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Movie Reviews and Ratings

Trailer Premiere of "In the Loop"
Jack Rico
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2009/05/15 at 12:00am

Movies

Trailer Premiere of "In the Loop"

05.15.2009 | By |

Trailer Premiere of "In the Loop"

“In the Loop” is drawing instant comparisons to some of the great political and absurdist comedies such as “Doctor Strangelove”, “Wag the Dog”, “Thank You For Not Smoking”, “Monty Python”.

The film is a smart comedy with razor-sharp, truly laugh-out-loud dialogue that pokes fun at the absurdity and ineptitude of our highest leaders. With everyone looking out for number one, and the fate of the free world at stake (but apparently incidental), the hilarious ensemble cast of characters bumbles its way through Machiavellian political dealings, across continents, and toward comic resolutions that are unforeseeable.

“In the Loop” will be released in theaters on July 24th, 2009.

 

 

Angels & Demons
Jack Rico
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2009/05/15 at 12:00am

Reviews

Angels & Demons

05.15.2009 | By |

Rated: PG-13 for sequences of violence, disturbing images and thematic material.
Release Date: 2009-05-15
Starring: Akiva Goldsman
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country: USA
Official Website: http://www.sonypictures.com.mx/Sony/HotSites/Mx/angelesydemonios/

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Angels & Demons

‘The Da Vinci Code’ was such good, clever cinematic entertainment, that expectations for ‘Angels & Demons’ to either match or exceed its success were crucial. Regrettably, neither came true. The contrivances and absurd coincidences of the clues are so predictable and telegraphed that it zapped all the fun out of the film. This new effort by Ron Howard and Tom Hanks falls short of their talents and abilities. Hanks not only phoned in his performance, it looked like he created a cartoon version of his character Robert Langdon.

“Angels & Demons,” published in 2000 by author Dan Brown, sees Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks) summoned to a Swiss research facility to analyze a cryptic symbol seared in the chest of a murdered physicist. What he discovers is a deadly vendetta against the Catholic Church by a centuries-old underground organization called the Illuminati to turn half of Rome into a wasteland.

Here’s the good and the bad with ‘Angels & Demons’: Entertainment vs. Implausibility.

Let me explain…the bad is that this film is ‘The Da Vinci Code’ on steroids, it’s so over-the-top. The clues are never ending and they are too easy to create any suspense. Also the acting was, for some reason or other, below par. Perhaps the cast’s uninspired efforts were a byproduct of shooting in a studio lot as opposed to Vatican City, which did not give any clearance to film on its premises. No wonder you saw so much CGI this time around. Finally, the ending takes a turn to the absurd, fully confirming that corporate studio heads prevailed by creating a film for the ‘everyday joe’ and not the literary fans of the book.

The good can be described in the beautiful and elegant camerawork of cinematographer Salvatore Totino, and a captivating story that tells of the mysteries inside the holy Vatican City. There are many scenes that are very entertaining to watch and delight in.

Still, the bad outweighs the good and the preposterous plot outweighs everything. If you’re a fan of the book you’ll be entertained but disappointed, and if you’re not, the same thing.

Management (Movie Review)
Jack Rico
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2009/05/14 at 12:00am

MoviesReviews

Management (Movie Review)

05.14.2009 | By |

Aniston plays a traveling saleswoman who sells cheap art to small companies in motels. She has a fling with an aimless, underachieving assistant motel manager (Zahn) at one of her stops, and he ends pursuing her all over the U.S. Talk about getting suckered into vulnerability. Steve Zahn dripped that adjective in his latest performance in the film ‘Management’, also starring Jennifer Aniston. The movie, which has all the makings of an indie film, but it’s really targeted towards a more mainstream audience, is perhaps the best romantic comedy of the year. That’s really not saying much since the genre hasn’t put out a real charmer in a while. Read More

Taken
Alex Florez
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2009/05/13 at 12:00am

DVD ReviewsReviews

Taken

05.13.2009 | By |

Rating: 2.0

Rated: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence, disturbing thematic material, sexual content, some drug references and language.
Release Date: 2009-01-30
Starring: Luc Besson, Robert Mark Kamen
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country:France
Official Website: http://www.takenmovie.com/

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For years now, french filmmaker Luc Besson (The Transporter) has been hemorrhaging preposterous action films that are wildly unsophisticated in their storytelling but that are also inexplicably entertaining.  Taken is no exception. 

Yet the Besson-written screenplay is directed by another frenchmen, Pierre Morel, who at least for this film, happens to share his exact same sensibility:  A reckless disregard for character development because the order of the day is a ‘shoot-em up thriller’.

Unsurprisingly then, the film’s premise is pretty straightforward. It centers on a former government operative named Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson) who is on the hunt for a fearsome organization that has taken his daughter Kim (Maggie Grace), with whom he has just started to rekindle a relationship with.  After being absent for most of her life, Mills will terrorize all of Paris hunting down the band of kidnappers to prove his fatherhood.

