Looper - 7 stars out of 10
"Looper" isn't the most innovative or mind-bending time travel film that I have ever seen, but it does take a fresh approach and delivers some solid acting performances. While most time travel films focus on the main character moving through time, "Looper" is a character-driven film that examines the conflict raised by meeting one's future self and dissects the the effects on the future self as his past and his memories are altered. The story works but the whole telekinetic thing is a bit over the top (but necessary as it becomes the entire plot). It is easy to see that the writers focused on character development but needed a plot to tie the characters together. Joseph Gordon-Levitt gives one of the greatest performances that I have ever seen. It isn't because his character is particularly great or that he delivers an Oscar-worthy emotional performance. The truly amazing thing about Gordon-Levitt is his mastery of Bruce Willis' facial expressions and mannerisms. We have all seen Willis act throughout the years and he has a very distinctive way of carrying and expressing himself. In general, these two actors do not look alike but because of Gordon-Levitt's mastery of these facial expressions, they become the same person at two different ages on the screen. Willis doesn't deliver his greatest action performance but Emily Blunt really turned my head with her feisty, bad-a** attitude. This character is so far away from her other roles that it took me awhile to recognize her, and even then I couldn't be sure. One of the cooler concepts in the film is the clouding of Old Joe's memory as his personal history is altered. The sequence of Paul Dano's older version of himself being slowly "taken apart" is really cool but disgusting and the concept of the mob using time travel to dispose of bodies is also pretty unique. There aren't really any twists or surprises, just raw acting and an interesting concept with a villain that ties it together and doesn't do much more than that.
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Friday, November 23, 2012
Une vie de chat (A Cat in Paris) - 5 stars out of 10
Une vie de chat (A Cat in Paris) - 5 stars out of 10
The setting is great, the animation style is great, but the story and dialogue are too kid-centric for adults. While some of the content (champagne, smoking) earns "Une vie de chat" a PG-rating and may seem like it wasn't intended for kids, consider the Parisian culture and these things make sense in the setting. At first, I thought that there was too much Cat and not enough Paris, but the second half of the movie is awesome, satisfying that Paris fix. The animation during the blackout is incredibly cool and the gargoyles on Notre Dame add so much to the story and atmosphere. "Une vie de chat" has a lot to offer but, while adults can enjoy this film, this is more of a good way to introduce kids to suspense films.
The setting is great, the animation style is great, but the story and dialogue are too kid-centric for adults. While some of the content (champagne, smoking) earns "Une vie de chat" a PG-rating and may seem like it wasn't intended for kids, consider the Parisian culture and these things make sense in the setting. At first, I thought that there was too much Cat and not enough Paris, but the second half of the movie is awesome, satisfying that Paris fix. The animation during the blackout is incredibly cool and the gargoyles on Notre Dame add so much to the story and atmosphere. "Une vie de chat" has a lot to offer but, while adults can enjoy this film, this is more of a good way to introduce kids to suspense films.
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Thankskilling - 2 stars out of 10
Thankskilling - 2 stars out of 10
Few words can do justice to "Thankskilling." Some of the ones that can are "dreadful," "absurd," "stupid," and "oh my goodness, they can't be serious!" Outside of the bad bird puns, unnecessary nudity, and awful acting... well there isn't really anything other than that in this film. Oh yes, terrible dialogue! The unfortunate thing about "Thankskilling" is that it is purposefully bad. The greatest bad movies of all time ("Birdemic," "The Room," anything parodied by MST3000) are great because they were intended to be serious films. Although "Thankskilling" is able to poke fun at bad films by stereotyping their worst qualities, it loses some of the hilarity when you know that the writers weren't serious. At first, you can't tell if this ridiculous plot was unintentionally campy but as the film progresses, it becomes very obvious that the writers weren't serious. My favorite part of the film is when the turkey cuts off the face of the sheriff, then proceeds to have a 5-minute conversation with three of the main characters (one of whom is th sheriff's daughter) without the kids realizing that this is the killer turkey in a mask. While it's good for a few laughs, it is nowhere near the "quality" of historically bad films that we love to mock. "Thankskilling" offers some of the worst acting, dialogue, and plot around but feels like a waste of time, even at 66 minutes. "You're so STUFFED" if you expect much from this film.
