* Charlie Wilson's War: (2007 - Biography, drama, historical) Recommended by Kim's Dad. This movie was in Kim's queue but not in mine. Directed by Mike Nichols (The Graduate, Silkwood, Biloxi Blues, Wolf, Primary Colors). Starring Tom Hanks (as Charlie Wilson), Amy Adams, Julia Roberts, Philip Seymour Hoffman and others. This movie is based on the true life events of one Texas Congressman - Charlie Wilson. This particular congressman is a womanizing, heavy drinking, fast talking politician, set on a goal of helping the Afghan people. When Charlie decides to go after the Soviets in a big way, he teams up with one rebellious CIA rogue (played by Phillip Seymour Hoffman). Together they manage to move a covert conflict against the Soviets into a crusade against those Godless Communists! As the flow of weapons and money increase, the conflict becomes ever hotter. Ultimately victory arrives when the Mujahideen are able to force the withdrawal of the Red Army. With it's tail between it's legs, the all powerful Russian military machine retreats back to the Motherland, and Charlie is hailed as a hero - Unfortunately, for the Afghan people, the story doesn't end there. While their country is liberated it's also in a state of ruin. Now conservative congressman may be able to wring money out of Americans to fight the communists, but Charlie finds it's another thing altogether to garner support to fund any sort of restoration. We helped the Afghani military route the red menace, but we didn't really give a damn about 'those people' - did we? Fantastic story - based on true events. The acting was stellar; especially that of Phillip Seymour Hoffman - Who was oscar nominated for his work. Satirical, politically mocking, lightly comedic. Unfortunately, the lightly comedic part and highly stereotyped womanizing aspects of the movie didn't do it for me, there was some grossly overplayed cgi in the combat scenes (Soviet helicopters vs Mujahideen), and the end game was underplayed. In the end it's the fact filled story and Hoffman's acting that warrant a 3 out of 5.
* Good Will Hunting: (1997 - Drama) Watched this one courtesy of Kim's Dad. An absolutely brilliant film. With a terrific cast (Robin Williams, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Stellan Skarsgård, Minnie Driver, and others. The story and characters are fantastic. Combined with great direction and music (Danny Elfman), this movie is awesome. A mathematical genius works as a janitor in a prestigious university, where he's discovered by one of the professors. Unable to cope with his past, he needs help overcoming a series of personal hurdles in order to achieve a fulfilling life. Believe it or not, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are credited with the story. They wrote this!? The acting by Robin Williams was exceptional. 5 out of 5.
* The King and I: (1956 - Adventure, drama, family, musical, romance) A truly exceptional musical masterpiece. Directed by Walter Lang, starring Deborah Kerr, Yul Brynner, Rita Moreno and others. Here is the story of Mrs. Anna Leonowens (Deborah Kerr) a widow, and her son. Together they have traveled to Siam (Thailand) in order to teach English to the Children of King Mongkut of Siam. The King and Mrs. Anna get off to a Rocky start but things warm up as the get to know each other. There's lots of singing, dancing, morality lessons, great music, and good old fashioned entertainment. Based in the late 1800's, this play (by Rodgers and Hammerstein) turned into a movie is based on the true story of Englishwoman Anna Leonowens. Yul Brynner's performance was outstanding, and he won one of the five oscars garnered by this movie. 5 out of 5.
* La Terra Trema: (1948 - Drama, historical / Italy - Terra trema: Episodio del mare, La) This semi-documentary film written by Antonio Pietrangeli and directed by Luchino Visconti is an excellent example of neo-realism. In post WWII Italy, the hardships of a fisherman's life are many. Here is the epic story of one particular family's plight. Set firmly in a Sicilian fishing village, this movie is a time capsule and a marxist propaganda vehicle. Here the poor Sicilian families are exploited by capitalistic wholesalers who literally do everything they can to set and control the price of fish sold on their market. One family tries to escape this nightmare by purchasing their own boat. They soon learn that being a good businessman has it's ups and downs, and you can't buck the system without suffering some consequences. Lessons for the future of our free market system. If you've ever shopped at a Wal-Mart, don't presume that the lessons learned by these struggling workers can't be undone in the blink of an eye. Filmed using non-actors, actual Sicilian fishermen are used to portray the various roles of this dark drama. The screen play and direction were great, but the acting left something to be desired. The language in this film was Italian but a heavily accented Sicilian dialect (vastly different from modern Italian). I found that I had to rely almost exclusively on the subtitles. A slow and plodding movie, a dramatic lesson in social responsibilities. Does an excellent job of capturing a way of life on film. The political and social climate of the time was seared into the frames of this movie. 4 out of 5.
