Thu, 20 Nov 2008 01:14:20 +0100
'Twilight'
'Twilight' The much-anticipated film version of Stephenie Meyer's novel is long on looks - the Pacific Northwest setting is gorgeous - but short on story and dialogue. Kristen Stewart is good as Bella, a girl who falls in love with a vampire (Robert Pattinson). But the script aims for the teenage romantic's heart, not head. (PG-13 - 122 minutes) S, V.
'The Boy in the Striped Pajamas'
'The Boy in the Striped Pajamas' {4stars} A harrowing depiction of the Holocaust told through a child's eyes. Asa Butterfield and Jack Scanlon are outstanding as boys on opposite side of a concentration camp's barbed wire who strike up a friendship. Devastating. (PG-13 - 93 minutes) V.
'Morning Light'
Geographical References: Hawaii
(USA Today) You don't have to be a sailing enthusiast to appreciate the determination and grit of 15 young men and women who are selected for a rare opportunity to race from California to Hawaii in a prestigious competition. But that doesn't mean the average person won't find himself getting a little antsy, if not outright bored, with the length and repetitive style of this documentary on the high seas.
'Synecdoche, New York'
Geographical References: New York / New York, New York
Charlie Kaufman's directorial debut is fantastic, a surreal look at a theater director (Philip Seymour Hoffman, outstanding) creating the work of his life - literally. A meditation on life and death, success and failure, the film takes some effort to enjoy (much less understand), but is well worth it. (R - 124 minutes) P, S.
'Quantum of Solace'
James Bond (Daniel Craig) is back, his license to kill on full display as he nurses a broken heart. The first sequel in the series has intricately plotted fights and action scenes, which make the lack of a compelling villain story more palatable. Enjoy it for what it is - high-octane fun, for the audience if not for 007 and, especially, those who cross him. (PG-13 - 106 minutes) S, V.
'House'
House is a thriller that ponders that age-old question: Can you still make a "Christian"-themed horror movie? Horror movies often play around with the big themes of guilt, sin and redemption, and are often set in a sort of purgatory of morality, free will and moral choices. So House isn't a stretcht. this adaptation of a Ted Dekker novel would seem right at home at any B-movie horror convention.
'Ashes of Time Redux'
Like an Akira Kurosawa film processed through a kaleidoscope, Ashes of Time (1994) was Wong Kar-wai's third film, by which time it was clear that he was going to pass off hallucinations as motion pictures. ''Ashes'' was the Hong Kong director's audacious attempt to re-imagine the martial-arts epic. (R - 93 minutes) V.
'My Father My Lord'
(Newsday) Writer-director David Volach engages ultra Orthodox Jews in a highly provocative, unmistakably critical drama set among Israel's Haredim as a seemingly idyllic family is struck by tragedy.
'Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa'
Geographical References: New York / New York, New York
Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, Jada Pinkett Smith and David Schwimmer return as the New York Zoo animals who have escaped to Madagascar. This time they end up in the wilds of Africa, where Alex (Stiller) must prove himself worthy to his parents. There are some inspired bits, but it leans too heavily on what worked well the first time. (PG - 89 minutes.)
'Role Models'
(Randy Cordova) By-the-book comedy about two slackers (Paul Rudd and Seann William Scott) who get sentenced to perform 150 hours of community service at a Big Brothers-style organization. Not a total washout, but one wishes there was a bit more creativity to the whole thing. (R - 99 minutes) P, S, N.
'Soul Men'
Bernie Mac shines in one of his last roles, as a backup soul singer reuniting with his estranged partner (Samuel L. Jackson) after the lead singer (John Legend) dies. Gleefully profane, the film isn't particularly well made, but at its best - when Mac and Jackson go on wildly dirty riffs - it's funny, sometimes hilarious. (R - 103 minutes) P, S.
'The Haunting of Molly Hartley'
'The Haunting of Molly Hartley' {2stars} (Orlando Sentinel) The Haunting of Molly Hartley isn't the least bit haunting. It's just cheap. And no dogs leaping against fences or birds flocking out of nowhere through the film frame can add enough value to make it otherwise.
'Gonzo'
Alex Gibney (Taxi to the Dark Side) examines the life and influence of Thompson, who was, in addition to being a wild man of epic proportions, a first-rate journalist (the latter sometimes gets lost in the myth). Gibney doesn't ignore Thompson's decline, and the film gives a well-rounded look at the man. (R - 120 minutes) P, S.
'Changeling'
Clint Eastwood's direction is taut in this tale of a woman whose missing son is returned - but is the wrong boy. And Angelina Jolie acts for all she's worth. But the film ultimately plays more like an awards-nomination exercise than a movie to be enjoyed. (R - 140 minutes) P, V.
'I.O.U.S.A.'
(Richard Nilsen) Documentary about the looming problem of the U.S. national debt, and the disaster it promises our children and grandchildren when the bill comes due. Like An Inconvenient Truth, it tries to make a complex subject comprehensible through lots of graphics and pie charts, but watching the film still feels like doing homework. (PG - 87 minutes).
'RocknRolla'
Guy Ritchie returns to the Cockney crime films of his earlier career with much success, bringing along actors such as Gerard Butler and Tom Wilkinson along for the ride. About a crooked real-estate deal, sort of, it's more an exercise in full-on fun, best enjoyed, like any good rock song, at full volume. (R - 114 minutes) P, S, V.
'Zack and Miri Make a Porno'
Director Kevin Smith creates something new here (if something no one was asking for): a predictable romantic comedy masked in the world of homemade porn. Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks star as out-of-money friends who resort to making porn. Rogen and Banks are funny; the film is at times hilarious. But romantic porn is an odd combo. (R - 102 minutes) P, S.
'High School Musical 3: Senior Year'
'High School Musical 3: Senior Year' {2halfstars} The gang is back for one more year at East High. Troy (Zac Effron) and Gabriella (Vanessa Anne Hudgens) have some decisions to make, but their romance is the most boring part of the film. Better to enjoy the narcissism with a smile of Sharpay (Ashley Tisdale), and then move on.
'Saw V'
'Saw V' {1stars} Another All Hallow's Eve, another "Saw" movie. They're as dependable as pumpkins and as fresh as a jack-O-lantern left out in the sun until Thanksgiving, but no matter. It's so predictable that the mind wanders.
'Happy-Go-Lucky'
Sally Hawkins is brilliant as a British teacher who is, well, happy all the time. Hawkins captures so much more than a simple smile; she gets at the sadness that must surely lurk beneath, as well. Eddie Marsan is also great as her messianic driving instructor. A delight. (R - 118 minutes) P.
Special Thanks to Google for their wonderful mapping api.