By Nathan Young
Some films stay with you long after you've left the theater. 'Gone Baby Gone', the directorial debut of Ben Affleck, is one of those. A moral choice with more gray area than black or white leaves you with an unresolved feeling as the final credits roll. There is a lot to like in this film, and I am giving it a 'thumbs up'.
Affleck had a major hand in this project. He co-wrote the screenplay (the film was adapted from Dennis Lehane's novel of the same name) in addition to his directing and producing duties. Affleck's biggest contribution to the film, however, may have been convincing his little brother to star in it.
Casey Affleck plays Patrick Kenzie, a Boston private investigator that looks into missing person cases. His partner Angie (Michelle Monaghan) also happens to be his live-in girlfriend. A married couple who's four-year-old niece has disappeared comes to Patrick and Angie for help. While the girl's mother Helene (Amy Ryan) does not seem as interested in finding her, they decide to take the case.
Police chief Jack Doyle (Morgan Freeman) reluctantly offers his assistance to Patrick and Angie, allowing them to pick the brains of two of his detectives, Remy Bressant (Ed Harris) and Nick Poole (John Ashton). When Patrick's attempts to sniff out info from neighborhood sources fail, all hopes of finding the girl seem lost. That's when it is discovered that Helene has not been completely honest about her whereabouts the night of her daughter's disappearance.
Ben Affleck does a wonderful job of keeping the plot moving. The story never gets stale or predictable. He keeps the audience guessing and deftly sets up the gut wrenching choice at the end without tipping his hand. He also gives an honest portrayal of his hometown, right down to the thick accents and blue collar mentality.
The acting in this film is phenomenal. Casey Affleck is revelatory. He brings grit and realism to Patrick. His performance is arguably the best of his career, and he is primed to become a big star. Monaghan again shows why she was the best thing about the disappointing 'The Heartbreak Kid'. Angie is reserved but displays an inner strength that suggests she will not get pushed around. Morgan Freeman appears too briefly, but turns in a standard Morgan Freeman performance. Ed Harris is amazing as the torured and confused Bressant. His performance runs the emotional gamut, and Harris is up to the task every step of the way. Ryan is also fantastic as Helene.
The film is many things all at once: a taut thriller, a dazzling mystery and a morality play. It also makes my top five movies of the year list. I highly recommend it.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Lars And The Real Girl
By Nathan Young
A movie about a man's relationship with an anatomically correct "love" doll would not normally interest me. I decided to give 'Lars and the Real Girl' a chance after reading several glowing reviews written by critics I respect, such as Roger Ebert. I am glad I did, as I am giving it a 'thumbs up'.
This film is a funny, feel good story about Lars (Ryan Gosling), a socially awkward and painfully shy man living in his brother's garage. His sister-in-law Karin (Emily Mortimer) tries to bring him out of his shell, but his brother Gus (Paul Schneider) thinks he is a lost cause.
One day a co-worker shows Lars a website that sells lifesize sex dolls. He orders one, but not for the intended purpose. Lars introduces Bianca to Gus and Karin as his girlfriend. After the initial shock wears off, Gus and Karin take Lars to see a psychologist named Dagmar (Patricia Clarkson). Her advice to them is to let the delusion continue and to treat Lars and Bianca as if they are a real couple. She reasons that Lars will eventually come to realize he doesn’t need her.
The town’s reaction to Bianca is priceless. A scene in which a child is sitting on Bianca’s lap at the doctor’s office is comedic gold. Mrs. Gruler (Nancy Beatty), a member of the church that Lars attends, makes sure the congregation bends over backwards for the new couple. His co-workers invite Lars and Bianca to a party. Margo (Kelli Garner), a co-worker with an unrequited crush on Lars, even treats Bianca respectfully.
My father-in-law Ray Spencer, who attended the screening with me, observed that this film is about emotional healing. I couldn’t agree more. Lars is closed off to the world because his mother died giving birth to him and his father has passed away recently. He cannot bear human contact, experiencing physical pain whenever another person touches him. Bianca allows him to be himself without fear of abandonment or physical contact.
Gosling is without a doubt the reason to watch this film. His performance is one of the best this year. Lars is oblivious to the world around him, yet is at peace with his loner status. His relationship with Bianca allows him to relate to other people, and Gosling handles the transformation with ease. He should be prepared for his name to be called a lot during awards season.
Craig Gillespie beautifully directs Nancy Oliver’s script. The supporting cast all play their parts perfectly. Mortimer is empathetic and lovable as Karin. A scene in which she lashes out at Lars when he feels sorry for himself is the kind of performance that could be rewarded at Oscar time. Margo’s delightful quirkiness and longing heart are wonderfully brought to life by Garner. Schneider and Clarkson are strong as well.
The thing I love most about this film is its tastefulness. A movie about this subject matter could easily go for the cheap joke. To Gillespie and Oliver’s credit, they never take the low road. It incorporates comedy and drama, and is one of the year’s most pleasant surprises. I would strongly recommend it to anyone looking for a good offbeat comedy.
A movie about a man's relationship with an anatomically correct "love" doll would not normally interest me. I decided to give 'Lars and the Real Girl' a chance after reading several glowing reviews written by critics I respect, such as Roger Ebert. I am glad I did, as I am giving it a 'thumbs up'.
This film is a funny, feel good story about Lars (Ryan Gosling), a socially awkward and painfully shy man living in his brother's garage. His sister-in-law Karin (Emily Mortimer) tries to bring him out of his shell, but his brother Gus (Paul Schneider) thinks he is a lost cause.
One day a co-worker shows Lars a website that sells lifesize sex dolls. He orders one, but not for the intended purpose. Lars introduces Bianca to Gus and Karin as his girlfriend. After the initial shock wears off, Gus and Karin take Lars to see a psychologist named Dagmar (Patricia Clarkson). Her advice to them is to let the delusion continue and to treat Lars and Bianca as if they are a real couple. She reasons that Lars will eventually come to realize he doesn’t need her.
The town’s reaction to Bianca is priceless. A scene in which a child is sitting on Bianca’s lap at the doctor’s office is comedic gold. Mrs. Gruler (Nancy Beatty), a member of the church that Lars attends, makes sure the congregation bends over backwards for the new couple. His co-workers invite Lars and Bianca to a party. Margo (Kelli Garner), a co-worker with an unrequited crush on Lars, even treats Bianca respectfully.
My father-in-law Ray Spencer, who attended the screening with me, observed that this film is about emotional healing. I couldn’t agree more. Lars is closed off to the world because his mother died giving birth to him and his father has passed away recently. He cannot bear human contact, experiencing physical pain whenever another person touches him. Bianca allows him to be himself without fear of abandonment or physical contact.
Gosling is without a doubt the reason to watch this film. His performance is one of the best this year. Lars is oblivious to the world around him, yet is at peace with his loner status. His relationship with Bianca allows him to relate to other people, and Gosling handles the transformation with ease. He should be prepared for his name to be called a lot during awards season.
Craig Gillespie beautifully directs Nancy Oliver’s script. The supporting cast all play their parts perfectly. Mortimer is empathetic and lovable as Karin. A scene in which she lashes out at Lars when he feels sorry for himself is the kind of performance that could be rewarded at Oscar time. Margo’s delightful quirkiness and longing heart are wonderfully brought to life by Garner. Schneider and Clarkson are strong as well.
The thing I love most about this film is its tastefulness. A movie about this subject matter could easily go for the cheap joke. To Gillespie and Oliver’s credit, they never take the low road. It incorporates comedy and drama, and is one of the year’s most pleasant surprises. I would strongly recommend it to anyone looking for a good offbeat comedy.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Rendition
By Nathan Young
Political films tend to chase away the casual moviegoer. They want to see explosions or be swept off their feet in a whirlwind romance. It is rare to find a film that captivates the audience while also challenging it to think. ‘Rendition’ is that film, which is why I am giving it a ‘thumbs up’.
