Pan’s Labyrinth was the first movie I saw this year. It wasn’t what I expected really. Given the recent cavalcade of fairy tales and fantasies being turned into movies, I expected more of the same, and from the looks of the preview, I had the general feeling of a Narnia flick, rather than what I got. I should start off by saying that contrary to what you might think, this is NOT a children’s film. It was dark, violent, graphic, and characters cursed quite often. There was far less labyrinth and far more brutally repressive Spanish civil war than I was expecting, but it was still a fantastic film.
The film centers around a little girl, Ofelia, whose mother has married a Spanish Captain serving Generalissimo Franco’s military junta in the 1940’s. Ofelia doesn’t like her life there, but soon she starts getting visits from fairies, and finds her way into the labyrinth, to discover the woods around her, and indeed her own life, are not what they seemed. But the film doesn’t focus on her actions involving the labyrinth, in fact, they are more of a subplot until the very end. Much of the film involves her mother, who is having a troubled pregnancy, her interactions with her stepfather, the grumpy Captain, and another subplot between Mercedes, the fort’s cook, and some rebels they are fighting who live in the mountains. But these are important interactions, as they help to create a counterpoint, and a reason for the fantasy world Ofelia escapes to. Reality is a dark, scary, and wholly undesirable place to be for her, and the idea of being the princess of some far off underworld kingdom is enticing to say the least.
It’s a complex, emotional plot, and you aren’t really sure what is going on, even at the very end of the movie, but it’s hard not to be drawn in by the fantastic and frightening world that Ofelia discovers, and by the vicious brutality of her father. Between the stunning images, the excellent acting, and a soundtrack that couldn’t be described without using the words ‘mystical’ and ‘enchanting,’ this film is a must see for the serious moviegoer, or anyone who wants to see quality cinematic art. I’ll be rooting for this movie for Best Foreign Film at the Oscars. The film is at its core a juxtaposition of fantasy and reality, and who wins in the end isn’t clear. Suffice to say who wins is whoever you want to win, as many of the truths in this film are in the eye of the beholder.
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Thursday, January 18, 2007
2007 Movies on the Horizon
Alright everyone, I promised before that I'd include my top prospects for 2007 in my last post. I didn't, and apologize for that, but there was plenty of material to keep the one or two people who actually read this busy. So here we are, below I've listed 29 movies with descriptions on the plot (mostly basic stuff). For some of them we don't know that much, as they are still a year away, but the basic plot elements have me interested. There's a lot of big titles coming out this year, and some smaller stuff flying just under the radar (and some WAY off the radar), so I hope you all have your calendars ready.
(All release dates below are tentative, esepcially for the later months, things are always getting switched around, and IMDB is always getting things wrong, so be sure to check the listings every week for the names that look familiar)
January 19th - Pan's Labyrinth gets a wide release all over the United States. I know this was a 2006 release elsewhere, but I'm not getting it until Friday, so I'm counting it as a 2007 release. This wonderful looking Spanish language film is set in 1944 Spain, torn by Franco's war. It focuses on a young girl who lives in world of her own imagination, but must also deal with the dark reality of the world around her. The music sounds absolutely stunning, and the images are wildly imaginative. If you're up for something new and creative, don't miss this one, and hopefully you don't have a problem with subtitles.
January 26th - Smokin' Aces is the story of Buddy Israel, played by the ever hysterically abrasive Jeremy Piven, and his role as a comedian turned snitch for the mob. He decides to go for one last weeked of fun and gambling in Lake Tahoe and draws a large crowd of assasins including Ben Affleck. Ryan Reynolds is in this, and I don't know the role he plays, but he's a great actor who does a fantastic job of mixing action with comedy, giving me a good idea for what sort of movie we're in for. I'm expecting a mix of Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Entourage and Ocean's 11. It's going to be a fun ride.
January 26th - Seraphim Falls is one you might not have heard of yet. It's a period piece set at the end of the Civil War. Liam Neeson is tasked to hunt down Pierce Brosnan, both who fought with the Confederate Army. Brosnan apparently just wants to be left alone, and his MacGuyver like skills, but Liam Neeson, who is apparently channeling Javert as well as all of Alabama refuses to give up the search. He chases Brosnan all the way to New Mexico. Just seeing these two very popular British actors square off as ex-southern army men is worth the price of the ticket alone, like watching a southern remake of Phantom Menace mixed with Goldeneye. It looks like a great movie that is flying under the radar at the moment, especially since it comes out in a week, but these are two fantastic actors, and the setting looks great. Try not to miss it.
February 14th - Music & Lyrics stars aging failed boy band singer Alex Fletcher (Hugh Grant) and song writer Sophie Fisher (Drew Barrymore), who collaborate together in unlikely circumstances to write him a song that will bring him back to the top of the charts. Slated for Valentine's Day, this is obviously a romantic movie, and knowing Grant, a romantic comedy. Let me just start by saying I think Grant is hilarious. I've liked almost everything I've ever seen him in, despite the fact that he plays the exact same character almost every time. Drew Barrymore is a bit more hit and miss, but I find the idea of the two of them sharing a screen intriguing. This looks like it's going to be a great romantic comedy with some fun musical numbers as well, and even if it is being marketed as the movie of this faux holiday, see it anyway.
February 23rd - The Astronaut Farmer is another one you probably haven't heard of yet. It's the story of Charles Farmer (Billy Bob Thornton), a retired NASA astronaut who still hasn't given up his dream of going to the stars. He has to return to his farm in order to forestall forclosure, but that doesn't stop him from building his own spaceship in his barn. Invariably, someone is out to get him, in this case the US government, but he refuses to stop. It's a story we're seen before, part Field of Dreams, and part October Sky, but it's a genre we love because like Farmer, we too look to the stars. And I won't lie, part of me is just curious to see Thornton play anything other than a total douchebag, which seems to be his role du jour as of late. It's rated PG, and it looks like a great family film, so bring the kids along to this one.
March 2nd - Wild Hogs features an unlikely quartet of aging male star actors. Here's the premise: Four middle aged men, played by William H. Macy, Tim Allen, Martin Lawrence and John Travolta, are going through a mid life crisis. They decide to buy motorcycles and go on a road trip; hyjinks ensue. Who doesn't love a movie that has that for a premise? I don't even care what the details are! I'm sure there's going to be a lovely plot with them slowly coming to grips with their age and their growth as characters, but after watching a hysterical trailer for this movie, and reading a further description of the plot, I think this is going to be one of the best, well acted, and smartest comedies of the year.
March 9th - 300 is a movie you've probably all heard of, and it's the most advertised for movie that I've yet mentioned. It's the story of the 300 Spartans led by King Leonidas who must defend the pass of Thermopylae against a million very angry Persians. It's a fight to the death, and really is just a stalling action, but it's also a great sacrifice. Brought to life by Zack Snyder (who will be making Rainbow Six in 2008) and adapted from the graphic novel genius of Frank Miller (of last year's Sin City fame), this promises to be a visual masterpiece. What it will not be is historically accurate, but I've come to grips with that. So long as we all realize we're watching an excessive historical fiction, then I think we can all enjoy this for the cinematic masterpiece it's likely to be. If you like long, dramatic acting and spectacular fight scenes, this is the movie for you. Also if you like being on the edge of your seat and being attacked by rampaging goosebumps, this is the movie for you. If the movie is anything like the trailer, prepare to be amazed.
March 16th - Lucky You is probably not going to be the greatest movie of the year. I'll be surprised if it makes my top ten a year from now. It's the story of Huck Cheever (Eric Bana), who meets a young woman (Drew Barrymore) and wrestles with juggling his personal dream and his personal demons. It centers around poker, Texas Hold 'em to be specific. I love the game, and play almost every week, which is why I'm so drawn to this movie. The subplot is Huck's battle with his father, a famous poker player, L.C. Cheever (Robert Duvall), with a combination of father son issues and who's the better poker player issues. The climax of the movie looks like it will be the father son duo facing off in the Main Event of the World Series of Poker, the biggest poker event of the year. I think this film guarantees some great acting, some suspenseful thrills with the poker playing, some father/son fence mending, and some romance in the end. Sometimes a movie doesn't have to be a masterpiece just to entertain, and this one certainly looks to be entertaining.
March 23rd - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a story that needs no explanation probably. I don't know the exact plot of this film, but I've always loved TMNT. I was a bit hesitant when I found out it was entirely a CGI film, but they look wonderfull rendered, and actually like teenagers, which I found surprising and nice at the same time. I was looking forward to another live action film, like the one's my friends and I enjoyed as kids in the early 90's, but this could be good too, and with such a great history and wealth of great characters, this movie is hotly anticipated and ripe for success.
March 23rd - The Last Mimzy is flying a bit under the radar I suppose, which is surprising to me. It has the look on the surface of a great children's story in the making, but from the short trailer could also be Donnie Darko, Jr. It's the story of a young brother and sister who open a strange box of toys and receive strange advanced mental powers. The brother becomes super intelligent, and the sister has an ever advancing telekinesis. The words on the screen imply that the magic toys are some sort of message from the future, but that remains a mystery. The plot looks compelling, the child actors look like they do a great job, and the SFX look small compared to what we're used to, but amazing for what they portray. Watch this one if you get the chance, especially if TMNT isn't your cup of tea.
