Serious Moonlight is the biggest disappointment I've had in quite a while. Not to say I had hopes, only to really underline how incredible weak this story was.
This is a Meg Ryan and Timothy Hutton duologue, were both have serious trouble making us take any of them seriously at all. The plot is incredible bad, the characters the same and the idea of these two actually being persuaded to do this movie is something I'll never understand.
I got to admit I'm not the biggest fan of Hutton to begin with, even if I can stand him in small portions in the TV show Leverage. Ryan have done both good and bad movies, but even if I did like her in In The Land of Women, I think she shouldn't let that get to her head. This wasn't the greatest idea her agent ever had.
I love Kristen Bell, but her part is only a smaller support one and not even an especially good one either. Between her and Ryan I manage to not flunk this movie as a 1, but that's just barely. Even being quite short, this movie felt awfully long. Easily the worst movie I've seen since Sex Drive, but that one was at least funny once or twice.... I think.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Heathers (1988)
Were Mean Girls didn't manage to get me aboard the hype train, I did come across several referring to Heathers when praising it. Still after knocking down on Mean Girls, I do take its praise serious enough I had to check out the original twenty years or so after its release.
And while satire most definitely isn't my strongest genre, Heathers spoke to me a lot more than Mean Girls ever did. Ryder, Slater, Doherty and Walker does well to give life to an interest part of Westerburg High School.
The script is filled with a lot of witty dialogue, but it's not balanced enough for my taste.While the more boring parts probably are meant to play on adults view of teenagers life and struggles, I tend to yawn. It probably helps to underline the satire and everything, but to me it mostly makes me check for coffee or consider taking up smoking again.
Anyway. If you really liked Mean Girls and thought it was the real deal, Heathers might very well convince you it had been done better 15 years earlier.
And while satire most definitely isn't my strongest genre, Heathers spoke to me a lot more than Mean Girls ever did. Ryder, Slater, Doherty and Walker does well to give life to an interest part of Westerburg High School.
The script is filled with a lot of witty dialogue, but it's not balanced enough for my taste.While the more boring parts probably are meant to play on adults view of teenagers life and struggles, I tend to yawn. It probably helps to underline the satire and everything, but to me it mostly makes me check for coffee or consider taking up smoking again.
Anyway. If you really liked Mean Girls and thought it was the real deal, Heathers might very well convince you it had been done better 15 years earlier.
Finding Nemo (2003)
Finding Nemo is a classic travel story coming across a lot of different adventures and characters.
I really enjoyed the intro and the overprotective result, but as soon as they started their adventure they got a little to interested in presenting as many characters as possible, rather than keep up telling the funny story they started out with.
Most of the adventures is fun enough, but I'm not that much of a fan of the characters and their small parts across the ocean. Some of them would have been a lot more interesting if they got to play a bigger part of Nemo or Marlin's stories. It's a balancing act, and for me they were a little too eager to move forward rather than enjoy the characters created for the moment.
It's still a quite funny and overall good movie, but it had the potential to be even more of an epic animated story.
I really enjoyed the intro and the overprotective result, but as soon as they started their adventure they got a little to interested in presenting as many characters as possible, rather than keep up telling the funny story they started out with.
Most of the adventures is fun enough, but I'm not that much of a fan of the characters and their small parts across the ocean. Some of them would have been a lot more interesting if they got to play a bigger part of Nemo or Marlin's stories. It's a balancing act, and for me they were a little too eager to move forward rather than enjoy the characters created for the moment.
It's still a quite funny and overall good movie, but it had the potential to be even more of an epic animated story.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Nothing But the Truth (2008)
Nothing But the Truth is the kind of story deserving to be told. It screams for attention, and Kate Beckinsale demands it as well as the lead. Beckinsale is excellent in this movie. I wish they casted her husband as well, because I got to say it's not very funny watching David Schwimmer ruining a ensemble cast performance like he does here. Beckinsale, Alda, Dillon, Farmiga, Bassett and Abrams all does so well, but Scwimmer is the weak link itching the acting.
Anyways. He's not the only problem this movie has. Ten years ago it was a different story. Back then 9/11 hadn't yet changed the world. Journalist could be heroes also in the public eye back then. Now it's not as easy to get the empathy from the public in life and also the audience for a movie. It doesn't mean this isn't a story worth telling. It just means it's not as easy to get the right feeling during the movie. I'm not saying it's right or wrong. I'm just saying that's the way it is.
This is the kind of story I wish to reward with a better rating, but I just can't. To tell the story correct, it's got to be built quite slowly and detailed, but that also give us a movie without the tension and nerve to engage us. I like that it doesn't add a lot of side stories trying to defend the time spent on telling the main story, because that's the mistake most would have done. It gives this movie a more credible story and I give them a lot of credit for it, but it also means the movie feels a little too slow and almost boring a while.
Adding to most of the acting, the story and their effort to not sidestep it too much, this movie also manages to create small moments of interactions adding depth to it in a way many movies never manages. The journalist and the spy, the husband and the lawyer, the spy and her bosses and so on and so forth. It adds layers much needed, and is the same layers that makes this movie come so close to an even better rating.
It's a well told and an interesting must tell story, from the wrong side of public opinion and heart. That might also be the reason it still engages, as it's not such an original story to begin with. Sometimes that's okey. In the end all we really want is a well told story, whether or not we've heard something very similar before.
Anyways. He's not the only problem this movie has. Ten years ago it was a different story. Back then 9/11 hadn't yet changed the world. Journalist could be heroes also in the public eye back then. Now it's not as easy to get the empathy from the public in life and also the audience for a movie. It doesn't mean this isn't a story worth telling. It just means it's not as easy to get the right feeling during the movie. I'm not saying it's right or wrong. I'm just saying that's the way it is.
This is the kind of story I wish to reward with a better rating, but I just can't. To tell the story correct, it's got to be built quite slowly and detailed, but that also give us a movie without the tension and nerve to engage us. I like that it doesn't add a lot of side stories trying to defend the time spent on telling the main story, because that's the mistake most would have done. It gives this movie a more credible story and I give them a lot of credit for it, but it also means the movie feels a little too slow and almost boring a while.
Adding to most of the acting, the story and their effort to not sidestep it too much, this movie also manages to create small moments of interactions adding depth to it in a way many movies never manages. The journalist and the spy, the husband and the lawyer, the spy and her bosses and so on and so forth. It adds layers much needed, and is the same layers that makes this movie come so close to an even better rating.
It's a well told and an interesting must tell story, from the wrong side of public opinion and heart. That might also be the reason it still engages, as it's not such an original story to begin with. Sometimes that's okey. In the end all we really want is a well told story, whether or not we've heard something very similar before.
Mean Girls (2004)
I hadn't watched Mean Girls since probably when it arrived in 04, and now I've recently found it mentioned on two quite different top100 lists for the past decade. I had to arrange a revisit, and now I actually had some expectations. Words like satire, funny, rewatchable and smartly written have been used describing it.
To me it actually got relegated on my second viewing. Originally rated at 6, this time it couldn't even hold up that. It's way too uneven. Were it manages to be funny a little while, it always splashes seconds later. The story isn't strongly enough edited, the caricatures is stretched outside funny and way too far into embarrassing and it doesn't manage to nail either the high school experience or the satire of the high school experience.
Rachel McAdams and Lacey Chabert is good as two thirds of the original plastics, but there's not enough of a script to go around. Top 100 of the decade? Give me a break. This isn't even close to what it's hyped to be.
To me it actually got relegated on my second viewing. Originally rated at 6, this time it couldn't even hold up that. It's way too uneven. Were it manages to be funny a little while, it always splashes seconds later. The story isn't strongly enough edited, the caricatures is stretched outside funny and way too far into embarrassing and it doesn't manage to nail either the high school experience or the satire of the high school experience.
