* Umberto D.: (1952 - Drama / Italy) Directed by one of the greats - Vittorio De Sica presents an Italian neo-realist masterpiece. The life of one lonely pensioner. Umberto is a retired, single man, struggling to pay his rent in post war Italy. This movie is entirely driven by the acting. The incredibly good acting. The story is nothing complicated, it's just the life of an old man. Turned old by the oppressive requirements of the society he's trapped in. As he struggles to retain his dignity, we follow him in his daily travails. Umberto and his dog. A sentimental film that focuses on the harsh realities of life in a society that has devalued human life. The camera work, acting, music, editing and direction were phenomenal. My only problem with this movie; it's bleak - Excessively so. It doesn't turn around until the final moments of the film. 4 out of 5.
* The Damned: (1969 - Drama, war, historical / Italy, Germany - Caduta degli dei, La) Directed by another Italian master - Luchino Visconti presents an allegorical film of historic proportions. Visconti is credited with two others in the writing of this screenplay. The story is magnificent. The rise and fall of the third Reich is mirrored in the trials and travails of a German family. As the Von Essenbeck family (modeled on the German Krupp family) struggles to stay afloat in Nazi Germany, they literally self destruct after a gluttonous descent into a feverish bout of amoral violent debauchery. The explicit, violent story of this family mirrors that of Germany from the 30's through the 40's. The family controls much of Germany's steel production, and consequently, wields great power. It is the power they wield that turns against them. As absolute power corrupts absolutely, so too goes the fate of this family. Great acting, a terrific sound track, and outstanding direction make this movie a cinematic spectacle. Repulsive, yet compelling - Like watching a slow motion train wreck. Unfortunately, the sound quality of the English dubbing (primarily done by the actors themselves) was sub par. 4 out of 5.
* Mars Attacks: (1996 - Comedy, sci-fi) From my collection. Hilarious sci-fi spoof on 50's B-Films. Directed by one of my favorite directors; Tim Burton, featuring music by one of my favorite artists, Danny Elfman, and starring an outstanding cast (Jack Nicholson, Glenn Close, Annette Bening, Pierce Brosnan, Danny DeVito, Martin Short, Jack Black, Sarah Jessica Parker, Michael J. Fox, Rod Steiger, Tom Jones, Jim Brown, Lukas Haas, Natalie Portman, Pam Grier). The story is one of cosmic invasion. When a horde of bug-eyed, big-brained, little green men from the planet Mars arrive on Earth, it's every man for himself in this Hilarious sci-fi spoof. The acting was excellent (intentionally campy, hammy, and over the top), the dialog witty, funny and wry. Full of self-deprecating satire. The cgi cartoonish yet classy. This movie doesn't pretend to be anything more than a parody of those classic sci-fi B-movies from the 50's. An homage that works because it doesn't try to be anything more than that. When the martians destroyed congress I just about fell out of my chair! Ack ack, Ack ack ack! 5 out of 5.
* Basic Instinct: (1992 - Mystery, drama, thriller, crime / U.S., France) Directed by one of my favorite directors; Paul Verhoeven (The 4th Man, RoboCop, Total Recall, Showgirls, Zwartboek), staring Michael Douglas, Sharon Stone and others. This erotic, crime thriller will kick your ass. The plot is a twisted, non-stop head game. The characters somewhat cliched, but well acted. When an on the edge homicide detective (Played by Michael Douglas) is assigned to a high-profile murder case, the suspect turns out to be one super-sexy Sharon Stone, and Michael Douglas can't help but fall for this super-sexy fem-fatale. This movie was R-rated, but it could just as easily been rated X. Given the explicit sex scenes, gushing ice-pick murders, lesbian action, and copious amounts of nudity. This is one of those films that pushes the edges of audience acceptability. When it was released, the only thing anyone could think about was the crotch shot scene. The one where Sharon Stone is being 'interrogated' by the police. What most people missed was the complex murder mystery that these super sexed characters inhabited. The pacing is break-neck and the plot a convoluted twister. 5 out of 5.
* Wind Chill: (2007 - Horror, mystery, romance) This one came from Kim's Netflix queue. At first I thought it was going to be a cliched horror flick, featuring young hotty and stalker boy. Thankfully, it turned out to be more than that. A ghost movie with some decent acting. While the casting featured relatively unknown actors (Emily Blunt and Ashton Holmes), the writing was pretty good. Featuring some subtle subtext and social commentary, this movie was just as much about the characters as it was about the situation. The story takes place during one dark and snowy night on a isolated new england back road. Gets points for not repeating the same horror plot over and over again... 3 out of 5.
