State of Play - 4 stars out of 10
"State of Play" is like a watered down version of All The Kings Men. It has its fair share of suspenseful moments and a decent twist, but in the end the story fails to provide 2 hours of entertainment. In fact, the most interesting part of this film was the newspapers getting printed during the closing credits. On paper, the film looks great with the acting talents of Crowe, Mirren, McAdams, Bateman, and Daniels; however, the characters remain static and are never developed. Besides, Ben Affleck is just... awful. This movie looked attractive with its themes of foul play and conspiracy but in the end, this movie is left aspiring to be a classic.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Stone of Destiny - 5 stars out of 10
Stone of Destiny - 5 stars out of 10
I have seen a lot of heist films but none that involve the robbery of a large rock (well... unless we're talking diamonds). "Stone of Destiny" has some strong anti-British sentiments but tells an interesting story based on true events. While there isn't anything very special about the acting (with the exception of the beautiful Kate Mara, who is related to Art Rooney and is a Steeler fan), the green scenery is beautiful and the plot is interesting. I wouldn't put this one up there with the "Oceans" film franchise, but it's an enjoyable watch that sill keep you guessing.
I have seen a lot of heist films but none that involve the robbery of a large rock (well... unless we're talking diamonds). "Stone of Destiny" has some strong anti-British sentiments but tells an interesting story based on true events. While there isn't anything very special about the acting (with the exception of the beautiful Kate Mara, who is related to Art Rooney and is a Steeler fan), the green scenery is beautiful and the plot is interesting. I wouldn't put this one up there with the "Oceans" film franchise, but it's an enjoyable watch that sill keep you guessing.
Monday, September 12, 2011
The Conversation - 7 stars out of 10
The Conversation - 7 stars out of 10
"The Conversation" is a work of art through its Hitchcockian cinematography and progressive revelation of information. The supporting cast of the film does not provide much (with the exception of enjoyable appearances by Harrison Ford and Robert Duvall in small roles), but Gene Hackman singlehandedly brings the emotion necessary to create movie magic. Coppola's story uses a seemingly emotionless character and hidden bits of a conversation to create intrigue. As Hackman's frail emotional disposition is revealed, so is elusive part of the conversation. The film moves at a slow pace but is worth the big pay-off in the hotel, providing a twist that will keep you thinking for the remainder of the film... until the last scene creates a bit of paranoia in your subconsious and sticks with you far past the conclusion of the film.
"The Conversation" is a work of art through its Hitchcockian cinematography and progressive revelation of information. The supporting cast of the film does not provide much (with the exception of enjoyable appearances by Harrison Ford and Robert Duvall in small roles), but Gene Hackman singlehandedly brings the emotion necessary to create movie magic. Coppola's story uses a seemingly emotionless character and hidden bits of a conversation to create intrigue. As Hackman's frail emotional disposition is revealed, so is elusive part of the conversation. The film moves at a slow pace but is worth the big pay-off in the hotel, providing a twist that will keep you thinking for the remainder of the film... until the last scene creates a bit of paranoia in your subconsious and sticks with you far past the conclusion of the film.
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