tháng 5 2011 ~ The Larsen Film Review

Point Break (1991)

If you could make a new tagline for the film it would be: "Tank Girl trains Neo to surf." Back when Keanu Reeves really couldn't act all that well, this action film about an FBI agent that takes down a group of bank robbing surfers.

Starring Reeves, with support from Patrick Swayze, Gary Busey, and Lori Petty. This action film was actually pretty good. Directed by Kathryn Bigelow and nominated for some MTV movie awards [you know back when MTV was still cool]. The film was a good addition to the Action 101 book, sadly I watched this on from a standard DVD from the library unaware that the blu-ray came out the following week.

Skydiving, surfing, shootouts, car chases, beach football, and fist fights. Pretty good film for a 20 years old action film.

Vote: 8/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102685/

I had high expectations of this film after enjoying the first film. Sadly I found this one very disappointing. A film clearly set up for a trilogy since it didn't even get to the part we all want to see... Ip Man training Bruce Lee.

The film focuses on his migration from China to Hong Kong after World War II. The migration isn't enough to fill up a movie so they dramatized a struggle against Western boxing to fill the movie. This killed the movie for me. Darren Shahlavi was horrible as "Twister," I'm not sure if he is just a bad actor since he has an awful resume or if it is a matter of the director asking him to be an over-the-top unbelievable bad guy. Either way the end result is crap and makes this a bad Asian Rocky film.

Part 3 better be about him training Bruce Lee.

Vote: 4/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1386932/

I can't say that I even knew what an Oscar was in 1993, but after watching this film I completely agree with the nominations it received. John Malkovich was nominated for best performance in a supporting role... perfect because he made this film worth watching. Film editing, because it was a well cut movie that keeps you in suspense and isn't drawn out. Best Screenplay is kind of a stretch though, it must have been a weak year.

One of the more current action films that I had yet to see on the Action 101, this action film jokes about Eastwood being out. Pretty amazing, since this was almost 20 years ago, and films like Gran Torino are still playing on the Eastwood being funny because he is old.

The premise of the movie is that this old Secret Service agent was there the day Kennedy was assassinated and it still haunts him all these years later. the only one still around protecting the president he has a hunch that the latest threats on the President are very serious. Not a bad action film with some pretty good scenes. Rene Russo is ok, but like I said earlier John Malkovich as the villain make this one worth checking out.

Vote: 7/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107206/

A powerful and sometimes hard to follow [at least for me] film about a mother's final wishes from her will. This Canadian film gave In a Better World a run for the Oscar this year after winning a number of film festivals.

I am unfamiliar with anyone associated with the film. The leading actress was in 2005's Paradise Now which was a nominee, other than that they were all new to me. So a brother and sister [twins] are in a lawyers office as he is reading them, their mothers will. It is clear that there was a strain in the relationship between the mother and the two kids and it is revealed that they have a brother. Her final wishes are that the two go back to the Middle East, where she grew up, and find their brother and father. The daughter goes first as the brother is unwilling, and while she visits different places we are flashed back to the mothers life and the seriously tragic things she experienced.

It is hard to see from the poster, but that is her kneeling on the ground while a bus full of Muslims is burning in the background. She grew up with a lot of Christian and Muslim warfare around here and there are a number of scenes that will stick with me. This film is a little difficult to watch, and well deserving of its nomination.

Vote: 7/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1255953/

Not only is this an action film based on a video game, but is was also produced by Disney. The two contradict each other in so many ways, video games are all about "lives" and killing, and most Disney action movies have little to no death. The first HD movie I watched on my new 7" personal movie player and one of the first new releases for action month.

The film stars Jake Gyllenhaal who really buffed up for this film. Ben Kingsley who looks scary enough to be a henchman, and the very attractive Gemma Arterton [who you wouldn't recognize as a redhead in Quantum of Solace, a British actress that has been in very minor roles in a number of films now]. The premise is that King Sharaman find a boy risking his life while standing up for a stranger in the market. He takes him in as a son, who fearlessly helps lead in his army. A magic dagger that can turn back time falls into his hands and he has figure out how to right some wrong against the king that he is being accused of.