* Crusoe: (1989 - Drama, adventure / U.K., U.S.) A Comcast on Demand feature. Starring Aidan Quinn (He's been in plenty of TV shows) as Robinson Crusoe, an 18th century slave trader, who's convinced that he represents mankind's most advanced species. When Crusoe commissions a late in the season slave run, his ship is caught up in a storm, and wrecked on the shores of a deserted island. The story is loosely based on the Daniel Defoe novel. Salvaging some tools and supplies from the wreck. Crusoe sets about the task of survival on this island paradise. When island natives arrive, Crusoe's paradise is disturbed, and his morals rearranged. This movie lacks much in the way of acting or script, but it's definitely a visual treat. The location, lighting and camera work are all great. The story is told without much in the way of dialog, and the end result is a fine morality play. 3 of 5.
* The King of Kong - A fistfull of quarters: (2007 - Documentary, drama) A documentary about competitive video gaming - oldstyle. Masters of the arcade matched mano-a-mano in a battle of hand-eye coordination, steely resolve, lightning quick reflexes, and the personal drama of a real life challenge. This movie documents the world of competitive video gaming in an outstanding, inside look at this seldom seen world of geekdom. When Steve Wiebe sets out to break the Donkey Kong world record, he really has no idea what he's in for. The reigning champion - Billy Mitchell isn't about to go down without a fight. Fantastic editing, camera work and sound production. Were well matched against this movie, and I couldn't tear myself away from this movie. If you've ever played old-style arcade games, carved your initials at the top of a leaders list, or hopped over barrels by way of joystick, then this is a must see movie. The master of the elevator gives it a 5 out of 5.
* Robinson Crusoe on Mars: (1964 - Sci-fi, drama) Another Robinson Crusoe story. Based on the novel by Daniel Defoe. This time it's set on Mars. Starring Paul Mantee, Victor Lundin, Adam West and a Monkey. This low-budget sci-fi drama tells the tale of Cmdr. Christopher 'Kit' Draper, stranded on Mars. When he and Adam West are forced to ditch during an asteroid near-miss, they crash land on the surface of the red planet. Adam West doesn't make it but 'Kit' and the Monkey do. What follows is a pretty good sci-fi movie where the main character has to figure out how to survive; ala-Robinson Crusoe style, on a planet with no water, food or breathable air. While the science aspects are definitely fiction, the drama is pretty good. When aliens visit the planet, they land on the surface with a crew of slaves in order to carry out some sort of mining operation. When one of the slaves escapes, Kit finds himself some new company in this alien 'Friday'. The special effects were cheesy. With War of the Worlds rip-offs, 357s instead of ray-guns, paper-mache sets, and Aliens that look like extras from a Mel Brooks movie; this movie didn't get a very big production budget, and it felt rushed in that sense. What it did have was an original story. The Criterion Collection treatment - film transfer, sound, and extras - was great. I give it a 3 out of 5.
* Eastern Promises: (2007 - Crime, thriller, drama) David Cronenberg (one of my favorite directors) is the maestro behind the helm of this most brutal, authentic, thrilling, crime drama. Not the usual fare from Cronenberg. This movie, nonetheless proves his ability to direct in a powerful traditional vehicle. Fantastic acting from the cast - Viggo Mortensen, Naomi Watts, Vincent Cassel, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Sinéad Cusack, Donald Sumpter and others. The plot is an inside look at London's Russian Mafia. Viggo Mortensen (Who's acting was top shelf), portrays a mysterious Russian mafia chauffeur (Nikolai - The Driver), driven to commit whatever atrocious crimes his bosses direct him to. When Naomi Watts (Playing Anna, the mid-wife) discovers the diary of a deceased teenage prostitute, she crosses paths with Nikolai and his 'family'. As she seeks to reunite child with family, the 'Family' is interested in one thing only. Covering up the evidence of a heinous act which could unravel their entire empire of crime. Murder, retribution, corruption and deception mark this movie as one outstanding and authentic look into the underbelly of ethnic export - The Russian mafia has never looked so sinister, stylish or stoic. The authentic sets, costumes, languages, tattoos and locations helped produce an unshakeable feel of authenticity. I was dragged by my collar into this grimy underworld of London's darker side. The only flaws in this movie? A somewhat predictable script, with a very predictable character twist. While the movie contained some very violent scenes, they were done with excellent care. They weren't shot for the gore factor, more to impart a feeling of authenticity onto the movie. I will definitely be surprised if this movie doesn't lead to a sequel. 4 of 5.
