Indie/Comedy
4.5 stars
I LOVED this movie! Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Miracle at St. Anna) falls hard for Zooey Deschanel (Elf) who made it clear from the start she didn’t want anything serious; also stars Matthew Gray Gubler (TV’s Criminal Minds). Sounds simple enough, but the humor is fresh and original. There were plenty of guys in the theater and everyone was laughing – a lot - so it’s not just another chick flick. I try to save my 4-5 ratings for Oscar winning performance type films, but this one was so funny and bittersweet and just original; not to mention the darling of several film festivals. Just go see it!
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
The Ugly Truth
Comedy
3 stars
Cute, passable comedy. I’m not a Katherine Heigl fan, but Gerard Butler and his politically incorrect sexist attitude more than made up for it. Heigl is a control freak who meets a hot guy (Eric Winter), and enlists resident pig Butler to make her over to be more appealing to Winter. It’s obvious where it goes, but I enjoyed Butler and I thought Heigl was pretty funny in the corporate dinner scene. I’ve seen better, but this is good for a few laughs.
3 stars
Cute, passable comedy. I’m not a Katherine Heigl fan, but Gerard Butler and his politically incorrect sexist attitude more than made up for it. Heigl is a control freak who meets a hot guy (Eric Winter), and enlists resident pig Butler to make her over to be more appealing to Winter. It’s obvious where it goes, but I enjoyed Butler and I thought Heigl was pretty funny in the corporate dinner scene. I’ve seen better, but this is good for a few laughs.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Orphan
Horror
3 stars
Passable suspense thriller about a seemingly sweet adoptee who is really an evil little b-err- witch. Peter Sarsgaard (Jarhead, Flightplan, Skeleton Key) and Vera Farmiga (Running Scared, Boy in the Striped Pajamas) star as the parents and Isabelle Furman is the evil child. It’s not really that scary, though there are a couple of nasty murders. I was most worried about the welfare of the orphan’s two new siblings. This movie starts out with those scare tactics that fake you out and they occur long before the orphan is even introduced! You know, the usual: buildup of creepy music, the camera angles of someone seemingly sneaking up behind, the bathroom medicine cabinet closing and you expect a scary face to appear in the mirror. But of course there is nothing to be afraid of yet. If you are thinking of bringing a child, keep in mind there are a couple of sex scenes. The orphan was effectively creepy, but the big surprise ending was pretty underwhelming and extremely unlikely (it would have been more believable if she were Satan's spawn). A decent movie, but I liked the classic movie The Bad Seed better.
3 stars
Passable suspense thriller about a seemingly sweet adoptee who is really an evil little b-err- witch. Peter Sarsgaard (Jarhead, Flightplan, Skeleton Key) and Vera Farmiga (Running Scared, Boy in the Striped Pajamas) star as the parents and Isabelle Furman is the evil child. It’s not really that scary, though there are a couple of nasty murders. I was most worried about the welfare of the orphan’s two new siblings. This movie starts out with those scare tactics that fake you out and they occur long before the orphan is even introduced! You know, the usual: buildup of creepy music, the camera angles of someone seemingly sneaking up behind, the bathroom medicine cabinet closing and you expect a scary face to appear in the mirror. But of course there is nothing to be afraid of yet. If you are thinking of bringing a child, keep in mind there are a couple of sex scenes. The orphan was effectively creepy, but the big surprise ending was pretty underwhelming and extremely unlikely (it would have been more believable if she were Satan's spawn). A decent movie, but I liked the classic movie The Bad Seed better.
Away We Go
Indie: Comedy/ Drama
4 stars
Good movie! Pregnant couple (John Krasinski & Maya Rudolph) travel the US and Canada looking for a place to call home and raise their child. They meet all kinds of quirky and wacky characters along the way including Maggie Gyllenhaal, Allison Janney, Jeff Daniels, Catherine O’Hara and even “Rose” from Two and Half Men. The first 2/3's are pretty funny, then the last 1/3 turns more contemplative and introspective so I am undecided on how to categorize this film. Really good!
