cc06 Reviews

Michael Clayton (2007)

Tired theme stains excellent movie

[6/10 · 20 March 2008]

Great cinematography and acting, but aren't we all tired of the corporation as Hollywood's ultimate bad guy?

The character study is excellent, and the acting is second to none. But, c'mon, corporations in the present day just don't act like this. They don't employ hired killers, they certainly don't arrange murders, they just don't. When movie after movie portrays this image, as a society we begin to believe it. That's just not healthy, and it spoils a lot of the movie.

The continual close-up shots of all of the actors lend an aura of reality and intimacy that help tell the story, and the Karen Crowder character (Tilda Swinton) is one of the most interesting villains in modern film-making. What is a person willing to do when she is over her head--way over her head--and knows it?

Worth seeing, but thematically flawed. 6 out of 10 stars.

A Life Less Ordinary (1997)

Fun afternoon matinée

[8/10 · 20 December 2005]

Saw it on HBO--Diaz is wonderful, the plot is interestingly twisted, and Ewan is a scene stealer.

It's a great way to spend an afternoon. Well, maybe not great, but very good. Those who don't like it can't really get in touch with the emotions required to submerge yourself in the film. If you're that type, don't watch it, you won't like it.

The secondary characters are drawn from bizarre exaggerations of real-life, everyday folk, and are amusing in their eccentricities and behavior.

Grab a couple of cookies, sit on the couch, and suspend your artistic judgment, and you'll have a fine afternoon's fun. And, as I mentioned earlier, Cameron Diaz is worth the two hours spent watching just by herself.

The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh (1979)

One of the worst flicks of all time

[1/10 · 30 May 2005]

I paid to see this dog in an actual movie theater...I can't imagine how boring my life must have been then to not have any better alternative--say, root canal work on four teeth at once without Novocaine.

Julius was my hoops hero at the time (still is in some ways), and I was major-league embarrassed for him.

The premise is ridiculous, and the movie takes itself so seriously it just strains all credulity. If it were a little bit more "camp" in style, it might be funny to watch 20 years later, but it just doesn't get how ludicrous it is. Even the hoops highlights are mediocre.

We called it, "The fish that ate our $3.50 (which was movie admission at the time!)."

Torque (2004)

Fun, not profound

[8/10 · 19 March 2005]

This movie is a lot more fun than most of the previous reviewers have given it credit for. The actors are fun to look at, the dialog doesn't take itself seriously, and is relatively cleverly written, and the plot rises occasionally to the level of interesting (which is all it has to be for a film of this type). Ice Cube's deadpan portrayal of a motorcycle gang leader is threatening and fits the film just right. There is chemistry between Mazur and Henderson, the kind that makes you want them to get together, and keeps you watching the movie, rooting for them. Personally, I think Pressly steals the film as a pierced biker's moll--every scene she's in sparkles with a misdirected but fascinating sexual tension.

The only real weakness of the film (as entertainment, not art) is that the direction is a bit uneven, and sometimes you can't tell whether the director wants the film to be realistic or totally cartoonish, and the fluctuation makes it difficult to maintain the willing suspension of disbelief that's required for this type of film.

Along Came Polly (2004)

Perhaps the worst movie I've ever seen

[1/10 · 29 January 2005]

Watching it right now, and I can't say I've thought one thing good about it at this point. Toilet scenes were forced and disgusting and completely unfunny. Stiller basically reprises his "Something about Mary" role, and Aniston is completely miscast.

Most scenes make you cringe, embarrassed for the characters...it's really hard to relate to a movie, or enjoy anything about a movie that despises its characters, and puts them in the most insane, insulting situations possible.

Sex scenes were forced and embarrassing as well. Alec Balwin is thrown away in a small part. I actually thought the french scuba instructor was mildly amusing, but only because he's exactly like four or five other french guys I've known, right down to the complete absence of remorse about anything romantic they messed up.

Serious waste of time. Watch "Something about Mary" again instead.

Talent for the Game (1991)

Better than people give it credit for...

[9/10 · 28 December 2004]

This movie is really low key throughout, slow with interesting characters (with the exception of the billionaire owner). Olmos steals the show as the scout, and Bracco is just wonderful as his significant other.

I found the movie compelling and captivating, more about character development than plot, and subtly and richly portrayed by the two most important members of the cast, Olmos and Bracco.

The climactic game and the ending are a bit disappointing, but still this movie ranks among my favorite sports films. One thing that really helps the movie is that Corbett has a believable motion and throws reasonably hard. The baseball scenes are pretty good. in large part because some of them were shot at actual big-league games and spliced in. That's better than having bad actors trying to play ball, I think.