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Reviews
Good Night, and Good Luck. (2005)
A good Clooney movie...isn't that fun to say?
Good Night and Good Luck is a fantastic feature length film, the likes of which the world should love to watch. I'm going to review this movie holding the poignant social commentary aside. I think that the subject matter of the film is outstanding, but the film deserves to be reviewed aside from your political views on the issue.
Good Night does not fall victim to any kind of pretentious film making and doesn't need to employ and overly dramatic techniques to make the movie work. Good Night uses tight, black and white photography to very accurately capture the smoky feel of journalism in the 50's. The dialog is great and is all that is need to fuel the film. The tension of the situation is tangible without any corny suspense moments. The flow of real conversation is clearly evident and is refreshing to hear. The soundtrack is perfect for the piece and has a voice of it's own that perfectly compliment s the piece.
The cast is a knockout down the line. Having said that I think that David Strathairn deserves extra kudos for his rendition of Murrow; a great performance that most certainly deserved it's Oscar nod. Clooney also did extremely well as Murrow cohort Fred Friendly.
Good Night and Good Luck was a triumph of good film making.
A good night of film watching, 9/10
The Covenant (2006)
Awww...it's like they really tried...isn't that cute?
I feel really bad for reviewing this movie because I wish that I had only watched it as a concept production. The Covenant looked like it could have been a really original piece, but sadly they lose the great idea in the translation to the screen.
The story follows four (five) teens that are the descendants of the families that started the town of Ipswitch a survivors of the Salem witch trials. They also happen to be a part of the secret sect called "The Covenant". Their power must be used sparingly as it drains their life-force in small amounts and is highly addictive. In theory this would make a pretty good action sci-fi movie
or at least an interesting teeny flick.
But there were just too many glaring downfalls that don't allow this movie to reach its plot's full potential. That acting wasn't good, the sound track was mediocre and we found a lot of unnecessary sync issues. For sure the biggest issue is the poor editing job. The movie has little to no coherent flow and makes one fight to keep a mental timeline or any feel of pacing.
The movie has it's moments, but overall was a little disappointing.
A witchy 4/10
Hostel (2005)
The tagline says it all...
"Welcome to your worst nightmare." This movie really is a nightmare
not in a good way so much. I was really amped (especially after I found out QT was attached) to see this movie when it came out and had expected to see it in theaters. Unfortunately I was out of state when all my friends went and really didn't feel like going by myself. So, I waited a while to see it after hearing mixed reviews. Whenever I hear mixed review about a movie I try going into it with an open mind, as I did on this occasion.
I'm not a big Eli Roth fan, but I feel like his heart is in the right place. He is really just a great fan of the horror genre and feels like he can deliver a pop horror that everyone will love by using the formula he knows and loves. He has now proved that he doesn't have the film vocabulary to express his views. There is a gross lack of anything that resembles character development
but there are boobies
which is really no consolation at all. If you love soft-core porn then you will love Hostel. However you better finish up quick or else you'll lose whatever erection you have to the completely unnecessary sh#t that the second half of the film is comprised of.
While the violence is "new" and "stylized", that really doesn't amount to much in the end. You feel no other connection to the character during their prolonged deaths save that you feel their emotional pain. But you are generally complacent about the deaths otherwise. It makes me sad that movies like these are regarded as art now a days. I feel sorry for Roth in that I think he is really destroying a genre of film that he truly devoted to.
I hope that Roth will look at the movies that he loved when horror was great and maybe channel a little more "Evil Dead" or the first "Nightmare on Elm Street" into his movies. I want to be scared by a combination of great story (maybe even some good dialog if it's not too much to ask) and brutal visuals, but the last without the first is what we're dealing with here.
A less then o.k. 3/10
Ghost Rider (2007)
Not bad...just kinda...not good
Before I point out all the glaring issues with the movie, I do have to say that it was better then I expected. With only a few exceptions the world of "comic to film" crap we've seen lately, I didn't exactly have high hopes for "Ghost Rider". I am a comic reader, but I really only have a passing knowledge of this particular graphic novel series. I will say however in my opinion that Nick Cage brought home the character of the Rider in a big way. The actor that delivers some great performances like "Con Air" and "The Rock", but then turns around and gives us "The Wicker Man", there was a chance that the complexities of the Rider/Johnny Blaze may have gotten lost. But I think Cage can be proud to know that he did a great job here.
