3 1/2 stars.It's a warm, warm movie, mostly because of the massive likability of Jim Carrey and Zooey Deschanel. Getting to spend an hour and 45 minutes with the two of them is reason enough to see Yes Man.
I had low, low expectations going in, the director's previous movie was The Break Up(yikes), but the two of them are a great pair. Some of the plot is rom com predictable and some of the jokes don't work, but Carl and Allison, I want to be friends with them. I want to go to a Harry Potter costume party with them. Refreshingly, the movie has no villain character trying to sabotage things and no lousy boyfriend that she has to obviously dump. Just a lot of positive characters you want to be around like Rhys Darby(Murray from Flight of the Conchords) in a funny role as a bank manager. No plot contrivances, he just says yes.
Yes to Persian mail order brides(hi Faranoosh!) and yes to a funny trip to the Great Plains. Jim Carrey speaking Korean? C'mon, rent it. If you aren't familiar with Zooey Deschanel (look how pretty she is on that cover), she also starred in Elf, Almost Famous, and a few episodes of Weeds. A good friend of mine also has a fairly strong unrequited love for her, but that's another story. Comes out on DVD on 4/7.
Slumdog Millionaire 4 stars.I don't know what else I can say about it. It was my favorite movie of last year. It's a great ride. Comes out on DVD tomorrow.
Seven Pounds 2 1/2 stars. If Will Smith wasn't in this movie, I doubt anyone would care. The seven pound mystery isn't interesting it's irritating. The movie is so obviously trying to make me cry that I started to resent it. There's also a lackluster romance with Rosario Dawson(matching their dull chemistry in Men in Black II). The "twist" was finally revealed, who cares.
The Day the Earth Stood Still 2 1/2 stars.This one inspired the 20th Century Fox post. Man, I was invested for the first 45 minutes. I really wanted to know what was going to happen. Keanu Reeves is perfectly cast as a being from another planet. I mean, he is a being from another planet. Seriously, what exactly is his ethnicity? But then there's Will Smith's son who the giant robot GORT should have taken out immediately. The kid stomps around the entire movie being bratty and supremely annoying. As for the sci-fi, a lot of intriguing stuff is raised, but none of the ideas are given any sort of time. Literally no time. The story of the possible destruction of the human race is wrapped up in 90 minutes. The special effects are mediocre(GORT should've been badass but he's silly), Jennifer Connelly is once again sad(I want to see her play a character that smiles), and the aliens of course pick Manhattan to take out first. Guess they must've rented Godzilla, Deep Impact and Armageddon before the flight. And the final payoff, unsatisfying on so many levels.
On a side note, Fox apparently likes making disaster movies with the word "Day" in the title. Independence Day, The Day After Tomorrow.
Other child characters everyone wanted to die... - The kids in Jurassic Park that wouldn't turn off the flashlight when the T-Rex attacked their car - Tom Cruise's son in War of the Worlds - Anakin Skywalker
Doubt 3 stars. Father Flynn: You haven't the slightest proof of anything! Sister Aloysius: But I have my certainty.
That nun makes my blood boil. That line makes my blood boil. This isn't an easy film to sit through. Not because it's bad, no it is actually very good. But the issues brought up here hit the Christian home inside me. Things I really hated about the people I grew up around. Trading reason and logic for subjective convictions, believing that there is always only just one way, tradition and rules over compassion. It is an intelligent, literate piece that will infuriate. Great work from director of photography Roger Deakins(probably the top 3 cinematographers working right now). The 10 minutes with Viola Davis as the boy's mother is stunning.
20th Century Fox stinks. Of all the major studios, they are without a doubt the one producing the worst films. They have a terrible reputation of constantly interfering with directors, and they insist that all of their movies be under 2 hours regardless of quality. They've ruined good franchises like Alien and X-Men. And don't forget The Fantastic Four. Fantastic should definitely not be in that title. The head guy at Fox is Tom Rothman. He does not know what he is doing.
