MyMovies: My Reviews
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- DirectorBob RafelsonStarsJack NicholsonKaren BlackBilly Green BushA dropout from upper-class America picks up work along the way on oil rigs when his life isn't spent in a squalid succession of bars, motels, and other points of interest.7/10 (Good)
"Deceptively simple" is a good way to summarize this film; one that is driven by interesting characters and superb acting. I find it difficult to connect with older movies a lot of the time, but I was invested in this from start to finish, which says a lot about it in my mind.
It's my opinion that Jack Nicholson is the greatest American actor (and one of my favorites), but despite his exceptional performance, even he was outshined by Karen Black in her supporting role. I was delighted to see she won the Oscar for it!
Another factor that makes this movie stand out to me is how they chose to end it. It comes about abruptly and leaves you with no sense of closure. It was a perfect realization of the impetuosity of Nicholson's character, and thus makes for a truly memorable conclusion.
"Five Easy Pieces" could very well be among the best films of the 1970's.
DATE: 2007-10-27 - DirectorScott FrankStarsJoseph Gordon-LevittJeff DanielsMatthew GoodeChris is a once promising high school athlete whose life is turned upside down following a tragic accident. As he tries to maintain a normal life, he takes a job as a janitor at a bank, where he ultimately finds himself caught up in a planned heist.4/10 (Flawed)
The critics heaped praise on this film, and it was out of that good press that I ended up renting "The Lookout" in the first place.
The one word that I can use to sum this up is "forgettable". The story moved far too quickly, and the characters were never fleshed out to any degree. The acting was poor and unconvincing. This left me wondering what, exactly, all those talking heads could have seen to want to give it such accolades.
I forgot about this movie almost by the time I put the DVD back in its case.
DATE: 2007-10-25 - DirectorJames FoleyStarsAl PacinoJack LemmonAlec BaldwinAn examination of the machinations behind the scenes at a real estate office.7/10 (Good)
I could tell right away that this film was adapted from a play. There is so much dialogue in this movie, and that's really what it's about. The screenplay is the driving force behind it (David Mamet won the Pulitzer Prize), and if you strip that away you really have a very simple story.
But that's the beauty of this film. The dialogue throughout is presented so convincingly by the actors that it really is a joy just to watch them interact with each other. Al Pacino is fantastic, and without hesitation I can say that this is him at his very best. In fact, this is some of the best all-around acting I've ever seen! Jack Lemmon in particular is marvelous, and Alec Baldwin's abusive monologue is perhaps his own greatest acting accomplishment.
"Glengarry Glen Ross" is the best of the salesman films, and a must-see for anyone looking for tour de force performances or fantastic writing.
DATE: 2007-10-29 - DirectorHal AshbyStarsJack NicholsonRandy QuaidOtis YoungTwo Navy men are ordered to bring a young offender to prison, but decide to show him one last good time along the way.7/10 (Good)
Jack Nicholson gives one of his better performances in this charming film about two Navy "lifers" on a "chicken shit detail". What transpires makes for one of the best buddy movies out there.
There are two scenes of Nicholson's that really stick out to me. One is in the beginning when a messenger wakes him from a stupor to deliver news that he's to report for a mission. The other was when he was in the kitchen at a party bragging to one of the other guys about how he was running game on a girl there. His acting was so flawless and lifelike in those scenes that I actually watched them over again. He is such a talent, and any movie that has him in it is a treat.
The movie itself was very engaging. It was well paced and didn't feel dated much really (besides the smoking at the airport and especially the religious group which was straight out of the 70's). This is another film from that era that I was pleasantly surprised with, and one that won't be forgotten.
DATE: 2007-11-02 - DirectorMatthew VaughnStarsDaniel CraigSienna MillerMichael GambonA successful cocaine dealer gets two tough assignments from his boss on the eve of his planned early retirement.6/10 (Likeable)
Having heard that this was the major film for Daniel Craig preceding "Casino Royale", and that it was attributed to him gaining the role of 007, I was immediately intrigued.
I made it halfway through "Layer Cake" before I realized that I was going to need to watch it with subtitles on due to the heavy accents many of the characters were flaunting. In the end I was happy with that decision as I would have been lost without them.
