in the weekly Times arts section for the "woman" movie had something to do with the turnout d'ya think?

JULIE & JULIA

8/9/2009

I admit to being an ardent foodie. I try to be careful, but I scour Whole Foods for the occasional jar of whole truffles, Humboldt Fog cheese and conveniently packaged potato basil gnocchi...I own three editions of Larousse Gastronomique...doesn't everybody?

From the look of the sold outs on this film everywhere today I guess everybody does. It was harder to get a seat for this film today than a reservation at Babbo's.

Charming, witty, ah Meryl does she enjoy being Julia in this film...she's absolutely infectious and fun...I mean run don't walk to see this film for her performance it's a MAAAAAAAAAARvel. Amy Adams, her contemporary emulator as she spends a year cooking through Childs cookbook and blogging on the experience, is sweet.

The only drawback? I'm a big Ephron film fan. I admit I miss Meg Ryan but Amy is the new thirty to Meg's...uh...well advancing age. Amy is so a Meg in this film I got nostalgic...plus her hair is cut in the Ephron bob I saw on Ms. Ephron this year at a New York Women in Film and Television talk...Ephron seems to have made over Amy as an Ephron mini me! Plus Ephron scripted this to the bone in the style of one who was a reporter with integrity...she kept these women's stories intact but I'd have liked to have seen a bit of fantasy as far as interactions between the two characters...why not? Pourquoi?

Unlike her past triumphs with "Sleepless in Seattle" and the runaway hit "You've Got Mail" which some of this film resembles too closely in choices of scenes and voiceover cutaways as the Julie character types and reads her blogs, the difference with this film is at the heart of the story; this is not a love affair or fantasy love affair with the perfect man, or search for such...this is all about a love affair with food.

Did you know that trussing a duck can complete you? I walked out of that theater determined to find out...but I settled for a cornish hen at Whole Foods instead...it was cheaper and seemed the fine alternative when cooking for one!

FUNNY PEOPLE

8/3/2009

Adam Sandler has surprised critics in my opinion twice before where a film he starred in transcended...

The first time with his performance in Punch-Drunk Love, Paul Anderson's disturbing film, as a small time businessman with a form of social anxiety disorder or add or a mixture of both; the second time in Spanglish, James Brooks film, as a chef with a wife with issues.

In those films, the toilet stand-up extreme character actor humor of Sandler was put aside and the actor Sandler emerged briefly only to sink back into the Sandler as usual films...

So here he is starring in a Judd Apatow film; Apatow's films have become the epitomy of the bromance genre that he's singlehandedly spawned to the gleeful delight of young tittering audiences.

Seems like we'd have a match made in dumb humor heaven but here's the twist...

Apatow has hit it out of the ballpark.

Maybe the guy felt it was time to go all autobiographical, to even I daresay make a great film, but he's too self-conscious of his inescapable Jewish nod to the borscht belt comedian past to let the humor go...maybe because of fear, or because working with Sandler these guys just don't think they can get over without it I don't know....

But in any case, maybe it's my more advanced age than the 18 year old masturbatory male audience that Apatow's films are normally geared to, but I found myself immeasurably moved, despite Apatow remaining true to his lowbrow dialogue which is clearly the language of these characters and this world he creates without it damaging the weight of this film which is a marvel, by the portrait of the stand up George Simmons that Sandler portrays...

Apatow captures the angst and pathos of the pain those striving for fame in the stand-up world go through, and the isolation of Simmons who had achieved it all at the other end...and yes...the relationship that develops between the Sandler character and the wannabe Rogen character is the ultimate bromance factor about this story that so touchingly succeeds.

Recommendation...unless you absolutely cannot stomach another male sexual organ joke, self deprecatory male sexual organ joke, request to reveal a male sexual organ, run to see this film...I wonder if the academy will nominate Sandler for his performance in this one?

Thinking back on comic actors who managed to finally be acknowledged as great actors when they finally broke through with roles outside their comfort zone, both Robin Williams and Tom Hanks come to mind.

Seth Rogen's performance is completely awesome and natural and gee do I love that Jason Schwartzman...in this film he's hilarious as a newbie star of a silly television sit-com and a roommate (I even ran into him in the lobby of a NY hotel last month and he smiled right at me expecting me to shriek "gee it's JASON SHWARTZMAN!" I think. I wanted to pinch those cheeks and act like a scary stalking indie filmmaker and ask him to be in any movie I might make but I refrained, smiled back and walked out the front door!!!!!!!)...he's also credited with the score! All the young stand-ups in the film were wonderful, fresh and authentic and the film includes many cameos by seasoned stand ups and comic actors.

