Director: Terrance Malick (Thin Red Line, Badlands [haven't seen either, but hear they're good])
Stars: Colin Farrell (Crazy Heart, S.W.A.T.)
Q'orianka Kilcher (nothing else really)
YesNoSoso: 1
I put this movie on my Netflix because it was listed on the Onion's AV Club's top 10 movies of the 2000's. Although I respect the AV Club's track record, I have to respectfully disagree with this inclusion. It was boring. As boring as any movie I've ever seen. It avoids the embarassment of a YesNoSoso 0 because of the innovative and downright daring directorial decisions of Terrance Malick. Do yourself a favor and read the trivia section on the IMDB page. Malick employed such aggressive styles as editing the movie around a completed score, using only steady-cam and handhold camera shots, using virtually no artificial light and an average shot length 10x as long as the industry standard. All these decisions give The New World a very authentic feel and I will always respect a director who applies unconventional means to aid the storytelling. But again, boring.
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Showing posts with label Drama. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Drama. Show all posts
8/19/10
Away We Go (2009)
Director: Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Road to Perdition [both amazing])
Stars: John Krasinski ("The Office", It's Complicated)
Maya Rudolph (Idiocracy, Grown-ups)
YesNoSoso: 2
Its hard to go wrong with a film directed by Sam Mendes and written my Dave Eggers (and his wife), but apparently Away We Go just didn't jive with audiences. I thought it was really funny. Not in the belly-laughter style of The Hangover or Old School, but in a familiar and comforting way. Krasinksi's true talents lie not in timing or any other classical comedic skills. His strength is his likability. I know this sounds like a knock but it is not, he somehow creates characters (I'm sure its mostly just him) that make you want to hang out with him (and not in the "I'm kickin it with a movie star" way). When he's on the screen, I feel like I'm just hanging out with him cracking jokes and that is a very powerful tool when creating comedy. Maggie Gyllenhall, Catherine O'Hara, Jeff Daniels, Allison Janney and Jim Gaffigan add to the color of the film with amazingly portrayed eccentric characters.
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Stars: John Krasinski ("The Office", It's Complicated)
Maya Rudolph (Idiocracy, Grown-ups)
YesNoSoso: 2
Its hard to go wrong with a film directed by Sam Mendes and written my Dave Eggers (and his wife), but apparently Away We Go just didn't jive with audiences. I thought it was really funny. Not in the belly-laughter style of The Hangover or Old School, but in a familiar and comforting way. Krasinksi's true talents lie not in timing or any other classical comedic skills. His strength is his likability. I know this sounds like a knock but it is not, he somehow creates characters (I'm sure its mostly just him) that make you want to hang out with him (and not in the "I'm kickin it with a movie star" way). When he's on the screen, I feel like I'm just hanging out with him cracking jokes and that is a very powerful tool when creating comedy. Maggie Gyllenhall, Catherine O'Hara, Jeff Daniels, Allison Janney and Jim Gaffigan add to the color of the film with amazingly portrayed eccentric characters.
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E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
Director: Steven Spielberg (Raiders of the Lost Ark, War of the Worlds)
Stars: Henry Thomas (Gangs of New York, Suicide Kings [which was pretty good, but I haven't seen anything else he's been in. Although I can only assume Pycho 4: The Beginning was terrible)
Drew Barrymore (Donnie Darko, Fever Pitch)
YesNoSoso: 2
My parents always say I was the only kid in the country that didn't like E.T. Combine that fact with my anger at Speilberg for essentially inventing the summer blockbuster and I had little incentive to re-watch this. I'm upset I stalled. E.T. is, for lack (or laziness) of a better word, a really fun movie. The bike racing scenes were exciting and inspired a boyish nostalgia, I can only imagine how enjoyable they are for boys (and some girls) of bike-riding age. Regardless of my disdain for money-above-all-else culture Spielberg has inspired in Hollywood, I would be remiss not to mention/realize that he accomplished it with extraordinarily good movies. My only beef is the obvious CGI he added in the remastered version. Luckily I was able to look past that and appreciate E.T. for the lovable animatronic Muppet he undoubtedly was in my childhood.
