Fargo - 10 stars out of 10
"Fargo" is arguably the Coen brothers' greatest accomplishment. Great performances by Frances McDormand, Steve Buscemi, and William H. Macy highlight the Coens' tragic plot of a simple con gone wrong. No detail is spared from the amazing Minnesota accents to each bloody murder as this movie goes from controlled scheme to out-of-hand bloodbath. Though 1996 wasn't the greatest year for movies, McDormand totally earned her Oscar with every ounce of realism brought to her role as Marge. I often stereotype William H. Macy as having a small supporting character role in every movie he's been in, but his bright blue eyes shine as he "drives" the plot of Fargo. This drama is underrated (despite its Oscar nominations) and deserves more notoriety amidst the great movies.
Friday, November 16, 2012
Thursday, November 15, 2012
A League of Their Own - 9 stars out of 10
A League of Their Own - 9 stars out of 10
This movie is truly a classic. The diverse personalities contained on the Rockford Peaches make them into a loveable group of girls that are fun to watch, whether they're winning or losing. Madonna isn't my favorite but she's pretty hott in this movie. Geena Davis and Lori Petty perfectly portray bickering (but loving) sisters and their chemistry drives this movie from start to finish. Tom Hanks is hilarious though Bitty Schram probably has the funniest performance, from "There's no crying in baseball" to all of the antics of her obnoxious son. As you can see, this movie is all about excellent individual acting and how they pull together as a team to create an entertaining experience. "A League of Their own" definitely isn't the best baseball movie ever created, but it very well could be the funniest.
This movie is truly a classic. The diverse personalities contained on the Rockford Peaches make them into a loveable group of girls that are fun to watch, whether they're winning or losing. Madonna isn't my favorite but she's pretty hott in this movie. Geena Davis and Lori Petty perfectly portray bickering (but loving) sisters and their chemistry drives this movie from start to finish. Tom Hanks is hilarious though Bitty Schram probably has the funniest performance, from "There's no crying in baseball" to all of the antics of her obnoxious son. As you can see, this movie is all about excellent individual acting and how they pull together as a team to create an entertaining experience. "A League of Their own" definitely isn't the best baseball movie ever created, but it very well could be the funniest.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
The Siege - 3 stars out of 10
The Siege - 3 stars out of 10
"The Siege" is an average action film with a cookie-cutter plot and a few memorable monologues by Denzel Washington. I feel like a lot of the overarching themes were lost as I was waiting for Denzel's amazing acting to match wits with Bruce Willis' awesome action moments. In the end, Denzel did a good job with the script that he was given but he could only do so much. And Willis certainly did not take on his John McClane persona. Annette Bening was there but didn't leave much of an impression and I just couldn't buy Tony Shalhoub's Lebanese accent (though, it's hard to picture him as anybody other than Adrian Monk). The film has a few interesting twists but by the time that they appeared, I was completely disinterested. The film is an anomaly because it started with an intense action sequence and got straight into the plot, and yet... I had no desire to continue. In the world of hit or miss, "The Siege" misses its mark over and over again.
"The Siege" is an average action film with a cookie-cutter plot and a few memorable monologues by Denzel Washington. I feel like a lot of the overarching themes were lost as I was waiting for Denzel's amazing acting to match wits with Bruce Willis' awesome action moments. In the end, Denzel did a good job with the script that he was given but he could only do so much. And Willis certainly did not take on his John McClane persona. Annette Bening was there but didn't leave much of an impression and I just couldn't buy Tony Shalhoub's Lebanese accent (though, it's hard to picture him as anybody other than Adrian Monk). The film has a few interesting twists but by the time that they appeared, I was completely disinterested. The film is an anomaly because it started with an intense action sequence and got straight into the plot, and yet... I had no desire to continue. In the world of hit or miss, "The Siege" misses its mark over and over again.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
No Reservations - 9 stars out of 10
No Reservations - 9 stars out of 10
This movie was fantastic. It was a romantic comedy but contained a lot of drama and some really thought-provoking moments. There are times when you absolutely will smile (like the pillow fight) and others when you are sure to cry (like the hospital scene), but you'll find a release from the tension in the form of food. Abigail Breslin was perfect for this role and rivals Dakota Fanning for one of the best child performances in a long time. Aaron Eckhart is incredibly loveable and will capture your heart immediately. To top it off, you get to experience a genius musical score by Philip Glass. In his minimalist style, his simple piano motives manage to be unpredictable, giving a sensation of longing, comfort, beauty, and excitement at the same time. This music is very important in creating a dramatic mood in the sad scenes which are placed amidst humorous scenes. The music helps the viewer to feel the levity of the situation in spite of the entertaining side of the plot. I was confused when I saw that he penned the music for this "romantic comedy," but when I realized that the movie was a lot more than that, it made perfect sense. P.S. The ending is perfect!
