I Love You Man

I Love You Man (2009)
Directed by John Hamburg
Starring Paul Rudd, Jason Segel, Rashida Jones

Paul Rudd delivers a note-perfect performance as the 'ultimate boyfriend' whose fiance, a stunning Rashida Jones, is nervous that he has no friends (apart from his mother) and so for their upcoming wedding he needs to find a best man. That's the plot plain and simple and it works, this film is very funny.

Rudd finds Segel by accident and together they have a 'bromance', their courtship being the meat and potatoes of the story. It's a great spin on a buddy movie and Segel is a comic revelation, his laid back performance is off beat and confident. He shines. Rudd steps up and delivers way beyond his regular mode.

The writing is witty and clever and the climax of the story delivers a wise twist, it's a tender film underneath its brash, schoolboy moments. Its a film about love, loving yourself, loving the ones around you and loving life. The film has real heart. Its a great date film, the perfect 'Chick Flick'. I was reluctant to go see this when it came out, I was over the Apatow onslaught, but this film cant be denied.

Good stuff. A must rent DVD.

Look

Look (2007)
Directed by Adam Rifkin
Starring Rhys Corio, Hayes MacArthur, Giuseppe Andrews

The premise - we live in a world blanketed by surveillance cameras. 30 million cctv cameras film us daily in the USA, nothing we do is private. This drama follows 5 interweaving stories over a week in an ordinary town.

Shot entirely from the POV of security cams, what I thought would be unique ended up being predictable and ffwd-able. The 1st big problem was that the scenes were cast with actors who gave average performances, breaking the illusion of real-world 'security cameras' off the bat. The 2nd problem was that the stories were implausible and they all interconnected far too neatly. The film feels like an exercise in style, mostly titillation. I'm always impressed by film-makers that try new things and some scenes in the film are well staged and clever but overall LOOK was a decent idea with average execution.

Worth seeing if you are looking for something different. Rent and watch RED ROAD if you want to see a film that successfully twists and commands the CCTV big brother surveillance concept.

This Is It

This Is It (2009)
Directed by Kenny Ortega
Starring Michael Jackson

This film offers an upclose glimpse behind the scenes at MJ's rehearsals and preparation for a 50 date world tour that never happened due to his sudden tragic death. The film lifts the veil demonstrating what a hard working, uber-talented perfectionist this man was, on-top of his game at 50 years old. No joke, MJ moves, looks and acts like a man half his age.

We get treated to seeing Michael rehearse on stage, we watch him talk and work with dancers and musicians as he works out changes on the fly to the music and dance, perfecting the performance. It's great stuff. Watching him work is fascinating and this is a first, getting to see his talent 'behind the scenes' brings home how truly gifted he was. The film opens with his principle dancers talking to camera, talking about how they have been chosen for the tour; none of them can hold back the tears, its wonderful to see how much one person can inspire others.

Some additional footage of the creation of visual effects for the show shines light into the depth of resources needed to create this visual spectacle, trust me they spared NO expense. The film works best when we get to see MJ rehearse on stage, his mind working as he figures out his moves. Fifteen or so songs are performed in full in the film, its pretty much wall to wall music. I've always been a fan of MJ like most people but this film showed me something I hadn't seen, him working, thinking, processing, creating..

Its not a documentary per say, there is no story, MJ doesnt need one - he is the story. A must see DVD.

The Invention of Lying

The Invention of Lying (2009)
Directed by Ricky Gervais & Matthew Robinson
Starring Ricky Gervais, Jennifer Garner, Jonah Hill

Middle of the road comedy about a chubby loser who lives in an alternate reality where no one has ever lied, in this world everyone is so truthful its hurts and insults are what makes up most of the jokes. Remember Liar, Liar?

A man discovers 'how to lie' on his mothers death bed, when watching her suffer, he lifts her fear of dying by making up a story about eternal happiness; seeing all of your family and friends, living in a mansion (etc) when you die. This scene is very emotional, Gervais is crying for real, its top notch stuff and nails the whole point of the movie. Wish there were more scenes like this in the film. The doctors and hospital hear him say these words and the message spreads; pretty soon the whole world believes Gervais and he becomes a blue collar messiah (no-one assumes he is lying because no-one even knows what a lie is).

Parts of this film draw from The Life Of Brian, Gervais grew under that influence. Ricky makes best out of an average screenplay that he co-wrote.. There is a love story that frames the film but Garner never seems to Gel. She is stiff in straight comedy, in my opinion. Rob Lowe plays a characters so slimy he stands out like a sore thumb with his scene chewing.

There are some touching moments in this movie; like in Ghost Town, Gervais knows how to connect to our inner loser, he is good at making us cringe in humiliation. I'm big fan of his tv work and stand-up, but the movies he makes are so-so, still I enjoyed it even if let down by its predictable ending. I wasn't watching this for great cinema just to have a laugh and I did. Im sure Mr Gervais would be happy with that.

DVD rental for sure.

District 9

District 9 (2009)
Directed by Neill Blomkamp
Starring Sharlto Copely, Jason Cope, David James

A stunning sci-fi thriller written, directed and visually conceived by Blomkamp and produced by Peter Jackson. The film originated as a short created by Blomkamp that clearly depicts the complete visual style of the film with fully realized 3D animation integrated; you can find it on youtube. Blomkamp is a sci-fi visionary in my opinion; this film reaches stunning visual heights with the visual effects and 3D animation, incredible for the budget, better composites than Transformers. Everything is in full sight, all the effects are shot wide. Blomkamp is a master at this stuff, creature design and 3D integration is something he's been doing for years in TV commercials.