Anwar El-Ibrahimi (Omar Metwally) is on his way back to the United States from a business trip to South Africa. During a layover in Washington, he is plucked from the airport and whisked away to an unidentified North African country for interrogation about his role in a terrorist bombing. His wife Isabella (Reese Witherspoon) and son are waiting to pick him up in Chicago only to be told he never even boarded the plane in D.C.
Abasi Fawal (Yigal Naor), a local cop, and a green CIA agent named Douglas Freeman (Jake Gyllenhaal) question Anwar about the bombing and his connection to its mastermind. Abasi is so preoccupied with Anwar that he fails to notice when his daughter Fatima (Zineb Oukach) runs off with a young militant named Khalid (Mohammed Khouas).
Back in the States, Isabella sets out for Washington to find some answers about her husband. She enlists the help of her college boyfriend, Alan Smith (Peter Sarsgaard), who works for a U.S. Senator (Alan Arkin). In the process, they run into resistance from the head of American intelligence Corrine Whitman (Meryl Streep). Alan explains to Isabella the concept of ‘extraordinary rendition’, which allows the American government to take suspected terrorists to other countries for interrogation.
This film does a fine job of walking the political tightrope. When Alan is explaining the concept of rendition to Isabella, he notes that the policy was started under Bill Clinton but has been used considerably by George W. Bush since 9/11. The film seems to say that the use of this tactic is a gray area no matter what side of the conservative/liberal line you fall on.
‘Rendition’ works because director Gavin Hood brings out the gamut of emotions in his actors. Witherspoon brings a realistic sense of frustration and weariness to Isabella as her attempts to find Anwar are consistently stonewalled. She shows why she is one of the best actresses around in a scene in which Isabella screams at Corrine to tell her that her husband is okay.
Gyllenhaal gives an appropriately measured performance as Douglas. He stays detached emotionally as long as he can, but eventually cannot stand to see Anwar suffer anymore. Viewers may agree because the torture scenes are difficult to watch.
Streep, Arkin and Sarsgaard are all proficient. Streep is especially noteworthy for her stone cold portrayal of Corrine, which is reminiscent of her Golden Globe-nominated performance in ‘The Manchurian Candidate’
The Muslim characters were the best part of the film. Abasi was a complex individual and Naor adeptly displayed his Jekyll and Hyde personality. The forbidden love story between Fatima and Khalid was also intriguing because of the outstanding performances of Oukach and Khouas.
This film was entertaining and thought provoking. The acting was stellar and the writing was crisp. It kept my interest from start to finish and I recommend it highly to lovers of political thrillers.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
We Own The Night
Wilsford's Review
Thumb: Up
Notable Characters:
Joaquin Phoenix – Bobby Green
Mark Wahlberg – Joseph Grusinsky
Robert Duvall – Burt Grusinsky
Alex Veadov – Vadim Nezhinski
Plot (contains spoilers): Bobby Green, New York club owner, is living the life. He is in charge of the best club in NY, he is loved by many, has the girl everyone wants, and the drugs to go with it. Fortunately for him, no one knows about his family. His father, Burt Grusinsky is the police chief and his brother, Joe Grusinsky, is captain of the drug task force, which is dedicated to taking back the city. One night Joe and his team bust into Bobby’s club to catch drug lord Nezhinski only to come up empty. As a result of this raid, Joe is targeted by one of Nezhinski’s men but fortunately Joe survives the attack. Distraught over his brother near-fatal experience, Bobby agrees to help the police take down Nezhinski. Nezhinski is arrested and then escapes which puts Bobby and his girlfriend into protective custody. As he and his girlfriend are moved from hotel room to hotel room, tensions rise between them because they are prohibited from visiting family and Bobby is contemplating joining the police force. During one transfer, Bobby and his father are ambushed and during the exchange Bobby witnesses his father’s murder. Using his contacts, Bobby discovers where Nezhinski’s next drug deal is going down and along with his brother he tracks him down and avenges his father.
Reason why I didn’t like it:
• The opening scene was a little too much. The tone it set for the movie was uncomfortable and if the rest of movie was like the opening scene there is no way that I would have enjoyed this movie.
Reason why I liked it:
• It was not exactly what I thought it would be. I thought that it would be a movie focused on action and violence. However I felt that it was really focused on the emotional aspects of what Joaquin character was going through. Watching him experience the hurt of his brother and death of his father was really powerful and added another dimension to a, seemingly, regular action movie.
Final Notes:
This was a great movie. I really enjoyed the emotional focus of this movie. It made it unique from other action/gangster movies and I feel very glad that I made the choice to watch it.
Young's Review
Most crime dramas do not focus on a familiy's effort to reconcile its emotioanl baggage. Then again, 'We Own The Night' is not your typical crime drama.
Screenwriter/director James Gray deftly strikes a balance between action and emotion. The film kept me engaged while allowing me to empathize with the characters. This movie definitely gets a 'thumbs up'.
Joaquin Phoenix (Walk The Line) stars as Bobby Green, the manager of a hip New York City nightclub in 1988. His club is frequented by a group of Russian drug dealers, led by Vadim Nezhinski (Alex Veadov). Bobby's brother Joseph Grusinsky (Mark Wahlberg) and father Burt (Robert Duvall) are cops trying to bring down Nezhinski and his crew. Joseph is convinced the best way to accomplish this is to involve Bobby in an undercover operation. Despite his father's protest, Bobby eventually agrees to help after a failed bust leads to Joseph being shot in the head by one of Nezhinski's henchmen. What follows is a tale of suspense, tragedy and ultimately redemption.
This film marks Gray's second collaboration with Phoenix and Wahlberg. The trio also worked together in 'The Yards'. Both films had a gritty and blue collar feel. While 'The Yards' was a worthy effort, 'We Own The Night' is even better. Phoenix continues his string of fantastic acting performances. Bobby is a complex character, and Phoenix capably portrays the full range of emotions he is experiencing. Wahlberg and Duvall are always good, and this time is no exception. Veadov brings a genuine sense of creepiness to Nezhinski, and Eva Mendes is strong in the role of Bobby's girlfriend Amada.
There are several genuinely suspenseful scenes, but the heart of the film is Bobby's transformation from a drug addicted loner to a proud brother and son. Bobby and Joseph develop a bond that is is paid off nicely as the closing credits role. The film is an action movie on the surface, but is a wonderfully constructed drama at its core.
Other Joaquin Phoenix Movies
Other Mark Wahlberg Movies
Other Robert Duvall Movies
Other Alex Veadov Movies
Thumb: Up
Notable Characters:
Joaquin Phoenix – Bobby Green
Mark Wahlberg – Joseph Grusinsky
Robert Duvall – Burt Grusinsky
Alex Veadov – Vadim Nezhinski
Plot (contains spoilers): Bobby Green, New York club owner, is living the life. He is in charge of the best club in NY, he is loved by many, has the girl everyone wants, and the drugs to go with it. Fortunately for him, no one knows about his family. His father, Burt Grusinsky is the police chief and his brother, Joe Grusinsky, is captain of the drug task force, which is dedicated to taking back the city. One night Joe and his team bust into Bobby’s club to catch drug lord Nezhinski only to come up empty. As a result of this raid, Joe is targeted by one of Nezhinski’s men but fortunately Joe survives the attack. Distraught over his brother near-fatal experience, Bobby agrees to help the police take down Nezhinski. Nezhinski is arrested and then escapes which puts Bobby and his girlfriend into protective custody. As he and his girlfriend are moved from hotel room to hotel room, tensions rise between them because they are prohibited from visiting family and Bobby is contemplating joining the police force. During one transfer, Bobby and his father are ambushed and during the exchange Bobby witnesses his father’s murder. Using his contacts, Bobby discovers where Nezhinski’s next drug deal is going down and along with his brother he tracks him down and avenges his father.
Reason why I didn’t like it:
• The opening scene was a little too much. The tone it set for the movie was uncomfortable and if the rest of movie was like the opening scene there is no way that I would have enjoyed this movie.