Rachel McAdams and Lacey Chabert is good as two thirds of the original plastics, but there's not enough of a script to go around. Top 100 of the decade? Give me a break. This isn't even close to what it's hyped to be.
Moon (2009)
I've earlier mentioned I'm not the biggest Sci-Fi fan around. The overused CGI, blasting laser weapons and invading aliens are not my first choice in genre. Moon is a completely different story. This is a Sci-Fi story with depth who makes you think long after its end credits have passed you by.
Moon's got a great cast. Kevin Spacey's voice is great as GERTY and Sam Rockwell plays the lead excellently. Debut director Duncan Jones also wrote the original story for this movie, and he does ever so well with such a small budget.
Every so often a lack of originality, might as easily be interpreted as a celebration of genre classics. I think that's very much the case with this, as the movie knows exactly which story it wants to tell. It's focused and its depth helps as well. So I really don't mind the fact it doesn't reinvent the wheel. It's still a story very much worth told and one I easily recommend watching.
Moon's got a great cast. Kevin Spacey's voice is great as GERTY and Sam Rockwell plays the lead excellently. Debut director Duncan Jones also wrote the original story for this movie, and he does ever so well with such a small budget.
Every so often a lack of originality, might as easily be interpreted as a celebration of genre classics. I think that's very much the case with this, as the movie knows exactly which story it wants to tell. It's focused and its depth helps as well. So I really don't mind the fact it doesn't reinvent the wheel. It's still a story very much worth told and one I easily recommend watching.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Unforgiven (1992)
Unforgiven shows us director and lead actor Clint Eastwood have learned from working with amongst others Sergio Leone, but he's not able to do better than his former director did in the golden age of spaghetti westerns.
It's a good movie. It shows us a different side of killing people than westerns have done in the mythologized genre before, but it's still a little to full of itself to pull this out in the end. A little to filled with Clint Eastwood. I wish they could have trusted others to also get across the story they are trying to tell, because I think they leaned to hard on Eastwood here. Gene Hackman gets some of the important work and also Richard Harris is given a little, but it's still too little to manage to get the balance right. After working his way through Leone's Dollars-trilogy, you would believe Eastwood had learned the importance of interactions and balance.
The movie also takes too long setting the plot, while it quite fast takes us through it. I don't mind building a story brick by brick, but once again I think the balance is off. There's a certain balance needed between the build up and the execution, and it lacks here.
And another problem I've got is the need they feel to feed its audience with a spoon. There's a lot of information we would have got correct about the main characters, without the dialogue telling exactly the same as the acting does. There's something Eastwood really should have got right thanks to his long career, but is instead another problem taking the movie down from the masterpiece it could have been if done right.
It gets credit for the original story of killings and gunslingers and the way it deals with whores and men looking for money by assassinations. I do however have to say the numbers of Oscar wins and nominations tells a sad story about movies that year, more than an entertaining story about this movie's qualities.
It's a good movie. It shows us a different side of killing people than westerns have done in the mythologized genre before, but it's still a little to full of itself to pull this out in the end. A little to filled with Clint Eastwood. I wish they could have trusted others to also get across the story they are trying to tell, because I think they leaned to hard on Eastwood here. Gene Hackman gets some of the important work and also Richard Harris is given a little, but it's still too little to manage to get the balance right. After working his way through Leone's Dollars-trilogy, you would believe Eastwood had learned the importance of interactions and balance.
The movie also takes too long setting the plot, while it quite fast takes us through it. I don't mind building a story brick by brick, but once again I think the balance is off. There's a certain balance needed between the build up and the execution, and it lacks here.
And another problem I've got is the need they feel to feed its audience with a spoon. There's a lot of information we would have got correct about the main characters, without the dialogue telling exactly the same as the acting does. There's something Eastwood really should have got right thanks to his long career, but is instead another problem taking the movie down from the masterpiece it could have been if done right.
It gets credit for the original story of killings and gunslingers and the way it deals with whores and men looking for money by assassinations. I do however have to say the numbers of Oscar wins and nominations tells a sad story about movies that year, more than an entertaining story about this movie's qualities.
New York, I Love You (2009)
Writer: Various for each segment
Cast: Various for each segment
Genre: Variety over Drama and Romance
This time they've chosen to stay closer to the theme, they're even tighter knitted together and it all tastes like NY. Still. They vary a little to much in quality, the love for the city doesn't manage to tie it to a movie worth loving and it's all a little too nice, clean and dressed up.
Honestly I'd rather love small pieces of cities tied into the bigger stories or just short stories standing alone. These movies celebrating cities gives some nice peaks into the city at hand, but it doesn't make great movies.
Star Trek (2009)
I'm not a fan of the franchise or even the genre, so I guess Star Trek was a hard sell on me to begin with. J.J. Abrams has got the honor to reset the franchise taking it back to the early days.
The story isn't much to brag about. You always got a problem creating false tension when you take a franchise back to its early days, and even me not being a fan of the franchise knew who would for sure survive the movie. It doesn't help much when the entire plot feels like something from the days of the TV-shows prime. It's not very smart, it's filed with cliches and it's a hard sell overall.
It still got some charm, and that's what saves the experience for me. With actors not given much to work with, a story so thin and a lot of false tension throughout the movie, the charm and to some extend some of the CGI saves it from being a truly boring experience.
Fans of the franchise will probably have completely different reasons to hate or love it, but to me it was an experience I could do without. There's obviously sequels coming, but that's hardly a surprise and who knows if I'll even take the time when those arrive.
The story isn't much to brag about. You always got a problem creating false tension when you take a franchise back to its early days, and even me not being a fan of the franchise knew who would for sure survive the movie. It doesn't help much when the entire plot feels like something from the days of the TV-shows prime. It's not very smart, it's filed with cliches and it's a hard sell overall.
It still got some charm, and that's what saves the experience for me. With actors not given much to work with, a story so thin and a lot of false tension throughout the movie, the charm and to some extend some of the CGI saves it from being a truly boring experience.
Fans of the franchise will probably have completely different reasons to hate or love it, but to me it was an experience I could do without. There's obviously sequels coming, but that's hardly a surprise and who knows if I'll even take the time when those arrive.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
High Fidelity (2000)
From my point of view High Fidelity is the best adapted Nick Hornby novel. It succeeds were both Fever Pitch'es and About a Boy doesn't manage to take his great writing to the screen in a way to keep it's own rhythm and humor.
Cusack is great in the lead as Rob Gordon, and unlike quite often elsewhere I don't hate Jack Black's support. Also Todd Louiso and the women are doing a great job supporting, but this is mostly about John Cusack. We've got talking to the camera, lists of everything and nothing, a music store owner really not that interested in gaining customers and his relationship issues. It's a fun trip who's managed to survive the decade past since its release. Its charm is still as real and its strengths haven't lost their appeal as years have past and history changed.
No-one denies Rob Gordon is a guy with issues, but we still can't help loving him for not selling out. He stand by his thoughts of music, women and life, and while his thoughts might be more than a little poisoned, this movie is a creation Rob can stand by.
Cusack is great in the lead as Rob Gordon, and unlike quite often elsewhere I don't hate Jack Black's support. Also Todd Louiso and the women are doing a great job supporting, but this is mostly about John Cusack. We've got talking to the camera, lists of everything and nothing, a music store owner really not that interested in gaining customers and his relationship issues. It's a fun trip who's managed to survive the decade past since its release. Its charm is still as real and its strengths haven't lost their appeal as years have past and history changed.
No-one denies Rob Gordon is a guy with issues, but we still can't help loving him for not selling out. He stand by his thoughts of music, women and life, and while his thoughts might be more than a little poisoned, this movie is a creation Rob can stand by.
