Harmony Korine’s latest is a wonderfully directed trip into debauchery, ignorance and insanity that has some biting social commentary to spare. [Read more...]
Film Review: Oz the Great and Powerful
03/07/2013 by Leave a Comment
Oz the Great and Powerful is a solid start for Disney’s return to that merry old land, but it works best when blazing its own path and not being beholden to The Wizard of Oz. [Read more...]
For Your Renting Pleasure
11/15/2011 by 2 Comments
In this week of rentals I found myself disappointed with many of this years “better” comedies, where two other films ending up where I expected them to be. If you’re considering renting The Alphabet Killer, Horrible Bosses, Your Highness, or Win Win then read my thoughts before making your choice this coming weekend. [Read more...]
Film Review: Rise of the Planet of the Apes
08/16/2011 by 4 Comments
Rise of the Planet of the Apes is one of the finest entries of the summer, features a phenomenal performance by Andy Serkis, and features some of the most impressive special effects integration from WETA yet. [Read more...]
Review: Your Highness
04/08/2011 by 1 Comment
Your Highness is a solid fantasy film throwback that also happens to be quite funny as it lovingly sends up the genres heyday of the 80′s.
I worded that opening pitch to emphasize that I think you should view this film as a throwback fantasy film first and a comedy a close second. That is not to say that the film isn’t funny, it is very much so, but it is just as much a weird and creative fantasy world for our characters to play in. Following a pair of prince brothers, Fabious the brave hero and Thadeous the lazy underachiever, the two must set out on a quest to retrieve Fabious’ bride to be with the hopes of Thadeous finally being able to prove himself a worthy prince. Things don’t go smoothly and the two find themselves getting into a lot of trouble along the way.
Still Playing Review – 127 Hours
11/29/2010 by Leave a Comment
Hearing the story of Aron Ralston may not be one of those memorable moments that you will remember for the rest of your life, as in the “Where were you when the Twin Towers fell?” sort of way, but I can definitely remember the shock with hints of nausea I felt when hearing that a man had to cut his own arm off. Which just so happens to be the memory that came flooding back when I heard about the film. Don’t worry; the film is worth the queasiness.
To put it simply, Aron is a man of adventure who would probably spend every possible moment gleefully playing outside. He may not be as crazy as the Grizzly Man, but his passion for exploring the great outdoors is not easy to understand for those that are less actively inclined, though the way in which the environments are shot sure do make them pretty appealing. [Read more...]
Review: 127 Hours
11/12/2010 by 1 Comment
127 Hours is an intense and inventive telling of Aron Ralston’s harrowing true story that Danny Boyle makes the most out of a rather limited film experience.
Aron Ralston’s story is an unbelievable tale from the early 2000’s in which this adventurous mountain biker, hiker, outdoor kid is out on a hike when his arm gets trapped under a rock, in the middle of nowhere, and he spends the next 127 hours trying to free himself from his peril.
Now, the film is basically a one man show as we stay with Aron by himself, almost entirely, after the first twenty minutes of the film or so. Any other faces in the film after Aron leaves a pair of young co-ed hikers are either in flashes of Aron’s visions/dreams he experiences trapped and isolated in the canyon. Danny Boyle does a more or less bang up job of keeping the narrative moving forward and keeps things bouncing back and forth between Aron’s head and attempts to free himself and only once press our patience throughout. The film, thankfully, doesn’t linger too long anywhere outside that one previously mentioned moment as isolation and being alone becomes rather compelling.
Suggestion Box (Oct. 4 – 10)
10/11/2010 by Leave a Comment
This week’s Suggestion Box is short and sweet with only two trailers. With that said they are for two films that I am really looking forward to: 127 Hours and The Tempest.
Movies:
127 Hours Full Length Trailer – Maybe there is a draft in my kitchen or it was the use of one of my favorite songs, but this trailer just gave me the chills. (For those of you who don’t know it is about Aron Ralston, the man who had to remove an arm when it got pinned by a rock while mountain climbing. He is being played by James Franco so hopes are high).