Cheesy and cookie cutter in many ways. A mix between action, adventure, and fantasy it was just ok in many ways. It was an exciting watch and not too long, predictable but no big plot holes for a fantasy with time travel. I wouldn't suggest this one though.

Vote: 6/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0473075/

For a second year I've been really into the documentary category of the Oscars and try and watch a handful of short list picks that didn't get a nomination. It really helps me get a feel for what the academy thinks is worthy and if going beyond there picks is worthwhile. For the most part I like all documentaries, and as you have probably seen from my ratings they usually get at least an average rating. It quickly drops into an avoid watching (5/10) if I felt I gained nothing from the film. Unlike fiction films, I want to learn something from a documentary. When I feel I'm being lied to I start to really hate the film. 3/10 might be generous for a documentary that really pissed me off.

Eliot Spitzer was a powerful man in New York who did a lot of good in terms of regulations on Wall Street, he was also an asshole. Maybe that is what it takes to go up against the likes of AIG and these corporations, but when you are also doing illegal stuff you lose all credibility yourself. Spitzer is interviewed in this film and has no problems talking about all the good things he did in his career. He immediately tells the interview he does not want to talk about all of the illegal things he did. Come on. YOU MADE THIS DOCUMENTARY. If you aren't willing to get it out in the open, apologize, and move on how are you going to gain any credibility. This documentary is more of a campaign ad of Spitzer's telling us to forgive him because others were so much worse than him.

I learned nothing from this documentary, which is horrible considering that it pushes 2 hours. Interviews with call girls that just drag out, and air-headed girls that run these call girl organizations was almost painful to sit through. One of the first documentaries that I severely disliked.

Vote: 3/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1638362/

Director Doug Liman [The Bourne Identity] brings together Naomi Watts and Sean Penn for the first time since 2003's 21 Grams in a film dramatizing the Valerie Plame incident.

Valerie [Watts] is a CIA operative who is exposed by Scooter Libby and Karl Rove when her husband openly criticizes the Bush administration and their lies about Weapons of Mass Destruction. The film does a great job showing what the Plame family did on a daily basis, something severely skewed by Fox News. It was interesting to see actual footage from the network with no moral compass slandering the Plame family.

I teetered between 7 and 8 here. I could see going back and give this an 8 in a year if I still remember it well. So how about a 7.5/10 or recommended with some reservations.

Vote: 7/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0977855/

A film that I would have understood a little better if I would have taken the time to read the one line synopsis on imdb, "A married couple's life is turned upside down when the wife is accused of a murder." That is a wonderful way to sum up this film without ruining it for you. I honestly thought this one was about a child being kidnapped and Crowe trying to find his son, well I was very wrong.

This him is all about Russell Crowe, he is the mastermind who spends the entire film planning how he is going to bust his wife out of jail. Elizabeth Banks is second on the cast list, but even her role is very minor. She plays the wife that may or may not have killed her boss.

This is a difficult film to say much about because I wouldn't have wanted someone to spoil it for me, so I don't want to spoil it for you. I like films that have me questioning what is right or wrong throughout. I'm not sure how this one fell through the cracks last year and did poorly at the box office. I'm a fan of director Paul Haggis's films, and think this one is worth your time.

Vote: 8/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1458175/

It is hard not to assume that this film was only given Oscar and Golden Globe foreign film nominations solely for starring Javier Bardem, a well known name in a category that has a lot of unknowns. I have to remind myself that the committee that picks the 5 nominees from the short list of 9 films have to watch/rewatch these all over a three day period.

Having now seen 4 of the 5 Oscar foreign nominees, all but the winner, this was not the worst. I tend to give films that I have preconceived notions of being bad either worse scores, or better scores if the film was even slightly good. Strangely I was just ok with this one. It wasn't bad. Javier Bardem did in fact turn in a strong performance, and the film might as well have been shot from the 1st person, because he is almost always on the screen.

So what is it all about? Bardem plays a man who negotiates contracts for illegal immigrants. Viewed as a villain by some, and a decent man by others. He helps these people find work while taking some off the top for himself. He isn't a rich man by any means, so it is your judgement if he is a bad guy for what he is doing. Whenever he tries to help people it tends to backfire, and he has learned that he had terminal cancer which is so advanced chemo will do little to increase his time.