Please do not confuse them with Fox Searchlight which is independent of 20th Century Fox and is probably making the best films today. Slumdog Millionaire, Juno, Little Miss Sunshine. These are some of the films that 20th Century Fox has released over the past 3 years. These are their big releases. They are probably some of the worst films you've seen over the past 3 years.
Fantastic Four 1&2, Alvin and the Chipmunks, Bride Wars, X-Men 3,The Happening, Meet Dave, Space Chimps, What Happens in Vegas, Jumper, Eragon, Aliens vs. Predator, Hitman, Deception, Meet the Spartans, Epic Movie, Garfield, Die Hard 4, Night at the Museum, Elektra, Max Payne, Babylon A.D.
DVDs Watched this Week: The Good: Singles(the ultimate 90s), Rounders(Teddy KGB rules)There's Something About Mary(Ted you forgot your keys really makes me laugh), Fever Pitch(one of my fav rom coms), The Anniversary Party, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Aviator, Patriot Games, Hamlet(1996), Ed Wood, Shaun the Sheep, Special, Parenthood(He had no business being out there!), The Lady Eve, Shallow Hal, Keeping the Faith, The Others, The People vs. Larry Flynt The Bad: Me Myself and Irene, Big Fish, Death to Smoochy The Ugly: Quantum of Solace(Still awful. Will you stop shaking the f'ng camera) REVIEWERS There's this guy Pete Hammond who use to review for Maxim, but now is doing it for Hollywood.com. You might actually be familiar with him since he is on a lot of DVD cover boxes. Just go to Blockbuster and see how many movies have a blurb of his. This guy does not know anything. A rumor is he actually charges studios for a positive quote. "The best action picture in decades!" "Monstrous laughs!" What a tool. Trips to the Theater: Watchmen in IMAX. Better the second time around. As for the IMAX, I don't think I've seen a clearer image in a theater. Actors of the Week: Campbell Scott, Kyra Sedgwick, Kenneth Branagh, John Malkovich Directors of the Week: Tim Burton, The Farrelly Brothers Where'd They Go?: Campbell Scott, Bridget Fonda
Good: Michel Gondry is directing The Green Hornet w/Seth Rogen and Stephen Chow, there's going to be a Japanese remake of Sideways Bad: Saw VI ?: A Three Stooges movie?
I've been watching a lot of Tim Burton lately. This week it's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Big Fish, and Ed Wood. Everyone thinks of him as some out there director who does these strange movies that only a few people see. But for a guy who thrives on weird and different, his movies make tons of money. He really is appreciated in his time. And he got to marry Helena Bonham Carter which isn't too shabby either. His next movie is the live action Alice in Wonderland with Johnny Depp as The Mad Hatter. It's gonna be huge.
REVIEWS Twilight 3 stars. You know what, it's not half bad. It's an overblown teen romance, but it's a good overblown teen romance with two incredibly likable lead actors. Robert Pattinson(Harry Potter 4) is good, Kristen Stewart(Panic Room) is appealing (although she needs to stop shaking her head so much and moving her eyes left and right during her close ups). The cinematography by Elliot Davis(Out of Sight, The Lords of Dogtown) makes this probably one of the best looking teen movies I've seen. Lots of nice medium shots and Washington state is a great locale(although probably shot in Canada). It avoids a lot of teen movie cliches. No group of bitchy popular girls or parties with plastic solo cups or the color pink. And shockingly the dialogue is palatable dare I say good. Bella and Edward are smart, fairly articulate and that goes a long way. Even the vampire stuff is somewhat interesting. It's far from perfect. Some parts are downright silly such as the 'evil' vampires and the baseball scene which is ridiculous. Then again one could argue the entire concept is silly. But on its basic appeal it works. It's really true, abstinence and restraint are so much more interesting on screen than the other thing. I think if you want to see it, you'll like it. If you have no interest, you probably won't have any interest. Believe me, I had no intention of enjoying it, but I did. Just promise me ladies, don't make your boyfriend/husband watch it if he doesn't want to.