"Layer Cake" was an entertaining movie that at several points made you wonder what would happen next. The performances were average at best (some poor). The twists found through the movie were believable and well executed, although I really didn't like the ending.
I would recommend "Layer Cake" for anyone wanting to see more of Daniel Craig, or if you're looking for a style different than what you'll commonly find in the US. All-in-all an entertaining affair, but nothing extraordinary.
DATE: 2007-11-06 - DirectorRidley ScottStarsDenzel WashingtonRussell CroweChiwetel EjioforAn outcast New York City cop is charged with bringing down Harlem drug lord Frank Lucas, whose real life inspired this partly biographical film.7/10 (Good)
When you put Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, and Ridley Scott all together in the same movie, it's impossible not to have high expectations. Luckily enough, this film delivered on those expectations.
I liked the way the divergent storylines neatly paralleled each other, and then were woven together in the conclusion of the film. The story itself is amazing, and the statistics shown at the end were actually shocking. Of course, Washington and Crowe make the movie as both are a giant screen presence. I love Denzel as a villain (see "Training Day"), so it was great to watch him in that kind of role again.
There aren't any glaring flaws in this movie, although it's not one you would watch over and again. It is long and doesn't contain a lot of action (save one great scene), but neither of those are complaints. In the end, I give "American Gangster" high marks for its effective telling of a remarkable story.
DATE: 2007-11-03 - DirectorTerry GilliamStarsJonathan PryceKim GreistRobert De NiroA bureaucrat in a dystopic society becomes an enemy of the state as he pursues the woman of his dreams.5/10 (Mediocre)
My first thought when watching "Brazil" was a pondering of how strange Terry Gilliam must be. Later on I was thinking about how low I could get away with rating this. It is with respect to those who believe it is a masterpiece that I give it the score that I did. And after all, it would be pretty ignoble of me to rate "Alien vs. Predator: Requiem" higher than this, a supposed classic.
Honestly, I didn't like it. I wasn't really entertained, and at one point I even wondered when it would end. I get most of the allegorical references, but that wasn't enough for me to overlook Gilliam's harsh visual style. I can't say it wasn't unique though. I'll give him that.
The aspect that I did like about this film was the social commentary (the very characteristic it is lauded for). The illustrations of inefficient government and the excesses of the rich were very clever. My favorite part of the movie was during Lowry's torture scene when he was told that holding out too long could jeopardize his credit rating. That was a great line. Also, the surprise actor who played Archibald Tuttle helped to liven things up a lot during his brief screen time.
Overall, "Brazil" was definitely not my cup of tea. I won't argue with anyone who deems it a masterpiece, but to me it was little more than an oddball fairy tale.
DATE: 2008-01-06 - DirectorStanley KubrickStarsMalcolm McDowellPatrick MageeMichael BatesIn the future, a sadistic gang leader is imprisoned and volunteers for a conduct-aversion experiment, but it doesn't go as planned.8/10 (Great)
When I first saw "A Clockwork Orange", I was shocked. I had heard the caveat surrounding it, but still it disturbed me. Ironically, I only got through the first half of it before I had to return it to the movie store.
Watching it in its entirety some years later, it had a different sort of effect. It didn't really bother me (which may speak to my own further desensitization), but rather I was able to see the macabre humor within the depravity of Alex and his "Droogs".
It seems that every Kubrick movie has a moral at its center. Strip away the unpleasant veneer and you have a story which raises a lot of meaningful questions. If a man ceases to have control over his decisions to do right or wrong, then does he cease to be a man? What becomes of his soul?
I think Kubrick made this movie unsettling for a purpose. He certainly has a unique flare, and it works in this film. Malcolm McDowell delivers convincingly in what must have been next to an impossible role for an actor! "A Clockwork Orange" is certain to leave an indelible mark on my mind for many years to come.
DATE: 2007-11-17 - DirectorSergio LeoneStarsClint EastwoodEli WallachLee Van CleefA bounty hunting scam joins two men in an uneasy alliance against a third in a race to find a fortune in gold buried in a remote cemetery.6/10 (Likeable)
"The Good" (Clint Eastwood), "The Bad" (Lee Van Cleef), and "The Ugly" (Eli Wallach). I picked up a copy of this film soon after I realized that it is currently listed as #4 all-time on the IMDb's top 250 list.