ORPHAN

8/1/2009

Well made film in this genre. Surprising twist I didn't see coming. Isabelle Fuhrman is a compelling young actress.

HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE

7/18/2010

This is the sixth offering in the Harry Potter franchise and the second directed by David Yates who is also slated to direct the final two films to be released in 2010.

Yates direction has taken the Potter films in a darker direction and quite frankly, I felt his last picture "The Order of the Phoenix" was unsatisfactory in his relegation of Potter's sidekicks to supportive wooden caricatures of their former selves.

This film, however, I found to be very enjoyable though lacking in the exuberance of earlier Potter films in comparison. It brought a return to balanced performances and quirky little moments by supporting characters, was beautiful to watch and a good set up for the final chapters to come.

BRUNO

7/11/2009

Sacha Baron Cohen's new opus, about a gay Austrian seeking fame, stretches actor/filmmaker audaciousness in a brave way to create humor; as well, the film holds up a mirror to those who perceive danger in "gayness" by satirizing the most extreme beliefs the straight world holds about homosexuality and summing up: "He's gay, so what?"

You laugh at Cohen's performance; but much more shocking than the wacky dramatised sex acts and physical feats done with parts of anatomy usually clothed in public are the revelations of what ordinary people would agree to in order to achieve fame.

I would hope the interviews with the child actor parents, for example, were scripted. It would be interesting to know what is and isn't scripted in the film or what scenes were shot without the knowledge of participants that they were interacting with a fictional character.

If you are unable to watch films that dramatise extreme sex acts, some quite unsavory, or take offense to nudity and soft porn inclusive in a film, stay away from Bruno...it goes way beyond Borat in this regard...it's not suitable for children...but by all means if you want to see one hell of a funny film that will leave you screaming in your seat in laughter, this one's for you.

THE TAKING OF PELHAM 1,2,3

7/2/2009

I see nobody's been posting new film reviews on here of late?

In any case, caught the new Taking of Pelham 1,2,3 recently...

While an indulgence for Denzel Washington and John Travolta, it's impossible to watch without comparing to the original which caught the gritty underbelly of a harsher New York City of the seventies.

This version, though well made with some nice performance work and direction and all the bells and whistles of edit work and production, was just not compelling...as well, Travolta's character's reveal as written truly strained credulity. Worst of all, this film was quickly forgotten when I walked out of the theater...oh let me say, before the credits rolled.

I can't believe production companies with this sort of money, prestige and star access can't risk on developing action films based on new fiction or crime stories and have to resort to rehashing successful films from the past.

TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN

7/2/2009

I got a free ticket to Transformers so I went.

I find it amusing as Michael Bay's star rises he's increasingly getting hate comments from filmmakers disturbed that he's a commercial wiseass with no right to crap out a pixel. They continue to insist he's a mundane sellout.

I do remember this being said about Spielberg who is, coincidentally, the co-producer on this new Michael Bay Transformers film.

Though Bay's not a Richard Donner I do believe he's got it in him...this film was incredibly dumb and entertaining and a 2 thumbs up for its genre. I really enjoyed the silly script, Shia La Boeuf and his co-star Megan Fox. Ramon Rodrigez, Shia's new college roommate, was an awesome comic foil as was John Turturro.

You guys should lighten up on Michael Bay...his first film made some of you go ballistic citing articles "proving" Bay is a sellout, a lowlife...look...the guy makes incredible action movies based on Hasbro characters. What's NOT to like?

As I pointed out to a Wabbit in a facebook comment...his films hire thousands, recoup millions. It's not like he's making star-driven vehicles where a huge budget is squandered on a couple of stars...money that could have gone into making 1000 indie films nobody's going to pay to see...you have to put things in perspective and do films after your own heart and respect people like Michael Bay who are action film/effects freaks. He's going to make films on huge budgets while we struggle away on our little projects that have less demand and need less money to be made. At least he does this genre very well.

X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE

5/18/2009

This is a great offering in this series.

Director Gavin Hood, UK and south African director who was a co-creator and director of Tsotsi (based on the amazing playwright/writer Athol Fugard's novel)...directed Rendition...background was a lot in television as an actor/director prior...well interesting...screenplay on this is by David Benioff and Skip Woods (writer on Swordfish).

This film stars the amazing Hugh Jackman and Liev Shreiber. Hey what's better? Even in a fantasy offering like the X-Men series. See the soft side of Wolverine!!

