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The International
Jack Rico
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2009/06/09 at 12:00am

DVD ReviewsReviews

The International

06.9.2009 | By |

Rating: 2.5

Rated: R for some sequences of violence and language.
Release Date: 2009-02-13
Starring: Eric Singer
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country:USA, Germany
Official Website: http://www.everybodypays.com/

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The International is a complicated film with an intricate plot line and lackluster acting. It’s only redeeming qualities are its action sequences and fast paced direction.

The premise is hard to follow: Interpol Agent Louis Salinger (Clive Owen) and Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Eleanor Whitman (Naomi Watts) are determined to bring to justice one of the world’s most powerful banks. Uncovering myriad and reprehensible illegal activities, Salinger and Whitman follow the money from Berlin to Milan to New York to Istanbul. Finding themselves in a high-stakes chase across the globe, their relentless tenacity puts their own lives at risk as their targets will stop at nothing – even murder – to continue financing terror and war.

Naomi Watts gave the worst performance in her career. It’s as if she has become worse over the years beginning with King Kong. Clive Owen is no Jason Bourne, but is believable enough that the credibility of the film isn’t compromised.

Be ready for what will be the most talked about action sequence of the early new year – the Guggenheim museum shooting frenzy is well worth the watch.

For a production that aspires to be so much more than a typical thriller, The International’s convoluted premise and Naomi’s painful acting achieves only to convey an average movie experience.

Crossing Over
Jack Rico
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By

2009/06/09 at 12:00am

DVD ReviewsReviews

Crossing Over

06.9.2009 | By |

Rating: 2.5

Rated: R for pervasive language, some strong violence and sexuality/nudity.
Release Date: 2009-02-27
Starring: Wayne Kramer
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country:USA
Official Website: Not available.

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“Crossing Over” had the potential to be one of the better films of the new year. It possesses some strong acting by a talented cast led by Harrison Ford and a socially relevant story line, but unfortunately it was all squandered away in the hands of helmer Wayne Kramer (The Cooler). Ultimately, the film feels like a counterfeit version of ‘Crash’ and ‘Babel’ from mexican director Alejandro González Iñárritu. There are some commendable and engaging moments, but not enough to ignore the defects of its second hour.

Here’s the plot – ‘Crossing Over’ is a multi-character canvas about immigrants of different nationalities struggling to achieve legal status in Los Angeles. The film, seen from the perspective of the INS, deals with the border, document fraud, the asylum and green card process, work-site enforcement, naturalization, the office of counter terrorism and the clash of cultures. There are several stories that eventually intertwine at the very end.

A noteworthy mention should be given to Kramer’s implementation of immigrants as not just poor, working class Mexicans, but as a distinct representation of classes and nationalities. Also, perhaps the best acting scenes of the film came from Summer Bishil, who is part Mexican, playing Taslima Jahangir, an Iranian teenager who approves of the motives behind the 9/11 attacks. Just in case you’re looking to see Brazilian Alice Braga, she is scarcely seen. It was all working out nicely as a dramatic and enticing piece of film until it suddenly became an action thriller, giving way to Ford summoning President James Marshall from ‘Air Force One’. Where did that come from?

In an effort to not reveal too much, I’m limiting myself to saying this – Kramer would like us to believe that the lives of these characters are crisscrossed and interwoven by accident or fate, but halfway thru the end, you can sense the manipulative machinations and moralistic intent of the calculated plot. There goes Hollywood again trying to insult our intelligence.

A remake of this film in the hands of director Alejandro González Iñárritu would be interesting to see, but I highly doubt that idea is an option. At best, ‘Crossing Over’ is halfway engaging, but not worth the ticket or the time. Wait for it on Netflix.

Javier Bardem and Julia Roberts will star in ‘Eat, Pray, Love’
Mack Chico
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2009/06/08 at 12:00am

Movies

Javier Bardem and Julia Roberts will star in ‘Eat, Pray, Love’

06.8.2009 | By |

Javier Bardem and Julia Roberts will star in 'Eat, Pray, Love'

Javier Bardem is negotiating to star in “Eat, Pray, Love,” the Ryan Murphy-directed adaptation of the Elizabeth Gilbert memoir for Columbia Pictures.