Could it possibly live up to such a lofty billing? The way the characters' stories were illustrated apart from each other, yet always paralleling and often intersecting until the final confrontation, was brilliant. Also, the musical score composed by Ennio Morricone is one of the finest I have ever heard! Believe me when I say that this would have been a lesser movie without it.
That said, I did not connect with the film to nearly the extent that I think warrants such a high rating. There were too many instances of happenstance for my liking, and the characters' supernatural accuracy with firearms was laughable. (Hold on to your hats!) Some of this is definitely forgivable due to the age of the film, but it hurt my outlook on it in all honesty.
This is a film that has been lauded for revolutionizing the Western. It's a shame that I had to see it after all of the modern advances made in filmmaking have tarnished its potency. I do see the qualities in it, but at the same time, no one can tell me this deserves its placing as the fourth greatest film in history.
DATE: 2007-11-17 - DirectorQuentin TarantinoStarsJohn TravoltaUma ThurmanSamuel L. JacksonThe lives of two mob hitmen, a boxer, a gangster and his wife, and a pair of diner bandits intertwine in four tales of violence and redemption.9/10 (Extraordinary)
"Pulp Fiction" is one of those definitive movies that comes along every once and a while, and stands taller by a head than all the rest. Films like this transcend the silver screen, and set trends for the less imaginative filmmakers to follow.
What makes "Pulp Fiction" one of those special movies, and perhaps worthy of its incessant praise, is the manner in which Quentin Tarantino allows his purely eclectic work to flow. He fully explores the minutiae of everyday gangster conversation, and that breathes a special air into his characters. Then he takes the incredible plot and jumbles it about so that each segment is allowed to play out like a short story. There are a vast array of scenes that stand out to me, and that is truly a sign of greatness.
"The Gold Watch": This is one of the most incredible segments in cinematic history. Out of Christopher Walken's comedically poignant monologue spawns a truly special sequence of events. His scene was instrumental in establishing the importance of this heirloom, and this is without question my favorite Walken cameo out of his endless line of them. Now for the story itself... I still can't believe everything that happens during Butch's odyssey to reclaim his father's gold watch! This part is filled to the brim with priceless moments, and it should be hailed as a short story masterpiece. "The Gold Watch", and "Vincent Vega and Marcellus Wallace's Wife", both resemble perfection in my mind.
"Pulp Fiction" is currently ranked #5 all-time on the IMDb. The fact that I feel comfortable with it possessing such a high place among movies is evidence to what kind of film this truly is. An unforgettable gem.
DATE: 2008-01-10 - 19641h 35mPG8.3 (520K)97MetascoreDirectorStanley KubrickStarsPeter SellersGeorge C. ScottSterling HaydenAn unhinged American general orders a bombing attack on the Soviet Union, triggering a path to nuclear holocaust that a war room full of politicians and generals frantically tries to stop.7/10 (Good)
In the opening moments of "Dr. Strangelove", I wondered how a movie like this could still hold its water enough to be ranked #23 all-time on IMDb. After all, comedies generally do not stand the test of time.
Well, I guess you can figure that with Stanley Kubrick as director, any film will prove impregnability to the rigors of time. Parts of this movie were downright hilarious! The sequences involving the war room were particularly delightful, and I had some legitimate laugh-out-loud moments watching them.
I want to take the time to highlight the performance(s) of Peter Sellers. Unfortunately, I can't say I remember ever seeing any of his other films, but his acting in this one blew me away. He was entirely convincing as the US President, and as Group Captain Mandrake. At first I wasn't sure what to think of his Dr. Strangelove, but Sellers on center stage in the ending moments of the film totally won me over. He outshined even George C. Scott, and I can honestly say this was one of the finest performances I have ever seen!
The dialogue between the men in the war room during the conclusion of "Dr. Strangelove" was absolutely classic. What a delightful film having come from way back in 1964.
DATE: 2007-12-12 - DirectorDavid FincherStarsMorgan FreemanBrad PittKevin SpaceyTwo detectives, a rookie and a veteran, hunt a serial killer who uses the seven deadly sins as his motives.6/10 (Likeable)
I always assumed that "Se7en" would be a grotesque film full of twisted gory violence. That's probably why it took me so long to see it for the first time. In actuality, it wasn't bad by today's standards.
