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Saint John of Las Vegas
Namreta Kumar
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2010/07/13 at 12:00am

DVD ReviewsReviews

Saint John of Las Vegas

07.13.2010 | By |

Rating: 1.5

Rated: R for language and some nudity.
Release Date: 2010-01-29
Starring: Hue Rhodes
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country:USA
Official Website: No disponible

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There are some films that you love instantly, and others that you hate; this film does not fit either category. Saint John of Las Vegas is distinctly unmemorable.

John, played by Steve Buscemi, is a “recovering” gambling addict, whose journey starts and ends in Las Vegas. The film follows John from his unexciting job in insurance, back to Vegas. Along the way we meet the typical boss, Mr. Townsend, and some particularly peculiar characters that drive along the fraud investigation of a car “accident.”

I really cannot find anything to say about this film, neither good nor bad; and unfortunately that in itself is bad. Everything about the film is mediocre. Steve Buscemi does a convincing enough job playing John, however it is nothing we haven’t seen before. The story is too reminiscent of every other film of its genre and the characters albeit quirky aren’t altogether new either.

The hundreds gambled at a gas station that form the crux, and narrate the larger story, are perhaps the best moments of the film. Luckily they are spread out intermittently to form a strong writing arc and keep the story moving. Unfortunately though it makes the feature film feel like an addition to a better short.

This character based film lacks character. First time writer/director Hue Rhodes’ attempt at creating another independent comedy of manners is grossly unoriginal. Saint John of Las Vegas is a film that can be missed for better films of the same genre.

Our Family Wedding
Jack Rico
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2010/07/13 at 12:00am

DVD ReviewsReviews

Our Family Wedding

07.13.2010 | By |

Rating: 3.0

Rated: PG-13
Release Date: 2010-03-12
Starring: Wayne Conley, Malcolm Spellman
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Country:USA
Official Website: http://www.ourfamilyweddingmovie.com

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Greenberg
Jack Rico
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2010/07/13 at 12:00am

DVD ReviewsReviews

Greenberg

07.13.2010 | By |

Rating: 2.0

Rated: R for some strong sexuality, drug use, and language.
Release Date: 2010-03-26
Starring: Noah Baumbach, Jennifer Jason Leigh
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Country:USA
Official Website: http://www.filminfocus.com/focusfeatures/film/greenberg

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Chloe
Jack Rico
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2010/07/13 at 12:00am

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Chloe

07.13.2010 | By |

Rating: 3.0

Rated: R for strong sexual content including graphic dialogue, nudity and language.
Release Date: 2010-03-26
Starring: Erin Cressida Wilson
Director(s):
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Film Genre:
Country:USA
Official Website: http://www.sonyclassics.com/chloe/

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‘Chloe,’ Atom Egoyan’s new directorial work, is the lesbian version of Fatal Attraction. You can expect a high level of nudity and explicit, erotic sexual lesbian scenes that almost make it feel like soft core porn. The look of the film is different though and resembles more Stanley Kubrick’s artistic ‘Eyes Wide Shut.’ The pacing, cinematography and camerawork, even its musical score, ignites thoughts of the film. The acting is strong and the story, for 85% of its duration, is utterly enthralling… until it collapses at the very end in an hyperbolic mess.

A gynecologist (Juliane Moore) hires an escort (Amanda Seyfried) to seduce her husband (Liam Neeson), whom she suspects of cheating. The results will back fire on her and reveal a side of herself she didn’t know existed.

For most of the film, this erotic thriller carries a slow enjoyable pace. It never reaches the depths of boredom. Each scene is crafted carefully to develop the characters and the meat of the story. The situations they are all in are plausible, but with an edge to them. Then out of nowhere, 20 minutes before its denouement, it becomes risible and loses all cogency and believability. I don’t even want to try and figure out why that happened, but this movie could have been great.

Despite that one deficiency, the whole of the film should not be dismissed. The engrossing, sometimes transfixing artistic sensuality of the sequences will keep you glued to your seat. The premise evokes real questions that ultimately many marriages suffer from, such as – can one ever really be only with one person for their whole life?

‘Chloe’ has an answer for that and it’s not necessarily the one you want to hear. The movie is a bit twisted, but it is very entertaining, you can’t wait to see what happens next and am sure most of you will feel the same too.

