Old Reviews

This entry is for all of the old movie reviews that I had written on my Myspace. Many of the actual reviews have been deleted, so only a rating exists. From now on whenever I add reviews they will be in separate entries, because I can conveniently do that now (silly Myspace). All of these are in the order that I had created them.

- 4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS, 2 DAYS – (2007 – Romanian)
Dir- Cristian Mungiu; Star-Anamaria Marinca
Hauntingly simple film about two female college roomates who try to procure a hasty abortion in Ceaucescu-ian Romania where abortion is a severe crime. Their abortionist soon turns out to be anything but friendly… A shockingly draining film that is sculpts every scene in a single shot in true fly-on-the wall fashion. An excellent portrayal of a way of life that is clearly suppressed from the freedom that we have come to know. Marinca and company are beautifully emotive. Simply construced, yet with such skill as to invoke deep meaning; this one packs a wallop.

- INSIDE MAN – (2006)

- EASTERN PROMISES – (2007)
Dir- David Cronenberg; Star-Viggo Mortensen
Harshly created spiritual successor to Cronenberg’s A History of Violence, following a woman who discovers a diary revealing the dirty secrets of a Russian mob, and mobster Mortensen who becomes fixated on her. Uninspired story serves more as a vehicle for presenting a theme on the dehumanization of urban violence. Mortenson is especially good; both reserved and fearful. Features a highlight climactic fight scene in a sauna that serves as a brutal cap on this violent crime movie. Beware those sensitive to blatantly prolonged (although meaningful) male nudity…

- U2 3D – (2008)
Towering (especially on IMAX) concert film shot in stunning 3d (glasses necessary!) features an expectable number of hits from U2’s 20 year repertoire during a recent concert in Argentina. The format is eye popping and completely immersive, making the viewer feel as if they are actually in attendance (albeit on a flying crane). Well produced, entertaining, narcisisstic and inherently overpolitical.

-MICHAEL CLAYTON – (2007)
Dir- Tony Gilroy;Star-George Clooney, Tom Wilkinson
george=”" clo..”" is=”" size=”2″>commanding as the titular character in this high powered drama following an influential law firm’s defense of a multi-billion dollar agro-pharmaceutical company that is being involved in a class action lawsuit for the deadly side effects of its product. His job is to clean up client’s “messes” with the law under the table, earning him the elite nickname “janitor.” Tom Wilkinson is absolutely phenomenal as an ace attorney on the firm who loses his mind while he decides that what they are defending is morally wrong. The first-rate, intelligent screenplay by the director makes this an extremely compelling and suspenseful movie for the mind (not unlike 2005’s Syriana or Constant Gardener); with momentous twists and turns as the protagonist slowly realizes what is really going on. Pay attention or you’ll get lost quick. If you can keep up with it, Michael Clayton proves to be a stellar and revelatory legal thriller, all without a single court-room scene!

- THERE WILL BE BLOOD – (2007)
Dir- Paul Thomas Anderson;Star-Daniel Day-Lewis, Paul Dano
Cerebral depiction of American greed and ethics in 1900’s California oil country, based on Upton Sinclair’s novel, Oil!. Anderson’s truly inspired cinematography (aided by the talented cinematographer Robert Elswit) paints a stark setting that complements the questionably insane minds that are presented. It’s almost Kubrickian (Stanley Kubrick was the master of cerebral understatement) in its craftsmanship, helping to portray a transcendental message about the undeniable power of money. Oh, I almost forgot to mention Daniel Day-Lewis, essentially the raison d’ etre here, who gives a frightening and powerful performance asthe cunning and ruthless oil baron; a role that embodies everything that Sinclair was criticizing in early 20th century America. Almost as good is Paul Dano (remember him from Little Miss Sunshine? He has a few more lines this time), as a preacher who’s religious views often conflict with Day-Lewis’ lust for real estate. Intelligent business and the character’s expert negototiation is what draws the viewer in, and the developing character study that slowly reveals more and more about the wretched souls on screen make this film noteworthy. It is, however, insufferably long, which doesn’t suit its harsh sentiments, leaving the audience begging for an escape. Nevertheless, There Will Be Blood is an epic and fascinatingly powerful view into the hearts of men whose lives are dictated not by who they love, but what they love; something that we can certainly see today in Western society.