Bardem joins Julia Roberts and Richard Jenkins in the cast.

Roberts plays the author, and Bardem will play Felipe, the man Gilbert meets and falls in love with on the final leg of a journey of self-discovery that began with the end of her marriage.

Richard Jenkins plays a Texan whom the heroine befriends at an Indian ashram.

Pic was adapted by Murphy, the “Nip/Tuck” creator who last helmed “Running With Scissors.”

Brad Pitt and Dede Gardner are producing through Plan B.

Bardem, last seen in the Woody Allen-directed “Vicky Cristina Barcelona,” most recently starred for director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu in “Biutiful” for Cha Cha Cha and Focus Features.

Antonio Banderas reveals new details from ‘Puss in Boots’
Mack Chico
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2009/06/08 at 12:00am

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Antonio Banderas reveals new details from ‘Puss in Boots’

06.8.2009 | By |

Antonio Banderas reveals new details from 'Puss in Boots'

After actor Antonio Banderas revealed that “Puss in Boots” would indeed be an origin story for the character first introduced through “Shrek 2”, screenwriter David H. Steinberg confirmed that Puss will be the only original character kept for the spin-off. “No, all new characters – except Puss,” the scribe told Moviehole, dishing out possibility of Shrek, Fiona or Donkey making an appearance.

As for the reason behind the elimination of those popular characters, Steinberg pointed out on the fact that he is in the blank on the “Shrek Forever After” and “Shrek 5” scripts. “It doesn’t overlap with Shrek at all,” he explained. “Partly that was done to tell an original Puss story, but partly because we didn’t know what Shrek 4 (and now Shrek 5) were going to do with the characters and we couldn’t write conflicting storylines.”

Earlier, Puss’ voice actor, Banderas, has opened up to Coming Soon on what this spin-off will be dealing with. “…we’re going to go from the time he’s a very little cat, so you see actually why and how he becomes an adult killer, and the reasons why he ends up on that path,” he said. “It’s interesting because it goes away from that kind of use of popular culture that ‘Shrek’ has. It goes in a different way, and the movie sometimes gets almost emotional, I may say, and it’s kind of epic.”

“I found when they pitched the movie to me, and now reading the script, a total real connection with the character. Obviously, he’s a cartoon, but (I have) a real personal connection with him in terms of what he’s expressing. It’s very emotional at some points, it’s very special. It’s going to surprise people I think; they’re not going to expect what we’re going to do.”

Scheduled to hit U.S. theaters on March 20, 2012, “Puss in Boots” will be directed by “Shrek the Third” helmer Chris Smith. Its official synopsis is read, “Swords will cross and hearts will be broken in this adventure starring one of the most beloved characters of the Shrek universe – Puss In Boots. It’s a swashbuckling ride through Puss’s early years as he teams with mastermind Humpty Dumpty and the street-savvy Kitty (Salma Hayek) to steal the famed Goose that lays the Golden Eggs.”

The Hangover
Jack Rico
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2009/06/04 at 12:00am

Reviews

The Hangover

06.4.2009 | By |

Rated: R for pervasive language, sexual content including nudity, and some drug material.
Release Date: 2009-06-05
Starring: Jon Lucas, Scott Moore
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country: USA
Official Website: http://hangovermovie.warnerbros.com/

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The Hangover

‘The Hangover’ is the type of comedy I like. Slightly in your face, but never pushing the envelope past the point of no return (i.e; Observe and Report). It’s this year’s Pineapple Express. But the best thing about this film is the plotline. Absolutely fantastic! It’s really hard to find stories interesting enough to perk up your senses in today’s Hollywood.

Two days before his wedding, Doug (Justin Bartha) and his three friends (Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis) drive to Las Vegas for a blow-out bachelor party they’ll never forget. But, in fact, when the three groomsmen wake up the next morning, they can’t remember a thing, nor where the soon to be husband Doug is. With no clue as to what transpired and little time to spare, the trio must retrace their hazy steps, figure out what happened to Doug and get back to the weeding in time before anyone suspects what happened.

