Windbreaker!

JUNO

Windbreaker — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 20:08:28 GMT

Know that fans of all genres thoroughly enjoyed Juno. Now go rent or buy it.

REVOLVER

Windbreaker — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 19:47:43 GMT

I have to admit that Guy Ritchie surprised me. The trailer for this was created to bring in the "I want stylized bloody warfare" crowd. But Revolver is actually smarter than that. Call me crazy, but I think Guy Ritchie made a smart movie.

Watch the credits all the way through to get a little insight into the basic premise. The human mind is capable of so much, but at what point does the subconscience fool a person into mixing reality with perception? And even more, is mankind born evil or good? Revolver assumes people can be basically good and that evil actions are really just the result of egos. Which is funny because I would argue that mankind's natural ego is evidence that we're born flawed.

Anyway, check this one out. If you don't want to get heady -- just enjoy the fun camera work and 'splosions.

BLOOD WORK

Windbreaker — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 19:38:40 GMT

Let's face it, you could do a lot worse than renting Blood Work. I know, I know... not much of an endorsement, but you know what? Blockbuster Online has spoiled me with all the free rentals exchanged in-store. After seeing the DVD case, I correctly guessed the outcome of the movie -- but that's not the point of Blood Work. It's the path to the finish line. Think Unforgiven Clint Eastwood -- still has a gun at his side, but might not have the reflexes to reach for it in time.

BADLANDS

Windbreaker — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 19:27:24 GMT

Probably Malick's movie with the most mainstream appeal, yet also the most hidden from the general public. I'm surprised it didn't get more attention when The Thin Red Line came out, particularly since Malick doesn't have a ton of projects over the years like a Spielberg, for example.

Usually when I see Martin Sheen acting in his younger days, I'm impressed. As opposed to today's Martin Sheen who every time he appears onscreen, it's like "hey, I'm Martin Sheen -- I used to act". Anyway, the half-Charlie half-Emilio rebel plays it nice and smooth in Badlands, perfectly representing the character. Sissy Spacek was perfect for the innocent teen just waiting for someone to corrupt her. She's not completely naiive -- she knows her innocence is being taken by the young punk. Overall, a fascinating first-person look at wild, misguided kids on the run.

THE LONG GOODBYE

Windbreaker — Sat, 17 May 2008 22:00:08 GMT

The Long Goodbye is a decent noirish flick, but there are sooooooo many other titles out there I'd recommend first. The only reason I watched this is the luxury of fast-turnaround Blockbuster Online DVDs.

The highlight for me was Henry Gibson. That guy makes any movie watchable, even if he's only onscreen 5 minutes.

SWEENEY TODD (2007)

Windbreaker — Sun, 11 May 2008 22:55:50 GMT

Remember a few years back when you got goosebumps after learning the great Cameron Crowe was creating a character-driven family drama inspired (as usual) by events and people close to him, and filmed near his hometown no less? Remember that? Then you watched Elizabethtown in the theater and said "ummm... I liked it okay".

Tim Burton's Sweeney Todd brings far worse feelings. It's not his original material, so I can't blame him -- as usual the direction, Johnny Depp, and Helena Bonham Carter are awesome. The story just isn't fit for the big screen. I'd enjoy it on stage performed by a college drama department. Or in the pages of a short story. But not as a feature film. Avoid it.

THE MIST

Windbreaker — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 03:13:38 GMT

I'm very, very irritated with Frank Darabont right now. The first half of The Mist had so much promise, but the second half turned ridiculous. And I'm not talking ridiculous in the sense of creatures lurking in an ominous mist outside the store where you're trapped -- I'm talking ridiculous in the sense of what normal people might do when faced with real terror. History tells us that mass suicide is not a likely scenario.

What *really* turned me off was the phony Bible-thumping character. So much so that once her role escalated, I never recovered. I could not bring myself back to the feeling I had in the first 60 minutes -- extremely nervous due to the claustorphobic nature of the set. She was phony because Darabont didn't bother trying to make this woman 1% believable. Does ANYONE in Hollywood know a born-again Christian? Anyone?! Half of her poppycock dialogue alleged to be biblical prophesy was just wild ad-lib on Darabont's part. Bah!

And the "shock" finale was just that -- shock value. No merit. (I'll be kind and warn you to turn away if you don't want to be spoilerized)

Look, you want me to believe that the dad, chick, old lady, and nice geezer sit in the car for 30 seconds after driving who-knows-how-far before deciding they better off themselves? What's to say the mist doesn't stop 50 feet ahead of them? I saw this freakin ending coming a mile away and hated it. Not for the sheer fact that dad turned the gun on everyone, but because it wasn't the time for it. Maybe if they had been in the car 3 days without food and water, surrounded by creatures... but not the immediate sacrifice. "Let's drive as far as we can because we want to survive, dammit!" "Oh, out of gas now? Ok, I had a nice life. Buh-bye."

ff2: rise of the made-for-tv comic movie that snuck into theaters

Windbreaker — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 03:00:07 GMT

Wow, FF2 sucked hard. TNT and Spike have produced better made-for-tv fare. This coming from a comic book geek. When Marvel made a splash a few years back with Spider-Man, I had high hopes for the Fantastic Four franchise. They are, after all, Marvel's "first family". Royalty. And the sci-fi/action combo in the comics mixed with the family drama is superior breeding ground for a blockbuster franchise. Instead, we fanboys were fed giant turds.

ON DANGEROUS GROUND

Windbreaker — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 23:04:20 GMT

Be like me and buy every one of the WB Film Noir Box Sets. On Dangerous Ground is the first one I watched out of Vol. 3 and it alone makes the box worth grabbing.

Noir staple Robert Ryan plays Robert Ryan (a tough cop who regularly beats up bad guys). "Why do you make me do it? You know you're gonna talk!" The first act takes place in a dark, rainy city. The cinematography sets up the first-person, lonely, hopeless sort of feeling quite well. Then the film completely shifts character -- Ryan is transferred out to the wintry countryside to catch a killer on the loose. Watching Ryan act is always a treat. There are some scenes where he doesn't even speak, but manages to speak volumes through expressions and body language.

Don't rent it, buy the set!

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD'S END

Windbreaker — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 22:51:44 GMT

Ok, so I'm a sucker for Captain Jack Sparrow. But that's no accident. Gore Verbinski & Co. have tapped into the mass male population that deep down inside loves pirates, sword play, babes with weapons, pirates, twisted humor, anything that smells like Michael Bay, and pirates.

I vow to own every DVD ever produced from this series.