I would also like to quickly say that if there was an award for "Best-Bad-Ass in a feature length film" it would most certainly go to either Cage or Elliot as they both bring the blockbuster rockin'-ness to both their characters.
Now on to the down side
and it is definitely a downside. I must comment first on the ridiculously horrible acting that we get smacked in the face with throughout the film. Most of the Movies worst moments are delivered by three of the worst acting jobs I have had the displeasure to watch. Matt Long as is entirely underwhelming as the young Johnny Blaze, you feel little to no emotional connection to the character until Cage takes the helm. Next we have Blackheart who happens to be one of my favorite Marvel baddies. I find however that you put a potentially good villain role in the hands of an actor that has absolutely grasp on the character you get
.well you get disappointed. The performance we have to choke down from Wes Bentley as the son of Mephistopheles (played by Peter Fonda who does pretty decent work here) drags down the whole movie. The last performance is by the digitally animated Ghost Rider. While the Rider has some great moments the audience is constantly turned of by stupid "Super-phrases" like "Time to turn up the heat" from the guy with his skull on fire
hahahaha
but not so much.
There was also a pacing problem for sure. We find ourselves stuck in harsh lulls and then we get hit with a not-so-actionie action sequence. There are no great battles here, so much as the Rider gets kicked around a bit, then turns around and "punishes" the guilty quickly with his chain or in the final scene where he use his Rider Shotgun-thing.
The CGI is pretty well executed making this a movie you might want to see in theaters. Ghost Rider thrives of it's big summer movie style fx and doesn't have a great storyline to back it up.
So overall, it could have been better, but it could have been way worse. 7 out of 10.
Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
A bright ray of sunshine!
Where as some indie films as of late have banked on the common techniques of the genre and fall back to the comedy that was edgy at the turn of the millennium; we find that is pleasantly untrue of LMS. The story documents an obscure family road trip in a beat up VW bus with a slew of talented actors. The three really outstanding performances were delivered (in my opinion) by Carell, Dano and Breslin. Steve Carell brings a great amount of darkness and depth to the role of Frank, Olive's suicidal gay uncle. We finally get to see a newer, wittier side of the actor that thus far has relied on outlandish comedy to get laughs. He gains sort of a strange friendship with Paul Dano's equally dark Dwanye. Dano is magical the first half of the movie using little but a pen and facial expression. Once his vow of silence is broken, we are greeted with dialog that does great justice to the once silenced character. Breslin splashes onto the screen with a stunning innocence and provides a great centerpiece for the tale. I had high expectations for her in this film as I loved her performance in Shyamalan's "Signs", and I must say that my expectations were more then pleasantly met. this is yet another testament to the fact that she is far a head of her years...not to mention her underwhelming brother, Spencer Breslin. The relationship between the whole family unit is fantastic and feels generally unforced.
One of the greatest features of LMS is that both it's dramatic and comedic moments feel so natural. The well-scripted story earns it's big moments rather then forcing them down the audiences throat. This movie evokes a wide range of emotion so fluently. During the film you feel like you are watching a well-done documentary, but afterward you walk away with the general knowledge that you just watched a well executed film in every sense of the term.
I think LMS is going to big contender around Oscar time after already snagging many accolades. The biggest of which I feel is the Producers Guild Award. LMS took home an award that normally is an easy get for the big-budget flicks such as "The Departed" as producers know what it takes to put together a film of that magnitude.
On the whole I loved this movie and it is definitely one of my favorite films. of all time. A 10 out of 10.
A Room for Romeo Brass (1999)
Romeo Brass is Gold
An independent film that is the most outstanding blend of comedy and drama. This movie is an absolute must see. Containing a pair of the friendliest friends in the world and a strange loner that steals your heart then throws it right back at you. All of the characters capture into a storyline that won't let you go. An odd, yet highly affect soundtrack track of finger-picked guitar tunes with vocals stranger then that of the films antagonist, can often be found aiding our sad and pensive characters through this brilliant tapestry of emotion.
If your looking for a flick with a stylistic soundtrack and the complete "laugh and cry" package A Room for Romeo Brass is your film. Definitely one of my favorite Indies so far.