What worked for the movie was the relationship between Mills (Brad Pitt) and Somerset (Morgan Freeman). They made the tried and true combination of wise old veteran and eager young rookie seem fresh. Another thing that stands out is the diabolically imaginative nature of the murders. As the film progresses, it keeps you wondering what this sicko might dream up next. There were also some unexpectedly hilarious parts involving Pitt that had me laughing out loud. "Se7en" had a "Silence of the Lambs" feel to it. They even referenced Jodie Foster in her role as Agent Starling, and one of the locations in the movie was called Wild Bill's Leather Shop.
I've heard complaints about Brad Pitt's acting, and the same things have been said about his work at the end of this movie. I guess this must be an apples and oranges thing because I personally believe that his acting in "Se7en" was terrific. He does such a phenomenal job at portraying the eccentricities of his characters. I also wanted to make note of Leland Orser's performance following the 'lust' sin. This was one of the most convincing bouts of hysteria I have ever seen.
I really don't think that "Se7en" deserves all the praise that's been heaped upon it. I find it distinctly inferior to "Silence of the Lambs", yet somehow, both films have attained the same formidable rating on the IMDb. Still, this was a solid film that had its moments.
DATE: 2008-01-10 - DirectorSam MendesStarsKevin SpaceyAnnette BeningThora BirchA sexually frustrated suburban father has a mid-life crisis after becoming infatuated with his daughter's best friend.6/10 (Likeable)
"American Beauty" won all of the major Oscars in 1999 (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Screenplay, and even Best Cinematography), and has been hailed by critics and fans alike as a masterpiece. While I cannot deny that there is quality in this film, I almost feel lost in the overwhelming glorification of it.
For no apparent reason, I didn't love "American Beauty". The "powerful" scenes didn't stir emotion, and I can't say I felt sympathetic for any of the characters (except maybe the son of Colonel Fitts). I didn't see Lester Burnham (Kevin Spacey) as a heroic everyman, I saw him as more of a selfish, mid-life crisis addled jerk. I think the fact that I was unsympathetic to him went a long way to keep me from getting wrapped up in the processions.
Keeping in mind that I was once a Realtor, Annette Bening's Carolyn Burnham offered me a lot of amusement, and I thought that it was actually a very true depiction of how some of them think. There were a couple of scenes involving her that were outright hilarious! I don't think I'll ever be able to think about real estate again without somehow associating it with this movie.
The message in this film is a meaningful one, but the way it was presented just didn't grab me. "American Beauty" featured some great scenes, and a lot of thoughtful moments. I understand what people see in it, but I am just not one of them.
DATE: 2008-01-23 - DirectorOliver HirschbiegelStarsBruno GanzAlexandra Maria LaraUlrich MatthesTraudl Junge, the final secretary for Adolf Hitler, tells of the Nazi dictator's final days in his Berlin bunker at the end of WWII.5/10 (Mediocre)
"Der Untergang" (or "Downfall") is the story of the final hours of the Third Reich. Much of the film takes place within the confines of a bunker as Adolf Hitler attempts to command a decimated army in the face of the Russian advance on Berlin. This is the most intimate look into the upper crust of Nazi Germany I've ever seen. The concept of seeing what Hitler's last days may truly have been like is fascinating, but problems in the execution hinder this from becoming anything better than average.
The main complaint I had with "Downfall" was the running time. The film moves at a good clip through the first half, but once we reach the point where Hitler is preparing himself for suicide, it slows to a crawl. I felt the entire 40 minutes at the end were totally unnecessary. Once Hitler was out of the picture, everything should have been wrapped up fairly quickly. But, no, the ending just dragged on (and on). The other complaint I had was in the production values; namely in the war FX. It is quite obvious to me now that Hollywood is light years ahead of everyone else as far as special effects are concerned. In this aspect, "Downfall" is way behind anything the US has been putting out for even the past two decades.
The acting was good across the board, but the best part of "Downfall" was Hitler himself, Bruno Ganz. This was hands-down the best portrayal of Adolf Hitler I've ever seen. You could sense that a lot of research went into painting an accurate portrait of the man, and Ganz was brilliant through and through. Hitler is usually demonized to the point where he almost seems non-human, but Ganz manages to infuse his character with a sort of mortality that makes him seem almost more realistic. In his private moments away from the table of battle, he even shows kindness to his subordinates. This presents an understanding of why so many would have followed him as resolutely as they did.
