Thriller
3 stars
Passable thriller about a serial dad (Dylan Walsh) who wants the perfect family but kills them all and moves on if everything doesn’t come up roses. Sela Ward and Penn Badgley co-star. The original from 1987 with Terry O’Quinn (the bald guy from Lost) was much better, bloodier and campier with his private rantings when things didn’t go smoothly. Go rent the original.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Law Abiding Citizen
Action Suspense
3.5 stars
I’m not a fan of vigilante movies, but I like Gerard Butler and this story was pretty good. After Butler witnesses the murder of his wife and child, the killer gets off by cooperating and makes a deal with the lawyers (Jamie Foxx). Butler, understandably, isn’t very happy about this and all Hell breaks loose when he starts killing everyone involved in the deal. Except nobody can figure out how he’s doing it while behind bars. I was disappointed that one of the characters did not die a spectacular death, but it was an enjoyable flick.
3.5 stars
I’m not a fan of vigilante movies, but I like Gerard Butler and this story was pretty good. After Butler witnesses the murder of his wife and child, the killer gets off by cooperating and makes a deal with the lawyers (Jamie Foxx). Butler, understandably, isn’t very happy about this and all Hell breaks loose when he starts killing everyone involved in the deal. Except nobody can figure out how he’s doing it while behind bars. I was disappointed that one of the characters did not die a spectacular death, but it was an enjoyable flick.
Where The Wild Things Are
Family
4.5 stars
Loved it. A lonely boy with a great imagination transports himself to a land full of emotionally complex monsters. I’ve never read the book, but I’ve read that the monsters in this movie are a bit scarier than the book – and yes they do threaten to eat the boy a few times! I’d have liked the movie to have more fun scenes and less moody scenes, but all in all I loved it.
4.5 stars
Loved it. A lonely boy with a great imagination transports himself to a land full of emotionally complex monsters. I’ve never read the book, but I’ve read that the monsters in this movie are a bit scarier than the book – and yes they do threaten to eat the boy a few times! I’d have liked the movie to have more fun scenes and less moody scenes, but all in all I loved it.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
The Boys Are Back
Indie/Drama
4.5 stars
Loved it. Clive Owen stars as a widower trying to raise a six year old son while both are mourning the loss of the central woman in their lives. Add to the mix Owen’s troubled 14 year old son from his first marriage who still has abandonment issues. Yes, there are some tear jerker parts. And there are a few laughs too. There is also gorgeous Australian scenery as Owen plays an English expat living in Australia as a sports writer. I wouldn’t be surprised if there were a couple of award nominations for this movie. Loved it.
4.5 stars
Loved it. Clive Owen stars as a widower trying to raise a six year old son while both are mourning the loss of the central woman in their lives. Add to the mix Owen’s troubled 14 year old son from his first marriage who still has abandonment issues. Yes, there are some tear jerker parts. And there are a few laughs too. There is also gorgeous Australian scenery as Owen plays an English expat living in Australia as a sports writer. I wouldn’t be surprised if there were a couple of award nominations for this movie. Loved it.
Capitalism: A Love Story
Documentary
4 stars
I love Michael Moore. He’s a bit too far left wing for me, but he’s passionate about speaking up for the little guy and butting heads with big business, government and anyone else who keeps the little guy down. And he provides quite a compelling argument that sure makes you think about what is wrong with the world. In this movie, the theme is wealthiest, top 1%’s biggest fear: the uprising of the rest of us little guys in the 99%. No matter what your politics (sure, he jabs Reagan and Dubya, and praises Carter and Roosevelt) he tries to dispel fears of Socialism though he supports Democracy, but it’s mostly about the rich feeding off of the poor – and the poor fighting back. There are a few eye-openers, mainly the Dead Peasants program used by most blue chip companies and others who profit from their employees’ deaths (Walmart withdrew from this practice once Moore got involved). I love his use of vintage video clips and music. Never boring, always entertaining, and I love his use of humor while pointing out hard truths. Stick around through the ending credits for various anecdotes and quotes from the likes of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. Just go see it. Even if you disagree, you have to admit he has some good arguments and I’m pretty sure everyone reading this is part of that 99% “little guy” that Moore fights for.
4 stars
I love Michael Moore. He’s a bit too far left wing for me, but he’s passionate about speaking up for the little guy and butting heads with big business, government and anyone else who keeps the little guy down. And he provides quite a compelling argument that sure makes you think about what is wrong with the world. In this movie, the theme is wealthiest, top 1%’s biggest fear: the uprising of the rest of us little guys in the 99%. No matter what your politics (sure, he jabs Reagan and Dubya, and praises Carter and Roosevelt) he tries to dispel fears of Socialism though he supports Democracy, but it’s mostly about the rich feeding off of the poor – and the poor fighting back. There are a few eye-openers, mainly the Dead Peasants program used by most blue chip companies and others who profit from their employees’ deaths (Walmart withdrew from this practice once Moore got involved). I love his use of vintage video clips and music. Never boring, always entertaining, and I love his use of humor while pointing out hard truths. Stick around through the ending credits for various anecdotes and quotes from the likes of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. Just go see it. Even if you disagree, you have to admit he has some good arguments and I’m pretty sure everyone reading this is part of that 99% “little guy” that Moore fights for.
