Thursday, July 8, 2010
Saturday, July 3, 2010
MOVIE REVIEW: KNIGHT AND DAY
IN THEATERS
KNIGHT AND DAY
A fugitive couple (Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz) wages a war between truth and trust while speeding across the globe in an attempt to avoid capture by a determined federal agent (Peter Sarsgaard). Paul Dano, Viola Davis, Olivier Martinez, Maggie Grace, and Marc Blucas co-star. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Director: James Mangold
Cast: Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, Peter Sarsgaard, Paul Dano, Viola Davis, Olivier Martinez, Maggie Grace
Release Date: Jun 23, 2010
Rated: brief strong language and sequences of action violence
Runtime: 2 hr. 10 min.
Genres: Action/Adventure, Comedy, Comedy
Review:
Silly, predictable and occasionally fun Knight and Day is exactly what it looks like, nothing and nothing less. A thinly veiled plot which only serves to move Cruise and Diaz from one set piece to another so madcap action can ensue. James Mangold shoots his stars as such and it’s light and fluffy with never an ounce of weight or depth. Mangold takes full advantage of the budget with beautiful locales all the while using his general “splosion” money well. Cruise is light hearted and fun, pretty much doing his Ethan Hunt character from Mission Impossible throughout. Cameron Diaz does her usual tomboy but I’m cute deal, something she has down pat, and smiles her Joker smile shrieking intermittently. She’s not as grating as she could have been so that’s always a positive considering what’s required of the role. The strange thing here is that Cruise and Diaz are strangely disconnected throughout as if they are both doing their own thing and the only reason we know they like each other is because the film tells us so. The supporting cast is pretty just going through the motions doing what’s required of their paper thin characters. In the end, it’s Cruise and Diaz showcase; if you enjoy them you’ll enjoy this overlong predictable film.
C
KNIGHT AND DAY
A fugitive couple (Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz) wages a war between truth and trust while speeding across the globe in an attempt to avoid capture by a determined federal agent (Peter Sarsgaard). Paul Dano, Viola Davis, Olivier Martinez, Maggie Grace, and Marc Blucas co-star. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Director: James Mangold
Cast: Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, Peter Sarsgaard, Paul Dano, Viola Davis, Olivier Martinez, Maggie Grace
Release Date: Jun 23, 2010
Rated: brief strong language and sequences of action violence
Runtime: 2 hr. 10 min.
Genres: Action/Adventure, Comedy, Comedy
Review:
Silly, predictable and occasionally fun Knight and Day is exactly what it looks like, nothing and nothing less. A thinly veiled plot which only serves to move Cruise and Diaz from one set piece to another so madcap action can ensue. James Mangold shoots his stars as such and it’s light and fluffy with never an ounce of weight or depth. Mangold takes full advantage of the budget with beautiful locales all the while using his general “splosion” money well. Cruise is light hearted and fun, pretty much doing his Ethan Hunt character from Mission Impossible throughout. Cameron Diaz does her usual tomboy but I’m cute deal, something she has down pat, and smiles her Joker smile shrieking intermittently. She’s not as grating as she could have been so that’s always a positive considering what’s required of the role. The strange thing here is that Cruise and Diaz are strangely disconnected throughout as if they are both doing their own thing and the only reason we know they like each other is because the film tells us so. The supporting cast is pretty just going through the motions doing what’s required of their paper thin characters. In the end, it’s Cruise and Diaz showcase; if you enjoy them you’ll enjoy this overlong predictable film.
C
MOVIE REVIEW: YOUTH IN REVOLT
ON DVD
YOUTH IN REVOLT
Superbad's Michael Cera discovers a vacation romance in Youth in Revolt, a teen comedy from Charlie Bartlett's screenwriter, Gustin Nash, and director Miguel Arteta (Chuck & Buck). The film is an adaptation of C.D. Payne's first book in a series of best-selling satirical novels starring Nick Twisp, a sexually charged 14-year-old whose intelligence and hormones get him into all sorts of adventures. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide
Director: Miguel Arteta
Cast: Michael Cera , Portia Doubleday , Jean Smart , Zach Galifianakis , Adhir Kalyan
Release Date: Jan 08, 2010
Rated R for sexual content, language and drug use
Runtime: 1 hr. 30 min.