* Control: (2007 - Biography, drama, music) From 1976-1980 Ian Curtis was the lead singer of Joy Division. This bio-pic is the story of Ian Curtis and Joy Division. Anton Corbijn (in his first feature film directorial debut) and Sam Riley (first leading role) produce a film with amazing strength, complexity and sublime truth. Ian Curtis is a typical English lad, with low expectations and high hopes. This black and white film does an excellent job of capturing the sentiment of the British post-punk scene of the late 70s/early 80s. The black and white cinematography worked wonders in capturing the dark mood of this movie. As Ian's band was soaring on the charts, his soul was sinking into despair. With an early marriage, a child, relationship problems and epilepsy, Ian's problems were many. While his performances provided an escape for him, the energy drain was increasingly taxing. This is a true tale of Rock and Roll. 4 out of 5.
* Munich: (2005 - Drama, thriller, history) It may not be 100% authentic/historically accurate or a documentary, but this movie is awesome. Realistic, hard hitting, nail biting and politically challenging. These are the sort of stories that are worth telling. Superb direction by Steven Spielberg, wonderful writing by Tony Kushner and Eric Roth, and great acting by a cast that didn't try to steal the show (Featuring - Eric Bana, Geoffrey Rush, Daniel Craig and many others). Real World: A Palestinian terrorist group 'Black September' kidnapped and killed Israeli athletes during the Munich Olympics of 1972. Fantasy world: The Israeli government commissions a secret hit-squad to take out the leaders who planned the attack in Munich. There may be no inside corroboration to this end of the story, but there's evidence that it occurred in a manner very much like that told in this movie. This movie had a lot of action, drama, suspense and tension. A retrospective, introspective, movie about the politics of murder. Violence always begets more violence. One of the best scenes in the whole movie? The parting shot. 5 out of 5.
* Mr. Brooks: (2007 - Crime, drama, mystery, suspense, thriller) This one wasn't in my queue. It was in Kim's queue. Written in part, and directed by Bruce A. Evans (This was his second directorial effort). Starring Kevin Costner as Mr. Earl Brooks, Demi Moore as Det. Tracy Atwood. Dane Cook as Mr. Smith, and William Hurt as Marshall. The movie starts out with Mr. Brooks receiving a 'Man of the Year' award. Soon afterwards we find out that he's a serial killer with a split personality. The alter ego (played by William Hurt) is only heard by Mr. Brooks, but we can see and hear him. Apparently though, no one else hears Brooks when he's talking to the ever-present William Hurt. No he's not just a voice, he's a fully embodied person who takes up room and displaces others on screen. Still, no one notices him... These two individuals aren't all that different. While Mr. Brooks has decided to retire from mass murder, Marshall is constantly nagging him to commit 'just one more'. Soon Marshall issues the ultimatum 'just one more victim. Then if you really want to stop I'll leave you alone'. The luke warm plot, and preposterous presentation of a fully embodied alter ego were unimaginative and stale. Kevin Costner plays a perfectly boring person. No one would suspect that he's a murderer, because he isn't. He's just a mediocre actor with good looks. Then there was Demi Moore the hot female police detective assigned to the murder case. Apparently she's some kind of independently wealthy, daddy's girl, psychic, with marriage problems and a completely different murderous stalker on her case. What the? Then there's Dane Cook the serial murderer wanna-be... The movie was preposterous. Posing as a serious drama, it was campy - I laughed out loud at many of the poorly handled dramatic moments. Absurd plot devices abound, countless cliches, the overly narrative dialog was annoying, the music was terrible, the camera work poor, the director kept changing the focus of the story, there was a very odd matrix-like shoot-out in the movie (completely unlike the rest of the camera work), and the acting was less than convincing. Yuck! 2 out of 5.
* Juno: (2007 - Comedy, drama, romance) Directed by Jason Reitman (Thank you for smoking) and written by Diablo Cody (She won an oscar for the screenplay). This movie stars Ellen Page, Jason Bateman, Jennifer Garner, Michael Cera, Olivia Thirlby, J.K. Simmons, Allison Janney, Rainn Wilson, Lucas MacFadden and others. High school teenager, Juno (played by Ellen Page) is pregnant. It's definitely not something she planned, and now she's in over her head. With the help of her supportive friends and family, she decides to have the child, then give it up to someone who's more capable of raising a child. It's a positive, pro-choice, pro-life movie. While Juno 'chooses' what to do with her baby/body, she ultimately decides to have the child. It's a feel good compromise, that neatly avoids the controversy of the 'other' choice. Thankfully, it makes for a good plot, good drama, and that's what it is. A feel good drama about consequences, responsibility, and making the right decisions. The movie is full of complicated real-life decisions, slightly quirky yet intelligent characters in complicated relationships (teen and adult), and fantastic music. The acting was definitely top-notch, and the story deserved the oscar it captured. A bit like a combination between Knocked up and Napoleon Dynamite. I liked it so much I'm going to buy a copy. 5 out of 5.
