And so it ends. My journey to see all 2008 theatrical releases ends only 37 days late. While there could have been better films to end it on, maybe the other missed film of the year but still, Flash of Genius is a decent film.
I won't say I was invested in the film or it's characters but it moved and had a great cast. Outside of that it was just a typical movie based on real events. I had never heard of the whole wiper law suit so that was kind of inetresting but I don't know, it didn't really do anything for me.
I can't recommend the film but it's close to a recommendation quality. Just not all that interesting and reminds me of a non-documentary version of WHo Killed the Electric Car.
Movie - 2.5/5
Friday, February 6, 2009
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist
One of the final two films I missed in 2008. I actually wanted to see this one but just never got around to it. I like Cera even if he tends to play the same character.
I really enjoyed this movie. To be fair it's nothing special or great but it's cute and charming and just kind of fun. A lot more entertaining than every rom com from 2008 and any from 2009 thus far. The plot is simple. A guy gets his heart broken but continues to send her mix tapes. She just throws them away and her rival friend person finds them and loves them. Due to odd circumstances they end up meeting at a party, pretending to be bf/gf and then shenanigans begin.
Like I said, it's nothing special but very enjoyable for what it is. The music is decent, the jokes feel natural enough and it moves at a very nice pace.
Movie - 3/5
I really enjoyed this movie. To be fair it's nothing special or great but it's cute and charming and just kind of fun. A lot more entertaining than every rom com from 2008 and any from 2009 thus far. The plot is simple. A guy gets his heart broken but continues to send her mix tapes. She just throws them away and her rival friend person finds them and loves them. Due to odd circumstances they end up meeting at a party, pretending to be bf/gf and then shenanigans begin.
Like I said, it's nothing special but very enjoyable for what it is. The music is decent, the jokes feel natural enough and it moves at a very nice pace.
Movie - 3/5
What Just Happened
Another limited release film that I wanted to see. Unlike the others though this was an utter let down. I thought the Hollywood factor of the film from it's setting to it's high end cast would make it a great serious version of Entoruage but in reality it really did nothing for me.
It's one of the many cases where the trailer feels like a different film. It was kind of boring actually. About a film producer and his short comings. The cast does a fine job but I found it lacking in plot and the content was far from interesting. Not recommended at all.
Movie - 1/5
It's one of the many cases where the trailer feels like a different film. It was kind of boring actually. About a film producer and his short comings. The cast does a fine job but I found it lacking in plot and the content was far from interesting. Not recommended at all.
Movie - 1/5
Monday, January 26, 2009
Let the Right One In
I heard of this film a little while back and then forgot about it. It recently popped up in my browsing of the IMDB top 250, which it is part of as of this writing so I had to watch it. It's said to be a great film, way better than the crapfest known as twilight.
I like vampires. I think the mythos are awesome so I was hoping this was more than a sappy love story and thankfully it is. Oskar is a 12 year old boy who gets bullied every day, his parents are split and he ahs no friends. Suddenly a strange girl moves in next door, she never comes out during the day, she pukes when she eats normal food and she's just odd all around.
I wasn't wowed by the cinematography, it's good but not omg that was so amazing. Of course I'm shallow and find a few shots in the texas Chainsaw Massacre remake to me awe inspiring so who am I to judge such things I guess.
The acting is good, the plot continues to be inetresting the whole time. My problem comes from a lack of delivering the entire plot from the novel (which I haven't read). If this was done the nudity scene would make more sense and as it stands it's so quick you have no clue what you just saw and you can miss a huge part of the film. I shouldn't have to hunt around on-line for the answers and then be shocked by them that way.
But still it's a very solid film. I was engrossed the entire time and I'd recommend it for sure. The dvd is due in March and the remake (oh yay....) is due in 2010. I'm sure it will suck so do yourself a favor and check out this film and keep wikipedia handy for explanations.
Movie - 4/5
I like vampires. I think the mythos are awesome so I was hoping this was more than a sappy love story and thankfully it is. Oskar is a 12 year old boy who gets bullied every day, his parents are split and he ahs no friends. Suddenly a strange girl moves in next door, she never comes out during the day, she pukes when she eats normal food and she's just odd all around.
