Doubt

12/21/2008

Doubt is an ok to good movie. Doubt was simply not my cup of tea. I realize that it is getting nominations, I just didn't think the movie was very deep. I will admit I watched the movie on about 2 hours of sleep from the previous night. The movie is about a priest played by Philip Seymour Hoffman (incidentally one of my favorite actors) who is accused of some inappropriate activities by Sister Aloysius Beauvier (Meryl Streep). To be honest, I thought the role was beneath Hoffman as I think he is capable of much more. Streep was very good in her role and played the deepest character. I understand this movie, I just didn't think it got past the first couple of levels and I expected more from a movie that is receiving such critical buzz. Maybe that is what the differences are between me and the experts. I know making religious movies can be dicey as this movie did hit on several currently controversial topics, but I feel like their just needed to be more.

Transporter 3

11/28/2008

Yes, I went to the theater and watched Transporter 3. I've seen Transporter (which is decent, by the way) and Transporter 2 (which is awful, by the way; the half I watched at least) on television. The group decided on Transporter 3 for the night, so there we went. I have to say that I was mostly entertained throughout this film. The situations are so ridiculous, yet I found myself smiling throughout. I mean what other movie can you watch a man in a suit breathe underwater with the air from the tires of his sinking Audi just to by enough time to fill orange empty bags with air also from the tires of the same Audi, ultimately resulting his car floating safely back to the top of the lake. Frank's (Jason Stathom) package in the film, Valentina, is played by a very attractive actress named Natalya Rudakova. Her character is actually mostly annoying, but is mostly fodder and a stand by throughout Statham constantly getting out of unfathomable situations...Check this movie out when it goes to DVD.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona

11/6/2008

Vicky Cristina Barcelona is a good film with very good acting. I'm one of the rare breed that actually likes Woody Allen films. I haven't seen them all, but the one's I have, I've mostly enjoyed. Vicky Cristina Barcelona falls under the new genre of Woody Allen films ala Match Point which is kinda a dark comedy, kinda a dark drama. Once again Allen utilizes the services of Scarlett Johansson and once again she is the weakest actor of the bunch. Javier Bardem is really good in this movie and Penelope Cruz steals the show, once her character arrives. This is also a great film if you enjoy seeing other cultures as this one takes place in Barcelona. There is a catchy tune at the beginning of the movie that sets the premise of two women headed to Barcelona (one engaged and one a total flirt) for a summer getaway, when they suddenly run into Juan Antonio (Bardem). This chance encounter changes both of their lives in completely different ways. I recommend this film for anyone who enjoys Woody Allen, culture films, top notch acting, and art.

Wrestler, The

11/19/2008

The Wrestler is a great movie. I was lucky enough to see this movie as a screening audience along with a question and answer session with Marisa Tomei (Cassidy) and Darren Aronofsky (the director). I grew up a huge wrestling fan mostly in the 80's and so I was instantly attracted to this movie. The Wrestler was filmed sort of in a documentary style with a steady cam as you travel almost as if you were Mickey Rourke (Randy "The Ram" Robinson), through the struggling years of a former wrestling superstar. The movie feels extremely realistic and hits the subjects of addiction to fame, the moment, painkillers, broken families, struggling to find love, etc. Mickey Rourke and Marisa Tomei are both fantastic and when this movie releases in January, I recommend you see it, especially if you had any interest in professional wrestling as a kid now grown...

Slumdog Millionaire

12/14/2008

Slumdog Millionaire is a very good movie...It's a full two hours long, but I never thought about looking at my watch until really towards the very end. I love movies that show a good historical reference of other ways of life and this one really shows how tough it must have been growing up in the slums of India, probably only as far back as the 1980's. A few scenes are tough to watch but it really drills home the reality of the corruption that goes on. A brilliant way to tell a story through the answers of a popular television game show. The story is told as we learn how Jamal came about to know all of the answers during the game show clear up to the million dollar questions. A very good watch that gives you solid acting, character development, and a bit of history of growing up in the slums of India.