* Old Yeller: (1957 - Family, drama, adventure, western) Disney produced this live-action, heartwarming tale about a boy and his dog. Directed by Robert Stevenson (The Absent Minded Professor, Mary Poppins, The Love Bug, Bedknobs and Broomsticks) the movie is a classic gem, a family friendly tale containing some great morality lessons. When his father leaves on a cattle drive, young Travis Coates is left to take care of the ranch, his mother, and a younger brother. Thankfully, he finds plenty of help in a Yellow Mongrel (Old Yeller). After a rocky start, the family adopts the stray and they become quick friends. The dog and boy protect their farm from varmints of all sorts, and work together to keep the farm running and the family safe. Unfortunately, there's a dark lining to this story. The dog contracts 'Hydraphobia' while fighting a wildcat, and they have to quarantine the dog. Spoiler: Just in case you didn't know already; yes, they're forced to shoot Old Yeller' in the end. Great movie. 4 out of 5.
* Savage Sam: (1963 - Family, drama, adventure, western) Another live-action Disney production. I'm surprised it took them so long to make a sequel. In Savage Sam, Tommy Kirk and Kevin Corcoran return to the farm in their original roles. Unfortunately, their acting skills haven't improved - Especially those of Kevin Corcoran. The dog in this movie is the 'Son of Old Yeller'? It's a different breed, but we can look past that, as the dog was a better actor than these two kids. As the new pup grows up, he scraps with various wild life, wildcats, wolves and he even helps facilitate the rescue of the kids from kidnapping Indians! This one just doesn't hold up to the original. I only watched it as a double feature with Old Yeller. 2 out of 5.
* Jumper: (2008 - Action, adventure, sci-fi, thriller) I was warned, but I couldn't resist the teleporting premise promised by this piece of hollywood poop. Directed by Doug Liman. Despite the direction, and piles of money thrown at this script, it all boiled down to poor screen writing. Unfortunately, the writers (three of them) took a good premise - based on a novel, and ruined it with excessive amounts of hollywood glitz, twelve producers, 31 assistant directors and a pretty boy cast. Starring Hayden Christensen, Samuel L. Jackson, Diane Lane, Jamie Bell and other perfect people. The plot had a good premise. Genetic mutants named 'Jumpers' are hunted by the quasi-religious 'Paladins', sworn to eliminate this mutative breed of humans. That's as much detail as we get. The rest is impetuous battles between the two rival factions, grandstanding location shots, and some preposterous romance sub-plot. The special effects were o.k., but the direction was lacking. The plot leaves lots of strings unpulled, and a sequel, or television series is likely. 2 out of 5.
18* It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - Seasons 1&2: (2005 - Comedy, television) This television series aired on FX, and a friend at work recommended it. He said it was the funniest TV series he's seen. That's quite a recommendation, so I decided to give it a try. Written and directed by several different people, it's the cast and characters that keep this series sharp. Starring: Charlie Day, Glenn Howerton (one of the writers), Rob McElhenney (one of the writers and directors), Kaitlin Olson, Danny DeVito, and others. After 18 episodes, I can definitely say 'This show is funny as hell'. It is (as advertised), "Seinfeld" on crack. A group of crazy characters own and operate an Irish themed bar in Philadelphia. The setting is somewhat like "Cheers", as a lot of the action revolves around, or takes place in, the bar. The characters are all great friends but they're retarded - Socially retarded. Total slackers, they're part of the egotistical 'me first' generation, they're always looking for the angle that best benefits them. The characters portray various stereotype while addressing various social taboos and topics. They approach adult topics like a group of children, presuming the most ridiculous of assumptions, and jumping to ridiculous conclusions in the blink of an eye. The series is irreverent, hysterical, fresh and creative. I hope it can stay that way for a while. I'll watch more. Thanks Mike. 5 out of 5.