The film was a breath of fresh air. Set in Johannesburg, shot in Soweto, the visual tone is unique. The film is set 20 years after the aliens or the 'Prawns' arrived on earth, they are refugees. They look like human prawns and eat garbage so are named after the bottom feeders. Humans now understand their language and the aliens are treated as 4th class citizens, caged in terrible slum squalor. The residents of Johannesburg are sick of the prawns; interesting doco-style confessionals to camera of people reacting to the situation keeps the film exciting. Themes of segregation and xenophobia drive the subtext here with strong echoes of apartheid. Nigerian ganglords abuse and humiliate the prawns, selling them cat-food (their favorite dish) in trade for Alien weapons, the big stretch in the film. Its funny, gross, socially relevant and quite sad.

Sharlto's performance is wacky, he is fun to watch as a man in way over his head and in charge of relocating the 1.8 million Aliens from District 9 to a camp 200 miles outside of the city, far from the sight of humans. The prawns/aliens don't want to move, they are literally ousted and put up a fight. We are made to feel sorry for them and it works.

The twist is something-else in this movie, I don't want to give it away if you haven't seen it. The character arc that the Sharlto goes through is fully rounded and quite brilliant. His biggest fear is made manifest, a fear that consumes and literally transforms him. The alien weapons featured in the story are spectacular, Avatar could have borrowed ideas from this film instead of using Bullets and machine guns in 2135.

The biggest issue I had with District 9 was that if the aliens are sitting on a stock-pile of weapons that only they can operate why don't they put up a fight? This is offset in the story by the fact that the prawns are described as peaceful race without leadership. Small point really but something that got to me.

The crescendo fight scene is well worth the wait, nothing is concealed in the visual effects, its bold. The gritty look of the film helps smooth everything out but still it has to be seen to be believed. The manner in which the story ends makes it's clear there will be a sequel, fine by me. In speaking to friends its obvious this movie polarizes people, they either love or hate it. Some are thrown off by the documentary style opening 20 minutes, some think the acting is OTT the mix of ironic wit and drama, not me, I fell for it hook line and sinker. A must-see, must own DVD.

Notorious

Notorious (2009)
Directed by George Tillman Jr
Starring Jamal Woolard, Mohamed Dione, Derek Luke

The life and death story of the Notorious BIG. It's hard for any actor to fill the shoes and imitate, impersonate, embody the soul of a Legend but Woolard nails it, his Biggie Smalls is spot on. This film blew me away. My friend Jonathan Silver edited a few very cool 'montage sequences' in the film so I was lucky to get a screening pass and see the film early. I didn't know what to expect as biopics are hard to get right, especially when the subject is someone recently deceased who is imprinted in the public consciousness.

I was very impressed by the performances and the up-close intimate approach to the storytelling. The film humanized BIG and connected to his story in an easy to follow, realistic manner. Woolard plays a sexy-cool BIG in the movie, defining the seductive side of BIG and how the ladies loved him. The film was respectful of everyone involved in the violent incidents involving Tupac and the eventual murder of BIG; it didn't point any fingers which is best given the case is still unsolved.

The film is really all about the music and how BIG made it happen, from rags to riches literally. The music is wall to wall in the film, the recreation of famous scenes of BIG on the street in rap-battles are just brilliant. Woolard raps in the exact same style and flow as BIG, very impressive. Its an excellent drama that clearly defines the pit-falls of overnight success and fame. It's a real shame what happened to BIG given how super talented and young he was. I remember listening to underground mix-tapes featuring BIG before I came to the US, in the very early nineties. Looking at him then who would have thought he'd become the super-star that he did; BIG had that one in a million voice..

Good movie, well recommended even if you are not a fan of RAP or dont know who BIG is. This film towers over the awful film 'Hustle and Flow', this is the real-deal, no fun and games just a hustler hustling, living the American Dream. Such a pity his dream was so short-lived. A must see, rental on DVD.

London to Brighton

London to Brighton (2006)
Directed by Paul Andrew Williams
Starring Lorraine Stanley, Georgia Groome, Johnny Harris

A startling UK drama captured in a gritty-raw-documentary style and featuring outstanding performances from the two teenage female leads. A young prostitute befriends a runaway then convinces her to do a small job for her pimp; escort a rich man to a hotel for one hundred pounds. The date goes wrong when the man gets aggressive and by twist of fate, he ends up getting killed.

The dead man's son is a renowned gangster who pursues the girls, threatening to kill the pimp if he doesn't hand them over. The girls flee to Brighton on the train from London. Alone by the bleak ocean they are double crossed by so called friends. The climax is a little strange when the son of the dead man finds pity, but its a movie, not real life and it works. I was sold.

Really enjoyed the harsh realism of this film, it didn't pull any punches it was brutal and honest. Lessons for most teens to be learned from this movie. The movie draws your attention right away and doesn't let up until its over. It's a well directed film well worth looking out for on the DVD rack.

Where the Wild Things Are

Where the Wild Things Are (2009)
Directed by Spike Jonze
Starring Max Records, Pepita Emmerichs, Max Pfeifer.

This movie was a visual treat but a let-down narratively. In my opinion it wasn't long enough and it didn't reach an emotional climax, it was over intellectual with no pay-off. The story is just getting interesting when suddenly it ends. Don't get me wrong I enjoyed the film and was swept away by the elegant, eccentric, direction of Mr Jonze, it's just that the film is from a Mendack kids book with little or no exposition and the film is the same, so I ended up finding it hard to care for the characters. In short it left me cold.