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Stars: Henry Thomas (Gangs of New York, Suicide Kings [which was pretty good, but I haven't seen anything else he's been in. Although I can only assume Pycho 4: The Beginning was terrible)
Drew Barrymore (Donnie Darko, Fever Pitch)
YesNoSoso: 2
My parents always say I was the only kid in the country that didn't like E.T. Combine that fact with my anger at Speilberg for essentially inventing the summer blockbuster and I had little incentive to re-watch this. I'm upset I stalled. E.T. is, for lack (or laziness) of a better word, a really fun movie. The bike racing scenes were exciting and inspired a boyish nostalgia, I can only imagine how enjoyable they are for boys (and some girls) of bike-riding age. Regardless of my disdain for money-above-all-else culture Spielberg has inspired in Hollywood, I would be remiss not to mention/realize that he accomplished it with extraordinarily good movies. My only beef is the obvious CGI he added in the remastered version. Luckily I was able to look past that and appreciate E.T. for the lovable animatronic Muppet he undoubtedly was in my childhood.
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8/2/10
The Messenger (2009)
Director: Oren Moverman (his first and only movie)
Stars: Ben Foster (3:10 to Yuma, X-men: The Last Stand)
Woody Harrelson (Zombieland, Money Train)
YesNoSoso: 1
A very solid dramatic piece driven by fantastic performances. The criminally under appreciated Ben Foster and perpetually impressive Woody Harrelson play perfectly opposite each other in this story of two soldiers assigned to the Casualty Notification division. An interesting and emotionally charged story unravels as the soldiers cope with the range of emotions the next of kin bring to the notification of their loved ones dying as well as their own personal demons. Watch out for a great cameo by Steve Buscemi.
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Stars: Ben Foster (3:10 to Yuma, X-men: The Last Stand)
Woody Harrelson (Zombieland, Money Train)
YesNoSoso: 1
A very solid dramatic piece driven by fantastic performances. The criminally under appreciated Ben Foster and perpetually impressive Woody Harrelson play perfectly opposite each other in this story of two soldiers assigned to the Casualty Notification division. An interesting and emotionally charged story unravels as the soldiers cope with the range of emotions the next of kin bring to the notification of their loved ones dying as well as their own personal demons. Watch out for a great cameo by Steve Buscemi.
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7/6/10
Doubt (2008)
Director: John Patrick Shanely (Joe vs. the Volcano is his only other movie)
Stars: Phillip Seymour Hoffman (Synedoche, NY, Patch Adams)
Meryl Streep (The Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Devil Wears Prada)
YesNoSoso: 2
In this age of Megan Fox's, Channing Tatum's and the Twilight losers its refreshing to see a movie that can subside solely on the amazing performances of four actors. Hoffman and Streep are their usual amazing selves (Streep's Brooklyn accent was particularly believable)and Amy Adams is solid but the best, or at least most heralded performance, comes from Viola Davis. Shanely adapts his own play in his first foray into directing since Joe vs. the Volcano and it is thankfully a much more successful turn (well at least artistically).
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Stars: Phillip Seymour Hoffman (Synedoche, NY, Patch Adams)
Meryl Streep (The Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Devil Wears Prada)
YesNoSoso: 2
In this age of Megan Fox's, Channing Tatum's and the Twilight losers its refreshing to see a movie that can subside solely on the amazing performances of four actors. Hoffman and Streep are their usual amazing selves (Streep's Brooklyn accent was particularly believable)and Amy Adams is solid but the best, or at least most heralded performance, comes from Viola Davis. Shanely adapts his own play in his first foray into directing since Joe vs. the Volcano and it is thankfully a much more successful turn (well at least artistically).
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Cold Souls (2009)
Director: Sophie Barthes (her first full length feature)
Stars: Paul Giamatti (American Splendor, Lady in the Water)
David Strathairn (Good Night and Good Luck, We are Marshall)
YesNoSoso: 1
I thought this movie was right in my wheelhouse, but I ended up just mildy enjoying it. Paul Giamatti plays himself in a quirky plot about removing and storing his soul. He gives a great performance, as does Strathairn, Emily Watson and Lauren Ambrose. Readers of YesNoSoso are well versed in my love of gimmicks but nothing in the movie really wowed me. I'm not trying discourage viewing, it is a solid YesNoSoso 1, but I won't be going back for seconds.