- THE KINGDOM – (2007)
Dir- Peter BergStar-Jamie Foxx,ChrisCooper,JenniferGarner,JasonBateman
Foxx leads a group of FBI crime scene investigators to discover the perpetrators of a terrorist attack on an American contractor village in Saudi Arabia, when they soon discover that they are themselves being targetted. Cooper plays a hardened expert (as always), Garner has the sexy brain, and Bateman is the naive comic relief in this well cast thriller. They must first overcome the cultural gap upon entering such a conservative country before they can set about solving the mystery. It sometimes loses focus when it indulges its own sentimentality (let’s have a sappy nylon guitar driven score ala Babel to lead our cinematic forays into mushy “inspiration!”). Pah-leeze. The climax is also a tad on the hollywood gung ho side which doesn’t suit the strong tension of the rest of the film. The final lines resonate with a haunting amount of profound truth, eloquently illustrating the cause of the persistant violence in the Middle East. The timely subject matter and a keen sense of danger also create a very entertaining experience.

- CLOVERFIELD – (2008)
Dir- Matt Reeves; Star-Michael Stahl-David, et al.
Gripping sci-fi yarn following a group of friends whose party is interrupted by a mysterious explosion in New York City, which results in a giant Godzilla-like monster going on a city wide rampage while the citizens below attempt to escape. Not the most original premise, but the presentation is utterly compelling and exciting. The entire movie is shown from a handheld video camera that one of the characters carries in an attempt to document this horrifying situation (think Blair Witch Project). This approach works very well both at establishing the characters’ backstories through the cleverly amusing opening party scene, and at always keeping the audience right with the characters as events unfold almost in real time. No matter how ridiculous the story may be, everything feels so absolutely real and fresh, as if you’re actually there on the chaotic streets of New York on an intentionally 9/11 like day. The ending, however, is a bit of a let up (essentially a big middle finger to the viewer), but its so original and entertaining that I can’t ask for more after seeing any other typical Hollywood crap-fest Monster movie.

- THE GOLDEN COMPASS – (2007)
Dir- Chris Weitz; Star-Some Girl, Daniel Craig, Nicole Kidman
Phillip Pullman’s fantasy novel about a girl and her animal ..soul.. friend.. who use a Golden Compas to.. track down.. stolen children.. or something, is recreated relatively accurately on screen (or so I’m told), complete with bland video game special effects and giant talking polar bears (The film’s greatest strength). Everything here just feels like B-movie backwash attempting to carry the momentum provided by the more inspired Harry Potter or Narnia series. It tries not to alienate an adult audience by emphasizing the novel’s political themes, which drains much of the potential, whimsical fun one may expect. It’s funny how the poster for this movie featured Daniel Craig front and center in typical heroic fashion, despite the fact that he is only on screen for about 10 minutes (!). It’s not a particularly bad movie, but in a saturated genre it takes more than this to stand out. A lack of general focus forgettable.

- ATONEMENT – (2007)
Dir- Joe Wright; Star-James McAvoy, Keira Knightley
Exquisitely crafted period piece, set in the 1930-40s, about a young girl who misinterprets her sister’s sexual relationship with a man and subsequently accuses him of rape, causing him to be forced to join the army where he longs for the love so unjustly taken away from him. Brilliantly editted and written, adapted from an Ian McEwan novel, it immaculately shows how the younger sister sees the world and then explains what actually happened, providing a powerful contrast that also gives profound insight on childhood ignorance. This is complemented by an outstanding musical score that emphasizes every emotion perfectly. Every shot is breathtaking; from inside a wealthy English manor, to its luscious gardens, to the harsh war-torn french countryside. One particular extended shot is so amazingly well done, in which the camera follows the lead character through a crowded beach of wounded soldiers without any cuts, that it harkens back to the stunning climax of Alfonso Cuaron’s Children of Men, which I consider to be one of the greatest single shots ever put on film. Its only flaws are McAvoy’s general lack of charisma and an underdeveloped final shot that could have capitalized more upon what it was generating (I’m a bizarre stickler for final shots..). Never realizes full potential.

