The Weather Man
Nicolas Cage is rather good as a stoic and exasperated TV
weather man, who takes up archery as a means of coping with
his dysfunctional family, in this highly amusing American
Black Comedy directed by Gore Verbinski.
Derailed
This thriller is full of twists and turns. Some you can see
coming, others take you totally by surprise. Clive Owen, Vincent
Cassel and Jennifer Aniston all give admirable performances.
Jennifer has come a long way since ‘Friends’.
The Chronicles of Narnia
C.S.Lewis’ beloved book translates very well to the
big screen in this Disney Production. Children will love the
story, but, for adults, it is all about the Special Effects.
Tilda Swinton is suitably ‘chilly’ as the evil
White Witch.
Wolf Creek
This bizarre Australian movie, based on true events, is guaranteed
to ‘freak’ anyone out, and, permanently put you
off that long-planned road trip through the great Australian
Outback forever. Whatever you do, don’t watch it alone!
Where The Truth Lies
Set in 1957, a Martin and Lewis like comedy act discover a
dead girl in their hotel bathroom, and, go to great lengths
to hush up the scandal. Kevin Bacon and Colin Firth are great
as the sex, drugs and booze addicted ‘funny-men’.
Memoirs of a Geisha
Rob Marshall’s lush movie is superb to look at, but,
anyone who remembers, and loved, Arthur Golden’s novel
will be bitterly disappointed. The film is a dismal adaptation
of the story. The exquisite Gong Li is wasted in the movie.
Kings & Queen
Everyone has psychological problems, in one way or another,
which they discuss at great length, in this over-long, over-serious,
over-pretentious and over-sophisticated French Bourgeoisie
Murder Thriller, of an unusual kind.
Everything is Illuminated
Elijah Wood plays a writer, of sorts, and a collector of the
trivial, who goes on a journey through the Ukraine to source
his Jewish Heritage lost in the Holocaust, in this unusual
European movie. Elijah is very weird in the film.
The Pink Panther
In this abysmal re-make, Steve Martin attempts to re-create
a role that Peter Sellers indelibly stamped as his. Steve
is occasionally humorous, but, who is going to accept him
in the part? Beyonce Knowles should stick to singing.
Zathura
Somewhat like ‘Jumanji’, two young boys, and their
sister, become drawn in to a board-game, where the game becomes
reality, and there is no way out but for each player to complete
their turn. The Special Effects are awesome.
Thumbsucker
A 16-year-old high school student, who is still sucking his
thumb, gets a lot of help from his family, and friendly dentist,
to kick the habit, but, nothing helps until the school counselor
suggests medication. Major problems ensue.
Yours, Mine & Ours
Another abysmal re-make. The original, starring Lucille Ball
and Henry Fonda, is fondly remembered. Dennis Quaid and Rene
Russo turn this version, about a very large blended family,
into over-sentimental tripe.
Man to Man
A team of anthropologists acquire a pair of pygmies, and set
about proving that they are the Darwinian ‘Missing Link’.
Regis Wargnier’s intelligent film deals with potential
scientific fame and professional rivalries very well.
Elizabethtown
After a disastrous mistake Orlando Bloom is fired from his
job, and, flying to his father’s funeral in Kentucky,
meets Kirsten Dunst, a Flight Attendant, who is destined to
change his life, in this very appealing romantic-comedy.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
This latest episode in the on-going saga is actually rather
creepy. Some of it is not really appropriate for children.
The film is oddly disjointed, and lacks a sense of ‘pacing’.
Much of it appears to be left on the ‘cutting-room’
floor.
The New World
Terrence Mallick’s version of the Captain Smith and
Pocahontas Love Story is typical of his style, in so much
as nobody says very much, and most of the narrative is depicted
visually. Visually, the movie is absolutely breathtaking.
The White Countess
As the last film from Merchant and Ivory, this movie is a
sad conclusion to their illustrious career. Both Ralph Fiennes
and Natasha Richardson are laughable as a Diplomat and Aristocrat
caught in 1930’s Shanghai turmoil.
Mirrormask
This film relies on the Visual Effects created by the Jim
Henson Company. It is an odd story, set in a ‘Dream
World’, where Good has to triumph over Evil. It also
owes a lot to Terry Gilliam, Tim Burton and Cinema Surrealism.
Proof
Gwyneth Paltrow stars in this film version of a play. She
is a mathematician who thinks she is going crazy, and can’t
remember if she wrote an important hypothesis, or filched
it from her equally screwy dead mathematician father.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
Robert Downey Jr. and Val Kilmer desperately try to instill
some humor and joie de vivre into this lackluster Pop Art
crime caper, set in the seedier sides of Hollywood and Los
Angeles. Try as they may, it is all a big waste of time.
The Fog
John Carpenter produces this re-make of his 1979 classic thriller,
and he also takes the opportunity to provide some narrative
background missing from the original. Nonetheless, it would
have been better to leave the movie alone.
Good Night, And Good Luck
Written and directed by George Clooney, 1950’s McCarthyism
poses as a metaphor for modern day American politics in this
B/W, talky, period-piece movie. David Strathairn is brilliant
as the TV journalist Edward R. Murrow.
The Constant Gardener
Ralph Fiennes is laughable, again, as another Diplomat, this
time in Kenya, trying to solve the murder of his outspoken
wife, who got caught-up in a medical conspiracy. The analogy
to ‘gardening’ is sort of lost in the movie.
Munich
Steven Spielberg takes it for granted that everyone will be
on the Israeli side, in his movie about a team of undercover
agents seeking revenge for the 1972 Munich Olympics Massacre.
Even so, they do some pretty despicable things.
Demon Seed
Made in 1977, the costumes, sets, and special effects all
look kinda clunky by today’s standards, but, the story
is gripping and even more relevant now. A young and beautiful
Julie Christie is certainly carrying the ‘Demon Seed’.