I thought the talented VO actors did a good job wrangling with elements of dialogue to bring the Furry characters to life. Ok the message is good if very ham-fisted and simple. I guess I was expecting a lot with Jonze behind the helm. It should be said that the visual effects were outstanding, seamless, even if the characters had a Sesame Street naivety to them; the eyes were fantastic. The music is also very good. Really I guess I wanted more layers, more subtext in the story, more of a grand payoff, regardless its still a competent film and well worth seeing.

Some friends of mine swore this was the greatest film ever, they loved it. So I went in ready to be blown away. That's what I love about movies; we all get such different things from them.

Drag Me To Hell

Drag Me To Hell (2009)
Directed by Sam Raimi
Starring Alison Lohman, Justin Long, Lorna Raver

A return to form for Raimi. This was the 'loudest' film I have ever seen and I'm not kidding; it was blasting when I saw it at Arclight with my son River. No joke the sound was at 11, this of course made the film scarier.

Raimi knows how to scare and gross out an audience, he's been doing it for years; starting with Evil Dead almost 30 years ago. Years of making big Hollywood movies has polished his style, making his return to horror a slick high-end package, well crafted and very scary. Well, when I say scary I mean Raimi scary, it's always tongue in cheek which makes his gross-out spectacles easier to stomach.

I laughed and screamed at this movie - it was scary, silly, gross and full of suspense. Alison Lohman was perfectly cast as the smart young bank worker, vying for the assistant manager position. Trying to impress her boss, she refuses an over-extended old lady (who happens to be a witch) an extension on her mortgage; essentially throwing her out of her home. All hell breaks loose as the witch sets a demonic curse (the Lamia, a goat demon) on the poor girl, sending her life spiraling into hell. The climax is double barreled with a good twist, that if you're watching closely you can see coming.

In this film Raimi drives the train with confidence and delivers 100% on the thrills. I really enjoyed it and I saw it again on DVD and it was just as good 2nd time around. I am a fan of most kinds of horror and usually PG-13 means it will be not very frightening, not in this case. The gross out action is insane, blood and guts were restricted, so Raimi makes up for it in buckets of vomit and a terrifying creepy witch. Good late night DVD rental and if you're a fan of Horror, its a must-own.

Julie and Julia

Julie and Julia
Directed by Nora Ephron
Starring Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Stanley Tucci

A film that parallels Julia Child's education in French cooking with Julie Powell's 2002 Blog challenge to cook all the recipes in Child's first book. This is a very clever film adapted from two memoirs, Ephron is in total control here writing and directing; its flawless and the performances are top-notch.

Amy Adams character has a terrific arc; she loses her mind and we believe her, we share her anxiety, watch her overcome by fear of failure and feelings of inadequacy. Streep is brilliant as usual and she nails Julia Child so accurately its hard to imagine the real Julia without seeing Meryl's face - like Val Kilmer's 'Jim Morrison'.

Tucci plays the husband of Julia Child; he loves her, encourages her, never loses sight in her potential. The two love stories in the film are worlds apart and this contrast makes for stimulating comparisons; of course the paths never cross even though there is a chance they might and we hope the do. It's masterful film-making, inspiring and heart warming; we see two women overcome fear by challenging themselves, in the end creating inspiration for others. Ephron hits a home run.

I loved this movie so much, it moved me, had me in stitches and tears. The music, production design and cinematography are all excellent in this half period, half modern day comedy. A must see, must own.

Slumdog Millionaire

Slumdog Millionaire
Directed by Danny Boyle
Starring Dev Patel, Saurabh Shukla, Prem Kapur

Film of the decade in my opinion. Shot for a mediocre budget on HD handicams, on location in India. This film is a breath of fresh air. The story is quite insane; a young clever man from the slums of India wins the popular TV game show 'Who wants to be a millionaire' and so he is interrogated by the police who believe he cheated.

The brutal torturous interrogation uses flashbacks to explain how the contestant knew all the answers, we learn he is honest and see how he falls in love. The game-show and interrogation are basic framing devices for the heroic love-story at the core of this film, a love story set against the odds that lifts the heart at the climax of the story.

The end credit scene in the train station will bring a tear to anyones eye. Finally a cross-over Bollywood masterpiece brought to us by a man I consider to be the most relevant director of our Generation, Danny Boyle. This director can cross Genres like Kubrick and still command his stories.

The performances in this film are genuine and committed, a lot of non-actors again delivering brilliance; Boyle clearly knew what he wanted. The cast are also so interesting and beautiful to look at set against the primary color landscape of India. The film is very much so a visual treat.

Who would ever think a small indie film centered around the TV show 'Who wants to be a millionaire' would win Best Picture Academy Award. The reason is simple, Mr Boyle takes the impossible cliche and makes it stimulating, relevant, vibrant and exciting. The music is outstanding 'Jai Ho' is an intoxicating groove.. it won best song!

This is a must-own dvd.

The Hangover

The Hangover (2009)
Directed by Todd Philips.
Starring Brad Cooper, Ed Helm, Zach Galifianakis, Heather Graham.

There was so much hype for this film that I went in with very high expectations, still I LMAO. It was a cleverly structured movie with a tight screenplay. The film does not focus on (or show) the party, just the terrible aftermath (or The Hangover), this creates a cool mystery that allows the effects of the party (layers of problems) to unravel as the men sober up. The film is a farce and completely implausible but it doesn't matter, you run with it and enjoy the nightmare. It's like being drunk when you watch it.. the film is absurdly brilliant.

The movie was full of great sight-gags, Ed Helms missing tooth being the one that 1st comes to mind. Helms steals the show, he is so hilarious, a wild-tiger inside an uptight nerd; his scenes with Heather Graham are so funny. Helms' arc is the biggest in the film and when it gets to the end and dumps his horrid fiance, we feel his world is a better place. It's not only a movie about marriage and a hangover in Vegas, its about friendship, loyalty and family. The end of the movie really makes the journey make sense, when we see the men reconnect with their loved ones.. it feels good.