- CHARLIE WILSON’S WAR- (2007)
Dir- Mike Nichols; Star-Tom Hanks, Phillip Seymour Hoffman,Julia Roberts
From the director of The Graduate (go figure) comes the true story of Charlie Wilson, a womanizing, whisky loving congressman from Texas who decides to help aid victimized Afghans against invading Soviet Union forces in the 1980s, meanwhile there’s a criminal investigation accusing him of cocaine use during one too many hotel parties. A very intelligently funny movie that has the same sense of humor as its title character. Seymour Hoffman is particularly great (as usual) as an aggressively funny CIA man assigned to help Wilson fund the Afghans. Many ideas presented in the movie are extremely interesting when compared to present day events in the middle east. A solid, well acted, entertaining, if formulaic political comedy that is delicious and powerful in its good intention.

- THE LOOKOUT – (2007)
Dir- Scott Frank; Star-Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Jeff Daniels
High school hot shot suffers debilitating car accident that kills two of his friends; four years later he lives with short term memory loss and many other scars from that fateful night, including the guilt of having driven the car that has essentially ruined his life. He meets a man at a bar who abuses his handicap and involves him in a bank robbery scheme. To say more would be treasonous. Excellent screenplay written by the director perfectly sets up every advance mounting the tension in this thriller as time goes on; each twist seems natural and never contrived, which is a very difficult task for any screenwriter. Every single character stands out as well, no matter how small the part, with several unique personalities that are amazingly well written and acted. Works superbly as a thriller, but even better as a mature character study about recovery and mental disability, aided by Gordon-Levitt’s great performance. A fascinating, tense, endearing, and haunting film that is superior on every level.

- THE KITE RUNNER – (2007)
Dir- Marc Forster; Star-Khalid Abdalla
I’ve never read The Kite Runner, so I probably had a different experience withthis movie than anyone who’s read Khaled Hosseeini’s insanely popular novel. Needless to say, I thought that the greatest asset of the film was the story; a very compelling and timely narrative about an expat Afghan writer who decides to return to his home country to redeem himself. The cultural aspects of the protagonists’ life are presented well, although it is apparent that several layers of character and meaning have been stripped away to make it presentable as a movie. In the end, however, it felt as though I was watching just another well made Hollywood drama, complete with an almost-cheesily sentimental adult contemporary soundtrack. The Kite Runner is a moving, well acted and directed, good, but not great, movie that I expect faithfully recreates many of the same feelings of the novel with varying levels of success.

- JUNO – (2007)
Dir- Jason Reitman; Star-Ellen Page, Michael Cera
Quirky coming of age comedy about the 16 year old title character who becomes pregnant after one go with her best friend, and how it affects her life as she decides to put the child up for adoption. I loved this movie from the charming and incredibly creative title sequence (something that is often missing these days) and only enjoyed it more as the story progressed and the personalities emerged. Juno herself is one of the most well developed, unique, true, and compulsively loveable female characters I’ve ever seen, played perfectly with free-spirited gusto by the Oscar-worthy Ellen Page. The other characters are also very compelling, including her awkward boyfriend, ditsy best friend, and surprisingly human parents. This film has a sense of humor that no other film has, with snappy, persistent, and contemporary dialogue throughout. After a while the somewhat reluctant Juno begins to find out more about who she really is side by side with the audience as she matures in both pregnancy and life. Juno the character is as much a sheer delight to watch as Juno the film, which is both a truly endearing character study and a hilarious slice of life that we can all relate to in one way or another. One of the best movies of the year.

- TRANSFORMERS – (2007)
Dir- Michael Bay; Star-Shia Laboeuf, Megan Fox
One of the few movies based on an action figure line that actually works; this one features a dissapointingly comic book story in which Alien robots try to invade Earth, when their rival, ethical alien robots vow to protect the human species. Laboeuf and Fox hold the key to survival and are thus inetgral to the transformer’s fight which has little to do with the citizens of Earth. Okay, so it’s not supposed to be very realistic because of its source material, but it feels it’s really trying to be a serious sci-fi invasion film, resulting in a slight confusion as to its intentions. Thankfully the visual effects are perhaps the most impressive and exciting ever created, fully utilizing the method’s capabilities of using imagination to achieve the otherwise impossible. These astounding effects coupled with unusually funny characters and dialogue make Transformers a blast to watch.