* Street Smart: (1987 - Crime, drama) Starring Christopher Reeve, Kathy Baker, Mimi Rogers, Jay Patterson, Andre Gregory, Morgan Freeman and others. This movie is set in New York city during the 70s. When a newspaper journalist is behind in his work, the editor gives him one last chance - Produce a front page story or your through. Unfortunately, he can't seem to come up with a 'true story' so, he turns to his talent - writing, and creates a not so 'true' story. He fabricates a character - an inner city Pimp. When his article is picked up as a fantastic scoop on Street Life, his editor insists on seeing this colorful character - Fast Black. Oh, oh... Didn't think that would happen. So now the journalist has to find an actual pimp. The story is fantastic, compelling and thrilling. The pacing was excellent, the acting by Morgan Freeman as Leonard Smalls Jr - aka Fast Black, was awesome. Kathy Baker as Punchy (an independent operator/prostitute) was great. Christopher Reeves as the reporter? Not so good. An excellent movie with a creative and compelling story. 4 out of 5.
* Shane: (1953 - Drama, western) Directed by George Stevens, starring Alan Ladd, Jean Arthur, Van Heflin, Brandon De Wilde, Jack Palance and others. Here's an outstanding western about personal honor, inner strength and perseverance. Former lawman Shane (played by Alan Ladd) rides into the middle of a western conflict when he stops for water at the home of a local rancher. The camera work and location were awesome. Excellent cinematography (won an Oscar) marks this film with a look and feel of the old west. The story is very good as well. Very reminiscent of Akira Kurosawa's Yojimbo. This lone gunman will become the fulcrum of a land dispute. One group - honest, hardworking farmers and ranchers, competes against another group of dishonest gamblers and cattlemen intent on controlling the entire area for themselves. Starretts vs Rykers. While the homesteaders try their best to live in a new model of the west - without violence and gunplay, the old guard led by When the elder Ryker send to Cheyanne for a hired gun, the action really picks up. Jack Palance played a perfect heavy in this western classic. The ending was outstanding. 4 out of 5.
* Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull: (2008 - Action, adventure, sci-fi) Directed by Steven Spielberg, and written (in part) by George Lucas. Starring Harrison Ford, Cate Blanchett, Karen Allen, Shia LaBeouf, Ray Winstone, John Hurt, Jim Broadbent and others. I waited with anticipation. The first three Indiana Jones movies were excellent examples of hollywood summer blockbusters. Then I went to the theater. Unfortunately, the story was lacking, the CGI overused and disappointing, the acting fair and the overall experience left a bad taste in my mouth. The story. Indiana Jones is still a professor of archaeology, who teems up with a young greaser in order to discover the whereabouts of old friend Henry Oxley and an enigmatic Crystal Skull. The 50s setting is firmly set into the viewers mind early in the movie. That sets the stage for the characters, including the Soviets. While Jones and company seek to return this crystal skull to it's resting place, the Soviets are more interested in it's purported powers. While the acting was in line with the direction, pacing, and feel of the movie, there were several ridiculous moments in the movie that made it more death defying than one person could withstand. I can't give it more than a 2 out of 5, and that's generous.
* The Mist: (2007 - Drama, sci-fi, horror, thriller) Written and directed by Frank Darabont (Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile), this movie is adapted from a Stephen King novel. Starring Thomas Jane, Marcia Gay Harden, Laurie Holden, Andre Braugher, Toby Jones, William Sadler and others. This film is a decent 'horrible monsters attack people stuck in small room' movie. The movie starts out with a strange storm, and a mist rolling in off the lake. As a group of characters head into town for some supplies (repairs are needed after the storm), they take note of a strange amount of emergency vehicles and military troops? It doesn't take long before bad things start happening to the people who venture out of the supermarket. "There's Something in the Mist!" All the usual cliches are present. A split between those who want to go for help, and those who warn of the horror that lurk 'out there'. The only real twist is the religious fanatic angle. This made for some good debate/tension in the characters, but I felt that it was overplayed. The best part of the movie were the Lovecraftian horrors lurking in the mist. Much more than the simple 'Rubber Tentacles', which are present. These beasts are remarkably horrible. I give it high points for making the monsters fascinating and other-worldly. The pacing was way off. The movie pushed the limits with the break-neck 'We've gotta get out of here premise'. This pacing forced unusual reactions to the situations presented and some really strained dialog. The people were in a grocery store. They had plenty of supplies. Better editing would have helped in this regard. The ending was fine, if a bit predictable. 3 out of 5.