Only drawback on this one, as with the recent Star Trek, is that sense that we, the audience, are being set up for a whole bunch of future films from a new direction with these characters...I personally just don't like that sense that a film doesn't feel self contained without watching other parts of the series or films to come...not for the $12 or so it costs these days to attend a film in a theater in Manhattan.

ANGELS AND DEMONS

5/17/2009

I really enjoyed this Dan Brown book...better than Da Vinci Code which I found became laughable beyond the first chapter. Ron Howard stuck to the story and a lot of the film was expository to clearly explain events and interesting history in regard to church history and the Illuminati (well touched on it) and Vatican City landmarks...but didn't help to make this film a good film...yawn-worthy predictable but a safe money maker and wrapped up with a little bit of a message about the mystery of faith...but left me unmoved. I read responses to the film from non-filmmaker people who didn't read the book who enjoyed it. Tom Hanks? Clear and strong as always but a pawn in these films like the comfort of the familiar in for example the Charlie Chan series....not much of an acting stretch for him in this one...or for anyone for that matter.

STAR TREK

5/16/2009

(A response to other posts)

I really enjoyed this prequel but found it annoying that it was a set-up for everything to come and didn't feel like a finished story per se...eh...so what Star Trek is back...found it really cool and eerie how these actors were so amazingly cast they didn't feel like impersonation or bad step-ins they really won us over right away (I went with a friend who had the same response)...the twist with timeline goes a long way towards acceptance...brilliant!

THE SOLOIST

4/30/2009

Ok...well...here we go...

Ambitious film with a passionate performance by Robert Downey, Jr. portraying LA columnist Steve Lopez and an excellent portrayal of Nathaniel Ayers, a homeless schizophrenic musician, by Jamie Foxx.

Directed by Atonement director Joe Wright with adaptation of the book (this is based on the real story by Lopez) by screenwriter Susannah Grant (Erin Brokovich)...

A lot of heart went into these performances and the direction but ultimately, the film fails to rise above the rather tunnel vision point of view portrayed by this story which did irritate me a bit so it was hard to remain subjective and I believe it may be coloring my response to it here...(specifically the rejection of mental illness as something that can be TREATED and the vilifying of intervention)...but again...maybe that's me...so back to the film itself...

...let me be more specific...

Robert Downey, Jr. as Lopez is shown having emotional issues of his own...all the script gave (at least within the cut of the film) is that because of something deep in his psyche he isn't giving weight to relationships in his life and he dives deeper into his relationship with Ayers...this put an enormous weight on Downey's performance to put across the emotional underpinnings of this story rather than relying on the actual story of this character????? Well, that's a bit unfair to this actor and hurt the film...it's to Downey's credit that maybe he's the ONLY actor who can spend an entire film emoting stress, fear and inner turmoil without causing one to throw their shoes at the screen so that...in the end...Wright managed to pull off a study with important social content and information for the average joe who will go see it and can watch it through.

Yes, Downey keeps people in their seats in this I think another actor couldn't have managed that.

This film might have been stronger if there was an effort to really focus on a wider exploration of Lopez and how he was changed by his relationship with Ayers, not the other way around.

It's a bit frustrating as there's so much good stuff in this film, these actors are both brilliant, there are moments of black humor and weird quirky moments, and a lot of well done editing work but ultimately I don't think the film hits the mark...however...I highly recommend people go see it for these performances and for some fine direction that just didn't overcome the screenplay choices.

(Ok...I'm sure some filmmakers will throw their shoes at me after this review but SO BE IT!)

ADVENTURELAND

4/8/2009

Surprising film as I went in expecting another Apatow-like flick about a nerd getting over with the babe and all.

Miramax sure knows how to sell a film but do they really believe the American audience isn't going to show up for an American indie film about yet another young man coming of age that's actually good? They seriously dumbed down the ads to put across the comedy aspects of a rather high brow, lovely film.

There'll be plenty on this thread comparing Adventureland to Superbad and earlier work by writer/director Mottola, but this film is unique. I think it may go down in film history as a classic like such nostalgic coming of age ensemble films in past generations like Diner and American Grafitti.

Pitch perfect performances evoke the restless summer of 1987 in a suburban area with not much in the way for pre-college jobs except for the fall back...the local amusement park. Jesse Eisenberg, who gives a remarkable performance as the Oberlin alum with his sights set on the Columbia journalism grad school, is well matched by Kristen Stewart who's thankfully not just another pretty face in this film but adds a solid depth to her teen angst. Martin Starr is a real talent and does a convincing eighties social misfit and intellectual slavic studies major. Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig provide the comic relief which is dosed out carefully without bringing the film down to the level of broad comedy. Margarita Levieva is a real find as the Madonna wannabe Lisa P...this actress is going places.