Punisher: War Zone 1 star.A gory mess. If you want to see heads ripped off for no reason, I guess this one's for you. It's a b-horror film with guns. Cheap lighting and lots of empty warehouses for people to shoot at each other. Ray Stevenson(Rome) is a beefy actor, but he's wrong for the role. He's not very tortured nor charismatic. There is one good visual moment with a red flare, but the rest is a waste of time. WTF is Dominic West doing in this movie?
DVDs Watched this Week: The Good: The Goonies(still so much fun), The Wings of the Dove, Twelfth Night, Runaway Train, Wallace and Gromit:Curse of the Were-Rabbit, The Times of Harvey Milk, Flushed Away(one of my fav animated films ever), Planet of the Apes 1968, Planet of the Apes 2001(I know, lots of problems, but I like the ape make-up and the weirdo ending), Conversations with Other Women, Much Ado About Nothing, Apt Pupil, Twilight The Bad:A.I.(3rd time and there are still too many flaws), Over the Hedge(only Hammy is good), Goal II, 300 The Ugly: Punisher:War Zone Trips to the Theater: Sunshine Cleaning (check Mon 3/16 for the full review) Actors of the Week: Helena Bonham Carter(my top 3 fav actress), Martha Plimpton, Eric Roberts Directors of the Week: Nick Park, Richard Donner Where'd They Go?: Haley Joel Osment, Kerri Green(Lucas)
Good: The Criterion Collection is doing the special edition DVD for Benjamin Button, Trailer for Spike Jonze's Where the Wild Things Are will be attached to Monsters vs. Aliens Bad: Natasha Richardson. Too soon. ?: Kenneth Branagh(Hamlet, Henry V) is directing Thor? Oh and Natalie Portman might be the villain.
TRAILERS of the Week: Funny People - Judd Apatow's third film as a director. Looks a lot more serious than the others, which is welcome. Don't like Sandler when he writes his own stuff, but do like him when he works in other people's films. And how did they get Spielberg's cinematographer Janusz Kaminski to work on this? His previous credits include the hilarious comedies Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan, and Munich.
Btw, I have this theory that if you're a love interest in an Adam Sandler film(except Drew Barrymore), your career starts to plummet afterwards. Joey Lauren Adams(Big Daddy), Fairuza Balk(The Waterboy), Bridgette Wilson(Billy Madison), Winona Ryder(Mr. Deeds), Patricia Arquette(Little Nicky), Emily Watson(Punch-Drunk Love). When was the last time you saw any of these actresses on a big screen?
I had no desire to see Knowing. Despite its director Alex Proyas(Dark City, The Crow), the trailers look subpar, the 3 non-scary blond guys in the forest, someone trying to save his family is almost always lame, Nick Cage is on a bad streak. But Ebert gave it four stars. I might go see the midnight show tonight.
“Rocky, Rambo, Cobra and now Hawk, In The Biggest Fight Of His Life.” That was the tagline Warner Bros. used in 1987 to promote their release of “Over the Top”, which starred and was co-written by Sylvester Stallone. In the “film”, Stallone plays Lincoln Hawk, a down-on-his-luck truck driver who hopes that his skills at arm-wrestling may win him money and the love of his son, who he abandoned 10 years earlier. Many friends of mine have been talking about this movie lately, so being intrigued, I searched far and wide for it. I finally found it at a remote Lincolnwood Blockbuster. On VHS. YEAH!
The movie begins with various scenes that set up Stallone in his truck driver world. The long hours on the road, the immaculate care he puts towards cleaning his truck, and odd eccentricities such as using a hub cap as a mirror while he shaves. And we also get many gratuitous shots of his body. The body that will arm-wrestle its way into his son’s heart. I’m getting ahead of myself.