I have mixed opinions about this film, and can see who it would be considered good by some. For me just average and forgettable, but a unique 6/10 in that I would suggest this to those that like slower foreign films and especially Bardem.

Vote: 6/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1164999/

Filmsite seemed to think this film was worth mentioning. Directed by Orson Welles and starring Anne Baxter and Tim Holt. The film is an adapted screenplay of Booth Tarkington's Pulitzer Prize winning 1918 novel. This was actually the middle book of a trilogy which might explain why I felt I was dropped into a running storyline with the film, then pulled out before really getting to an ending.

I can't seem to understand how this film made it's way onto ANYONE's top movie list. A film that did very poorly at the box office out of bad timing, and one that Welles said didn't have an ending that worked well. Released just after the attack on Pearl Harbor, audiences wanted a happier movie, and even with edits to make this more cheerful it is just a somber, sad, and depressing film.

The rich family in town has a daughter, who marries the wrong man after the man she really loves makes a fool out of himself getting drunk at a party. A pretty sever punishment for an embarrassing night... The man she marries is horrible with investments, and their only son is a brat. You can see where this is going. Mom laments a bad decision, son is unable to recover from dad's bad decision because he is arrogant and selfish. Watch it if you must, 5/10 is very generous...

Vote: 5/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0035015/

The first of many foreign films on the Action 101 list. Steven Jay Schneider can't seem to help himself making the list almost 1/3 foreign (1/2 if you count James Bond as foreign).

This French film spawned 3 sequels and an American remake. Starring Samy Naceri, who went on to lead in Taxi 2, 3, and 4, and Marion Cotillard who broke into American cinema after the successful La Vie en Rose a decade later. Marion was in Inception and is currently still working with Christopher Nolan on The Dark Knight Rises. The director Gérard Pirès really hasn't done much since, but writer Luc Besson make all the sequels, the District B13 series, Taken, and the Transporter series.

A silly action film were the lead character gets his taxi driver certification and is able to abandon his pizza delivery job. Filled with sexual tension between him and his new girlfriend Lily [Marion Cotillard] who can't seem to find the time to consummate their new relationship. When he excessively speeds with an off duty police officer as his passenger he is given the option of either assisting the police with his driving or losing his license.

Many jokes were probably lost in translation... but then again maybe not. Silly and stupid more than a few times but still much better than the remake with Jimmy Fallon and Queen Latifah. Check this one out before you consider the American version.

Vote: 6/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0152930/

Having watched the original a couple weeks ago, and needing to get this one over with, I scheduled some time for this long sequel. I was concerned from the start since the main character completely changed from the original, Charlie Sheen to Shia LaBeouf.

The film starts with Michael Douglas finishing his jail sentence and leaving the jail. We, that remember the first film, assume he is in jail from Sheen's character's closing scenes of the first film. The film then tries to remake the 2008 bank failures with fake companies, and Josh Brolin playing the main bad guy that caused all this. The film is a constant battle between who's character is more important LaBeouf or Douglas. There is never a focus on the storyline and we get a sense that this film was just made because of the latest issues on wall street. There is a cameo by Sheen... yay. The thing I hated the most was the interaction between Carey Mulligan and LaBeouf and Douglas. I'm not a fan of hers and all the scenes seemed fake.

Pass on this horrible remake, the original wasn't even that good, and they are just pandering to the 2008 wall street crash to make a buck.

Vote: 3/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1027718/

Call me over-eager but this year I've been all about themed months, and June is action movie month. I finished up the filmsite top 100 and was ready to get a head start on action month. for Christmas I got Schneider's 101 Action Movies to See Before You Die, and over the next month readers will get to see reviews of 30+ action films. This one was not the most thrilling but not a bad start nonetheless.

You really can't go wrong with Steve McQueen, and this is my first Ali MacGraw film. Sally Struthers plays quite the interesting role as she tags along with the bad guy throughout the film. This movie starts out VERY slow. We spend a good chunk of time following McQueen around jail, nothing he does in the jail foreshadows the rest of the film, we are just trying to get a sense of how bored he is. When his wife Carol bargains to get him out, we learn she does it in a not-so respectable way which causes a riff in their relationship throughout the film. Part of the deal is that they have to rob a bank for the guys that helped get him out. The reason this film was included in the 101 Action book is that it does not glamorize their getaway. Hiding in a dumpster, staying in seedy motels, and other difficult scenarios make this film unique. Personally I liked seeing them make their way through Dallas/Fort Worth on their escape to Mexico. Not a bad start to action month.