The only thing that really bothered me in the movie was the nasty little Asian gay mob-guy who kidnaps Mike Epps, this whole scene was a complete waste of time to me, and not that funny. Mike Tyson plays himself in a smart move, he even sings 'Something in the air' by Phil Collins, taking the piss out of himself. Kudos Tyson!!! Check out the documentary Tyson, it is also very good. The Hangover just won a GG for Best Comedy... they did something right.

Superbad

Superbad (2007)
Directed by Greg Mottola
Starring Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Christopher Mintz-Plasse

Ok it's been a couple of years since I first saw this film but I had to say my piece. I was really very impressed by the blunt raw humor, it was gut-wrenchingly funny, shocking and very clever. The best comedy I had seen in a while. I was literally in tears and had to watch it over. Mc'Lovin is the funniest original character to have come along in years, C-Mintz-Plasse kicked butt and stole the show. The film understood its demographic completely.

The story is basic; a group of underage sex hungry school-boys are given money (by group of school-girls) to buy and bring booze to a party. The film follows the boys on a caper as they try and purchase the booze and get to the party. Two of the funniest characters in the film are Seth Rogan and Bill Hader as the crazy Cops that drive McLovin around the city. The party scene has some classic funnies including the 'period-leg' which had me in stitches. Also the boner sketch book was just hilarious.

The film also had a brain; Cera's character was extraordinary in his smarts and heart, he really gelled the whole film together and has had a great career ever since this film came out. The dialogue was fresh; its a great script, the kind of film where you find a new joke everytime you watch it.

I recommend this film to own on DVD.

An Education

An Education (2009)
Directed by Lone Scherfig
Starring Carey Mulligan, Peter Sarsgaard, Alfred Molina

This film came recommended and rightly so, it was v-good. Set in UK in the 40's, Carey Mulligan is fantastic as the top student in her class, a bright 16yr who dreams of going to Oxford to read English. Her plans are interrupted when a man twice her age (Sarsgaard) seduces her and introduces her to the adult-life. It feels like Lolita as they proceed to have what feels like an innocent love affair with the blessing of her sycophant father.

His big secret is also her first heartbreak; he is married, Da-nah! Okay it doesn't come as a big surprise, Sarsgaard plays the predator with such subtlety, giving us signs that nowadays we are all aware of but in the 40's we were less educated and more naive. He plays the role skillfully from the start and gives as masterful performance, in my opinion one of his best to date.

The film is set in the 40's; the costumes, production-design, cinematography and music were gorgeous and seamlessly integrated. It felt like a small film, it's a small story, but Mulligan gives a big performance; she is the smartest character in the film and goes head first into the relationship making her own choices. This is not just a film about sexual manipulation its also about what we gain from life experience, mostly from the mistakes we make.

Mulligan plays an intellectual, but she is also just a child at only 16. It's really creepy in the 1st act when Sarsgaard makes his moves on her, we can read his body language. It's the 40's and tradition was to be married off very young, so it seems plausible but as it starts to turn upside down we realize Mulligan is in over her head, again she decides to hold on for the ride. Its a well written film and a premier role for this young actress. I guarantee she will be a big star in the US, it's written all over her.
A must see.. I'm sure will do well at 2010 Oscars.

2012

2012 (2009)
Directed by Roland Emmerich
Starring John Cusack, Amanda Peet, Chiwetel Ejiofor

You can see all you need from this film simply by watching the trailer, I Kid you not. Ok maybe they left out 1 or 2 scenes but thats it. It's a 2 1/2 hr chase film that starts with a bang and ends with a whimper; actually it comes to a grinding halt halfway through. The story prays on mankind's worst fears twisting myth science and history to suit its needs. This film is comedic when it shouldn't be; no one in this movie seems really that concerned its the end of the world. The film doesn't grasp the big global picture, it's too small a story in too big a box.

Also, I just don't see Cusack as an action hero; the role demanded action-man and Cusack didn't feel right; I mean I love his acting but in 2010 he was miscast. The scene chewing performances from Woody Harelsson and Oliver Platt were so OTT that it made the film comedic when it needed tension and dread. Oliver Platt as a whitehouse heavy... I just don't get it.

The special effects are spectacular but its not enough to save this bum number. In the film mankind never really faces extinction as there is an escape, a refuge... an ARK!! This was the final nail in the coffin for me. Still I munched my popcorn and drank my soda and was momentarily entertained, but I go to the movies for more than that. If you like special effects the DVD will be worth owning just for the making of BTS footage.

Paranormal Activity

Paranormal Activity (2009)
Directed by Oren Peli
Starring Micah Sloat, Katie Featherston

Went in a skeptic came out a believer.

A young couple alone in a house, one is possessed by a demon. The boyfriend lets the video camera record while they sleep to try and capture the spooky events. Their isolation from the outside world really helps the suspense. The climax is fun but nothing to to write home about. The best part is the waiting.. Sure the film uses basic suspense and builds tension over a loooong period of time but it still works. I watched it alone and at times even had the chills just waiting for something to happen. They made this movie with a handicam and clever in camera special effects. The tension never wanes and I never got bored get even though we stay in one apartment for 90 mins and see it mostly from one camera angle.

Incredible that it did so well at the Box Office, there is a lesson to be learned from this film - you don't need the gadgets if you have a strong concept.

Gomorrah

Gomorrah (2008)

Directed by Matteo Garone

Starring Tony Servillo, Gianfelice Imparato.