The Hurt Locker (2008)
The Hurt Locker is more than anything Jeremy Renner's movie. Kathryn Bigelow has done a great job bringing life to Renner's character, but Renner make sure to get it across the line.
It's an interesting little movie taking a bomb tech and his team, and show us the story behind the war. The soldier as he is, and not as they want him to be or even as he wants to be. It's a human story from war, rather than a war story with humans. It's not a lot of action, but it's still quite intense. It manages to keep the nerve most of the runtime.
I've noticed some of the critique against it is its lack of a story, but there's a story. It's just a different story. It's a story about a man, about his work, his interactions with his team and the experience war is. It's got its flaws as well, but this is one of the better movies I've seen made the past years. I've got no problem understanding why it's considered by most a no-brainer for the Oscar nomination list for best film.
It's an interesting little movie taking a bomb tech and his team, and show us the story behind the war. The soldier as he is, and not as they want him to be or even as he wants to be. It's a human story from war, rather than a war story with humans. It's not a lot of action, but it's still quite intense. It manages to keep the nerve most of the runtime.
I've noticed some of the critique against it is its lack of a story, but there's a story. It's just a different story. It's a story about a man, about his work, his interactions with his team and the experience war is. It's got its flaws as well, but this is one of the better movies I've seen made the past years. I've got no problem understanding why it's considered by most a no-brainer for the Oscar nomination list for best film.
Love Happens (2009)
Love Happens doesn't manage to find itself, and is never close to capture you as the audience. Its a wannabe drama comedy with a touch of romance, but falls between its chairs so often its difficult to give it any credit in the end.
I'm not a fan of Aaron Eckhart, and probably even less so now. His performance is ... I don't know. Boring? I really don't care about his character, and that's rarely a good sign when he's the lead in this piece of crap. Aniston does as she most often does, and really haven't that much of a script helping her character come to life. John Carroll Lynch is probably the best actor in this movie, and his role ain't huge.
Quite forgettable movie I hope, cause this is not something I want to remember tomorrow.
I'm not a fan of Aaron Eckhart, and probably even less so now. His performance is ... I don't know. Boring? I really don't care about his character, and that's rarely a good sign when he's the lead in this piece of crap. Aniston does as she most often does, and really haven't that much of a script helping her character come to life. John Carroll Lynch is probably the best actor in this movie, and his role ain't huge.
Quite forgettable movie I hope, cause this is not something I want to remember tomorrow.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
2012 (2009)
It shouldn't be possible to be surprised of what 2012 offers as you enters its world. This is CGI produced disaster movie for almost every $ spent, then add as many cliches as possible and some decent enough actors and actresses.
I don't mind every now and again some action and thrills at the screen not meant to be thought about, just enjoyed. This still wasn't very entertaining. I liked Woody Harrelson. The rest of the acting is mostly about running fast, just miss out on dying for the tenth time and throw out a new cliche as a line. That considered, Cusack is enjoyable as always and Peet and Newton are eye-candy.
While the idea for the plot is decent enough, it's not especially well suited to take to the big screen. Write a book. More enjoyable that way. Watching tons and tons of CGI with disaster as subject is hardly very entertaining. At least that's the way I see it. Still. I've seen them done worse as well, but this movie is too long, too filled with cliches, too much close calls on the same theme and it's as predictable as menstruation.
On the other hand they at least are realistic about the rich and powerful way of dealing with the knowledge of such an event.
I don't mind every now and again some action and thrills at the screen not meant to be thought about, just enjoyed. This still wasn't very entertaining. I liked Woody Harrelson. The rest of the acting is mostly about running fast, just miss out on dying for the tenth time and throw out a new cliche as a line. That considered, Cusack is enjoyable as always and Peet and Newton are eye-candy.
While the idea for the plot is decent enough, it's not especially well suited to take to the big screen. Write a book. More enjoyable that way. Watching tons and tons of CGI with disaster as subject is hardly very entertaining. At least that's the way I see it. Still. I've seen them done worse as well, but this movie is too long, too filled with cliches, too much close calls on the same theme and it's as predictable as menstruation.
On the other hand they at least are realistic about the rich and powerful way of dealing with the knowledge of such an event.
Brokeback Mountain (2005)
Writer: Screenplay: Danny McMurtry, Dina Ossana Short Story: Annie Proulx
Cast: Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Williams, Anne Hathaway
Genre: Drama, Romance
Because this is no doubt a good story. It establish a movie-language speaking to us watching, and then use it to make us think, feel and reconsider instead of just experiencing a movie. There's always been prejudice and hate in this world, and it's never easy to make good intelligent movies about these subjects, whether it's homosexuality still, interracial couples earlier, African Americans, society's class differences in former centuries and so on and so forth. There's always been shame and prejudice in society. Shame and prejudice stopping people from living openly as they would want to in a perfect world. It's never easy to make movies about these while it's still a problem.
And it's still a subject for every homosexual out there, some places worse than others, but it's still very much news. That's probably also one of the reasons this movie has been talked a lot about, why Ledger, Gyllenhaal and Lee was attracted to it in the first place and why some still deny its strength. The latter mainly not because they don't like the story, the camerawork, acting, score or anything else about the movie, but because it pains them to watch two guys portrayed like this.
I'm not saying everybody who doesn't like this movie is homophobic. I'm just saying most of them are, because this is a very good movie whether or not you're able to enjoy it. I think it might even grow with time and repeated viewing, but for now I'll leave it with an eight.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
A Fistful of Dollars (1964)
A Fistful of Dollars is the first of Sergio Leone's Dollars trilogy, and a western remake of Yojimbo's story. One town, two gangs and a stranger deciding to make some money on playing them against each other.
The plot isn't difficult, but some of it doesn't make much sense as it moves along. To easily does he succeed to play both sides, while not being to crafty about it. There's a couple of other holes there, but I'll not go into details at its late in the movie and contain spoilers.
This is very much Clint Eastwood's movie. Except him, there's not many interesting characters walking around in this town. He plays his part well, but this lacks the kind of interactions we see in Leone's final piece of his Dollar trilogy The good, the Bad and the Ugly.
Ennio Morricone played a huge part in that final piece as well. In this one his work isn't very remarkable. While Leone doesn't take all day on each shoot out in this movie, it works well with the fast paced action chosen. It might not be as stylish as his later work, but it's got a nice flair to it still.
Don't get me started on the scene close to the river and the scene with the burning house, as both are quite awful. Along with my other objections above, it leaves me very happy to remember Leone did so much better later in his career.
The plot isn't difficult, but some of it doesn't make much sense as it moves along. To easily does he succeed to play both sides, while not being to crafty about it. There's a couple of other holes there, but I'll not go into details at its late in the movie and contain spoilers.
This is very much Clint Eastwood's movie. Except him, there's not many interesting characters walking around in this town. He plays his part well, but this lacks the kind of interactions we see in Leone's final piece of his Dollar trilogy The good, the Bad and the Ugly.
Ennio Morricone played a huge part in that final piece as well. In this one his work isn't very remarkable. While Leone doesn't take all day on each shoot out in this movie, it works well with the fast paced action chosen. It might not be as stylish as his later work, but it's got a nice flair to it still.
Don't get me started on the scene close to the river and the scene with the burning house, as both are quite awful. Along with my other objections above, it leaves me very happy to remember Leone did so much better later in his career.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
The Searchers (1956)
The Searcher is based on an Alan Le May novel, and American Film Institute ranked this movie as the best western in their top 10 genre ratings in 2008. I think they must quite honestly been completely out of their mind.
John Wayne does well portraying a complex character developing during the movie, but there's a lot of weak acting in this movie. Were others have showed how to portray emotions without having to exaggerate, The Searchers have several actors going way off doing exactly exaggerating. It's even embarrassing to watch some of the scenes.