There are moments when the story drags a bit in the middle, but all worth disregarding due to the compelling and amusing story. So how was the acting? Terrific. Zach Galifianakis, the bearded fellow, was such an annoying puss that he really managed to get under my skin. Cooper was just a rock star and after this film, he’ll no doubt be leading man material in his next project.

This is perhaps the most entertaining film of the year. I enjoyed it and so will you!

Land of the Lost
Jack Rico
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2009/06/04 at 12:00am

Reviews

Land of the Lost

06.4.2009 | By |

Rated: PG-13 for crude and sexual content, and for language including a drug reference.
Release Date: 2009-06-05
Starring: Chris Henchy & Dennis McNicholas
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country: USA
Official Website: http://www.landofthelost.net/

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Land of the Lost

‘Land of the Lost’ only has two funny scenes worth enjoying. The rest is ancillary and periphery entertainment that distracts you long enough from zonking out. I must admit though, Will Ferrell and Danny McBride are funny guys and they can make boring look funny, as was the case here. Without them, this film could have been much worse. Simply put, the story just wasn’t very interesting. In order to compensate for the deficiencies in the script, special effects teams had to work over-time to force audiences to re-route their attention to it.

Based on the television series with the same name, Dr. Rick Marshall (Ferrell) is sucked into a space-time vortex alongside his research assistant (Anna Friel) and a redneck survivalist (McBride). In this alternate universe, the trio make friends with a primate named Chaka (Taccone), their only ally in a world full of dinosaurs and other fantastic creatures. Can they all make it back to our world alive, and if so: will Dr. Marshall go from zero to hero with his discoveries? These are the questions that are not worth sticking around for.

But I’m not going to go into bashing this film frame to frame. The bottom line is that Ferrell and McBride are great at what they do and they really are funny. They’re worth every penny, but not here. The reason is the story, an incongruous story and plotline at that.

The CGI was inconsistent, sometimes it was on, other times it didn’t fulfill expectations. Overall, this movie doesn’t fulfill my expectations nor will it yours.

David Carradine Dies at 72
Mack Chico
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2009/06/04 at 12:00am

Movies

David Carradine Dies at 72

06.4.2009 | By |

David Carradine Dies at 72

David Carradine, the star of the 1970s television series “Kung Fu” and the title villain of the “Kill Bill” movies, has died in Thailand, The Associated Press reported. The United States Embassy in Bangkok told The A.P. that Mr. Carradine had been found dead in his hotel suite in Bangkok, where he was working on a movie. He was 72.

Mr. Carradine was part of an acting family that included his father, John; his brother, Bruce, and half-brothers Keith and Robert; and his nieces Ever Carradine and Martha Plimpton.

After a short run as the title character in the 1966 television adaptation of the Western “Shane,” he found fame in the 1972 series “Kung Fu” as Kwai Chang Caine, a wanderer raised by Shaolin monks to be a martial arts master. He enjoyed a career resurgence in recent years when he was cast by Quentin Tarantino in the action movies “Kill Bill: Vol. 1″ and “Vol. 2.”

Javier Bardem will play the villain in ‘Wall Street 2’
Mack Chico
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2009/06/03 at 12:00am

Movies

Javier Bardem will play the villain in ‘Wall Street 2’

06.3.2009 | By |

Javier Bardem will play the villain in 'Wall Street 2'

Rumor has it, Javier Bardem will be taking on the villain role of “Wall Street 2“. According to Nikki Finke of Deadline Hollywood Daily, this 40-year-old actor has been lined up to play a stock-shorting worldwide hedge fund manager whom Shia LaBeouf‘s character suspects to be responsible for the death of his mentor.

If Bardem is indeed cast to play the antagonist, he will be sharing screen with Michael Douglas, who will reprise his Academy Award-winning role as Gordon Gekko, and LaBeouf, who Finke confirmed to have set to co-star in the movie despite earlier report claiming that the young actor was in negotiation. So far, there are no words from Bardem’s camp regarding the casting speculation.