- OCEANS THIRTEEN – (2007)
Dir- Steven Soderbergh; Star-George Clooney, Brad Pitt, et al.
The exhausted series of mediocre and pretentious heist thrillers continues, with Ocean and the gang plotting to steal money and a five diamond rating from a new Casino owner (played well as always by Al Pacino) who cheated one of their friends. Confoundingly nonsensical and endlessly contrived; it’s like watching something a hyper thirteen year old wrote for kicks over the summer while watching antiquated episodes of Starsky and Hutch. It’s amazing how everyone conviently has everything they need at just the right moment; they even managed to obtain in one day the same drill that dug the Chunnel in Europe to dig a tunnel for them. How depressing. The gang also resorts to biological warfare against a hotel critic in an effort to sabotage his review! That’s just not tasteful at all. The characters are so flat and lifeless that they don’t garner any sympathy whatsoever, and their attempts at humor almost always fall short and are noticeably forced. The cinematography is also nauseating and reused from the previous films, highlighting every disgusting shade of red or orange as possible to make the audience want to gouge out their eyeballs to save themselves from the pain. This movie also requires extensive knowledge of the previous two, without which it only becomes even more inexplicably stupid. Ocean’s Thirteen is both a ploy to steal the money of an easily fooled audience wanting to see George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and Matt Damon in the same place, and one of the worst movies of the year.

- THE LIVES OF OTHERS – (German-2007)
Dir- Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck; Star-?
Gripping account of wire tapping in East Germany during the 1980’s where communism is determined to maintain its hold on the country by limiting personal privacy. The officer in charge of the surveilance soon begins to question his own allegiance as he observes and lives vicariously through the group of artists he’s watching who are suspected of having western sympathies. Also a fascinating examination of a government’s invasion of privacy that works amazingly well as an historical film. Acted to perfection by a talented group of German actors and layered together brilliantly by the writers. The Lives of Others is a meticulously crafted, tense, erotic, and intelligent examination of a specific time period that also rings true in the present day. Won an Academy Award for Best Foreign Film, even surpassing the ingenius Pan’s Labyrinth.

- ONCE – (2007)
Dir- John Carney; Star-Glen Hansard, Marketa Irglova
Psuedomusical romance about Irish street musicians executed perfectly with timeless folky pop music written and performed by the actors themselves; the songs both propel and complement the progression of the story. A very accurate depiction of musicians’ deep connection with their music and eachother; it is very exciting to watch how songs progress in their composition and performance throughout the film. The leads are played with such sincerity that everything clicks wonderfully with a sense of genuine emotion. The film itself is so seamlessly produced and shot using mostly steadycam that it feels almost like a cinema verite glimpse into the real lives of the characters. Once is a wonderful film about relationships and music as an emotional outlet that provides a poignant=”">feeling of romantic sincerity, and is one of the most enjoyable movies of the year.

- WAITRESS – (2007)
Dir- Adrienne Shelly; Star-Keri Russell
Delightfully unique romantic comedy about a pregnant waitress who hates her husband and has an affair with her ob/gyn as she tries to fix her life. Very creative use of pie to parallel the protagonist’s feelings, and we all like pie. Russell is great in a very deep and empoweringly feminine role, and Andy Griffith is marvelous as a wry old customer who takes pleasure in antagonizing Russell. A unique sense of humor permeates the entire film, both through dialogue and visual technique. The whole cinematic feel is similar to Alexander Payne’s Sideways, but with a more warming sense of yearning instead of cynicism. All in all, Waitress is a joy to watch.

- LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD – (2007)
Dir- Len Wiseman; Star-Bruce Willis, Timothy Olyphant
The Dire Hard series is resurrected for this cyber terrorist flick that pits Willis and geeky-wimp sidekick Olyphant against a group trying to disable the nations computer systems. Has all the big bangs and crazy stunts one would expect, but with a PG-13 rating it lacks the raw edge of the previous films. Willis is still iconic (albeit bald), but the antagonist is dissapointingly unscary and plain. The plot is spread over a broad variety of locales, causing the movie to lose some of the claustrophic excitement of its predecesors. It also wanders into extreme unbelievability (I’m usually pretty lenient on this, but it’s really blatant) which detracts from the overall experience. In the end it’s just an average hollywood-style action film with a veteran, charismatic lead. *The DVD version has one of the best bonus features I’ve ever seen, providing an “Uncut” version of the film that injects shots of heavy violence and unrestrained foul language, both of wich were sorely missed in the theatrical presentation.

