Ondine

Ondine is an Irish story told by native filmmaker Neil Jordan (The Crying Game) about a poor fisherman (Colin Farrell) who on one typical day ends up catching a beautiful woman in his net. To his and our surprise the woman is still alive and so he takes her back to his house to help nurse her back to health. Once there mysterious things begin to happen as he slowly is convinced that this woman Ondine is nothing but good luck to him as his catch begins to increase drastically. Of course a romance ensues and Farrell's sick little daughter begins to look at Ondine as a motherly figure in her life even though all the while she is convinced that she is something not all entirely human, like a mermaid. Violent drama enters into the picture when the appearence of sinister men come looking for Ondine. Farrell has at this point gone back and forth with the notion of including her in his life and with the confrontation of dangerous men is forced to choose if she is something worth fighting for.
The film is filled with gorgeous looking images of the cold Irish coastline that help give all the characters a real lived inn feeling and Neil Jordan seems to know his way around a camera. He seems to favor dark shadows over bursts of light, at least for this film. The end result is moderately engaging story thanks to an honest performance by Colin Farrell who at this stage in his life seems to be making fascinating career choices. 

C+

2010

Solitary Man

Solitary Man is one of those little indie gems that is released in a time when no one seems to be paying any attention. Here however though the film happens to feature a great performance by its star Michael Douglas in a performance that stands among the best work he has ever done. The film boasts a slew of great supporting turns but its Douglas who manages to steal the entire show in a performance that is as pathetic and worn out as it is brave and surprisingly refreshing. His name should be mentioned on anyone's list when seriously considering best actor nominations at years end.

B

2010

Date Night

What to say about Date Night. The film came highly recommended to me by a somewhat reliable source, but such things are to be quickly disregarded when entering the realm of comedy, as we all have very different tastes. The films two stars (Tina Fey and Steve Carrell) are both incredibly funny people with a good amount of work behind them to back it up. But here in Date Night none of that talent ever really seems to shine through for either of them as their forced to deal with a screenplay that is as formulaic as it is boring.

D-


2010

The Book Of Eli

Im gonna get some shit for this one but what the hell. Just because a bloody action movie has a plot revolving around the bible and the goal of continuing the traditions of the christian faith, it's no reason to recommend it. Did I have a problem with the films clear biased nature of christianity? No. What I had a problem with was the films apparent lack of even remotely trying to create a story involving real people. These people are all card board cutouts without any real sense of individual identity. Why am I suppose to care whether or not the beautiful Mila Kunis survives to the next scene? Maybe she might get naked is my only thought. What is the sinister Gary Oldman's intentions and why? Cause the script needed a bad guy is my best guess. And as for Mr. Washington, in the last few minutes of the film a secret is revealed about his character that is so implausible it made me laugh out loud.
But then again when dealing subject matter of religious origins maybe it is appropriate that the film be so ridiculous.

D

2010

12 Angry Men

12 Angry Men is one of those films I wish I was shown in history class. It's a great civics lesson on top of being a great piece of entertainment. Spouting lessons on morality, justice, and honesty. The film takes place almost entirely within the closed off space of a jury room. Essentially its the deliberation process of a jury with 12 men assess the guilt or innocence of a young kid on trial for murder.
The film stars Henry Fonda in a great performance of vulnerable sympathy. He's the only man on the jury who isn't convinced of the defendants guilt but by the end he isn't the only one. The other 11 jurors make up an incredible ensemble cast that includes a magnificent Lee J. Cobb. 12 Angry Men was the first film by now legendary director Sidney Lumet who made a name for himself over the decades by making films about controversial issues. Lumet was interested in tackling complex human subjects and giving them motives and reasons for their actions. They weren't always justifiable but nevertheless not always easy to condemn either. His films don't come off as preachy but rather as an open minded view into the life of someone you may not always agree with and 12 Angry Men was the starting point for a director who wasn't afraid to illuminate some of the darker aspects of American society.

B+

1957

Red Rock West

I'd rather not even get into it. This film is a piece of shit. The only decent thing about it are its more than capable actors who somehow managed to keep me from falling asleep even with a screenplay that a 4th grader could of wrote. Actually I apologize to all 4th graders.

D-

1993

Red Riding Trilogy

Red Riding is the critically acclaimed British movie trilogy based off the true events of a murder mystery spanning almost a decade. Each film was made by a recognized international director, with different casts most of whom are accomplished movie stars in their own right. All three films even though filmed by different directors have the same cold look to them. Each is shot with dark lenses that gives the films a foreboding sense of doom. Make no mistake, these are dark films detailing the lives of grim people doing terrible things. For those interested in a good story though, Red Riding is a considerable accomplishment and treat for film fans desiring well crafted suspense story.

1974: B
1980: B
1983: B

2010

City Island

City Island is a quirky little american indie that sets its feet firmly in the family dramedy corner. Anchored by fairly humorous lead performance by Andy Garcia, Island tells the story of his is ever evolving dysfunctional family and how one learns to accept who he is and what he has. Its everything a quirky little american dramedy need's to be, but only just enough.

B-

2010

Machete

Machete seems to be following a bad trend as of late. The idea that if you intentionally go out knowingly to make a piece of shit movie somehow it won't end of being a complete piece of shit. Sorry guys, but it's the same thing. Let's hope the fad passes soon. 