Now Playing Review – Eat Pray Love
08/13/2010 by 1 Comment
Based on this title there are three things in the world needed to bring oneself out of an overwhelming depression that has ruined one’s sense of direction in life. First one must eat to build strength and energy for the long journey ahead. With a full stomach and a foot placed hesitantly on the trail, one must pray that they don’t fall from the beaten path because danger lies ahead. But if faith is not enough, then find someone that can grab your hand and help you on your way. Hand in hand you will now have no problem of finding the finish line of self-fulfillment and happiness. Wait, was that not what I was supposed to pull from this film? I really have no idea…
Based on the memoir of the same name by Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat Pray Love follows Liz (played by Julia Roberts) during her travels across the world. She gives up her husband and the life she knows at home in order to take a year long quest to go searching for herself in mounds of food in Italy, through prayer in India, and through inner balance in Bali, where she unexpectedly finds love as well. [Read more...]
Review: Eat Pray Love
08/13/2010 by Leave a Comment
Eat Pray Love is a dull and poorly executed picture that meanders, is no where near as good as it thinks it is, and fails to engage or fill us with emotion almost every step of the way.
Liz Gilbert isn’t happy in life and when she decides she can’t take it any more she sets out on a globe trotting journey. Leaving her ex-husband, new lover, and friends behind she will search for herself in Italy, India, and Bali. And that is all I will really divulge plot wise as I just kind of want to get into this review and get it over with; kind of like how I felt about the film about an hour in.
Now Playing Review – Date Night
04/23/2010 by Leave a Comment
If Date Night were a blind date between you and another person (as opposed to what, I don’t know) then I would say that the date is going pretty well. Sure there are times when some traits are revealed that you aren’t really sure if you want to stick around for, and sometimes they make some nervously ill-conceived jokes that you laugh at to be nice, but overall you genuinely had a good time and were glad you didn’t need to get a friend to call with an “emergency” to allow you to bail out early.
The date that this story revolves around takes a different path than the hypothetical mentioned above. In Date Night, Phil and Claire Foster try to add a little spice to their marriage by going out to a fancy dinner in the city. Unfortunately they do this without making a reservation, but instead of leaving they decide to take on the identity of the Tripplehorns since they bailed on their table. Unfortunately for the Fosters, they don’t even get through their dinner before two men pull them from their meal and accuse them of doing something in a case of mistaken identity, starting off the most dangerously adventurous date of their relationship. [Read more...]
Review: Date Night
04/09/2010 by 1 Comment
Date Night works by pairing two comedy greats together, letting them do what they do best, fills the supporting cast with some great actors, and doesn’t drag at all over its crisp runtime.
The premise is easy to grasp by simply watching a trailer or TV spot, a suburban couple, the Fosters, goes into the city for a night out on the town and when they steal someone else’s reservation they are mistaken for being someone else. What ensues is a game of cat and mouse all across the city that plays out as a detective story as the Foster’s try and track down the “Tripplehorn’s”. Now the film does take a few turns where you might scream at the screen at why The Foster’s are doing this instead of that which could have avoided this whole mess, but then you wouldn’t have a movie now would you. If you can get past this kink then you will find a fun, funny, and kind of weird adventure with an odd couple that encounters a lot of interesting characters along the way.
Review: Milk
12/02/2008 by Leave a Comment
Gus Van Sant’s latest is another great film for the director and is one of the best biopics in recent memory.
Harvey Milk (Sean Penn) was a closet homosexual in New York in the early seventies, picking up men on the Subway, one of which happens to change the direction of his life. Upon picking up Scott Smith (James Franco) on the eve of his fortieth the two bond and decide to move California and settle in the Castro district of San Francisco which was quickly becoming the gay hub of the city. Upon opening their own camera shop, deters to their shop because of their sexual orientation prompt Milk to become politically active at trying to get favorable treatment and rights acknowledged for openly gay people in San Francisco. As he builds his campaign, more and more fresh faces begin coming into his camera store/campaign office, and while originally unsuccessful, Milk quickly becomes one of the most respected voices for the gay cause in San Francisco. [Read more...]
Review: 'Nights in Rodanthe'
09/26/2008 by Leave a Comment
This adaptation of the Nicholas Sparks novel succeeds at being an entertaining and engaging romance film that stays away from sap and cliché’s of the genre, but still kind of prescribes to the formula.
Adrienne (Diane Lane) is a separated mother with two kids who is heading to Rodanthe for a weekend to cover running a bed and breakfast of her best friend. Before she leaves her husband says she wants her back and sends her off for the weekend to her thoughts and ideas running through her head. Paul (Richard Gere) is Adrienne’s only guest for the weekend and his nerves and tensions are spinning almost as powerful as the rumored hurricane blowing into the town of Rodanthe. The two come to the inn to clear their thoughts and mull there future paths and the two begin to bond over dinners and stories as they wait out the on coming hurricane. [Read more...]