I wasn't wowed by the cinematography, it's good but not omg that was so amazing. Of course I'm shallow and find a few shots in the texas Chainsaw Massacre remake to me awe inspiring so who am I to judge such things I guess.
The acting is good, the plot continues to be inetresting the whole time. My problem comes from a lack of delivering the entire plot from the novel (which I haven't read). If this was done the nudity scene would make more sense and as it stands it's so quick you have no clue what you just saw and you can miss a huge part of the film. I shouldn't have to hunt around on-line for the answers and then be shocked by them that way.
But still it's a very solid film. I was engrossed the entire time and I'd recommend it for sure. The dvd is due in March and the remake (oh yay....) is due in 2010. I'm sure it will suck so do yourself a favor and check out this film and keep wikipedia handy for explanations.
Movie - 4/5
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Frozen River
I never heard of this film until the Oscar nominations hit. So I'm going to judge a few areas based on those noms.The film follows a down on her luck white trash woman who ends up helping an Indian woman sneak people across the Canadian boarder into America.
That's the basic plot but it's more about the family side of things that hold the film together. The transporting is a side story to it all but ultimately the film only has one road to go down.
The main actress, whom I've never heard of (Melissa Leo), got an Oscar nomination for best actress in a film. She does a fine job in the film and I'm sure the scene they showed the academy is the cop lying scene around the mid-point. She looks guilty as hell while trying to quickly answer questions.
This same scene brings something else up though and that's the script. I can't blame the cops acting skills for this but the dialog here is so poorly written that I can't imagine why the film got a nomination for best original screenplay. Not only that but I can't say anything stuck with me outside of that scene and that scene stuck out due to the poor quality of it.
But with all of that being said it was still a pretty good movie. I was interested the whole time in what was going on and it's a story that hasn't been done in this way, that I know of at least (by that I mean the Indian's having the reservation, passports ect). I'd recommend it for anyone interested in it because it's worth a viewing.
Movie - 3.5/5
That's the basic plot but it's more about the family side of things that hold the film together. The transporting is a side story to it all but ultimately the film only has one road to go down.
The main actress, whom I've never heard of (Melissa Leo), got an Oscar nomination for best actress in a film. She does a fine job in the film and I'm sure the scene they showed the academy is the cop lying scene around the mid-point. She looks guilty as hell while trying to quickly answer questions.
This same scene brings something else up though and that's the script. I can't blame the cops acting skills for this but the dialog here is so poorly written that I can't imagine why the film got a nomination for best original screenplay. Not only that but I can't say anything stuck with me outside of that scene and that scene stuck out due to the poor quality of it.
But with all of that being said it was still a pretty good movie. I was interested the whole time in what was going on and it's a story that hasn't been done in this way, that I know of at least (by that I mean the Indian's having the reservation, passports ect). I'd recommend it for anyone interested in it because it's worth a viewing.
Movie - 3.5/5
The Boy in the Stripped Pajamas
This actually hit my theater but I missed it. Glad I did because I didn't care for it at all. I made a mark of seeing the film when Entertainment Weekly had it in their bottom 10 of 2008 and I thought that was od ebcause I remember hearing good things about it.
Frankly the film moves at a snails pace. For a concentration camp it seemed pretty light and the folks could go up to the fence and be out of sight for a while which seems odd.
Maybe I missed something at the end but the entire finale (which ends way to abruptly) felt tacked on at the last minute. There was no reason to do what they do and then it's clear once it happens what the true ending will be but then boom, black and the credits roll.
I'd say pass on this one. If you want a WW2 film go see The Reader, it was much better.
movie - 1/5
Frankly the film moves at a snails pace. For a concentration camp it seemed pretty light and the folks could go up to the fence and be out of sight for a while which seems odd.
Maybe I missed something at the end but the entire finale (which ends way to abruptly) felt tacked on at the last minute. There was no reason to do what they do and then it's clear once it happens what the true ending will be but then boom, black and the credits roll.