A Single Man
Terry Kim
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2010/07/06 at 12:00am

DVD ReviewsReviews

A Single Man

07.6.2010 | By |

Rating: 4.0

Rated: Not Available
Release Date: 2009-12-11
Starring: Tom Ford, Christopher Isherwood, David Scearce
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Country:Australia
Official Website: http://www.asingleman-movie.com/

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Since Tom Ford was such a successful designer—he is credited for reviving Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent—it was a surprise to many when he left Gucci Group in 2004. It was all the more surprising, therefore, when he started a film production company. A Single Man is his first feature, and one that shows potential for more good films to come.

 

A Single Man is adapted from Christopher Isherwood’s novel by the same name, and is about a gay English professor, George (Colin Firth), who is grieving for his long-time partner, Jim (Matthew Goode). To put an end to his woe, George decides to terminate his own life; it is this “final” day that we spend with him, meeting old friends and new, making amends before he leaves for the netherworld. George’s life examination process brings to mind other great films of the past dealing with death and existential loneliness, such as Akira Kurosawa’s Ikiru (1952) and Ingmar Bergman’s Wild Strawberries (1957). In between George’s encounters throughout the day—most notably with his student, Kenny Potter (played by Nicholas Hoult), a beautiful Spanish youth, and his next-door neighbor, Mrs. Strunk (Ginnifer Goodwin)—are flashbacks to some of George and Jim’s happiest moments together, all painful reminders that Jim is now gone, and George is still alive. When George finally comes to terms with his past and begins to envision a more optimistic future, fate takes an ironic turn, and he succumbs after his final heart attack.

 

The visuals are stunningly beautiful, and the music is just as powerful (sometimes dominating the images, even). The former aspect owes itself to Ford’s former trade, along with the collaboration of the director of photography, Eduard Grau, and the editor, Joan Sobel; the latter is thanks to the compositions of Abel Korzeniowski and Shigeru Umebayashi (most noted for the score in Wong Kar-wai’s In the Mood for Love). Because the camera usually works with no more than two actors at a time, and because dialogue is equally concentrated, the viewer cannot be less than captivated. Colin Firth’s and Julianne Moore’s remarkable performances heighten the film experience; Colin Firth’s Best Actor Award at this year’s Venice Film Festival is thus well-deserved. Alas, there is even Oscar buzz for both actors.

 

It’s hard to miss the 1962 undercurrents, as references to the Cuban Missile Crisis blast from television sets and radio stations throughout the film. Our protagonist lives in an era in which the nuclear threat looms menacingly overhead. We are then confined further, into some of George’s interior monologues (the novel is composed almost entirely of these monologues), consisted mostly of self-pitying, morbid comments about the humdrum reality. Tom Ford also gave the character more dimension by using autobiographical elements. For example, George’s preparation for his suicide was modeled after a suicide in Ford’s family.

 

The film is a spiritual tale, one that, as Tom Ford mentioned in his director’s statement, makes you realize that “the small things in life are really the big things in life.”

Brooklyn’s Finest
Jack Rico
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2010/07/06 at 12:00am

DVD ReviewsReviews

Brooklyn’s Finest

07.6.2010 | By |

Rating: 3.5

Rated: R
Release Date: 2010-03-05
Starring: Michael C. Martin
Director(s):
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Film Genre:
Country:USA
Official Website: http://www.brooklynsfinestthemovie.com/

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‘Brooklyn’s Finest’ is a very good film that brings together some wonderfully gritty acting, an engrossing storyline and a riveting ending. There are some twists that you’ll enjoy and overall it’ll remind you of films such as ‘Crash’ and ‘Serpico’.

The plot goes like this – three Brooklyn cops who work at the same precinct wind up at the same deadly location after their personal problems converge them there.

Kudos to the comeback kid Ethan Hawke, who continues to deliver powerful, intense and captivating performances. One of my favorites from him is ‘Before The Devil Know’s You’re Dead’ from legendary director Sydney Lumet. Just a wonderful small film that didn’t get much play in 2007. He now reunites with helmer Antoine Fuqua from their days in ‘Training Day’ to deliver an impressive and fervent interpretation of a cop doing anything to provide for his family.