* The Andromeda Strain: (2008 - Sci-fi, drama) I saw this made for TV mini-series on Comcast (as a single feature). Thankfully I didn't have to pay for it. When I selected it, I thought I'd selected the original. I quickly realized the error I'd made, but thought I'd stick with it just to see... Based on the Michael Crichton novel, the screen play was written by Robert Schenkkan and directed by Mikael Salomon (Band of Brothers, Alias TV series, Salem's Lot remake). Starring a group of pretty people - Benjamin Bratt, Christa Miller, Eric McCormack, Rick Schroder, Andre Braugher, Panou, Juan Carlos Velis and others. The movie starts out when a satellite crash-lands in the desert. Some youngsters take the satellite back to town and some local decides to pry it open. That's when the fun begins. Everyone, well almost everyone, dies within seconds. The town is quarantined by the military, and the egg heads (The scientists are a group of ethno-sexual, politically correct, pretty people who did a damn good job of convincing me that they knew nothing about something called 'Science') are flown in. With only two survivors, they have to figure out the connection between the two survivors before the virus kills everyone on Earth. This three hour movie had HUGE plot holes, horrible cgi (the spreading virus was depicted as a rust colored stain racing across the countryside), and some rather ridiculous sub-plots to confuse the viewer. To say that the original is far superior is praise for this movie. Not only is this movie a pale comparison to the original, it's a bad 'bad movie'. Poor acting, poor direction, extremely bad writing, poor use of cgi, huge plot holes, ridiculous characters. 1 out of 5.
* Hot Fuzz: (2007 - Comedy, action, crime, satire) Written (in part) and directed by Edgar Wright (of Shaun of the Dead). Based on the strength of Shaun of the Dead, I bought this movie sight unseen. When a super cop in the big city (London) puts everyone else to shame, his superiors banish him to a backwater village in rural England. When he arrives he struggles to fit in with the rest of the cops. Eventually, he starts to notice some peculiar things, like 'a lot' of 'accidental' deaths. Teamed with his partner, together they unveil the insidious plot of this peaceful little village. British humour at it's best. Never overplayed or heavy handed, the casting and acting were excellent. I did notice some interesting twists in the depictions of violence. There seemed to be two types of violence in the movie - Violence committed by the good guys never killed anyone. Shoulder and leg shots. Violence committed by the bad guys killed people, sometimes in ridiculously cartoonish ways. In addition to the high level of violence (especially in the second half of the movie), there was also a disturbing editing technique introduced in the second half of the movie. Extremely fast cuts. While they were well timed, they were so short that they left me dizzy and disoriented. The over the top hollywood satire/spoof was excellent - Bruckheimer eat your heart out! I really liked the fact that none of the villains were archetypical. Old folks and kids, ordinary citizens willing to kill in order to achieve their goal. An excellent buddy cop comedy. 3 out of 5.
* Yojimbo: (1961 - Action, crime, drama, comedy, thriller / Japanese) Produced in 1961, this black and white movie is another fantastic film written and directed by Akira Kurosawa. Starring Toshirô Mifune, Eijiro Tono, Isuzu Yamada and others. The story is exceptional. A classic which has been remade as Sergio Leone's - Per un pugno di dollari (otherwise known as A Fistful of dollars) and Walter Hill's - Last Man Standing. 19th century Japan; A Ronin (Samurai without a master) wanders the countryside looking for employment. After a fateful crossroads decision, he comes upon a back-water town in the midst of a two-way gang war. A brief discussion with the innkeeper sets up the story. Here is an opportunity to profit at the expense of feuding, unscrupulous, leeches while simultaneously championing the oppressed town folk. Pitting both sides against each other, the samurai nearly loses his life when his deception is uncovered. In the end the town is nearly destroyed, and both sides have been decimated leaving the town eerily 'Quiet again'. Outstanding direction, acting by Toshiro Mifune as the Ronin, a great musical score. An all around excellent movie. 5 out of 5.
* Enron - The Smartest Guys in the Room: (2005 - Documentary) Directed by Alex Gibney, this dramatic documentary features at least three actors - Peter Coyote, Gray Davis, David Freeman and extensive news footage. During the late 90's, Enron was a corporation that traded in electricity and natural gas (energy commodities). They bought, sold, and controlled electricity for millions of customers. Unfortunately, due to deregulation, corruption and criminal activity on the part of some of the highest ranking employees, this company went from the seventh largest in the U.S. to bankruptcy in less than a year (2000-2001). This movie highlights the human drama surrounding this tragedy. Focusing on the big names of Enron - Ken Lay, Jeff Skilling, Lou Pai and Andy Fastow. The documentary does a very good job of covering the excesses, expenses, and violations committed in the name of profit and greed. How a deregulated electricity market and a co-conspiring accounting firm (Arthur Anderson) allowed Enron to manipulate the markets, banks and brokerages. Based on a book (with same name), this movie did a great job of illuminating the problems that led to Enron's demise, but the question remains - "Could it happen again?" Energy speculation still exists, this time around it's having a huge impact on the oil prices. Are corporations more ethical now? Has anything changed since Enron? 4 out of 5.
