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Reviews
The Dark Knight (2008)
DARK KNIGHT: An Instant Classic
Amazing. Phenomenal. History making. Awe inspiring. These are some of the clichés that came to mind after seeing DARK KNIGHT. What's not a cliché is Christopher Nolan's brilliant and intricate script, beautifully crafted, all at once disturbing, funny, frightening, thought provoking and exciting.
From start to finish you know you are watching quality. All involved are working to make the best film possible. The opening scene reminded me of a 1970's cop film. Like SERPICO, it has a distinct texture of grittiness and elegance. It's surprising to me how much more exciting it is to watch action sequences that are rooted in real world physics. When Batman gets punched or shot, he feels it, and so do we.
The acting is excellent across the board, but two of my favorite performances were Heath Ledger's unnerving Joker; I haven't been that afraid for the other characters since Jet Li in LETHAL WEAPON 4, and Gary Oldman as the mere mortal everyman, Police Commissioner Gordon mustering every ounce of his courage to fight evil, insurmountable forces much bigger than he. The Joker is definitely the driving force of the film, with everyone having to react against his next move, and the film skillfully creates a horrible anxiety, a lot of which comes from watching the characters' resolve, wither and die when attacked by one of The Joker's hypnotic psychological barrages. Even Christian Bale's formidably played Batman, has a difficult time maintaining his composure while facing The Joker. You can see it in his eyes.
A great casting twist was Eric Roberts as Gotham's mob boss Salvatore Maroni. They could have gone the route of the quintessential grease ball Italian. Instead they did something more akin to John Gotti, a smirking, unflappable, aging bad boy in an impeccable, designer suit who could almost pass for Arian. Roberts provides yet another touch of realism which adds to the film's classiness.
A third character of the film is the population of Gotham itself. Too often in these films we watch the lead actors rattle on about "saving the population" with no real attachment with the people they are responsible for. Not so in DARK KNIGHT. The world is so rich and believable and the characters so 3 dimensional that as an audience member, you're likely to feel that you too are a citizen of Gotham, and all you'll want to do is get out of town.
The Strangers (2008)
What a pair of pussies!
The film has a few good jumps but misses the mark in some ways. The director started in a great way, really nice relationship, but was not specific enough about what went on between the couple before their ordeal begins. Did she just say she didn't want to get married right now? Did she confess she had an affair is in love with someone else? The energy between them would be very different in these cases. Instead we are presented a vague feeling of "upsettedness" which lacks reality. The director allowed Speedman to hide and should have pulled more of a performance, which I know is there.
Most important: If three white folks in masks come to your house in the woods and start screwing with you, they don't want your mother's old china set, the want TO KILL YOU! So run, god dam it! Run like crazy. If you are gonna stay, please put up a fight. Don't be stupid. Go on the offensive. Me personally, I would have started a big old brush fire, then gotten on my roof with the shotgun and my girlie so I could see those bastards coming from every angle.
Obviously, if I'm still thinking about the film 2 days later, it did something to me.
Speed Racer (2008)
A beautifully crafted film that works on all levels
I'm completely dumbfounded by critics. This film is a masterpiece. Besides the self evident beauty of the images akin to pinball machines on steroids, the like of which we've never seen, the story is a rich mix of very touching drama and very funny, zany comedy.
The main actors provide very real touching moments and bring emotional reality to the film, while some of the supporting actors play wonderful broad characters that might have been lifted from an Edward G. Robinson film.
The script is very well crafted, mature but still good for children with some very important messages. In a country of increasing conglomeration, I think the plot of a "Mom" and "Pop" family business trying to survive against the Uber Corporation is timely and compelling.
In short, the directors took kitsch, stayed true to its original ideas, but seamlessly crafted in a more mature and real point of view
Jericho: Pilot (2006)
JERICHO: an actor's perspective
During this time when serial melodramas like LOST and 24 reign supreme, JERICHO does an excellent job of competing while carving out it's own niche.
There's a feeling of strong helmsmanship from director/executive producer Jon Turteltaub, who obviously understands that strong relationships are what make a story compelling (if only more studio execs would get that). He avoids pushing the action into wrinkled brows, teary eyes and quivering lips, and instead keeps the drama realistic and understated, something you'd actually expect from real people in that situation. The cast is fairly diverse and depicts a small Kansas town of breathing, thinking, feeling humans, rather than walking clichés.
Gerald McRaney and Pamela Reed bring a lot of class to the show. Gail Green's (Pamela Reed) love, for both her husband and her son Jake (Skeet Ulrich) is palpable and moving. Skeet Ulrich continues to impress after turning out wonderful performances in INTO THE WEST, and the short lived but fascinating supernatural drama, MIRACLES. He deserves the award for "Most Improved" when comparing his present work with his early years.
There were technical problems, music was mixed too loud, and it was obtrusive; Also, some strange camera angles that neither matched nor were flattering to the actors, especially in an early scene in a parking lot between Skeet Ulrich and Ashley Scott, who was less than stellar.
It will be interesting to see what happens with the show, now that we are smoothly over that first bump known as "pilot," which is usually rife with overly expository dialog, and tries too hard to impress. JERICHO impresses without trying.