Despite its slow beginning, hokey dialogue, and poor acting on everyone’s account (Maggie Grace being especially unbearable), the film doesn’t ever pretend to be more than it really is. It’s just strange to see Neeson, such an accomplished actor, playing the type of role usually reserved for people like Jason Statham. 

I know what I’m getting into when when I watch these films and so I’m rarely disappointed.  And If you have the slightest appetite for the genre, then it should be an easy 90 minutes of film to watch.

Taken is the type of film that easily gets filed under the ‘really bad films I’d watch category’.

Scorsese and ‘Sinatra’ to unite on screen!
Mack Chico
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2009/05/13 at 12:00am

Movies

Scorsese and ‘Sinatra’ to unite on screen!

05.13.2009 | By |

Scorsese and 'Sinatra' to unite on screen!

Martin Scorsese will direct the biopic “Sinatra” for Universal Pictures and Mandalay Pictures.

Phil Alden Robinson is writing the screenplay for Sinatra based on the life of the iconic entertainer.

Universal and Mandalay have been quietly developing the project after securing the Frank Sinatra life rights and music rights from Frank Sinatra Enterprises — a joint venture of the Sinatra Estate and Warner Music Group. The process of acquiring the rights took years.

Peter Guber and Cathy Schulman are producing.

Nicole Kidman says ‘adios’ to new Allen film
Mack Chico
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2009/05/13 at 12:00am

Movies

Nicole Kidman says ‘adios’ to new Allen film

05.13.2009 | By |

Nicole Kidman says 'adios' to new Allen film

Nicole Kidman has ankled her role in Woody Allen’s latest, untitled project.

Pic, which co-stars Antonio Banderas, Anthony Hopkins, Josh Brolin, Naomi Watts and Freida Pinto, is set to start shooting in London in the summer.

A scheduling conflict arose due to Kidman producing (through her Rabbit Hole productions)and starring with Aaron Eckhart in the film “Rabbit Hole,” being directed by John Cameron-Mitchell and filming on the East Coast this summer.

There is no word yet on who Kidman’s replacement will be.

Steve Tenenbaum, Gravier Prods.’ Letty Aronson and Mediapro’s Jaume Roures are producing, with Mediapro also financing.

Gravier and Mediapro previously teamed to make Allen’s “Vicky Cristina Barcelona.”

Allen’s London-set project will be the first of a three-picture deal between Allen and Mediapro.

Spain’s Imagina Intl. is handling international sales.

Antonio Banderas in ‘The Big Bang’
Mack Chico
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2009/05/12 at 12:00am

Movies

Antonio Banderas in ‘The Big Bang’

05.12.2009 | By |

Antonio Banderas in 'The Big Bang'

Antonio Banderas is set to star in “The Big Bang,” a neo-noir detective story to be directed by Tony Krantz.

Richard Rionda Del Castro, Krantz and Erik Jendresen will produce the film, based on a script by Jendresen (“Band of Brothers”). Production begins in Spokane, Wash., in September.

Banderas stars as an L.A. private detective who’s hired to find a missing stripper. The trail leads to the New Mexico desert, where the private eye finds a trail of bodies and contends with a brutal Russian boxer, three LAPD detectives and an aging billionaire looking to perfect the nuclear physics equivalent of the Big Bang.

Exec producing will be Patricia Eberle, Richard Salvatore and Ross Dinerstein.

Rionda Del Castro’s Hannibal Pictures is financing and handling foreign sales at Cannes. U.S. representation is being handled by WMA and Endeavor.

Pic marks the first theatrical feature for Krantz, one of the few ex-agents to make that leap. Krantz, who spent 15 years packaging series at CAA and later heading Imagine TV, previously directed two Jendresen-scripted films — “Sublime” and “Otis”– that were designed to go direct to video through Raw Feed, a venture Krantz co-created.

Krantz now owns Flame Ventures, whose slate includes a NASCAR Imax film in 3-D that Krantz will direct, and “The Conversation,” a series for AMC based on the Francis Ford Coppola film that is being written by Jendresen and Christopher McQuarrie.

Banderas most recently completed a starring role in Woody Allen‘s as-yet-untitled next film.

‘Star Trek’ is #1 at the box office!
Mack Chico
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2009/05/10 at 12:00am

Movies

‘Star Trek’ is #1 at the box office!

05.10.2009 | By |

'Star Trek' is #1 at the box office!

Resistance proved futile: “Star Trek,” the Paramount Pictures prequel, sold an estimated $76.5 million in tickets at North American theaters in its first three and a half days of release, the top draw of the weekend.

The opening was propelled by a megawatt marketing campaign and unexpectedly strong critical notices. Going into the weekend, though, Paramount was a bit nervous about how the film, which cost $140 million, would perform.