- KNOCKED UP – (2007)
Dir- Judd Apatow; Star-Seth Rogan
Winning comedy about an unemployed party animal that impregnates a girl during a forgotten night of drinking, and later has to choose between his wild lifestyle and responsibility. Rogan is perfectly cast and quite loveable as the “knockerupper;” creating a character that we can all understand and root for, even if we don’t agree with his lifestyle, without the obnoxiousness of similar characters played by Will Ferrell or Chris Farley. Fairly well made for a light-weight comedy, my favorite scene was exquisitely written and acted, in which two characters have a pivotal and life-changing conversation while recovering from the effects of a trip on ’shrooms, hilariously blending the old and new lifestyle choices in a scene that works on several levels. Knocked Up is certainly funny (albeit grotesque for the faint hearted, as always), but it’s the believably warm and well constructed moral story (aided by an endearing cast) that makes it a charming and memorable movie.

- SiCKO – (2007)
Dir- Michael Moore
The latest Michael Moore ‘persuasive documentary’ focuses on the problems in American healthcare through several anecdotal clips of ER horror stories and testamonies against capitalist HMOS, that also doubles as a rather convincing arguement for Moore’s ideal universal healthcare system. Slanted as always, but also as revelatory and blood-boiling as his best work; another one of those films that makes you want to overlong, lacking the instinctively gripping narrative of Bowling for Columbine and the pure intelectual stimulation of Fahrenheit 9/11, but it functions in a semi-uninspired set-pattern that definitely works to persuade and entertain, clearly showing that Moore is settling into his now expected niche as a film maker, where he is currently the best at what he does.

- NATIONAL TREASURE: BOOK OF SECRETS – (2007)
Dir-John Turteltaub; Star-Nicholas Cage, Jon Voight, Ed Harris
Remarkably uninteresting followup to the surprisingly entertaining National Treasure follows Cage on a quest to save his family name and discover a lost city of gold, with his paper flat buddies in a race with competitor Ed Harris in another archetypical antagonist role (Essentially the same character as Sean Bean in the previous film). The whole movie seems like another uninspired hollywood sequel with hardly any intelligence, witt, or character. It’s almost funny how much is copied from the first movie, including the climactic scene, which makes you wonder if they’re really trying anymore. Only the weak minded would have the patience to see more of the same, especially when the same wasn’t very extraordinary. Quests for treasure! using a secret map! found using the secret code! It get’s old fast… Sure it’s slick and sometimes exciting, but everything is so routine and by-the-book-hollywood-revenue-milking that it’s hardly worth the time.

- SUPERBAD – (2007)
Raunchy teen comedy about two high school seniors trying get to a party to score with the girls they like before summer starts when things don’t exactly go as planned, with comedic results. The first half is down-right dirty and side-splittingly hilarious, especially poignant if you’re on a unisex sports team where this kind of humor is second-nature, but the second half bogs into mediocrity with a few useless and annoying characters filling unnecessary subplots. The acting is almost purposefully “questionable,” which makes the movie seem more like a hyperbole of teenage sexuality than an ode of truth, which is both interesting and stale. Superbad is a movie that can be great fun especially because it outdoes similar films like The 40 Year Old Virgin, but unfortunately drags in its own indulgences by the time it’s over.

- I AM LEGEND – (2007)
Dir-Francis Lawrence; Star-Will Smith
Now THIS is my kind of New York movie; take THAT August Rush… The frightening story of an immuned military scientist who is the last man left after a virus destroys the human species and turns many into nocturnal super-rabid zombies; and his struggle to survive in Manhatten where he tries to cure the virus/find human survivors by day, and struggles to survive at night (It’s the kind of premise we’ve all though would make a cool movie in our heads at some time or another, and by golly it does). The production design created an abandoned New York City that is stunningly believable, helping to add an edge of realism to an otherwise outlandish story. The narrative, which begins with the protagonist’s hunt for food in the post-infection city, is also interspersed with his memory about the onset of the viral infection, which effectively helps paint a picture of what really happened. Smith is charismatic and entirely convincing, delivering both acts of bravery and images of human loneliness with the utmost sincerity. It’s not just a survival-horror-science-fiction movie, but also an interesting depiction of human instinct and the need for companionship. This film is chalked so full of “Oh CRAP!,” “Hey I’ve been there!,” “no! no! NO!,” and “That’s one ugly mother fu-” moments that it makes me giddy even thinking about it. One of my biggest complaints is the striking resemblence of the zombie horde to the ressurected dead in The Mummy, which is a tad over the top and detracts from the overall experience. I was left wanting something more along the lines of the shark in Jaws, where there is a certain mystique and reverence for the enemy. There was also an introduced plot line that I wanted to be further developed by the time the film had ended (I can’t say what it is because you should find out for yourself!). Needless to say, this movie is a dream come true for any Mira Loman sciencegeek, showing that scientists really can try to save the human species and themselves against killer virus-infected zombie people using heavy machine guns and the laboratory! I am Legend is an utterly awesome movie that isn’t stupid and keeps you on the edge of your seat as you duke it out with nature, the world, and yourself. Sweet…

-NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN –
Dir-Joel & Ethan Coen; Star-Tommy Lee Jones; Javier Bardem
From the creative masterminds behind Fargo comes another sparsely-set crime thriller that follows several characters and a bag containing 2 million dollars across a bleak, rural-Texas landscape. It’s an intense hide and seek that dissapointingly lacks the charismatic humor of Fargo, but tops it in pure Silence of the Lambs in immense tension as the psychopathic killer Bardem hunts his prey; these moments are themselves genuine filmaking marvels and are brilliantly constructed, shot and paced. The antagonist, played to creepy perfection by Bardem, is one of the most frightening and most real villains ever commited to film; he’s the kind of guy that you don’t really want to come across at the supermarket, with a deep sense of diabolical meaning as well. The other characters are so very real and fleshed out that it becomes apparent after a while that it’s really just a complex character study about human reactions to unbelievable evil. It’s also a spellbinding game of cat and mouse that showcases some of the most memorable and pulse-pounding moments in recent memory. The kind of thing they’ll be teaching in film schools for a while.. Improves upon repeat viewing. Won Oscars for best Picture, Director, Adapted Screenplay, and Supporting Actor (Bardem).

- INTO THE WILD – (2007)

Dir-Sean Penn; Star-Emile Hirsch
The astounding true story of Christopher McCandless who went on a personal journey into the wilderness of America without the vices and constraints of a modern society with which he had become disillusioned. He meets other people along the way, all of whom are running from something, from who he draws wisdom and strength for his trek into the frozen Alaskan wild. The film itself is as breathtaking as the story it depicts, placing the viewer right beside the protagonist every step of the way. Hirsch gives such a youthfully realistic performance that his sense of adventure comes alive and one begins to wish the movie would never end. Every shot is filled with a majestic beauty that reflects its truly inspired direction by renaissance man Penn. The production manages to admirably capture how being with nature changes the body and the soul while helping to reveal our real place in the natural world. The musical score is also fantastic, provided by Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder; it’s rootsy-folk structure is given an epic feel that nicely accents the film’s scope. It is a movie about a journey. A mental and physical journey that we all undergo in some way or another. That’s all fine and dandy, but every aspect of this film executes perfectly to where the whole picture becomes an extension of the restlessness and spirit of an entire generation. It’s a dreamy and emotionally moving that is rooted in an extreme personal reality that appeals to the heart of adventure and hits straight to the soul. Into the Wild is a cinematic masterwork and one of the most spiritually enjoyable films in recent memory.

-BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU’RE DEAD- (2007)
Dir-Sidney Lumet; Star-Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke
At a staggering 83 years old, Sidney Lumet is still pumping out some great movies. This one is a gripping story of two brothers who decide to rob their parent’s jewelry store when things go horribly wrong and a spiral of death and despair ensues. It’s extremely melodramatic in everything from the characterization to the musical score, something that modern film tends to stray away from, although it works wonderfully here to give character to what could have easily been a lifeless mess. As with any melodrama, the plot makes up for many holes and convolusions with twists and revelations that push the picture forward. Seymour Hoffman is a fantastic actor, filling the multilayered older brother with a deliciously powerful performance; he is equaled by Hawke who plays the emotionally vulnerable younger sibling to utter perfection. Although passionately charged melodramas like this are not for everyone, it proves to be a shattering and intense examination of human motivation and the influence of family on personal desires.

-AMERICAN GANGSTER- (2007)
Dir-Ridley Scott; Star-Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe
Lengthy true story about black New York gangster Frank Lucas who gained and lost his monopoly on the city’s heroin supply during the 1970’s, and his conflicts with the altruistic cop (Crowe) who has to battle not only Lucas but corruption in his own department. A simply by the numbers movie in every way, with nothing out of the ordinary in it’s production (and no overt downfalls), that survives simply on the magnetic leads (which are played powerfully) and the crisp pacing by Scott. All this ensures a run-of-the-mill gangster flick that doesn’t blow your mind, it simply entertains like the quality action/drama film that it is.