I'll assume the novel told a good story. I haven't read it, but it seems like a story easy to tell well in a novel. I've read Lonesome Dove in novel form as well as watched the mini-series, and this have much of the same qualities for a novel. In the movie there's in addition to the weak acting also problems balancing in the side stories, both those trying to be funny and those trying to portray everyday life or even some of the plot turning points. The main plot is interesting and good, but it's not told fluently enough and some of the scenes are quite honestly not told with credibility even if the rest of the movie is tried done so.
They'll get credit for some of the camerawork. They do manage to both show the west as huge and empty, you can feel the dust and there's some really well considered shots both giving life to emotional scenes and the landscape.
John Wayne, the main plot and a lot of the camerawork and their choices for filming lifts the movie, but there's so much else dragging it down I can't sing its praises like some seems to do. It's not even close to be the best western made. Not even close.
John Wayne does well portraying a complex character developing during the movie, but there's a lot of weak acting in this movie. Were others have showed how to portray emotions without having to exaggerate, The Searchers have several actors going way off doing exactly exaggerating. It's even embarrassing to watch some of the scenes.
I'll assume the novel told a good story. I haven't read it, but it seems like a story easy to tell well in a novel. I've read Lonesome Dove in novel form as well as watched the mini-series, and this have much of the same qualities for a novel. In the movie there's in addition to the weak acting also problems balancing in the side stories, both those trying to be funny and those trying to portray everyday life or even some of the plot turning points. The main plot is interesting and good, but it's not told fluently enough and some of the scenes are quite honestly not told with credibility even if the rest of the movie is tried done so.
They'll get credit for some of the camerawork. They do manage to both show the west as huge and empty, you can feel the dust and there's some really well considered shots both giving life to emotional scenes and the landscape.
John Wayne, the main plot and a lot of the camerawork and their choices for filming lifts the movie, but there's so much else dragging it down I can't sing its praises like some seems to do. It's not even close to be the best western made. Not even close.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Assassination of a High School President (2008)
Assassination of a High School President is a crime comedy set in high school, trying to play on the investigating reporter angle. It tries, as it mostly fails. The makers know their crime genre, and plays some good jokes on it, but they haven't nailed the comedy part nearly enough to get away with this.
The acting isn't much to brag about, the script is thin and easily predictable and they have found the wrong details to lift into an attempt of comedy. When it comes to the crime parts they steal from a lot of movies, and I can't remember a single original work worked into it. It wouldn't have mattered if they nailed the comedy, as it could easily have worked as a parody. When they don't manage that, it's not much left to brag about.
I'll still give them credit for some of their plays on the crime genre, but that's about the only part of this movie scoring their plus points towards my rating.
The acting isn't much to brag about, the script is thin and easily predictable and they have found the wrong details to lift into an attempt of comedy. When it comes to the crime parts they steal from a lot of movies, and I can't remember a single original work worked into it. It wouldn't have mattered if they nailed the comedy, as it could easily have worked as a parody. When they don't manage that, it's not much left to brag about.
I'll still give them credit for some of their plays on the crime genre, but that's about the only part of this movie scoring their plus points towards my rating.
Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)
Forgetting Sarah Marshall is Jason Segal's first shot script and also the directing debut for Nicholas Stoller. I've been a fan of Kristen Bell since I first watched Veronica Mars and Mila Kunis isn't hard to look at either.
So the end result is a quite disappointing movie, as this didn't hit the right notes with me. I've got to admit I'm no fan of Jason Segal, who besides writing this also plays the lead role. Supporting cast includes the genre's well known faces like Jonah Hill and Paul Rudd, and it introduces (to me at least) Russell Brand in a quite big part as Sarah Marshall's new boyfriend, but this is a lot of Segal. Way too much Segal for me at least. Kunis and Bell got quite normal characters, while the male characters around them is out there with issues to cover a psych book.
It's got its moments, scenes and jokes that works, but after watching it twice I can't still come to term with the overall lack of good humor. It tries to be funny, as this is more comedy than romance, but it doesn't succeed nearly often enough.
So the end result is a quite disappointing movie, as this didn't hit the right notes with me. I've got to admit I'm no fan of Jason Segal, who besides writing this also plays the lead role. Supporting cast includes the genre's well known faces like Jonah Hill and Paul Rudd, and it introduces (to me at least) Russell Brand in a quite big part as Sarah Marshall's new boyfriend, but this is a lot of Segal. Way too much Segal for me at least. Kunis and Bell got quite normal characters, while the male characters around them is out there with issues to cover a psych book.
It's got its moments, scenes and jokes that works, but after watching it twice I can't still come to term with the overall lack of good humor. It tries to be funny, as this is more comedy than romance, but it doesn't succeed nearly often enough.
My Sister's Keeper (2009)
My Sister's Keeper is based on a Jodi Picoult novel, and after watching the movie you hope the book better managed to balance what it tries to tell. There's hint of side stories in the movie, but then they're never followed. That's a huge no no.
A painful subject, and a movie often painful to watch. Not always of the reasons they hoped for, but because they stumble telling the story. In single scenes every now and again you get what they was aiming to accomplish throughout the movie, but it doesn't manage to save it.
It's got its good sides as well, but overall it feels like potential down the drain. An interesting subject to begin with, some good acting performances and the glimpses of what could have been in the pro colomn.
A painful subject, and a movie often painful to watch. Not always of the reasons they hoped for, but because they stumble telling the story. In single scenes every now and again you get what they was aiming to accomplish throughout the movie, but it doesn't manage to save it.
It's got its good sides as well, but overall it feels like potential down the drain. An interesting subject to begin with, some good acting performances and the glimpses of what could have been in the pro colomn.
Am I becoming a snob?
So, I've only managed to throw out about 76 ratings so far, but I'm starting to feel the pressure. Can a movie like Definitely, Maybe or Love Actually really defend rating as well as Chinatown or Inglourious Basterds, even if I've stated there's a big possibility the latter will grow on me with time and repeated viewing? Can Reservoir Dogs defend a top score along Pulp Fiction? And is it in any way possible to stand by rating Juno at same rating as movies like Moulin Rouge!, The Lives of Others and a classic like The Good, the Bad and the Ugly? Is it in any way possible to rate acclaimed movies like Atonement, Vicky Cristina Barcelona and 25th Hour equal to mediocrity like Wimbledon, Chasing Liberty and The Sum of All Fears?
Of course that can all happen, as rating is personal and individual, but can I still keep any kind of credibility? I've got my doubts. Still any movie has its own job to do. It vary from genre to genre, but it's about entertaining or offering an experience within its own limitations. There's no doubt Atonement is a better movie than Chasing Liberty and The Sum of All Fears. But Atonement try to tell an epic drama story with romance, a hint of mystery and a time of war, and doesn't quite manage to make it home. Chasing Liberty only try to entertain with a light story of youthful rebellion and romance, and succeed enough for me to be satisfied when the movie plays, even the third time around. The Sum of All Fears try to bring to life a book filled with details, bringing Jack Ryan in to the CIA rooms of power and thrill with a nuclear treat of the war. It does like Atonement not quite get there, but just enough to still make me follow the story with some suspense. In all fairness it's probably the one of these closest to be relegated to a six, but I still feel the supporting roles is acted so well it doesn't quite deserv to.
I don't have the same expectations for a lighthearted romantic comedy as I've got for a story trying to tell an epic drama or a story wanting to entertain with thrilling action and chasing cars, and I've got to remember that when I rate. Just like I'm sure you got completely different expectations when you go to watch a splatter movie than you have when you take on a movie like The Lives of Others. While the acting and story in the latter engage you, you're much more interested in how they entertain you with blood, humor and creativity in the splatter movie.