A modern day glance at an Italian crime syndicate; move over Godfather this is the newest and hottest Mafia movie on the block. The film has caused a major uproar in Italy since its release, the author of the book (from which the movie was drawn) has been under 24/7 police protection since it was published, so you know its realistic and based in fact.

This movie is a gritty immediate portrait of life under the crushing control of the mob; it's punk rock, harrowing and shocking, really blood chilling in parts. Half the actors are youngsters who excel in their ruthlessness.

The film was shot on location in the urban wasteland of Naples Italy, the crumbling concrete housing project is a perfect backdrop, alien to our world. The film interweaves five stories of different Italians whose lives are all affected by the influence of organized crime. The stories are simple, about money, power and revenge. This film is a wake-up call, a truly spectacular film that deserves all the accolades it has received. I cant believe this film was snubbed in the Oscar race, well it must mean its a classic!

It Might Get Loud

It Might Get Loud (2009)

Directed by Davis Guggenhiem

Starring Jack White, The Edge, Jimmy Page

Stunning documentary - I took my 16yr old son to see this movie as he loves playing guitar; trust me he was not disappointed.

The film weaves in-depth interviews with the 3 guitar heros and breaks apart their unique individual styles and sounds. We learn about their influences and see lots of archive footage of the men in action. Jack White builds a guitar out of a coke bottle, some nails and a block of wood, quite incredible.

The three guitarists are pioneers but worlds apart; they are brought together to Jam in a studio setting and they each show off riffs and jam together. It's only when Page starts ripping Whole Lotta Love that we are reminded of this man's profound influence on the other two and in guitar playing in general. Page is the master and he doesn't uses tricks or devices, just great hooks, a Gibson and a cranked Marshall amp.

The film has interesting archive footage and goes in depth with Page and his long career before he joined Led Zeppelin. A must see. DVD rental for sure.

Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes (2009)

Directed by Guy Ritchie

Starring Robert Downey Jr, Jude Law, Rachel McAdams, Mark Strong.

Disappointing film - hard to follow its long winded story with a 'who cares' villain; btw I'm a fan of Mark Strong but he was a waste in this film. I expected much more after Rock'n'Rolla and Tropic Thunder, maybe my expectations were too high. The trailer was great but the film was a yawn. It was hard to understand what Sherlock was saying half the time with Robert's 'marbles in the mouth' English accent. The plot was too drawn out and predictable. All I wanted was some spins and twists, a real Sherlock adventure. It didn't happen

Law was too over the top and McAdams was mis-cast. Sure RDJ was sexy, modern and funny; a new take on Holmes for sure, but it didn't work as a movie. Holmes and Watson were like an old married couple; if only Ritchie had made them gay it would have been a much more interesting angle. The story needed to be extraordinary, it's Sherlock Holmes 'fa gawd's sake', it needed more twists that a pretzel and to have been a puzzle only Sherlock could deduce. Okay there are some great set-pieces and a handful of tasty fist-fights but thats it.

I went popcorn in hand, ready to be wowed but instead was sadly disappointed. Dvd rental for sure, if you can stay awake.

Tropic Thunder

Tropic Thunder (2008)

Directed by Ben Stiller

Starring Robert Downey Jr, Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Steve Coogan

My favorite comedy in years. A movie about the making of a war movie that goes haywire, a bungle in the jungle. I've seen it over a dozen times and still can't get enough. John Toll's photography and Jeff Mann's production design alongside amazing performances and sharp funny dialogue makes this film stand out. I'm telling you this movie is so funny, every line is memorable. It's a little gory too, a lot gory in fact.

This film was Stiller's baby for years and it shows. I was seriously well-over Stiller before this came out, but Tropic made me a believer again. It's worlds apart and the cast is perfect; Tom Cruise gives his best turn in years. Downey Jr is remarkable in blackface, the funniest actor in the film for sure; he was nominated for an Academy Award for this performance and I think he should have won. Stiller plays a fantastic dumbed down version of himself but my favorite is Steve Coogan as Damien Cockburn, the erratic clueless director who dies in the first 20 mins.

Maybe this is a guy flick, I'm not sure, most of my buddies love it. Maybe its because Im in the business that I found it relevant and so funny. I think there is something for everyone, even the soundtrack is tops. I could go on all night but my words don't do it justice. The dvd has great commentary and lots of features including making of and behind the scenes. A must own..

Rear Window

Rear Window (1954)

Directed by Alfred Hitchcock

Starring James Stewart, Grace Kelly.

Watching this was like seeing it for the first time ever, okay it had been a decade or two. This is brilliant masterful cinema, one of Hitchcock's best. The entire movie was shot in a massive set at Paramount; they had to knock out the floor of a sound stage and build the set in the basement, in order to have a full four stories to shoot on - incredible, only for Hitch.

James Stewart plays Jeff, a grumpy photographer, laid up with a broken leg in his apartment on a hot summer. Jeff spies into the open windows of adjacent apartments from his rear window using his camera as a telescope. He watches different people but focuses on a strange married couple and assumes, through a series of events, that the husband has killed his wife. Jeff confides in his girlfriend (Grace Kelly) and a friend of his who is a cop. He needs evidence and so uses his girlfriend to help expose the plot, endangering her life when the trap fails but the police save her in the nick of time. The killer comes after Jeff but Jeff blinds him temporarily with flashbulbs from his camera and falls out of the rear window breaking his other leg. The killer is caught and confesses to the police.