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Stars: Paul Giamatti (American Splendor, Lady in the Water)
David Strathairn (Good Night and Good Luck, We are Marshall)
YesNoSoso: 1
I thought this movie was right in my wheelhouse, but I ended up just mildy enjoying it. Paul Giamatti plays himself in a quirky plot about removing and storing his soul. He gives a great performance, as does Strathairn, Emily Watson and Lauren Ambrose. Readers of YesNoSoso are well versed in my love of gimmicks but nothing in the movie really wowed me. I'm not trying discourage viewing, it is a solid YesNoSoso 1, but I won't be going back for seconds.
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6/28/10
Crazy Heart (2009)
Director: Scott Cooper (his directorial debut)
Stars: Jeff Bridges (The Big Lebowski, The Muse)
Maggie Gyllenhaal (The Dark Knight, 40 Day and 40 Nights)
YesNoSoso: 2
I'm pretty jaded (fed up?) with the Hollywood music biopic and I hate country music, so logic would imply that I would dislike this movie. But Jeff Bridges gives an amazing performance and is particularly (and somewhat surprisingly) adept at singing. A lot of comparisons have been made with The Wrestler, which is certainly called for, but I thought Crazy Heart was even better. Washed up country singer Bad Blake plays one-night-stands for cash when he falls in love with a reporter that interviews him. It sounds as trite as can be, but I assure you, it actually comes through feeling original. Combine that with the awesome music (yes I described country music as awesome) performed by the unlikely sources of Bridges and Colin Farrell and its a truly re-watchable film.
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Stars: Jeff Bridges (The Big Lebowski, The Muse)
Maggie Gyllenhaal (The Dark Knight, 40 Day and 40 Nights)
YesNoSoso: 2
I'm pretty jaded (fed up?) with the Hollywood music biopic and I hate country music, so logic would imply that I would dislike this movie. But Jeff Bridges gives an amazing performance and is particularly (and somewhat surprisingly) adept at singing. A lot of comparisons have been made with The Wrestler, which is certainly called for, but I thought Crazy Heart was even better. Washed up country singer Bad Blake plays one-night-stands for cash when he falls in love with a reporter that interviews him. It sounds as trite as can be, but I assure you, it actually comes through feeling original. Combine that with the awesome music (yes I described country music as awesome) performed by the unlikely sources of Bridges and Colin Farrell and its a truly re-watchable film.
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The Vistor (2007)
Director: Thomas McCarthy (The Station Agent, this was his second film, but he is a fairly recognizable character actor)
Stars: Richard Jenkins (Flirting with Disaster, Cheaper by the Dozen)
Haaz Sleiman (nothing I've ever seen)
YesNoSoso: 1
An enjoyable movie about a widower (the amazing and amazingly underrated Jenkins) making a connection with two illegal immigrants who were unwittingly, illegally squatting in his NYC apartment. A simple movie about loneliness and the downfalls of immigration in post 9/11 America. Great performances lead to an emotional movie that's worth a watch, but to be honest, besides Jenkins, its really nothing special.
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Stars: Richard Jenkins (Flirting with Disaster, Cheaper by the Dozen)
Haaz Sleiman (nothing I've ever seen)
YesNoSoso: 1
An enjoyable movie about a widower (the amazing and amazingly underrated Jenkins) making a connection with two illegal immigrants who were unwittingly, illegally squatting in his NYC apartment. A simple movie about loneliness and the downfalls of immigration in post 9/11 America. Great performances lead to an emotional movie that's worth a watch, but to be honest, besides Jenkins, its really nothing special.
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Sexy Beast (2000)
Director: Jonathon Glazer (this was his first film, he has since directed something called Birth, which I haven't seen)
Stars: Ray Winstone (The Departed, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull)
Ben Kingsley (The Wackness, The Love Guru)
YesNoSoso: 1
This movie was entirely different than I was expecting. I suppose its a lack of sample size or plain old American naivity, but when I hear English gangster movie I think quick cuts, non-linear storylines and comic book like characters. Sexy Beast contains some amazingly in depth characters (Ben Kingsley was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar) but they are developed through good old fashion conflict and dialogue (mind you, I have NOTHING against the gimmicky style of, say, Guy Ritchie). Ray Winstone plays Gal, a former safe-cracker retired with his wife in Spain. Ben Kingsley plays a recruiter from the London underworld come to sign Gal up for one last job. A surprising amount of the movie centers around Kingsley's character trying to recruit Gal. Some of the best dialogue and scenes in the movie take place just as Kingsley asks him to do the job and Gal refusing.