I'd say pass on this one. If you want a WW2 film go see The Reader, it was much better.
movie - 1/5
Friday, January 23, 2009
Waltz with Bashir (limited release)
This film had a lot of buzz going for it. Within the first few seconds I knew I would love it only because the animation was so damn sexy. The color choices and the way every look is fantastic. It uses the same style of animation found in A Scanner Darkly which I also enjoyed.
The film is a documentary and follows a man who has forgotten a certain moment in his life dealing with the war. So he sets out to talk to people he knew from that time frame to try and figure out what happened to him and why he can't remember. It's a great film really, I was very captivated by it and despite subtitles I had no trouble getting into it.
What Grave of the Fireflies did for Anime I think this film will do the same for a new generation because really it's a great film. In my top 10 for sure and glad I took the time to watch because it might have been one of those films I would have just passed over without thinking about. Hopefully it wins the best foreign film Oscar.
Entertainment Value - 4/5
Movie - 5/5
The film is a documentary and follows a man who has forgotten a certain moment in his life dealing with the war. So he sets out to talk to people he knew from that time frame to try and figure out what happened to him and why he can't remember. It's a great film really, I was very captivated by it and despite subtitles I had no trouble getting into it.
What Grave of the Fireflies did for Anime I think this film will do the same for a new generation because really it's a great film. In my top 10 for sure and glad I took the time to watch because it might have been one of those films I would have just passed over without thinking about. Hopefully it wins the best foreign film Oscar.
Entertainment Value - 4/5
Movie - 5/5
Friday, January 16, 2009
The Haunting Of Molly Hartley
This was one of the three movies I missed in 2008 so I'm glad to finally see it and bring myself closer to my goal, despite being a month late in doing so.
The films starts off pretty well. The cinematography is solid and I was hoping for a great film with the opening scene. And then it goes the cliched route of dreams and other lame stuff.
The film is about a girl whose mother stabs her when she is a kid and now her mother has been put away and she's starting a new life in a new school. Think of Mean Girls meets The Omen but it does neither of those films justice.
The acting is solid for this type of film but the plot is all over the place and the cliched characters become annoying. The bad girl with ripped clothes, the religious freak ect. The biggest problem is that not only does the film have everything ruined in the trailer, which is what I was figuring on anyway but the ending itself comes out of nowhere and makes no sense. It rushes through the final minutes and I was left really confused as to what had just happened.
Not worth the time. Horror fans will be let down by there being no horror, hauntings or demons. At least this is a better effort than 2007's October Horror film, don't remember the name but it had Paranormal Hour in it's title and featured really bad acting.
Entertainment Value - 1/5
Movie - 1/5
The films starts off pretty well. The cinematography is solid and I was hoping for a great film with the opening scene. And then it goes the cliched route of dreams and other lame stuff.
The film is about a girl whose mother stabs her when she is a kid and now her mother has been put away and she's starting a new life in a new school. Think of Mean Girls meets The Omen but it does neither of those films justice.
The acting is solid for this type of film but the plot is all over the place and the cliched characters become annoying. The bad girl with ripped clothes, the religious freak ect. The biggest problem is that not only does the film have everything ruined in the trailer, which is what I was figuring on anyway but the ending itself comes out of nowhere and makes no sense. It rushes through the final minutes and I was left really confused as to what had just happened.
Not worth the time. Horror fans will be let down by there being no horror, hauntings or demons. At least this is a better effort than 2007's October Horror film, don't remember the name but it had Paranormal Hour in it's title and featured really bad acting.
Entertainment Value - 1/5
Movie - 1/5
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
The Reader (Limited Release)
I remember seeing the trailer for The Reader a few months ago and couldn't wait until I could watch it. It's another of those Oscar rush films but it seems many critics dislike it because they don't get the "message" of the film. I won't go into details because they are spoilers.
The film involves a 15 year old boy who falls for a woman and they have sex but only when he reads to her before hand. It then jumps 5 years and he's in college. I don't want to go further because again it might spoil something.
This films easily falls into my top 5 of 2008. The acting from Kate Winslet is down right amazing. The look in her eyes in each scene is just amazing. Plus if you're a fan of nudity Kate shows her body for the first hour and if you're a gal the young lead prances about nude a lot as well.