Beyond the acting and my interest in the subject material, this was a blah-fest. My friend and I started making jokes towards the end because we were that bored. I take my movies seriously, so that is never a good sign. See "Downfall" for it's remarkable depiction of Adolf Hitler, but skip it if that doesn't thoroughly fascinate you.
DATE: 2008-02-11 - DirectorClint EastwoodStarsClint EastwoodGene HackmanMorgan FreemanRetired Old West gunslinger William Munny reluctantly takes on one last job, with the help of his old partner Ned Logan and a young man, The "Schofield Kid."8/10 (Great)
Initially I kind of expected a grandiose western with lots of big name actors as the focal point, seeing as it won Best Picture in 1992. This wasn't the case in "Unforgiven". The setting was simple, but the underlying themes and inherent realism are what made it worthy of accolades.
Someone put it well when they said, "Why am I so fascinated by this piece? The dialogue is real. The characters are real. There are no simple heroes, no simple villains. It is a movie about consequences."
There were a lot of memorable quotes made in this film (which is always a good sign), and I actually got quite a few laughs out of my time watching it as well. I think that at first glance this story can appear deceptively simple, but upon further examination, you will see that "Unforgiven" takes the good guy vs. bad guy formula and turns it on its head. This surely is a great western.
DATE: 2007-11-27 - DirectorGregory HoblitStarsAnthony HopkinsRyan GoslingDavid StrathairnAfter shooting his wife, Ted confesses his crime and asks the court to move his case to trial. He represents himself against Willy, a successful lawyer. But there's more to the case than meets the eye.6/10 (Likeable)
The premise for this movie was very well conceived. Ted Crawford (Anthony Hopkins) is a brilliant man charged with the attempted murder of his own wife. There is obvious motive due to her infidelity. The authorities have his signed confession, and other damning evidence that should make this an open and shut case...
The most compelling aspect of Fracture was the cat and mouse game played by Hopkins and the young hot shot prosecutor with a 97% conviction rate, played by Ryan Gosling. But who plays the mouse?
The element of Beachum's (Gosling) impending promotion added a very believable motivation for him to overlook his case against Crawford. The plot was very engaging over the first 3/4 of the film, and it made a most improbable scenario seem tenable.
The problem I had was in the last 1/4 of "Fracture". To me, the plausibility of the events began unravelling, and it ultimately became just another common thriller with a likely ending.
DATE: 2007-12-19 - DirectorXavier GensStarsTimothy OlyphantDougray ScottOlga KurylenkoA gun-for-hire known only as Agent 47 hired by a group known only as 'The Organization' is ensnared in a political conspiracy, which finds him pursued by both Interpol and the Russian military as he treks across Russia and Eastern Europe.3/10 (Poor)
Being a huge fan of the series, "Hitman" the movie instantly went to the top of my must-see list when I saw it previewed earlier this year.
I really had no expectations going in (after all, video game to movie adaptations are frequently lacking at best), and that probably spared me from the major disappointment that would follow.
Olyphant might have done his homework on Agent 47, but other than moving like him, he fell flat on his face in every other regard. Sometimes I forgot he was supposed to be in the role altogether. The other actors were a joke in their supporting roles, but I don't hold too much blame over their heads when considering the script could have been written by a teenage boy.
The storyline had nothing to do with the games (knife fight anyone?), and that was actually my biggest disappointment with the film. I considered giving this an even lower rating, but I thought that may be just a bit extreme.
DATE: 2007-11-21 - DirectorFrancis LawrenceStarsWill SmithAlice BragaCharlie TahanYears after a plague kills most of humanity and transforms the rest into monsters, the sole survivor in New York City struggles valiantly to find a cure.5/10 (Mediocre)
I had fairly high expectations of this movie before I saw it. It delivered on at least some of those expectations, but in the end I couldn't help but feel underwhelmed.
Will Smith, as Dr. Neville, was outstanding in his role as earth's last remaining survivor. He really had to be as the film was centered entirely around him. He was a great choice to carry a movie like this, and it marks the first time I've taken him seriously as an actor. Besides Smith, there were very few supporting actors. The only other noteworthy performance wasn't even turned in by a human. Dr. Neville's last remaining companion, his dog Samantha, fulfilled a part that could rank as my favorite ever played by an animal.