Few words can do justice to "Thankskilling." Some of the ones that can are "dreadful," "absurd," "stupid," and "oh my goodness, they can't be serious!" Outside of the bad bird puns, unnecessary nudity, and awful acting... well there isn't really anything other than that in this film. Oh yes, terrible dialogue! The unfortunate thing about "Thankskilling" is that it is purposefully bad. The greatest bad movies of all time ("Birdemic," "The Room," anything parodied by MST3000) are great because they were intended to be serious films. Although "Thankskilling" is able to poke fun at bad films by stereotyping their worst qualities, it loses some of the hilarity when you know that the writers weren't serious. At first, you can't tell if this ridiculous plot was unintentionally campy but as the film progresses, it becomes very obvious that the writers weren't serious. My favorite part of the film is when the turkey cuts off the face of the sheriff, then proceeds to have a 5-minute conversation with three of the main characters (one of whom is th sheriff's daughter) without the kids realizing that this is the killer turkey in a mask. While it's good for a few laughs, it is nowhere near the "quality" of historically bad films that we love to mock. "Thankskilling" offers some of the worst acting, dialogue, and plot around but feels like a waste of time, even at 66 minutes. "You're so STUFFED" if you expect much from this film.
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Charade - 10 stars out of 10
Charade - 10 stars out of 10
How many twists are included in the equation for a great movie? Charade answers back "One more!" Audrey Hepburn is riveting in this classic thriller that exhibits one of the most intense endings in movie history. It is difficult to find a moment to breathe during the final 15 minutes of this movie. I love the chase scene where it cuts from Hepburn to Grant and back as they pass the columns. If you're looking for one of Hepburn's greatest performances, a great supporting cast, and endless twists amidst a fascinating plot, "Charade" is your movie.
How many twists are included in the equation for a great movie? Charade answers back "One more!" Audrey Hepburn is riveting in this classic thriller that exhibits one of the most intense endings in movie history. It is difficult to find a moment to breathe during the final 15 minutes of this movie. I love the chase scene where it cuts from Hepburn to Grant and back as they pass the columns. If you're looking for one of Hepburn's greatest performances, a great supporting cast, and endless twists amidst a fascinating plot, "Charade" is your movie.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Sweet Charity - 6 stars out of 10
Sweet Charity - 6 stars out of 10
"Sweet Charity" is Bob Fosse at his finest. While the story is a bit of a downer, the dancing will pick you right back up and have you scene-selecting to revisit the best dance numbers once the film has ended. Shirley MacLaine is excellent as the luck-less lover that can't seem to find the right guy but her character isn't my favorite. I was much more interested in Chita Rivera, both for her looks and her dancing. The song "Hey Big Spender" is the perfect way to roll out the taxi dancer atmosphere and is also a prologue for the incredible Fosse choreography contained in this film. Even though there's a story, some singing, and other various movie components occurring throughout the film, the most memorable sequence is completely unrelated to the story. The "Rich Man's Frug" is the epitome of class and Fosse's masterpiece. Suzanne Charney (the girl with the long ponytail) doesn't even have a character name, and yet she completely steals the show. She is the image that I will always associate with this film and even if I never watch this one again, I will often visit this dance sequence on youtube (check out the link at the bottom of the review). The other highlights of the film are Sammy Davis Jr. singing "The Rhythm of Life" and the girls dancing across the New York City rooftops singing "There's Got to Be Something Better Than This." Although I really enjoyed bits and pieces of this film, they only make up about 20 minutes of the film's 2 1/2 hour run-time. I give "Sweet Charity" a good rating because it has some amazing moments, but it isn't worth watching unless you've got your finger on the fast-forward button, ready to skip ahead to the next highlight.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0--eFfzDAM
"Sweet Charity" is Bob Fosse at his finest. While the story is a bit of a downer, the dancing will pick you right back up and have you scene-selecting to revisit the best dance numbers once the film has ended. Shirley MacLaine is excellent as the luck-less lover that can't seem to find the right guy but her character isn't my favorite. I was much more interested in Chita Rivera, both for her looks and her dancing. The song "Hey Big Spender" is the perfect way to roll out the taxi dancer atmosphere and is also a prologue for the incredible Fosse choreography contained in this film. Even though there's a story, some singing, and other various movie components occurring throughout the film, the most memorable sequence is completely unrelated to the story. The "Rich Man's Frug" is the epitome of class and Fosse's masterpiece. Suzanne Charney (the girl with the long ponytail) doesn't even have a character name, and yet she completely steals the show. She is the image that I will always associate with this film and even if I never watch this one again, I will often visit this dance sequence on youtube (check out the link at the bottom of the review). The other highlights of the film are Sammy Davis Jr. singing "The Rhythm of Life" and the girls dancing across the New York City rooftops singing "There's Got to Be Something Better Than This." Although I really enjoyed bits and pieces of this film, they only make up about 20 minutes of the film's 2 1/2 hour run-time. I give "Sweet Charity" a good rating because it has some amazing moments, but it isn't worth watching unless you've got your finger on the fast-forward button, ready to skip ahead to the next highlight.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0--eFfzDAM
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