The film stays in Jeff's apartment the entire time, it's all confined in the set and it makes it so great. Tense, claustrophobic, hot, anxious, all the elements needed for a great thriller. The lighting and design are immaculate, this is when Hitch was at the top of his game. It deals with paranoia and suspicion, spying, being nosey, security, big brother, all before cctv existed. My favorite film of Hitch's is Strangers on a Train but Rear Window is a must see, dvd owner for sure.

Under The Bombs

Under The Bombs (2007)

Directed by Philippe Aractingi

Starring Nada Abou Farhat, Georges Khabbaz

This compelling fiction blurs the line between feature and documentary. Set in Lebanon and shot 10 days into the 34 day war in 2006. The story follows Zenia, a wealthy Shiite woman who works in Dubai, as she returns to her homeland to find her missing son (and sister). The chaos of the relentless bombing makes transportation impossible but she manages to find a friendly cab driver Tony, a christian, who is willing to drive her on the perilous journey to the south in search of her family. Along the way the two unlikely companions find an intimate closeness, a shared humanity. A innocent new love is born, from out of chaos comes hope and a new beginning.

The film uses all real people and non-actors apart from the two leading actors Farhat and Khabbaz. It's visceral fast paced and exciting. It's a very interesting drama that doesn't choke on politics or cause, just the effect of war and how out of destruction can come regeneration. It's a haunting and evocative film that I recommend watching and owning on dvd. Both actors are very successful in their own countries and this is exemplified in the film by their outstanding performances.

This film really got to me, its amazing how such a profoundly brilliant piece of cinema like this can slip below the radar of public demand. Its a fresh, original and brilliantly crafted film, set during a real war; this is guerilla film making at its best. I'm ashamed to say I didnt know either actor until Id seen this, but from now on I will be following Farhat and Khabbaz in all their future films.

Vicious Circle

Vicious Circle (2009)

Directed by Paul Boyd

Starring Paul Rodriguez, Emily Rios, Trevor Wright

This is my debut feature as a writer director. The film is set in modern day Venice and follows the stormy love affair of RJ and Angel, two Latino teenagers. RJ is a chess genius and an artist, he is quiet and reserved. Angel is the opposite, she is confident and takes charge as the singer in a punk band. They both come from single parent broken families; their connection is real and their love affair is a role reversal. Angel makes the first move and takes RJ's virginity.

RJ's nemesis (Fin) a local bully and drug dealer who employs Angel, is his 1/2 brother and its a secret, no one knows. Fin is jealous of RJ's romance with his employee and when the secret is unveiled it breaks apart RJ and Angel throwing RJ into a deadly long awaited conflict with his 1/2 brother.

The film is structured with a fractured timeline; we open with RJ on the run, blood on his face, a gun in his hand, we assume he has killed his girlfriend. It's a mystery that unfolds in parallel with the game of chess. RJ has to make choices that determine his future with each move he makes. The story and characters have a simple mythological structure that is enhanced through RJ's sketchbook which the film travels into as we go through RJ's mind in an animated 2D world. Each person RJ encounters is a chess piece in the game. The film is a tragedy, a love story about sacrifice. Ultimately RJ loses his girlfriend Angel to a terrible accident that could have been avoided.

Facing Ali

Facing Ali

Directed by Pete McCormack

(Documentary)

A very good interview/film portrait of 10 of Muhammed Ali's former rivals; each man pays tribute to the great man, inter-cut with archive fight footage from each of the fights; Joe Frazier, Henry Cooper, George Foreman to name a few.

I was surprised that all these boxers were still alive; they all looked healthy and discussed with great detail the fights from thirty, forty years ago. It was fascinating to listen to these old fighters analyze and break down the fights in retrospect; the wins and defeats against the 3 time world champion Ali. Watching the film and seeing all these healthy old fighters makes it harder to accept that Muhammed Ali is stricken with Parkinson's Syndrome. He would be an active healthy man in the prime of his life; his legend will always remain intact long after he is gone.

The film is a fitting tribute to Ali, 'the greatest' and the archive footage offers a well compiled historical list of the fights, along with lots of other historical footage including Ali w/ Malcolm X. For any fan of boxing, this is well worth owning on DVD.

Its Complicated

Its Complicated (2009)

Directed by Nancy Meyers

Starring Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin.

LMAO.. this film was touching, sad, truthful, funny and well worth watching. The pairing of Streep and Baldwin makes for cinema magic and there is never a dull moment.

The story lures you into a romantic comedy about a divorced couple who reconnect with passion after 10 years apart and have an affair. The film the diverts into dramatic grounds and delivers a dynamic plot about the fallout that happens as a result; the confusion, the resurfaced pain, the effect on the 'now grown' kids. We are torn from the dream back into the reality and its painful.

Steve Martin plays a role that starts off itchy and ends up fuzzy, he really turns the film around when you least expect it. I thought this was an intelligently written film with clever jokes and classic moments of physical humor. Baldwin must have had a hoot making this film.. its worth seeing for his performance alone.

This is one of those films you will see and talk about amongst your friends, the issues in the story are open for debate with well fleshed out characters and serious conflicts. Real entertaining thought provoking comedy. Nancy Meyers is a hit machine.

The Lovely Bones

The Lovely Bones (2009)

Directed by Peter Jackson

Starring Saorise Ronan, Mark Wahlberg, Stanley Tucci

I didn't read the book which I hear is excellent, but the movie was a let down. It was too staged and implausible. Firstly let me say that Saorise Ronan was incredible, hands down she steals the show, but without her - no movie. Tucci was miscast and really overacted in my opinion so I couldn't connect to him and I love him as an actor, in 'Julie and Julia' he was great.

