Tag: review

Although it is the new year, the last film I saw was The Aviator. Since it was rather good, I should put it onto my year end best of movies list. Leonardo DiCaprio proves that he can act by portraying the obsessive-compulsive Howard Hughes. Not only did this guy make movies, but also designed, built and flew his own planes. Amazing. Are there still anybody like this nowadays.

4 of 5 stars.

There was nothing really scary about this film. Except for the fact that I went and saw it. What a crock! So it wasn’t scary. If you saw every Twilight Zone episode, you would’ve seen this one.

2 fo 5 stars.

Went and saw this today. As an action flick it was pretty mediocre. Not much to say about it. I will not remember this movie next year. Catch it on HBO this summer.

3 of 5 stars.

Not all movies I have seen were big-budget, studio, summer, super-blockbusters. I have seen a few small indie films this year, the latest of which is Imelda, the documentary about the ex-first lady of the Philippines. I sat through it in the local art house cinema, The Charles. While somewhat interesting, I don’t get the point of the film. Were we supposed to sympathize with her plight? Was she an accomplice to the destruction of the Philippines? Was she misunderstood? The director did not get a point about Imelda across in the film. It unspooled like an autobiography that was too even handed. It stated the facts, presented the history, but didn’t filter her story through her life. I wish she made me feel something for Imelda, but I didn’t and left the theatre ambivilant about both her and the film

3 of 5 stars.

It is getting harder to write a post when I know my writing skills are lacking. Is anyone really reading? I’ll continue on, because I am trying to better my writing skills. In this post, I will share my thoughts on two recent films, Closer and Ocean’s 12. I am remiss that I didn’t share my thoughts on Closer the past week, because I saw it last weekend. Ocean’s 12 I saw yesterday.

Closer. This was originally a play and it felt like one. Lots of dialogue and witty reparte between the characters. Each of them, I did not like. Yet, the movie kept me interested because I wanted to find out what happens to each. Who ends up with whom? The breakthrought performance was turned in by Clive Owen, but his character was a schmuck. Unlikeable and arrogant, his character ends up being the only winner. Julia Roberts has got some acting chops and it is likely that she has gained some fans for her acting rather than her supposed looks. Jude Law is Jude Law, a pretty boy. I did not understand his character’s motivation in sleeping around. It was as if the writer meant for the audience to not root for him. In the end his redemption was never to be because of Natalie Portman’s character. Was the audience supposed to find her attractive? I hated her in this. Many will write about the graphic portrayal of sex amonst adults that this film was about, and it was the most frank depiction of sex outside of a porno. This film could be thought of as an intellectual porno for the mind without the graphic display of nude bodies fucking.

Ocean’s 12. What was the heist in this? There wasn’t one, because the main heist was used as a backdrop to a contest between thieves. I found it rediculouse with its plot twists around plot twists. I still don’t understand what happened. In the first Ocean’s flick, it was about the thieves. In this one, the band of thieves is giving short play and it is about the skullduggery and back stabbing of the bad guys. Is there no honor amongst thieves? Frankly, there are huge holes in the plot. Why, for instance, do they continue with the job when they already know the outcome. This was a mediocre sequel to an already mediocre remake.

In summary: Closer – 3 of 5 stars. Ocean’s 12 – 2 of 5 stars.

Check in later as soon I shall write my end of year lists.

Caught the latest Alexander Payne movie, Sideways. You can sum this movie up in one sentence, “Swingers for the over 40 crowd.” You heard that right. Swingers. Instead of hapless actors roaming around LA looking for fun, you have a mid-40’s oenophile looking for the next bottle of pinot noir. It has the same loose, enjoyable feel. It has the same mopey main character. Can he find love? Or at least some hapiness with his life? This movie follows his journey through a week when he treats his best friend to the Napa valley before his wedding. I liked it, but was a bit too long. Surely, this film will be a critical darling.

4 of 5 stars.

What would a weekend be without a movie to be seen? This week’s movie is “Shall We Dance” featuring Richard Gere and J. Lo. The movie was a remake of a Japanese movie of the same name. The differnces were subtle, but the transition to English did not suffer although some of it became Americanized (like his choosing his wife over dancing with J. Lo.). It made me want to pick up ballroom dancing in order to pick up chicks.

3 of 5 stars.

I have seen a Jimmy Fallon movie. In the theatres. Now, I deserve to die.

Not that Taxi was bad, but the presence of this ex-SNLer with his “on the verge of laughter schtick” [hands making air quotes] sunk this movie. He was not funny. The movie had a ridiculous plot. In what world would a hot chick like Eva Mendes date Fallon’s character? Especially as his boss? Especially as policemen? Knowing especially the pathetic bond Fallon’s character had with his mom? The same one as the president’s! No. The movie did not suck. Fallon sucked.

One more thing: Gisele Bundchen. Not that hot. She has skinny thighs.

2 of 5 stars.