Reason why I liked it:
• It was not exactly what I thought it would be. I thought that it would be a movie focused on action and violence. However I felt that it was really focused on the emotional aspects of what Joaquin character was going through. Watching him experience the hurt of his brother and death of his father was really powerful and added another dimension to a, seemingly, regular action movie.
Final Notes:
This was a great movie. I really enjoyed the emotional focus of this movie. It made it unique from other action/gangster movies and I feel very glad that I made the choice to watch it.
Young's Review
Most crime dramas do not focus on a familiy's effort to reconcile its emotioanl baggage. Then again, 'We Own The Night' is not your typical crime drama.
Screenwriter/director James Gray deftly strikes a balance between action and emotion. The film kept me engaged while allowing me to empathize with the characters. This movie definitely gets a 'thumbs up'.
Joaquin Phoenix (Walk The Line) stars as Bobby Green, the manager of a hip New York City nightclub in 1988. His club is frequented by a group of Russian drug dealers, led by Vadim Nezhinski (Alex Veadov). Bobby's brother Joseph Grusinsky (Mark Wahlberg) and father Burt (Robert Duvall) are cops trying to bring down Nezhinski and his crew. Joseph is convinced the best way to accomplish this is to involve Bobby in an undercover operation. Despite his father's protest, Bobby eventually agrees to help after a failed bust leads to Joseph being shot in the head by one of Nezhinski's henchmen. What follows is a tale of suspense, tragedy and ultimately redemption.
This film marks Gray's second collaboration with Phoenix and Wahlberg. The trio also worked together in 'The Yards'. Both films had a gritty and blue collar feel. While 'The Yards' was a worthy effort, 'We Own The Night' is even better. Phoenix continues his string of fantastic acting performances. Bobby is a complex character, and Phoenix capably portrays the full range of emotions he is experiencing. Wahlberg and Duvall are always good, and this time is no exception. Veadov brings a genuine sense of creepiness to Nezhinski, and Eva Mendes is strong in the role of Bobby's girlfriend Amada.
There are several genuinely suspenseful scenes, but the heart of the film is Bobby's transformation from a drug addicted loner to a proud brother and son. Bobby and Joseph develop a bond that is is paid off nicely as the closing credits role. The film is an action movie on the surface, but is a wonderfully constructed drama at its core.
Other Joaquin Phoenix Movies
Other Mark Wahlberg Movies
Other Robert Duvall Movies
Other Alex Veadov Movies
The Heartbreak Kid
Wilsford's Review
Thumb: Down
Notable Characters:
Ben Stiller – Eddie Cantrow
Michelle Monaghan – Miranda
Malin Akerman – Lila
Plot (contains spoilers): Eddie Cantrow, a 40 something entrepreneur, is having trouble finding the right girl. After attending an ex-girlfriends wedding and becoming more obsessed with his inability to find the right person, he runs into Lila who is an environmental researcher. Very quickly he falls in love and pops the question after 6 weeks of dating. On their honeymoon he starts to realize that this woman is not who he thought she was. As Lila becomes crazier and crazier as the honeymoon continues, Eddie meets Miranda. Unable to explicitly tell Miranda that he is married, the two become closer, end up falling in love only to have the truth be discovered, and Miranda exits from his life forever. Determined to be happy, he divorces Lila, spends 6 months in Mexico, seeks out Miranda, discovers that she has gotten married, and starts life all over. In the end, Eddie has opened up a sporting goods shop in Mexico, since Lila got the old store in the divorce, and Miranda shows up to express her true feelings for Eddie. Too bad Eddie has already gotten remarried.
Reasons why I didn’t like it:
• Completely inappropriate. I think the Farrelly brothers are losing their touch and have decided that being crude and vulgar is the only way that they can get people to see their movies. There were many times where it seemed that they were being dirty just to be dirty. I’m sorry to say, being vulgar to be funny does not take that much talent.
• It wasn’t that funny. Jerry Stiller also made an appearance and was horrible. They put him in the role of sex-crazed dad and you should read the previous point to see my opinion on vulgarity.
• Someone needs to tell Ben Stiller that he needs to try to play a different character. If you have seen one Ben Stiller movie, then you know what kind of character he plays in this movie.
Reason why I liked it:
• Michelle Monaghan was a bright spot. She played her part well and I think the reason she was a bright spot is because she was the only character that was not crude.
Final Notes:
Horrible movie. Please do not waste your money, even to rent. Probably the only time that I wish that I was born with two thumbs on my hand so that I could give it two thumbs down.
Young's Review
Part of the reason we started doing this blog was to stop people from spending their hard earned money on bad movies. With that in mind, I consider it my duty to warn anyone reading this to stay away from ‘The Heartbreak Kid’.
This remake of the 1972 cult classic should never have seen the light of day, and I am giving it a ‘thumbs down’.
There are so many things wrong with this film, it’s hard to know where to start. First of all, the premise is preposterous. Eddie Cantrow, an unlucky in love 37-year-old played by Ben Stiller (Meet The Parents), is convinced he will never get married. He then meets, briefly courts, and marries Lila (Malin Akerman). During the honeymoon in Mexico, Eddie comes to find out that he doesn’t know Lila at all. For example, he finds out that she is hopelessly in debt due to a previous cocaine addiction. There is also the issue of her snoring problem and her sadomasochistic preferences in the bedroom.
While checking into his hotel, Eddie meets Miranda (Michelle Monaghan). They strike up a friendship, which turns into a budding romance. A mix-up over Eddie’s true marital status ensues, and then things get really complicated.
This film is predictable and tedious. Much like ‘The Game Plan’, the funniest parts were shown during the trailer. The acting is mostly subpar. Ben Stiller, whom I generally enjoy, plays essentially the same character he normally does. The difference this time is that he comes off as a major jerk. Akerman‘s performance was totally unoriginal. The entire time I kept thinking I was watching Cameron Diaz. Jerry Stiller’s turn as Eddie’s father Doc was also disappointing. While it was nice to see Jerry and Ben play out their real life relationship on screen for the first time, I expected a bit more from Frank Costanza.
Screenwriters and directors Peter and Bobby Farrelly (aka The Farrelly Brothers) have helmed several comedies I enjoy very much, such as ‘Shallow Hal’ and ‘Fever Pitch’. And it’s no secret that they often ramp up the stupidity and raunchiness factors (see ‘Dumb and Dumber’ and ‘There’s Something About Mary’). The common trait in all of those movies is that they featured characters that you rooted for. That isn’t the case here.
I would be remiss if I did not mention the few bright spots in the film. Michelle Monaghan (The Bourne Supremacy) is the unquestionable highlight. She is funny and charming as Miranda. Eddie’s best friend Mac (Rob Corddroy) is hilarious, especially when he is dropping gangsta rap references into his conversations with Eddie. Miranda’s cousins Buzz (Roy Jenkins) and Martin (Danny McBride) are also very funny. There were several laugh-out loud moments in the film, just not enough to offset all the negatives.
I had high hopes going in and was majorly disappointed. I implore you not to make the same mistake James and I did in spending eight bucks for it. If you must see it, rent it. Better yet, rent the original version with Charles Grodin.
Other Ben Stiller Movies
Other Michelle Monaghan Movies
Other Malin Akerman Movies
Thumb: Down
Notable Characters:
Ben Stiller – Eddie Cantrow
Michelle Monaghan – Miranda
Malin Akerman – Lila
Plot (contains spoilers): Eddie Cantrow, a 40 something entrepreneur, is having trouble finding the right girl. After attending an ex-girlfriends wedding and becoming more obsessed with his inability to find the right person, he runs into Lila who is an environmental researcher. Very quickly he falls in love and pops the question after 6 weeks of dating. On their honeymoon he starts to realize that this woman is not who he thought she was. As Lila becomes crazier and crazier as the honeymoon continues, Eddie meets Miranda. Unable to explicitly tell Miranda that he is married, the two become closer, end up falling in love only to have the truth be discovered, and Miranda exits from his life forever. Determined to be happy, he divorces Lila, spends 6 months in Mexico, seeks out Miranda, discovers that she has gotten married, and starts life all over. In the end, Eddie has opened up a sporting goods shop in Mexico, since Lila got the old store in the divorce, and Miranda shows up to express her true feelings for Eddie. Too bad Eddie has already gotten remarried.