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Stars: Ray Winstone (The Departed, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull)
Ben Kingsley (The Wackness, The Love Guru)
YesNoSoso: 1
This movie was entirely different than I was expecting. I suppose its a lack of sample size or plain old American naivity, but when I hear English gangster movie I think quick cuts, non-linear storylines and comic book like characters. Sexy Beast contains some amazingly in depth characters (Ben Kingsley was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar) but they are developed through good old fashion conflict and dialogue (mind you, I have NOTHING against the gimmicky style of, say, Guy Ritchie). Ray Winstone plays Gal, a former safe-cracker retired with his wife in Spain. Ben Kingsley plays a recruiter from the London underworld come to sign Gal up for one last job. A surprising amount of the movie centers around Kingsley's character trying to recruit Gal. Some of the best dialogue and scenes in the movie take place just as Kingsley asks him to do the job and Gal refusing.
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Moon (2009)
Director: Duncan Jones (the only movie he's done so far)
Stars: Sam Rockwell (Choke, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy)
Kevin Spacey (The Usual Suspects, Austin Powers in Goldmember)
YesNoSoso: 2
I'm debating whether to give this movie an emphatic 2, I guess you'll know whether I did by looking at the bottom of the page. My only hesitation being that I feel I've (maybe) handed out a few too many lately, but Black Dynamite and Zombieland were firmly deserving. This is one of those movies that's amazingness lays in its conceptual idea. To give you a taste: Sam Rockwell plays a man about to end a three year contract working for the company L.U.N.A.R., harvesting power from the Moon and sending it back. Then...some stuff happens. The entire movie is pretty much just Sam Rockwell's incredible performance and Kevin Spacey's creepiest voice. See this immediately.
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Stars: Sam Rockwell (Choke, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy)
Kevin Spacey (The Usual Suspects, Austin Powers in Goldmember)
YesNoSoso: 2
I'm debating whether to give this movie an emphatic 2, I guess you'll know whether I did by looking at the bottom of the page. My only hesitation being that I feel I've (maybe) handed out a few too many lately, but Black Dynamite and Zombieland were firmly deserving. This is one of those movies that's amazingness lays in its conceptual idea. To give you a taste: Sam Rockwell plays a man about to end a three year contract working for the company L.U.N.A.R., harvesting power from the Moon and sending it back. Then...some stuff happens. The entire movie is pretty much just Sam Rockwell's incredible performance and Kevin Spacey's creepiest voice. See this immediately.
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6/24/10
The Woodsman (2004)
Director: Nicole Kassell (no other movies really)
Stars: Kevin Bacon (Mystic River, My Dog Skip)
Kyra Sedgwick (Born on the Fourth of July [which was alright but you find a better movie among that crap, Gamer)
YesNoSoso: 1
Mos Def, David Alan Grier, Benjamin Bratt, Eve and Michael Shannon round out the cast in this powerful character study. Bacon plays a character that has just gotten out of prison after serving 12 years on child molestation charges. He's been abandoned by his family and is being harassed by a suspicious cop (Mos Def), all while fighting the urges that got him in trouble in the first place. The movie really delves into the extreme difficulties these former felons have in re-entering society, especially for those with as sordid a past as child molestation.
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Stars: Kevin Bacon (Mystic River, My Dog Skip)
Kyra Sedgwick (Born on the Fourth of July [which was alright but you find a better movie among that crap, Gamer)
YesNoSoso: 1
Mos Def, David Alan Grier, Benjamin Bratt, Eve and Michael Shannon round out the cast in this powerful character study. Bacon plays a character that has just gotten out of prison after serving 12 years on child molestation charges. He's been abandoned by his family and is being harassed by a suspicious cop (Mos Def), all while fighting the urges that got him in trouble in the first place. The movie really delves into the extreme difficulties these former felons have in re-entering society, especially for those with as sordid a past as child molestation.