I didn't care about the central family and Wahlberg didn't cut it for me, didn't believe him. The film goes off into dreamy limbo sequences that don't work - whereas in 'What Dreams May Come' the dream-seq's are an integral part of the story and style, here they felt cheap and phoned in. I was not impressed by the visual effects. It's a cool story, but nothing we haven't seen before. I believe with a different supporting cast this could have been a classic film, instead to me it felt like a movie of the week. I was surprised that Jackson delivered this..

Inglorious Basterds

Inglorious Basterds (2009)

Directed by Quentin Tarantino

Starring Brad Pitt, Christoph Waltz, Diane Kruger, Michael Fassbender

I loved this film, enjoyed every minute. To me this is Tarantino's 1st 'serious' film; don't get me wrong I'm a fan of all of his movies, but this is his first art-film, his first opus. This is serious cinema and he still manages to make it darkly funny. He rewrites history with his fictional account of Nazi occupied France near the end of WWII. The series of events that unfolds leads to the bloody assassination of Adolf Hitler and all the leaders of the Nazi party. Tarantino prompts that history could have unfolded this way had events transpired as they do in the film. I think he is right, its plausible even if fictional and that's what makes it exciting.

There are some scene chewing performances but that's why I love his films, he makes movies not documentaries, with big characters who are larger than life. This is a film made by a movie fanatic for movie fanatics. A part of the story is even about the making of a movie; a film within a film. The film in staged is parts like most of his films with chapters headings taking us through time and space like chapters in a book. The performances are incredible, Waltz steals the show hands down his opening scene dialogue some of the best ever written by Tarantino. The dialogue is not laden with contemporary 'funnies' as usual, its a period piece so as a writer he didn't have his usual stock of topical trivial perspective, here all the dialogue drives the story forward.

This film has its flaws like most movies, but they pale insignificance to the overall spectacle and bold approach of the dynamic storytelling. Brad Pitt was genuinely funny, he is a bold brave military gruff but with tenderness and a smile, he is a good guy, we want him to succeed regardless of his cruelty. Tarantino sculpts Hans Landa, the antagonist played by Waltz, into such a clever and sharp character that you cant help but admire this 'little man' with a 'big pipe', even though he is an evil murdering pig.

The film's climax is so brilliantly staged with all the elements and characters coming together in dramatic suspense. It ends with a fire to end all fires - apparently people/extras were hurt during filming and one can tell looking at the raging inferno that the set becomes. I recommend seeing this flick, its a hoot, pure cinema, pure entertainment. What I go to the movies for. This is a must see, must own.

The Proposal

The Proposal

Directed by Anne Fletcher

Starring Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds

I'm not a fan of Sandra Bullock, to be honest I don't watch her movies BUT I saw this film because quite a few people told me to check it out. I was pleasantly surprised, it was funny, very emotional and built to a climax that I didn't expect. Kudos to Reynolds for bringing all the heart to this film, without him I don't know if it would have been so tender or funny. Bullock plays a cold hearted Canadian exec who blackmails her assistant (Reynolds) to marry her so that she can stay in the USA and keep the high profile job she stands to lose. He agrees if she will push through and publish his novel; the sole reason he has stayed in this nightmare job for 3 years under her tyranny. The director does a great job of building up and smashing down Bullocks character and you actually feel sorry for her at the end. She has a big arc in this story and its made possible by her fantastic supporting cast. We've all seen this story before but the pairing of the two leads makes it fresh and funny.

The film pays homage visually to the golden age of Hollywood, Reynolds lights two cigarettes in his mouth at once and passes one to Bullock, framed just like original 'Now Voyager' and there is a hilarious naked scene in the movie that made me gain respect for Ms Bullock. I cant say I've ever enjoyed a Bullock movie but there is a first time for everything. The film even got a tear out of me at the end - maybe Im soft or just getting old, regardless it worked.

Avatar

Avatar (2009)

Directed by James Cameron

Starring Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver

A visual masterpiece from start to finish. This movie re-writes the standard for visual effects event based movies. It has to be seen in 3D to be truly appreciated. The film is a spectacle vivid bold strokes of color and storytelling.

Don't look for anything new in the story, its basically Dances with Wolves in space but Cameron gives it a fresh spin and its well worth the ticket price. The film to me is about consciousness on the grand scale and beyond that its a powerful tale about ethics and the preservation of an endangered species. The film reaches emotional depths unheard of for a special effects film and this can be attributed to Saldana's performance, she is breathtaking.

They filmed this movie in a volume, not a studio and still all the actors gave 110%. The contraptions build for the actors to ride on, in the mo-cap flying sequences, really allowed them to feel the ride; the integration of the actors movements throughout are remarkable. Go on youtube and search 'Making of Avatar' to see what Im talking about; brand new style of filmmaking.

This climax delivers as expected but is long overdue by the time it arrives. To be honest 3 hrs is long for this kind of movie. I actually dozed off in the last hour for 10 minutes right before the climax.. not good and it was a matinee. Maybe it was my brain shutting down from the visual overload or maybe not enough sleep the night before, regardless I don't fall asleep during movies and I did during the most anticipated film of the year.

Worthington pulls off a performance with gusto even if his Navii clone looks nothing like him. Sigourney's Navii is a perfect match. I loved how the Navi interfaced with all the creatures on the planet by using their ponytail fiber-optic; it metaphored the world wide web and how consciousness through interconnectivity exists on our planet.

I was disappointed by the fact that it was year 2140 or so and Man was still using machine guns, bullets and incendiary weapons in space, seemed out of place to me. Regardless I loved it and was fascinated and swept away by Cameron's visual magic. I just wish the story telling had been tighter. Trim 20 minutes and it would be perfect. Hey, its only my opinion. A must-see.