Genres: Comedy, Comedy, Romance, Romance
Review:
Take one part Wes Anderson, one part Napoleon Dynamite and a sprinkle Fight Club’s split personality, mix with a teen angst story line and you’ll have Youth in Revolt. A subversive and off beat film that a bit off kilter but occasionally hits the sweet spot with its originality. Director Miguel Arteta gives his film a subtle pop that serves it well throughout. The script is kind of hit or miss with a few segments hitting an impressive stride but there are more than a few dead spots along the way. Cera and Doubleday’s characters also speak like they are intellectual yuppies in their late 30’s. Cera though does a solid job of making it feel naturalistic and Twisp feels very much like the kind of character we’ve become accustomed to seeing him play. He has a lot more fun playing his imaginary alter ego Francois. He’s clearly enjoying himself on screen and I think the character is underused as he mostly disappears from the film near the end. Fresh faced Portia Doubleday delivers an impressively naturalistic performance and handles the material well. The supporting cast mostly sit in the shadows and have fun with fairly clichéd stock characters. Having watched the film I understand the difficulty in marketing this film because it’s very atypical, fun if not perfect especially if you’re looking for a comedy that’s off the beaten path.
B-
YOUTH IN REVOLT
Superbad's Michael Cera discovers a vacation romance in Youth in Revolt, a teen comedy from Charlie Bartlett's screenwriter, Gustin Nash, and director Miguel Arteta (Chuck & Buck). The film is an adaptation of C.D. Payne's first book in a series of best-selling satirical novels starring Nick Twisp, a sexually charged 14-year-old whose intelligence and hormones get him into all sorts of adventures. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide
Director: Miguel Arteta
Cast: Michael Cera , Portia Doubleday , Jean Smart , Zach Galifianakis , Adhir Kalyan
Release Date: Jan 08, 2010
Rated R for sexual content, language and drug use
Runtime: 1 hr. 30 min.
Genres: Comedy, Comedy, Romance, Romance
Review:
Take one part Wes Anderson, one part Napoleon Dynamite and a sprinkle Fight Club’s split personality, mix with a teen angst story line and you’ll have Youth in Revolt. A subversive and off beat film that a bit off kilter but occasionally hits the sweet spot with its originality. Director Miguel Arteta gives his film a subtle pop that serves it well throughout. The script is kind of hit or miss with a few segments hitting an impressive stride but there are more than a few dead spots along the way. Cera and Doubleday’s characters also speak like they are intellectual yuppies in their late 30’s. Cera though does a solid job of making it feel naturalistic and Twisp feels very much like the kind of character we’ve become accustomed to seeing him play. He has a lot more fun playing his imaginary alter ego Francois. He’s clearly enjoying himself on screen and I think the character is underused as he mostly disappears from the film near the end. Fresh faced Portia Doubleday delivers an impressively naturalistic performance and handles the material well. The supporting cast mostly sit in the shadows and have fun with fairly clichéd stock characters. Having watched the film I understand the difficulty in marketing this film because it’s very atypical, fun if not perfect especially if you’re looking for a comedy that’s off the beaten path.
B-
MOVIE REVIEW: THE BOOK OF ELI
ON DVD
THE BOOK OF ELI
In the not-too-distant future, some 30 years after the final war, a solitary man walks across the wasteland that was once America. Empty cities, broken highways, seared earth--all around him, the marks of catastrophic destruction. There is no civilization here, no law. The roads belong to gangs that would murder a man for his shoes, an ounce of water--or for nothing at all. But they're no match for this traveler. A warrior not by choice but necessity, Eli seeks only peace but, if challenged, will cut his attackers down before they realize their fatal mistake. It's not his life he guards so fiercely but his hope for the future; a hope he has carried and protected for 30 years and is determined to realize. Driven by this commitment and guided by his belief in something greater than himself, Eli does what he must to survive--and continue. Only one other man in this ruined world understands the power Eli holds, and is determined to make it his own: Carnegie, the self-appointed despot of a makeshift town of thieves and gunmen. Meanwhile, Carnegie's adopted daughter Solara is fascinated by Eli for another reason: the glimpse he offers of what may exist beyond her stepfather's domain. But neither will find it easy to deter him. Nothing--and no one--can stand in his way. Eli must keep moving to fulfill his destiny and bring help to a ravaged humanity.
Director: Allen Hughes , Albert Hughes
Cast: Denzel Washington , Gary Oldman , Mila Kunis , Ray Stevenson , Jennifer Beals
Release Date: Jan 15, 2010
Rated R for some brutal violence and language
Runtime: 1 hr. 58 min.
