Australia. Wow. It's three hours. It's an experience. I ended up liking it, but the first 45 minutes were so much like Tideland that I threw up a little in my mouth. And, at first, the child's voice-over drove me crazy. I fought through it, and was rewarded with a shirtless Hugh Jackman ("Deception") and some really gorgeous scenery. The film is definitely too long, and I had to remind myself that Nicole Kidman ("The Golden Compass") really can act. She spends the better part of the film running around with her mouth hanging open like Bella in Twilight. I did end up involved in the story, but the film was a bit of a let down. I've seen Baz Luhrmann ("Moulin Rouge") do better.
Thank you Sci-Fi Channel for The Beast of Bray Road. Based on actual werewolf sightings in Wisconsin, the story follows a new sheriff as he tries to catch the beast terrifying his small town. It's cheesy and ridiculous and I loved pretty much every minute of it. The acting is okay, but the actors seem to be giving it their all. This is a fun one for a rainy afternoon.
So, this podcast I love, filmspotting, is planning an Angry Young Men marathon, and I'm trying to get ahead of the game. But two movies in, I am not digging it. Saturday Night and Sunday Morning is about this factory worker who is having an affair with a married woman, trying to woo a pretty young woman and also drinking as much as he can. He's kind of a jerk. Albert Finney ("Before the Devil Knows You're Dead") is amazing in the lead. Watching him was pretty much the highlight of the film. I think I just don't like mean people. So, I respect the film for it's portrayal of his bleak existence, but I'd never watch it again.
Ah, Twilight, how do I love thee. I think director Catherine Hardwicke ("The Nativity Story") handled Twilight pretty well. It is a freaking long book cut down to a two hour movie. The film focuses on the love story, which is most of what the book is about. Robert Pattinson ("The Summer House") is super hot as Edward. And Kristen Stewart ("Jumper") is super serious as Bella. They both run around with their mouths open a little two much, but maybe they had colds or something. Anyway, the look and feel of the movie is right on, very gray and cloudy. I had a lot of fun watching this, and I hope the series finds it's legs with the next entry.
I caught Recount on HBO while I was in a hotel one day. And I found myself riveted. It's a chronicle of the weeks after the 2000 presidential election, and, for something that could be so dry, it's surprisingly engaging. There are more names than you can shake a stick at in this film, but Kevin Spacey ("21") really sticks out and made me remember why I think he's a good actor. Though definitely biased in favor of the Democrats, this is an interesting look at how politicians and lawyers run things.