Drama/Based on True Story
4.5 stars
Excellent movie about a homeless man and the reporter who tries to help him. Robert Downey Jr. is excellent as usual as newspaper columnist Steve Lopez who meets Nathaniel Ayers (Jamie Foxx, in another outstanding performance) while looking for new material for his column. It’s nice to have another movie out there about the dying newspaper industry and the difference the stories can make in people’s lives. I liked that the film did not gloss over the tragedy and complexities of homeless people. Excellent movie.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Obsessed
Drama/Suspense
2.5 stars
Not as good as Fatal Attraction, but a passable suspense thriller. Idris Elba stars as a successful businessman targeted by a stalker (Ali Larter). There’s plenty of suspense and men will like the big cat fight between Beyonce (as Elba’s wife) and Larter. The problem I had with the movie was that there was no background given of any of the characters, especially Larter’s and why she honed in on Elba in the first place. He seemed like a random victim that she targeted on first sight. Even her motivation wasn’t clear; you are left to assume it was just sexual attraction. I would have preferred something more sinister, say blackmail or an old grudge, or at the very least a real relationship between the stalker and “stalkee”. Still there’s some good suspense, and it wasn’t a terrible movie. It just didn’t live up to its potential.
2.5 stars
Not as good as Fatal Attraction, but a passable suspense thriller. Idris Elba stars as a successful businessman targeted by a stalker (Ali Larter). There’s plenty of suspense and men will like the big cat fight between Beyonce (as Elba’s wife) and Larter. The problem I had with the movie was that there was no background given of any of the characters, especially Larter’s and why she honed in on Elba in the first place. He seemed like a random victim that she targeted on first sight. Even her motivation wasn’t clear; you are left to assume it was just sexual attraction. I would have preferred something more sinister, say blackmail or an old grudge, or at the very least a real relationship between the stalker and “stalkee”. Still there’s some good suspense, and it wasn’t a terrible movie. It just didn’t live up to its potential.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Earth
Documentary / Nature
5 stars
Absolutely stunning. Gorgeous photography, jaw dropping landscapes, breathtaking beauty. This film covers everything: both poles, the oceans and everything in between. It moves along at a pace that is never dull and is narrated by the smooth baritone of James Earl Jones. Almost every scene is worthy of being displayed in an art museum and even the music is wonderful and soothing. The movie loosely follows the journeys of three families in different parts of the world: polar bears, elephants and humpback whales. Many other species are featured as well. Stay through the closing credits to see the camera crews and their own close encounters. Just go see it and bring the kids too; it must be seen on the big screen.
5 stars
Absolutely stunning. Gorgeous photography, jaw dropping landscapes, breathtaking beauty. This film covers everything: both poles, the oceans and everything in between. It moves along at a pace that is never dull and is narrated by the smooth baritone of James Earl Jones. Almost every scene is worthy of being displayed in an art museum and even the music is wonderful and soothing. The movie loosely follows the journeys of three families in different parts of the world: polar bears, elephants and humpback whales. Many other species are featured as well. Stay through the closing credits to see the camera crews and their own close encounters. Just go see it and bring the kids too; it must be seen on the big screen.
Race To Witch Mountain
Sci-Fi/Action
3 stars
Fun action movie about two “tween” aliens who pay cab driver Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson take them on an adventure to pretty much save both our world and theirs. Lots of explosions and chase scenes and shoot-outs; therefore it is too violent for sensitive young ones. Hunting down the protagonists are a killer alien and of course the never to be trusted Dept. of Defense. Adults should enjoy this as well as the “tween” audience this seems to be geared at. Fun movie.
3 stars
Fun action movie about two “tween” aliens who pay cab driver Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson take them on an adventure to pretty much save both our world and theirs. Lots of explosions and chase scenes and shoot-outs; therefore it is too violent for sensitive young ones. Hunting down the protagonists are a killer alien and of course the never to be trusted Dept. of Defense. Adults should enjoy this as well as the “tween” audience this seems to be geared at. Fun movie.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
State of Play
Drama
5 stars
Excellent movie. Russell Crowe stars as an investigative reporter looking into some recent murders which include the research assistant of Crowe’s old college buddy, U.S. Congressman Ben Affleck. There are more twist and turns than a Hitchcock movie. I like that the movie pays homage to the dying newspaper industry and the value of good old fashioned research and investigative reporting. Affleck is showing potential of being a fine actor (for the longest time I could never take him seriously), Crowe is talented as always, and also starring are Helen Mirren, Jeff Daniels, Rachel McAdams and Robin Wright Penn. Excellent movie; well worth a visit to the multiplex.
5 stars
Excellent movie. Russell Crowe stars as an investigative reporter looking into some recent murders which include the research assistant of Crowe’s old college buddy, U.S. Congressman Ben Affleck. There are more twist and turns than a Hitchcock movie. I like that the movie pays homage to the dying newspaper industry and the value of good old fashioned research and investigative reporting. Affleck is showing potential of being a fine actor (for the longest time I could never take him seriously), Crowe is talented as always, and also starring are Helen Mirren, Jeff Daniels, Rachel McAdams and Robin Wright Penn. Excellent movie; well worth a visit to the multiplex.