Reasons why I didn’t like it:
• Completely inappropriate. I think the Farrelly brothers are losing their touch and have decided that being crude and vulgar is the only way that they can get people to see their movies. There were many times where it seemed that they were being dirty just to be dirty. I’m sorry to say, being vulgar to be funny does not take that much talent.
• It wasn’t that funny. Jerry Stiller also made an appearance and was horrible. They put him in the role of sex-crazed dad and you should read the previous point to see my opinion on vulgarity.
• Someone needs to tell Ben Stiller that he needs to try to play a different character. If you have seen one Ben Stiller movie, then you know what kind of character he plays in this movie.
Reason why I liked it:
• Michelle Monaghan was a bright spot. She played her part well and I think the reason she was a bright spot is because she was the only character that was not crude.
Final Notes:
Horrible movie. Please do not waste your money, even to rent. Probably the only time that I wish that I was born with two thumbs on my hand so that I could give it two thumbs down.
Young's Review
Part of the reason we started doing this blog was to stop people from spending their hard earned money on bad movies. With that in mind, I consider it my duty to warn anyone reading this to stay away from ‘The Heartbreak Kid’.
This remake of the 1972 cult classic should never have seen the light of day, and I am giving it a ‘thumbs down’.
There are so many things wrong with this film, it’s hard to know where to start. First of all, the premise is preposterous. Eddie Cantrow, an unlucky in love 37-year-old played by Ben Stiller (Meet The Parents), is convinced he will never get married. He then meets, briefly courts, and marries Lila (Malin Akerman). During the honeymoon in Mexico, Eddie comes to find out that he doesn’t know Lila at all. For example, he finds out that she is hopelessly in debt due to a previous cocaine addiction. There is also the issue of her snoring problem and her sadomasochistic preferences in the bedroom.
While checking into his hotel, Eddie meets Miranda (Michelle Monaghan). They strike up a friendship, which turns into a budding romance. A mix-up over Eddie’s true marital status ensues, and then things get really complicated.
This film is predictable and tedious. Much like ‘The Game Plan’, the funniest parts were shown during the trailer. The acting is mostly subpar. Ben Stiller, whom I generally enjoy, plays essentially the same character he normally does. The difference this time is that he comes off as a major jerk. Akerman‘s performance was totally unoriginal. The entire time I kept thinking I was watching Cameron Diaz. Jerry Stiller’s turn as Eddie’s father Doc was also disappointing. While it was nice to see Jerry and Ben play out their real life relationship on screen for the first time, I expected a bit more from Frank Costanza.
Screenwriters and directors Peter and Bobby Farrelly (aka The Farrelly Brothers) have helmed several comedies I enjoy very much, such as ‘Shallow Hal’ and ‘Fever Pitch’. And it’s no secret that they often ramp up the stupidity and raunchiness factors (see ‘Dumb and Dumber’ and ‘There’s Something About Mary’). The common trait in all of those movies is that they featured characters that you rooted for. That isn’t the case here.
I would be remiss if I did not mention the few bright spots in the film. Michelle Monaghan (The Bourne Supremacy) is the unquestionable highlight. She is funny and charming as Miranda. Eddie’s best friend Mac (Rob Corddroy) is hilarious, especially when he is dropping gangsta rap references into his conversations with Eddie. Miranda’s cousins Buzz (Roy Jenkins) and Martin (Danny McBride) are also very funny. There were several laugh-out loud moments in the film, just not enough to offset all the negatives.
I had high hopes going in and was majorly disappointed. I implore you not to make the same mistake James and I did in spending eight bucks for it. If you must see it, rent it. Better yet, rent the original version with Charles Grodin.
Other Ben Stiller Movies
Other Michelle Monaghan Movies
Other Malin Akerman Movies
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Into The Wild
By Nathan Young
Sean Penn has had a distinguished career as an actor, as evidenced by his four Best Actor Oscar nominations (and one win for ‘Mystic River’). It is his work as a screenwriter and director, however, that produces the year’s best film and my most enthusiastic 'thumbs up' yet.
'Into The Wild' is Penn's adaptation of Joe Krakauer’s best-selling book of the same name. It examines the exhilarating true story of Chris McCandless (Emile Hirsch), a college graduate turned drifter. After Chris finishes school, he sets out on a personal journey of enlightenment that he is convinced will take him to Alaska. He takes off without telling his family, leaving his quarreling father (William Hurt) and mother (Marcia Gay Harden) behind. His sister Carine (Jena Malone) is also crushed by his departure but at least understands his reasons. Her character provides the narration for the film.
Chris, who changes his name to Alex Supertramp upon hitting the open road, condemns his old way of life. While his parents are rich and want him going to law school, Alex (as I will refer to him from now on) has different ideas. He sets out to live off the land, performing odd jobs as he crisscrosses the western United States (and Mexico). His endgame is living a life of solitude in Alaska.
Penn intersperses the story between Alex’s time in Alaska and his journey getting there. It is an effective choice that keeps the film interesting from start to finish. As he makes his way west, Alex meets many interesting people. His first encounter is in Arizona with Rainey (Brian Dierker) and Jan (Catherine Keener), a pair of hippies working their way through a broken relationship. He moves on to South Dakota where he finds work in a corn mill with Wayne (Vince Vaughn), who is arrested for tax evasion. After this setback, he buys a kayak and heads down the river towards Mexico. On the way, he meets two free-spirited Danes (Thure Lindhardt and Signe Egholm Olsen) . This encounter produces one of the film's funnier scenes.
The most touching story line comes when Alex befriends an older gentleman named Ron (Hal Holbrook). Alex brings Ron out of his lifelong shell while Ron makes Alex realize his need for human contact.
This film is extraordinary in so many ways. Penn’s use of different camera angles and filming techniques keeps the film from ever becoming monotonous. Cinematographer Eric Gautier beautifully captures the scenery of the various filming locations from Alaska to the Grand Canyon. The acting is brilliant. Hirsch deserves a Best Actor nod from the Academy for his career defining portrayal of Alex. An outstanding supporting cast surrounds Hirsch. Holbrook shows that he is still capable of fine work at 82. Keener and Dierker both shine in limited screen time, as does Kristen Stewart as a potential love interest for Alex. The soundtrack, performed mostly by Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder, is also first-rate and fits the tone of the film perfectly.
Some viewers will be angered at what they see as Alex’s waste of his potential, but they will have missed the point. This is a story about Alex's dreams and his journey to fulfill them. There is something for everyone here: comedy, suspense, drama, unrequited love, poignancy and a breathtaking backdrop to top it off. It is an absolute masterpiece and my favorite film of the year. Penn has outdone himself, and he deserves another Academy Award. This film should clean up at Oscar time.
Other Emile Hirsch Movies
Other William Hurt Movies
Other Marcia Gay Harden Movies
Other Jena Malone Movies
Other Brian Dierker Movies
Other Catherine Keener Movies
Other Vince Vaughn Movies
Other Hal Holbrook Movies
Sean Penn has had a distinguished career as an actor, as evidenced by his four Best Actor Oscar nominations (and one win for ‘Mystic River’). It is his work as a screenwriter and director, however, that produces the year’s best film and my most enthusiastic 'thumbs up' yet.
'Into The Wild' is Penn's adaptation of Joe Krakauer’s best-selling book of the same name. It examines the exhilarating true story of Chris McCandless (Emile Hirsch), a college graduate turned drifter. After Chris finishes school, he sets out on a personal journey of enlightenment that he is convinced will take him to Alaska. He takes off without telling his family, leaving his quarreling father (William Hurt) and mother (Marcia Gay Harden) behind. His sister Carine (Jena Malone) is also crushed by his departure but at least understands his reasons. Her character provides the narration for the film.