Movies is about entertainment, feelings, favorites, passion, acting and much much more, but not all movies set out on the same journey. Some have smaller parts to play, but might do so with such charm and grace they still deserve the recognition of a high rating. I'll probably never watch a romantic comedy score a ten, but I hope I'll find a couple of nines as time goes by. Just don't count on them to be as good a movie as The Lives of Others anyway.
And my opinions of a title will change as time passes by or I revisit them, like it's recently happened to Whip It, Léon and Taken. Whip It got adjusted up after repeated viewings within two weeks and as it grow in my mind afterward, Léon got adjusted up on revisiting it probably about ten years since the last time I watched it and Taken got adjusted down after repeat viewing and afterward thoughts. Some movies doesn't only live while you watch them, but the thoughts and feelings they leave you with might make them grow as time passes. And just like that, a list of ratings is a living organism in constant change. Some titles will never be revisited or thought about, and will for ever stand with their rating, whether it was too easily gained or too hardly judged. Others will grow or drop. It's the nature of ratings.
I might probably still always keep wondering about some ratings, but despite the ugly feeling of becoming a snob I hope I'll still continue rewarding light entertaining doing exactly what it's supposed to. Just keep that in mind while you shake your head over some of the movies rated equally at my rating list.
Of course that can all happen, as rating is personal and individual, but can I still keep any kind of credibility? I've got my doubts. Still any movie has its own job to do. It vary from genre to genre, but it's about entertaining or offering an experience within its own limitations. There's no doubt Atonement is a better movie than Chasing Liberty and The Sum of All Fears. But Atonement try to tell an epic drama story with romance, a hint of mystery and a time of war, and doesn't quite manage to make it home. Chasing Liberty only try to entertain with a light story of youthful rebellion and romance, and succeed enough for me to be satisfied when the movie plays, even the third time around. The Sum of All Fears try to bring to life a book filled with details, bringing Jack Ryan in to the CIA rooms of power and thrill with a nuclear treat of the war. It does like Atonement not quite get there, but just enough to still make me follow the story with some suspense. In all fairness it's probably the one of these closest to be relegated to a six, but I still feel the supporting roles is acted so well it doesn't quite deserv to.
I don't have the same expectations for a lighthearted romantic comedy as I've got for a story trying to tell an epic drama or a story wanting to entertain with thrilling action and chasing cars, and I've got to remember that when I rate. Just like I'm sure you got completely different expectations when you go to watch a splatter movie than you have when you take on a movie like The Lives of Others. While the acting and story in the latter engage you, you're much more interested in how they entertain you with blood, humor and creativity in the splatter movie.
Movies is about entertainment, feelings, favorites, passion, acting and much much more, but not all movies set out on the same journey. Some have smaller parts to play, but might do so with such charm and grace they still deserve the recognition of a high rating. I'll probably never watch a romantic comedy score a ten, but I hope I'll find a couple of nines as time goes by. Just don't count on them to be as good a movie as The Lives of Others anyway.
And my opinions of a title will change as time passes by or I revisit them, like it's recently happened to Whip It, Léon and Taken. Whip It got adjusted up after repeated viewings within two weeks and as it grow in my mind afterward, Léon got adjusted up on revisiting it probably about ten years since the last time I watched it and Taken got adjusted down after repeat viewing and afterward thoughts. Some movies doesn't only live while you watch them, but the thoughts and feelings they leave you with might make them grow as time passes. And just like that, a list of ratings is a living organism in constant change. Some titles will never be revisited or thought about, and will for ever stand with their rating, whether it was too easily gained or too hardly judged. Others will grow or drop. It's the nature of ratings.
I might probably still always keep wondering about some ratings, but despite the ugly feeling of becoming a snob I hope I'll still continue rewarding light entertaining doing exactly what it's supposed to. Just keep that in mind while you shake your head over some of the movies rated equally at my rating list.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Chasing Liberty (2004)
Writer: Derek Guiley, David Schneiderman
Cast: Mandy Moore, Matthew Goode, Mark Harmon, Jeremy Piven, Annabell Sciorra, Martin Hancock
Genre: Teen, Rom-Com
It's not a great story, and it's obviously not that original either as they managed to release two quite similar movies in the same year, but it's quite charming. I'll have to admit I do fancy Mandy Moore, and it did help a lot, but it's also got some funny characters and touring Europe doesn't hurt.
Based on acting, story and originality it probably doesn't deserve my rating, but I got to reward it for managing were other fail. It's a feelgood romantic comedy, and I've probably watched it three times during the past five years. It always managed to give me that warm and fussy feeling, so I guess it's mission accomplished. That's got to count for a lot when it never tries to be anything more. At least to me it does.
First Daughter (2004)
Katie Holmes is the U.S. President's daughter in First Daughter, but I recommend you rather watch Mandy Moore doing something quite similar, but a lot better, in Chasing Liberty.
This isn't very funny, it's not especially charming and there's really not many decent reasons to bother.
This isn't very funny, it's not especially charming and there's really not many decent reasons to bother.
50 First Dates (2004)
50 First Dates is your typical romantic comedy, but at least the plot is very original. Drew Barrymore is sweet as always and also Adam Sandler does decently enough.
I think they managed to balance out the fun, the romantic and the drama parts quite well, and this is easily one of the better romantic comedies out there in my opinion.
I think they managed to balance out the fun, the romantic and the drama parts quite well, and this is easily one of the better romantic comedies out there in my opinion.
Reviewed movies; sorted by their ratings
Alphabetically sorted within each rating.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Lost in Translation (2003)(2nd review)
M (1931)
Make Way for Tomorrow (1937)
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
12 Angry Men (1957)
Cinema Paradiso (1988)(Int)
Groundhog Day (1993)
Infernal Affairs (2002)
In Search of a Midnight Kiss (2007)
Juno (2007)
Groundhog Day (1993)
Infernal Affairs (2002)
In Search of a Midnight Kiss (2007)
Juno (2007)
Léon (1994)
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984)
Reservoir Dogs (1992)
Show Me Love (1998)
Sin City (2005)
Sling Blade (1996)
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)
Reservoir Dogs (1992)