* There Will be Blood: (2007 - Drama, historical, crime, thriller) Kim and I saw this movie in the theater. Screenplay written by and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, this movie is based on the novel 'Oil', by Upton Sinclair. It's a story of Cain and Abel. Brothers, balance, good and evil, yin and yang. It's a historic portrayal of the early days in the U.S. oil industry. Starring Daniel Day Lewis in the lead role. Lewis plays Daniel Plainview, a self motivated survivor, the protagonist and antagonist - his own worst enemy. Working as a prospector, he tries his hand at mining, and gets his start as an independent man in the oil business. He's a hateful, greedy man, a charismatic villain who seems far too focused for any mere mortal. Throughout the film there are numerous references to brothers, and the continual Able and Cain relationships move this picture forward with an intense, dramatic, impetus. As Plainview deals with rivals, skeptics, workers, family, and all those 'People'; we're reminded that the early days of American industry were not a kind climate. The oil, rail, and beef barons of America were not a loving lot. The acting in this movie was truly spectacular, matched only by the stunning screen-play and splendid camera work. Derricks of steel and wood are driven into the earth, black blood gushes forth, and the wounds mirror those of the helpless characters in this epic drama of ambitious despair. The last minutes of the movie bring testament to the title, provide a shocking ending to an unforgettable movie filled with outstanding performances (Daniel Day Lewis and Paul Dano), and a script that will leave many pondering it's finer points for ages. On a technical level the movie was perfect. The camera work, sound work, sets, costumes, lighting, editing, timing, you name it - Flawless production. The music by Johnny Greenwood (of Radiohead) was fantastic. 5 out of 5.
* The Da Vinci Code: (2006 - Drama, mystery, thriller) A Comcast on Demand selection. I read the book, and I for one wasn't disappointed. There were a couple minor deviations from the novel, but overall it was a fair production. The direction by Ron Howard was pretty good, and the casting was magnificent. Unfortunately, the performances by Tom Hanks and Jean Reno just weren't that good. The best acting came from Ian McKellen as a crippled but wealthy 'Grail Expert'. An entertaining, suspenseful story, full of twists and turns, revelations and tribulations. There are some parts of the film where the story becomes narrative in order to present historical facts and figures, these dialogue heavy portions of the movie are essential to the story, but significantly interrupt the pacing. This story of 'The Holy Grail' is great at creating a sense of "Could this be true?" in the audience, and for that it gets high marks. The music was haunting but not very memorable, the sets, locations, props, and costumes were terrific. To those who would rate this movie based on the religious dogma that it examines, presents or 'invents', I would like to remind you that this is a fictional story, not a documentary. The book was much better than the movie. Here's the problem. The book presented thousands of ideas, plot points and twists. The movie doesn't have the time to do that, so the writers did their best to fit as many plot points and historical nuggets as they could into the movie. The result was a lack of character detail, and that's where this movie suffered. The screenplay was lacking. 3 out of 5.
* Along Came a Spider: (2001 - Thriller, crime, drama, mystery) A fine thriller, with some great twists. This movie moves along nicely, with some fair acting (Morgan Freeman is the lead). The best performance came from Mika Boorem (as Megan Rose) as the young spoiled kidnap victim. Morgan Freeman plays a damaged police detective. Down on his luck, trying to recover from the death of his partner. He blames himself for her death, and I was starting to blame myself for picking a standard no plot 'psycho kidnaps kid' profiler plot. But, what stats out as a standard crime drama, quickly turns into a head turning mystery, where the plot twists kept me guessing. Even after watching this movie for the fifth time, I was surprised at a couple of turns. On the down side, the acting wasn't all that good, and their wasn't much in the way of character development. 3 out of 5.
* The Butterfly Effect: (2004 - Drama, sci-fi, thriller, fantasy) The DVD that I own contains two versions. The theatrical release and the "Director's Cut", which is the cut I typically watch. The cast was too young. Overall poor casting, Ashton Kutcher didn't do very well in this role. His acting was unconvincing, and I didn't believe in his character. Amy Smart wasn't much better. Some of the child actors did a very good job. Especially Logan Lerman as the young Evan Treborn, and the plot wasn't the greatest. Boy blacks out, starts keeping a journal. Later he discovers that reading the journal can allow him to re-live the black outs. Not only does he remember what happened, he can change what happened. It's a time travel movie. I liked the chaos theory and time travel aspects of the movie, I just wish the acting and screen play were better. This one gets a 3 out of 5.