The rest of the cast, Don Cheadle, Wesley Snipes and Ellen Barkin also delivered magnificent performances as well. Wesley Snipes, who hasn’t been in much of note in nearly a decade, settles into this role as if he was born for it. And Ellen Barkin is unforgettable as the foul-mouthed, tough-as-nails FBI agent who makes life hell for Tango. I don’t mention Richard Gere because I thought he was the weakest link. His range is limited in these fiery films and what’s worse, he plays the same guy in every movie. Romantic dramas like his ‘Nights in Rodanthe’ or ‘An Officer and A Gentleman’ are a better fit.

Outside of the great acting the film does dribble into some typical police cliches, such as  the dirty cop attending confession or undercover officers agonizing over turning against a friend they’ve made in the hood. These scenes are here, but they don’t distract you or make you say, ‘WTF, again!?’. It fits well with their characters and it didn’t bother me at all, I doubt it will for you.

Ultimately, it’s all about being entertained and taken to a world you submerge for two hours to then came back satisfied. ‘Brooklyn’s Finest’ does that and in a fine way.

 

Other films like this:

We Own The Night

Pride and Glory

The Last Airbender
Namreta Kumar
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By

2010/07/01 at 12:00am

Reviews

The Last Airbender

07.1.2010 | By |

The Last Airbender

M. Night Shyamalan’s The Last Airbender does not live up to any hype. Not for fans of Shyamalan or for fans of the series. Unlike M. Night Shyamalan’s other films this is an adapted concept and thus not his usual cup of tea.

It shocked me to learn how short the film was but watching the film it is obvious how an approximate twenty-hour season fit into a less than two-hour film. For those of you that do not know the story it is about Aang, played by Noah Ringer, and his journey of becoming the Avatar. The first season or Book One is about Aang taking the first step of understanding his destiny and learning the second of four elements as the Avatar: Water. The film does not cover the intricacies of the characters involved in his journey or build narrative comparatively. It seems that as a writer Shyamalan failed to capture The Last Airbender.

Some of the blame of the writing process is shared with the editing process. Whether it be editing within the screenwriting process or in post too much of the crux of the film is cut or altered making it hard to follow or enjoy. The reprise here is in M. Night Shyamalan’s direction. As the screenwriter, Shyamalan was able to control much more of his characterization and his directorial touch shines through Dev Patel, as Prince Zuko. Zuko is Aang’s antithesis and without him Aang’s destiny is not complete. M. Night Shyamalan centers a great amount of this film on establishing the base for that relationship.

Dev Patel and Noah Ringer both play their parts very well. Ringer is M. Night Shyamalan’s The Last Airbender. As Aang he does not share the same carefree attitude characteristic of his television counterpart; but he excels as Shyamalan’s troubled Aang. Patel as Prince Zuko brings the spirit of the television series with him. He is the perfect balance of the powerful, troubled, confused, but fair Prince looking for his destiny. Patel outshines the others who seem to still be finding the right niche in comparison.

With the exception of the opening credits the role that 3D plays in the film is lost on me; it is not required for a film that never develops beyond its narration. The cinematography is best on location, from there it starts to become apparent that the remainder of the film is shot on sets and the production value starts to dwindle. To much of the film relies on the authenticity of production but the audience looses that to the concept of 3D and the editing too often.

Unfortunately expectations of M. Night Shyamalan films are always high and The Last Airbender just does not live of to his other body of work. Shyamalan has a great story here and his vision is clear within his direction, but the production does not make the same impact. He clearly needed to work on the editing process of the film and focus on his storytelling strength more than the high-end production value. This does not exemplify M. Night Shyamalan’s potential but more over seems to be crushing him.

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
Jack Rico
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2010/06/30 at 12:00am

Reviews

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse

06.30.2010 | By |

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse

‘The Twilight Saga: Eclipse,’ directed by David Slade (30 Days of Nights), is the best film of the series and it is indisputably the most entertaining of the three movies. It has depth, a gripping and sexual tension to it, a surfeit of action, visually appealing special effects and entertaining drama. ‘Twilighters’ are going to love this second sequel and newcomers will be hooked on the tension filled decision Bella’s love life has to make.