D-

2010

I'm Still Here

I'm Still Here is the experimental Joaquin Phoenix mockumentary that has been two years in the making. It started back in late 2008 when Phoenix announced his retirement fromm acting, but that wasn't all. Now he would be pursuing a music career as a hip hop artist. His now infamous interview on the David Letterman Show only intrigued the public's interest that this was a man clearly losing his sanity or the culprit of an elaborate hoax. It turns out the former was true. The film was directed by Casey Affleck, Phoenix's brother in-law who is given intimate access to the actor and all his, shall we say hobbies. Lost underneath the excess of this man's meltdown or whatever is going on though is a truly brave and committed performance by Phoenix who Im sure will almost inevitable get no acclaim and accolades. Apparently I'm Still Here is supposed to be some sort of commentary on America's obsession with celebrity as portrayed by the media but it comes off as nothing more than a self indulgent waste of time. Here's hoping Phoenix's next project is one worthy of his many talents.

D-

2010

The Town

The Town is the type of movie most people who don't watch a lot of movies will enjoy. It's receiving an expense Christmas present as a kid, if your young the idea of the price and how they managed to get it doesn't enter into your thought process. But when you gradually get older you may start to wonder how Dad afforded you that brand new Convertible outside. Such is the case with The Town, a movie filled good scenes, shot by a competent director, and acted by pros. The problem is the scene's that are pretty good are followed by silly ludicrous ones that leave the audience asking questions like "did that really just happen" or comments like "you gotta be kidding me". Take the downtown Boston car chase for example; it's shot well and and on a pure adrenaline level fun to watch. But Affleck (the director) ruins what could have been a great scene by packing inn cheesy, formulaic dialogue before and after the event, something that hopefully most people who go to movies have heard a thousand times before. To put it simply the problem here is with the screenplay. The Town is average, sub-par entertainment to be sure. 

C

2010

The American

Watching The American was a transporting experience for me. I felt like I was a film from the 1970's. A time in cinema when directors, particularly European directors were busy crafting stories about human subjects with great focus and detail. Every little event in that person's life was given time on screen in order to present a character fully fleshed out. Which is exactly what happens here with Clooney. He plays a gun for hire who is constantly paranoid and rightfully so. He's also a man with a code and a strict daily routine that he constantly follows in order to stay sharp and probably alive. It's inn director Anton Corbjin focused attention to this daily routine that allows the film to achieve moments of such heightened tension that the most mundane act of sipping a cup of coffee over breakfast can be transformed into a moment of life and death. Its another fine performance from George Clooney and a film that should establish Corbjin as a director to watch out for. One of the best films of the year and the work of a true craftsman. 

A

2010

Bonnie and Clyde

Bonnie and Clyde is a true American classic in every sense of the word. It tells the simple story of a band of outlaws who make a run at the high life through a string of bank robberies in the deep south in the early 1900's. The film stars a slew of screen legends from Warren Beatty to Faye Dunaway to Gene Hackman, all before massive fame and acclaim was thrown their way. The movie's opening scene is a buckshot of pure adrenaline that sets the tempo for the rest of the film. Here is a picture that never lets up or allows the audience a moment of relaxation. Even in the few down time scenes between the two leads their is a curious aura of sexual tension. The film was nominated for several academy awards and marked a swing culturally for American cinema. Here was a movie with characters doing bad things and not apologizing for their actions. Bonnie and Clyde lived a life all the way on the edge and only became legends when they eventually fell over it.

A+

1967

Bringing Up Baby

My first foray into the Howard Hawks catalogue did not disappoint. Bringing Up Baby is a classic example of a screwball romantic comedy in every sense starring two of cinemas biggest stars; Cary Grant and Katerine Hepburn. The plot is pretty thin, two polar opposites who can't stand each other are forced to interact in order for both of them to get want they want. Of course from the beginning we know that by the end of the story their going to be in love and its our luck as an audience of getting to watch that transition slowly unfold up on the screen. For a film of the 1930's the dialogue is unusually fast paced bringing to mind some of Hitchcock's early work like The Lady Vanishes and The 39 Steps. Hawks however here isn't interested in the genre of the thriller and thus creates a place where his actors are truly allowed to run wild and indulged in the scripts overtly comic aspects. The chemistry between Hepburn and Grant is unbeatable and after watching them its hard to imagine any other actors taking on their roles. When reviewing films of the past it usually is the comedies that seem to hold up the best over the years. Bringing Up Baby only strengthens that argument.

B+

1938

Clash of the Titans

Let's all hope that Sam Worthington doesn't getting into a trend here. As a bankable star now with the mega success of Avatar this good looking leading man with some acting chops to boot has the world at his finger tips. After being the only decent thing worth watching in Terminator Salvation he gave Christian Bale a serious ass kicking in more ways than one and with Avatar he proved that he can handle the pressure of holding a 400 million dollar film together. So his next career choice is another action picture set in a fantasy land? Im hoping for a little more range here Worthington on the next go around and to be honest I wouldn't be so bummed about this choice if The Clash of the Titans wasn't a complete piece of shit. Yeah the effects look pretty good, their is a pretty smoking hot chick vying for our hero's affection, and yes there are actors on screen with considerable presence. Not to sound like a broken record here but once again it all comes down to story or in the case here the screenplay. If it doesn't work on the page then it's probably not gonna work up on the screen.

D

2010

Terribly Happy

Ever see the Simon Pegg comedy Hot Fuzz. Cause Terribly Happy is the exact version of that only with out all the laughs. Its a danish crime drama about a lone cop getting sent to a small farmland town for a shady past. Once in this town it becomes quickly apparent that not all is what it seems to be. Everything is a little bit to quiet and the locals are extremely unfriendly. Of this type of scenario we've seen a hundreds times before, its part of what Hot Fuzz was making fun of. The problem with Terribly Happy is that while it is competently made in almost every respect, it brings nothing new to this age old formula. Without a fresh take on old material I almost always find myself asking, what's the point.

C-

2010