brideshead revisited--
nice to see Talented, up-and-coming english stars matthew goode (the lookout), ben whishaw (i'm not there), and hayley atwell (cassandra's dream) in such a prominent period showcase. and fun to watch emma thompson Work the kind of grande dame role maggie smith and judi dench have been commanding for years. gorgeous locations and lavish production design highlight this fine adaptation of the classic novel. a sprawling story ripe with complex themes, much was necessarily trimmed to reduce to two hours what once spawned an 11-hr miniseries.
ripe: 3 stars
the dark knight--
the principals all do wonderful work, and what a cast. the script is ambitious, perhaps a tad over-reaching (2:32 is one Long superhero movie). the direction is good, the editing at times frenetic. much to say about the record-breaking film, yet the conversation will always come back to heath ledger. his turn as the joker is truly inspired. what could easily have been standard bad-guy schlock instead comes through as depth, complexity, and intelligence. both his pain and his fearlessness are palpable. a real villain for the ages.
heath: 3 stars
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
ah, the silliness
mama mia!--
heaven help you if you're seeing this movie without knowing that it's a musical filled with songs by abba; cuz if you don't know That, you didn't sign up for silliness. for me nearly all of the pleasure of this film comes from watching "serious" actors--meryl streep, pierce brosnan, colin firth, stellan skarsgard--willingly, knowingly look ridiculous, singing & dancing like "real people"--in other words, like amateurs. the vocals from this elite hollywood roster are average at best, the choreography is absurd, and the production values are chintzy. all this, and mama mia! (just like the hit broadway show on which it's based) still proves a good time. lead amanda seyfried has the makings of a real star (just you wait). for further proof, see her work in mean girls, alpha dog, and tv show big love, among others.
silliness: 2 stars
heaven help you if you're seeing this movie without knowing that it's a musical filled with songs by abba; cuz if you don't know That, you didn't sign up for silliness. for me nearly all of the pleasure of this film comes from watching "serious" actors--meryl streep, pierce brosnan, colin firth, stellan skarsgard--willingly, knowingly look ridiculous, singing & dancing like "real people"--in other words, like amateurs. the vocals from this elite hollywood roster are average at best, the choreography is absurd, and the production values are chintzy. all this, and mama mia! (just like the hit broadway show on which it's based) still proves a good time. lead amanda seyfried has the makings of a real star (just you wait). for further proof, see her work in mean girls, alpha dog, and tv show big love, among others.
silliness: 2 stars
Thursday, July 17, 2008
the average-ness
next week: reviews of the dark knight and mama mia!
hellboy II: the golden army--
most obvious and most important is that this is a guillermo del toro project through & through. he wrote and directed, so it comes loaded with his signature flair. his vision is truly singular, and the hellboy universe serves as an apropos playground for all its bizarre manifestations. we're treated to more unique creatures than frequent the star wars cantina, yet sadly they do little to adequately fatten up the lean story. our hero's not the most complex character in the comic pantheon, and not a terrible lot happens in this sequel. fun filmmaking, lightweight product.
obvious: 2 stars
the wackness--
i don't consider it a Good thing when a soundtrack is the best aspect of a film. what i recall from every review since this festival fave dropped gave props to the old-school hip-hop flavor, not much else; now i see why. sir ben kingsley's accent is truly scattershot, yet at least his performance feels risky. that's more than can be said of the two youngsters at the heart of the story, or even of the story itself. feels like when the knighted one got involved, this film got the green light that it needed, when really there's just not much to it. not exactly wack, far from dope, more like average.
average: 2 stars
hellboy II: the golden army--
most obvious and most important is that this is a guillermo del toro project through & through. he wrote and directed, so it comes loaded with his signature flair. his vision is truly singular, and the hellboy universe serves as an apropos playground for all its bizarre manifestations. we're treated to more unique creatures than frequent the star wars cantina, yet sadly they do little to adequately fatten up the lean story. our hero's not the most complex character in the comic pantheon, and not a terrible lot happens in this sequel. fun filmmaking, lightweight product.
obvious: 2 stars
the wackness--
i don't consider it a Good thing when a soundtrack is the best aspect of a film. what i recall from every review since this festival fave dropped gave props to the old-school hip-hop flavor, not much else; now i see why. sir ben kingsley's accent is truly scattershot, yet at least his performance feels risky. that's more than can be said of the two youngsters at the heart of the story, or even of the story itself. feels like when the knighted one got involved, this film got the green light that it needed, when really there's just not much to it. not exactly wack, far from dope, more like average.
average: 2 stars
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
high octane summer
wanted--
wasn't exactly eager to see this one. felt like silly shoot-em-up popcorn fluff to me. and james mcavoy as an assassin? gimme a break. as per usual, his acting here is rich, and he proves up to task for any challenge at hand. angelina, too, is strong as one might expect. stunts, f/x, and camera tricks are laid on Thick, and they look good. even though i'll call the script a weak point, i do appreciate the storytellers' sermon to the sadsacks and couch potatoes of the world about choosing & living the fulfilling life.