Vote: 6/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068638/

I'm not one for the romance genre, but this mystery romance was quite interesting and not that bad. Directed by Max Ophüls, a German director that I have yet to see a film by. This film was one of the last for me to finish the filmsite.org's top 100 movies.

Starring and centered around the life of Lisa [Joan Fontaine], we start the film with Stefan [Louis Jourdan] returning to his home as he prepares to get out of town because he has been challenged to a duel. As viewers we have no idea how he got into this mess, but we can tell that he is pretty well off and handsome. We also learn pretty early on that he is a womanizer so he might not be sure who's husband is coming after him which is all the more reason to split town. Before he leaves, he is delivered a letter which he sits down and reads. We go into flashback to Lisa's story, a girl that has loved him for a long time and we get the full story.

Her story is sad, tragic, and amazing. It is dumbfounding that Stefan doesn't seem to remember her at every encounter and that he deserves anything bad that may happen to him. For a romance, this one was pretty good.

Vote: 7/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040536/

A film from the imdb modern top 250. This film is about a young boy Shaun [Thomas Turgoose] who joins a group of skinheads lead by Combo [Stephen Graham]. Shaun hasn't had a father figure in his home and is picked on because his mother can't afford decent cloths for him. Combo takes him under his wing and exposes him to some pretty grim realities of skinhead life.

Based on real life experiences of Shane Meadows, the director; and, starring someone I haven't seen in a film since 2000's Snatch., Graham. The film was pretty good but not great. Nowhere near as intense as American History X, but better than Romper Stomper. If you are looking for something intense in this genre of him, this one if for you.

I actually though this was going to be about British Soccer gangs, like Green Street Hooligans, but was disappointed to see it was about skinheads instead. You just have a feeling throughout that something bad is going to happen...

Vote: 7/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0480025/

A residual of musical month, this one was a late arrival from my library rentals so it took me a little while to get to. Not to mention this is a 3 hour film. Starring Judy Garland and James Mason the restored version that I watched had a number of pieced together scenes where we had photo stills and stock archive audio to make the film how it was originally intended. This is only the second time I've seen a film like this with Greed last month using the same method. With that film it worked though, a silent film that already has subtitle frames, stills and text aren't so bad. This one was just strange for me, I can't get lost in a film when it is being pieced together for me.

This might be one of Garland's best films though. She has an array of great performances, sadly I was a little over watching musicals when I got to this one, and 3 hours made for a lot of song and dance sequences. I thought it had a great central plot and a sad overall story, the length however was just a bit too much. There was a reason they edited all that stuff out.... because it was too long... I didn't need the stills to recreate it being too long.

Vote: 7/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047522/

A film styling that reminded me a lot of Pan's Labyrinth, a kid's fantasy with adult themes. A film that Ebert put in his top 10 list of the year, and one that I can't say that I loved.

The film takes place at a hospital in LA where a stuntman has hospitalized after jumping [FALLing] off a bridge on a horse (the opening sequence). A young girl is also in the hospital after FALLing while picking oranges, back in the day where their are no child labor laws... The main character Roy [Lee Pace] starts telling Alexandria [Catinca Untaru] a fantasy story about a group of men hunting down an evil man. The story is clearly Roy talking about the actor he does stunt work for and the girl he lost to this actor. Through the fantasy people start dying, all taking big falls... the central theme to the film.

All in all, it was a creative film, and I loved the narrator and girl changing the fantasy in real-time. It was a cool film, that I thought would be good for a young audience... except for all of the dead. The guy wants to commit suicide in real life with the girls help, and he is killing people off in his sadistic fantasy that he is telling this young girl. Pretty creepy, and no good target audience. It makes sense that this is the same director [Tarsem Singh] from The Cell with Jennifer Lopez.