* * * * War of the Century - When Hitler fought Stalin: (1999 - Documentary, history, war / U.K.) A four part series, produced for TV by the BBC. The four episodes on this disc form a 190 minute long look into the Eastern front of WWII. The lesser know side of Hitler's war. Excellent narration, production, use of archive footage, interviews and recently declassified documents. When Hitler fought Stalin. When Hitler decided to attack Soviet Russia, he awakened a sleeping giant. Just as Japan did when it attacked the U.S. Through this movie we can see conflict as a coalescing factor in Soviet society. Many aspects of the conflict are explored. From social ramifications to tactical decisions. The maneuver of Panzer groups, the migration, extermination and devastation of whole segments of Russian society. Extremely well done narrative covers every aspect of this brutal war. While the war in the west involved the geneva conventions and tactical maneuvers, the war on the eastern front was an utterly barbaric conflict, where each side participated in numerous atrocities. Examining the conflict, we can clearly see how those who participated in the war justified this clash of ideologies. Let's pray that we do not repeat the mistakes of previous generations. 4 out of 5.
* Burn!: (1969 - Drama, historical / Italy, France - Queimada) A movie directed by one of the Italian Greats - Gillo Pontecorvo. This epic drama stars Marlon Brando (at the height of his career), and Evaristo Márquez (a non-actor worker on an actual sugar-cane plantation) and a fairly obscure cast of Italian (and French) actors. This historical drama unfolds on the fictional island of Queimada (Portuguese word, which means 'burnt'?) in the Caribbean during the late 1800's. Onto the stage steps Sir William Walker (played by Marlon Brando), a British agent provocateur. Walker is sent by the crown to stir things up. He's sent to incite rebellion amongst the slaves on this Portuguese island. Walker recruits José Dolores (Evaristo Márquez) in order to lead an uprising that will result in the liberation of the slaves while simultaneously installing a British friendly independent island nation, ruled by white plantation owners. Ten years later, the liberated 'slaves' realize that freedom isn't just a word. They lay down their machetes and pick up the rifle to overthrow their new 'government'. Walker is called in again. This time he's working for the sugar plantation owners, who are actually puppets to the British crown. The results are an incendiary commentary on feudalistic colonialism of the western powers. A scathing remark on the oppression of native peoples by the imperial powers of the west. The endless cycle of violence ends on a very poignant, yet fitting remark. Excellent parallels to the Vietnam war, and current multi-national corporate globalism, an extension of capitalism and the continuation of this exploitation ethic. The acting by Marlon Brando was outstanding. The direction excellent. The camera work was a bit problematic, but the score by Ennio Morricone was brilliant. The only problems with this movie were inconsistent camera work, a bizarre depiction of the islanders ethnicity, linguistic problems (native languages), and a poorly dubbed dialog. 4 out of 5.
* The Eye: (2002 - Horror, drama, suspense, thriller / China, Honk Kong, U.K. - Gin gwai) I saw this before, years ago, but for some reason, it was held up in my NetFlix queue for the last couple of years. I can only conclude that it was shelved because of the remake. Thankfully, it finally came out of hold status, and I got to watch it again. Directed by the Pang Brothers (Oxide Pang Chun and Danny Pang), this Asian import is a fantastic horror show. A moody drama, full of suspense. When a young blind woman regains her sight after a transplant operation, she starts to see things that just don't make sense. She soon realizes that she's seeing the dead! She strives to understand why she sees these lost souls, and ultimately goes on a journey to Thailand, where she learns the truth about her cornea donors life. It's a spooky, moody, movie. The music, acting and lighting were perfectly mixed to create a creepy mood throughout. If you like movies like The Ring, The Grudge, Dark Water (the original versions) or Sixth Sense, you'll enjoy this movie. The acting by Angelica Lee was convincing, but the rest of the cast didn't produce on the same level. The special effects weren't the best. A slight improvement in rating from my previous viewing. 4 out of 5.
* Ossessione: (1943 - Drama, crime / Italy) This neo-realist drama, directed by Luchino Visconti, paints a bleak picture of post WWII Italy. A stark, murderous drama, involving an ambitious young wife and a wandering drifter. When the handsome drifter makes an unscheduled stop at a roadside trattoria, the young wife of the owner decides to make her move. She turns on the charm, sets her sites on the tramp, and lures him into an ill-fated decision. The camera work was great, the music and acting excellent, and the direction superb. This tragic love story will lure you in with it's lurid tale, and keep you watching with the masterful combination of images and sounds. 4 out of 5.
