Crank
Jason Statham cements his standing as the latest superstar
‘action-hero’ in this extraordinary movie about
a ‘hit-man’ who wakes up poisoned, and has to
race all over Los Angeles searching for an antidote. The pace
is relentless.
A Prairie Home Companion
Legendary American director Robert Altman turns his attention
to ‘magical-realism’, not very successfully, in
this meandering story about the final live broadcast of a
country and western style radio program. Meryl Streep sings!
Driving Lessons
Julie Walters plays an eccentric old Dame of the English Theatre,
who takes on a shy young assistant and teaches him a few facts
of theatrical life, in this predictable tale. Julie Walters
is just a touch too eccentric in this dull movie.
Death Of A President
Gabriel Range’s bizarre ‘pseudo-documentary’
tells how the FBI gets the wrong man for the assassination
of George W Bush. This movie should not be seen as a blueprint
for reality, but, it is a dangerous and devious fantasy.
Flushed Away
When upper-crust society mouse Roddy is flushed down the toilet
by an intruder, a new ‘underground’ water world
of adventure opens up to him. The makers of ‘Shrek’
and ‘Madagascar’ come up with another smash hit.
Snow Cake
This is a reasonable Canadian film, I guess, dealing with
that perennial favorite theme of mentally-challenged people
and their relationships. This time Sigourney Weaver is the
autistic and Alan Rickman her caring enabler.
Lucky Number Slevin
Bruce Willis, Josh Hartnett and Lucy Liu are all fabulous
in this rather slick and stylish film-noir, which is probably
best not to tell you too much about. Ben Kingsley and Morgan
Freeman also pop-up as two spiteful crime lords.
Looking For Kitty
Writer and director Edward Burns is the King of the B Grade
‘independent’ movie, and his latest work, about
a New York private-eye searching for a missing woman, is up
to his usual high standard, given the meager budget.
X-Men, The Last Stand
This is the final chapter in the ‘X-Men’ movie
trilogy, and all I can say is: “Thank god it is over”!
I have no interest, nor do I have any idea, what the exploits
of these comic-book heroes with unusual powers is really all
about.
Still Breathing
It is great to see Brendan Fraser, along with Joanna Going,
back on the silver screen again in a romantic-comedy, doing
what he does best, which is being incredibly sexy! The movie
is as frothy as cappuccino and just as enjoyable.
The Groomsmen
Another well crafted ‘independent’ movie from
Edward Burns. This one deals with a prospective bridegroom
and his friends, as they ‘chew-the-fat’ and ‘drag-up-the-past’,
prior to the big day. It is interesting blah-blah-blah.
The Hollywood Mom’s Mystery
This is a ‘cheesy’ murder mystery, produced by
Hallmark Entertainment, which is only of interest for its
scary cast of has-been B Grade actors and pseudo-socialites,
which include George Hamilton and Donatella Versace.
Monster House
Apart from putting some money into it, and acting as one of
three executive producers, Steven Spielberg really has nothing
to do with this movie at all. But, as a Spielberg-like horror
movie, the cartoon does have its moments.
Hate Crime
When a ‘gay’ man is found battered to death in
a park, suspicion falls onto his ‘white supremacist’
homophobic next-door neighbor. But, it is hard to tell where
writer and director Tommy Stovall’s sympathies lie in
this movie.
Three Wise Guys
Director Robert Iscove displays an uncanny ability to take
a nice short-story by Damon Runyon, and turn it into the most
awful, made for TV trash, that was ever produced. Tom Arnold
and Katey Sagal don’t help matters either.
Scoop
Woody Allen and Scarlett Johansson are hot on the trail of
a British serial-killer, but, though Woody’s trademark
wit and humor are both present, the delivery and chemistry
isn’t. Woody’s latest movie falls just a little
bit flat.
Severance
A group of salesmen and saleswomen go on a morale-building
holiday in the mountains, somewhere in Eastern Europe, and
things get slightly sticky. This British movie doesn’t
quite work as American-style ‘black-comedy’.
Nacho Libre
Funnyman Jack Black is unbelievably agonizing in this ‘one-joke’
movie about a priest who wants to be a superstar wrestler.
The movie manages to be racist, sexist, blasphemous, and just
about anything else that is offensive.
Thank You For Smoking
The tobacco lobby puts forward their case in this riveting
movie, and their case is pretty convincing. The film thoughtfully
investigates the necessity and function of lobbyists in the
American political system. Rokok anyone?
Hoodwinked
Little Red Riding Hood, The Wolf, and Grandmamma, all put
forward their versions of events, in this computer-generated
cartoon, which owes an awful lot to Akira Kurosawa’s
amazing 1950 Japanese classic movie ‘Rashomon’.
Drop Dead Sexy
This sort of tasteless movie, written and directed by Michael
Philip, gives ‘black-comedy’ a bad reputation.
Dealing with a young female corpse, and a diamond necklace
buried with the body, the film thinks necrophilia is funny.
Art School Confidential
Not as ‘exploitive’, ‘sexy’ and ‘confrontational’
as the 1960’s classic ‘High School Confidential’,
nevertheless, ‘Art School Confidential’ still
manages to lift the lid on the huge ego’s that drive
art students and art teachers alike.
Adam & Steve
This movie tells the story of two disco swingers who have
a disastrous ‘one-night-stand’ in the 1980’s,
then meet again years later. However, the ‘gay’
community will probably find a lot of the humor unintentionally
offensive.
The Farce Of The Penguins
Copying its material frame by frame from ‘The March
Of The Penguins’, this is another ‘one-joke’
movie that tries to send up that immensely popular unusual
hit movie. The whole thing becomes tedious after twenty minutes.
Keeping Up With The Steins
Scott Marshall gave us ‘The Princess Diaries 2’,
‘Royal Engagement’ and ‘Raising Helen’.
Movies of various successes. ‘The Steins’ is appalling,
as two rich Jewish families try to out-do each other with
gaudy Bar Mitzvahs.
The Misfits
This was Marilyn Monroe’s last movie, completed in 1961.
It deals with the relationship between three modern day cowboys
and a fragile young woman. Much myth is connected to this
movie, and it is now a cinematic ‘Legend’.