May 4th - Spiderman 3 is running unopposed this weekend. The trailer, which mixes stunning action and CGI with spine tingling music looks mind boggling. I've been a mild fan of the Spiderman franchise since the first movie. I've always loved the comic books and the cartoons, and though the movies have torn up the plot of the comics and used the scraps for their cinematic...thing, I still found them entertaining. But we're seeing a darker side of Peter Parker in this film that many of the fans have been looking for since the first movie. I'm anxious to see if Toby McGuire can pull it off. This is the same morality laden Peter Parker of the last couple movies but with the dark side that Venom will bring out. We're going to see something new, and I think torturous after a fashion.
May 11th - 28 Weeks Later. Yeah, it's a zombie movie. I liked 28 Days Later, and not just because the somewhat realistic depiction of an abandoned London and military fighting zombines scared the bejeezes out of me. There was good acting, for a zombie flick. In this one, 28 weeks after the events of the first movie, the US military moves to repopulate part of London, and find that the virus that caused the first outbreak isn't totally gone, and it runs amok again. It has the classic feel of a horrible sequel to a slasher film, and I think it's going to be a bomb without the main actors from the first movie, but it's better than Saw V.
May 18th - Shrek the Third. This is another one of those movies that has great name recognition. Apparently the plot is that Shrek might actually have to become king afterall, which isn't too appealing to an ogre who loves his swamp. So he moves to get someone else installed king, while the Prince Charming of the previous movie makes his own move to take the throne. If you liked the first two, I think you'll like this hopeful completion to the trilogy.
May 25th - Pirates of the Caribbean 3: At Worlds End is probably the longest title for a movie this year. But for anyone who has seen the previous films, this is a must see completion for the epic trilogy. The cast includes everyone from the second movie, plus Geoffrey Rush in a more prominant role as the returned Captain Barbossa, and Keith Richards will make a guest appearance as Jack Sparrow's father. Richards is the man Depp based his Jack Sparrow on, so that ought to be hilarious. This movie takes them to the Far East, and introduces Chow Yun Fat as the wily Chinese Captain Sao Feng. It's going to be awesome.
June 8th - Ocean's 13 is a movie we all didn't really want to see made. Heck, Ocean's 12 was a movie we all didn't really want to see made, and I think the final product bore that out. But I'm going to give this movie a chance. It features the same gang as before, but this time the bad guy from the first movie is back as an ally, and there's no french thief guy to dance around a room at the end, or a stupid plot line featuring Catherine Zeta Jones, or Julia Roberts playing an actress who pretends to be Julia Roberts. I'm holding out hope for this one, and am looking forward to it as a chance to finish the series with style.
June 29th - Ratatouille is the newest Pixar Disney CGI film. It features a rat in Paris who is also a chef and is addicted to fine foods. I don't know much else about it, but watch the trailer on Apple trailers, it's funny, as most Pixar films are, which means it's worth going to see.
June 29th - Live Free or Die Hard (Die Hard 4). Yeah we're seeing the return or continuation of a lot of franchises this year. But it's DIE HARD! Bruce Willis looks like he's back and better than ever. I imagine it won't be easy for him to do the whole "oh I'm just an average Joe walking down the street and woah look there's terrorists!" thing. But his goofy sidekick in this one is Justin Long, which should ensure it's funny as well as one of the better action flicks of the year.
July 6th - Transformers has fanboys everywhere salivating. We're all geeked for it, and I'm not going to pretend I'm not one of those fanboys. I'm a bit nervous, because of the drastic changes being made to it. But Peter Cullen and Frank Welker are there, reprising their roles as Optimus Prime and Megatron. I think that alone will give this movie a lot of validity. I'm worried that the plot will ruin everything I've come to love about this franchise, but I'm going to give them a chance. Hopefully subsequent movies will do the series justice and give the fanboys something to scream about. But don't miss this one, at the very least the CGI is going to be amazing, like an ILM wet dream.
July 13th - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is the fifth movie in the seven part franchise. It features some of the more memorable scenes from the book series, and I think all of us are anxious to see Dumbledore's Army take shape, and to see how Imelda Staunton handles the role of Dolores Umbridge. It's a series we've all grown to love, and the fact that many of the male actors seem to have discovered the real use of a barbershop is all the more encouraging. Fans will be sure to catch this one.
July 27th - The Simpsons Movie looks basically like a 90 minute version of a regular episode. Many people will balk at paying eight dollars for something that they can watch for free every Sunday, and I tend to agree with them. But the previews make this look rather hilarious, and if we're willing to pay that money to see any other stupid comedy, why not pay it to see a great comedy that we already know we like?
August 10th - Rush Hour 3 has been a long time in coming. We all knew at the end of the second one that there'd be a third one, and Chris Tucker has been virtually invisible since filming the second. If you remember the first two, they play an unlikely but hilarious crime fighting duo. In this one, they go to Paris (I was expecting New York from how the first one ended, since they take place back to back to back) and fight more Hong Kong crime bosses who've cropped up there. I imagine it will be a rehashing of the first two, with a hot french cop tossed in, so there's something for everyone.
September 7th - The Waterhorse is another you may not have heard of. The basic premise is that a young boy finds a magic egg that hatches into the Lochness Monster. I don't know much more than that, and probably won't until the trailer comes out, but from the premise, and the knowledge that the lead acting boy is the same kid from Millions, I have to say it sounds good from the outset.
September 14th - Eastern Promises is one I'm going to throw out there because of one actor: Viggo Mortenson. In this one, he plays a Russian crime boss in London. I don't know much more than that, but I think he's a fantastic actor, and it's always fun to watch him attempt brand new roles.
October 5th - The Golden Age is the sequel to Elizabeth (1998). In this one, Cate Blanchett reprises her role as Queen Elizabeth later in life. This is an exploration of the relationship between her and Sir Walter Raleigh, played by Clive Owen. I never saw Elizabeth, but these are two fantastic actors and I'm going to make an effort to catch this one. For anyone who enjoys the era, or enjoyed the first movie, be sure to catch this one.
October 12th - 3:10 to Yuma pits Russel Crowe against Christian Bale in a battle of wits. One plays a hardened criminal awaiting trial. The other is a small town rancher holding him while waiting for transport. The criminal tries to outwit his jailor in a battle of wills. I love movies like this, where dialogue plays a key role, and the characters really get a chance to explore themselves, each other, and their positions in life. It's not always about the flashy effects and stunts, sometimes it's just about good conversation and great writing, and from the director of Walk the Line and a writer involved in everything from Pirates to Collateral, I think we're in for just such a movie.
November 16th - Beowulf has been a long time in coming. Well, maybe not considering it's been made several times over even recently, but this is the big one we were waiting for. This is the one with the star studded cast, and directed by famed Robert Zumeckis. Everyone should have read the story in grade school, so you know about Grendel and his mother, and the terror they cause to this Nordic kingdom. I think this is going to be one of the top films of the year.
December 7th - His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass is going to be a stretch for some people. It's being billed as a philosophical thriller, which is really anyone's guess. The advertisements I've seen for it talk of a girl in Britian who overhears conversations with dust particles and tells of a magic compass that can answer any question for those skilled enough to understand it. It's one we're going to have to wait and see the trailer on for more information, but from the description alone it looks intriguing enough to get my attention for the year.
December 14th - I Am Legend only needs three words to sell me on it: Will, Smith, zombies. Everything Smith has touched in the last decade has turned to gold, and there's no reason to believe that this twist on the zombie theme, of a zombie hunter that hunts by day and hides by night, will be any exception to the rule. It's the first time in recent memory I can remember seeing an A List actor, high paid, much loved, doing something usually reserved for up and coming or washed out actors. Smith's interest in this movie alone has me excited to see a trailer, and wondering what he gave Jada to let him make so many movies this year.
December 21st - National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets is a MUCH anticipated sequel in my house. My entire family loves the first movie, and this next one, which returns all the main cast in an adventure to solve the new mystery of what really happened with Lincoln's assasination and 16 missing pages from his personal diary. The first movie was the perfect mixture of mystery, action and comedy, and I expect we'll get the same thing again with this one. The villain is yet to be named, which isn't a surprise, and I doubt we'll get Sean Bean back, which is fine with me, as I think a sequel demands a new villain. Barring more details on what it's about, I'm still cautiously optimistic about the best movie in the genre since Indiana Jones.
(All release dates below are tentative, esepcially for the later months, things are always getting switched around, and IMDB is always getting things wrong, so be sure to check the listings every week for the names that look familiar)
January 19th - Pan's Labyrinth gets a wide release all over the United States. I know this was a 2006 release elsewhere, but I'm not getting it until Friday, so I'm counting it as a 2007 release. This wonderful looking Spanish language film is set in 1944 Spain, torn by Franco's war. It focuses on a young girl who lives in world of her own imagination, but must also deal with the dark reality of the world around her. The music sounds absolutely stunning, and the images are wildly imaginative. If you're up for something new and creative, don't miss this one, and hopefully you don't have a problem with subtitles.