I highly recommend this film. if it's playing near you then take the time to see it because it's worth it.
Entertainment Value - 4/5
Movie - 5/5
The film involves a 15 year old boy who falls for a woman and they have sex but only when he reads to her before hand. It then jumps 5 years and he's in college. I don't want to go further because again it might spoil something.
This films easily falls into my top 5 of 2008. The acting from Kate Winslet is down right amazing. The look in her eyes in each scene is just amazing. Plus if you're a fan of nudity Kate shows her body for the first hour and if you're a gal the young lead prances about nude a lot as well.
I highly recommend this film. if it's playing near you then take the time to see it because it's worth it.
Entertainment Value - 4/5
Movie - 5/5
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Happy-Go-Lucky (limited release)
Up for a Golden Globe and one a top 10 list I read I figured I just have to see this film. Plus it's British and I love their humor..
Yeah.. Except in this film. I found this to be a sad attempt at trying to be the next Amelie. A film that is just kind of cute and funny but it fails in that sense. I didn't find it that funny and the main girl is just so annoying and not ebcause of her being happy ever second of her life but she's a crude person. I think the dricing instructor sums it up perfectly in the end.
If you liked the film "Sideways" then you will most likely love this film. It has the same theme going for it. Not recommended either way...
Entertainment value - 1/5
Movie - 2/5
Yeah.. Except in this film. I found this to be a sad attempt at trying to be the next Amelie. A film that is just kind of cute and funny but it fails in that sense. I didn't find it that funny and the main girl is just so annoying and not ebcause of her being happy ever second of her life but she's a crude person. I think the dricing instructor sums it up perfectly in the end.
If you liked the film "Sideways" then you will most likely love this film. It has the same theme going for it. Not recommended either way...
Entertainment value - 1/5
Movie - 2/5
Friday, January 9, 2009
Repo: Genetic Opera (limited theatrical release)
I saw a trailer for this a few months back and had to see the movie. But then it never came out near me and I was a sad movie goer. The producers promised a wider release if the soundtrack sold a lot but alas it's hard for a soundtrack to sell if no one hears of it.
Either way I have to say this is my favorite musical of 2008. It's also in my top 10 of 2008 but don't get too excited because it does have a few flaws. The films biggest flaw is the music itself.
It's good, don't get me wrong but the music is a bit over powering and the lyrics can be lost easily. The entire cast does a great job. Head is great as Repo and it's really nice how he changes on the fly between the father figure and the Repo Man. Alexa Vega sings her heart out and she's good, who knew the Spy Kids girl could kick so much ass. And then we have Paris Hilton. yes, that PH. Not only wasn't she recognizable but she does a good job with her musical numbers.
The plot of the film is simple. A girl is dying, her father keeps her locked away and a mystery man says he has the cure. Her father is the Repo man, a person who takes back body parts that others have signed a contract for but have failed to hold their end of the bargain up. It's an interesting premise with a stereotypical theme going but zany characters thrown in.
It's not Rocky Horror but it's damn close to being that kind of cult film. I highly recommend this one for when it hits dvd in a few weeks and I'll be picking up the bluray for sure.
Movie - 4/5
Recommend: Yes
Either way I have to say this is my favorite musical of 2008. It's also in my top 10 of 2008 but don't get too excited because it does have a few flaws. The films biggest flaw is the music itself.
It's good, don't get me wrong but the music is a bit over powering and the lyrics can be lost easily. The entire cast does a great job. Head is great as Repo and it's really nice how he changes on the fly between the father figure and the Repo Man. Alexa Vega sings her heart out and she's good, who knew the Spy Kids girl could kick so much ass. And then we have Paris Hilton. yes, that PH. Not only wasn't she recognizable but she does a good job with her musical numbers.
The plot of the film is simple. A girl is dying, her father keeps her locked away and a mystery man says he has the cure. Her father is the Repo man, a person who takes back body parts that others have signed a contract for but have failed to hold their end of the bargain up. It's an interesting premise with a stereotypical theme going but zany characters thrown in.