Next we cut to his son’s graduation from military school. Sadly, no one is there to witness this and it is mentioned that his grandfather was late and did not make it to the ceremony. Shockingly, Stallone shows up in his truck as rich parents and spoiled kids stare, deeply offended by the machinery. However, the reunion is not a happy one as Michael Cutler, the son, does not wish to see his father nor drive with him across country to go back home. His mother unfortunately is dying of heart complications(it's always something), and she insists that he now get to know his father. Stallone is sensitive to his son’s feelings and does not push him.
Wait a minute. Isn’t this suppose to be an arm-wrestling film? The Godfather of arm-wrestling films? Well, 15 minutes into the film, we get our first battle as some random trucker challenges Stallone in a bar, having heard that Lincoln Hawk is the man to beat. His son watches curiously as his father shifts into a different mode. A fierce mode. And right as he’s about to sit down to face his opponent, he flips his cap around. As he says, “It’s like I become a different person”. And after a couple of minutes of losing, he goes over the top and defeats the guy who is twice his size. Here begins the bond between Michael and Lincoln Hawk. As the road trip continues, he learns more about arm wrestling, about how life doesn’t meet you half way, and of course, he learns about the love of Sylvester Stallone. They bond and Michael hopes to accompany his father to the International Arm-Wrestling Tournament in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Unfortunately, his grandfather has re-entered the picture and refuses Michael to have anymore contact with his father. He forbids him. And being the powerful, rich man, Grandpa Jason makes it impossible for Lincoln Hawk to do anything about it. Finally, we get to Las Vegas and see that arm-wrestlers from across the world have gathered for this monumental event. Surprisingly, there are many women competitors, and even more surprisingly, there seems to be a whole lot of arm wrestling enthusiasts. The 80s music begins, and we get to see not just arm wrestling. Oh no. We get to see sweat, tears, and grunts of men and women fighting for the grand prize – a brand new truck. Which is a little short-sighted in thinking that arm wrestlers are solely truck drivers. I’m sure the Japanese representative wouldn’t want to take that back to his homeland. At the same time, Michael has escaped his home and ingeniously made it to Vegas (I won’t dare spoil how) in time to see the final between his father and Bob “The Bull” Hurley, who has taunted and goated Stallone during the entire film.
I won’t spoil the ending for you, but it’s an emotional one. You’ll wish you were a father, you’ll wish you were a truck driver, and most importantly, you’ll wish you too could go OVER THE TOP!
Sorry but this is horrible. Frankly, I was expecting more arm wrestling. It only happens once before the big tournament and even the tournament was a let down. All we get is made-for-tv dad/son sap about taking what you want from life and how gambling at arm wrestling will convince your son you’re a great dad. As for the performances, Stallone isn’t half bad. As for the son, he’s worse than that little boy in Jurassic Park who everyone wanted to die. Michael spends half the movie crying. Crying about how he doesn’t want to go in his dad’s truck, crying that he can’t eat healthy food at roadside diners, and crying endlessly during the final match of the tournament. Be a man Sally!
There is one redeeming part of the movie. There were these little snippets of interviews each of the contestants did that was intercut with footage from the tournament.
Some samples… John Grizzly: When I get to the table, that person, I don't care who they are, they're my mortal enemy. I hate them.
Harry Bosco: My whole body is an engine. This is a fireplug [makes a fist] ... and I'm gonna light him up.
Bob 'Bull' Hurley: Being number one is everything. There is no second place. [pause] Second sucks. This is the best part of the movie.
I don’t think the filmmakers were going for laughs here. I have watched the interviews over and over again. They’re so special and will forever remain in my heart.
As a drama, Zero Stars As a comedy, Two Stars
* For the ex-roommates. At one point Stallone picks up a load of products to haul during the road trip. And what is advertised on the side of the truck? Brut after shave lotion.