The first sequel left us on a cliffhanger with Jacob telling Edward to watch out, he’s coming after Bella. Eclipse continues the churning novela with Bella (Kristin Stewart) once again finding herself surrounded by danger as Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and Victoria (Bryce Dallas Howard), a malicious vampire who is out for revenge. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between her love for Edward (Robert Pattinson) and her friendship with Jacob (Taylor Lautner) — knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the struggle between vampires and werewolves. What’s it going to be Bella – Edward or Jacob? That’s been the question pop culture media has been toying with for a year now.

The film’s predecessor, New Moon, was a test of endurance in tediousness. My criticism of the aforementioned was that it lacked entertainment value. If it only had an ounce of divertissement. Subsequently, Eclipse repaired the damage done and threw me a biscuit in the process. The improvements are rooted in the insertion of several battle sequences, which provided a much-needed injection of energy to the saga, accompanied by quality-eye-candy computer generated effects. Add to that a much more interesting plot and of course, the main event, the confrontation between the films two male leads. The acting is modest, and let’s be honest, it is not exemplary. It does though behoove the genre and the style of the film.

Amazingly enough, Eclipse possesses two Oscar nominated actresses in its cast: Anna Kendrick (Jessica Stanley) and Catalina Sandino Moreno. Kendrick, coming off her ‘Up in the Air’ nomination, seemed to be fulfilling contractual obligations or spoofing herself in the pic. Moreno on her part, the Colombian Oscar nominated actress for Maria Full of Grace, made a pleasant and surprising cameo. Her appearance, along with Christian Serratos (who plays Angela Weber), represented Hispanics in the film. Some of Catalina’s dialogue was in Spanish, which I must confess was a bit off brand, but welcome nevertheless. She whispered the word “chupar” in a Colombian accent and I automatically thought it was strange, yet cool to listen to within one of the most successful franchises in modern cinema. Regrettably, she went uncredited as Summit Entertainment decided not to include her in their 113 page long production notes, a document usually reserved for press to ascertain microscopic details on cast members, set designs, etc. The reasons for her exclusion in the notes is baffling since she could have served as a great Latino marketing angle for their promotional strategies. I’m glad a site like ShowBizCafe.com exists to give Ms. Moreno and Latino actors their props.

‘The Twilight Saga: Eclipse’ is a step in the right direction and it exemplifies what the film adaptations should have been like from the beginning. The intense, heavy teen romance is still there but layered with a much more entertaining ambiance of thrills and chills to it. I saw the film in standard 2D and was pleased with it. The IMAX version must be even better. I’m just glad it is not in 3D because with all sincerity, it does not need it. The fans of the books will be fanatical with it, newcomers will be entertained and drag-ons will at least be gratified with the notion that they saw the best of the series.  I hope the fourth chapter Breaking Dawn, which will be split into two parts next year, is just as good as this one.

The Crazies
Ted Faraone
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2010/06/29 at 12:00am

DVD ReviewsReviews

The Crazies

06.29.2010 | By |

Rating: 1.5

Rated: R for bloody violence and language.
Release Date: 2010-02-26
Starring: Scott Kosar, Ray Wright
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country:USA
Official Website: http://www.thecrazies-movie.com/

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In the 37 years since helmer George A. Romero foisted on us the $275,000 sci-fi/horror flick, “Crazies,” not much has changed except the value of the Dollar.  The remake, billed as “The Crazies,” by helmer Breck Eisner, cost an estimated $12 million to make.  It’s still pretty cheesy.  And Romero gets executive producer credit.
 
Pic climaxes with an atomic bomb blast leveling an Iowa town.  Too bad that its negative was not at ground zero.  “The Crazies” is that awful.  It gets half a star for some unintentionally funny scenes.  It loses stars for telegraphing plot moves in advance, failing to build compelling characterizations, totally expected “Deus Ex Machina” resolutions when writers Scott Kosar and Ray Wright painted themselves into corners, crummy continuity, stilted dialogue, and blurry lensing.  “The Crazies” uses every cheap trick to create suspense… and fails miserably.
 