4 stars
Good movie! Pregnant couple (John Krasinski & Maya Rudolph) travel the US and Canada looking for a place to call home and raise their child. They meet all kinds of quirky and wacky characters along the way including Maggie Gyllenhaal, Allison Janney, Jeff Daniels, Catherine O’Hara and even “Rose” from Two and Half Men. The first 2/3's are pretty funny, then the last 1/3 turns more contemplative and introspective so I am undecided on how to categorize this film. Really good!
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
4 stars
Fantasy
Loved it. I read this book a couple of years ago so my memory fails me, but it seemed to include everything necessary for non-readers to follow, though no explanation of Dumbledore’s withered hand. Although it just occurred to me that once the identity of the Half Blood Prince was revealed, I thought the book made quite a revelation regarding that individual not being a pure blood wizard? In the movie it’s no big deal; there are too many other things to worry about: Ron was hilarious under a love spell, Hero Fiennes Tiffen (nephew of Lord Voldemort actor Ralph Fiennes) is perfectly creepy as a young Voldemort, thankfully Malfoy has a larger role in this movie with his special mission – and Quiddich games are as cool as ever. I just wish I had caught myself up and watched the previous episode beforehand. Great special effects as in all Potter movies. Maybe since the Lord of the Rings trilogy ended Potter special effects may get some recognition at the Academy Awards?
Fantasy
Loved it. I read this book a couple of years ago so my memory fails me, but it seemed to include everything necessary for non-readers to follow, though no explanation of Dumbledore’s withered hand. Although it just occurred to me that once the identity of the Half Blood Prince was revealed, I thought the book made quite a revelation regarding that individual not being a pure blood wizard? In the movie it’s no big deal; there are too many other things to worry about: Ron was hilarious under a love spell, Hero Fiennes Tiffen (nephew of Lord Voldemort actor Ralph Fiennes) is perfectly creepy as a young Voldemort, thankfully Malfoy has a larger role in this movie with his special mission – and Quiddich games are as cool as ever. I just wish I had caught myself up and watched the previous episode beforehand. Great special effects as in all Potter movies. Maybe since the Lord of the Rings trilogy ended Potter special effects may get some recognition at the Academy Awards?
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
3.5 stars
Animation/Family
Fun movie, cute characters and lots of adventure. This time around the unlikely pack of assorted animals find a hidden world beneath the ice full of jungles, lava fields, and dinosaurs. All the little kids in the theater were full of rapt fascination – and me too! The squirrel (my favorite) had a larger role with his new love interest. Very cute!
Animation/Family
Fun movie, cute characters and lots of adventure. This time around the unlikely pack of assorted animals find a hidden world beneath the ice full of jungles, lava fields, and dinosaurs. All the little kids in the theater were full of rapt fascination – and me too! The squirrel (my favorite) had a larger role with his new love interest. Very cute!
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Bruno
Comedy
1 star
Awful! I thought the previews looked funny, but what a disappointment – I thought it would be similar to the Zoolander movie. Even at a trim 88 minutes in length, I kept checking my watch hoping it would be over soon. Sasha Baron Cohen becomes a human sociology experiment by behaving bizarrely to get a reaction out of people. His character, Bruno, is a former Austrian fashion TV host who is hoping to get “famous” by moving to LA. I couldn’t believe the giant movie screen displayed an extreme close-up of his bouncing penis. There were several other porn scenes with various poses of sodomy with a champagne bottle and footage of a swinger’s party. I am afraid I am scarred for life… I did laugh during the boot camp scenes– that’s what upgraded my rating from 0 stars to 1. I can’t believe how many cameos there were of who I thought were somewhat respectable folks: Bono, Sting, Elton John, Slash, Paula Abdul, Harrison Ford and that singer from Coldplay among others. That was 88 minutes of my life I will never get back again.