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Into the Wild (2007)
Director: Sean Penn (The Pledge, The Crossing Guard [both decent])
Stars: Emile Hirsch (The Girl Next Door [actually pretty good], Speed Racer)
Vince Vaughn (Made, Four Christmases)
YesNoSoso: 0
I'm probably gonna catch some heat for this, but I flat out didn't like this movie. All of Hollywood seemed to get behind Penn's project. The supporting cast includes Marcia Gay Harden, William Hurt, Jena Malone, Catherine Keener, Kristen Stewart, Hal Holbrook and Zach Galifianakis. I appreciated Chris McCandless's story and how many lives he evidently touched along the way, but I found it flat out boring. Its not my style but I can certainly understand the whole shedding-the-shackles-of-society mantra that Chris adopted, but I found myself more annoyed at his disdainful attitude than identifying with his message.
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Stars: Emile Hirsch (The Girl Next Door [actually pretty good], Speed Racer)
Vince Vaughn (Made, Four Christmases)
YesNoSoso: 0
I'm probably gonna catch some heat for this, but I flat out didn't like this movie. All of Hollywood seemed to get behind Penn's project. The supporting cast includes Marcia Gay Harden, William Hurt, Jena Malone, Catherine Keener, Kristen Stewart, Hal Holbrook and Zach Galifianakis. I appreciated Chris McCandless's story and how many lives he evidently touched along the way, but I found it flat out boring. Its not my style but I can certainly understand the whole shedding-the-shackles-of-society mantra that Chris adopted, but I found myself more annoyed at his disdainful attitude than identifying with his message.
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6/23/10
District 9 (2009)
Director: Neill Blomkamp (nothing else I've seen)
Stars: Sharlto Copley (The A-team [which I haven't seen but heard is terrible)
Vanessa Haywood (Blood Diamond, nothing else I've ever seen)
YesNoSoso: 2
Almost an emphatic 2; even despite my high hopes for this movie. I spent the entire summer hearing from friends and the news cycle about this great new movie out of South Africa. I expected a Hollywood style blockbuster ala Independence Day, but what surprised me was Sharlto Copley's versatile performance of Wikus Van De Merwe. I went from despising Wikus's meek and incompetent nature to feeling genuinely sorry for him and admiring his moral make-up. The film is further improved by the humanizing representation of the Prawns (the aliens). I really felt connected to the main Prawn's, and his son's, plight despite neither character speaking any human language. Readers of YesNoSoso should be familiar with my hard-on for storytelling that's able to accomplish this.
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Stars: Sharlto Copley (The A-team [which I haven't seen but heard is terrible)
Vanessa Haywood (Blood Diamond, nothing else I've ever seen)
YesNoSoso: 2
Almost an emphatic 2; even despite my high hopes for this movie. I spent the entire summer hearing from friends and the news cycle about this great new movie out of South Africa. I expected a Hollywood style blockbuster ala Independence Day, but what surprised me was Sharlto Copley's versatile performance of Wikus Van De Merwe. I went from despising Wikus's meek and incompetent nature to feeling genuinely sorry for him and admiring his moral make-up. The film is further improved by the humanizing representation of the Prawns (the aliens). I really felt connected to the main Prawn's, and his son's, plight despite neither character speaking any human language. Readers of YesNoSoso should be familiar with my hard-on for storytelling that's able to accomplish this.
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5/14/10
The Lives of Others (2006)
Director: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck (some German stuff you've never heard of)
Stars: Ulrich Muhe (some German stuff you've never heard of, Sharp Shooter)
Sebastion Koch (some German stuff you've never heard of)
YesNoSoso: 2
An amazing movie depicting the clash of humanistic behavior in the socialistic regime of East Germany. A truly original plot, superbly acted through many twists and turns returns an incredibly engrossing film full of personality. I'm always amazed when a director is able to establish a connection between the characters and the audience without the aid of a common language. I was fully invested in the welfare of the main characters in The Lives of Others and because of that will be back for a second viewing. At least.
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Stars: Ulrich Muhe (some German stuff you've never heard of, Sharp Shooter)
Sebastion Koch (some German stuff you've never heard of)
YesNoSoso: 2
An amazing movie depicting the clash of humanistic behavior in the socialistic regime of East Germany. A truly original plot, superbly acted through many twists and turns returns an incredibly engrossing film full of personality. I'm always amazed when a director is able to establish a connection between the characters and the audience without the aid of a common language. I was fully invested in the welfare of the main characters in The Lives of Others and because of that will be back for a second viewing. At least.