The film has a jewel like look to it that gives a dreamy overall feeling to the experience that's Adventureland. Watch the use of colored lights in numerous scenes as they dissolve into unfocused balls of color and their similarity though coming from different sources throughout the film.

LIVELINES

4/3/2009

I caught the theatrical premiere of Lifelines tonight at the Quad in Manhattan. Its LA theatrical open will be at a Laemmle theater on April 24.

In the past decade I've had the privilige of working with gifted young filmmakers out of film programs at NYU, Columbia and Chapman University in my other life as a film composer.

Rob Margolies, first time feature writer/director of Lifelines, is one such alumni of Chapman and his work shows maturity and a screenwriting talent to keep an eye out for.

This is an amazingly well made dramedy shot in 11 days on a low budget that a film with a much higher budget wouldn't have been able to pull off. The only drawbacks to this film were some of the dialogue could have been trimmed before becoming indicative in some places, as well, I'd have liked to have seen this film conceived with less linearity by intercutting between the psychiatrist session and home life to give more balance...however, the story is compelling, the performances top notch, the dialogue catchy, the film entertained and kept the audience enrapt.

As well, this is an actors dream script. Jane Adams and Josh Pais as the parents gave tour de force performances; Jane Adams is especially standout in this film that though wordy is ironically about a dysfunctional family whose members avoid expressing themselves.

The children in this cast are all exceptional. The eldest son, performed by newcomer Robbie Sublett, is a stutterer. Actress Dreama Walker, who hails from Tampa and played the spoiled granddaughter Ashley Kowalski in Gran Torino (she's been appearing on Gossip Girls this season as Hazel Williams) is a knockout blonde teen beauty reminiscent of Christina Ricci in The Ice Storm but without the gawkiness. Jacob Kogan gives the most touching performance as the 12 year old Spencer Bernstein with attention deficit disorder. This is the same amazing kid who played the creepy child Joshua quite effectively in the horror film of that name.

The cast is smartly rounded out by TV veteran actor Joe Morton as the psychiatrist.

The film is a must see make an effort to support independent film at its finest at this most important juncture in its life, its theatrical run, and get down to the Quad this week and catch Lifelines while it's in rotation.

DUPLICITY

3/29/2009

I enjoyed this script and thought it was the sort of script that could be directed in so many different ways and it was interesting to see these choices by Tony Gilroy who, as it so happens, is also the writer.

The film is, however, a comedy that's as dry as a dry martini and then some. If you aren't enamored of going to a film for the sheer pleasure of the wordsmithing you might not appreciate this film. The premise of it though, two espionage specialists working for corporations, is quite amusing and kept me giggling through the film though I did it quietly in fear the other audience members might find me mad...I think they thought they were watching a Bond film; the comedy of it all might have been over their heads.

Gilroy avoids making this film a satire by having his leads perform their roles with the utmost seriousness and gravitas. This dark Julia Roberts we see in this film is maybe an acting challenge for her but it doesn't take advantage of the sparkle she brings to many of her pictures...and I feel bad saying this but...I think it would have helped if they rethought her presentation like...BOBBED HER HAIR OR SOMETHING!

Clive Owen is British so well...he just DOES this role extremely well.

Like a Bond film or any other sort of spy adventure film there are a number of great locations Julia Roberts and Clive Owen fall over each other in as they act out their romance which is based on the tease of distrust.

Technically nice to look at and sheer fun always watching Paul Giamatti in ANYTHING and the cast included Tom Wilkinson and the enigmatic Kathleen Chalfant.

I LOVE YOU, MAN

3/22/2009

Ok, here's my review:

HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA

Paul Rudd, if peripherally thought of as a film star before, is now in the firmament.

HHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

The relationship between Peter Klaven (Rudd) and the eccentric Venice Beach denizen Sydney Fife, (Jason Segel) was outstandingly disturbing in that homoerotic way men are unaware of but women can become very sensitized to from overexposure...for example...men bonding in rock bands, ball clubs, and well...maybe...certain film cliques.

Oh, and the film did a very good job of making use of the fun parts of LA and the Beach cities unlike a lot of films shot in Los Angeles that don't seem to realize LA is an actual MILIEU that could be interesting and fun for audiences; not just backdrop to mannequins on the screen.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA

Oh by the way...DON'T MISS THIS ONE!

