Angel
Francois Ozon is a prominent French director, whose works include ‘Sitcom’ (1998), ‘Water Drops on Burning Rocks’ (1999) and ‘8 Femmes’ (2002). His latest movie, ‘Angel’, is a highly sumptuous pastiche of a romantic novel, set in England at the turn of the 20th Century. It concerns a young tempestuous romantic novelist, and her journey into womanhood, but, the girl is such a precocious bitch that she deserves everything she gets! Romola Garai gives an outstanding performance as the writer. You can’t help but despise her, yet adore her, at the same time. A very difficult acting task to pull off! Sam Neill also gives very good support as her besotted publisher. The movie is in English, which makes Ozon’s work much more accessible to a wider International audience. The movie is absolutely superb!
Kung Fu Panda
Po is a fat, lazy, and irreverent Panda, but he is also a huge fan of Kung Fu. Through one of those bizarre twists of fate, Po is chosen to become the next Dragon Warrior, and it is his destiny to fulfill an ancient prophecy. This computer-animated cartoon is terrific. It sends up the martial arts of Kung Fu with a lot of humor, warmth and affection. Even though the story is a little bit predictable, there is plenty of witty dialogue and lots of great action. Kung Fu fanatics, and children of all ages, are just going to love the cartoon.
Nim’s Island
This lightweight children’s movie, produced in Australia, comes as a surprise. The movie is actually quite charming, and it is highly suitable for pre-teenagers. The story is set on a fictitious South Pacific island, where the young girl Nim, and her marine biologist father, live in isolation. When Nim’s father goes missing at sea during a typhoon, she has nowhere to turn to for help but to the Internet. There, she comes in contact with the writer Alexandra Rover, author of a popular series of adventure books. Jodie Foster, as the extremely reclusive novelist, is reluctantly forced to leave her house and come to Nim’s aid. Jodie Foster is wonderful in the movie. She is warm and witty and totally engaging. A real change of pace for Ms. Foster! Basically, for adults, Jodie is the only thing worth watching in the movie, but, children are going to love the island, all the animals, and the volcano!
Finding Amanda
Written and directed by Peter Tolan, it is hard to call his movie a ‘comedy’. Even though there are plenty of laughs throughout the film, it is concerned with some serious subjects. A compulsive gambler goes to Las Vegas, which is absolutely the last place he should be, to track down his niece, who has run away from home, and is now working there as a prostitute. As things turn out, these couple of days in Las Vegas becomes part of a learning curve for both of them. Mathew Broderick is terrific as the gambler (Ferris Bueller has finally grown up!), while Brittany Snow is funny and sexy as the slightly ‘dumb’ niece. By sugar coating some serious issues with impertinent humor, Peter Tolan has succeeded in creating a rather entertaining ‘off beat’ movie.
I Really Hate My Job
I really hate this movie. Even though this British film is supposed to be from an original screenplay, it reeks of ‘stage adaptation’. It follows one tedious night in a London Bistro, which is managed and staffed by women. There is too much blah blah blah, as the manageress, the waitress, the bartender, the cook, and the kitchen hand endlessly discuss their dreary lives. I don’t know. Maybe feminists will find something to admire in the movie. It does, after all, make some pertinent points about women’s issues. But, even the most hardcore feminists would have to agree that the movie is unbearably boring.
The Life Before Her Eyes
Glamour Puss Uma Thurman looks decidedly frumpy, in this decidedly frumpy movie. Concerning a survivor of a high school massacre, some fifteen years earlier, Uma has constant flashbacks to that fateful day, as the anniversary of the event draws closer. The movie repeats itself over and over again, going over the same old stuff, so, if you want to make a pot of coffee, feed the dogs, or clean out the storeroom, go ahead. You won’t miss a thing!
Sleepwalking
Recent Oscar winner Charlize Theron ‘stars’ in this particular tedious movie. Charlize plays something of a promiscuous tart, and, after the first fifteen minutes of the film, she dumps her teenage daughter with her unsuspecting brother and walks out of the movie. Charlize probably made a good choice. Who would want to stick around for the rest of this incredibly idiotic story?
Sex And The City, The Movie
Oh My God! Why bother? The original long running TV sitcom ‘Sex And The City’ was a highly successful show, which presented some ground breaking attitudes towards female sexuality. This movie is just a blatant attempt to extract more money from a TV formula that has well and truly passed its ‘use by’ date. Even loyal fans will have to shudder in disbelief.
Stanley Cuba
This is a juvenile ‘student movie’ with no appreciation of ‘Art’ whatsoever. The Stanley Kubrick estate should prosecute to the full extent of the law, for the desecration this film makes to the inspired works of that famous director.
Mr. Robet’s Best Buys
Angel
Francois Ozon’s latest film is superbly sumptuous, and extremely romantic.
In Bruges
A funny and witty British ‘black comedy’, masquerading as a crime thriller.
Finding Amanda
A compulsive gambler chooses to go to Las Vegas, to find his missing niece.
Kung Fu Panda
A very funny cartoon that sends up Kung Fu with a lot of love and affection.
Iron Man
The latest screen adaptation of a Marvel comic book is an enormous success.
10.000 BC
An excellent adventure movie, with some highly impressive special effects.
The Forbidden Kingdo
Jackie Chan and Jet Li are both fantastic in this Chinese Kung Fu fairy story.
War Inc.
Hilary Duff, of all people, is terrific in this reasonably good political satire.
21
Some bright students learn how to ‘count’ cards, and then go to Las Vegas.
Nim’s Island
This likable children’s movie is set on a deserted island in the South Pacific.
Love Songs (Les Chansons D’Amour)
A French musical, about some very modern issues, which is not for children.
Fool’s Gold
A bickering divorced couple, still in love, try to find a fabulous lost fortune.
The Spiderwick Chronicles
A family movie that everyone will enjoy, with some terrific special effects.
Death Defying Acts
A beautifully presented love story, set in the world of séances and psychics.