* The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford: (2007 - Drama, suspense, historical, crime, biography, western) Kim and I watched this one on Comcast Pay-Per-View. Written (superbly so) and directed by Andrew Dominik. This superbly paced movie stars Brad Pitt, Casey Affleck (in an outstanding performance), Ted Levine, Sam Rockwell, Sam Shepard, Mary-Louise Parker, Zooey Deschanel, Paul Schneider and others. It's hard to imagine this film as suspenseful, but it was. Even though the title says it all, I could help buy find myself utterly caught up in this precisely narrated, psychological drama. The story picks up where Frank and Jesse James are committing the last of their infamous train robberies. After they call it quits, the band of outlaws part ways in a vain attempt to live out the rest of their lives in relative obscurity. History, fame, and fortune won't let them end their story quite so easily. The narration, camera work (vintage effects, blurring around the edges, shots through imperfect glass panes, long shots, lighting and color) and music (by Nick Cave) were expertly blended to weave a tale of desperation, deception and suspense. The acting and direction were outstanding. By far the best performance I've ever seen from Casey Affleck. If your idea of a western is the recent 3-10 to Yuma remake, avoid this movie. It's far to deep for those who prefer the shallow end of the pool. A long, slow, and torturous journey into the souls of two desperate men. I'm adding it to my 'Must Buy' list. 5 out of 5.
* Lust, Caution: (2007 - Drama, historical, thriller, espionage, war, romance / China - Se, jie) An uneven effort by Ang Lee. The movie is a tale of WWII China. Under occupation by Japanese forces, this movie tells the story of a group of ambitious Chinese students. Putting on patriotic plays to raise funds for the war isn't enough for this group of young students. In a fateful act of conspiratorial fervor, they make a pact to kill off a traitor. Their target is the collaborating Chinese official responsible for governing Shanghai under Japanese rule. The convoluted plot was a bit difficult for me to follow (the subtitles were fast and furious), but I did my best to keep up. The direction and production at the beginning of the movie felt markedly different (as in better) from the second half of the film. I started to think that this was going to be a very heavy handed propaganda film, but it didn't end up that way. The characters were very sterotypical, and uninspiring. There are numerous scenes of full on sex - full frontal, penetration, contortionist sex - in this movie. It's a bit overpowering. I didn't think it was necessary, and it actually detracted from some aspects of the movie. Add to that an extremely violent scene towards the beginning of the movie, and you'll find that the director has detracted from the central core of this movie, in order to satisfy the purely prurient motives of the viewing audience (rated NC-17). The camera work, sets, costumes and props were excellent, but the story was a rather heavy propaganda piece. The best part of the movie was the acting by Tony Leung Chiu, and the camera work. 3 out of 5.
* Redacted: (2007 - Drama, war, crime) Written and directed by Brian De Palma, this movie was a highly biased docu-drama which depicts American military members as retards and cowards. A slap in the face of actual thinking citizens. A fictionalized drama based on an actual event that took place in Iraq. A group of U.S. soldiers were involved in the rape of a 14 (or was it 15?) year old Iraqi girl. De Palma took that tragic event, and built a poisonous piece of politically biased trash out of it. The acting was poor, and the characters were horrible. Highly stereotyped character archetypes, make the U.S. soldiers universal scapegoats for every death that occurs in Iraq. The clever gimmick in documentary style media coverage (news programs, personal video journals, surveillance cameras, internet chat, etc), is used to tell a biased tale which judges our entire military in order to make a political point. The vile depictions of Soldiers was a sad hollywood impersonation taken to the extreme. The dialog and acting was forced, fake and forgettably bad. The montage at the end of the movie was a disgusting display, designed to drive home the directors point. Mixed in with these supposedly 'actual photos from the Iraq War' were obvious out-takes from the movie itself. If the director really wanted to make a powerful statement about the war in Iraq, he should have made this movie about the girl that was raped, and left the hollywood stereotypes out of it. De Palma's film has essentially destroyed the truth about the events depicted in this movie, while simultaneously demeaning all the soldiers serving in Iraq. The obvious slant and bias visible in this 'docudrama', detracts immeasurably from any actual truths regarding the people or events depicted. 1 out of 5.
* The Invasion: (2007 - Sci-fi, thriller, action) Another remake of the 1956 original (Invasion of the Body Snatchers). This time they added some time-shifting to the editing, a bunch of extended chase scenes, and the infamous needle-in-the-heart gimmick. That ought to shake things up - Not! This movie wasn't anywhere near the quality of the original or the 1978 remake. The pairing of Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig was a good idea, but they lacked any chemistry on screen. The story is basically the same as the original. Alien spores make their way to Earth and infect some portion of the populace. The result is pod-people with an agenda. The opening scene of a Space Shuttle coming apart on re-entry were great, but I had problems with most of the film. It was very telegraphic - The script was always telling the audience what the characters were going to do. The only suspense came from trying to figure out who was a pod-person and who wasn't. The first half of the movie was o.k. But then it became an extended chase scene, as Nicole Kidman tries to (in order) evade pod-people, locate and retrieve her son, and escape from the pod-people. The ending sucked. 2 out of 5.