Chris, who changes his name to Alex Supertramp upon hitting the open road, condemns his old way of life. While his parents are rich and want him going to law school, Alex (as I will refer to him from now on) has different ideas. He sets out to live off the land, performing odd jobs as he crisscrosses the western United States (and Mexico). His endgame is living a life of solitude in Alaska.
Penn intersperses the story between Alex’s time in Alaska and his journey getting there. It is an effective choice that keeps the film interesting from start to finish. As he makes his way west, Alex meets many interesting people. His first encounter is in Arizona with Rainey (Brian Dierker) and Jan (Catherine Keener), a pair of hippies working their way through a broken relationship. He moves on to South Dakota where he finds work in a corn mill with Wayne (Vince Vaughn), who is arrested for tax evasion. After this setback, he buys a kayak and heads down the river towards Mexico. On the way, he meets two free-spirited Danes (Thure Lindhardt and Signe Egholm Olsen) . This encounter produces one of the film's funnier scenes.
The most touching story line comes when Alex befriends an older gentleman named Ron (Hal Holbrook). Alex brings Ron out of his lifelong shell while Ron makes Alex realize his need for human contact.
This film is extraordinary in so many ways. Penn’s use of different camera angles and filming techniques keeps the film from ever becoming monotonous. Cinematographer Eric Gautier beautifully captures the scenery of the various filming locations from Alaska to the Grand Canyon. The acting is brilliant. Hirsch deserves a Best Actor nod from the Academy for his career defining portrayal of Alex. An outstanding supporting cast surrounds Hirsch. Holbrook shows that he is still capable of fine work at 82. Keener and Dierker both shine in limited screen time, as does Kristen Stewart as a potential love interest for Alex. The soundtrack, performed mostly by Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder, is also first-rate and fits the tone of the film perfectly.
Some viewers will be angered at what they see as Alex’s waste of his potential, but they will have missed the point. This is a story about Alex's dreams and his journey to fulfill them. There is something for everyone here: comedy, suspense, drama, unrequited love, poignancy and a breathtaking backdrop to top it off. It is an absolute masterpiece and my favorite film of the year. Penn has outdone himself, and he deserves another Academy Award. This film should clean up at Oscar time.
Other Emile Hirsch Movies
Other William Hurt Movies
Other Marcia Gay Harden Movies
Other Jena Malone Movies
Other Brian Dierker Movies
Other Catherine Keener Movies
Other Vince Vaughn Movies
Other Hal Holbrook Movies
The Jane Austen Book Club
By Nathan Young
Most of the movies we have reviewed so far have targeted a male audience. I felt it was about time to screen a film aimed at the ladies. I went to see ‘The Jane Austen Book Club’ with my parents and my wife on a recent trip to Indianapolis, and I am giving it a ‘thumbs up.’
The film is about a six-person group that gathers each week to discuss one of Jane Austen’s six novels. Five of the members are women, leaving the unusually named Grigg (Hugh Dancy) as the lone shot of testosterone. The club is started by Bernadette (Kathy Baker), a middle-aged six-time divorcee. She recruits her friends Jocelyn (Maria Bello), who is closed off to the possibilities or romance in her own life, and Sylvia (Amy Brenneman), who is newly divorced. Sylvia’s lesbian daughter Allegra (Maggie Grace) and emotionally stunted Prudie (Emily Blunt) round out the club.
Each character has an emotional issue to deal with. Bernadette wants to find a seventh husband. Sylvia is devastated when her husband Daniel (Brenneman’s former ‘NYPD Blue’ co-star Jimmy Smits) confesses to an affair and announces that he is leaving her for his new girlfriend. Jocelyn masks her own insecurities about love by trying to find a new man for Sylvia. That man turns out to be Grigg, who mistakes her friendliness for flirting. Allegra is devastated to learn of ulterior motives of her girlfriend. High school teacher Prudie is torn between a sense of commitment to her failing marriage and the growing attraction she has for one of her students.
The cast in this film is exquisite from top to bottom. Blunt’s tortured performance is worthy of an Oscar nod. She brought Prudie’s full range of emotions to the surface, from the resignation she felt at the beginning to the passion she began to experience as she explored her feelings for Trey (Kevin Zegers). Baker was wonderful as the club’s quirky ring leader Bernadette. She brought levity to each situation. Grace showed off her versatility as an actress, playing a far different character than the immature whiner Shannon she portrayed on the hit TV show ‘Lost’.
Director-screenwriter Robin Swicord, who also lists ‘Memoirs Of A Geisha’ and ‘Little Women’ among her writing credits, smoothly incorporated both dramatic and comedic elements into the story. The highlight was a touching scene near the end featuring Prudie and her husband Dean (Marc Blucas).
This film is not for everyone, and will almost certainly be dismissed by men who have no interest in the film's content. Sadly, they will miss out on an emotionally resonant and highly entertaining film.
Other Hugh Dancy Movies
Other Kathy Baker Movies
Other Maria Bello Movies
Other Amy Brenneman Movies
Other Maggie Grace Movies
Other Emily Blunt Movies
Most of the movies we have reviewed so far have targeted a male audience. I felt it was about time to screen a film aimed at the ladies. I went to see ‘The Jane Austen Book Club’ with my parents and my wife on a recent trip to Indianapolis, and I am giving it a ‘thumbs up.’
The film is about a six-person group that gathers each week to discuss one of Jane Austen’s six novels. Five of the members are women, leaving the unusually named Grigg (Hugh Dancy) as the lone shot of testosterone. The club is started by Bernadette (Kathy Baker), a middle-aged six-time divorcee. She recruits her friends Jocelyn (Maria Bello), who is closed off to the possibilities or romance in her own life, and Sylvia (Amy Brenneman), who is newly divorced. Sylvia’s lesbian daughter Allegra (Maggie Grace) and emotionally stunted Prudie (Emily Blunt) round out the club.
Each character has an emotional issue to deal with. Bernadette wants to find a seventh husband. Sylvia is devastated when her husband Daniel (Brenneman’s former ‘NYPD Blue’ co-star Jimmy Smits) confesses to an affair and announces that he is leaving her for his new girlfriend. Jocelyn masks her own insecurities about love by trying to find a new man for Sylvia. That man turns out to be Grigg, who mistakes her friendliness for flirting. Allegra is devastated to learn of ulterior motives of her girlfriend. High school teacher Prudie is torn between a sense of commitment to her failing marriage and the growing attraction she has for one of her students.
The cast in this film is exquisite from top to bottom. Blunt’s tortured performance is worthy of an Oscar nod. She brought Prudie’s full range of emotions to the surface, from the resignation she felt at the beginning to the passion she began to experience as she explored her feelings for Trey (Kevin Zegers). Baker was wonderful as the club’s quirky ring leader Bernadette. She brought levity to each situation. Grace showed off her versatility as an actress, playing a far different character than the immature whiner Shannon she portrayed on the hit TV show ‘Lost’.
Director-screenwriter Robin Swicord, who also lists ‘Memoirs Of A Geisha’ and ‘Little Women’ among her writing credits, smoothly incorporated both dramatic and comedic elements into the story. The highlight was a touching scene near the end featuring Prudie and her husband Dean (Marc Blucas).
This film is not for everyone, and will almost certainly be dismissed by men who have no interest in the film's content. Sadly, they will miss out on an emotionally resonant and highly entertaining film.
