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Movie Reviews

Coco Before Chanel
Namreta Kumar
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2010/02/16 at 12:00am

DVD ReviewsReviews

Coco Before Chanel

02.16.2010 | By |

Rating: 4.5

Rated: PG-13 for sexual content and smoking.
Release Date: 2009-09-25
Starring: Anne Fontaine
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country:France
Official Website: http://www.sonyclassics.com/cocobeforechanel/

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“Coco Before Chanel” is nothing short of a treat for your eyes – and your sensibilities. Anne Fontaine has created a period piece that like its subject, Gabriel “Coco” Chanel, is a classic.

 

Fontaine and Audrey Tautou create Coco seamlessly before your eyes. As the title claims this is a film about Coco, not about the successful Chanel. It is a story about a woman who is destined to be an icon, but not about the icon. In short this film is not about fashion, it is the story of a woman’s tragic success. Thanks to Fontaines’ masterful screenplay and direction this glimpse of Coco’s life feels authentic without being audacious.

 

Fontaine and Tautou take care to represent the eyes of Coco, as they become the vision of Channel. The whole narrative plays through the understanding of Coco’s vision, and Tautou portrays it perfectly from her first glimpse to her final gaze. Of course this film is incomplete without Etienne Balsan, Benoit Poelvoorde, and Boy Capel, Alessandro Nivola, because at its heart is the story of a woman’s tragedy and assiduity. The care and portrayal of these key figures matches that of Tautous’, which keeps the audience attached to the emotions and vulnerabilities of each until the bittersweet end.

 

The film in no mean encompasses the eighty-seven years of Coco Channel’s life; it does, however, encompass the style. It is a quiet, comfortable film that is driven through, in part, by the magic of stills; and so if you are outside those niche audiences prepare yourself for an altogether different experience. Like all things Coco Chanel, even if you cannot afford it, you cannot afford to miss it.

The Time Traveler’s Wife
Karen Posada
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2010/02/10 at 12:00am

DVD ReviewsReviews

The Time Traveler’s Wife

02.10.2010 | By |

Rating: 3.0

Rated: PG-13 for thematic elements, brief disturbing images, nudity and sexuality.
Release Date: 2009-08-14
Starring: Bruce Joel Rubin
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country:USA
Official Website: http://www.thetimetravelerswifemovie.com/

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The Time Traveler’s Wife really tries to fly through time with a fast paced beginning. The love story will captivate you and may make you fight back your tears but the film loses its essence as the story unfolds.
 
The time traveler, Henry (Eric Bana) disappears into time because of a genetic anomaly which makes this film sort of sci-fi, since it is after all from a screenplay by Bruce Joel Rubin who wrote “Ghost”. He seems to want to recapture this story once again but fails at it.  Clare (Rachel McAdams) has more of an imaginary friend at times than a husband in Henry; her side of the story keeps the film more grounded; we see an element of sadness and loneliness in her life because of Henry’s off and on appearances which we can relate to. The story just gets weirder and more surreal as the movie continues, which makes the story shaky.

The book which was very successful should not have come to life, at least not in the big screen. The film touches upon an interesting dilemma between whether our choices have been made for us or if we have free-will when dealing with the past/future. Henry is able to travel from the present to both the past and the future but it gets so complicated to the point that the main character is competing for his own wife with his old/young self.
 
Since the story is told by the way their romance unfolds, not by the passing of time, there is some sort of rhythm that one is able to follow. One thing that viewers can look forward to is a couple of nude scenes that are spread throughout the film. You may go and enjoy the romance of the story but don’t expect to get much out of it.