* Be Kind Rewind: (2008 - Comedy, fantasy) Written and directed by Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Science of Sleep). Kim and I went to see this in the theater. Unfortunately, the previews were much better than the movie. The premise was fantastic - Jack Black's character; a paranoid odd-ball who sleeps in the shadow of a megawatt power plant, has become magnetized, and he inadvertently erases all the VHS tapes in his neighborhood video rental. He and Mos Def then recreate classic movies on a budget of $20.00. The 'Sweded' movies become a hit. That's when the movie falls apart. Enter the other aspects of the script. By overly complicating the plot, Michel Gondry has strayed too far from his original sentiment. In satisfying the typical hollywood expression - Evil corporate types are trying to take the property away from owner Danny Glover in order to create a shiny new office building. Oh yeah, and then there's the evil corporate types, led by Sigourney Weaver, who cry foul over copyright violations! Oh yeah, that's not all; let's throw in another sub-plot. A neighborhood preservation theme, something about 'Fats Waller' the great Jazz musician. These unnecessary plot threads detracted from the central theme of the movie. The Mos Def, Jack Black interaction was great. They were very funny, and their characters were great, but their efforts were constantly interrupted by these other plot threads. While I liked the movie, I was disappointed with the effort by Michel Gondry. It seems to me that this vision was corrupted by someone else. The sappy sweet ending sucked like one of your typical hollywood fast cash productions. 3 of 5.
* In the Shadow of the Moon: (2007 - Documentary) Gathering together several of the remaining Apollo astronauts, this movie tells the story in their own words. Featuring some stunning footage, for me this movie brought back many memories of watching these men on television during the glory days of American enterprise. We were galvanized, determined and filled with wonder. The moon was in our grasp, and the whole world gasped as we achieved this feat of Herculean proportions. The documentary was extremely well done, and the interviews surprisingly captivating. Especially the words of Michael Collins and Buzz Aldrin. This film contained a lot of archive footage, including some previously unreleased NASA footage. The movie tells a story of a nation in transition. Technology and social values were changing the very soul of America and the world. This Documentary was an excellent illustration of one particularly instrumental pivot point in history. Not to be missed. 5 out of 5.
* The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid: (1972 - Western, drama, crime, historical) This one was in Kim's queue. I can only imagine that it's getting some play from the recent 'Jesse James' movie starring Brad Pitt (see review above). Written and directed by Philip Kaufman, the only talent in this movie (with a large cast) worth mentioning is Robert Duvall and Cliff Robertson. The acting, with the exception (and barely so) of Duvall, was uniformly bad. The script was terrible. A meandering mess, punctuated at times by odd interludes (such as the extended baseball segment, or the strange obsession with steam powered instruments (an organ and vehicles)) and seemingly fictional embellishment.The story is supposedly based on the last great bank robbery committed by the Cole-Younger gang. Duvall's performance was either over the top or subdued - Uneven. The direction wavers between a comedic feel and an ironic/cynical touch. These two approaches didn't complement each other very well, and the result was a laughably painful production. Some locational errors added to my distraction while watching this movie. Snow-capped mountains surrounding Northfield Minnesota? The camera work was poorly executed, and lacked any variation. The lighting was well done, creating a fairly dreary feel throughout. Unfortunately that feel wasn't consistent with parts of the movie. The Pinkerton pursuit scenes were ridiculous, to the point of being cartoon-like. The sets and costumes (for the most part) were well done, and they added some believability to this otherwise poor movie. In the end, the very few good points were outweighed 2 to 1 by the horrible production, direction, camera work, writing and acting. I can't rate this more than 1 out of 5. I'm adding 'The Long Riders' to my queue.
* Gone With the Wind - Collector's edition: (1939 - Drama, romance, war, historical) Victor Fleming directs this historic epic based on the Margaret Mitchell novel. This movie won eight oscars in 1940, but it doesn't win me over. Yeah, I know 'It was a great movie - A momentous achievement - An epic, sweeping drama' - Unfortunately, it didn't really move me that much. I enjoyed the movie, but was disappointed by some aspects of the movie. The story - The decline of the South. As civil war rages across the stage (this movie felt very much like a stage play, and probably works better in that medium), two main characters (Clark Gabel as Rhett Butler, and Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O'Hara) struggle to find their way and survive in a world that sweeps over them like a bitter November storm. The movie follows the personal and political happenings from the outbreak of civil war, through the war, into post war reconstruction. The acting was pretty good, and the direction splendid. The problems I had with this movie were primarily cinematic. I found the colorization nauseating, the duration was daunting - at nearly four hours! and I found the performances overly melodramatic. The character portrayals and historic aspects are excellent. An excellent movie in many regards, but I doubt I'll watch it again. It's just not my cup of tea - Far too much like a marathon length soap opera. 3 out of 5.