Show Me Love (1998)
Sin City (2005)
Sling Blade (1996)
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966)
The lives of Others (2006)
The Prestige (2006)
The Third Man (1949)
WALL·E (2008)
Winter's Bone (2010)
The Prestige (2006)
The Third Man (1949)
WALL·E (2008)
Winter's Bone (2010)
A Beautiful Mind (2001)
Amélie (2001)
Amores perros (2000)
Bang Bang You're Dead (2002)
Brooklyn's Finest (2009)
Children of Men (2006)
Chinatown (1974)
Amélie (2001)
Amores perros (2000)
Bang Bang You're Dead (2002)
Brooklyn's Finest (2009)
Children of Men (2006)
Chinatown (1974)
Chungking Express (1994)
City of God (2002)
Crazy Heart (2009)
Dark City (1998)
Dazed and Confused (1993)
Dead Man's Shoes (2004)
Defendor (2009)(2nd review)
Definitely, Maybe (2008)
City of God (2002)
Crazy Heart (2009)
Dark City (1998)
Dazed and Confused (1993)
Dead Man's Shoes (2004)
Defendor (2009)(2nd review)
Definitely, Maybe (2008)
Edward Scissorhands (1990)
Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010)
Eye of God (1997)
Fish Tank (2009)
Four Lions (2010)
Garden State (2004)
Ghost in the Shell (1995)
High Fidelity (2000)
Howl's Moving Castle (2004)
Inglourious Basterds (2009)
Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010)
Eye of God (1997)
Fish Tank (2009)
Four Lions (2010)
Garden State (2004)
Ghost in the Shell (1995)
High Fidelity (2000)
Howl's Moving Castle (2004)
Inglourious Basterds (2009)
Love Actually (2003)
Lucky Number Slevin (2006)
Mary and Max (2009)
Moon (2009)
Mulholland Dr. (2001)
My Life Without Me (2003)
My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
Naked (1993)
Network (1976)
Office Space (1999)
Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)
Mary and Max (2009)
Moon (2009)
Mulholland Dr. (2001)
My Life Without Me (2003)
My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
Naked (1993)
Network (1976)
Office Space (1999)
Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)
Open Your Eyes (1997)
Runaway Jury (2003)
Say Anything... (1989)
Serenity (2005)
Shutter Island (2010)
Spirited Away (2001)
Strangers on a Train (1951)
Taken (2008)
Runaway Jury (2003)
Say Anything... (1989)
Serenity (2005)
Shutter Island (2010)
Spirited Away (2001)
Strangers on a Train (1951)
Taken (2008)
The Awful Truth (1937)
The Boondock Saints (1999)
The Consequences of Love (2004)
The Double Life of Veronique (1991)
The Hurt Locker (2008)
The Killer (1989)
The Last Picture Show (1971)
The Terminator (1984)
The Wrestler (2008)
Three Colors: Blue (1993)
Three Colors: Red (1994)
Toy Story 2 (1999)
Walkabout (1971)(1997-reissue)
The Boondock Saints (1999)
The Consequences of Love (2004)
The Double Life of Veronique (1991)
The Hurt Locker (2008)
The Killer (1989)
The Last Picture Show (1971)
The Terminator (1984)
The Wrestler (2008)
Three Colors: Blue (1993)
Three Colors: Red (1994)
Toy Story 2 (1999)
Walkabout (1971)(1997-reissue)
50 First Dates (2004)
Adam (2009)
A Fistful of Dollars (1964)
An Education (2009)
Anything for Her (2008)
A Single Man (2009)
A Swedish Love Story (1970)
Atonement (2007)
Adam (2009)
A Fistful of Dollars (1964)
An Education (2009)
Anything for Her (2008)
A Single Man (2009)
A Swedish Love Story (1970)
Atonement (2007)
Avatar (2009)
A Walk to Remember (2002)(2nd review)
Bad Boys (1995)
Barton Fink (1991)
Before Sunset (2004)
Bicycle Thieves (1948)
Blade Runner (1982)
Blood Diamond (2006)
Body Heat (1981)
Brazil (1985)
Bring It On: All or Nothing (2006)
Brokeback Mountain (2005)
Buried (2010)
Castle in the Sky (1986)
Children of a Lesser God (1986)
Closer (2004)
A Walk to Remember (2002)(2nd review)
Bad Boys (1995)
Barton Fink (1991)
Before Sunset (2004)
Bicycle Thieves (1948)
Blade Runner (1982)
Blood Diamond (2006)
Body Heat (1981)
Brazil (1985)
Bring It On: All or Nothing (2006)
Brokeback Mountain (2005)
Buried (2010)
Castle in the Sky (1986)
Children of a Lesser God (1986)
Closer (2004)
Enchanted (2007)
Equilibrium (2002)
Everybody's Fine (2009)
Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)
Finding Nemo (2003)
Finding Neverland (2004)
Following (1998)
Frozen River (2008)
Grosse Pointe Blank (1997)
Hard Boiled (1992)
Hard Candy (2005)
Harry Brown (2009)
Head-On (2004)
Heathers (1988)
Heavy (1995)
Hot Fuzz (2007)
Everybody's Fine (2009)
Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)
Finding Nemo (2003)
Finding Neverland (2004)
Following (1998)
Frozen River (2008)
Grosse Pointe Blank (1997)
Hard Boiled (1992)
Hard Candy (2005)
Harry Brown (2009)
Head-On (2004)
Heathers (1988)
Heavy (1995)
Hot Fuzz (2007)
In the Mood for Love (2000)
"Jane Eyre" (2006)
Kick-Ass (2010)
Labyrinth (1986)
Living Proof (2008)(TV)
"Jane Eyre" (2006)
Kick-Ass (2010)
Labyrinth (1986)
Living Proof (2008)(TV)
Million Dollar Baby (2004)
Monsters, Inc. (2001)
My Sassy Girl (2001)
Ninja Scroll (1993)
Nothing But the Truth (2008)
Once (2006)
Monsters, Inc. (2001)
My Sassy Girl (2001)
Ninja Scroll (1993)
Nothing But the Truth (2008)
Once (2006)
Playing by Heart (1998)
Pride & Prejudice (2005)
Princess Mononoke (1997)
Red (2010)
Requiem for a Dream (2000)
"Sense & Sensibility" (2008)
Serpico (1973)
Somewhere (2010)
Spider-Man (2002)
Spider-Man 2 (2004)
Stand by Me (1986)
Stardust (2007)
Star Wars (1977)
Pride & Prejudice (2005)
Princess Mononoke (1997)
Red (2010)
Requiem for a Dream (2000)
"Sense & Sensibility" (2008)
Serpico (1973)
Somewhere (2010)
Spider-Man (2002)
Spider-Man 2 (2004)
Stand by Me (1986)
Stardust (2007)
Star Wars (1977)
The A-Team (2010)
The Blind Side (2009)
The Cooler (2003)
The Ghost Writer (2010)
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (2009)
The Blind Side (2009)
The Cooler (2003)
The Ghost Writer (2010)
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (2009)
The Twilight Samurai (2002)
The Visitor (2007)
The Year My Voice Broke (1987)
Three Colors: White (1994)
Unforgiven (1992)
Unthinkable (2010)
Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)
The Visitor (2007)
The Year My Voice Broke (1987)
Three Colors: White (1994)
Unforgiven (1992)
Unthinkable (2010)
Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)
A Christmas Carol (2009)
American Pie (1999)
Fast & Furious (2009)
Five Minutes of Heaven (2009)
Flipped (2010)
Flirting (1991)
Friday Night Lights (2004)
Five Minutes of Heaven (2009)
Flipped (2010)
Flirting (1991)
Friday Night Lights (2004)
From Russia with Love (1963)
Girlfight (2000)
Griffin & Phoenix (2006)
Hairspray (2007)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010)
Heavenly Creatures (1994)
Hunting and Gathering (2007)
Identity (2003)
In America (2002)
In the Land of Women (2007)
Ip Man 2 (2010)
Girlfight (2000)
Griffin & Phoenix (2006)
Hairspray (2007)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 (2010)
Heavenly Creatures (1994)
Hunting and Gathering (2007)
Identity (2003)
In America (2002)
In the Land of Women (2007)
Ip Man 2 (2010)
London (2005)
Love Story (1970)
Marley & Me (2008)
Megamind (2010)
Mouth to Mouth (1978)
Murder on the Orient Express (1974)
Music and Lyrics (2007)
Never Let Me Go (2010)
New York, I Love You (2009)
Nikita (1990)
Nude Nuns with Big Guns (2010)
Paris, Je t'aime (2006)
Love Story (1970)
Marley & Me (2008)
Megamind (2010)
Mouth to Mouth (1978)
Murder on the Orient Express (1974)
Music and Lyrics (2007)
Never Let Me Go (2010)
New York, I Love You (2009)
Nikita (1990)
Nude Nuns with Big Guns (2010)
Paris, Je t'aime (2006)
Payback (1999)
Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)
Please Give (2010)
Priceless (2006)
Public Enemies (2009)