Vote: 6/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0460791/

It took a lot for me to actually give this film a chance, I don't regret the decision, but I don't feel like I found a sleeper hit either. A film that was on the Oscar radar for a while but had a delayed release and wasn't as warmly accepted as it could have been.

The film is based on a true story, and from what I could tell it wasn't over dramatized, which might be why it seemed to fall flat for me. Robert Duvall plays a hermit that receives a message that one of his friends has past. Going to his funeral he decides that his time may be coming close also, and on the trip finds that most of the townspeople are quite afraid of him. They all seem to have a story about how he became a hermit, and he decides that he wants to have a funeral before he is gone... so that he can attend.

I liked Lucas Black in this and Robert Duvall was really good. I'm not a big fan of Sissy Spacek and I can never take Bill Murray seriously. I really enjoyed a good chunk of the film, and I fear I'm spoiling a little bit when I say that the film just kind of ended for me. It was just kinda over. We heard his story, learned about him, but I didn't really care that much. I can't really suggest this one, it wasn't bad, and it might connect with other people, so I also don't want to deter anyone either.

Vote: 7/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1194263/

With Wall Street 2 coming out this last year I though it would be good to check out the original first. Starring Charlie Sheen, Michael Douglas, Daryl Hannah, and Martin Sheen. Fittingly Charlie's real father Martin, also plays his father in this film.

The film is centered around Bud Fox [Charlie Sheen], a young wall street stockbroker impatient and with high expectations. He seeks out working for the highly successful Mr. Gekko [Michael Douglas], calling his secretary constantly to get a shot at an interview with him. After a little insider trading Mr. Gekko uses Bud to help make illegal moves until things start to catch up to Bud.

With Sheen's current escapades and having dealt with these brokers screwing us all a few years ago, it is hard to side with him in the slightest. I felt Oliver Stone wanted me to care for Bud in the end, but honestly I didn't. "Talk at ya" and 80's decor kept this film from being "worth watching," and I'm curious what a sequel will be like without Bud as the main character.

Vote: 7/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094291/

Growing up I read the first three books in this seven book series. This was the last one I read and chronicles the voyages of Prince Caspian. It is the least interesting book from what I remember, but it is the best film so far in the series. With less than 1/2 the votes on imdb so far than the 2nd my guess is this film didn't get enough publicity or people have given up on this series.

The director of the first two Andrew Adamson was replaced by Michael Apted, which might have been what this series needed. Peter [William Moseley] and Susan [Anna Popplewell] are now minor characters and Edmund [Skandar Keynes] and Lucy [Georgie Henley] become the main characters. Either they are better actors or the director just did better with their lines because this film was a huge improvement.

I now really look forward to the fourth film in the series, the first that I haven't read and with a better director now have me interested again.

So the film starts with Lucy and Edmund staying with their Uncle while World War II breaks out in England, they are pulled into Narnia and aboard the Dawn Treader where Caspian is searching for some lost swords. The film has a lot more religious implications than the previous ones, but it is vague enough for kids to not connect. I really enjoyed this film, maybe because it was just much better than I was expecting.

Vote: 8/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0980970/

So the Russian film about escaping Siberia [The Edge: Kray] was nominated for a golden globe, and the American film with a similar concept was nominated for an Oscar.

Jim Sturgess (Across the Universe and 21) stars in a film based on true events about a small group that escape a Siberian gulag walking ~4000 miles to freedom in India. With quality performances by Colin Farrell, Ed Harris, and Saoirse Ronan, this was not a bad film at all. The nomination was not for acting through, it was for make-up and it lost the Oscar to The Wolfman, in a category where more is better it had no chance. It was more a combination of good scenery, good make-up, and good costumes; than great make-up alone.

Since you are told from the start that this is based on a true story of men actually making it to freedom it is hard to really spoil the film since the director did this for you. The amazing thing about the movie is the men's ability to survive in both extreme conditions. They start in freezing conditions and then end by crossing a desert. Personally I think I have a better chance at a desert [since I've always lived in a hot climate], and I'm pretty sure I would have 0% in Siberia.

Anyways, National Geography helped produce this film, and this is one that should be enjoyed in HD.

Vote: 7/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1023114/

From one of the producers of ER and The West Wing this film is about how CEO greed affected employees at the company. With a $15 million budget and only about $5 million grossed so far, it is pretty clear that this country isn't interested in films highlighting what some many people are going through.