January 26th - Smokin' Aces is the story of Buddy Israel, played by the ever hysterically abrasive Jeremy Piven, and his role as a comedian turned snitch for the mob. He decides to go for one last weeked of fun and gambling in Lake Tahoe and draws a large crowd of assasins including Ben Affleck. Ryan Reynolds is in this, and I don't know the role he plays, but he's a great actor who does a fantastic job of mixing action with comedy, giving me a good idea for what sort of movie we're in for. I'm expecting a mix of Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Entourage and Ocean's 11. It's going to be a fun ride.
January 26th - Seraphim Falls is one you might not have heard of yet. It's a period piece set at the end of the Civil War. Liam Neeson is tasked to hunt down Pierce Brosnan, both who fought with the Confederate Army. Brosnan apparently just wants to be left alone, and his MacGuyver like skills, but Liam Neeson, who is apparently channeling Javert as well as all of Alabama refuses to give up the search. He chases Brosnan all the way to New Mexico. Just seeing these two very popular British actors square off as ex-southern army men is worth the price of the ticket alone, like watching a southern remake of Phantom Menace mixed with Goldeneye. It looks like a great movie that is flying under the radar at the moment, especially since it comes out in a week, but these are two fantastic actors, and the setting looks great. Try not to miss it.
February 14th - Music & Lyrics stars aging failed boy band singer Alex Fletcher (Hugh Grant) and song writer Sophie Fisher (Drew Barrymore), who collaborate together in unlikely circumstances to write him a song that will bring him back to the top of the charts. Slated for Valentine's Day, this is obviously a romantic movie, and knowing Grant, a romantic comedy. Let me just start by saying I think Grant is hilarious. I've liked almost everything I've ever seen him in, despite the fact that he plays the exact same character almost every time. Drew Barrymore is a bit more hit and miss, but I find the idea of the two of them sharing a screen intriguing. This looks like it's going to be a great romantic comedy with some fun musical numbers as well, and even if it is being marketed as the movie of this faux holiday, see it anyway.
February 23rd - The Astronaut Farmer is another one you probably haven't heard of yet. It's the story of Charles Farmer (Billy Bob Thornton), a retired NASA astronaut who still hasn't given up his dream of going to the stars. He has to return to his farm in order to forestall forclosure, but that doesn't stop him from building his own spaceship in his barn. Invariably, someone is out to get him, in this case the US government, but he refuses to stop. It's a story we're seen before, part Field of Dreams, and part October Sky, but it's a genre we love because like Farmer, we too look to the stars. And I won't lie, part of me is just curious to see Thornton play anything other than a total douchebag, which seems to be his role du jour as of late. It's rated PG, and it looks like a great family film, so bring the kids along to this one.
March 2nd - Wild Hogs features an unlikely quartet of aging male star actors. Here's the premise: Four middle aged men, played by William H. Macy, Tim Allen, Martin Lawrence and John Travolta, are going through a mid life crisis. They decide to buy motorcycles and go on a road trip; hyjinks ensue. Who doesn't love a movie that has that for a premise? I don't even care what the details are! I'm sure there's going to be a lovely plot with them slowly coming to grips with their age and their growth as characters, but after watching a hysterical trailer for this movie, and reading a further description of the plot, I think this is going to be one of the best, well acted, and smartest comedies of the year.
March 9th - 300 is a movie you've probably all heard of, and it's the most advertised for movie that I've yet mentioned. It's the story of the 300 Spartans led by King Leonidas who must defend the pass of Thermopylae against a million very angry Persians. It's a fight to the death, and really is just a stalling action, but it's also a great sacrifice. Brought to life by Zack Snyder (who will be making Rainbow Six in 2008) and adapted from the graphic novel genius of Frank Miller (of last year's Sin City fame), this promises to be a visual masterpiece. What it will not be is historically accurate, but I've come to grips with that. So long as we all realize we're watching an excessive historical fiction, then I think we can all enjoy this for the cinematic masterpiece it's likely to be. If you like long, dramatic acting and spectacular fight scenes, this is the movie for you. Also if you like being on the edge of your seat and being attacked by rampaging goosebumps, this is the movie for you. If the movie is anything like the trailer, prepare to be amazed.
March 16th - Lucky You is probably not going to be the greatest movie of the year. I'll be surprised if it makes my top ten a year from now. It's the story of Huck Cheever (Eric Bana), who meets a young woman (Drew Barrymore) and wrestles with juggling his personal dream and his personal demons. It centers around poker, Texas Hold 'em to be specific. I love the game, and play almost every week, which is why I'm so drawn to this movie. The subplot is Huck's battle with his father, a famous poker player, L.C. Cheever (Robert Duvall), with a combination of father son issues and who's the better poker player issues. The climax of the movie looks like it will be the father son duo facing off in the Main Event of the World Series of Poker, the biggest poker event of the year. I think this film guarantees some great acting, some suspenseful thrills with the poker playing, some father/son fence mending, and some romance in the end. Sometimes a movie doesn't have to be a masterpiece just to entertain, and this one certainly looks to be entertaining.
March 23rd - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a story that needs no explanation probably. I don't know the exact plot of this film, but I've always loved TMNT. I was a bit hesitant when I found out it was entirely a CGI film, but they look wonderfull rendered, and actually like teenagers, which I found surprising and nice at the same time. I was looking forward to another live action film, like the one's my friends and I enjoyed as kids in the early 90's, but this could be good too, and with such a great history and wealth of great characters, this movie is hotly anticipated and ripe for success.
March 23rd - The Last Mimzy is flying a bit under the radar I suppose, which is surprising to me. It has the look on the surface of a great children's story in the making, but from the short trailer could also be Donnie Darko, Jr. It's the story of a young brother and sister who open a strange box of toys and receive strange advanced mental powers. The brother becomes super intelligent, and the sister has an ever advancing telekinesis. The words on the screen imply that the magic toys are some sort of message from the future, but that remains a mystery. The plot looks compelling, the child actors look like they do a great job, and the SFX look small compared to what we're used to, but amazing for what they portray. Watch this one if you get the chance, especially if TMNT isn't your cup of tea.
May 4th - Spiderman 3 is running unopposed this weekend. The trailer, which mixes stunning action and CGI with spine tingling music looks mind boggling. I've been a mild fan of the Spiderman franchise since the first movie. I've always loved the comic books and the cartoons, and though the movies have torn up the plot of the comics and used the scraps for their cinematic...thing, I still found them entertaining. But we're seeing a darker side of Peter Parker in this film that many of the fans have been looking for since the first movie. I'm anxious to see if Toby McGuire can pull it off. This is the same morality laden Peter Parker of the last couple movies but with the dark side that Venom will bring out. We're going to see something new, and I think torturous after a fashion.
May 11th - 28 Weeks Later. Yeah, it's a zombie movie. I liked 28 Days Later, and not just because the somewhat realistic depiction of an abandoned London and military fighting zombines scared the bejeezes out of me. There was good acting, for a zombie flick. In this one, 28 weeks after the events of the first movie, the US military moves to repopulate part of London, and find that the virus that caused the first outbreak isn't totally gone, and it runs amok again. It has the classic feel of a horrible sequel to a slasher film, and I think it's going to be a bomb without the main actors from the first movie, but it's better than Saw V.
May 18th - Shrek the Third. This is another one of those movies that has great name recognition. Apparently the plot is that Shrek might actually have to become king afterall, which isn't too appealing to an ogre who loves his swamp. So he moves to get someone else installed king, while the Prince Charming of the previous movie makes his own move to take the throne. If you liked the first two, I think you'll like this hopeful completion to the trilogy.
May 25th - Pirates of the Caribbean 3: At Worlds End is probably the longest title for a movie this year. But for anyone who has seen the previous films, this is a must see completion for the epic trilogy. The cast includes everyone from the second movie, plus Geoffrey Rush in a more prominant role as the returned Captain Barbossa, and Keith Richards will make a guest appearance as Jack Sparrow's father. Richards is the man Depp based his Jack Sparrow on, so that ought to be hilarious. This movie takes them to the Far East, and introduces Chow Yun Fat as the wily Chinese Captain Sao Feng. It's going to be awesome.
June 8th - Ocean's 13 is a movie we all didn't really want to see made. Heck, Ocean's 12 was a movie we all didn't really want to see made, and I think the final product bore that out. But I'm going to give this movie a chance. It features the same gang as before, but this time the bad guy from the first movie is back as an ally, and there's no french thief guy to dance around a room at the end, or a stupid plot line featuring Catherine Zeta Jones, or Julia Roberts playing an actress who pretends to be Julia Roberts. I'm holding out hope for this one, and am looking forward to it as a chance to finish the series with style.
June 29th - Ratatouille is the newest Pixar Disney CGI film. It features a rat in Paris who is also a chef and is addicted to fine foods. I don't know much else about it, but watch the trailer on Apple trailers, it's funny, as most Pixar films are, which means it's worth going to see.
June 29th - Live Free or Die Hard (Die Hard 4). Yeah we're seeing the return or continuation of a lot of franchises this year. But it's DIE HARD! Bruce Willis looks like he's back and better than ever. I imagine it won't be easy for him to do the whole "oh I'm just an average Joe walking down the street and woah look there's terrorists!" thing. But his goofy sidekick in this one is Justin Long, which should ensure it's funny as well as one of the better action flicks of the year.