3 1/2 stars.This one's a winner. I thought about it all the way home, and I couldn't remember any recent movie that had two such extremely well-written female characters. It's hard enough to find a movie that has one. Rose(Amy Adams) and Norah(Emily Blunt) are funny, complicated and thankfully and REFRESHINGLY are not just concerned with finding the right guy or falling in love.** Apparently movies want to propagate that those two things are the only things women under 30 go through. You should be angry that movies like Bride Wars exist.
A sharp script by first time screenwriter Megan Holley, avoiding the mindfield of cliches that this kind of material attracts. Scenes play like real life. Smart directorial choices by Christine Jeffs. I'd place it into the indie category that includes Garden State, Little Miss Sunshine, and The Station Agent (very good company). Not necessarily that significant or deep, but great characters that you really care about all the way. And it does have good things to say about people our age that maybe haven't gotten life together just yet (yes I raise my hand). Plus the whole crime crime scene clean up concept is strangely appealing. Someone has to clean up the mess.
Putting my crush aside, Emily Blunt is very strong in the role, giving what could easily be a stereotypical slacker a lot of nuance, layers and subtlety. Her scene under the train tracks is so difficult, but man does she pull it off. Possibly one of the best portrayals of this sort of character. Not to mention she’s playing an American which she is not. Both her and Amy Adams are great, and their relationship as sisters in the film feels so real life on the money. F you Sex and the City.
In LA/NY this week (saw it at Arclight), opens wide Fri 3/20.
**The 3 things BS, Glamour Shots romantic comedies are always about… 1. Gotta find a way to juggle career vs. love life 2. The person I am in love with is with the wrong person, he/she should be with me
DVDs Watched this Week: The Good:Watchmen: The Complete Motion Comic, Milk, Primal Fear:Special Edition, Road to Perdition, Pinocchio:70th Anniversary Platinum Edition(my favorite classic Disney), Insomnia, Forgetting Sarah Marshall(Top 10 of last year), The Gift(hugely overlooked), Junior, X-Men 1(better character scenes), X-Men 2(better action), I'm Not There, The Office Seasons 3/4 The Bad:X-Men 3, Ghost(how did this make $200 million at the box office?), Rachel Getting Married, Role Models, To Catch a Thief(Grace Kelly, you are still the most beautiful woman ever) The Ugly: Howard the Duck
Trips to the Theater: None Actors of the Week: Hilary Swank, Hugh Jackman, Stanley Tucci, Jackie Earle Haley Directors of the Week: Bryan Singer, Sam Mendes Songs of the Week: "Freedom Fighters" by Two Steps from Hell from the latest Star Trek trailer, "Fashion is Danger" by Flight of the Conchords, "The Times They are-a Changin;" by Bob Dylan, "Pruit Igoe & Prophecies" by Philip Glass
Good: Cate Blanchett replaces Sienna Miller in Ridley Scott's Robin Hood, Apple updates iTunes with iPod video conversion tool and can now easily play quicktime movie trailers on iPod. Bad: Trailer for Sam Raimi's return to horror looks uninspired. But Drag Me to Hell is one great movie title.
Trailers of the Week: Public Enemies - Michael Mann and Johnny Depp. What a bizarre combo. In a good way. The scale of it looks great, the dialogue seems better than average, the tommy guns and Chicago locations look great, those slow motion shots are sick, and I love the lovely Marion Cotillard. Wasn't 100% on the use of HD in a period movie, but after seeing the trailer in the theater, I'm sold.
Star Trek Trailer 3 - Nothing makes me geek out more than ships shooting at each other in space. JJ Abrams pulled out all of the stops on this one. Eric Bana as a Romulan villain, getting Tony Scott's cinematographer Dan Mindel, finally making Star Trek look glossy and huge. Even got costume designer Michael Kaplan who worked on Fight Club and Blade Runner. Love those anamorphic lenses causing all of those gorgeous lens flares on the bridge. Reminds me of John McTiernan. Chris Pine(great in Smokin' Aces) already looks confident as Kirk. And for the Asians, it's nice that John Cho gets a nice moment in the trailer as Sulu, ripping off his helmet to fight. Still, Transformers looked good too and was written by the same screenwriters(yikes). Shoutout to Two Steps From Hell who composed the fantastic music used in both trailers.