Beyond that, there wasn't much to get excited about. The "vampires" were completely drawn up in computer graphics, and weren't especially frightening or believable as a result. Somewhere after the midpoint of the movie, new characters were haphazardly thrown into the mix. I lost interest after this occurred, and my mind switched to auto-pilot through the rest of the movie.
DATE: 2007-12-16 - DirectorPeter HyamsStarsMichael DouglasHal HolbrookYaphet KottoFrustrated with a legal system gone haywire, a secret society of judges hires hitmen to snuff out criminals who escape courtroom justice - but one young judge questions the ethics of their vigilante system.5/10 (Mediocre)
I watched this movie solely because it happened to be starting as I turned to the Fox Movie Channel. In the end, I could have never seen it and been no worse for wear.
"The Star Chamber" actually started out well. The storyline was unique and the premise interesting. However, the ending was so typical of an 80's thriller that it killed any chance this movie had to stand out.
The acting was bad throughout the movie, and the dialogue worse. In the end, this was an entirely forgettable effort.
DATE: 2007-11-10 - DirectorJulie TaymorStarsAnthony HopkinsJessica LangeOsheen JonesTitus returns victorious from war, only to plant the seeds of future turmoil for himself and his family.7/10 (Good)
I was taken by absolute surprise at the opening scene of "Titus". The setting of a 1950's kitchen and a boy with a paper bag on his head felt completely out of place, and I thought it too harsh a way to start the movie. The scene in the colosseum with the horses rising opposite of motorcycles and tanks, and the footsoldiers marching to music made me wonder what I had gotten myself into.
For me, the film got better as the viewer progressed further into the storyline. As my eyes started adjusting to the blatant cross-era ambience and my ears started hearing the words composed by Shakespeare in this adaptation of his little known play, I started to see the pervasive stylization of "Titus" to be a sort of strong point.
This film was equal parts chaotic as it was brilliant. Some things felt out of place, others fit together beautifully. I found the musical score striking (although sometimes the modern twist seemed a bit much). The violence at times was hard to watch, and there was generous amounts of nudity as well, although none of it seemed gratuitous within the context of the story.
The acting was also a place I felt conflicted. Alan Cumming seemed wrong for his part, and I was also unimpressed with the actors who played Tamora's sons. Conversely, I felt endeared to Titus (Anthony Hopkins) and his family, and I found that the development of their characters and Tamora's was one of the strongest points of the film.
This movie was long, and definitely not for everyone. In the end, I found this to be a positive experience, even creating in me an interest in Shakespeare's work where there really was none before. "Titus" was not a flawless effort, not by a long shot, but it was unique and impressive and that counts for a lot in my book.
DATE: 2007-11-15 - DirectorSergio LeoneStarsRobert De NiroJames WoodsElizabeth McGovernA former Prohibition-era Jewish gangster returns to the Lower East Side of Manhattan 35 years later, where he must once again confront the ghosts and regrets of his old life.4/10 (Flawed)
Robert DeNiro and Joe Pesci have starred together in several well-known mobster movies. "Goodfellas" and "Casino" are stand outs in this genre, and in large part to these two actors. They share the screen again for a third time in Sergio Leone's "Once Upon a Time in America". But while the other two are gems, "America" comes out looking more like cubic zirconia.
This movie is a pretender. It is terribly overrated, so much so that I was surprised to find myself dozing off towards the end. This is also due to the fact that I had to endure the gluttonous four hour version (yes, you heard me right). "Once Upon a Time in America" tries desperately to mimic the grandeur of "The Godfather", but all of its attempts only seem pretentious in the end.
Whoever casted this film should never work again. Besides DeNiro, and Pesci in a miniature role, the acting was just plain awful. The child actors at the outset of the story were so offensively bad that it bordered on annoying. This rendered whole parts of the movie useless for entertainment value. The other odd glaring weakness of the film was that in four long hours, it failed to effectively develop the characters. The love story element never felt real, and the actress who plays the grown up version of Jennifer Connelly is purely low-grade. You never know where these snot-nosed punks came from, how they acquired their criminal mentality, or even how they made it big. Huge portions of character progression were left on the cutting room floor, and in a four hour movie, this is unforgivable!