More about the sequel itself, Finke reported that the movie is expected to start its principal photography on August 10 with the release plan for February 2010. It allegedly will begin 21 years after the end of the first movie and Gordon Gekko has finished serving his prison sentence. This time, the story revolves around LaBeouf’s character who is engaged to Gekko’s estranged daughter.

When LaBeouf’s mentor unexpectedly kills himself, LaBeouf suspects that Bardem’s character has something to do with it. Seeking for revenge, he then asks Gekko, who tries to mend his relationship with his daughter, for help.

Javier Bardem is an Academy Award recipient for his portrayal of hitman Anton Chigurh in “No Country for Old Men“. This Spanish actor has starred in several English-language feature films, including “Collateral“, “Love in the Time of Cholera” and “Vicky Cristina Barcelona“.

Jack Nicholson is reteaming with James Brooks
Mack Chico
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By

2009/06/03 at 12:00am

Movies

Jack Nicholson is reteaming with James Brooks

06.3.2009 | By |

Jack Nicholson is reteaming with James Brooks

Jack Nicholson is closing in on a deal to reteam with James L. Brooks on the helmer’s untitled romantic comedy at Columbia Pictures.

Nicholson is the last piece of casting to come together on the ensemble project, which stars Paul Rudd, Reese Witherspoon and Owen Wilson.

For months, Bill Murray had been in talks to portray the blueblood father of Rudd’s character, but no deal closed. In recent weeks Murray’s interest in the project waned and he fell out of touch.

With Murray unresponsive and production scheduled to start in less than two weeks, Brooks reached out to Nicholson.

Brooks, who also penned the screenplay, is producing alongside Paula Weinstein (“Blood Diamond”), Laurence Mark (“Dreamgirls”) and Gracie Films prexy Julie Ansell.

Story involves a love triangle, with Rudd playing a white-collar executive vying for Witherspoon’s affections, and Wilson portraying a professional baseball pitcher who is also a love interest.

Two of Nicholson’s three Oscars have come via Brooks films: 1983’s “Terms of Endearment” and 1997’s “As Good as It Gets.”

He’s Just Not That Into You
Alex Florez
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2009/06/02 at 12:00am

DVD ReviewsReviews

He’s Just Not That Into You

06.2.2009 | By |

Rating: 3.0

Rated: PG-13 for sexual content and brief strong language.
Release Date: 2009-02-06
Starring: Abby Kohn, Marc Silverstein
Director(s):
Distributor:
Film Genre:
Country:USA
Official Website: www.hesjustnotthatintoyoumovie.com

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With an ensemble cast put together with the who’s who of the romantic comedy genre, and with the ‘Sex and the City’ scribes behind it, He’s Just Not That Into You positions itself as this year’s go to Valentine’s Day picture.  And while the film is predictably predictable, I must say that to its credit, it manages to keep the mawkish sentimentality to a minimum. 

Based on the book written by Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo, the film takes us into the lives of a group of interconnected, Baltimore-based twenty- and thirty-somethings as they navigate their various relationships from the shallow end of the dating pool through the deep, murky waters of married life, trying to read the signs of the opposite sex and hoping to eventually live out their fairy tale love stories. 

But much like Sex and the City, the film blatantly romanticizes the lives of white young urban professionals.  Lives that at this point are cliched and generic.  It seems as though everyone in the film is well off financially and living in a fabulous duplex built in the latest neighborhood to fall victim to the ‘gentrifying powers that be’.  Sadly, whenever the film does allude to the rest the people in this world, it does so by staging Latinos and Africans in offensively stereotypical situations.

The only air of authenticity the filmmakers manage to inject into the story comes from their decision to base the story in Baltimore, a city which certainly makes its case for future productions to consider its ‘Domino Sugar’ backdrop.

The actors, nevertheless, are likable (not to mention also incredibly good looking) and absolute pros at delivering one-liners which you shouldn’t ordinarily find funny.  The great thing about movies with parallel stories, such as this one, is that you’re less likely to leave the theater disappointed because you’re given a choice from several characters and situations to ‘fall in love with’.  A formula that also worked well with ‘Sex’.  Now, if we can only add a little color…

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