A brave performance by Michelle Williams of a woman trying to survive in a fundamentally cruel and unfair world. I disagree with an earlier poster who said that the film lacked powerful moments.
Director Kelly Reichardt is very good at framing powerful moments at a very human scale. There's a powerful moment about halfway through the film where Wendy calls her sister for connection, only to be coldly rebuffed. That's essentially the scale this film goes for, not performances filled with bombastic histrionics.
I just finished watching this for the first time today. I went into 'Caddyshack' expecting the typical film structure and plot. This is the wrong way to view this film.
Instead, it's film based on moments, like the sole scene with Murray and Chase. The finished product is very much a slice of a place and a time, of the cast and crew basically taking one film and improv-ing another one.
It's a classic based off the improv they did on this film. B+
'Charlie Wilson's War,' even if it's contained within the last 15 minutes, is a film about letting the genie out of the bottle. Did the Russians needed to be stopped? Probably. If not because of Communism, then because of the human rights violations they perpetrated. Is it successful as a film as the cultural artifact of a period picture or is it successful because of its biographical side? These sides are hard to reconcile, yet it's a fascinating study either way.
Another thoughtful film by director Edward Zwick that not only was ahead of it's time but also predicted the nation's political mindset in the early 21st Century.
I didn't know what to expect from Contraband. It had a brief residence before in theaters before promptly disappearing, even for a January release. It's actually a good movie though. It has a simple story, a smart, resourceful lead and some insights into the business of smuggling.
The problem that lies with much of Kevin Smith's most recent work is that he has too many fans and not enough detractors. Well, he probably has enough of the latter, but probably chose to block them out. He gets distracted in his answers more easily than a decade earlier in 'An Evening with Kevin Smith,' his first Q&A movie. This and his last Q&A, A Threeeving with Kevin Smith,' were prime examples of overindulging in non sequiturs that have fleeting relations to do with the question. Furthermore, it's just reeks of laziness. I've heard these stories on SModcast before, and they come off more fresh. I only laughed like once during this movie. Whatever happened to the Smith who had the gift of gab and charm we saw then? He seems to have embraced his podcast persona on a more permanent basis, and it's not genuine. He's need to get real.
Stone has a slant to be sure, and there's undenibly gonna be some facts he chose not to present in his film. However, as is, this is still a strong documentary about dissent, the agenda set by our media and the beast of power.
There are three things that are good about Mercury Rising, John Barry's score, Mika Hughes' excellent performance, and a pre-True Blood Carrie Preston, otherwise it's standard action fare.
'Going the Distance' is an above average run of the mill rom-com, by virtue of the fact that, a large majority of them in recent years have been completely abysmal. Barrymore and Long have great chemistry, are completely likable, and are two fairly smart characters. We root for them as a result. Something almost completely missing from these genre movies lately. The movie also has your usual, Judd Apatow style best friends of the lead male character, yet the key here is that they are not repellent, and quite funny. This is a perfect example of what a serviceable rom-com should look like. Even the men would not find it a herculean to sit through this one.
There was some gags that I found funny, like the mobsters convention, and it was particularly funny that White Chicks sort of ripped off this film's situations 45 years later. This is my second Billy Wilder film, and the second that's left me more or less cold. Perhaps I'm still too young to really appreciate his films.
A fascinating study of a few ethnic groups in LA, and how in the course of several days, our perceptions of them are turned on their heads. It's a good film about race in our culture, but not the best one I've seen, that film would be Spike Lee's 'Do the Right Thing.'
For all the attention that's paid to Christopher Lee's role as Dracula, the real star of this film is the one who was first billed, Peter Cushing. The man single handedly carries this plot, and makes things serious.
A nice, competent film about two cultures clashing, and how they meet in the middle. People who value quality over crap will appreciate this over the TV series, in which the comedy in that was based on tired Indian stereotypes, where as in the film's humor is more observant and based on situations.
Give Michael Bay a production company, and complete carte blanche over his productions, and what you get is one of the most ugly, mean-spirted films ever committed to celluloid. The overabundance of blood and gore on display doesn't mean a damn thing, it's just a series increasingly empty scenes of attractive young actors getting hacked up, none of whom has a character to play, just a slab of meat that has appointment with a chainshaw. Watching Hollywood crank out these films on a steady flow makes me feel bad for these poor actors, films like these were probably the first big breaks in their careers, and they don't have much to show for it.
Ah yes, yet another Bruckheimer production that almost completely wastes the talent of Nic Cage. There are some inventive scenes here and there, but there a weird emptiness throughout the film. Apparently, I'm among a small minority of people who doesn't find Jay Baruchel's voice aggravating to their eardrums.
This is NOT a movie. Online movie reviews do not count as such, it's like saying that saying one of sxephil's YouTube's videos is a film. This is just a cheap way of lowly users to artificially boost their numbers.
Comments 1 - 25 of 60
Movie comment on Wendy and Lucy
The Doctor
A brave performance by Michelle Williams of a woman trying to survive in a fundamentally cruel and unfair world. I disagree with an earlier poster who said that the film lacked powerful moments.Director Kelly Reichardt is very good at framing powerful moments at a very human scale. There's a powerful moment about halfway through the film where Wendy calls her sister for connection, only to be coldly rebuffed. That's essentially the scale this film goes for, not performances filled with bombastic histrionics.
Movie comment on $ellebrity
The Doctor
One of the finest horror stories I've seen in awhile, and it's not even the correct genre!Movie comment on A Good Day to Die Hard
The Doctor
A lazy, half-hearted effort that does disservice to its fans and 25 years worth of continuity.Movie comment on Caddyshack
The Doctor
I just finished watching this for the first time today. I went into 'Caddyshack' expecting the typical film structure and plot. This is the wrong way to view this film.Instead, it's film based on moments, like the sole scene with Murray and Chase. The finished product is very much a slice of a place and a time, of the cast and crew basically taking one film and improv-ing another one.