Surprisingly, the only real compliment I have of "America" is in the makeup department. These makeup artists should be commended for making the age progression of the main characters in their later life scenes so believable. Other than that, this is nothing more than an overlong bloated mess that has no place of mentioning among the great mob movies of cinema.
DATE: 2008-01-27 - DirectorSidney LumetStarsAl PacinoJohn CazalePenelope AllenThree amateur bank robbers plan to hold up a bank. A nice simple robbery: Walk in, take the money, and run. Unfortunately, the supposedly uncomplicated heist suddenly becomes a bizarre nightmare as everything that could go wrong does.6/10 (Likeable)
This film is about a bank robbery that took place sometime in the 1970's. But it is about more than that really. This is much less of a bank heist movie than it is a character drama, and the events that take place seem to serve as more of a backdrop for Al Pacino's character development than anything else.
Speaking of which, Al Pacino is a tour de force in this movie. Here he portrays all the subtleties of a troubled man with great precision and believability, and he really steals the show soon after the events begin to unfold. Chris Sarandon was also outstanding in his Oscar nominated supporting role.
A "Dog Day Afternoon" was very well done, but I felt a bit claustrophobic towards the end. The viewer was confined to a small space for most of the film, and the subject material itself could have just as easily lent itself to a made for TV movie. Not a true classic in my mind, but still a well crafted film that stands the test of time.
DATE: 2007-11-20 - DirectorEthan CoenJoel CoenStarsTommy Lee JonesJavier BardemJosh BrolinViolence and mayhem ensue after a hunter stumbles upon the aftermath of a drug deal gone wrong and over two million dollars in cash near the Rio Grande.9/10 (Extraordinary)
The Coen Brothers use guile to thieve the audience of the film they expect it to be. A deeper, darker meaning lies beneath and exposes itself in the end.
DATE: 2007-11-23
Updated: 15, March, 2008 - DirectorRon SheltonStarsKurt RussellVing RhamesScott SpeedmanA robbery homicide investigation triggers a series of events that will cause a corrupt LAPD officer to question his tactics.6/10 (Likeable)
Kurt Russell stars in "Dark Blue", and quite honestly I think it was one of his finest performances. The rest of the cast around him were adequate.
This film was a crime drama with a major focus on the issue of racism. In fact, the events in the movie closely correlate with the Rodney King fiasco, and the riots that ensued as a result. Personally, I do not like to see racial controversy in a movie when my purpose for watching is to be entertained. It's just not an issue I like to think about when eating my popcorn.
That said, this filmmaker obviously felt that the officers on trial for the Rodney King arrest were bad cops who were wrongly acquitted, and he made Russell's character an obvious representation of those officers. The bad guys in this film were over-the-top white racists who could control the system through threats, and by utilizing "team players". In a way, they weren't making indictments on whites only because they also depicted, in graphic detail, the rioters and how out of control and reactionary they were. So I guess it all evened out.
Overall, the film itself was entertaining enough. However, the plot was very predictable which is always a considerable negative in my book. I think some of the characters and situations were interesting, and there was maybe one or two unexpected twists. There was actually a part when Russell's wife was talking to him about the man he had become that sort of hit home to me. That was surprising.
DATE: 2007-12-13 - DirectorEdward ZwickStarsDenzel WashingtonBruce WillisAnnette BeningThe secret U.S. abduction of a suspected terrorist leads to a wave of terrorist attacks in New York City, which leads to the declaration of martial-law.4/10 (Flawed)
The story in "The Siege" starts out mildly interesting, and at first seems that it could make for a decent movie about anti-terrorism. The dialogue, however, felt so canned that it ruined any chance this movie had to be anything special. I don't know if script writers in the 90's were just lazy, but in no way are cheesy one liners ever acceptable in a serious movie.
The script writer(s) of "The Siege" can breathe a sigh of relief, however, because the story soon takes the initiative to drive this movie into the ground. The scenarios depicted in the final stages of the film are fanciful at best, and there is nothing the actors can do to save this one from going down in flames.
I know there was a moral buried somewhere beneath the burning wreckage, but I really don't care.
DATE: 2007-11-25