KNOWING

3/22/2009

If you loved Contact, Close Encounters, and a good fully realized disaster/sci fi film, this one's for you.

The auteur is Australian director Alex Proyas who brought us The Crow, Dark Days and I, Robot.

I must object though to this:

Why must NYC be chosen to be iced over, burned to pieces, blown up in huge blockbuster disaster movies...as one of thousands who was an eyewitness on 9/11 to the WTC coming down, in my shock I am ashamed to say one of the thoughts racing through my head as it was happening was I'd seen it happen before...not through esp...but because I saw Independence Day where some aliens blew up one of the buildings and in the film it collapsed downwards in the same way it did in real life.

I hate the sense of inevitability whether it be biblical or prophesies Hollywood forces on us...

Gives me the willies...this film is creepy.

The creepiest thing about it is not what goes on in the film...but that it postulates on the powers of the beyond to somehow make it ok. The film convinced me that maybe I should just not be a hypocrite and embrace atheism though I think the opposite "propaganda" was the purpose of the film.

REUNION

3/14/2009

If you look up this film on the imdb it's Reunion 2009/II and be aware as there are an AWFUL lot of films with this title.

I'm reviewing the film that opened at the Quad in Manhattan last week that was directed and written by Alan Hruska.

This is a very wordy screenplay, though not Mamet-ian, that was shot in an extremely pedestrian manner, as in "talking heads", or let me say...a lot of familiar good actors throwing off monologue after monologue that taken by themselves might be interesting, but together was a bit intense for a movie going experience.

The cinematography didn't seem to show much imbued effort into lighting correctly in many of the scenes and the set dressing had not much inspiration...

It's hard to finish an indie feature with a modicum of production values when often there isn't a lot to work with or crew...don't know what was dealt with here...

On the other hand you have all these fine actors...

Josh Pais as the uptight Jewish doctor brought humor to his role (I notice he will be in another film called "Lifelines" that will be shown at the Quad later this year) and it was interesting seeing Cynthia Stevens performing in an indie film in a role that was somewhat deeper than the various parts you might catch her in in the numerous television series she's appeared in. It would be nice to see her in more serious films.

Jamey Sheridan is a powerful presence in any film he's in so it was interesting seeing him in this smaller indie.

While there were no bad performances in this film, I felt the lack of production values didn't work to the advantage of some of the other actors who seemed to be in the film to add maybe a scene or two to a reel though most of these actors don't need it...but they'd do better making an appearance in a soap opera on their blockbuster downtime where at least they'd be guaranteed being lit well.

I think it was ambitious for Hruska to direct his screenplay here and to choose to be able to work with great actors in simple settings and just let them "act", however, storytelling in film benefits from being able to portray by the visual to a great extent and I would hope with the resources he has at his disposal his next oeuvre will give more weight in this direction.

THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON

3/14/2009

Hey you know...I'm still catching up on films...I finally saw a screener of this...

Gorgeous film. Spectacular production values (cinematography and production design) though narrative in a classic filmmaking sense.

Well, look at this ensemble and it's interesting.

The film has an epic Forrest Gump feel so you turn over card one and the screenwriter is none other than Gump's Eric Roth (with a story by Robin Swicord).

Then there's David Fincher who got to direct what is now going to define his career and auteur vision; prior, he directed Panic Room and Fight Club.

BENJAMIN BUTTON is a film with a story based on an adage made literal: "He was born old" and there you have it...this magnificent masterpiece set appropriately in New Orleans where oddity can set up home. Curiously, it was because of tax credits that the choice was made to move the story to New Orleans...originally it was to be filmed in the Carolinas. And what a lucky break for this film and that city this choice was.

I think it was hard to not choose this film as best picture this year over Slumdog Millionaire at the Oscars...the narration of the screenplay was heartstopping...line after brilliant line....but ultimately the film had a fatal flaw in its uninspiring choice of how the story was presented a la Titanic at a certain moment (also unsurprising) of upheaval in the recent history of New Orleans. This choice felt a bit pedestrian and safe for a film that in many other ways was transcendent. For some reason in Titanic or The Notebook there was more of a dramatic purpose to approach the screenplay this way.

However, Benjamin Button I'm sure, is going to remain a classic in film repertoires for years to come. It's huge, gorgeous, classy, has humor and is both inspiring and terribly terribly sad. The performances were all spot on the most amazing thing was how they cast so many actors to play Benjamin at different moments in his life...if you go in and aren't aware you're not sure if it's trick photography like what they did in the Hobbit because it's all so seamless.