Other Hugh Dancy Movies
Other Kathy Baker Movies
Other Maria Bello Movies
Other Amy Brenneman Movies
Other Maggie Grace Movies
Other Emily Blunt Movies
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Michael Clayton
Wilsford's Review
Thumb: Down
Notable Characters: George Clooney – Michael Clayton
Tom Wilkinson – Arthur Edens
Tilda Swinton – Karen Crowder
Plot (contains spoilers): Michael Clayton, a “janitor” of a world class law firm, is called in to clean up a situation with one of the firm’s clients. Upon leaving, he stops off to have a moment in nature when his car explodes. Rewind to four days earlier, Arthur Edens, the senior litigating partner for a multibillion dollar case, goes nuts and strips down to his socks in a hearing. Clayton is called in to clean up the mess. When he meets Edens he realizes that he has stopped taking his medication and blames the outburst on that. However, Edens denies this is the case and claims to have had an enlightening experience to which he realized that he has been the bad guy. The company that the firm has been representing named “U-North”, they make agricultural products, has a class action lawsuit against them for knowingly selling a product that is dangerous and has resulted in deaths. Upon further investigation, Edens who is supposed to representing U-North has actually been building a case against them and made a booklet detailing their neglect. This puts the firm in a bad spot. Currently they have racked up millions of dollars in legal fees for U-North, now they have a lawyer building a case against them which means that U-North could lose the case and sue for legal malpractice which would result in everyone losing their jobs. Clayton is given the job of cleaning it all up. While this is going on, U-North has decided to clean up the situation their own way, killing Edens and everyone who has seen the booklet, including Clayton. Thinking the lawsuit is done and Clayton is dead as a result of the car bomb from the beginning, Karen Crowder convinces the board of U-North to settle and when leaving the meeting, she has the unfortunate pleasure of seeing a non-dead Michael Clayton, who then gets her to confess and brings the mess to a justified conclusion.
Reasons why I didn’t like it:
· If you couldn’t tell from the plot synopsis, it was confusing. For the first 30 minutes, I had no idea what was going on. Some people might enjoy that in a movie, but I don’t think being lost is a fun experience.
· Some elements of the story were worthless. There was a storyline in the movie about Clayton opening a bar, the bar busting, and his brother deserting him to foot the bill. This story line took about 20 minutes of screen time and had virtually no impact on the overall story.
· The ending is probably one of the dumbest endings I have ever watched. *Spoiler Alert* In the end, Michael Clayton confronts Crowder and explains that he knows what happens and tells her that he is going to tell everyone the truth unless she pays him off. When she agrees he pulls out a tape recorder, the police come in, and the nice music plays. The problem with the ending is, SHE DIDN’T CONFESS ANYTHING! I could be wrong, but it is not a crime to pay someone who is blackmailing you. Yes it makes you look guilty but I would think a good response would be “We were paying to save our reputation not to withhold information.” It could be that he already released the booklet but that wasn’t addressed. I shouldn’t have to reason a good ending myself. *End Spoiler Alert*
Reason why I liked it:
· George Clooney was pretty good. I am not a huge fan of his but his performance was not that bad.
· Until the end, and minus a few things mentioned above, it wasn’t a bad mystery. Once I realized what was going on, the story was intriguing and it was difficult to predict what was going to happen next.
Final Notes: This movie is entertaining but the ending really ruined it for me. I think that it was a result of poor writing, they really could have made it better and I don’t think it would have taken much more work. If you like mysteries, you probably will like it, but if you hate confusion, pointless story threads, and poorly written endings, then you will want to pass.
Young's Review
With the exception of his three turns as Daniel Ocean, George Clooney has stayed out of the limelight in his recent films. He has produced (Rumor Has It), written and directed (Good Night And Good Luck) more often than being the leading man. With the release of 'Michael Clayton', Clooney reminds everyone that he is still capable of carrying a movie in front of the camera too.
Clooney plays the title character, a lawyer at a large criminal defense firm. Clayton's job is to clean up messes outside the courtroom instead of working cases inside them (he describes his role as being 'the janitor'). The problem Clayton is sent to solve here involves his mentor, Arthur Edens (Tom Wilkinson), who stripped down to his socks in a taped deposition. Clayton finds out that Edens is about to expose U-North, a top client of his firm, for producing a deadly weed killer.
This film is a first-rate legal thriller and gets a resounding 'thumbs up'. Screenwriter Tony Gilroy, who co-wrote the screenplays to all three 'Bourne' movies, makes his directorial debut and doesn't disappoint. Clooney's performance was impressive in that it intertwined subtlety and intensity. Wilkinson (The Exorcism Of Emily Rose) was dynamite, as always. Sydney Pollack, better known as the director of such films as 'The Firm' and 'The Interpreter', and Tilda Swinton (The Beach) both gave memorable performances in supporting roles.
The movie begins near the story's conclusion before flashing back four days earlier. This conceit, while a bit confusing, served the story. There is a jumbled story line involving Clayton's brother and his debt problems. This part is hard to follow and is unnecessary to the main story. Also, the ending may leave some viewers, like James, a bit frustrated (although I enjoyed it). Despite these things, 'Michael Clayton' is a fine film worthy of much praise.
Other Tilda Swinton Movies
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
The Game Plan
By Nathan Young
When I saw the trailer for 'The Game Plan', it looked entertaining and funny. Sadly, that trailer provided the same amount of laughs as the actual movie.
For the first time on this blog, I am giving a movie a 'thumbs down'. The movie had some redeeming qualities, but I had high hopes going in and left the theater feeling let down. Dwayne Johnson (aka 'The Rock') has the ability to be a big movie star, but this vehicle was not the right one for his talents.
Since I screened this movie without James and this blog is his creation, I will try to loosely follow his format. 'The Game Plan revolves around Joe 'The King' Kingman ('The Rock'), superstar quarterback for the Boston Rebels. Kingman has it all, or so he thinks. He lives alone in his penthouse suite watching himself on Sportscenter by day and partying all night. Kingman's world changes when a young girl named Peyton Kelly (Madison Pettis) shows up at his doorstep. After originally being mistaken for an autograph seeking fan, Peyton proceeds to explain to Kingman that she is his daughter. What follows is a lesson in child rearing and tough love.
The list of things wrong with this movie is lengthy. The movie was long on predictability and sappiness. 'The Rock' turned in an awkward performance as Joe Kingman, although the scene in which he sings to Peyton was touching. Kyra Sedgwick was also disappointing. I usually enjoy Mrs. Kevin Bacon, but this time she seemed to just be cashing a paycheck on a break from her television show 'The Closer'. Her character was not likeable, and neither was her performance. Director Andy Fickman (She's The Man) did not keep the pace moving fast enough. There were too many lulls between laughs.
Despite all the negatives, there were several things to like in this movie. Number one was Pettis. She was adorable and did a great job of displaying the gamut of emtions Peyton was experiencing. Another positive was the performance of Morris Chestnut as Kingman's teammate Travis Sanders. Chestnut was not a main part of the story, but he shined in every scene in which he appeared. Also, the football scenes were realistic and fun to watch. 'The Rock', who played defensive tackle in college at Miami, was a believable pro quarterback.
In the end, however, I would advise you to rent this one at Blockbuster if you must see this movie. Kids will enjoy it, but parents will probably be looking at their watches most of the time.
Other Dwayne Johnson Movies
Other Madison Pettis Movies
Other Kyra Sedgwick Movies
When I saw the trailer for 'The Game Plan', it looked entertaining and funny. Sadly, that trailer provided the same amount of laughs as the actual movie.
For the first time on this blog, I am giving a movie a 'thumbs down'. The movie had some redeeming qualities, but I had high hopes going in and left the theater feeling let down. Dwayne Johnson (aka 'The Rock') has the ability to be a big movie star, but this vehicle was not the right one for his talents.
Since I screened this movie without James and this blog is his creation, I will try to loosely follow his format. 'The Game Plan revolves around Joe 'The King' Kingman ('The Rock'), superstar quarterback for the Boston Rebels. Kingman has it all, or so he thinks. He lives alone in his penthouse suite watching himself on Sportscenter by day and partying all night. Kingman's world changes when a young girl named Peyton Kelly (Madison Pettis) shows up at his doorstep. After originally being mistaken for an autograph seeking fan, Peyton proceeds to explain to Kingman that she is his daughter. What follows is a lesson in child rearing and tough love.
The list of things wrong with this movie is lengthy. The movie was long on predictability and sappiness. 'The Rock' turned in an awkward performance as Joe Kingman, although the scene in which he sings to Peyton was touching. Kyra Sedgwick was also disappointing. I usually enjoy Mrs. Kevin Bacon, but this time she seemed to just be cashing a paycheck on a break from her television show 'The Closer'. Her character was not likeable, and neither was her performance. Director Andy Fickman (She's The Man) did not keep the pace moving fast enough. There were too many lulls between laughs.