Punch-Drunk Love (2002)
Robin Hood (2010)(DC)
Saved! (2004)
Sherlock Holmes (2009)
Sixteen Candles (1984)
Snatch. (2000)
Snow Angels (2007)
Starter for 10 (2006)
Sunshine Cleaning (2008)
Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)
Please Give (2010)
Priceless (2006)
Public Enemies (2009)
Punch-Drunk Love (2002)
Robin Hood (2010)(DC)
Saved! (2004)
Sherlock Holmes (2009)
Sixteen Candles (1984)
Snatch. (2000)
Snow Angels (2007)
Starter for 10 (2006)
Sunshine Cleaning (2008)
The Butterfly effect (2004)
The Class (2008)
The Disappearance of Alice Creed (2009)
The Fast and the Furious (2001)
The Class (2008)
The Disappearance of Alice Creed (2009)
The Fast and the Furious (2001)
The Holiday (2006)
The Illusionist (2006)
The Incredible Hulk (2008)
The Legend of 1900 (1998)
The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996)
The Lookout (2007)
The Next Three Days (2010)
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
The Illusionist (2006)
The Incredible Hulk (2008)
The Legend of 1900 (1998)
The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996)
The Lookout (2007)
The Next Three Days (2010)
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
The Outsiders (1983)
The Reader (2008)
The Red Violin (1998)
The Runaways (2010)
The Sum of all Fears (2002)
The Reader (2008)
The Red Violin (1998)
The Runaways (2010)
The Sum of all Fears (2002)
True Grit (1969)
Twilight (2008)
Unstoppable (2010)
Vivre sa vie: Film en douze tableaux (1962)
Waiting... (2005)
Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)
Wedding Crashers (2005)
Twilight (2008)
Unstoppable (2010)
Vivre sa vie: Film en douze tableaux (1962)
Waiting... (2005)
Wallace & Gromit in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)
Wedding Crashers (2005)
2012 (2009)
2 Fast 2 Furious (2003)
4.3.2.1 (2010)
About a Boy (2002)
Alice in Wonderland (2010)
A Lot Like Love (2005)
America's Sweethearts (2001)
Angel-A (2005)
Animal Kingdom (2010)
Away We Go (2009)
2 Fast 2 Furious (2003)
4.3.2.1 (2010)
About a Boy (2002)
Alice in Wonderland (2010)
A Lot Like Love (2005)
America's Sweethearts (2001)
Angel-A (2005)
Animal Kingdom (2010)
Away We Go (2009)
Bring It On (2000)
But I'm a Cheerleader (1999)
Cemetery Junction (2010)
Charlie's Angels (2000)
Chasing Liberty (2004)(2nd review)
Cloverfield (2008)
Cold Mountain (2003)
Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002)
Cracks (2009)
D.E.B.S. (2004)
But I'm a Cheerleader (1999)
Cemetery Junction (2010)
Charlie's Angels (2000)
Chasing Liberty (2004)(2nd review)
Cloverfield (2008)
Cold Mountain (2003)
Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002)
Cracks (2009)
D.E.B.S. (2004)
Do the Right Thing (1989)
Dr. No (1962)
Elizabethtown (2005)
Entrapment (1999)
Escape from New York (1981)
Fanboys (2008)
Fever Pitch (1997)
Fired Up! (2009)
Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)
From Paris with Love (2010)
Get Over It (2001)
Dr. No (1962)
Elizabethtown (2005)
Entrapment (1999)
Escape from New York (1981)
Fanboys (2008)
Fever Pitch (1997)
Fired Up! (2009)
Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)
From Paris with Love (2010)
Get Over It (2001)
Get Smart (2008)
Greenberg (2010)
Green Zone (2010)
Gregory's Girl (1981)
Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man (1991)
Hellboy (2004)(DC)
If Only (2004)
In Her Shoes (2005)
In The Loop (2009)
Greenberg (2010)
Green Zone (2010)
Gregory's Girl (1981)
Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man (1991)
Hellboy (2004)(DC)
If Only (2004)
In Her Shoes (2005)
In The Loop (2009)
Into The Blue (2005)
Julie & Julia (2009)
Knocked Up (2007)
Little Darlings (1980)
Management (2008)
Martian Child (2007)
Mean Girls (2004)
Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005)
My Sister's Keeper (2009)
Nowhere Boy (2009)
Once a Thief (1991)
Out of Sight (1998)
Practical Magic (1998)
P.S. I Love You (2007)
Quantum of Solace (2008)
Knocked Up (2007)
Little Darlings (1980)
Management (2008)
Martian Child (2007)
Mean Girls (2004)
Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005)
My Sister's Keeper (2009)
Nowhere Boy (2009)
Once a Thief (1991)
Out of Sight (1998)
Practical Magic (1998)
P.S. I Love You (2007)
Quantum of Solace (2008)
Remember Me (2010)
Rendition (2007)
Reservation Road (2007)
Run Lola Run (1998)
Scent of a Woman (1992)
Shanghai Kiss (2007)
She's the Man (2006)
Shoot 'Em Up (2007)
Shooting Fish (1997)
Sideways (2004)
Star Trek (2009)
Sydney White (2007)
The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call - New Orleans (2009)
The Ballad of Jack and Rose (2005)
The Big Hit (1998)
The Boat That Rocked (2009)
The Book of Eli (2010)
The Girl Next Door (2004)
The Girl Who Played with Fire (2009)
The Grifters (1990)
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009)
The Informant! (2009)
The Island (2005)
The Last Kiss (2006)
Rendition (2007)
Reservation Road (2007)
Run Lola Run (1998)
Scent of a Woman (1992)
Shanghai Kiss (2007)
She's the Man (2006)
Shoot 'Em Up (2007)
Shooting Fish (1997)
Sideways (2004)
Star Trek (2009)
Sydney White (2007)
The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call - New Orleans (2009)
The Ballad of Jack and Rose (2005)
The Big Hit (1998)
The Boat That Rocked (2009)
The Book of Eli (2010)
The Girl Next Door (2004)
The Girl Who Played with Fire (2009)
The Grifters (1990)
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009)
The Informant! (2009)
The Island (2005)
The Last Kiss (2006)
The Proposal (2009)
The Rebound (2009)
The Saint (1997)
The Yellow Handkerchief (2008)
This is Spinal Tap (1984)
Toy Story (1995)
The Rebound (2009)
The Saint (1997)
The Yellow Handkerchief (2008)
This is Spinal Tap (1984)
Toy Story (1995)
Trading Places (1983)
Tropic Thunder (2008)
Two Lovers (2008)
Two Weeks Notice (2002)
Under Siege (1992)
Underworld (2003)
Underworld: Evolution (2006)
Up in the Air (2009)
Valentine's Day (2010)
War (2007)
Wilby Wonderful (2004)
X-Men (2000)
Two Lovers (2008)
Two Weeks Notice (2002)
Under Siege (1992)
Underworld (2003)
Underworld: Evolution (2006)
Up in the Air (2009)
Valentine's Day (2010)
War (2007)
Wilby Wonderful (2004)
X-Men (2000)
A Boyfriend for Christmas (2004)(TV)
American Pie 2 (2001)
Animal House (1978)
Assassination of a High School President (2008)
Bad Girls (1994)
Birds of America (2008)
Breaking Up (1997)
Animal House (1978)
Assassination of a High School President (2008)
Bad Girls (1994)
Birds of America (2008)
Breaking Up (1997)
Bring It On: Fight to the Finish (2009)
Bull Durham (1988)
Charlie Bartlett (2007)
Cop Out (2010)
Date Night (2010)
Despicable Me (2010)
Dick (1999)
Eagle Eye (2008)
East Is East (1999)
Bull Durham (1988)
Charlie Bartlett (2007)
Cop Out (2010)
Date Night (2010)
Despicable Me (2010)
Dick (1999)
Eagle Eye (2008)
East Is East (1999)
Fallen Angels (1995)
Fantastic Four (2005)
Fever Pitch (2005)
First Daughter (2004)
Flyboys (2006)
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009)
Hulk (2003)
Ice Princess (2005)
Iron Man 2 (2010)
It Could Happen to You (1994)
Just Friends (2005)
Fantastic Four (2005)
Fever Pitch (2005)
First Daughter (2004)
Flyboys (2006)
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009)
Hulk (2003)
Ice Princess (2005)
Iron Man 2 (2010)
It Could Happen to You (1994)
Just Friends (2005)
Meet Bill (2007)
Raising Helen (2004)
Robots (2005)
Romancing the Stone (1984)
Rushmore (1998)
Sense and Sensibility (1995)
Sex and Lucia (2001)
She's Out of My League (2010)
Solomon Kane (2009)
Spider-Man 3 (2007)