3 stars.There is a lot of staggering stuff to look at. All of the stylistic choices (costumes, sets, lighting) feel right on the money. Jackie Earle Haley deserves an Oscar Nom he's so good as Rorschach. But there is one seriously miscast role, and ultimately I think the movie's maybe more intellectually stimulating than emotionally moving. Dr. Manhattan as an idea is fascinating, and I'm still thinking about him, but I'm not sure how much I care about the guy. Overall it's still definitely worth seeing and taking in. There's something very special about it. I'm amazed a studio allowed them to make the a $130 million movie the way this one is. I should also mention that I really didn't like Zach Snyder’s previously directed 300. I don’t think he’s good with actors, but I do admire his boldness. I mean, what comic book movie has ever used a Bob Dylan song? Btw, I saw Reiko Aylesworth who played Michelle Dessler on 24 at my screening. I saw her on Lost just the night before.
One thing to mention, beware that the movie is a very hard R. The material, especially the sophistication of the themes, is meant for adults. It wants to be dark and fairly unforgiving. A couple of examples: A pregnant woman does get shot, a couple of arms are cut off by an electric saw. They aren’t cut off quickly. Still, I read the entire 12 part graphic novel(fantastic) and I really want to watch the movie again. Even if it’s not 100% successful, the artistic ambition is something to be admired. There aren’t too many films you think about days after you saw it. And I’ve been trying, but I can’t think of another film like it.
Other Thoughts...
(WARNING: SPOILER FILLED. Absolutely do not read unless you have seen)
The opening title sequence is a real stunner. It sets up the world of costumed heroes perfectly. A masterstroke. Veidt at Studio 54, the flower in the gun barrel, and apparently The Comedian killed JFK.
The funeral sequence is excellent. A great point for the backstories, exceptionally well shot and cut together. A brilliant sequence really.
How can anyone not love Rorschach? Eating the beans, “Give me back my face!”, his no compromise death scene. Man he’s so great.
Of the things that could’ve been cut, I would’ve taken out Hollis, the first Nite Owl. This is where things in the book work maybe better than they do in the movie. I would’ve set up Dan, the current Nite Owl as more sad in his regular life. Maybe a shot of his fat belly and him putting on those Revenge of the Nerds glasses. Something that would’ve made me care about him more right from the start. I actually liked his relationship with Jupiter and the playing out of his schoolboy crush on her.
That being said, Malin Akerman is pretty awful in the role. Jupiter is the emotional link to the film, and we’re suppose to take lot of things in through her, but oh those wooden line readings. You need an actress with some inner life here, but she’s so reactionary and pissy. She’s physically right for the role, but I would’ve gone for a real actress like Natalie Portman or Rachel McAdams. Someone with some pathos and not a valley girl. And you might get mad, but I think the character is actually written poorly in the novel. She’s a bit too whiny and needy. Maybe it was the 80s and strong, smart female characters weren’t happening yet.
And I’ve been trying to figure it out, but I don’t understand the real significance of The Comedian being her dad. I can’t tie it in to the rest of the film or to why it is so important that it’s the last real scene of the film. What does it say about her life? What does it change about her? She doesn’t seem to be struggling with her identity and that is what the revelation would solve. Please explain this one to me.
Some of the music choices don’t work that well. The Hendrix and a few other terribly familiar Vietnam rock songs. But the Bob Dylan is perfect as well as the Philip Glass piece that was used in the last trailer. And I even liked the period appropriate use of 99 Red Balloons.