tricks: 2 stars
hancock--
will smith is the undisputed king of the july 4th holiday opening. folks flock to see what he'll bring to each summer blockbuster. here's an extraordinarily cool premise that doesn't measure up to its potential, yet is certainly worthy of both its star and release date. count me as one who likes the "twist" and the ending. dig all three principals too. don't at all, however, like the music supervision (cheesy bad, dated song selections), or, more importantly, the direction. this--any jiggy mid-year romp, really--just strikes me as a bad fit for peter berg. he's prone to heavy-handedness (e.g., the kingdom and friday night lights), and his staple hand-held shots and dramatic close-ups don't fit tonally.
worthy: 2 stars
wall-e--
pixar keeps churning out the charm and raking in the bucks. the animation is spectacular, and the score delightful. (could have done with less hello dolly, though, soundtrack.) not quite as fun or clever, on the whole, as some of their past efforts (could have something to do with less actual dialogue), yet sure to play to all audiences. guaranteed to pick up significant post-season hardware, but i'm predicting early that best picture oscar nom hype is merely that.
charm: 3 stars
wasn't exactly eager to see this one. felt like silly shoot-em-up popcorn fluff to me. and james mcavoy as an assassin? gimme a break. as per usual, his acting here is rich, and he proves up to task for any challenge at hand. angelina, too, is strong as one might expect. stunts, f/x, and camera tricks are laid on Thick, and they look good. even though i'll call the script a weak point, i do appreciate the storytellers' sermon to the sadsacks and couch potatoes of the world about choosing & living the fulfilling life.
tricks: 2 stars
hancock--
will smith is the undisputed king of the july 4th holiday opening. folks flock to see what he'll bring to each summer blockbuster. here's an extraordinarily cool premise that doesn't measure up to its potential, yet is certainly worthy of both its star and release date. count me as one who likes the "twist" and the ending. dig all three principals too. don't at all, however, like the music supervision (cheesy bad, dated song selections), or, more importantly, the direction. this--any jiggy mid-year romp, really--just strikes me as a bad fit for peter berg. he's prone to heavy-handedness (e.g., the kingdom and friday night lights), and his staple hand-held shots and dramatic close-ups don't fit tonally.
worthy: 2 stars
wall-e--
pixar keeps churning out the charm and raking in the bucks. the animation is spectacular, and the score delightful. (could have done with less hello dolly, though, soundtrack.) not quite as fun or clever, on the whole, as some of their past efforts (could have something to do with less actual dialogue), yet sure to play to all audiences. guaranteed to pick up significant post-season hardware, but i'm predicting early that best picture oscar nom hype is merely that.
charm: 3 stars
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
the big, the green, and the ugly
the happening--
even the most ardent m. night shyamalan supporters must acknowledge that the director's product has been in steady decline since he exploded onto the hollywood scene in 1999 with the sixth sense. i felt, going in, that this would be a crucial film for him, considering. smart marketing (including his first R rating) and his reputation for harrowing tales buoyed the first-week take beyond $30M. next week mark the precipitous drop in receipts, cuz this movie stinks. in the past, even when his writing was subpar, his direction impressed, often inspired. here, it's All bad. acting? mark wahlberg gives his worst, while zooey deschanel is simply awful. story? i won't even get into the grade school didacticsim on display. perhaps the title is meant to offer vague reasoning for his own fall from grace; i'm now doubtful we'll ever see greatness from shyamalan again.
stinks: 1 star
the incredible hulk--
everyone wants to know: Is it better than ang lee's hulk, released only five years ago? well, it's certainly different. things, overall, have been markedly so since marvel started running their own show. already steering two franchise characters (iron man and hulk) to top of the box office, the new kids on the hollywood block seem to have a grasp on what their comic fans want to see. that's Action. not weighted down with gravitas, dull exposition, or even much backstory (film smartly doses you with need-to-know info in opening credits), this hulk gets the job done in the trenches. i'm not keen on the casting (william hurt as a career military man?), yet the actors are game. tim blake nelson and tim roth shine. cgi is, uhh, good enough, and script inoffensive. predictable (and apropos) Green light for sequel & director louis leterrier.
action: 2 stars
even the most ardent m. night shyamalan supporters must acknowledge that the director's product has been in steady decline since he exploded onto the hollywood scene in 1999 with the sixth sense. i felt, going in, that this would be a crucial film for him, considering. smart marketing (including his first R rating) and his reputation for harrowing tales buoyed the first-week take beyond $30M. next week mark the precipitous drop in receipts, cuz this movie stinks. in the past, even when his writing was subpar, his direction impressed, often inspired. here, it's All bad. acting? mark wahlberg gives his worst, while zooey deschanel is simply awful. story? i won't even get into the grade school didacticsim on display. perhaps the title is meant to offer vague reasoning for his own fall from grace; i'm now doubtful we'll ever see greatness from shyamalan again.