Despite all the negatives, there were several things to like in this movie. Number one was Pettis. She was adorable and did a great job of displaying the gamut of emtions Peyton was experiencing. Another positive was the performance of Morris Chestnut as Kingman's teammate Travis Sanders. Chestnut was not a main part of the story, but he shined in every scene in which he appeared. Also, the football scenes were realistic and fun to watch. 'The Rock', who played defensive tackle in college at Miami, was a believable pro quarterback.
In the end, however, I would advise you to rent this one at Blockbuster if you must see this movie. Kids will enjoy it, but parents will probably be looking at their watches most of the time.
Other Dwayne Johnson Movies
Other Madison Pettis Movies
Other Kyra Sedgwick Movies
Death Sentence
Wilsford's Review
“Death Sentence” gets a thumb up. I have to say that I need to take back my view about poor movies released in August. Now I know that this wasn’t released in August but it was pre-Labor day which means it can be lumped into August. The acting was great. Kevin Bacon is very good and it was demonstrated very well in the first 30 minutes of the movie, which was very intense. The main villain, played by Garrett Hedlund, gave a great performance. The visuals of the movie were really interesting. It was filmed in a grainy quality and the lighting of the movie was generally dark. I thought these two complemented the movie really well. The general story of the movie, *Spoiler Alert*, was a normal suburban father and his star athlete son were downtown when his son became a victim of an initiation murder to which he, Nick Hume (Kevin Bacon), was the only eye-witness. After a series of events, his son’s killer is set loose. This leads Nick to seek out and “murder” his son’s killer. Unfortunately the boy that Nick just killed happened to the brother of a gang leader. The gang leader tries to kill Nick only to loose one of his own. Soon Nick’s family is in the cross hairs and the movie ends with Nick going after the whole gang, which was about 5 other guys. It is a sad gang. *End Spoiler Alert* The visuals added to the emotions of the story which isn’t happy. I also liked this movie because it seemed realistic and over the top at the same time. The events that occurred seemed realistic to what someone would do/go through if they were subjected to what the main character was put through. It seemed over the top because it had some cliché moments like a gun montage, which was cool. This movie was intense all the way which brings me to some cautions. This movie was violent but I don’t think it was ridiculous violence it just showed it. For example, when you take a shotgun and shoot someone at the knee at close range, the bottom half of the leg will be separated. Now I don’t think that is an example of exaggerated violence but while some movies won’t show it, this one does. This isn’t surprising when the director of this movie also directed “Saw.”
Young's Review
There may never have been a more aptly titled film than 'Death Sentence'. The name says it all. Strap on your seatbelt and get ready for a violent ride.
I am giving this movie a thumbs up. I say this despite the fact that it is graphically, and at times uncomfortably, violent. I thought the movie was well done from a cinematic standpoint. Director James Wan's use of dark colors and grainy textures gave this movie a gritty realism. Kevin Bacon's portrayal of vengeful father Nick Hume further proves why he is one of Hollywood's most underrated actors. Garrett Hedlund (Friday Night Lights) also showed off his versatility as an actor in the role of angonist Billy Zarley, which was a major departure from his previous work.
The hand held camera work brought a palpable sense of tension to the action sequences. The scene where Zarley and his gang are chasing Hume through the streets ranks as one of the most suspenseful chases ever captured on film.
Overall, I liked the movie. The overload of violence and the inevitably depressing ending, however, are what keeps me from calling this movie great. If you have a taste for shoot'em up or revenge flicks, this movie is for you.
Other Kevin Bacon Movies
Other Garrett Hedlund Movies
“Death Sentence” gets a thumb up. I have to say that I need to take back my view about poor movies released in August. Now I know that this wasn’t released in August but it was pre-Labor day which means it can be lumped into August. The acting was great. Kevin Bacon is very good and it was demonstrated very well in the first 30 minutes of the movie, which was very intense. The main villain, played by Garrett Hedlund, gave a great performance. The visuals of the movie were really interesting. It was filmed in a grainy quality and the lighting of the movie was generally dark. I thought these two complemented the movie really well. The general story of the movie, *Spoiler Alert*, was a normal suburban father and his star athlete son were downtown when his son became a victim of an initiation murder to which he, Nick Hume (Kevin Bacon), was the only eye-witness. After a series of events, his son’s killer is set loose. This leads Nick to seek out and “murder” his son’s killer. Unfortunately the boy that Nick just killed happened to the brother of a gang leader. The gang leader tries to kill Nick only to loose one of his own. Soon Nick’s family is in the cross hairs and the movie ends with Nick going after the whole gang, which was about 5 other guys. It is a sad gang. *End Spoiler Alert* The visuals added to the emotions of the story which isn’t happy. I also liked this movie because it seemed realistic and over the top at the same time. The events that occurred seemed realistic to what someone would do/go through if they were subjected to what the main character was put through. It seemed over the top because it had some cliché moments like a gun montage, which was cool. This movie was intense all the way which brings me to some cautions. This movie was violent but I don’t think it was ridiculous violence it just showed it. For example, when you take a shotgun and shoot someone at the knee at close range, the bottom half of the leg will be separated. Now I don’t think that is an example of exaggerated violence but while some movies won’t show it, this one does. This isn’t surprising when the director of this movie also directed “Saw.”
Young's Review
There may never have been a more aptly titled film than 'Death Sentence'. The name says it all. Strap on your seatbelt and get ready for a violent ride.
I am giving this movie a thumbs up. I say this despite the fact that it is graphically, and at times uncomfortably, violent. I thought the movie was well done from a cinematic standpoint. Director James Wan's use of dark colors and grainy textures gave this movie a gritty realism. Kevin Bacon's portrayal of vengeful father Nick Hume further proves why he is one of Hollywood's most underrated actors. Garrett Hedlund (Friday Night Lights) also showed off his versatility as an actor in the role of angonist Billy Zarley, which was a major departure from his previous work.
The hand held camera work brought a palpable sense of tension to the action sequences. The scene where Zarley and his gang are chasing Hume through the streets ranks as one of the most suspenseful chases ever captured on film.
Overall, I liked the movie. The overload of violence and the inevitably depressing ending, however, are what keeps me from calling this movie great. If you have a taste for shoot'em up or revenge flicks, this movie is for you.
Other Kevin Bacon Movies
Other Garrett Hedlund Movies
The Kingdom
Wilsford's Review
Thumb: Up
Notable Characters:
Jaime Foxx – Ronald Fleury
Chris Cooper – Grant Sykes
Jennifer Garner – Janet Mayes
Jason Bateman – Adam Leavitt
Ashraf Barhom – Col. Faris Al Ghazi
Plot (contains spoilers): On an American military base in Saudi Arabia, a small group of terrorists break into the compound and set off a bomb killing themselves and a dozen others. However this attack was only the bait to get more Americans on the base so that later that evening they could set up another bomb, bigger and deadlier. This attack resulted in the FBI sending over a small task force to investigate. Met with much hostility from the US government and resistance from the Saudi government, the task force is not able to do much investigating. Until special agent Fleury makes a bold move to confront the Prince of Saudi Arabia and convinces him to let his team work. After some investigating, they realize that this attack was carried out by terrorist Abu Hamza. After this discovery the US forces the team to return to the states only to be ambushed on the road and have their partner, Adam Leavitt, captured. Following the kidnappers they arrive in a very unfriendly part of town and are involved in a 20 minute shoot out which results in the saving of Leavitt and the death of many terrorists including Hamza.
Reasons why I didn’t like it:
• Action was slow in the middle. It started off with an action scene, the base bombing, but then slowed till the end.
• Jennifer Garner, don’t like her too much. I was never a fan of “Alias”, I didn’t want to see “13 Going on 30”, I really don’t think she is that cute (large forehead), and I don’t think she is that great of an actor. She was just okay in this movie.
• It seemed that they took a page out of the Bourn movies as it goes for cinematography. Please stop with the handheld. It makes me want to barf and you don’t want customers barfing at your movie.