* Never Cry Wolf: (1983 - Adventure, drama) My mother recommended this family friendly Disney production. Not one of those animated pieces, this movie is a live action drama, set in the wilderness of the Canadian Yukon territory. The film is a dramatic recreation of a true to life adventure. Based on the novel by Farley Mowat, directed by Carroll Ballard and starring Charles Martin Smith and Brian Dennehy, this movie tells the story of Farley Mowat a scientist who was sent to the Yukon in order to collect data regarding wolf attacks on caribou herds. As he struggles to survive in the harsh environment he discovers the truth regarding the wolves and the threat to caribou herds. The camera and sound work in this movie were both excellent. Another great family friendly movie from Disney. 3 of 5.
* Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: (1989 - Action, adventure) Directed by Steven Spielberg. Starring Harrison Ford and Sean Connery. Adventure is his middle name. As Harrison Ford reprises his role (in the third movie of the series) the audience is once again treated to a fantastic adventure featuring Nazis, religious artifacts, death defying feats and a perilous premise. As Indy searches for his missing father, the quest soon becomes a search for the Holy Grail. The two Jones' aren't the only ones searching for the grail though - Oh no - Not the Nazis too! Our favorite enemies of all mankind. If they get their hands on this religious artifact, who knows what havoc they could unleash upon the free world?! Indy and his father must do all they can in order to thwart the diabolical plans of the 'master race'. The action is fast paced, comedic and dramatic. With whip in hand, the felt hatted hero will surely save the day. I loved it back in '89, and it's still one of my favorite movies, and it remains so today. Excellent acting, pacing, sound and special effects. 5 out of 5.
* Brubaker: (1980 - Drama, crime) Directed by Stuart Rosenberg (Cool Hand Luke, The Pope of Greenwich Village, The Amityville Horror (original)), starring Robert Redford, Yaphet Kotto, Jane Alexander, Murray Hamilton, David Keith, Morgan Freeman and others. Based on real life events described by Thomas Murton, in his book - Brubaker. Like the book, this movie seeks to expose the corruption endemic to American prisons in the South during the 1960s. Robert Redford plays a new prison warden - Henry Brubaker. Brubaker is hired to end the corruption and abuse in Wakefield state penitentiary. He begins his term as warden by going undercover - surreptitiously entering the prison as an inmate, he gets a first hand look at the conditions in this corrupt system where prisoners are sold as slaves, decent food is bartered for with cash, violence is rampant and the corruption infects all levels of the prison system. It's a thrilling and startling look inside a corrupt bureaucracy, where basic human rights are the subject of much power. Those who have the power do their best to crush Brubaker and his plan, while those without the power do what they can to give him a chance at reform. Outstanding story, direction and acting. Redford and Kotto were outstanding. 4 out of 5.
* Wayne's World: (1992 - Comedy, music) A Saturday Night Live skit - that actually worked well as a movie. The writing is Mike Myers, as Mike Myers and Dana Carvey play a couple of slackers with their own cable-access channel. These two loveable losers are 30 something slackers living in their parents basement, working minimum wage, rockin' out to heavy metal on the weekends. Their aspirations are small - a girl, guitar, cable access channel. When a sleaze ball ad-man 'Discovers' their show they think 'They've hit the big time'. Little do they realize his nefarious plans to make them conform. To become a tool of the system, slaves to their sponsor - oh yeah, and steal Wayne's Crucial tot - Casandra, the hard rockin', kung-fu fightin', gorgeous girl. Wayne and Garth don't give up easily though. Suburban Aurora Illinois is populated with quirky characters and a campy script that doesn't pretend to be anything bigger than the lives of these two slackers. The laughs are plentiful, the dialog witty, concise and sometimes narrative. The camera work is done in a documentary style, the music is outstanding, and the plot is enjoyable. It's a combination sure to please. I give it a 5 out of 5. Rock on Wayne! Rock on Garth! (Note - Rob's World! has no affiliation with Wayne's World. Rock on Rob!)