- AUGUST RUSH- (2007)

- ACROSS THE UNIVERSE- (2007)

Dir-Julie Taymor; Star-MiscWe’ve all known that a Beatles Musical would be the perfect idea for some cinematic delite, them being arguably the greatest and most popular band of all time and all.. Across the Universe hints at the concept’s potential, with a few sequences that seem inspiringly constructed that also present new interpretations of the time-honored classic songs. It’s a shame that most of the sequences are overindulgent and of little emotional value to the viewer, a fact which is probably caused by the lack of any compelling story. It’s more of a slice of life from the 60’s than a plotted work, and as a slice of life it’s generally unsympathetic and dull. Heck, even Forrest Gump did the 60’s better, and that movie wasn’t even about the 60’s… Since there is no written substance the characters are also quite bland. These problems are accentuated by overlength which causes some major DRAG. It’s certainly creative, especially in some of the trippier sequences, but not in the way it should have been. The best thing it has going for it is the music.. And that was written 40 years ago.

-RUSH HOUR 3- (2007)

-QUINCEAñERA- (2006 )

-THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM- (2007)

-RATATOUILLE- (2007)

- HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX- (2007)

- THE SIMPSONS MOVIE- (2007)

- STRANGER THAN FICTION – (2006)

- PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD’S END- (2007)

-DREAMGIRLS- (2006)

- THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND – (2006)

-BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN- (2005)

- VOLVER – (2006) (Spain)

- FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS – (2006)

-BABEL- (2006)

-LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA- (2006)

-TALLADEGA NIGHTS: THE BALLAD OF RICKY BOBBY- (2006)

- PAN’S LABYRINTH- (2006)

-CHILDREN OF MEN- (2006)

-NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM- (2006)

-LITTLE CHILDREN- (2006)
Dir-Todd Field; Star-Kate Winslett, Patrick Wilson, Jennifer Connelly
An emotionally shattering glimpse of suburbia in Anytown, USA, following various adult characters whose interconnected lives are centered around a children’s playground. All of the characters are in a sort of mid-life malaise, feeling out of place in their typical American families. Winslett is a stay at home mom sickened by her husband who prefers internet smut to her, quickly falling for Wilson, who is a stay at home dad that feels detatched from his wife. The two quickly become friends and see eachother every day as they their children play together. This quickly developes into something more… sensual. Then there is the convicted child sex offender who just moved back to town, is being ostracized by the community, and tormented by an overaggressive retired cop who obsessively keeps an eye on him 24/7. The first half of the film is both very (very) disturbing and very funny, instantly and effectively drawing the viewer into the suburban world which could easily be their own. This enables the second half to build upon itself, becoming more tense and dramatic as events unfold… An amazing and intimate story of core values, passion, possibilities, missed opportunity, alienation, community, family, redemption, and personal change. Chalked full of symbolism that only acts as an intelectual bonus to the electrifying drama that takes place. Winslett and Wilson are both great, and Jackie Earle Haley (who plays the sex offender) is perfect (and so very, very creepy). It’s also a sort of satire on American suburbia and social paranoia (lord only knows what all those stay at home mothers are doing…). Little Children is a chillingly inspirational and surreal experience, expertly crafted and performed; an immensely powerful film. Easily the finest film of 2006.

- THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA- (2006)

-UNITED 93- (2006)

-MEL GIBSON’S APOCALYPTO- (2006)

-LOST IN TRANSLATION- (2003)

-CASINO ROYALE- (2006)

-BORAT: CULTURAL LEARNINGS OF AMERICA FOR MAKE BENEFIT GLORIOUS NATION OF KAZAKHSTAN- (2006)

-THE QUEEN- (2006)

-THE PRESTIGE-

-FAHRENHEIT 9/11- (2004)

-THE DEPARTED- (2006)

-LITTLE MISS SUNHINE- (2006)

–old movie aside—

- A WALK TO REMEMBER – (2002)

- GHOST WORLD- (2001)

- AS GOOD AS IT GETS – (1997)

- HOLLYWOOD HOMICIDE – (2003)

- DEEP IMPACT- (1998)

- THE HAUNTING- (1999) BOMB [One Star]