July 6th - Transformers has fanboys everywhere salivating. We're all geeked for it, and I'm not going to pretend I'm not one of those fanboys. I'm a bit nervous, because of the drastic changes being made to it. But Peter Cullen and Frank Welker are there, reprising their roles as Optimus Prime and Megatron. I think that alone will give this movie a lot of validity. I'm worried that the plot will ruin everything I've come to love about this franchise, but I'm going to give them a chance. Hopefully subsequent movies will do the series justice and give the fanboys something to scream about. But don't miss this one, at the very least the CGI is going to be amazing, like an ILM wet dream.
July 13th - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is the fifth movie in the seven part franchise. It features some of the more memorable scenes from the book series, and I think all of us are anxious to see Dumbledore's Army take shape, and to see how Imelda Staunton handles the role of Dolores Umbridge. It's a series we've all grown to love, and the fact that many of the male actors seem to have discovered the real use of a barbershop is all the more encouraging. Fans will be sure to catch this one.
July 27th - The Simpsons Movie looks basically like a 90 minute version of a regular episode. Many people will balk at paying eight dollars for something that they can watch for free every Sunday, and I tend to agree with them. But the previews make this look rather hilarious, and if we're willing to pay that money to see any other stupid comedy, why not pay it to see a great comedy that we already know we like?
August 10th - Rush Hour 3 has been a long time in coming. We all knew at the end of the second one that there'd be a third one, and Chris Tucker has been virtually invisible since filming the second. If you remember the first two, they play an unlikely but hilarious crime fighting duo. In this one, they go to Paris (I was expecting New York from how the first one ended, since they take place back to back to back) and fight more Hong Kong crime bosses who've cropped up there. I imagine it will be a rehashing of the first two, with a hot french cop tossed in, so there's something for everyone.
September 7th - The Waterhorse is another you may not have heard of. The basic premise is that a young boy finds a magic egg that hatches into the Lochness Monster. I don't know much more than that, and probably won't until the trailer comes out, but from the premise, and the knowledge that the lead acting boy is the same kid from Millions, I have to say it sounds good from the outset.
September 14th - Eastern Promises is one I'm going to throw out there because of one actor: Viggo Mortenson. In this one, he plays a Russian crime boss in London. I don't know much more than that, but I think he's a fantastic actor, and it's always fun to watch him attempt brand new roles.
October 5th - The Golden Age is the sequel to Elizabeth (1998). In this one, Cate Blanchett reprises her role as Queen Elizabeth later in life. This is an exploration of the relationship between her and Sir Walter Raleigh, played by Clive Owen. I never saw Elizabeth, but these are two fantastic actors and I'm going to make an effort to catch this one. For anyone who enjoys the era, or enjoyed the first movie, be sure to catch this one.
October 12th - 3:10 to Yuma pits Russel Crowe against Christian Bale in a battle of wits. One plays a hardened criminal awaiting trial. The other is a small town rancher holding him while waiting for transport. The criminal tries to outwit his jailor in a battle of wills. I love movies like this, where dialogue plays a key role, and the characters really get a chance to explore themselves, each other, and their positions in life. It's not always about the flashy effects and stunts, sometimes it's just about good conversation and great writing, and from the director of Walk the Line and a writer involved in everything from Pirates to Collateral, I think we're in for just such a movie.
November 16th - Beowulf has been a long time in coming. Well, maybe not considering it's been made several times over even recently, but this is the big one we were waiting for. This is the one with the star studded cast, and directed by famed Robert Zumeckis. Everyone should have read the story in grade school, so you know about Grendel and his mother, and the terror they cause to this Nordic kingdom. I think this is going to be one of the top films of the year.
December 7th - His Dark Materials: The Golden Compass is going to be a stretch for some people. It's being billed as a philosophical thriller, which is really anyone's guess. The advertisements I've seen for it talk of a girl in Britian who overhears conversations with dust particles and tells of a magic compass that can answer any question for those skilled enough to understand it. It's one we're going to have to wait and see the trailer on for more information, but from the description alone it looks intriguing enough to get my attention for the year.
December 14th - I Am Legend only needs three words to sell me on it: Will, Smith, zombies. Everything Smith has touched in the last decade has turned to gold, and there's no reason to believe that this twist on the zombie theme, of a zombie hunter that hunts by day and hides by night, will be any exception to the rule. It's the first time in recent memory I can remember seeing an A List actor, high paid, much loved, doing something usually reserved for up and coming or washed out actors. Smith's interest in this movie alone has me excited to see a trailer, and wondering what he gave Jada to let him make so many movies this year.
December 21st - National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets is a MUCH anticipated sequel in my house. My entire family loves the first movie, and this next one, which returns all the main cast in an adventure to solve the new mystery of what really happened with Lincoln's assasination and 16 missing pages from his personal diary. The first movie was the perfect mixture of mystery, action and comedy, and I expect we'll get the same thing again with this one. The villain is yet to be named, which isn't a surprise, and I doubt we'll get Sean Bean back, which is fine with me, as I think a sequel demands a new villain. Barring more details on what it's about, I'm still cautiously optimistic about the best movie in the genre since Indiana Jones.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
2006 Year in Review
As promised, and only a couple days late, I'll be posting my review of the movies I saw in 2006. For the record, I saw 38 movies this year in theaters (less than usual). I saw some of them (Blood Diamond) more than once, and I also saw several 2006 movies on video at home. For the purposes of this year end review, we’ll be looking specifically at movies that I saw in theaters during the 2006 movie year.
Here you will find a countdown of my top ten films of 2006, plus three honorable mentions that almost made the cut.
Honorable Mention
The Guardian
This film went back and forth between on and off this list. Originally I wanted to cut it because I’ve really seen the plot in this film a hundred times. There’s a mentor and his protégé, immense amounts of talent and a will to succeed, they both overcome personal obstacles and something dramatic happens at the end. This movie fits that to a tee. But two reasons are convincing me to put it back on the list. The first, is that I, and most other people, love this genre. It’s compelling, as we love watching people overcoming in triumph at the end. The second, is that the acting was fantastic. Kevin Costner these days tends to play the same basic role, that of the cool old guy, usually pretty grumpy in some way too. He’s still a cool old guy, but his role is a lot darker than usual. He’s dealing with some heavy personal demons, and takes out some of his aggression on the class at the Coast Guarding school he starts teaching at. Ashton Kutcher is an actor I’ve grown to respect a lot more this year. He can play a goofball, an idiot (yeah there’s a difference), and a serious young adult with his own demons. His character has personal tragedy, and it’s given him a rather selfish resolve to be the best. He craves praise and recognition, but Costner teaches him humility. The only unnecessary character I felt was Sela Ward as Costner’s wife, who served more as a useless plot device than actual character in the movie. Kutcher and Costner carry the movie, and really make an old genre new again with a great performance.
Honorable Mention
Thank You For Smoking
Aaron Eckhart plays a great con man. The truly scary thing about this movie is its basis in truth. Cigarette companies of the 80’s and 90’s really did try and stuff their faux science down our throats, tricking us into poisoning ourselves while paying them billions in profits. This leads to a inevitable preachy nature in the movie, but as an almost mockumentary, it’s to be expected. He pulls off the role as a conniving teller of half truths and is a master of spin, until he’s tripped up by Katie Holmes, who plays a reporter out to take him down. In one of the movie’s more interesting scenes, Eckhart is kidnapped by a group of anti-tobacco protestors, stuck with dozens of nicotine patches, and almost dies of an overdose. Ironically, the fact that he smokes actually saved his life, which he spins to the benefit of the industry. The main story is Eckhart’s journey from unfettered, immoral man who’d sell his soul for a buck to guy who feels a little bad maybe but tries extra hard to be an unfettered, immoral man who’d sell his soul for a buck. He’s a member of the MOD Squad (Merchants of Death), which include representatives of the tobacco, alcohol and firearms industries. They get together at regular weekly meetings to discuss the week’s trials and tribulations. His lack of repentance is a different take, when you consider that’s usually the part in the movie where he’d realize the error of his ways and go back to the light. The movie ends with the MOD Squad adding three new members, oil, nuclear energy and fast food. It’s a little unorthodox, but it has a great message, good acting, and it’s funny. Try to catch this one if you can.
Honorable Mention
Hoodwinked
The last of the honorable mentions was maybe the oddest CGI movie take I’ve seen to date on a classic fairy tale. It’s billed as the true story of Little Red Riding Hood. It takes a lot of classic fairy tales then flips them all on their heads. From a singing Billy Goat to a snowboarding granny, nothing is what it really seems in this whodunit that I think takes the now traditional standard of using old fairy tales with a new spin and takes it to the next level. They are bringing them up to date, instead of leaving them as period pieces and using that for the source of comedy. That and the slightly darker, rougher animation in some places had this movie stand out a bit from the rest.