Couples Retreat
Jack Rico
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2010/02/10 at 12:00am

DVD ReviewsReviews

Couples Retreat

02.10.2010 | By |

Rating: 2.0

Rated: PG-13 on appeal for sexual content and language. (originally Rated R for some sexual material.)
Release Date: 2009-10-09
Starring: Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn & Dana Fox
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country:USA
Official Website: www.couplesretreatmovie.com

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The Wolfman
Karen Posada
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2010/02/09 at 12:00am

Reviews

The Wolfman

02.9.2010 | By |

The Wolfman

Unfortunately The Wolfman was exactly what I expected it to be, a movie where action prevails and the plot is predictable and hollow, it is basically secondary. I had a moment of hope during the climax of the movie that it was going to be better than I expected, I was wrong. I do give credit to the animation crew as well as those who worked on the settings because they are fantastic.

The main character, Lawrence Talbot (Benecio del Toro) belongs to a theater group in London; he’s a man who is lonely and hasn’t spoken to his family since he was a child. His father sent him to the U.S. to keep him away from his childhood traumas. He’s a man full of pain and suffering, he only returns
home because his brother’s fianceé Gwen Conliffe (Emily Blunt) writes to him about his brother’s disappearance and at his arrival asks him to solve the mystery of his murder. His father (Anthony Hopkins) greets him coldly but with loving words, he’s mysterious and he’s estranged from his family. He lives in a castle where we start to learn about Lawrence Talbot’s childhood and begin to see that although he had a privileged childhood he didn’t have it easy.

 

The movie develops at a nice rhythm, but since very early on we are able to make conclusions about how it will end. The Puerto Rican actor Benicio del Toro does the role of a man with a dark past and an even darker future perfectly; as a fan of the original movie and a collector of ‘wolfman’ paraphernalia, he studied his character well. I can’t imagine anyone else playing the main role, although there is not much to work from; Del Toro did a good job, especially in the scenes where his physical pain was very real. Hopkins was perfect for the role of the creepy and enigmatic father, it was almost like seeing Lecter with a ‘paternal’ side.

 

I knew the movie was a thriller but I didn’t know it was also supposed to be a horror flick; it does have moments that startle you but it is far more gory than scary. The cast did a good job and the panorama is beautiful, also the fact that it is placed in the times of Jack the Ripper makes it more attractive. It would have been a better movie if the plot were more engaging. It is definitely not for kids, although at some point it becomes a version of ‘The Beauty and the Beast’ but for adults.

Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief
Namreta Kumar
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2010/02/08 at 12:00am

Reviews

Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief

02.8.2010 | By |

Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief

For anyone who loves the movie going experience this a perfect match. Chris Columbus has brought yet another beloved children’s book to life in his adaptation of Percy Jackson and the Olympians. The Lightening Thief is a charming lighthearted fare; that has smartly been adapted for the screen.
Percy Jackson’s (Logan Lerman) world changes when he discovers that he is a demigod. Soon he finds that his inadequacies serve him well; and that the Greek myths, the ones we all forget in grade school, are more than just ancient history.

 

Chris Columbus does a great job of making Greek mythology feel like home in the Western world. In fact the juxtaposition of our modern realities to Greek mythology are what make the film charming to all ages. The CGI is all tailored to fit in well with the needs of the script and doesn’t over power it. Whereas other films of it’s nature have spent much more time working on some of the more flamboyant points of the novel Chris Columbus’ The Lightning Thief seamlessly blends all the elements together. While films like Harry Potter fail to capture the essence of the book, Percy Jackson and The Olympians does a remarkably better job.

 

That being said some alterations have been made. For those of you that have read the book, sorry to say, as dictated by Zeus, the Kronos topic is closed for discussion. The “family” relationship that the book focuses on is the crux of this film. But don’t get too excited, if you hoped to see the jerk cousin from the book’s prophecy he doesn’t make the cut either. Although major arcs have been dismissed from this adaptation, it does a great job of keeping the heart of the book in the forefront.

 

The cast also shares the credit for blending the two worlds seamlessly. They do an excellent job adapting the characters from the myths to the modern world. Brandon T. Jackson exceptionally modernizes the Greek satyr, Grover, by cleverly adapting modern style to the flirtatious and quirky nature of his character. Jake Abel carries Luke’s altered character off well, but due to some editing of the books for screen, it doesn’t all seem to add up on screen. Logan Lerman is the heart of the film. He not only ties together the film’s other cast and characters, but also reels in the audience. Percy Jackson feels like an accidental hero (to himself) in the book, and Lerman plays those insecurities and his perseverance well.