1 star
Awful! I thought the previews looked funny, but what a disappointment – I thought it would be similar to the Zoolander movie. Even at a trim 88 minutes in length, I kept checking my watch hoping it would be over soon. Sasha Baron Cohen becomes a human sociology experiment by behaving bizarrely to get a reaction out of people. His character, Bruno, is a former Austrian fashion TV host who is hoping to get “famous” by moving to LA. I couldn’t believe the giant movie screen displayed an extreme close-up of his bouncing penis. There were several other porn scenes with various poses of sodomy with a champagne bottle and footage of a swinger’s party. I am afraid I am scarred for life… I did laugh during the boot camp scenes– that’s what upgraded my rating from 0 stars to 1. I can’t believe how many cameos there were of who I thought were somewhat respectable folks: Bono, Sting, Elton John, Slash, Paula Abdul, Harrison Ford and that singer from Coldplay among others. That was 88 minutes of my life I will never get back again.
Cheri
Period
3.5 stars
Good movie starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Kathy Bates as tres rich retired ladies of the night who barely tolerate each other. Pfeiffer has an illicit affair with Bates’s lazy and strange son (Rupert Friend). I love the sumptuous costuming (early 20th century) and the gorgeous multiple estates they own with to-die-for gardens dripping with flowers (filmed in France and Germany). Bates’s scenes are pure evil :). Good movie.
3.5 stars
Good movie starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Kathy Bates as tres rich retired ladies of the night who barely tolerate each other. Pfeiffer has an illicit affair with Bates’s lazy and strange son (Rupert Friend). I love the sumptuous costuming (early 20th century) and the gorgeous multiple estates they own with to-die-for gardens dripping with flowers (filmed in France and Germany). Bates’s scenes are pure evil :). Good movie.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Public Enemy
Action
3.5 stars
Decent gangster movie. Johnny Depp stars as John Dillinger, the infamous bank robber of the 1930’s. There are plenty of obligatory shoot’em up scenes and robberies. I would have liked to have seen more of Dillinger’s lifestyle between the robberies and more character development of the other gangsters that he dealt with. Marion Cotillard (A Good Year) co-stars as Dillinger’s girlfriend as well as Billy Crudup (I’ve always thought he was talented but his accent felt phony) and Christian Bale. Also, a complaint to the make-up artist: Depp had that smudged mascara look under his eyes that kept making me expect him to morph into Capt. Jack Sparrow! Great acting, but as I said, the story and characters should have been developed better.
3.5 stars
Decent gangster movie. Johnny Depp stars as John Dillinger, the infamous bank robber of the 1930’s. There are plenty of obligatory shoot’em up scenes and robberies. I would have liked to have seen more of Dillinger’s lifestyle between the robberies and more character development of the other gangsters that he dealt with. Marion Cotillard (A Good Year) co-stars as Dillinger’s girlfriend as well as Billy Crudup (I’ve always thought he was talented but his accent felt phony) and Christian Bale. Also, a complaint to the make-up artist: Depp had that smudged mascara look under his eyes that kept making me expect him to morph into Capt. Jack Sparrow! Great acting, but as I said, the story and characters should have been developed better.
My Sister’s Keeper
Tearjerker
3.5 stars
Definitely bring tissues to this movie. Abigail Breslin stars as a genetically pre-determined child created to help keep her leukemia stricken sister alive (unknown but talented actress Sofia Vassilieva). Breslin then sues her parents for emancipation and the right to make decisions about her own body. If only a dying sister and lawsuit were the only things to cry about – but wait, there’s more to cry about… But I won’t give anymore away. I only wish they had more background music to mask all the sniffling in the audience! Cameron Diaz affectingly plays the overbearing mother who refuses to let go. Jason Patrick (In the Valley of Elah), Alec Baldwin and Joan Cusack co-star. Good movie but I couldn’t wait for the end so I could blow my nose!
3.5 stars
Definitely bring tissues to this movie. Abigail Breslin stars as a genetically pre-determined child created to help keep her leukemia stricken sister alive (unknown but talented actress Sofia Vassilieva). Breslin then sues her parents for emancipation and the right to make decisions about her own body. If only a dying sister and lawsuit were the only things to cry about – but wait, there’s more to cry about… But I won’t give anymore away. I only wish they had more background music to mask all the sniffling in the audience! Cameron Diaz affectingly plays the overbearing mother who refuses to let go. Jason Patrick (In the Valley of Elah), Alec Baldwin and Joan Cusack co-star. Good movie but I couldn’t wait for the end so I could blow my nose!
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