* Il Postino: (1994 - Drama, romance, comedy / Italy, France) A slightly comedic, romantic drama set on an isolated Italian island. In this story, Philippe Noiret plays Mario Ruoppolo, a simple islander who despises the life of a fisherman. When Pablo Neruda (played by Massimo Troisi) is exiled to the small Italian Island, Mario takes a job as a postman to the famous Chilean poet. The new job leads to a new friendship and a newfound appreciation for poetry. When Mario is love smitten by a lovely local waitress (played by Maria Grazia Cucinotta), he turns to Pablo to help him express his love in ways that other islanders cannot. A charming and simple tale of love, friendship and humanity. Despite some obvious political overtures, this story is deeper than the characterized political leanings. Beautifully directed, acted and photographed. The only problems were auditory in nature. Some spotty subtitles and some poor dubbing distracted me from the superb storytelling. The movie moves as slowly as a summer breeze, as powerfully as the swelling tide, and tells a tale as pure as first love. This one gets a 4 out of 5.
* Beowulf: (2007 - Action, adventure, drama, fantasy) I love the story - Of the monster Grendel, of the vainglorious vikings, of the romanticized heroic deeds, of the tragic, shakespearian, endings. Unfortunately, the producers of this movie decided to go the cgi route. The dragons and monsters featured in this movie couldn't be shown up close without resorting to cgi, and rather than compromise the movie with a cgi vs live action disconnect, they opted to make the entire movie cgi. In so doing, they were able to get big names for the voices - Anthony Hopkins, Angelina Jolie, John Malkovich, Ray Winstone, Sebastian Roché, and a big time director - Robert Zemeckis. The cgi used was very much the kind found in the recent 'Shrek' movies, and it just doesn't cut it for me. I despise this format. It's fine for cuddly, funny bunnies like Shrek and company, but a serious epic like Beowulf belongs to the human experience. It speaks so much of human nature, that the nuance is lost in cgi. Oh how I wish they'd make a live action version worth watching - the last one I saw (1999 version starring Christopher Lambert) was a disaster. It's the story that get's marks here. Based on the epic poem, it's filled with substance, parables and poetic justice. This movie, had to include a dragon? Why, that's not part of the original story/poem. Oh, wait, let me guess. The Dragon was necessary to add a thrill to the 3D version (which I didn't see). Someone wanted to show of their cgi capabilities. I wouldn't be surprised to find out that the entire movie was funded/financed by the company that did the cgi. The nude, but not nude, shots of the cgi Angelina Jolie were simply insulting. If you're going to include nude scenes in a movie, do so. The cgi models avoided an R-rating (in theaters) by omitting any nipples or genitalia. Even the unrated DVD version lacked adult rendering. I'm fairly offended by the lack of adult behavior in the 'watering down' of these cgi models in order to avoid any critical reaction to the presence of something as simple as 'actual simulated' nudity. The simulated 'nudity' and 'violence' were watered down by the cgi, to the point where I felt like I was watching a video game. I can only imagine that this movie would have been better if I'd 'watched' it with my eyes closed. Film is meant to be experienced with the eyes, when will hollywood realize that compromising that aspect of the genre only cheapens, lessens and corrupts the entire experience? 2 out of 5.
* Incubus: (1965 - Horror, drama, fantasy) How could I have missed this gem? A friend recently recommended this movie (thanks Dennis!), and I'm glad he did! It's well know that I appreciate the quirky/cult movies, love Shatner, and I've invented my own language (called Hallowese). So how could I not know about this diabolical little gem? Well, now I'm a bit wiser, and better off for having experienced this cinematic oddity first hand. Written and directed by Leslie Stevens (of the Outer Limits television series), this independent production featured William Shatner (before Star Trek), Milos Milos (who committed murder and suicide not long after the film), Allyson Ames and Ann Atmar (who also committed suicide a few years later) in a bizarre horror flick. The story - On an isolated stretch of land, a pair of succubi engage in the torment of man. Luring the sinful to their deaths, and ultimate damnation. When one of them becomes a bit too ambitious, she plots the seduction of an innocent and pure soul. She's warned not to engage in such a dangerous endeavor. She's warned about the power of 'Love'. She rejects the counsel of her 'sister' and embarks on her mission of misery. While she struggles to resist the amazing power of purity, she simultaneously strives to topple this innocent and faithful believer (Shatner). The story is simple, but subtle. Filled with allegory, temptation, love and deception. It feels so much like an Ingmar Bergman film that you can't help but compare it to some of his best efforts. The direction was precise, exacting, while remaining humanistic and touching. The black and white film features some great camera work. I especially liked the extended cross-over fades at the beginning of the film, and some of the unique angles. The night shots, and lighting in general were extremely well executed. The scenery (shot primarily in Big-Sur national park (California)) was amazing, and the dialog! The dialog was done entirely in Esperanto! The international language. The use of this artificial language placed the location securely in our subconscious. The language sounds much like an old-world European tongue, while simultaneously defying precise identification. It added an immeasurable depth to this mysterious, moody masterpiece. The pacing, dialog, and camera work create a creepy and unforgettable classic in this satanic celluloid child of Leslie Stevens. I'm gonna buy a copy! 5 out of 5.