Now on to the real winners:
# 10
An Inconvenient Truth
The only documentary to make the top ten this year, Al Gore’s legacy turned movie is eye opening and scary, but at the same time filled me with a sense of hope. The movie is basically a film version of the same presentation Gore has given all over the world for several decades now, with updated information. The only thing I didn’t like about this movie was that it was tied in with background story, an autobiography really, on Gore’s life. I don’t blame him for the free publicity, and it actually was interesting hearing about his struggles for the environment, but it was a jarring transition every time. The movie is full of scary facts and figures, and quite a bit of doom saying about what is to come, but that isn’t the impression they leave us with. Above the scare tactics, this movie is about empowerment. Gore is telling us to get up, stop being lazy, and to take command of the world around us, being forces for positive change rather than letting the world spiral out of control. He tells us where the pollution is coming from, what we can do to help, and what the grave consequences are for inaction. It was a bit annoying to have to pay eight bucks for what amounts to a PSA, but I’m still glad I saw it, and recommend this to every one that even owns a television.
# 9
Snakes on a Plane
Let’s not kid ourselves, Snakes on a Plane is one of those sinfully deliciously horrible movies. It sucked. But it was also one of the best times I’ve had at a movie in months. No one is pretending this was a seriously good movie, it was a farce, and it was meant to be a farce, perhaps one of the best ever. Samuel L. Jackson gave really the only performance worth mentioned, as a tough talking FBI agent whose name I honestly don’t remember. It was hysterical, it was brutal, it was vulgar, and jaw dropping. Half the fun of the movie was the people I saw it with. The collective shouts and screams, together with the cheers, applause and laughter made it an experience as much as just a day at the movies. I’ve seen it again since I saw it the first time, and was surprised to find I still like it. It was perhaps the most hotly anticipated movie of the year among my group of friends, and it didn’t disappoint. Save this one for a large gathering of friends, and don’t hesitate to scream at the screen and wildly gesticulate, trust me, it’s that kind of movie.
# 8
Over the Hedge
This was the most star studded of all the casts for CGI movies this year, and I think it paid off. Bruce Willis plays the lead, and comes off as a great mischievous raccoon. William Shatner is always a treat, here as an overacting possum. Steve Carrell was perfectly cast as the over-caffeinated squirrel. It’s much like the typical spate of CGI movies, funny little talking animals get together, a lesson is learned, the lead character grows, and with some amazing visual effects. But paying too much attention to a popular formula from the point of view of the viewer makes it very hard to enjoy an honestly hysterical and entertaining film. The voice acting was top notch. Those acting in this movie were chosen to fill niches, and the choices in casting were phenomenal. It was easily the best CGI movie of the year, and I’d be hard pressed to pick a better comedy for the year either. Over the Hedge wins hands down.
# 7
A Prairie Home Companion
This was one of the more unique films of the year. Conceived by and starring famed radio show host Garrison Keillor, Prairie Home is about the fictitious last showing of the real life show. The star laden cast work beautifully together, in what I would easily call the best ensemble cast of the year. Kevin Kline is hilarious, in a role he does best: straight man who is really an idiot. Woody Harrelson complements John C Reilly as a singing/comedy duo. Lily Tomlin and Meryl Streep play their female counterparts, as the singing sisters Yolanda and Rhonda. They harmonize well, and I believe them as sisters who’ve had a long life together. There’s something delightfully folksy and real about them, and they really sound good together singing. It’s just an all around great movie. These people know it’s the last show, but they don’t so much go out with a bang as they do go out in style, doing the best show they can, like any other night but with a bittersweet undertone and memories abounding. It’s an offbeat movie, not in the mainstream, but you’d be wise to take a step out of line to watch it.
# 6
Click
Adam Sandler has long been the king of low brow comedy. There’s nothing intelligent about Happy Gilmore or Billy Madison. But we never cared because at the end of the day, they were funny. Which is no one ever really criticizes Adam Sandler as an actor, because he plays those dumb, low brow roles so well, the fact is we don’t ask any more of him, so we really don’t have any room to criticize. But with Click, Sandler rose above all his previous material. The Sandler comedy isn’t completely done, and he makes what looks like a gratuitous homage to his old immature humor (which really wasn’t even funny), but most of the movie is his transition into serious actor, or at least serious comedian. This movie is a roller coaster of emotion, especially the end, and I left wonderfully surprised by how drawn into the movie I was. It wasn’t just him and crazy antics involved with the remote (given to him by a hysterical Christopher Walken), it was his relationship with his wife and kids, and the price a father pays by being absent from those interactions. It tells the story of the cost in coasting through life, and how late we realize the things we really want out of life. It had my best friend in tears at the end, and I was a little misty eyed myself. It was a nice melding of comedy and serious drama, with fantastic acting, a good moral lesson, and a stunning crossover performance by Adam Sandler.
To say that the top five this year were hard to place is an understatement. All five of the following films were fantastic. The acting was superb, the plots largely original, the directing fantastic, and the movies themselves worthy of the highest praise. If I had it my way, I’d call it a five way tie (well, maybe not that drastic), but keep in mind when you see the numbers above the film titles that there is very little separating these films for the most part.
# 5
Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man’s Chest
Oh no! A sequel? Yeah, usually that’s the same thing as signing a death warrant for a movie. Sequels are hit or miss. Either they’re born of the sort of squalor that breeds direct to DVD home movies, or they rise above their material and become better than the original. This movie had its flaws, such as what I think is 30 minutes of unnecessary footage of sailing and general shipboard stuff that I could have done without, and unnecessarily long sword fights. Don’t get me wrong, I love sword fights, but I’m watching a movie, not a fencing tutorial. The soundtrack was captivating, like the first one, and only the main themes were recycled by Hans Zimmer, leaving more than an hour of fresh new music. As always, Jack Sparrow as played by Johnny Depp was amazing. It’s a role that few could have envisioned before actually seeing him play it. Bill Nighy is a great addition to the cast as Davy Jones, and the CGI effects used to create his raiment are so good I was constantly wondering what was CGI and what was makeup (it’s all CGI). Nighy’s acting is easy to spot, as he often plays the same character, or at least different characters with the same vocal mannerisms, and is always spot on. This movie, like the first one, is fun, let me say that again, it’s fun! And it’s funny. It doesn’t have to be well acted (though it is) and it doesn’t have to have great effects (it does) if it’s as fun as this movie. The comedy as with its predecessor is golden, and the supporting actors do a very adequate job of backing Depp up. Many complained that the ending is a cheap shot, with the cliffhanger leaving us all in suspense for the final third movie, but May is right around the corner, and can anyone really complain that they didn’t get their money’s worth in this movie? Kudos to Verbinski and Depp for a great movie well made!
# 4
The Da Vinci Code
I admit to having never read the book, so I don’t know what inaccuracies may lie within this movie, but I have to say, it was a great ride! The fun with this movie, which plays out like a modern day Indiana Jones (only with fewer physical stunts than say, National Treasure), is that new revelations are always coming to the surface. New clues are always being discovered and unmasked, even to the last few minutes of the movie. Now as an historian in training, I can say that at least some of the history behind the movie is utter garbage, but if I can brush my niggling annoyances under the rug, I’m left with a fantastic piece of historical fiction. It’s funny, it’s shocking, the revelations about the history of Christianity and the results of multiple “what if” scenarios are mind boggling. And with each new shocking revelation, the movie turns viewers on their heads but doesn’t give them much time to figure it out before launching into the next set of clues and mysteries. The film is about the legacy of Leonardo da Vinci, and a secret passed down through two thousand years of Templars and their descendents. Tom Hanks plays the lead role, trying to avoid a secret Catholic sect called Opus Dei who are trying to stamp out the truth, and gets himself involved with something far larger than he ever could have suspected. His accomplice Audrey Tautou plays a French government cop who helps him get around another cop who is on their tale, a legion of duplicitous people who are never really friend or foe, and in the end discovers a new truth about herself as well. I was excited all through this movie, on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen, and nothing ever really disappointed me. What’s scary is the implications of this particular “what if,” that Jesus fathered a child with Mary Magdalen, and what repercussions it would have for the world. I can’t recommend this film enough.
# 3
Lucky Number Slevin
I have to admit I was slower than usual in guessing the outcome of this movie. I did get it, far before it was over, but even when the truth came out I was still a little bit blown away. This movie has a star studded cast, and none of them really disappoint. It features Josh Hartnett as misidentified Slevin, wanted by two different mob bosses for money he supposedly owes them. Both mob bosses give him a job to do, in order to erase the debts, but he’s also being followed by a very famous assassin. In the end, Slevin has an agenda of his own, which is complicated by the fact that he’s fallen in love with the real Slevin’s neighbor, played by Lucy Liu. The plot is fantastically original, and the acting is stellar. The end throws a few twists at the viewer that many might see coming, but they’re still fun to watch unfold. I should also mention the rather odd, yet appealing set design. The apartments in the movie all have their own distinct feel, which seems to scream 1970’s art deco, but there’s still something appealing about them that fits in with the feeling of the movie. Slevin gets high marks for acting and plot originality, and most important of all, it was just plain entertaining, which is all you can really ask from a movie.