 

When I left the theatre I remember feeling as light as my own childhood memories of going to the theatre. The best part about the film is that as an adult you get to re-live the wonderment of grade school mythology; and as a child you can almost believe that the old hero stories aren’t all lost. Percy Jackson and The Olympians: The Lightning Thief is an old fashioned good time at the movies.

 

Also just a tip (especially for those that enjoyed the books): Don’t miss the end of the credits, I promise you will get your just reward.

Dear John
Jack Rico
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By

2010/02/07 at 12:00am

Reviews

Dear John

02.7.2010 | By |

Dear John

The great classic romance movies of history such as Casablanca, An Affair to Remember, even Titanic, have served as a measuring bar for today’s love stories. Lasse Hallstrom’s ‘Dear John’, based on Nicholas Sparks book, should not by any means be compared to the aforementioned, but it also shouldn’t be discarded as syrupy blather. Rather, it is a likable, warm story that manages to rouse a tear and perhaps incite a small swelling in the throat. I would not label it a typical run of the mill ‘tearjerker’, but it has a few moments that garners your emotional attention.

The film revolves around the love letters a soldier (Channing Tatum) and a young woman (Amanda Seyfried) share for a few years. John meets Savannah at the beach near his home and they eventually begin dating, but as soon as 9/11 happens he has to pick between her and the duties of war. How it turns out is for you to see.

‘Dear John’ isn’t going to devastate you or scar you emotionally. It is not Nicholas Sparks best, but it manages to awaken some sentiments of sadness, anger and loss that can be attributed to some descent acting and empathic screenwriting. The best part of the movie is Richard Jenkin’s performance as John’s father. His scene near the end provides perhaps the most compelling and dramatic scene of the movie. If you haven’t seen the wonderful, but small film The Visitor, try and squeeze it into you Netflix queue to see and appreciate Jenkin’s Oscar nominated performance. Just marvelous.

This valentines week’s film options should be an easy romantic choosing – Dear John over Valentine’s Day. The former is a failure in so many levels. Whether it is your other half or just a friend, Dear John is your best watch for eliciting some of those valentines sentiments your looking to draw out.

Valentine’s Day
Jack Rico
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By

2010/02/04 at 12:00am

Reviews

Valentine’s Day

02.4.2010 | By |

Valentine's Day
From Paris with Love
Jack Rico
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By

2010/02/02 at 12:00am

Reviews

From Paris with Love

02.2.2010 | By |

From Paris with Love

When it comes to action movies ‘From Paris With Love’ delivers. It’s not the best action film since Wanted, but it did do a good job of extracting a few ‘ooooohs’ and ‘aaaaahs’ from me. I must confess that according to the trailer, the film looked worse to me than what it was. Perhaps this is why I think better of the film, because I was expecting pure detritus. What you need to know is that John Travolta – though he might look a tad silly, one gets over it quickly – is once again intense, amusing and entertaining. Johnathan Rhys Meyers looks like an amateur actor and disappoints tremendously all the while french director Pierre Morel (Taken) is the new John Woo! When people talk about action directors such as Guy Ritchie, Woo and Luc Besson, Morel has to now be a part of the conversation.

The storyline has some interesting twists and turns, enough to dial you in. While in Paris, a young employee (Johnathan Rhys Meyers) in the office of the US Ambassador hooks up with an American spy (John Travolta) looking to stop a terrorist attack in the City of Lights.

This is the type of film you go to when you had a stressful week at work or at home and feel like seeing someone splatter some person’s brain on the wall with a semiautomatic silencer. Definitely a stress reliever.

