10.000 BC
The story in Roland Emmerich’s latest saga is fairly typical of this particular movie genre. In fact, ‘10.000 BC’ is much like Mel Gibson’s ‘Apocalypto’. You know the sort of thing: A beautiful young girl, who is a member of the ‘good’ tribe, is kidnapped by an ‘evil’ tribe, and the handsome hero must go on a long and perilous journey to rescue her. Ho Hum. So much for the plot! However, the special effects, especially the Mammoths and the Saber-Tooth Tiger, are just spectacular. And, there is a great twist to the movie that will really grab your attention. I hate to say it, but I loved each and every frame.
Over Her Dead Body
As I recall, a screen adaptation of Noel Coward’s stage play, ‘Blithe Spirit’, appeared in 1945. But, I haven’t seen the film for years, so I can’t remember all the details of the plot. Even so, Jeff Lowell’s movie comedy ‘Over Her Dead Body’ certainly reminds me of Noel Coward’s big success. Paul Rudd, Eva Longoria Parker and Lake Bell bring a lot of comedic flair to this piece of movie ‘fluff’, about a beautiful woman, who is accidentally killed on her wedding day, and comes back to haunt an equally lovely psychic, because she figures that the psychic has interests in her ‘would-have-been’ husband.
Untraceable
This is a movie that rather worries me, and will probably worry a lot of other people who are concerned about excessive violence in the cinema. Director Gregory Hoblit’s nasty little movie is the kind of thing which could give some crazy people ‘ideas’. The FBI Cyber Crimes Division hunts down computer criminals on-line. One day an agent, well played by Diane Lane, logs onto an internet site where a killer is torturing his victim live ‘on-air’. The more ‘hits’ the site gets, the faster the victim dies. The ‘hits’ go through the roof, and the hunt is on to capture the manic before he targets his next victim. I found the film to be extremely well made, but extremely distasteful.
Bernard and Doris
Loosely based on true events, director Bob Balaban’s delightful movie takes a sympathetic and affectionate look at the unusual relationship between the tobacco heiress Doris Duke (1912-1993), and her butler Bernard Lafferty. Doris lives life to the full. She sleeps with many young men, makes shrewd business decisions quickly, and successfully manages her huge fortune and her exotic orchid collection. Meanwhile, Bernard oversees Doris’ very large New Jersey estate, and cannot keep his hands out of her excellent wine cellar. The movie is basically a ‘two hander’, and rests on the talents of its actors. Susan Sarandon is fabulous as the famous ‘poor little rich girl’, while Ralph Fiennes is completely flawless as Doris’ shy, ‘gay’, alter ego butler.
Margot At The Wedding
Nicole Kidman has always presented a ‘cold’ persona in most of her movies. Most of the time she is able to ‘get away’ with it. However, in writer and director Noah Baumbach’s new film, his follow up to the highly successful ‘The Squid And The Whale’ (2005), Nicole’s ‘removed’ acting technique lets her down badly. Even though Jennifer Jason Leigh and Jack Black try their best to brighten things up, Nicole turns Baumbach’s comedy/drama into a very dull and boring affair, about a sharp tongued elder sister giving heaps of unsolicited advice to her younger sister as the ‘big day’ approaches.
Seraphim Falls
This is a movie which will completely take you by surprise. Set at the end of the American Civil War, writer and director David Von Ancken creates a suspenseful manhunt through the breathtaking landscapes of America’s vast wildernesses. Concerning a colonel who fails to put down his weapon, and instead hunts down a man to settle a grudge from the war, the movie is a taut psychological drama, with touches of surrealism and magical-realism which really work! Pierce Brosnan and Liam Neeson are actors who usually don’t impress me, however, in this movie, they are both terrific and very well cast.
Silk
Written by Michael Golding, with screen direction and production design by Fran Ois Girard, costumes by Carlo Poggioli, cinema photography by Alain Dostie, and starring Michael Pitt and Keira Knightley, ‘Silk’ is a romantic love story of epic proportions. In the mid 19th century a silkworm merchant travels from France to Japan, to buy silkworm eggs that are uncontaminated by an epidemic that is threatening Europe’s silkworms. There, the merchant falls in love with the concubine of a Japanese baron, even though he has a loyal and beautiful wife waiting at home. Ok, the story of this movie is a bit predictable, and what twists which do occur don’t come as any big surprises. Still, the scenery, costumes, sets, and the overall style of the movie, are so sumptuous, that they more than compensate for any narrative shortcomings.
Anna Nicole
This movie is so bad that I cannot resist telling you just a little bit about it. The film looks at the life of Anna Nicole Smith. It covers her successes as a Playboy Centerfold, a Guess Model, and as a dubious ‘actress’. It touches on her marriage to billionaire J. Howard Marshall, and the odd deaths of herself and her son. But, honestly, who would believe Anna was such a sweetheart, and went through life thinking she would become the next Marilyn Monroe?
Mr. Robet’s Best Buys
Lust Caution
Director Ang Lee’s sexy and suspenseful spy movie is simply a knockout.
10.000 BC
An excellent adventure movie, with some highly impressive special effects.
Bernard and Doris
A sympathetic look at the relationship between a rich woman and her butler.
Seraphim Falls
This drama is surprising, with its touches of surrealism and magical-realism.
Savage Grace
A searing drama, concerning taboo subjects, that is Strictly for Adults Only.
Walk Hard
The ‘bio-pic’ movie genre gets well and truly ‘sent-up’ in this ‘hip’ comedy.
The Bank Job
A sleek and stylish British crime thriller, supposedly based on true events.
Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears A Who!
This cartoon adaptation of a Dr. Seuss book should captivate most children.
Death Defying Acts
A beautifully presented love story, set in the world of séances and psychics.
Silk
The plot of this love story is predictable, but the movie is splendid to look at.
Vantage Point
An unusual political thriller, in-which the action never lets up for a second.
Cloverfield
This amazing movie is often very scary, and features a curious visual effect.
The Other Boleyn Girl
A jolly good romp with King Henry the Eighth, and Anne and Mary Boleyn.
Over Her Dead Body
The movie might be a bit of ‘fluff’, but it does have some amusing moments.