Zombieland
Comedy/Horror
3.5 stars
Very funny, but I still liked Shaun of the Dead better. Jesse Eisenberg (Adventureland) and Woody Harrelson travel across the zombie ravaged country partly looking for other living humans and partly for the sheer fun of killing the slimy, sloppy, blood spewing zombies. Lots of fun J. Eisenberg’s character is reminiscent of Michael Cena’s clueless nerd in well, take your pick: Superbad, Juno, Year One, etc. (Hmm, did I say “limited range”? Oh well, Cena isn’t even in this flick). Harrelson plays a mean redneck and there’s a great cameo that I don’t even want to give away. Abigail Breslin and Emma Stone (Superbad) costar. Fun filled zombiefest.
3.5 stars
Very funny, but I still liked Shaun of the Dead better. Jesse Eisenberg (Adventureland) and Woody Harrelson travel across the zombie ravaged country partly looking for other living humans and partly for the sheer fun of killing the slimy, sloppy, blood spewing zombies. Lots of fun J. Eisenberg’s character is reminiscent of Michael Cena’s clueless nerd in well, take your pick: Superbad, Juno, Year One, etc. (Hmm, did I say “limited range”? Oh well, Cena isn’t even in this flick). Harrelson plays a mean redneck and there’s a great cameo that I don’t even want to give away. Abigail Breslin and Emma Stone (Superbad) costar. Fun filled zombiefest.
Couples Retreat
Comedy
3 stars
Fun, mindless movie. Vince Vaughn stars along with a whole slew of fairly well known actors – do I really have to name them all? - in a comedy about several couples who go on an island getaway (gorgeously filmed in Bora Bora) that turns out to be a couples workshop/marriage counseling retreat. The children in the movie get the biggest laughs and Faison Love (the really big guy) was hands down the most lovable character. I’d have been happier about this movie if I hadn’t read that Vaughn snubbed his hometown fans at the Chicago premier – Dude, you ain’t Brad Pitt… OK, also starring, Jon Favreau, Jason Bateman, Kristin Davis, Kristen Bell, Malin Akerman (The Proposal), Jean Reno (French Kiss) and that Asian guy who seems to be in every movie these days, Ken Jeong (Hangover). Fun movie, gorgeous backdrop, but mindless.
3 stars
Fun, mindless movie. Vince Vaughn stars along with a whole slew of fairly well known actors – do I really have to name them all? - in a comedy about several couples who go on an island getaway (gorgeously filmed in Bora Bora) that turns out to be a couples workshop/marriage counseling retreat. The children in the movie get the biggest laughs and Faison Love (the really big guy) was hands down the most lovable character. I’d have been happier about this movie if I hadn’t read that Vaughn snubbed his hometown fans at the Chicago premier – Dude, you ain’t Brad Pitt… OK, also starring, Jon Favreau, Jason Bateman, Kristin Davis, Kristen Bell, Malin Akerman (The Proposal), Jean Reno (French Kiss) and that Asian guy who seems to be in every movie these days, Ken Jeong (Hangover). Fun movie, gorgeous backdrop, but mindless.
Love Happens
Drama
3 stars
This is not exactly a happy-feel-good romance type flick and I wouldn’t quite classify it as a “chick flick” either. Aaron Eckhart plays a sad but slick and polished grief counseling guru who doesn’t follow his own advice, and he’s stopping in Seattle to lead a grief workshop. Jennifer Aniston plays a far more interesting character as a local florist with bad taste in men. Why Aniston decides to go on a date with a guy who is clearly only in town for a brief stop and why she tries to help him after a really bad date is a mystery to me. Most of the film focuses on the grief coping workshop and Eckhart’s own pain with memories of his late wife. It’s not a bad movie but not really what I call a romance or even a “good cry” movie (a la Nicholas Sparks) though there is a sniffle worthy scene towards the end. I would have liked to have seen more of Aniston’s character and her background and less of the folks in the grief workshop – and definitely less of the fat sloppy guy who works with Eckhart. Not bad, but wait for video or cable.
3 stars
This is not exactly a happy-feel-good romance type flick and I wouldn’t quite classify it as a “chick flick” either. Aaron Eckhart plays a sad but slick and polished grief counseling guru who doesn’t follow his own advice, and he’s stopping in Seattle to lead a grief workshop. Jennifer Aniston plays a far more interesting character as a local florist with bad taste in men. Why Aniston decides to go on a date with a guy who is clearly only in town for a brief stop and why she tries to help him after a really bad date is a mystery to me. Most of the film focuses on the grief coping workshop and Eckhart’s own pain with memories of his late wife. It’s not a bad movie but not really what I call a romance or even a “good cry” movie (a la Nicholas Sparks) though there is a sniffle worthy scene towards the end. I would have liked to have seen more of Aniston’s character and her background and less of the folks in the grief workshop – and definitely less of the fat sloppy guy who works with Eckhart. Not bad, but wait for video or cable.
Informant!
Comedy/Drama
4 stars
Matt Damon plays an imbecilic executive for a company that produces corn-derived lycene and decides to cooperate with the FBI in an investigation. The dung heap keeps getting deeper as Damon keeps shoveling it every time he opens his mouth – which is almost non-stop. It is amusing to see just how incredibly dumb his character is. Fun movie.
4 stars
Matt Damon plays an imbecilic executive for a company that produces corn-derived lycene and decides to cooperate with the FBI in an investigation. The dung heap keeps getting deeper as Damon keeps shoveling it every time he opens his mouth – which is almost non-stop. It is amusing to see just how incredibly dumb his character is. Fun movie.
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