Genres: Action/Adventure
Review:
The Hughes Brother’s have always had more talent than they’ve been given credit for, kind of lost in the mix and failing to make their mark after their break through film Menace 2 Society. The Book of Eli, unfortunately, won’t leave any sort of lasting impression either. Dour and lacking any sort of real heart, this overly serious and only occasionally interesting post apocalyptic road movie thinks it’s a lot more important than it actually is. The script has a message and the screenwriter could have taken some interesting angels on the subject matters of faith and religion in general, instead we get generic heroes and villains dialogue with a fairly pain by the numbers action sequences. The Hughes Brother’s shoot the film with enough style to give it an impressive if overly glossy look throughout even if we are left with the impression that the end of the world looks like Arizona. Denzel Washington is the strongest player in the entire film. He plays Eli with serious single mindedness vigor, giving the character a depth that isn’t in the script. It’s a shame he’s mostly wasted because I think that he could have done something interesting with a meatier more interesting take on the general concept. Washington plays his dutifully and looks believable during the films action sequences. Mila Kunis isn’t asked to do much in her role, much like the rest of the ancillary characters. Gary Oldman is asked to play a one dimensional villain and no one could fault for collecting a play check here. Ray Stevenson and Jennifer Beals are thoroughly wasted barely say a word. If you’d seen the more enjoyable classic The Road Warrior or the more thoughtful and gut wrenching The Road then there’s really no reason to waste your time here outside of waiting for a ludicrous curve ball at the end of this film.
C-
THE BOOK OF ELI
In the not-too-distant future, some 30 years after the final war, a solitary man walks across the wasteland that was once America. Empty cities, broken highways, seared earth--all around him, the marks of catastrophic destruction. There is no civilization here, no law. The roads belong to gangs that would murder a man for his shoes, an ounce of water--or for nothing at all. But they're no match for this traveler. A warrior not by choice but necessity, Eli seeks only peace but, if challenged, will cut his attackers down before they realize their fatal mistake. It's not his life he guards so fiercely but his hope for the future; a hope he has carried and protected for 30 years and is determined to realize. Driven by this commitment and guided by his belief in something greater than himself, Eli does what he must to survive--and continue. Only one other man in this ruined world understands the power Eli holds, and is determined to make it his own: Carnegie, the self-appointed despot of a makeshift town of thieves and gunmen. Meanwhile, Carnegie's adopted daughter Solara is fascinated by Eli for another reason: the glimpse he offers of what may exist beyond her stepfather's domain. But neither will find it easy to deter him. Nothing--and no one--can stand in his way. Eli must keep moving to fulfill his destiny and bring help to a ravaged humanity.
Director: Allen Hughes , Albert Hughes
Cast: Denzel Washington , Gary Oldman , Mila Kunis , Ray Stevenson , Jennifer Beals
Release Date: Jan 15, 2010
Rated R for some brutal violence and language
Runtime: 1 hr. 58 min.
Genres: Action/Adventure
Review:
The Hughes Brother’s have always had more talent than they’ve been given credit for, kind of lost in the mix and failing to make their mark after their break through film Menace 2 Society. The Book of Eli, unfortunately, won’t leave any sort of lasting impression either. Dour and lacking any sort of real heart, this overly serious and only occasionally interesting post apocalyptic road movie thinks it’s a lot more important than it actually is. The script has a message and the screenwriter could have taken some interesting angels on the subject matters of faith and religion in general, instead we get generic heroes and villains dialogue with a fairly pain by the numbers action sequences. The Hughes Brother’s shoot the film with enough style to give it an impressive if overly glossy look throughout even if we are left with the impression that the end of the world looks like Arizona. Denzel Washington is the strongest player in the entire film. He plays Eli with serious single mindedness vigor, giving the character a depth that isn’t in the script. It’s a shame he’s mostly wasted because I think that he could have done something interesting with a meatier more interesting take on the general concept. Washington plays his dutifully and looks believable during the films action sequences. Mila Kunis isn’t asked to do much in her role, much like the rest of the ancillary characters. Gary Oldman is asked to play a one dimensional villain and no one could fault for collecting a play check here. Ray Stevenson and Jennifer Beals are thoroughly wasted barely say a word. If you’d seen the more enjoyable classic The Road Warrior or the more thoughtful and gut wrenching The Road then there’s really no reason to waste your time here outside of waiting for a ludicrous curve ball at the end of this film.
C-
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Paranormal Activity 2 Teaser Trailer
Not setting my sites too high on this one but who knows could surprise me again.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