Dr. Manhattan. I want to be him. The whole thing fascinates me. His backstory, his romantic story, his dad the watchmaker, that whole incredible sequence jumping back and forth through time, the VC bowing to him in defeat(blue men do hate Asians), the burning of the symbol into his forehead, the fact that he can become King Kong and pick you up with his hand, and the big “Leave me alone!”. My mind was lit up like a Christmas tree. I would watch the film again just to see him. I just wished his finally leaving earth was a bit more emotional. Not that he would be, but that someone would genuinely miss him. Billy Crudup is an inspired choice. Well done.
I ultimately wished the entire movie was more emotional. I didn’t feel Veidt’s loneliness and remorse as I did in the novel. And Nite Owl should be more broken up after Rorschach’s death. He does the big scream, but the happy scene with Silk Spectre glosses over everything too neatly. The journal is a great closer, but again, I wish I felt more.
Fanboys should have nothing to complain about. This is pretty much Watchmen on film. One would argue to a fault. If I were making it, I probably would’ve condensed things, moved it to present day(with maybe W. still in the White House) and given Veidt a lot more screen time that he has. But I definitely would’ve been the wrong person to make it.
If you think about it, Veidt’s really a twisted Bruce Wayne. I think Matthew Goode is wonderful in the role. If you're trying to place him, he was in Woody Allen's Match Point.
No matter what, Watchmen is pretty special. I’ve been thinking about it a lot for the past few days. And the movie isn’t like any other I can think of. What Pulp Fiction is to crime movies, Watchmen is to comic book movies.
Synecdoche NY 2 1/2 stars. Pronounced sin-ECK-de-key is Charlie Kaufman’s directorial debut. I can’t dismiss it because it isn’t dismissible. The things he wants to talk about (death, the ache of life, compartmentalizing and controlling) are interesting things but the movie itself isn’t. I kept thinking about Benjamin Button. A lot of the themes are the same here, but I cared so much about Benjamin in that film and I don’t care at all about Caden Cotard (PS Hoffman). It’s a drag to sit through his life. And there are much better movies that try to replicate dreams (Mulholland Drive being the first one I can think of). All in all it feels self-indulgent and that it almost wants to alienate its audience.
Australia 3 1/2 stars.It’s really sad that no one saw it and seemingly very few people are renting it. Maybe we’re not in the mood for a big budget romantic epic, but this one is such a good one. Not perfect, but Baz Luhrmann brings a lot of wit, a lot of style, and a lot of emotion. I was surprised how much I cared about everyone. Hugh Jackman is also great in it, in a role meant for Russell Crowe. One of the best trailers from last year.
Milk 2 1/2 stars.A disappointment. It’s not a bad film. Far from it. But it is surprisingly just another fight for our rights, fight for justice movie. Injustice is occurring, someone decides to fight against it, obstacles upon obstacles rise, they are overcome. Sean Penn is good but we hardly get to know much about Harvey Milk. All of the supporting characters aren’t very fleshed out and are instead simply flamboyant and effeminate(reinforcing stereotypes). Whoever Harvey is fighting for, it doesn’t seem to be the gay people around him since they don’t seem to be the ones suffering. Nothing feels all that personal. The most fascinating character is Josh Brolin’s (Dan White is a deeply conflicted and sad man), but he desperately needs more scenes. The screenplay won an Oscar, but I think it needed a rewrite.
JCVD 3 stars.Not as good as when I saw it in the theater, but Van Damme is still shockingly good as himself. He’s so sad, so worn, and so natural. Some of its based on real life, some not(he did lose his son in a custody battle), but I have so much sympathy for the guy. He’s not a-hole Steven Seagal. It’s not the money, it’s the movies. He really wants to make people happy with his movies. The irony and tragedy of that is worth checking out. Only available at Blockbuster.
3 1/2 stars. It's a warm, warm movie, mostly because of the massive likability of Jim Carrey and Zooey Deschanel. Getting to spend an hour and 45 minutes with the two of them is reason enough to see Yes Man.