This might be a film in 15-20 years when looking at highlights of Ben Affleck or Tommy Lee Jones careers we will wonder why this one wasn't more popular without understanding the situation. This film starts with Affleck's character getting ready for work in an expensive home. Upon arriving to work he is laid off, and the film follows his life through the economic slump. Kevin Costner plays a very minor role as the CEO while Tommy Lee Jones plays a more significant film as a VP who was roommates with Costner's character in college. Chris Cooper had a great performance as the early 60's man too young for retirement but with no skill set to find another job.

The film is quite good. I actually started it around 10:30pm, planning on watching it in two halfs. It was so good I stayed up and watched the whole thing. If you can handle the overplayed subject matter it is worth your time.

Vote: 8/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1172991/

Directed by and starring Stephen Chow this is the biggest Hong Kong film to date. Highest grossing in Hong Kong and the most US screens. The film is slapstick kung fu, after watching it I downloaded the poster, and if you zoom in you will see the quote they brag at the top. I agree with Ebert and thought, man this is like bugs bunny meets Buster Keaton [he worded it better... which he usually does].

Unlike some of the other "funny" kung fu films, where I'm not sure if I could be laughing or not, this one is funny and tries to be. It starts with the Ax gang reaping havoc in the city, then takes us to a small village with a landlord's mean wife imposing outrageous rules. When some imposters pose as the ax gang, and call in the real gang it is revealed that some of the towns residents are martial arts experts. The village then is forced into a conflict with this gang.

It is very silly, and better when I reflect on the film [after seeing some much worse films]. Part of the imdb modern 250. I suspect we haven't seen the last of Stephen Chow.

Vote: 6/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0373074/

A classic John Ford western starring Henry Fonda as Wyatt Earp. Not the best title for a film, which lead me to think it might even be a romance. Some might say it is a romantic western, but that is kind of an oxymoron. A film that finished the filmsite.org top 100 for me, this was really pretty good.

A retelling of the shootout at the OK Corral in the town of Tombstone. A western tale retold in several other films this is Wyatt Earp, his brothers, and Doc Holiday against the Clanton family. Walter Brennan plays the father of the Clanton family, an actor I'm used to seeing in a hero, or at least on the side of good.

The love triangle between Earp, Holiday, and Clementine give depth to the storyline. For a western, I really liked it, and if you are looking for a good western check this one out.

Vote: 7/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038762/

Wow! This was not what I expected at all. Ridley Scott's take on the classic story is much different than you would expect and you need to go into this movie understanding that.

I was very confused the first 20 minutes as I tried to connect what was going on with the story line I am so used to. Don't do this, take it as a completely different story and you will really like it. Marketing this film as "Robin Hood" did not help. A film with a $200 million budget that has yet to reach $106 million with rentals and purchases is burdened by a generic title. I do like Russell Crowe, even though I joke about him "fightin' round the world," but I really don't like Cate Blanchett (I didn't like Elizabeth: The Golden Age, I'm Not There., or Babel to name a few.).

The open ending was frustrating (not meant to be a spoiler), not to talk about details but I don't see how they have enough storyline to make a second. This one takes so many new and different turns that I could see it happening, but I doubt it would be funded since this one stands to lose money. If you haven't see this one I suggest you check it out. Subtitles might be necessary or helpful for some because they talk low and are hard to understand at times.

Vote: 8/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0955308/

The next in the ever growing line of Jason Statham action films. Typically one that I would skip, but I saw the second name... Ben Foster. Foster takes on unpredictable roles; films like Alpha Dog, 3:10 to Yuma, and The Messenger were all stronger films thanks to him.

The plot is the typical elite hit man trains the new hit man plot. Rather than just take us through a hit man's routines, maybe because it is difficult to side with a killer, we like to watch them "teach" because that shows a compassionate side. Typical in many senses of the theme, the action is good and much more realistic than a number of the action movies I've seen lately.