- ARMAGEDDON- (1998)

- THE HOURS – (2002)

-THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES-(2004, Argentinan)

-PARADISE NOW- (2005, Palestinian)

- KING KONG – (1933)* * * 1/2

- THE PRODUCERS – (1968)* * * 1/2

- SYRIANA – (2005) * * *

- THE FUGITIVE -* * * 1/2

- O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU? – * * * 1/2

- ELF – * * *

- THE GRADUATE – (1967)* * * *

- OUT OF AFRICA -* * * 1/2

- TITANIC -* * * *

- OLD SCHOOL – * * 1/2

- - AIR FORCE ONE -* * *

- AMERICAN BEAUTY – (1999)* * * *

- CONTACT – * * *

- JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK -* * *

- FACE/OFF – * * 1/2

- GATTACA -* * 1/2

- L.A. CONFIDENTIAL – (1997) * * * 1/2

- THE ENGLISH PATIENT – (1996) * * * 1/2

- THE INTERPRETER – (2005)* * 1/2

- THE CONVERSATION -* * * *

- LOCK, STOCK, AND TWO SMOKING BARRELS- * * *

- SNATCH – * * 1/2

- HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE- (2005)* * *

- STAR WARS EPISODE IV: A NEW HOPE – (1977)* * * 1/2

- THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK -* * * *

- RETURN OF THE JEDI – * * * 1/2

-GOOD NIGHT. AND, GOOD LUCK.-(2005)* * * 1/2

- THE USUAL SUSPECTS – (1995)* * * 1/2

- IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE – (1947)* * * *

- SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN – * * * *

-FLIGHTPLAN- (2005)* *

-PHONEBOOTH-* * *

-FIGHT CLUB-* * 1/2

-NORTH COUNTRY- (2005)* * 1/2

-STRANGERS ON A TRAIN-* * * *

-WALLACE AND GROMIT & THE CURSE OF THE WERE-RABBIT- (2005) * * * 1/2

-WOODSTOCK- (1970)* * * *

-ROMEO AND JULIET-(1968)* * * 1/2

-BEAUTY AND THE BEAST- (1991)* * * 1/2

-GOODFELLAS- * * *

-THE MALTESE FALCON- (1941)* * * *

-SCHINDLER’S LIST- (1993) * * * *

-THE MOSQUITO COAST- (1986)* * * 1/2

-PULP FICTION- (1994)* * * 1/2

-HEAT-* * *

-KILLER’s KISS-* *

-NORTH BY NORTHWEST-* * * 1/2

-NETWORK- (1976)* * *1/2

-THE CONSTANT GARDENER- (2005)* * *

-BAD SANTA-* * *

-WHALE RIDER-* * * 1/2

-THE PINK PANTHER-* * *

-BLACK HAWK DOWN- (2001)* * * 1/2

-THE CIDER HOUSE RULES-* * * 1/2

-THE SHINING-* * *

-MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING-* * 1/2

-THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION- (1994)* * *

-THE GODFATHER- (1972)* * * *

-A SHOT IN THE DARK- (1964) * * * 1/2.

-THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS- (1992)* * *

-DANCES WITH WOLVES- (1990)* * * *

-OUTBREAK- (1995)* * *

-THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA- (2004)* * * 1/2

-THE KILLING- (1956)* * * *

-CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND- (1977)* * * 1/2

-AMERICAN PIE-* * 1/2

-LOLITA- (1962)* * *

-NATIONAL LAMPOON’S ANIMAL HOUSE- * * 1/2

-2010: THE YEAR WE MAKE CONTACT* * *

-LOST IN TRANSLATION- (2004)* * * *

-THE AVIATOR-* * *

-MILLION DOLLAR BABY- (2004)* * *

-JURASSIC PARK- (1993) * * * 1/2

-ZOOLANDER- (2001) * * *

-THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER- (1940) * * * 1/2

-DR STRANGELOVE OR HOW I LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING AND LOVE THE BOMB- (1964) * * * *

-MR. AND MRS. SMITH- (2005) * * *

<em>>-BRAVEHEART- (1995)</em>>* * * 1/2

-WAR OF THE WORLDS- (2005)* * *

-STAR WARS EPISODE III: REVENGE OF THE SITH- (2005) * * * 1/2

-FULL METAL JACKET- (1987)* * * 1/2

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