* The Color of Paradise: (1999 - Drama, family / Iran - Rang-e khoda) Written and directed by Majid Majidi (Children of Heaven, Baran) this movie is another family friendly drama about the lives of people living in Iran. The camera work, images, sounds and people of a faraway land have always intrigued me, and this movie definitely fills that desire. Here is the story of Mohammed, a blind eight year old boy, and his troubled father. Mohammed longs for country life with his sisters and granny. Mohammed's father sees the boy as a burden. After his mother died, the boy has become a hindrance, a deterrent to marriage, a chore to deal with. He leaves the boy in the care of others whenever he can, ignores him, and curses the day he was born. What will it take to bring father and son back together? Splendid sound, cinematography, acting and directing. 4 out of 5.
* * * Twin Peaks - Season 2 (disc 1): (1990-91 - Crime, drama, fantasy, horror, mystery, romance, sci-fi, thriller) A television series, which ran from 1990 - 1991. This show (created principally by David Lynch (one of my favorites (Dune, Mulholland Drive, Blue Velvet) and David Frost (Known primarily for witting television shows)), is a landmark effort in the sea of television series. Despite it's abbreviated seasons (only 29 shows), it marked a new era in network television shows. Here was adult drama, hollywood quality production, brought to the small screen. I'm watching the second season now. Filled with dramatic mystery, moody, quirky characters, and some fantastic locations. This twisted series not only told a tale of rich, deep engrossing mystery, it introduced us to an alternate world of mind bending possibilities. Television could be rewarding, rich and engrossing. Starring Kyle MacLachlan, Joan Chen, Richard Beymer, Sherilyn Fenn, Lara Flynn Boyle, Michael Ontkean and many others. Disc 1 contains three episodes of exciting, unusual entertainment. Season 2 - Disc 1. Excellent 5 out of 5.
* Rising Sun: (1993 - Crime, drama, mystery, thriller, action) Written (based on a Michael Crichton novel) and directed by Philip Kaufman (Invasion of the Body Snatchers ('78), The Right Stuff), starring Sean Connery, Wesley Snipes, Harvey Keitel, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa and others. It's L.A. in the late 80's, and the business world is booming - For the Japanese! A high-class party favor is found strangled on the boardroom table of a prestigious Japanese firm and two detectives show up to investigate. Sean Connery plays Cpt. John Connor, Wesley Snipes plays Lt. Webster Smith. Old world meets new world. Connery and Snipes team up to solve the murder. This film-noir murder mystery features a rich, complex story populated with fully developed characters and soaking with international intrigue. Deception and danger abound in this well acted, stylish thriller. The technological aspects of the movie were very well done, and the casting was excellent. Camera work and choreography (in the fight scenes) were below par. 4 out of 5.
* Walk the line: (2005 - Biography, drama, music, romance) I originally watched this movie while flying back from vacation in Hawaii. A documentary about rock/country legend Johnny Cash. Juaquin Phoenix gave a stunning performance as the enigmatic country rocker. Reese Witherspoon delivers an unforgettable June Carter. The direction by James Mangold (Copland, Girl Interupted) was great. The costumes, sets, locations and casting were all well done. While this picture was less bio-pic and more love story than some would prefer, I found it utterly convincing, compelling and deeply moving. The musical performances by Phoenix and Witherspoon were top notch, the acting was outstanding, the music was used to move the story forward, and I rate this movie 5 out of 5.
* In the Name of the King - A Dungeon Siege Tale: (2007 - Action, adventure, fantasy) Kim and I paid to watch this movie on Comcast onDemand - What were we thinking?. Supposedly based on the computer FRP game - Dungeon Siege? Directed by Uwe Boll (a director whose work (game to movie adaptations) I've been avoiding), this movie featured a list of pretty new faces and should-have-been veteran actors. Jason Statham, Leelee Sobieski, John Rhys-Davies, Ron Perlman, Claire Forlani, Ray Litotta, Burt Reynolds and many others. The story is a basic fantasy plot where the evil 'Krugs' form the core of an evil army set on enslaving all of mankind. The evil forces are controlled by the evil wizard played by Ray Liotta. The forces of evil are opposed by the forces of mediocre living, ruled over by the good king Konreid (played by Burt Reynolds) and his army. When a group of Krugs raid a village and kidnap the family of the 'Farmer' (played by Jason Statham), they trigger the ire of our reluctant hero. After going it alone for a brief period, he joins up with the King's men in order to vanquish the evil Krug's, rescue his family and depose the evil wizard and those who hatched this evil scheme. The plot is extremely simple, linear and easy to figure out. Full of cliches and totally void of any surprises. The writing was weak, the action flat, the characters one dimensional, the dialog laughable, the camera work inexplicable, the editing/transitions poorly handled, and the acting mixed. An extremely boring movie. I would have been better entertained if I'd daydreamed through this 150 minute fiasco. I give it a 1 out of 5.