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12/28/09
Street Kings (2008)
Director: David Ayer (the only other thing he's directed is something called Harsh Times)
Stars: Keanu Reeves (The Matrix, The Lake House)
Forrest Whittaker (Blown Away, First Daughter)
YesNoSoso: 0
I never in a million years would've thought I'd hate a movie based on a James Ellroy book as much as I hated Street Kings. I guess Keanu Reeves can do that to a movie where's he's not there to act like a shocked idiot. There are things constantly happening in this movie and yet its still boring as sh!t. The entire premise is stupid as hell, Keanu plays a reformed dirty cop who witnesses the murder of another cop. We all know how it ends and who did it and yet we have to wait 2 f@cking hours for Theodore Logan to figure it out. Dear G-d skip this crap.
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Stars: Keanu Reeves (The Matrix, The Lake House)
Forrest Whittaker (Blown Away, First Daughter)
YesNoSoso: 0
I never in a million years would've thought I'd hate a movie based on a James Ellroy book as much as I hated Street Kings. I guess Keanu Reeves can do that to a movie where's he's not there to act like a shocked idiot. There are things constantly happening in this movie and yet its still boring as sh!t. The entire premise is stupid as hell, Keanu plays a reformed dirty cop who witnesses the murder of another cop. We all know how it ends and who did it and yet we have to wait 2 f@cking hours for Theodore Logan to figure it out. Dear G-d skip this crap.
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Sunshine Cleaning (2008)
Director: Christine Jeffs (Sylvia [but I didn't see it], and I didn't see anything else she directed])
Stars: Amy Adams (Catch Me if You Can, Enchanted)
Emily Blunt (Charlie Wilson's War, The Devil Wears Prada)
YesNoSoso: 1
A solid movie, just not spectacular. Adams, Blunt, Alan Arkin and the always awesome Steve Zahn deliver good performances in a relatively fresh idea, its just that the implementation is a little stale and predictable. Worth a look, but not much more.
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Stars: Amy Adams (Catch Me if You Can, Enchanted)
Emily Blunt (Charlie Wilson's War, The Devil Wears Prada)
YesNoSoso: 1
A solid movie, just not spectacular. Adams, Blunt, Alan Arkin and the always awesome Steve Zahn deliver good performances in a relatively fresh idea, its just that the implementation is a little stale and predictable. Worth a look, but not much more.
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Avatar (2009)
Director: James Cameron (True Lies, Aliens [I don't care what you think, that movie is terrible])
Stars: Sam Worthington (I really don't think he's been in a good movie, Terminator: Salvation)
Sigourney Weaver (Alien, Heartbreakers)
YesNoSoso: 2
Believe it or not I actually waffled on what to give this movie as I was watching it in Imax 3D. It was easily the coolest graphics I've ever seen and the story was actually really good, but the dialogue was terrible in many a spot and I don't really have any desire to see it again. However, Avatar's moniker as a "game-changer" is well deserved. I hope that in the near future all movies look as awesome as Avatar. Do yourself a favor and see this movie in IMAX 3D.
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Stars: Sam Worthington (I really don't think he's been in a good movie, Terminator: Salvation)
Sigourney Weaver (Alien, Heartbreakers)
YesNoSoso: 2
Believe it or not I actually waffled on what to give this movie as I was watching it in Imax 3D. It was easily the coolest graphics I've ever seen and the story was actually really good, but the dialogue was terrible in many a spot and I don't really have any desire to see it again. However, Avatar's moniker as a "game-changer" is well deserved. I hope that in the near future all movies look as awesome as Avatar. Do yourself a favor and see this movie in IMAX 3D.
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12/27/09
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007)
Director: Julian Schnabel (Basquiat, only other movie is Before Night Falls which I've never seen)
Stars: Mathieu Amalric (Quantum of Solace [which I haven't seen but heard bad things about], a bunch of french films I've never heard of)
Max Von Sydow (The Seventh Seal, Rush Hour 3)
YesNoSoso: 1
Another "Oscar-worthy" movie that I thought was totally overrated. The effects and style used in the beginning to portray Bouby's "locked-in syndrome" are both fascinating and terrifying. But the movie as a whole is incredibly formulaic. Guy is on top of the world. Guy is an a$$hole. Guy gets in terrible accident. Guy loses everything. Guy initially gives up. Guy eventually learns to live again. Guy becomes a better person. Seen it.