# 2
V for Vendetta
V is the story of a weird futuristic Britain, ruled by a totalitarian lord who apparently finally got his way after being stymied by John Goodman in King Ralph. In this future, some songs are banned, there’s a curfew, there’s no freedom of speech, America is locked in a civil war, and government agents can break the law at will without fear of reprisal. The current government apparently took over after several outbreaks of a deadly disease that killed thousands before it was cured. It was blamed on terrorism, but that wasn’t where it really came from. Dissidents are cruelly repressed, but there’s one who stands out above them all. His name is V. His accomplice is a young girl named Evey, who after being caught in the wrong place at the wrong time is saved by V, and she subsequently saves him, and ends up an unwilling guest in his home. Meanwhile, V isn’t idle. His goal is to overthrow the corrupt government through any means possible. He mocks the government openly, and slowly over the course of a year convinces many people, through his acts of terrorism, to rise up against the government, while simultaneously killing several people that fit into his own private agenda. Evey is trapped in the middle, not wanting to be a part of it all, knowing what had happened to her parents, and knowing what would happen to her if the truth were discovered. The end is a stunning culmination of the movie’s events. Personally I was close to tears upon seeing the display it was so moving. The movie is artsy in a way, which I guess you might expect coming from a movie adapted from a comic book, but it’s also an amazing story of triumph, of using immoral acts to achieve a most moral and noble goal, and of one girl’s journey from terrified orphan to a woman without fear. The acting, mostly carried by the voice of Hugo Weaving and the terrified crying of Natalie Portman, is superb, as is the story itself. It’s a feel good movie, but of the darkest sort.
# 1
Blood Diamond
I can’t say enough about this film. It probably won’t be first on the list of any one else, but no other film this year had such a combination of fantastic acting, stunning effects, and a plot that makes me glad to be a human being. Leonardi DiCaprio gave an Oscar worthy performance as Danny Archer, a diamond smuggler in war torn Sierra Leone. Djimon Hounsou and Jennifer Connelly also gave stunning performances. Many complained about the preachy nature of the film, but I didn’t see it. I was too busy getting lost in the plot. A diamond smuggler who gets caught and ends up having to escort a poor fisherman whose family has been captured by blood diamond rebels to where he hid the mother of all diamonds. They fight there way through a brutal civil war, with a treacherous mercenary colonel, and everyone has their own secret, or not so secret, agenda. In the end however, they all change, not in the feel good fuzzy ending sort of way, but just enough make the best of a poor situation. None of them get everything they want, and some of them get nothing at all, and that’s part of the magic of the movie. It’s raw, and it’s real. There’s something agonizing in the way the diamond smuggler without morals is redeemed at the end, but the price he pays is also a price to the American reporter (Connelly), who in the end cares less about her vaunted story and more about the man she aims to get it from. But she gets her story, not the man. It’s heart wrenching, it’s captivating, and at the end of the day it’s a well put together story that never seems to end, though not in the drawn out sort of way, but rather in the way you never really want it to end, not until everything can come together perfectly. Like I said, Blood Diamond won’t be first on the list of probably any other reviewer out there, but of anything I’m looking forward to buying on DVD this year, this movie tops my list, and I wish heaps of awards on the team that put it together.
Here you will find a countdown of my top ten films of 2006, plus three honorable mentions that almost made the cut.
Honorable Mention
The Guardian
This film went back and forth between on and off this list. Originally I wanted to cut it because I’ve really seen the plot in this film a hundred times. There’s a mentor and his protégé, immense amounts of talent and a will to succeed, they both overcome personal obstacles and something dramatic happens at the end. This movie fits that to a tee. But two reasons are convincing me to put it back on the list. The first, is that I, and most other people, love this genre. It’s compelling, as we love watching people overcoming in triumph at the end. The second, is that the acting was fantastic. Kevin Costner these days tends to play the same basic role, that of the cool old guy, usually pretty grumpy in some way too. He’s still a cool old guy, but his role is a lot darker than usual. He’s dealing with some heavy personal demons, and takes out some of his aggression on the class at the Coast Guarding school he starts teaching at. Ashton Kutcher is an actor I’ve grown to respect a lot more this year. He can play a goofball, an idiot (yeah there’s a difference), and a serious young adult with his own demons. His character has personal tragedy, and it’s given him a rather selfish resolve to be the best. He craves praise and recognition, but Costner teaches him humility. The only unnecessary character I felt was Sela Ward as Costner’s wife, who served more as a useless plot device than actual character in the movie. Kutcher and Costner carry the movie, and really make an old genre new again with a great performance.
Honorable Mention
Thank You For Smoking
Aaron Eckhart plays a great con man. The truly scary thing about this movie is its basis in truth. Cigarette companies of the 80’s and 90’s really did try and stuff their faux science down our throats, tricking us into poisoning ourselves while paying them billions in profits. This leads to a inevitable preachy nature in the movie, but as an almost mockumentary, it’s to be expected. He pulls off the role as a conniving teller of half truths and is a master of spin, until he’s tripped up by Katie Holmes, who plays a reporter out to take him down. In one of the movie’s more interesting scenes, Eckhart is kidnapped by a group of anti-tobacco protestors, stuck with dozens of nicotine patches, and almost dies of an overdose. Ironically, the fact that he smokes actually saved his life, which he spins to the benefit of the industry. The main story is Eckhart’s journey from unfettered, immoral man who’d sell his soul for a buck to guy who feels a little bad maybe but tries extra hard to be an unfettered, immoral man who’d sell his soul for a buck. He’s a member of the MOD Squad (Merchants of Death), which include representatives of the tobacco, alcohol and firearms industries. They get together at regular weekly meetings to discuss the week’s trials and tribulations. His lack of repentance is a different take, when you consider that’s usually the part in the movie where he’d realize the error of his ways and go back to the light. The movie ends with the MOD Squad adding three new members, oil, nuclear energy and fast food. It’s a little unorthodox, but it has a great message, good acting, and it’s funny. Try to catch this one if you can.
Honorable Mention
Hoodwinked
The last of the honorable mentions was maybe the oddest CGI movie take I’ve seen to date on a classic fairy tale. It’s billed as the true story of Little Red Riding Hood. It takes a lot of classic fairy tales then flips them all on their heads. From a singing Billy Goat to a snowboarding granny, nothing is what it really seems in this whodunit that I think takes the now traditional standard of using old fairy tales with a new spin and takes it to the next level. They are bringing them up to date, instead of leaving them as period pieces and using that for the source of comedy. That and the slightly darker, rougher animation in some places had this movie stand out a bit from the rest.
Now on to the real winners:
# 10
An Inconvenient Truth
The only documentary to make the top ten this year, Al Gore’s legacy turned movie is eye opening and scary, but at the same time filled me with a sense of hope. The movie is basically a film version of the same presentation Gore has given all over the world for several decades now, with updated information. The only thing I didn’t like about this movie was that it was tied in with background story, an autobiography really, on Gore’s life. I don’t blame him for the free publicity, and it actually was interesting hearing about his struggles for the environment, but it was a jarring transition every time. The movie is full of scary facts and figures, and quite a bit of doom saying about what is to come, but that isn’t the impression they leave us with. Above the scare tactics, this movie is about empowerment. Gore is telling us to get up, stop being lazy, and to take command of the world around us, being forces for positive change rather than letting the world spiral out of control. He tells us where the pollution is coming from, what we can do to help, and what the grave consequences are for inaction. It was a bit annoying to have to pay eight bucks for what amounts to a PSA, but I’m still glad I saw it, and recommend this to every one that even owns a television.
# 9
Snakes on a Plane
Let’s not kid ourselves, Snakes on a Plane is one of those sinfully deliciously horrible movies. It sucked. But it was also one of the best times I’ve had at a movie in months. No one is pretending this was a seriously good movie, it was a farce, and it was meant to be a farce, perhaps one of the best ever. Samuel L. Jackson gave really the only performance worth mentioned, as a tough talking FBI agent whose name I honestly don’t remember. It was hysterical, it was brutal, it was vulgar, and jaw dropping. Half the fun of the movie was the people I saw it with. The collective shouts and screams, together with the cheers, applause and laughter made it an experience as much as just a day at the movies. I’ve seen it again since I saw it the first time, and was surprised to find I still like it. It was perhaps the most hotly anticipated movie of the year among my group of friends, and it didn’t disappoint. Save this one for a large gathering of friends, and don’t hesitate to scream at the screen and wildly gesticulate, trust me, it’s that kind of movie.
# 8
Over the Hedge
This was the most star studded of all the casts for CGI movies this year, and I think it paid off. Bruce Willis plays the lead, and comes off as a great mischievous raccoon. William Shatner is always a treat, here as an overacting possum. Steve Carrell was perfectly cast as the over-caffeinated squirrel. It’s much like the typical spate of CGI movies, funny little talking animals get together, a lesson is learned, the lead character grows, and with some amazing visual effects. But paying too much attention to a popular formula from the point of view of the viewer makes it very hard to enjoy an honestly hysterical and entertaining film. The voice acting was top notch. Those acting in this movie were chosen to fill niches, and the choices in casting were phenomenal. It was easily the best CGI movie of the year, and I’d be hard pressed to pick a better comedy for the year either. Over the Hedge wins hands down.