Reason why I liked it:
• Acting was great. I know I just said bad things about Garner, but that doesn’t take away from everyone else. Foxx was good, Bateman was great, and Chris Cooper was awesome. Cooper didn’t have much screen time but when he was on, he was good and I can’t really explain why I liked him so much, I just did.
• Action was stellar. The end scene was more than enough. It wasn’t unrealistic, it was intense, and fast paced. I don’t like using clichés, but from the time that Bateman’s character was kidnapped till the end, I was on the edge of my seat.
• Ending was perfect. I usually don’t want to see movies that involve the US and the Middle East because they are usually political and I don’t really agree with Hollywood’s politics. However, I didn’t think that this was very political if at all. The ending really summed up this war is all about; it is a battle of ideologies. We didn’t do anything wrong, we are Americans and they want us dead.
Final Notes: Easily the best movie of the fall and probably the second best movie of the year. It is violent but it is a great movie.
Young's Review
Fans of the action genre have plenty to be excited about in 'The Kingdom'. They will just have to wait a while to get to the good stuff.
While the movie takes a while to really rev up its engine, the finished product is both thought provoking and entertaining. This movie definitely gets a "thumbs up". The acting and directing were top notch, and the movie even made a political statement without choosing sides.
The movie centers around a FBI task force, led by Ronald Fleury (Jamie Foxx), that goes to Saudi Arabia to investigate a bombing of an American military base against the wishes of The White House. Once there, the group finds itself stonewalled by the Saudi prince when they attempt to get to the bottom of the case. Saudi army colonel Faris Al-Ghazi (Ashraf Barhom) is assigned to escort the team around the bombing site to make sure they don't find too many answers. As the film progresses, however, Al-Ghazi's desire to find the suspect behind the crime causes him to join forces with the Americans. Barhom was a revelation as Al-Ghazi. He stole the spotlight from a top-notch cast that included Chris Cooper (Breach), Jennifer Garner (Catch and Release) and Jason Bateman (TV's 'Arrested Development'). He deftly displayed the inner turmoil Al-Ghazi felt in trying to solve the case. His metamorphosis from a soldier towing the company line to a man in search of the truth was captivating. Here's hoping we see more of Barhom in future films.
In addition to Barhom's powerhouse performance, the rest of the cast was strong as well. The credit for that should go partly to director Peter Berg (Friday Night Lights), who also made a cameo in the film. He kept the first half of the movie moving along, despite the heavy amount of exposition that went into setting up the story. Garner turned in a reliable performance as forensic expert Janet Mayes that was reminiscent of her days as Sydney Bristow on 'Alias'. Cooper, one of the best actors around that no one knows about, was underutilized in the role of Grant Sykes. Bateman balanced comedic and dramatic moments in his role as captured agent Adam Leavitt. Jeremy Piven also brought comic relief in a brief appearance as a U.S. state department official.
The film takes painstaking effort to make the enemy human. A look inside the home of the bombing's mastermind makes the ending harder to swallow. We see that the fight may never end because both sides will stop at nothing to win.
Other Jamie Foxx Movies
Other Chris Cooper Movies
Other Jennifer Garner Movies
Other Jason Bateman Movies
Other Ashraf Barhom Movies
Thumb: Up
Notable Characters:
Jaime Foxx – Ronald Fleury
Chris Cooper – Grant Sykes
Jennifer Garner – Janet Mayes
Jason Bateman – Adam Leavitt
Ashraf Barhom – Col. Faris Al Ghazi
Plot (contains spoilers): On an American military base in Saudi Arabia, a small group of terrorists break into the compound and set off a bomb killing themselves and a dozen others. However this attack was only the bait to get more Americans on the base so that later that evening they could set up another bomb, bigger and deadlier. This attack resulted in the FBI sending over a small task force to investigate. Met with much hostility from the US government and resistance from the Saudi government, the task force is not able to do much investigating. Until special agent Fleury makes a bold move to confront the Prince of Saudi Arabia and convinces him to let his team work. After some investigating, they realize that this attack was carried out by terrorist Abu Hamza. After this discovery the US forces the team to return to the states only to be ambushed on the road and have their partner, Adam Leavitt, captured. Following the kidnappers they arrive in a very unfriendly part of town and are involved in a 20 minute shoot out which results in the saving of Leavitt and the death of many terrorists including Hamza.
Reasons why I didn’t like it:
• Action was slow in the middle. It started off with an action scene, the base bombing, but then slowed till the end.
• Jennifer Garner, don’t like her too much. I was never a fan of “Alias”, I didn’t want to see “13 Going on 30”, I really don’t think she is that cute (large forehead), and I don’t think she is that great of an actor. She was just okay in this movie.
• It seemed that they took a page out of the Bourn movies as it goes for cinematography. Please stop with the handheld. It makes me want to barf and you don’t want customers barfing at your movie.
Reason why I liked it:
• Acting was great. I know I just said bad things about Garner, but that doesn’t take away from everyone else. Foxx was good, Bateman was great, and Chris Cooper was awesome. Cooper didn’t have much screen time but when he was on, he was good and I can’t really explain why I liked him so much, I just did.
• Action was stellar. The end scene was more than enough. It wasn’t unrealistic, it was intense, and fast paced. I don’t like using clichés, but from the time that Bateman’s character was kidnapped till the end, I was on the edge of my seat.
• Ending was perfect. I usually don’t want to see movies that involve the US and the Middle East because they are usually political and I don’t really agree with Hollywood’s politics. However, I didn’t think that this was very political if at all. The ending really summed up this war is all about; it is a battle of ideologies. We didn’t do anything wrong, we are Americans and they want us dead.
Final Notes: Easily the best movie of the fall and probably the second best movie of the year. It is violent but it is a great movie.
Young's Review
Fans of the action genre have plenty to be excited about in 'The Kingdom'. They will just have to wait a while to get to the good stuff.
While the movie takes a while to really rev up its engine, the finished product is both thought provoking and entertaining. This movie definitely gets a "thumbs up". The acting and directing were top notch, and the movie even made a political statement without choosing sides.
The movie centers around a FBI task force, led by Ronald Fleury (Jamie Foxx), that goes to Saudi Arabia to investigate a bombing of an American military base against the wishes of The White House. Once there, the group finds itself stonewalled by the Saudi prince when they attempt to get to the bottom of the case. Saudi army colonel Faris Al-Ghazi (Ashraf Barhom) is assigned to escort the team around the bombing site to make sure they don't find too many answers. As the film progresses, however, Al-Ghazi's desire to find the suspect behind the crime causes him to join forces with the Americans. Barhom was a revelation as Al-Ghazi. He stole the spotlight from a top-notch cast that included Chris Cooper (Breach), Jennifer Garner (Catch and Release) and Jason Bateman (TV's 'Arrested Development'). He deftly displayed the inner turmoil Al-Ghazi felt in trying to solve the case. His metamorphosis from a soldier towing the company line to a man in search of the truth was captivating. Here's hoping we see more of Barhom in future films.
In addition to Barhom's powerhouse performance, the rest of the cast was strong as well. The credit for that should go partly to director Peter Berg (Friday Night Lights), who also made a cameo in the film. He kept the first half of the movie moving along, despite the heavy amount of exposition that went into setting up the story. Garner turned in a reliable performance as forensic expert Janet Mayes that was reminiscent of her days as Sydney Bristow on 'Alias'. Cooper, one of the best actors around that no one knows about, was underutilized in the role of Grant Sykes. Bateman balanced comedic and dramatic moments in his role as captured agent Adam Leavitt. Jeremy Piven also brought comic relief in a brief appearance as a U.S. state department official.
The film takes painstaking effort to make the enemy human. A look inside the home of the bombing's mastermind makes the ending harder to swallow. We see that the fight may never end because both sides will stop at nothing to win.
Other Jamie Foxx Movies
Other Chris Cooper Movies
Other Jennifer Garner Movies
Other Jason Bateman Movies
Other Ashraf Barhom Movies
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