It's not Rocky Horror but it's damn close to being that kind of cult film. I highly recommend this one for when it hits dvd in a few weeks and I'll be picking up the bluray for sure.
Movie - 4/5
Recommend: Yes
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Defiance (limited release advance review)
The previews for this looked good and I like Craig and Schievber (whom every time I see in a movie flashback to hitting him with my camera). The film is nothing like I imagined. Maybe I thought it would be more of a war film, which is kind of is.
The cast is great despite the accents just seem a bit odd but everyone has the same thing going on so I'll just assume it's accurate. Either way the film works really well, tells an interesting story about 3 Jews who escape Poland and try to build a village in the forest.
It's another fine example of the studios holding out on the solid films and releasing crap for rest of the year. I'd recommend this one for a theatrical viewing, it may or may not be nominated for some Oscars, either way it's a solid film, one of a few from 2008.
Movie - 4.5 /5
Recommend: Yes
The cast is great despite the accents just seem a bit odd but everyone has the same thing going on so I'll just assume it's accurate. Either way the film works really well, tells an interesting story about 3 Jews who escape Poland and try to build a village in the forest.
It's another fine example of the studios holding out on the solid films and releasing crap for rest of the year. I'd recommend this one for a theatrical viewing, it may or may not be nominated for some Oscars, either way it's a solid film, one of a few from 2008.
Movie - 4.5 /5
Recommend: Yes
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Mum & Dad
What the fuck is this? This family "adopts" some kids and then they fuck them, torture them and all kinds of crazy shit.
It's not a good film. It's rather horrid with it's images. One scene almost made me ill where the dad gets it on with a bloody piece of meat. The sound of it was sickening.
The acting is fine enough and nothing like porn music and moaning as your soundtrack. It's a giant piece of shit film that's only purpose is to shock the viewer but it comes off as tasteless porn instead.
Movie - 1/5
Recommend: No
It's not a good film. It's rather horrid with it's images. One scene almost made me ill where the dad gets it on with a bloody piece of meat. The sound of it was sickening.
The acting is fine enough and nothing like porn music and moaning as your soundtrack. It's a giant piece of shit film that's only purpose is to shock the viewer but it comes off as tasteless porn instead.
Movie - 1/5
Recommend: No
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Wendy & Lucy (Limited Release)
Despite this being a new year this was a 2008 release so the review will be in this blog.
This was a film I never heard of. Honestly I passed it up all together. The cover looked ghetto and DTV but in reality it wasn't. I took notice when someone in Entertainment Weekly listed it in their top 10 best so I figured I'd have to give it a viewing.
What's amazing about this film is how solid it is all around. A woman is trying to get to Alaska to get a job. Her vehicle breaks down in Oregon, her dog goes missing and nothing is going right for her.
And yet she still goes on. She never gives up hope and the film some how makes this character feel real and all of those around her as well. I know we all don't do the best we can towards other people but some people do go above and beyond and this film shows that even the simplest act could go a long way for someone.
Michelle Williams gives a great performance as Wendy and it's easily one of her best but we all know she's a good actress otuside Dawson's Creek. I really do recommend this one, check it out. It would change your life, it won't thrill you with blood and guts but it's a simple story that just works.
Entertainment Value - 2/5
Movie - 4.5 /5
This was a film I never heard of. Honestly I passed it up all together. The cover looked ghetto and DTV but in reality it wasn't. I took notice when someone in Entertainment Weekly listed it in their top 10 best so I figured I'd have to give it a viewing.
What's amazing about this film is how solid it is all around. A woman is trying to get to Alaska to get a job. Her vehicle breaks down in Oregon, her dog goes missing and nothing is going right for her.
And yet she still goes on. She never gives up hope and the film some how makes this character feel real and all of those around her as well. I know we all don't do the best we can towards other people but some people do go above and beyond and this film shows that even the simplest act could go a long way for someone.
Michelle Williams gives a great performance as Wendy and it's easily one of her best but we all know she's a good actress otuside Dawson's Creek. I really do recommend this one, check it out. It would change your life, it won't thrill you with blood and guts but it's a simple story that just works.
Entertainment Value - 2/5
Movie - 4.5 /5
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)