Would the average moviegoer dismiss it as a geek flick? What about older women, an audience that has been tough for science fiction films to crack but is needed for a movie to reach blockbuster status? Historically “Star Trek” movies have performed poorly overseas. Would Paramount’s harder-than-usual sell in Europe pay off?

Rob Moore, Paramount’s vice chairman, sounded giddy in an interview on Sunday morning. “A giant new audience came along for this ride,” he said. “It’s a great relaunch to this classic property.”

The studio, Mr. Moore said, thinks “Star Trek,” directed by J. J. Abrams and starring the newcomer Chris Pine as a young James T. Kirk, has “a real shot” to make more than $200 million domestically, a big number for a film with this size of opening weekend. Overseas, where sales information is slower to trickle in, Mr. Moore said “Star Trek” could sell more than $100 million in tickets, more than double the previous showing for the franchise.

Paramount executives said they had hoped the movie would perform like “Batman Begins,” the 2005 series reboot that opened to about $49 million in ticket sales. Helping “Star Trek” was the decision to start showing the movie in limited release on Thursday evening, a move meant to spur water-cooler talk in the office on Friday and give some padding to the weekend total.

Imax also helped boost results, selling an estimated $8.2 million of “Star Trek” tickets over the weekend, an Imax record. “We’ve never even been close to this kind of turnout before,” said Greg Foster, chairman and president of Imax Filmed Entertainment.

In general the box office continues to sizzle. So far this year North American moviegoers have bought $3.44 billion in tickets, a 16 percent increase over the same period in 2008, according to Hollywood.com. Attendance is up 13 percent.

“X-Men Origins: Wolverine” (20th Century Fox),which had the year’s biggest opening last weekend, taking in more than $85 million, was No. 2 this weekend, with an estimated $27 million for a cumulative total of $129.6 million (including weekday sales). “Ghosts of Girlfriends Past” (Warner Brothers) earned an estimated $10.5 million for third place (and a new total of $30.2 million).

Rounding out the Top 5 were “Obsessed,” a low-budget thriller from Screen Gems, with $6.6 million ($56.2 million), and the Warner Brothers comedy “17 Again,” with $4.4 million ($54 million).

Katie Holmes to star in Guillermo del Toro thriller
Mack Chico
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2009/05/08 at 12:00am

Movies

Katie Holmes to star in Guillermo del Toro thriller

05.8.2009 | By |

Katie Holmes to star in Guillermo del Toro thriller

Katie Holmes will star in “Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark,” a thriller for Miramax Films that was scripted by Guillermo del Toro and Matthew Robbins.

Del Toro is producing with Mark Johnson and the film will be directed by del Toro protege Troy Nixey.

The film will shoot this summer in Melbourne as a “Guillermo del Toro Presentation.”

“Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark” is based on a 1973 ABC telepic about a young girl who moves in with her father and his girlfriend and discovers they are sharing the house with devilish creatures.

Nixey, a comicbook artist, is making his feature directing debut. Del Toro sparked to “Latchkey’s Lament,” a Nixey-directed short that captured the tone del Toro wanted for “Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark.”

Del Toro and Johnson are also teamed with Gary Ungar to produce “Hater,” an adaptation of the David Moody horror novel that will be directed at Universal by Juan Antonio Bayona (“The Orphanage”).

Holmes most recently completed “The Extra Man,” directed by Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini.

Del Toro is busy readying “The Hobbit,” which he’s writing with Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens. That film shoots next year.

Rudo y Cursi
Jack Rico
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By

2009/05/08 at 12:00am

Reviews

Rudo y Cursi

05.8.2009 | By |

Rated: R for pervasive language, sexual content and brief drug use.
Release Date: 2009-05-08
Starring: Carlos Cuarón
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country: Mexico
Official Website: http://www.rudoycursilapelicula.com/

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Rudo y Cursi

“Rudo y Cursi” is a lively and engaging comedy that highlights some drama in its storyline. Regrettably, in the end, feels a little thin, largely because it is unsure of how earnestly to treat its own lessons about fate, ambition and brotherly love. There is a lot of velocity in this ultimately familiar tale of rising and falling, but not much gravity. “Rudo y Cursi” is partly about the consequences of taking a game much too seriously, but at the same time it treats everything else — life, death, love, money — like a game.

 

Beto (Diego Luna) and Tato Verdusco (Gael Garcia Bernal) are half brothers who work together at a banana plantation and live with their extended family in a village in southern Mexico. When the two of them are suddenly (and somewhat improbably) plucked from rural proletarian obscurity and turned into professional soccer players in Mexico City, they achieve fame as Rudo and Cursi, nicknames that can be translated more or less as tough and corny.

 

But Mr. Cuarón also has trouble managing the tone of the film as it swerves from light-hearted absurdity toward a darker, more cynical view of its characters and their fate. Too often he allows “Rudo y Cursi” to coast on the likeability of its stars, who seem at times to be enjoying themselves more than their characters are able to.

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