Zombieland
Alex Florez
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2010/02/02 at 12:00am

DVD ReviewsReviews

Zombieland

02.2.2010 | By |

Rating: 3.0

Rated: R for horror violence/gore and language.
Release Date: 2009-10-02
Starring: Rhett Reese, Paul Wernick
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country:USA
Official Website: http://www.zombieland.com/

 Go to our film page

 

With a jaunty title like Zombieland, you know you’re in for a senseless horror comedy. Now that’s just fine, but the surprise here is that it’s more of a buddy road movie with a teen romance sandwiched in between. Come to think of it, this film attempts to do the nearly impossible – get loyal zombie fans and mainstream folk to share the same theater.

 

For those seeking an alternative to Michael Moore’s latest leftist documentary this weekend, Zombieland is as bipartisan as it gets.  It has a little something in it for everyone.

Here’s the premise: two men have somehow found a way to survive a world overrun by walking corpses. Not surprisingly, Jesse Eisenberg (The Jheri-curled version of Michael Cera) plays the cowardly, anti-social one with a smart mouth. The other guy, the AK-toting, zombie-slaying bad ass is gladly played by Woody Harrelson. 

 

Along the way, these two join forces with a pair of sharp-witted, self-serving sisters (Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin) that can certainly hold their own. These four are then forced to determine which is worse: relying on each other or succumbing to the zombies.

As a horror film, Zombieland won’t scare you. It’s much too glossy and stylized for that.  As a comedy, it packs enough one-liners to keep you from yawning. And as a teen romance, the movie sniffs around the cheese. Lucky for viewers however, the chemistry between the actors is radiant.  The fun they had while making this film is evident and their energy is contagious. Notwithstanding, first time director Ruben Fleischer knows how cliched these movies can be and makes sure to surprise you along the way to make it as memorable as possible.

More Than A Game
Alex Florez
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2010/02/02 at 12:00am

DVD ReviewsReviews

More Than A Game

02.2.2010 | By |

Rating: 3.5

Rated: Not available.
Release Date: 2009-10-02
Starring: Kristopher Belman, Brad Hogan
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country:USA
Official Website: http://www.morethanagamemovie.com/

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For ‘Sportcenter’ junkies like myself, More Than a Game will feel like one of those pre-game packages leading up to the final game of a championship series.  The ones that sum up the obstacles the players have overcome to reach the summit of their sport. The ones that delve into their personal lives, recounted by their family, friends, coaches and the journalists that have tracked them.  Tragedy.  Redemption.  All so that when we next see these athletes on the field or on the floor they are human to us once again.  All done to make the ‘game’ that much more compelling.  After all, what would sports be without a narrative?

Avid basketball fans out there will certainly be quite familiar with this documentary having lived through, just a few years ago, LeBron James’ meteoric rise to NBA superstardom.  Of course, the story they got was written by the media: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, and virtually every newspaper across the country.

For those that don’t follow sports at all, the story goes that five talented young high school basketball players from Akron, Ohio including future NBA star LeBron James are coached by a charismatic but inexperienced player’s father and together embark on an improbable nine-year journey from a decrepit inner-city gym to the doorstep of a national high school championship. 

Along the way, the close-knit team is repeatedly tested — both on and off the court — as James’ exploding worldwide celebrity threatens to destroy everything they’ve set out to achieve together.

What director Kristopher Belman does, is turn this documentary into a compelling coming of age film that expands on the boys’ friendship and their loyalty in the face of great adversity.  Easily, this movie could have been fictionalized and either turned into ‘Hoosiers’ (Gene Hackman) or ‘Coach Carter’ (Samuel L. Jackson) to ham up the ‘underdog’ story.  Thankfully, the risk wasn’t taken and the story is told through the players’ own words.  Nevertheless, the movie never feels quite as honest as it should be and I couldn’t help but think that more than anything, it’s a gift to LeBron’s former teammates as they finally get the recognition they deserve.

Come to think of it, my feelings on the film are a lot like the relationship I have with the athletes I follow.  I Don’t quite buy into the image they create for themselves but somehow still find myself rooting for them.

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