The thing I will remember most about this one is the directing style of Simon West, I'm not familiar with his recent works, or sure if this is a trend in his film making, but I found this interesting: Most action films are full of cursing, FULL. Everyone has to use the F-Bomb continuously. This film has some decent dialogue and not an unusual amount of cursing. On the other hand there are multiple sex scenes and gory violence. Most action films show a bullet entering cleanly, this one is full of splatters and blood. Much more realistic, but deserving of a high rating.

I gave it a high just average, not a "worth watching" because it was a weak plot and predictable. Better than a 5 or 6 because of Foster and the comments on being realistic instead of full of cursing. You might like this one...

Vote: 7/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0472399/

At the tail end of musical month, the biggest musical of the year could not be skipped. Not to mention as a Golden Globe winner, for Cher's song, I had to get this one end at the end.

I'm not really sure I know who the target audience was for this film. I idea of the film stems from the director Steve Antin watching Christina Aguilera perform with The Pussycat Dolls back in 2002. It seems like the film was built around that, and little more. The premise is that small town Ali [Christina Aguilera] decides to move to LA because she is tired of living in a small town. Struggling to make ends meet she becomes a waitress at a Burlesque. Her goal is to be a performer, and when she finally does one of the stars sabotages her show forcing her to actually sing.

Some of the songs are ok. For a dead genre it wasn't that big of a flop, and I kind of enjoyed seeing Aguilera act. I honestly don't recognize her without being on stage performing so that was actually pretty cool. Cher was ok, and I don't understand why Stanley Tucci was in this film. He is a really good actor and should be taking on roles in better films. He acted really well in this film, but it clearly wasn't challenging for him. Step it up Tucci!

Vote: 6/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1126591/

Since I rarely read the synopsis of a film before watching it [ironic I write reviews for others to read huh?], I didn't know if I should expect a comedy or drama on this film. For some reason it only seems like comedies from this era make it onto any of the lists I'm working on. However, this drama was a refreshing change, and good as well.

Directed by William Wyler and starring Walter Huston and Ruth Chatterton, as Mr. and Mrs. Dodsworth, and Mary Astor as Mrs. Cortright. The film starts with Mr. Dodsworth selling his automobile company and retiring off of the profit. It is evident from the start that they are two completely different people that really don't interact much. Mr. Dodsworth seems like a small town man who worked hard, built up a company and is not rich. Mrs. Dodsworth is a socialite who turns her nose up as every thing that is not up to her standard. The two start his retirement by taking a long trip to Europe. In this day and age that meant a long sea voyage with a several month stay. From the start of the trip it is clear that Mrs. Dodsworth is not ready to be a grandmother and sink into retirement, she wants to live, which also means she likes the company of other men.

A film about a constrained relationship with a woman in a mid-life crisis is nothing I expected from a 1930's film. When they spend some time apart Mr. Dodsworth stays with Mrs. Cortright. I'm not sure if her name is supposed to be ironic "court" "right" because their courtship is strange to say the least. It is also interesting to note that the actress Mary Astor was going through a divorce during the shooting of this film.

I try not to define a lot of films this old as "Worth Watching" because I know people wouldn't check them out if I said a lot were. Not to mention I don't feel many really are worth the time. This one if very much worth your time.

Vote: 8/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0027532/

I didn't expect much out of the latest helping of Jack Black cinema. A one dimensional actor that you know ahead of the time if you like or not. I'm a fan of The School of Rock and have found most of his films hit or miss since. So right off the bat if you don't like Jack Black you won't like this at all.

Another modern day spin on the classic story, Black works in the mail room of what I believe is a travel magazine. He doesn't really aspire to become a journalist, but for years has been in love with Amanda Peet's character, Darcy. To impress her he plagiarizes some material to get a shot at a story, she sends him to the Bermuda Triangle where he goes through a storm and is sent to the island of Liliput. He makes friends with Horatio [Jason Segel] who is in love with the princess [Emily Blunt].

Like most bad comedies the film has a good setup, the first 20-30 minutes aren't bad. I actually watched this in two parts the was pretty happy when I took a break in the middle. After the setup Black is left to ad-lib the next 30 minutes. This is where the film takes a turn for the worse.

I'm kinda glad I checked it out, but I one bad review from avoiding this one. I hope I'm your "one bad review" and you skip it like I should have. I like Segel and Blunt, but they couldn't save this film.

Vote: 4/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1320261/

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