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
The Expendables (2010)
The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006)
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest (2009)
The Losers (2010)
The Maiden Heist (2009)
The Punisher (2004)
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005)
The Slaughter Rule (2002)
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)
Twilight: New Moon (2009)
When in Rome (2010)
Wild Target (2010)
X2 (2003)
Raising Helen (2004)
Robots (2005)
Romancing the Stone (1984)
Rushmore (1998)
Sense and Sensibility (1995)
Sex and Lucia (2001)
She's Out of My League (2010)
Solomon Kane (2009)
Spider-Man 3 (2007)
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
The Expendables (2010)
The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006)
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest (2009)
The Losers (2010)
The Maiden Heist (2009)
The Punisher (2004)
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005)
The Slaughter Rule (2002)
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)
Twilight: New Moon (2009)
When in Rome (2010)
Wild Target (2010)
X2 (2003)
American Pie Presents Band Camp (2005)(V)
Baby Love (1968)
Better Off Dead... (1985)
Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (1970)
Bring It On: In It To Win It (2007)
Catch That Kid (2004)
Dare (2009)
Exam (2009)
Fools Rush In (1997)
Forces of Nature (1999)
Frequently Asked Questions About Time Travel (2009)
George Washington (2000)
Greta (2009)
Hot Tub Time Machine (2010)
I Love You, Beth Cooper (2009)
Inkheart (2008)
Killers (2010)
Law Abiding Citizen (2009)
Leap Year (2010)
Ondine (2009)
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010)
Punisher: War Zone (2008)
Room in Rome (2010)
Rumor Has It... (2005)
Seven Minutes in Heaven (1985)
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)
Shall We Kiss? (2007)
Stargate (2004)(EE)
Step Up (2006)
Tangled (2010)
The Bounty Hunter (2010)
The Cheerleaders (1973)
The Italian Job (1969)
The Librarian: Quest for the Spear (2004)(TV)
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 (2008)
The Thomas Crown Affair (1968)
The Thomas Crown Affair (1999)
You Again (2010)
Youth in Revolt (2009)
World's Greatest Dad (2009)
Baby Love (1968)
Better Off Dead... (1985)
Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (1970)
Bring It On: In It To Win It (2007)
Catch That Kid (2004)
Dare (2009)
Exam (2009)
Fools Rush In (1997)
Forces of Nature (1999)
Frequently Asked Questions About Time Travel (2009)
George Washington (2000)
Greta (2009)
Hot Tub Time Machine (2010)
I Love You, Beth Cooper (2009)
Inkheart (2008)
Killers (2010)
Law Abiding Citizen (2009)
Leap Year (2010)
Ondine (2009)
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010)
Punisher: War Zone (2008)
Room in Rome (2010)
Rumor Has It... (2005)
Seven Minutes in Heaven (1985)
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)
Shall We Kiss? (2007)
Stargate (2004)(EE)
Step Up (2006)
Tangled (2010)
The Bounty Hunter (2010)
The Cheerleaders (1973)
The Italian Job (1969)
The Librarian: Quest for the Spear (2004)(TV)
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 (2008)
The Thomas Crown Affair (1968)
The Thomas Crown Affair (1999)
You Again (2010)
Youth in Revolt (2009)
World's Greatest Dad (2009)
Airplane! (1980)
American Pie Presents The Naked Mile (2006)(V)
American Wedding (2003)
Bring It On Again (2004)
Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003)
Couples Retreat (2009)
Demolition Man (1993)
Dinner for Schmucks (2010)
DOA: Dead or Alive (2006)
Don McKay (2009)
Fool's Gold (2008)
Group Sex (2010)(V)
Heartbreaker (2010)
It's Kind of a Funny Story (2010)
Jonah Hex (2010)
Jumper (2008)
Love Wrecked (2005)
My Own Love Song (2010)
No Reservations (2007)
Repo Men (2010)
Serious Moonlight (2009)
Sex Drive (2008)
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006)
The Blue Lagoon (1980)
The Last American Virgin (1982)
The Librarian: Return to King Solomon's Mines (2006)(TV)
The Tourist (2010)
Where the Wild Things Are (2009)
Wild Child (2008)
4: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007)
American Pie Presents Beta House (2007)(V)
American Pie Presents: The Book of Love (2009)(V)
And Then Came Lola (2009)
Grown Ups (2010)
Hackers (1995)
The Back-Up Plan (2010)
The Dust Factory (2004)
Wishful Thinking (1999)
(V) = Released directly to video, (DC) = Director's Cut reviewed, (Int) = International version reviewed, (TV) = Made for television, (EE) = Extended Edition
American Pie Presents The Naked Mile (2006)(V)
American Wedding (2003)
Bring It On Again (2004)
Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (2003)
Couples Retreat (2009)
Demolition Man (1993)
Dinner for Schmucks (2010)
DOA: Dead or Alive (2006)
Don McKay (2009)
Fool's Gold (2008)
Group Sex (2010)(V)
Heartbreaker (2010)
It's Kind of a Funny Story (2010)
Jonah Hex (2010)
Jumper (2008)
Love Wrecked (2005)
My Own Love Song (2010)
No Reservations (2007)
Repo Men (2010)
Serious Moonlight (2009)
Sex Drive (2008)
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006)
The Blue Lagoon (1980)
The Last American Virgin (1982)
The Librarian: Return to King Solomon's Mines (2006)(TV)
The Tourist (2010)
Where the Wild Things Are (2009)
Wild Child (2008)
4: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007)
American Pie Presents Beta House (2007)(V)
American Pie Presents: The Book of Love (2009)(V)
And Then Came Lola (2009)
Grown Ups (2010)
Hackers (1995)
The Back-Up Plan (2010)
The Dust Factory (2004)
Wishful Thinking (1999)
(V) = Released directly to video, (DC) = Director's Cut reviewed, (Int) = International version reviewed, (TV) = Made for television, (EE) = Extended Edition
Léon (1994)
Léon, AKA The Professional, was the movie that brought my attention to both Luc Beeson and Natalie Portman. They've both gone through their ups and downs since then, but Léon is still a remarkable movie 16 years after its release.
The story is original and the acting is superb. Reno, Portman and Oldman is great, and Luc Beeson have directed his own writing to a viewing pleasure. Besides the story, it's also a funny movie. I laughed more from some scenes in this, than I've done watching a lot of comedies.
The combination of character development, humor, story and acting makes this another stroke of genius from the single greatest year in movie history.
The story is original and the acting is superb. Reno, Portman and Oldman is great, and Luc Beeson have directed his own writing to a viewing pleasure. Besides the story, it's also a funny movie. I laughed more from some scenes in this, than I've done watching a lot of comedies.
The combination of character development, humor, story and acting makes this another stroke of genius from the single greatest year in movie history.
Taken (2008)
Writer: Luc Besson, Robert Mark Karmen
Cast: Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Leland Orser, Jon Gries, David Warshofsky, Holly Valance, Katie Cassidy
Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller, Drama
It establishes the life of Liam Neeson's character well in the beginning of the movie, then the plot kicks in and everything goes fast from there. It's the kind of simple entertainment who only becomes great movies when they are done really well, and Luc Beeson and Robert Mark Kamen have written something nice which director Pierre Morel have liftet to an experience.
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