A Single Man

A Single Man

Directed by Tom Ford

Starring Colin Firth, Julianne Moore.

A personal and well made 1st film from fashion guru Ford. I loved this film, really enjoyed it. Firth was incredible as a sensitive man grieving the loss of his lover. The film captured the era of the 6o's with a washed palette of color and stiff post modern architecture. Firth is as buttoned up as the era, his stiff upper lip well starched, he doesn't give an inch yet oozes buckets. It's his finest most micro-performance in years. I'm sure he will win the Oscar this year.

The film is romantic and sensual and has real character depth; we relate to his loss, we feel his emptiness and understand his to desire to fill a void that cant be filled. Julianne Moore gives a slam-dunk performance as his best friend, a lush who lives in a state of denial. They are a perfect couple who can never be. It's a simple poetic film and that's why I liked it.

The Class (aka Entre Les Murs)

The Class 'aka Entre Les Murs' (2009)

Directed by Laurent Cantent

Starring Francois Begaudeau

One of my favorite films of the year. This film is as close to being a documentary as a narrative can get, the line truly is blurred.

A real schoolteacher and novelist 'Begaudeau' plays a version of himself in an urban inner city French high-school. The schoolchildren are all real, non actors and the script was written from improv workshops with the children and Begaudeau. The result is a fly on the wall look inside a modern classroom in France, its a gripping modern portrait of the challenges facing most kids. There is no real plot, just a path of conflict resolution that demonstrates even the most patient and respectful teachers have a breaking point. We are all human, students too. The teacher is no saint and he makes mistakes struggling with the demanding challenges of teaching an aggressive unrelenting group of intelligent teens.

It's a smart and well written film that makes me think how lucky the French are to have a scholastic system of such excellence with teachers who work together and care about each individual student. Its avail on DVD and is a must see.

Crazy Heart

Crazy Heart (2009)

Directed by Scott Cooper

Starring Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Colin Farrell

Great story about a washed up alcoholic country singer 'Bad Blake' who finds love, loses it and along the way reconnects to his career, his art, the music. It's a good directorial debut from Cooper but the film is really held together by Bridges' stellar performance; warts and all he plays Bad Blake to the rock'n'roll tee. This alcoholic protagonist is Bridges best turn since Lebowski in my opinion. Jeff sings in this film and his voice is superb, really I mean this - he sounds very much like Charlie Rich. I was very impressed by the music overall; T Bone Burnett was in charge of the songs/music and it is so well done/integrated you 100% believe Bridges when he is up on stage sweating and singing.

I'm not a big fan of Maggie Gyllenhaal, she is a very competent actor who always plays it cold and I find it hard to fall in love with her characters. I couldn't connect to her in this film, she seemed worlds apart from Bad Blake not only in age but in manner; it pulled me out of the love story. In this film she plays a single mom with a kid who connects to Bad Blake until he loses the child in a Mall; to me that was a cheap shot to break the relationship and further distanced me from Maggie's character. When Bad Blake gets sober she still turns him away and gets married to someone else within a year - this left me cold.

The film's big dramatic arc is how Bad Blake comes to terms with his alcoholism and gets back on track with his career.. The love story was filler device to try and make you feel, but the story didnt need it and the device didn't work. Colin Farrell appears a country star and gives one of the most jittery performances of his career. Still a good film that I would recommend everyone go see.

Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire (2009)

Precious

Directed by Lee Daniels

Starring Gabourey Sidibe, Mo'Nique

Where do I start? I think this could be my favorite movie of 2009. It's a real film, 100% honest and with such heart. The whole feel has daring elements of French New Wave with overlapping internal monologue and a montage style. It's a personal film that makes you feel for the characters and share their pain. The lead actress Gabourey is a light in the mire of darkness; she had little experience as an actor but it didnt matter, for Lee Daniels she nailed every scene.

Mariah Carey steps up and gives a breakthrough emotional performance in this film as a social worker but Mo'Nique is the show stealer here - she is so good in this film. I've always like Mo and respected her as a performer because she gives back and helps the community - well in this film she pays a service. Precious is a wake-up call for victims of domestic and child abuse, a call to speak up.

I really hope that Mo wins the Oscar the same as she won the GG, she deserves it. The film is personal and hand made, it has a painterly/poetic eye and is layered with real subtext. Love or hate the theme and its raw nerve, it's a must see.

'The Last Temptation of Christ'

Jan 18th 2010

The Last Temptation of Christ (1988)

Directed by Martin Scorsese.

Starring Wilem Dafoe, Harvey Keitel, Barbara Hershey.

First film of the blog - odd choice. Have seen this a few times and decided to watch it again after seeing Marty win at the G.Globes. Revisiting all his movies as future blogs will show.

LTOC is an epic, its a unique look at the story of Jesus that does not follow the Gospels, but is taken from a controversial fiction novel. The story makes Jesus relatable as a human; we get to see him live the life of a man struggling with morales and ethics. We see Jesus being saved and taken off the cross by an angel; Jesus gets to live into old age, have a family and children. The angel turns out to be the devil and Jesus is returned to the cross to die as a young man again - the whole 'life scenario' being treated like a dream sequence - very odd but it works.

Harvey was always odd to me in this film to me with his red afro and bronx accent but the writing and directing is so good it doesn't matter. Hershey is revelatory as Magdeline. The film was shot on location in Morrocco and looks fantastic, the effects are a little dated but Scorsese is a master so it has a timeless classic feel. Dafoe is the real deal, physically and emotionally; his Jesus is a tortured man filled with anger/doubt, but who knows that only love will save us..

I recommend seeing this movie just for Andre Gregory's John The Baptist alone, it is an incredible performance.