It's a classic based off the improv they did on this film. B+
Movie comment on Charlie Wilson's War
The Doctor
'Charlie Wilson's War,' even if it's contained within the last 15 minutes, is a film about letting the genie out of the bottle. Did the Russians needed to be stopped? Probably. If not because of Communism, then because of the human rights violations they perpetrated. Is it successful as a film as the cultural artifact of a period picture or is it successful because of its biographical side? These sides are hard to reconcile, yet it's a fascinating study either way.Movie comment on Sherlock
The Doctor
Sorry. Absolutely adore the show, but, yeah, that's exactly what it is.Movie comment on The Siege
The Doctor
Another thoughtful film by director Edward Zwick that not only was ahead of it's time but also predicted the nation's political mindset in the early 21st Century.Movie comment on Tower Heist
The Doctor
Wasn't bad. I've seen worse.Movie comment on Contraband
The Doctor
I didn't know what to expect from Contraband. It had a brief residence before in theaters before promptly disappearing, even for a January release. It's actually a good movie though. It has a simple story, a smart, resourceful lead and some insights into the business of smuggling.Movie comment on Kevin Smith: Too Fat for 40!
The Doctor
The problem that lies with much of Kevin Smith's most recent work is that he has too many fans and not enough detractors. Well, he probably has enough of the latter, but probably chose to block them out. He gets distracted in his answers more easily than a decade earlier in 'An Evening with Kevin Smith,' his first Q&A movie. This and his last Q&A, A Threeeving with Kevin Smith,' were prime examples of overindulging in non sequiturs that have fleeting relations to do with the question. Furthermore, it's just reeks of laziness. I've heard these stories on SModcast before, and they come off more fresh. I only laughed like once during this movie. Whatever happened to the Smith who had the gift of gab and charm we saw then? He seems to have embraced his podcast persona on a more permanent basis, and it's not genuine. He's need to get real.Movie comment on South of the Border
The Doctor
Stone has a slant to be sure, and there's undenibly gonna be some facts he chose not to present in his film. However, as is, this is still a strong documentary about dissent, the agenda set by our media and the beast of power.Movie comment on Mercury Rising
The Doctor
There are three things that are good about Mercury Rising, John Barry's score, Mika Hughes' excellent performance, and a pre-True Blood Carrie Preston, otherwise it's standard action fare.Movie comment on Going the Distance
The Doctor
'Going the Distance' is an above average run of the mill rom-com, by virtue of the fact that, a large majority of them in recent years have been completely abysmal. Barrymore and Long have great chemistry, are completely likable, and are two fairly smart characters. We root for them as a result. Something almost completely missing from these genre movies lately. The movie also has your usual, Judd Apatow style best friends of the lead male character, yet the key here is that they are not repellent, and quite funny. This is a perfect example of what a serviceable rom-com should look like. Even the men would not find it a herculean to sit through this one.Movie comment on Some Like It Hot
The Doctor
There was some gags that I found funny, like the mobsters convention, and it was particularly funny that White Chicks sort of ripped off this film's situations 45 years later. This is my second Billy Wilder film, and the second that's left me more or less cold. Perhaps I'm still too young to really appreciate his films.Movie comment on Crash
The Doctor
A fascinating study of a few ethnic groups in LA, and how in the course of several days, our perceptions of them are turned on their heads. It's a good film about race in our culture, but not the best one I've seen, that film would be Spike Lee's 'Do the Right Thing.'Movie comment on Dracula
The Doctor
For all the attention that's paid to Christopher Lee's role as Dracula, the real star of this film is the one who was first billed, Peter Cushing. The man single handedly carries this plot, and makes things serious.Movie comment on Outsourced
The Doctor
A nice, competent film about two cultures clashing, and how they meet in the middle. People who value quality over crap will appreciate this over the TV series, in which the comedy in that was based on tired Indian stereotypes, where as in the film's humor is more observant and based on situations.Movie comment on You Again
The Doctor
Will Kristen Bell stop making crap?Movie comment on The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
The Doctor
Give Michael Bay a production company, and complete carte blanche over his productions, and what you get is one of the most ugly, mean-spirted films ever committed to celluloid. The overabundance of blood and gore on display doesn't mean a damn thing, it's just a series increasingly empty scenes of attractive young actors getting hacked up, none of whom has a character to play, just a slab of meat that has appointment with a chainshaw. Watching Hollywood crank out these films on a steady flow makes me feel bad for these poor actors, films like these were probably the first big breaks in their careers, and they don't have much to show for it.Movie comment on Face/Off
The Doctor
John Travolta and Nicholas Cage at their hammy bestMovie comment on Eat Pray Love
The Doctor
A narcissict's journey through Europe & Asia. A much more accurate title.Movie comment on The Sorcerer's Apprentice
The Doctor
Ah yes, yet another Bruckheimer production that almost completely wastes the talent of Nic Cage. There are some inventive scenes here and there, but there a weird emptiness throughout the film. Apparently, I'm among a small minority of people who doesn't find Jay Baruchel's voice aggravating to their eardrums.Movie comment on The Rotten Tomatoes Show: Couples Retreat/Bronson/An Education
The Doctor
This is NOT a movie. Online movie reviews do not count as such, it's like saying that saying one of sxephil's YouTube's videos is a film. This is just a cheap way of lowly users to artificially boost their numbers.Movie comment on Smash His Camera
The Doctor
A fascinating look at a very, very eccentric paparazzi, who shot celebrities in a time when they were actually worth shooting.Movie comment on All the President's Men
The Doctor
One of the most best realized detective stories ever committed to film.Showing items 1 – 25 of 60