stinks: 1 star
the incredible hulk--
everyone wants to know: Is it better than ang lee's hulk, released only five years ago? well, it's certainly different. things, overall, have been markedly so since marvel started running their own show. already steering two franchise characters (iron man and hulk) to top of the box office, the new kids on the hollywood block seem to have a grasp on what their comic fans want to see. that's Action. not weighted down with gravitas, dull exposition, or even much backstory (film smartly doses you with need-to-know info in opening credits), this hulk gets the job done in the trenches. i'm not keen on the casting (william hurt as a career military man?), yet the actors are game. tim blake nelson and tim roth shine. cgi is, uhh, good enough, and script inoffensive. predictable (and apropos) Green light for sequel & director louis leterrier.
action: 2 stars
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
a pair of blockbusters
these two powerhouse franchises dominated the box office last week. for more extensive, specific chatter about either or both, hit me up directly. i've got Loads more to say about each:
indiana jones and the kingdom of the crystal skull--
i am one who was psyched for the fourth installment in the indy series. so yes, expectations were high. the overly stagey opening sequence felt pulp, almost stock in every technical regard, and shifted me quickly into head-shaking mode. then throughout i found myself battling between objective and disheartened. frankly, no matter how i slice it, there are simply too many moments, scenes, sequences that feel forced, corny, derivative.... i couldn't escape all the spielberg-isms & lucas-isms so recognizable from their respective works. i couldn't get over the whelm of the Grande Collective Effort put forth to make this one...live up to expectations. it was all just Too Much.
forced: 2 stars
sex and the city--
i am a fan of the tv series. granted, i didn't feel the Need for a movie; however, one was certainly welcome. not surprisingly--their shrieking reunions notwithstanding--i had fun reconnecting with our fave foursome of nyc gals ... for approximately 44 minutes. at that point, i reached my single episode threshold. i wanted the bitching, bitter, petty, Righteous ladies we All know & love (again i say, i am a fan) to get over it already! (mostly i wanted them to shut the hell up.) of course i expected the label worship and the silly dress-up montages, the catty bickering and the detestable egregious superficiality: that's our girls; that's the show. 142 minutes is just too damn long for that, people. i was done, i got bored, i grew incredulous, then Uber-Bored, finally ... redemption. i enjoy the way it all came together. i like the message we're left with. nicely resolved. now for the sequel can we Please do it all within, say, 90 minutes?
142 minutes: 2 stars
indiana jones and the kingdom of the crystal skull--
i am one who was psyched for the fourth installment in the indy series. so yes, expectations were high. the overly stagey opening sequence felt pulp, almost stock in every technical regard, and shifted me quickly into head-shaking mode. then throughout i found myself battling between objective and disheartened. frankly, no matter how i slice it, there are simply too many moments, scenes, sequences that feel forced, corny, derivative.... i couldn't escape all the spielberg-isms & lucas-isms so recognizable from their respective works. i couldn't get over the whelm of the Grande Collective Effort put forth to make this one...live up to expectations. it was all just Too Much.
forced: 2 stars
sex and the city--
i am a fan of the tv series. granted, i didn't feel the Need for a movie; however, one was certainly welcome. not surprisingly--their shrieking reunions notwithstanding--i had fun reconnecting with our fave foursome of nyc gals ... for approximately 44 minutes. at that point, i reached my single episode threshold. i wanted the bitching, bitter, petty, Righteous ladies we All know & love (again i say, i am a fan) to get over it already! (mostly i wanted them to shut the hell up.) of course i expected the label worship and the silly dress-up montages, the catty bickering and the detestable egregious superficiality: that's our girls; that's the show. 142 minutes is just too damn long for that, people. i was done, i got bored, i grew incredulous, then Uber-Bored, finally ... redemption. i enjoy the way it all came together. i like the message we're left with. nicely resolved. now for the sequel can we Please do it all within, say, 90 minutes?
142 minutes: 2 stars
Monday, June 9, 2008
little things mean a lot
the visitor--
another winner from writer-director thomas mccarthey (station agent). he has a real knack for witnessing real people (feeling people) and for telling simple stories simply. like his exceptional first effort, this one develops slowly--with a patience that shows confidence in both his story and his lensing--unfolding and revealing with a steady, beautiful quiet. just as important as what happens is what doesn't (it's fantastic how much you feel what's going on just beneath the surface with any of the principals), so when credits roll, the emotional payoff warms into a definitive sense of wanting more. career supporting actor richard jenkins is the lifeblood of the film in a lead performance that's sure to win many critical praises.
winner: 4 stars
another winner from writer-director thomas mccarthey (station agent). he has a real knack for witnessing real people (feeling people) and for telling simple stories simply. like his exceptional first effort, this one develops slowly--with a patience that shows confidence in both his story and his lensing--unfolding and revealing with a steady, beautiful quiet. just as important as what happens is what doesn't (it's fantastic how much you feel what's going on just beneath the surface with any of the principals), so when credits roll, the emotional payoff warms into a definitive sense of wanting more. career supporting actor richard jenkins is the lifeblood of the film in a lead performance that's sure to win many critical praises.
winner: 4 stars
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