17 Again
Comedy, Teen
2.5 stars
Corny but cute. Matthew Perry wishes he could relive his glory days as a 17 year old basketball star (Zac Efron) and the magical Bill Murray makes his dream come true – except the wish places him in the present day and he must attend school with his own teenage kids and try to correct where he went wrong as a Dad. It’s pretty corny, especially Thomas Lennon (I Love You, Man) who plays Perry’s wacky best friend and dresses like the your worst 1980’s nightmare. I got a few laughs out of it though and I guess it makes me a cougar to admit that Efron is pretty easy on the eyes. Wait for it on TV.
2.5 stars
Corny but cute. Matthew Perry wishes he could relive his glory days as a 17 year old basketball star (Zac Efron) and the magical Bill Murray makes his dream come true – except the wish places him in the present day and he must attend school with his own teenage kids and try to correct where he went wrong as a Dad. It’s pretty corny, especially Thomas Lennon (I Love You, Man) who plays Perry’s wacky best friend and dresses like the your worst 1980’s nightmare. I got a few laughs out of it though and I guess it makes me a cougar to admit that Efron is pretty easy on the eyes. Wait for it on TV.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Knowing
Sci-Fi / Action
3.5 stars
Really cool special effects. A disturbed young girl places a series of numbers in a time capsule in 1959, only to be retrieved 50 years later by Nicholas Cage’s son. Cage plays an MIT astrophysicist professor who deciphers the numbers as prophesies of world tragedies and their respective death tolls. Interesting premise; though parts of it are reminiscent of another famous sci-fi flick from the 70’s, but I don’t want to give it away. I enjoyed the special effects, though the final scene of the movie was a bit corny – they should have left well enough alone. Good movie.
3.5 stars
Really cool special effects. A disturbed young girl places a series of numbers in a time capsule in 1959, only to be retrieved 50 years later by Nicholas Cage’s son. Cage plays an MIT astrophysicist professor who deciphers the numbers as prophesies of world tragedies and their respective death tolls. Interesting premise; though parts of it are reminiscent of another famous sci-fi flick from the 70’s, but I don’t want to give it away. I enjoyed the special effects, though the final scene of the movie was a bit corny – they should have left well enough alone. Good movie.
Adventureland
Drama/Romance
3 stars
Something about the melancholy losers in this movie attracted me, but that’s all it is: melancholy losers. A college grad (Jesse Eisenberg) gets a summer job at a carnival and falls for a girl, Kristen Stewart (Twilight). Stewart seems to excel at playing bored, unhappy characters who never smile. I missed the first 10 minutes (mapquest.com gave me bad directions!) but I was confused by what ages the carnival workers were supposed to be? They all lived with their parents and borrowed their parent’s cars, yet they all seemed old enough to drink at bars. Very Strange. There are some amusing scenes, but I found it unlikely the schleppy, unattractive (in my opinion) protagonist attracts all the hot chicks at the carnival. It’s not a bad movie, but there was nothing really exciting about it either. Wait for the DVD; the TV version will be annoying when it covers up the swear words – but don’t worry, it’s not a crass vulgar movie.
3 stars
Something about the melancholy losers in this movie attracted me, but that’s all it is: melancholy losers. A college grad (Jesse Eisenberg) gets a summer job at a carnival and falls for a girl, Kristen Stewart (Twilight). Stewart seems to excel at playing bored, unhappy characters who never smile. I missed the first 10 minutes (mapquest.com gave me bad directions!) but I was confused by what ages the carnival workers were supposed to be? They all lived with their parents and borrowed their parent’s cars, yet they all seemed old enough to drink at bars. Very Strange. There are some amusing scenes, but I found it unlikely the schleppy, unattractive (in my opinion) protagonist attracts all the hot chicks at the carnival. It’s not a bad movie, but there was nothing really exciting about it either. Wait for the DVD; the TV version will be annoying when it covers up the swear words – but don’t worry, it’s not a crass vulgar movie.
Duplicity
Drama
3 stars
An OK movie about corporate espionage. Julia Roberts and Clive Owen star as former CIA and MI6 agents who try to dupe two companies by stealing a secret product being developed and selling it to a third party. I just couldn’t get excited about companies that produce things like shampoo and car wax – it’s not exactly Bourne Identity excitement. While I’m sure corporate espionage exists, I find it hard to believe they would go to the extreme lengths to steal secrets as these fictional companies do. All the best parts were given away in the previews. Tom Wilkinson (The Full Monty) and Paul Giamatti (Sideways) co-star as the CEO’s who hate each other. It’s not a bad movie, but I’d say wait for it come out on TV.
3 stars
An OK movie about corporate espionage. Julia Roberts and Clive Owen star as former CIA and MI6 agents who try to dupe two companies by stealing a secret product being developed and selling it to a third party. I just couldn’t get excited about companies that produce things like shampoo and car wax – it’s not exactly Bourne Identity excitement. While I’m sure corporate espionage exists, I find it hard to believe they would go to the extreme lengths to steal secrets as these fictional companies do. All the best parts were given away in the previews. Tom Wilkinson (The Full Monty) and Paul Giamatti (Sideways) co-star as the CEO’s who hate each other. It’s not a bad movie, but I’d say wait for it come out on TV.
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