SAM'S LAKE

3/1/2009

On the recommendation of friends at Cinema Epoch, the LA indie film distribution company that specializes in the edgy and quirky, I went to check out Sam's Lake.

Written and directed by Andrew Erin, this horror feature had its theatrical US premiere tonight at Cinema Village in Manhattan.

While in many ways this film gives a nod to classic monsters we are familiar with such as the blood seeking draculas or werewolves, the deeper horror is that the "creatures" in this film are human; humanity at so base a level they seem to spring from a deep premeval place.

Production values are disturbingly well done . Atmospheric, phenomenal detail in the lighting within a dark forest by cinematographer David A. Armstrong (kudos to gaffer Yaron Levy), sound effects that make you jump in your seat, and a fine score by composer Gary Chang. Fay Masterson turns in an unexpected twisty performance as Sam.

DOUBT

1/6/2009

01-06-2009, 06:00 PM

John Patrick Shanley wrote the multiple award winning play, adapted it for the screen and directs.

I will note he's also the writer of Moonstruck...1987...

His last huge film directing project was Joe vs. the Volcano in 1990 according to the imdb.

Tour de force performances by this ensemble of actors not a note out of place from the kids through this dream cast of Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams.

But the real star of this film is this amazing script, pitch perfect direction and cinematic details to back up the poetic imagery of the language, character reveals and story.

I was worried going in to see this that it would be a highly stylized film adaptation of a stage play and didn't expect this greatness...great it is...this writer/director gave as much thought to his directing choices as he did to every word in this script.

GRAN TORINO

1/5/2009

01-05-2009, 08:34 PM

Just when I thought Clint Eastwood had hit his doterage with Changeling, a movie where the screenplay seemed to have run away with the editing like the fork runs away with the spoon, along he saunters in with Gran Torino.

Simple, effective, moving...reminding us once again why Clint is not only one of our great directors and actors, but an American treasure.

This film has heart.

Thank you Clint!

THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX

1/5/2009

Based on the Newbery award winning book by Kate DiCamillo, this animation is fine looking work with enough sophistication to keep the adult viewer involved.

Unfortunately, I felt it was a poor cousin in impact to the knockout Ratatouille in every way and as well, wondered why so many elements of this film had to "go there"...

First off, a minor character, Sow the scullery maid, looks an awful lot like the Shrek princess and dreams of being one...checking the background on the film it appears the executive producer David Lipman was a producer on Shrek 2 and he led the animation team...

And mouse hero Despereaux (Matthew Broderick) hooks up with a rat named Roscuro (Dustin Hoffman is da RAT!) as he tries to save the day!

Then of course...the more unfortunate comparison is the film starts off with a town that is crazy for soup...and there you have a chef and a rat flying around a room...well...

This film is no Ratatouille, this is an imaginary kingdom in Italy and Paree? Non! Incroyable!

Anyway, really tried to not be prejudiced towards a film for looking like its trying to rack up the moolah on the coattails of that other animated rat movie but I can just hear them thinking...hey it worked once...WE CAN DO IT AGAIN AND NOBODY CAN SAY WE STOLE ANY OF IT!

LAST CHANCE HARVEY

1/1/2009

A sweet little story about two strangers, with the commonality of mid-life resignation and peripheral existences, whose paths chance to cross in London town.

Nice to see a film that isn't focused on sweet young things for once...but...

While it's great to see these two titans of screen, Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson, in this simple film, I can't help but live in hope Dustin gets to pick up a vehicle with more meat in it like Jack has had in the past decade. For example: an "As Good as it Gets".

...these mature actors bring so much richness to parts and directors should trust them to deliver the goods...it's great if there could be heavier weight screenplays that take advantage of these talents in their golden years if these bigger film companies would finance.

THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL

1/5/2009

(RESPONSE TO POSTER)

XXX...really...I love sci fi and yes it had gloss and escapism and those first few minutes were appreciated but WHERE THE HELL WAS THE MOVIE AS IN A SCRIPT...you know really...if you're going to remake a great why not bother to maybe USE the original script for ideas if the story you're going to make doesn't have one or just plain sucks...why even PRETEND there's a relationship between the alien and scientist in this and PRETEND THIS RELATIONSHIP is going to save the world...I'm just amazed...watching this film felt like a bad dream where I'm trying to get dressed but when I go out my shoes are missing, I'm not wearing underwear and I just don't feel FINISHED!