This movie was fantastic. It was a romantic comedy but contained a lot of drama and some really thought-provoking moments. There are times when you absolutely will smile (like the pillow fight) and others when you are sure to cry (like the hospital scene), but you'll find a release from the tension in the form of food. Abigail Breslin was perfect for this role and rivals Dakota Fanning for one of the best child performances in a long time. Aaron Eckhart is incredibly loveable and will capture your heart immediately. To top it off, you get to experience a genius musical score by Philip Glass. In his minimalist style, his simple piano motives manage to be unpredictable, giving a sensation of longing, comfort, beauty, and excitement at the same time. This music is very important in creating a dramatic mood in the sad scenes which are placed amidst humorous scenes. The music helps the viewer to feel the levity of the situation in spite of the entertaining side of the plot. I was confused when I saw that he penned the music for this "romantic comedy," but when I realized that the movie was a lot more than that, it made perfect sense. P.S. The ending is perfect!
Monday, November 12, 2012
Prometheus - 7 stars out of 10
Prometheus - 7 stars out of 10
"Prometheus" was far from what I expected. What appeared to be a mind-bender with some intense content turned into a graphically violent alien film. It was awesome, but definitely not what I expected. The futuristic world of "Prometheus" is unique, unlocking the mystery of where mankind came from. The mystery is set up very well through the first quarter of the movie and gains momentum as they explore the "cave" where they find the skeleton. It is inevitable that bad things will happen upon returning to the ship, but it turns into an alien horror film that focuses more on scares and graphic violence than the unraveling mystery. The thing that sets this film beyond others of the same genre is its acting. Noomi Rapace is simply awesome. She escapes her "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" persona (original Swedish version) with this drastically different character whose passion drives the entire plot. Whether she is lovingly interacting with her partner or screaming as her stomach is sliced open by lasers, she commands the screen from start to finish. Michael Fassbender also steals the spotlight as android David. Charlize Theron is only onscreen for 20 minutes and Guy Pearce for less than 5, but their presence is felt. The entire film is like a long, impressive visual effect from the disintegrating humanoid in the first scene to the giant hologram star map and the disgusting alien offspring. "Prometheus" is definitely a film that is worth watching, although it is definitely worth looking away during the graphic c-section... If that doesn't make you curious, nothing will!
"Prometheus" was far from what I expected. What appeared to be a mind-bender with some intense content turned into a graphically violent alien film. It was awesome, but definitely not what I expected. The futuristic world of "Prometheus" is unique, unlocking the mystery of where mankind came from. The mystery is set up very well through the first quarter of the movie and gains momentum as they explore the "cave" where they find the skeleton. It is inevitable that bad things will happen upon returning to the ship, but it turns into an alien horror film that focuses more on scares and graphic violence than the unraveling mystery. The thing that sets this film beyond others of the same genre is its acting. Noomi Rapace is simply awesome. She escapes her "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" persona (original Swedish version) with this drastically different character whose passion drives the entire plot. Whether she is lovingly interacting with her partner or screaming as her stomach is sliced open by lasers, she commands the screen from start to finish. Michael Fassbender also steals the spotlight as android David. Charlize Theron is only onscreen for 20 minutes and Guy Pearce for less than 5, but their presence is felt. The entire film is like a long, impressive visual effect from the disintegrating humanoid in the first scene to the giant hologram star map and the disgusting alien offspring. "Prometheus" is definitely a film that is worth watching, although it is definitely worth looking away during the graphic c-section... If that doesn't make you curious, nothing will!
Sunday, November 11, 2012
The Punisher (2004) - 1 star out of 10
The Punisher (2004) - 1 star out of 10
Wow, this might be the worst Marvel movie ever. It was literally difficult to even pay attention to the plot or to take the over-acting seriously. May this rating is unfair because I barely paid attention to the movie, but that's how annoying it was. I understand the revenge can be a motivating factor, but it's tough to love this "hero." John Travolta is having one of his off-days in this film. You hate him because he's annoying, not because he's evil. I didn't find a single character or situation to be relate-able in this film, resulting in two hours of working on the computer and wondering why I ever turned the film on. Don't waste your time - stick to the good Marvel movies (or even the mediocre ones... just anything but "The Punisher").
Wow, this might be the worst Marvel movie ever. It was literally difficult to even pay attention to the plot or to take the over-acting seriously. May this rating is unfair because I barely paid attention to the movie, but that's how annoying it was. I understand the revenge can be a motivating factor, but it's tough to love this "hero." John Travolta is having one of his off-days in this film. You hate him because he's annoying, not because he's evil. I didn't find a single character or situation to be relate-able in this film, resulting in two hours of working on the computer and wondering why I ever turned the film on. Don't waste your time - stick to the good Marvel movies (or even the mediocre ones... just anything but "The Punisher").
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