Plot adheres fairly closely to the Romero original.  Folks in a small town start going crazy, becoming homicidal maniacs.  Source of the problem is quickly traced by Sherriff David Dutton (Timothy Olyphant, whom we last saw in the atrocious “Perfect Getaway”) to a downed jet in the town’s watershed.  How a jet goes down in a small town without apparent damage and without an immediate response is beyond even the suspension of disbelief.  This jet went down a week before pic’s action takes place.  And no one save the town blowhard noticed.

We must mention pic’s funniest scene:  The local undertaker has been infected.  He goes after Sherriff Dutton with a high speed bone saw.  Dutton subdues the mad mortuarian but the saw is still running.  Propelled across the mortuary floor by its own motor, It heads straight for Dutton’s crotch until his deputy (Joe Anderson VI) steps on the power cord in one of those Deus Ex Machina moments.  One wonders why the Army didn’t also cut off the electricity.

The purpose of a pic such as “The Crazies” is to create suspense, instill fear in audiences, and have them hanging on the edge of their seats for the ending.  Fernando Meirelles did a far better job with similar subject matter in the 2008 “Blindness.”

Pic’s ending has sequel written all over it.  Ultimately it will depend on the box office that this piece of trash does.  “The Crazies,” which feels a good deal longer than its 101 minute run time, is rated “R” thanks to violence and repeated use of a four letter word for intercourse.

Hot Tub Time Machine
Jack Rico
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2010/06/29 at 12:00am

DVD ReviewsReviews

Hot Tub Time Machine

06.29.2010 | By |

Rating: 2.5

Rated: R for strong crude and sexual content, nudity, drug use and pervasive language.
Release Date: 2010-03-26
Starring: Josh Heald, Sean Anders
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country:USA
Official Website: http://hottubtimemachinemovie.com/

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The R rated comedy ‘Hot Tub Time Machine’ is a disappointment that could have been prevented if the writers would have delivered better jokes, more frequently. Besides a few laughs, this comedy isn’t worth the ticket price or your time at the theater, but perhaps at home on DVD on a lazy Saturday night.

The story is simple. Four guy friends (John Cusack, Clark Duke, Craig Robinson, Rob Corddry), all of them bored with their adult lives, travel back to their respective 80s heydays thanks to a time-traveling hot tub. What ensues is nostalgic moments for most of the protagonists and a predictable twist for the finale.

For many men, there is nothing better than calling friends on a Friday night and catching a riotous R rated comedy. The attraction is the raunchy sexual humor and dialogue, ape-like rationale and an inane plotline that is already inherently funny. Many comedies in the decade of the 80’s embodied that sort of unrefined and unpretentious hilarity such as ‘Airplane’, ‘The Naked Gun’ and ‘I’m Gonna Git You Sucka‘. They were made for men and boy did we love them. 2008 saw one of my personal favorites – Role Models starring Paul Rudd and and Sean William Scott. They created a gem with scenes that pushed the envelope of comedy to its limits by having little kids curse like old curmudgeon truckers. ‘The Hangover’ reached perfection in the last decade. It received a Golden Globe nomination and even speculation that it would be nominated for an Oscar in the best picture category.

So what went wrong with ‘Hot Tub Time Machine’?

The jokes began strong and then they lagged. Those lagging moments cost the film everything. The writers, Josh Heald and Sean Anders needed to create rapid-fire jokes to avoid the sour comedic bits from affecting the strong, quick pacing of the beginning. As a result, the audience is left in limbo awaiting on hilarity that is saved for seldom occasions, as if there were rations of jokes left for us to laugh at. The acting overall was fine, some secondary 80’s cast selections were great such as Crispin Glover (Marty MacFly from Back to the Future) and Chevy Case.

The protagonists were a nice mix of actors that provided their fair skill of comedy. The highlight was Craig Robinson, who seems to be at home in this genre. If you ever saw him in ‘Zack and Miri Make a Porno’, he carried that movie on his back! John Cusack was a nostalgic touch that director Steven Pink I’m sure had as his secret weapon. John Cusack is the 80’s and it was great to see how he behaved under the ambiance of the period that made him a star.

Nevertheless, I was expecting so much more from this film. Whenever you see “rated R” next to a comedy, you feel like we’re in for something different (e.g. The Hangover). It’s a movie that filmmakers can sink their creative juices into without restraint. That mere idea is obviously much more difficult than it looks.

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