Beowulf - Dir. Robert Zemeckis (2007)
Olde English poem translated into manly Hollywood action film.
Animation is alternately gorgeous and stiff.
Plastic faces may give you the night terrors.
Still, Angelina Jolie makes for one hot, nekkid cartoon character. The things she'd do with that tail.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Sunday, June 15, 2008
The Happening
The Happening - Dir. M. Night Shyamalan (2008)
The trees have it in for us.
The Village may have had an idiotic, twist ending, but at least it had an ending. Shyamalan's latest disasterpiece is all build and no payoff.
Shyamalan's keen sense of direction and suspense is enough to lift this above his last two bombs, but not enough to overcome laughable performances.
M. Night, swallow your pride. Hire a script doctor.
The trees have it in for us.
The Village may have had an idiotic, twist ending, but at least it had an ending. Shyamalan's latest disasterpiece is all build and no payoff.
Shyamalan's keen sense of direction and suspense is enough to lift this above his last two bombs, but not enough to overcome laughable performances.
M. Night, swallow your pride. Hire a script doctor.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
The Foot Fist Way
The Foot Fist Way - Dir. Jody Hill (2006)
Like a bad Will Ferrell movie filtered through a bad Napoleon Dynamite ripoff.
Danny McBride tries too hard with his Ferrell-esque, wacky, angry man routine.
Is it a better Tae Kwon Do movie than Best of the Best? No, I don't think so.
Like a bad Will Ferrell movie filtered through a bad Napoleon Dynamite ripoff.
Danny McBride tries too hard with his Ferrell-esque, wacky, angry man routine.
Is it a better Tae Kwon Do movie than Best of the Best? No, I don't think so.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
The Assassination of Jesse James
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford - Dir. Andrew Dominik (2007)
Brad Pitt's biopic is nearly as long as its title.
Western epic by way of Terrence Malick with touches of Altman's McCable & Mrs. Miller and Peckinpah's Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid.
Career best performance for Casey Affleck. His Ford is an awkward, overgrown kid who finds the fame he so desperately seeks a bitter pill.
Brad Pitt's biopic is nearly as long as its title.
Western epic by way of Terrence Malick with touches of Altman's McCable & Mrs. Miller and Peckinpah's Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid.
Career best performance for Casey Affleck. His Ford is an awkward, overgrown kid who finds the fame he so desperately seeks a bitter pill.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Devils on the Doorstep
Devils on the Doorstep - Dir. Jiang Wen (2000)
Japanese deserters hide out in tiny, Chinese village.
Tragicomedy set against the backdrop of the Japanese atrocities committed in China during WWII.
Alternately hilarious and gutwrenching. Story of simple people swept up by a conflict bigger than themselves.
Japanese deserters hide out in tiny, Chinese village.
Tragicomedy set against the backdrop of the Japanese atrocities committed in China during WWII.
Alternately hilarious and gutwrenching. Story of simple people swept up by a conflict bigger than themselves.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Last Man Standing
Last Man Standing - Dir. Walter Hill (1996)
The definition of guilty pleasure.
Yojimbo remake melded with the film noir voice of Raymond Chandler and the two-fisted gunplay of John Woo.
Walter Hill remains a fantastic, yet underrated, action director.
The definition of guilty pleasure.
Yojimbo remake melded with the film noir voice of Raymond Chandler and the two-fisted gunplay of John Woo.
Walter Hill remains a fantastic, yet underrated, action director.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom...
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull - Dir. Steven Spielberg (2008)
Harrison Ford dusts off the old fedora and whip as he plunks Indy right into the middle of a 1950's B-movie.
Descends into one long, CGI-fueled carnival ride with plenty of missed potential. Yet, still a fun popcorn film.
Don't go in with high expectations.
Harrison Ford dusts off the old fedora and whip as he plunks Indy right into the middle of a 1950's B-movie.
Descends into one long, CGI-fueled carnival ride with plenty of missed potential. Yet, still a fun popcorn film.
Don't go in with high expectations.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Charlie Wilson's War
Charlie Wilson's War - Dir. Mike Nichols (2007)
Puff piece on world history with a crackling, whip-smart script from Aaron Sorkin.
Phillip Seymour Hoffman is hilarious in his supporting role.
Needs more Amy Adams. Then again, what doesn't?
Puff piece on world history with a crackling, whip-smart script from Aaron Sorkin.
Phillip Seymour Hoffman is hilarious in his supporting role.
Needs more Amy Adams. Then again, what doesn't?
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Semi-Pro
Semi-Pro - Dir. Kent Alterman (2008)
Will Ferrell continues the same old schtick as the owner/coach/star player of a crappy ABA basketball team.
If you've seen Talladega Nights and Blades of Glory, you've seen this one.
Will Ferrell continues the same old schtick as the owner/coach/star player of a crappy ABA basketball team.
If you've seen Talladega Nights and Blades of Glory, you've seen this one.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Baby Mama
Baby Mama - Dir. Michael McCullers (2008)
Tina Fey wants to get pregnant. Amy Poehler gets pregnant for her.
Far too bland and middle of the road to have any bite.
Tries to be Apatow-style bawdy, over-the-top wacky, and squeaky clean rom-com at the same time. Fails on all fronts.
Tina Fey wants to get pregnant. Amy Poehler gets pregnant for her.
Far too bland and middle of the road to have any bite.
Tries to be Apatow-style bawdy, over-the-top wacky, and squeaky clean rom-com at the same time. Fails on all fronts.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)