# 7
A Prairie Home Companion
This was one of the more unique films of the year. Conceived by and starring famed radio show host Garrison Keillor, Prairie Home is about the fictitious last showing of the real life show. The star laden cast work beautifully together, in what I would easily call the best ensemble cast of the year. Kevin Kline is hilarious, in a role he does best: straight man who is really an idiot. Woody Harrelson complements John C Reilly as a singing/comedy duo. Lily Tomlin and Meryl Streep play their female counterparts, as the singing sisters Yolanda and Rhonda. They harmonize well, and I believe them as sisters who’ve had a long life together. There’s something delightfully folksy and real about them, and they really sound good together singing. It’s just an all around great movie. These people know it’s the last show, but they don’t so much go out with a bang as they do go out in style, doing the best show they can, like any other night but with a bittersweet undertone and memories abounding. It’s an offbeat movie, not in the mainstream, but you’d be wise to take a step out of line to watch it.
# 6
Click
Adam Sandler has long been the king of low brow comedy. There’s nothing intelligent about Happy Gilmore or Billy Madison. But we never cared because at the end of the day, they were funny. Which is no one ever really criticizes Adam Sandler as an actor, because he plays those dumb, low brow roles so well, the fact is we don’t ask any more of him, so we really don’t have any room to criticize. But with Click, Sandler rose above all his previous material. The Sandler comedy isn’t completely done, and he makes what looks like a gratuitous homage to his old immature humor (which really wasn’t even funny), but most of the movie is his transition into serious actor, or at least serious comedian. This movie is a roller coaster of emotion, especially the end, and I left wonderfully surprised by how drawn into the movie I was. It wasn’t just him and crazy antics involved with the remote (given to him by a hysterical Christopher Walken), it was his relationship with his wife and kids, and the price a father pays by being absent from those interactions. It tells the story of the cost in coasting through life, and how late we realize the things we really want out of life. It had my best friend in tears at the end, and I was a little misty eyed myself. It was a nice melding of comedy and serious drama, with fantastic acting, a good moral lesson, and a stunning crossover performance by Adam Sandler.
To say that the top five this year were hard to place is an understatement. All five of the following films were fantastic. The acting was superb, the plots largely original, the directing fantastic, and the movies themselves worthy of the highest praise. If I had it my way, I’d call it a five way tie (well, maybe not that drastic), but keep in mind when you see the numbers above the film titles that there is very little separating these films for the most part.
# 5
Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man’s Chest
Oh no! A sequel? Yeah, usually that’s the same thing as signing a death warrant for a movie. Sequels are hit or miss. Either they’re born of the sort of squalor that breeds direct to DVD home movies, or they rise above their material and become better than the original. This movie had its flaws, such as what I think is 30 minutes of unnecessary footage of sailing and general shipboard stuff that I could have done without, and unnecessarily long sword fights. Don’t get me wrong, I love sword fights, but I’m watching a movie, not a fencing tutorial. The soundtrack was captivating, like the first one, and only the main themes were recycled by Hans Zimmer, leaving more than an hour of fresh new music. As always, Jack Sparrow as played by Johnny Depp was amazing. It’s a role that few could have envisioned before actually seeing him play it. Bill Nighy is a great addition to the cast as Davy Jones, and the CGI effects used to create his raiment are so good I was constantly wondering what was CGI and what was makeup (it’s all CGI). Nighy’s acting is easy to spot, as he often plays the same character, or at least different characters with the same vocal mannerisms, and is always spot on. This movie, like the first one, is fun, let me say that again, it’s fun! And it’s funny. It doesn’t have to be well acted (though it is) and it doesn’t have to have great effects (it does) if it’s as fun as this movie. The comedy as with its predecessor is golden, and the supporting actors do a very adequate job of backing Depp up. Many complained that the ending is a cheap shot, with the cliffhanger leaving us all in suspense for the final third movie, but May is right around the corner, and can anyone really complain that they didn’t get their money’s worth in this movie? Kudos to Verbinski and Depp for a great movie well made!
# 4
The Da Vinci Code
I admit to having never read the book, so I don’t know what inaccuracies may lie within this movie, but I have to say, it was a great ride! The fun with this movie, which plays out like a modern day Indiana Jones (only with fewer physical stunts than say, National Treasure), is that new revelations are always coming to the surface. New clues are always being discovered and unmasked, even to the last few minutes of the movie. Now as an historian in training, I can say that at least some of the history behind the movie is utter garbage, but if I can brush my niggling annoyances under the rug, I’m left with a fantastic piece of historical fiction. It’s funny, it’s shocking, the revelations about the history of Christianity and the results of multiple “what if” scenarios are mind boggling. And with each new shocking revelation, the movie turns viewers on their heads but doesn’t give them much time to figure it out before launching into the next set of clues and mysteries. The film is about the legacy of Leonardo da Vinci, and a secret passed down through two thousand years of Templars and their descendents. Tom Hanks plays the lead role, trying to avoid a secret Catholic sect called Opus Dei who are trying to stamp out the truth, and gets himself involved with something far larger than he ever could have suspected. His accomplice Audrey Tautou plays a French government cop who helps him get around another cop who is on their tale, a legion of duplicitous people who are never really friend or foe, and in the end discovers a new truth about herself as well. I was excited all through this movie, on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen, and nothing ever really disappointed me. What’s scary is the implications of this particular “what if,” that Jesus fathered a child with Mary Magdalen, and what repercussions it would have for the world. I can’t recommend this film enough.
# 3
Lucky Number Slevin
I have to admit I was slower than usual in guessing the outcome of this movie. I did get it, far before it was over, but even when the truth came out I was still a little bit blown away. This movie has a star studded cast, and none of them really disappoint. It features Josh Hartnett as misidentified Slevin, wanted by two different mob bosses for money he supposedly owes them. Both mob bosses give him a job to do, in order to erase the debts, but he’s also being followed by a very famous assassin. In the end, Slevin has an agenda of his own, which is complicated by the fact that he’s fallen in love with the real Slevin’s neighbor, played by Lucy Liu. The plot is fantastically original, and the acting is stellar. The end throws a few twists at the viewer that many might see coming, but they’re still fun to watch unfold. I should also mention the rather odd, yet appealing set design. The apartments in the movie all have their own distinct feel, which seems to scream 1970’s art deco, but there’s still something appealing about them that fits in with the feeling of the movie. Slevin gets high marks for acting and plot originality, and most important of all, it was just plain entertaining, which is all you can really ask from a movie.
# 2
V for Vendetta
V is the story of a weird futuristic Britain, ruled by a totalitarian lord who apparently finally got his way after being stymied by John Goodman in King Ralph. In this future, some songs are banned, there’s a curfew, there’s no freedom of speech, America is locked in a civil war, and government agents can break the law at will without fear of reprisal. The current government apparently took over after several outbreaks of a deadly disease that killed thousands before it was cured. It was blamed on terrorism, but that wasn’t where it really came from. Dissidents are cruelly repressed, but there’s one who stands out above them all. His name is V. His accomplice is a young girl named Evey, who after being caught in the wrong place at the wrong time is saved by V, and she subsequently saves him, and ends up an unwilling guest in his home. Meanwhile, V isn’t idle. His goal is to overthrow the corrupt government through any means possible. He mocks the government openly, and slowly over the course of a year convinces many people, through his acts of terrorism, to rise up against the government, while simultaneously killing several people that fit into his own private agenda. Evey is trapped in the middle, not wanting to be a part of it all, knowing what had happened to her parents, and knowing what would happen to her if the truth were discovered. The end is a stunning culmination of the movie’s events. Personally I was close to tears upon seeing the display it was so moving. The movie is artsy in a way, which I guess you might expect coming from a movie adapted from a comic book, but it’s also an amazing story of triumph, of using immoral acts to achieve a most moral and noble goal, and of one girl’s journey from terrified orphan to a woman without fear. The acting, mostly carried by the voice of Hugo Weaving and the terrified crying of Natalie Portman, is superb, as is the story itself. It’s a feel good movie, but of the darkest sort.
# 1
Blood Diamond
I can’t say enough about this film. It probably won’t be first on the list of any one else, but no other film this year had such a combination of fantastic acting, stunning effects, and a plot that makes me glad to be a human being. Leonardi DiCaprio gave an Oscar worthy performance as Danny Archer, a diamond smuggler in war torn Sierra Leone. Djimon Hounsou and Jennifer Connelly also gave stunning performances. Many complained about the preachy nature of the film, but I didn’t see it. I was too busy getting lost in the plot. A diamond smuggler who gets caught and ends up having to escort a poor fisherman whose family has been captured by blood diamond rebels to where he hid the mother of all diamonds. They fight there way through a brutal civil war, with a treacherous mercenary colonel, and everyone has their own secret, or not so secret, agenda. In the end however, they all change, not in the feel good fuzzy ending sort of way, but just enough make the best of a poor situation. None of them get everything they want, and some of them get nothing at all, and that’s part of the magic of the movie. It’s raw, and it’s real. There’s something agonizing in the way the diamond smuggler without morals is redeemed at the end, but the price he pays is also a price to the American reporter (Connelly), who in the end cares less about her vaunted story and more about the man she aims to get it from. But she gets her story, not the man. It’s heart wrenching, it’s captivating, and at the end of the day it’s a well put together story that never seems to end, though not in the drawn out sort of way, but rather in the way you never really want it to end, not until everything can come together perfectly. Like I said, Blood Diamond won’t be first on the list of probably any other reviewer out there, but of anything I’m looking forward to buying on DVD this year, this movie tops my list, and I wish heaps of awards on the team that put it together.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Eragon
I wanted to take a quick moment to discuss the movie Eragon with you. This will be a shorter review than most, and it's really just an addendum to what was going to be an announcement that by the weekend I would be posting my 2006 Year End Review of movies, but I had to get this out.