* Dogma: (1999 - Comedy, adventure, fantasy) Written and directed by Kevin Smith, I've seen this movie before, but recent discussions at work prompted me to revisit it. I found it available on Comcast's On-Demand service, so I opted to bypass the queue. Starring Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Linda Fiorentino, Jason Mewes, Chris Rock, Alan Rickman, Jason Lee, Salma Hayek, Kevin Smith, Janeane Garofalo, George Carlin, Alanis Morissette and others. The cast was an impressive mix of traditional Kevin Smith players and some bigger names. The story is a tongue in cheek tale filled with Christian 'mythology', satire, and Kevin Smith humor. A seemingly typical human, an abortion clinic worker is called upon to save all of mankind, and existence itself, from total destruction. A pair of 'fallen' angels are trying to re-enter heaven by exploiting a loop-hole in Catholic doctrine. Doing so would prove the fallibility of God, thus reversing all of creation itself. The characters are satirical representations of religious stereotypes. The dialog is witty banter, delivered staccato non-stop Smith style. Although it's riddled with profanity, prolific put-downs, and sardonic satire, the sophisticated audience can see in the script a serious examination of religion in today's society. Balancing a fine line between insult and introspection, I find that it actually acts more to strengthen ones faith than degrade it. Others however, are quick to condemn it, secure in the knowledge that their faith is far superior to Kevin Smith's mockery! How dare he! 3 out of 5.
* U-571: (2000 - Action, drama, war) Written and directed by Jonathon Mostow (Terminator-3, Breakdown) here's a tale of WWII with a very authentic feel. The movie was well cast - Matthew McConaughey, Bill Paxton, Harvey Keitel, Jon Bon Jovi, Jake Weber - With some veteran and junior actors. The story is that of the Enigma Machine - During WWII, the Germans used an encryption algorithm; code named Enigma (by the Allies), to secure their communications. If the Allies could only get their hands on one of the machines, they could reverse engineer it, and change the course of the war. That's where our crew of submariners comes in. An old American sub is rigged to look like a German U-Boat, and the deception begins. This movie is shot almost exclusively on the set of a leaky old submarine. More than one actually, and the sets were entirely believable. Not only the sets, but the mock-ups, props, costumes and all the period shots. The movie was entirely convincing in that aspect. The special effects, technical aspects and cgi were all done exceptionally well. The scenes which depicted depth charges exploding near the submarine were awesome. The acting and direction was good, but there was some feel of anachronism. The characters acted more like a modern day group of individuals than a crew of a 1941. That's a minor complaint regarding this fantastic film. It's filled with some great suspense, action and drama. A tense, submarine adventure. 5 out of 5.
* Raising Arizona: (1987 - Action, adventure, comedy, crime) This Comcast on Demand feature (This one was in my NetFlix queue for a long time. Apparently, it's currently unavailable on NetFlix?) was written by the Coen Brothers (Joel & Ethan), directed by Joel Coen, and starred Nicolas Cage, Holly Hunter, John Goodman, Trey Wilson and others. Despite the fact that I'm not a Nicolas Cage fan, I think he was cast well in this movie. He and Holly Hunter did an excellent job in this movie. John Goodman's performance was also excellent. This is an oddball comedy with quirky characters. Nicolas Cage plays a mullet sportin', two time, white trash, loser who can't seem to escape from his life of crime - until he hooks up with Holly Hunter the chronic, obsessive, corrections officer. While he's on the straight and narrow, the couple can't conceive, so they decide to 'borrow' one of the furniture baron's quintuplets. Then they become hosts to a pair of escape convicts. Things are going from bad to worse, in this non-stop comedic catastrophe. The writing was outstanding. The pacing perfect and the comedy hilarious. The comic flavor was that of tongue in cheek. Subtle, silly and sometimes surprising. An excellent, energetic, comedy that always pleases (I've seen it before). 4 out of 5.