* Office Space: (1999 - Comedy, crime) Based on animated short stories by the director, Mike Judge (Idiocracy, King of the Hill (tv), Beavis & Butthead (tv))- This feature length movie is a fantastic gem. Life as an office worker. Working in a cubicle can get you down. This movie is full of fantastic characters (especially the boss), some great acting, a funny as hell telling of revenge against the system. After a trip to the hypnotist, Peter could care less about his nagging girlfriend or the stress at his job. He actually starts enjoying life. When management starts a round of layoffs at work, Peter and his homey's decide to stick it to 'the man'. The direction, editing and music were fantastic. I've seen this movie many times, and I never grow tired of it. Despite the fact that this movie flopped at the box office, it's become a cult classic by way of mouth. If you enjoy the comic strip Dilbert, you'll connect with this movie. This one gets a 5 out of 5.
* Tristan & Isolde: (2006 - Action, adventure, drama, romance) This movie was in Kim's queue, but I didn't have anything else to watch. Directed by Kevin Reynolds (The Beast, Robin Hood - Prince of Thieves, Waterworld, The Count of Monte Cristo) and staring James Franco (Tristan) and Sophia Myles (Isolde). The story of Tristan and Isolde is a romantic period piece, an adaptation of a Celtic legend. It's a tragic tale of adulterous love between a British/Cornish Knight (Tristan - played by James Franco) and an Irish princess (Isolde - played by Sophia Myles). In this movie the knight is the son of one who is trying to unite all of Britain under a single ruler. The princess is daughter to a powerful Irish king who dominates and strives to keep Britain divided. Their illicit love affair threatens an uneasy truce between two nations. A visual treat, with excellent attention to location, costumes and props. The story is a bit flat, and there are numerous plot holes. The acting was fine, and overall I thought it was a good movie. A great date night treat. 3 of 5.
* 10,000 B.C.: (2008 - Adventure, romance) Here's a movie recommended by my father in law. He bought it because he thought the grandchildren would like it. We were home on vacation, and didn't have any NetFlix with us, so we decided to watch this recent release. I warned him ahead of time that this movie was on my list of movies 'not to watch' (no I don't actually have a list written down, but I do keep one in my head, and this movie was on that list). So much for heeding my own warnings. A prehistoric epic of gargantuan improbabilities. In this story D'Leh the caveman; of the dreadlocks tribe journey's half way across the planet to rescue his honey, after she is kidnapped by horse-riding warlords. While the basic premise is the same as that in 'The Princess Bride', we're treated to this story in the guise of a prehistoric fairy tale. Apparently cavemen have the same values as we do. Not only were there anthropomorphic problems with the movie (Tiger befriends D'Leh for saving it's life), the story was also chock full of historical inaccuracies - like the warlords who've domesticated horses (4 legged demons?) and mastered the stirrup and the bit and bridle several thousand years before they were known. Like the worked metal (apparently steel or iron) weapons, again existing thousands of years before the bronze age. Like seaworthy ships with triangular canvas sails. This level of seamanship didn't exist until several thousand years later. Like the perfect dental work of all the perfect people cavemen (smearing mud on perfectly moistened skin doesn't make you 'look' like a caveman). Like following the north star in order to find a desert like region with mountains, after traveling through three different climatic regions. Like the 'good' people speaking American accented english and the 'bad' people speaking some sort of 'gooble-de-gook' that needed subtitles. Like the bow and arrow use that's reserved until your army is on the verge of defeat by rock wielding primitives. Like trying to hunt mammoths (that constantly changed size) using nets? O.k. that's enough of that. I think you get the point. I like historically accurate movies. This movie made up it's own history. The distances traveled in the movie are inconsistent with practical limits or the necessity implied by plot (i.e seeking slaves). The cgi used in the Saber-Tooth and Terror bird scenes was well done, but it left a feeling of incongruity in the film. It wasn't well blended into the rest of the action. The dialog was preposterous, forced and superficial at best. When the warriors from D'Leh's tribe finally catch up with these warlords, they discover an entirely new civilization (are we actually supposed to believe that this is Egypt?), and thousands of slaves and domesticated mammoths being forced to build pyramids (Yes that's plural - multiple pyramids being built simultaneously, thousands of years before they should have been built) for some sort of alien-like overlords. Hype driven hollywood drivel, devoid of any value. Bad camera work, poor editing, mediocre acting, amazingly bad writing. This movie gets a 1 out of 5.