Upon going over the films of 2006 I was stopped short by Eragon. Let me just start off by saying that the world created by Chris Paolini is fun and imaginative. Well, maybe not imaginative, dragon riders and elves are nothing new, but I give him credit for putting it together nicely. I've never read the book this film was based on, and after seeing the movie, I have even less interest now than I did before. The effects in the movie were stunning. I didn't think a dragon could be rendered so beautifully, but I was wrong. The acting, was so-so. Jeremy Irons did a great job, but that was never in question. Rachel Weisz was a fun Saphira. Edward Speleers was awkward. His facial expressions leave me convinced that he's just discovered his face and doesn't quite know what to do with it, making for some comical expressions.
But all that is just icing on the cake. As with any movie, it really comes down to the plot and the entertainment value. Was the movie fun? Was the movie original, or a least a good take on an old idea? Well, I admit it had a bit of sugary empty calorie goodness to it. But I just couldn't get over the plot. I'm sorry, it was just so glaring it was impossible to ignore, and it turned what should have been a serious fantasy movie into a comedy.
What's so funny, is the fact that the plot for this movie is lifted directly from Star Wars, with a smattering of Lord of the Rings thrown in. It's the story of a young farm hand who discovers something he maybe shouldn't have, his uncle who he was staying with is killed, and he is forced to flee into hiding with a wisened old drifter, who ends up being the last of a lost people. Sound familiar? It gets better. After learning that he's special, and can wield the Force, I mean dragons, Obi-Wan, I mean Brom, tells him that he's the last hope of a group of rebels. Luke, I mean Eragon, disregards this information at first and rushes off to the enemy castle to rescue Leia, I mean Arwen, I mean Arya. His chief opponent at this point is Saruman, I mean Durza, a shade who commands King Galbatorix's army in a very Saruman like fashion. Arya is rescued, but at the cost of Brom-wan Kenobi, who sacrifices himself to save Eragon. Eragon and Arya rush off to the rebels, and are followed by the Death Star, I mean Durza's army, and together they face off. Eragon comes off triumphant, defeating Durza and securing the Rebels for the moment. Darth Galbatorix however isn't foiled yet, and the movie ends with him plotting revenge from his TIE Fighter, I mean castle.
I mean, come on, at least try and disguise it a little! This wasn't so much original fantasy as it was Star Wars remade into a fantasy setting, and not even very well at that! For that reason I give this movie two thumbs so far down as to mash them into the ground. It was funny when it wasn't supposed to be, it was poorly acted where it shouldn't have been, and it was freaking Star Wars!
Save your self some time and money and just watch the original. Look foward this weekend to my year end review for movies in 2006, and a sneak peek at what I'm looking forward to in 2007.
Upon going over the films of 2006 I was stopped short by Eragon. Let me just start off by saying that the world created by Chris Paolini is fun and imaginative. Well, maybe not imaginative, dragon riders and elves are nothing new, but I give him credit for putting it together nicely. I've never read the book this film was based on, and after seeing the movie, I have even less interest now than I did before. The effects in the movie were stunning. I didn't think a dragon could be rendered so beautifully, but I was wrong. The acting, was so-so. Jeremy Irons did a great job, but that was never in question. Rachel Weisz was a fun Saphira. Edward Speleers was awkward. His facial expressions leave me convinced that he's just discovered his face and doesn't quite know what to do with it, making for some comical expressions.
But all that is just icing on the cake. As with any movie, it really comes down to the plot and the entertainment value. Was the movie fun? Was the movie original, or a least a good take on an old idea? Well, I admit it had a bit of sugary empty calorie goodness to it. But I just couldn't get over the plot. I'm sorry, it was just so glaring it was impossible to ignore, and it turned what should have been a serious fantasy movie into a comedy.
What's so funny, is the fact that the plot for this movie is lifted directly from Star Wars, with a smattering of Lord of the Rings thrown in. It's the story of a young farm hand who discovers something he maybe shouldn't have, his uncle who he was staying with is killed, and he is forced to flee into hiding with a wisened old drifter, who ends up being the last of a lost people. Sound familiar? It gets better. After learning that he's special, and can wield the Force, I mean dragons, Obi-Wan, I mean Brom, tells him that he's the last hope of a group of rebels. Luke, I mean Eragon, disregards this information at first and rushes off to the enemy castle to rescue Leia, I mean Arwen, I mean Arya. His chief opponent at this point is Saruman, I mean Durza, a shade who commands King Galbatorix's army in a very Saruman like fashion. Arya is rescued, but at the cost of Brom-wan Kenobi, who sacrifices himself to save Eragon. Eragon and Arya rush off to the rebels, and are followed by the Death Star, I mean Durza's army, and together they face off. Eragon comes off triumphant, defeating Durza and securing the Rebels for the moment. Darth Galbatorix however isn't foiled yet, and the movie ends with him plotting revenge from his TIE Fighter, I mean castle.
I mean, come on, at least try and disguise it a little! This wasn't so much original fantasy as it was Star Wars remade into a fantasy setting, and not even very well at that! For that reason I give this movie two thumbs so far down as to mash them into the ground. It was funny when it wasn't supposed to be, it was poorly acted where it shouldn't have been, and it was freaking Star Wars!
Save your self some time and money and just watch the original. Look foward this weekend to my year end review for movies in 2006, and a sneak peek at what I'm looking forward to in 2007.
Tuesday, January 9, 2007
Night at the Museum
After seeing previews for Night at the Museum run almost endlessly on Comedy Central, I was both looking forward to and slightly dreading this film. I say looking forward to because it looked absolutely hysterical, and I say dreading because any movie that has to advertise that much on a show whose demographic suggests 18-25 year old male either has self esteem issues or really has something wrong with it.
But I was still looking forward to it, because the trailers were funny. My only fear was that all the funny parts were in the trailer, and that nothing would remain for me to actually see in the movie. Thankfully I wasn't disappointed.
The movie was really quite funny. You've all probably seen the premise, part Jumanji part Indian in the Cupboard. The idea was that some ancient Egyptian talisman made everything in the museum come to life at night, but they all had to stay in the museum until sunrise or they'd turn to dust. There's also a subplot involving theft and the inhabitants of the museum coming together, but to be honest, everyone had to see that coming, I'm really only interested in what entertained me (which was the comedy, not the hokey plot).
Ben Stiller was funny, not spectacularly, not dismally, but he performed in typical Ben Stiller fashion. Ricky Gervais must have ad libbed half his lines, as I can't imagine anyone actually writing dialogue that contained only half sentences and mutterings. It was funny, sure, but was either unscripted or written by someone who had to of known Gervais was playing the role. Robin Williams was typically funny, but shockingly, played a somewhat believable wax Teddy Roosevelt, who was also funny.
The real jems of the movie were Steve Coogan and Owen Wilson, who played the miniature Octavias and Jedidiah. They're interaction was the best part of the movie, and every time they were off the screen I kept waiting for them to come back. They were ridiculous, and fantastic, which means they were utterly comical.
It was a good movie, really I liked it, and I'll probably buy it on DVD when it comes out. More importantly, I thought it was more funny than Borat, which everyone seems to think is the best movie since sliced bread. Borat WAS funny, but it wasn't the be all, end all of comedy. So go check out Night at the Museum, it's well worth your time and your money, and with Seasonal Affective Disorder on the prowl, it just might save your life!
But I was still looking forward to it, because the trailers were funny. My only fear was that all the funny parts were in the trailer, and that nothing would remain for me to actually see in the movie. Thankfully I wasn't disappointed.
The movie was really quite funny. You've all probably seen the premise, part Jumanji part Indian in the Cupboard. The idea was that some ancient Egyptian talisman made everything in the museum come to life at night, but they all had to stay in the museum until sunrise or they'd turn to dust. There's also a subplot involving theft and the inhabitants of the museum coming together, but to be honest, everyone had to see that coming, I'm really only interested in what entertained me (which was the comedy, not the hokey plot).
Ben Stiller was funny, not spectacularly, not dismally, but he performed in typical Ben Stiller fashion. Ricky Gervais must have ad libbed half his lines, as I can't imagine anyone actually writing dialogue that contained only half sentences and mutterings. It was funny, sure, but was either unscripted or written by someone who had to of known Gervais was playing the role. Robin Williams was typically funny, but shockingly, played a somewhat believable wax Teddy Roosevelt, who was also funny.
The real jems of the movie were Steve Coogan and Owen Wilson, who played the miniature Octavias and Jedidiah. They're interaction was the best part of the movie, and every time they were off the screen I kept waiting for them to come back. They were ridiculous, and fantastic, which means they were utterly comical.
It was a good movie, really I liked it, and I'll probably buy it on DVD when it comes out. More importantly, I thought it was more funny than Borat, which everyone seems to think is the best movie since sliced bread. Borat WAS funny, but it wasn't the be all, end all of comedy. So go check out Night at the Museum, it's well worth your time and your money, and with Seasonal Affective Disorder on the prowl, it just might save your life!
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