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Stars: Mathieu Amalric (Quantum of Solace [which I haven't seen but heard bad things about], a bunch of french films I've never heard of)
Max Von Sydow (The Seventh Seal, Rush Hour 3)
YesNoSoso: 1
Another "Oscar-worthy" movie that I thought was totally overrated. The effects and style used in the beginning to portray Bouby's "locked-in syndrome" are both fascinating and terrifying. But the movie as a whole is incredibly formulaic. Guy is on top of the world. Guy is an a$$hole. Guy gets in terrible accident. Guy loses everything. Guy initially gives up. Guy eventually learns to live again. Guy becomes a better person. Seen it.
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12/26/09
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)
Director: David Fincher (Fight Club, Panic Room [which I actually liked])
Stars: Brad Pitt (Inglourious Basterds, Cool World)
Cate Blanchett (I'm Not There, nothing I've ever seen of hers has really been that bad)
YesNoSoso: 1
I didn't think this movie was bad and perhaps I'm just overreacting to all the positive hype that surrounded this movie, but I didn't think it was anything special. As the YesNoSoso mantra dictates for a 1, I enjoyed my 2 hours (or rather 2 hours and 46 minutes) but wouldn't go back for a second helping. Maybe the ridiculous length had something to do with it (I saw no reason for this movie to be so long), but I also just didn't find the premise to be all that interesting and didn't really identify with the titular character at all. I suppose it was just me, but I simply didn't think The Curious Case of Benjamin Button was all that great. As a fun side-game, look at Brad Pitt's IMDB page and see how far back you have to go before you find a truly bad movie. Some would argue that he doesn't even really have one, and has been in 62 movies plus 25 more in production. Hot damn he's awesome.
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Stars: Brad Pitt (Inglourious Basterds, Cool World)
Cate Blanchett (I'm Not There, nothing I've ever seen of hers has really been that bad)
YesNoSoso: 1
I didn't think this movie was bad and perhaps I'm just overreacting to all the positive hype that surrounded this movie, but I didn't think it was anything special. As the YesNoSoso mantra dictates for a 1, I enjoyed my 2 hours (or rather 2 hours and 46 minutes) but wouldn't go back for a second helping. Maybe the ridiculous length had something to do with it (I saw no reason for this movie to be so long), but I also just didn't find the premise to be all that interesting and didn't really identify with the titular character at all. I suppose it was just me, but I simply didn't think The Curious Case of Benjamin Button was all that great. As a fun side-game, look at Brad Pitt's IMDB page and see how far back you have to go before you find a truly bad movie. Some would argue that he doesn't even really have one, and has been in 62 movies plus 25 more in production. Hot damn he's awesome.
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The Virgin Suicides (1999)
Director: Sofia Coppola (Lost in Translation, Marie Antoinette [never saw it, but heard it was good])
Stars: Kirsten Dunst (Spiderman II, Spiderman III)
James Woods (Casino, Scary Movie 2)
YesNoSoso: 2
I believe this is Sofia Coppola's best movie, although I've never fully forgiven her for ruining Godfather III and I don't think Lost in Translation was the beautiful piece of art that everybody else seems to think [it is a YesNoSoso 1]. This movie has a very good cast including Dunst, Woods, Kathleen Turner, Danny DeVito and Josh Hartnett and is actually contains a very compelling story (unlike say...Lost in Translation). A very under appreciated movie.
IMDB
Wikipedia
Stars: Kirsten Dunst (Spiderman II, Spiderman III)
James Woods (Casino, Scary Movie 2)
YesNoSoso: 2
I believe this is Sofia Coppola's best movie, although I've never fully forgiven her for ruining Godfather III and I don't think Lost in Translation was the beautiful piece of art that everybody else seems to think [it is a YesNoSoso 1]. This movie has a very good cast including Dunst, Woods, Kathleen Turner, Danny DeVito and Josh Hartnett and is actually contains a very compelling story (unlike say...Lost in Translation). A very under appreciated movie.
IMDB
Wikipedia
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