status: 2009; on dvd
rating: * * * * (4 out of 5 stars)
Given Michael Moore's reputation as a liberal outspoken filmmaker, this movie seemed to be a sensible subject worth exploring. This documentary reveals the origins of capitalism and its current effects on our society. Seeing the results of capitalism in unjustly sentencing teens into juvenile halls in Pennsylvania, to foreclosure on hard-working American homes, and to entire companies being laid off without pensions, is enough to make anyone furious. Michael Moore tackles this problem with his stubborn force and demands answers he (and the rest of the nation) deserve. There is plenty to be weary about and more than enough to ponder in this documentary. Watch it and maybe more of us will enact change the country desperately needs.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Sunday, July 25, 2010
The Crazies
Status: 2010; DVD
Rating: ** (2 stars out of five)
I am particularly fond of movies that test civilized people in situations that place them in excess fear and stress in which they have to choose death, or become a hero. "The Crazies" actually fits right into this genre. Shorty into the story a dead soldier and airplane are found in the water supply of a small town, this plane has a government bio-weapon that quickly infects the unsuspecting people. Practically overnight towns people become "crazy" and kill off their loved ones and friends, but before you can even worry about the safety of your main cast, including the hero sheriff played by Timothy Olyphant, the government swoops in to quarantine and cover up the incident. Now I may be slightly harsh on this movie, but I was consistently able to call out the plot twists and turns, and this made it easy for me to be prepared for the parts of the movie that should have made me leap out of my jammies. Sadly, this movie has been made before, all of the over zealous "Crazies" just made me wish for the rage filled zombies from 28 Days Later. In the end this movie was worth the money I paid for it, the whole 1 dollar from the Redbox.
Favorite scene: Timothy Olyphant in the morgue with the bone saw.
Rating: ** (2 stars out of five)
I am particularly fond of movies that test civilized people in situations that place them in excess fear and stress in which they have to choose death, or become a hero. "The Crazies" actually fits right into this genre. Shorty into the story a dead soldier and airplane are found in the water supply of a small town, this plane has a government bio-weapon that quickly infects the unsuspecting people. Practically overnight towns people become "crazy" and kill off their loved ones and friends, but before you can even worry about the safety of your main cast, including the hero sheriff played by Timothy Olyphant, the government swoops in to quarantine and cover up the incident. Now I may be slightly harsh on this movie, but I was consistently able to call out the plot twists and turns, and this made it easy for me to be prepared for the parts of the movie that should have made me leap out of my jammies. Sadly, this movie has been made before, all of the over zealous "Crazies" just made me wish for the rage filled zombies from 28 Days Later. In the end this movie was worth the money I paid for it, the whole 1 dollar from the Redbox.
Favorite scene: Timothy Olyphant in the morgue with the bone saw.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
status: released in Sweden 2009; on dvd
rating: * * * * (4 out of 5 stars)
Admittedly, I was late to the game when this book/movie/story had become a phenomenon. I have to say though, it's better late than never. Niels Arden Oplev brought the work of the late Stieg Larsson to the screen and has done an impressive job.
Mikael Blomkvist is a journalist fighting a "false" accusation, when he receives a job offer to find a dead girl and her killer. Utilizing the help of a hacker Lisbeth, who has been researching him, the search for the girl begins to take shape. The story dives through corruption, family secrets, murder, and sexual assault with staggering force.
Performances by Noomi Rapace (Lisbeth) and Michael Nyquist (Mikael) really give a lot of dimension to the film's complicated story. Solving the mysteries of this story makes one yearn for its successors. This avid moviegoer looks forward to continuing the trilogy.
rating: * * * * (4 out of 5 stars)
Admittedly, I was late to the game when this book/movie/story had become a phenomenon. I have to say though, it's better late than never. Niels Arden Oplev brought the work of the late Stieg Larsson to the screen and has done an impressive job.
Mikael Blomkvist is a journalist fighting a "false" accusation, when he receives a job offer to find a dead girl and her killer. Utilizing the help of a hacker Lisbeth, who has been researching him, the search for the girl begins to take shape. The story dives through corruption, family secrets, murder, and sexual assault with staggering force.
Performances by Noomi Rapace (Lisbeth) and Michael Nyquist (Mikael) really give a lot of dimension to the film's complicated story. Solving the mysteries of this story makes one yearn for its successors. This avid moviegoer looks forward to continuing the trilogy.
Danny Deckchair
status: 2003; on dvd
rating: * * (2 out of 5 stars) (second star because i laughed a couple times)
(Having just watched this movie makes me able to site this comparison.) Imagine "Up" meets "The Majestic" with just a sappier love story and you have Danny Deckchair. Rhys Ifans as Danny, a "cement man" with all these "crazy ideas", is getting ready for his annual holiday with his girlfriend. When she tells him she can't go, he ties a bunch of balloons to his deckchair just to see what would happen. Unexpectedly (but you know), he lifts off the ground and travels to a town where he becomes the biggest thing since sliced bread.
The movie is filled with quirky happenings and awkward situations. It has a few slightly funny parts, but those fizzle out about 45 minutes in. If you want to see Rhys Ifans play the strange suave guy in an earlier film, here you go. Just don't be surprised on where it takes you.
rating: * * (2 out of 5 stars) (second star because i laughed a couple times)
(Having just watched this movie makes me able to site this comparison.) Imagine "Up" meets "The Majestic" with just a sappier love story and you have Danny Deckchair. Rhys Ifans as Danny, a "cement man" with all these "crazy ideas", is getting ready for his annual holiday with his girlfriend. When she tells him she can't go, he ties a bunch of balloons to his deckchair just to see what would happen. Unexpectedly (but you know), he lifts off the ground and travels to a town where he becomes the biggest thing since sliced bread.
The movie is filled with quirky happenings and awkward situations. It has a few slightly funny parts, but those fizzle out about 45 minutes in. If you want to see Rhys Ifans play the strange suave guy in an earlier film, here you go. Just don't be surprised on where it takes you.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Inception
status: currently showing
rating: * * * * * (5 out of 5 stars) (what can I say he's awesome)
Christopher Nolan has made you experience short-term memory loss, sleep deprivation, magic, heroism and psychosis; so you shouldn't be surprised when he dives into your dreams for his next epic. Inception follows Leonardo DiCaprio as a thief who can search your dreams for anything you want kept hidden or secret. He is faced with most difficult task that will reunite him with his family, Inception. The visuals are reminiscent of the Wachowski brothers and action of Brian De Palma, but taken to the next level. This is a film that keeps you enthralled and just confused enough to dive right in. Rounding out the cast with Ellen Page, Ken Wantanbe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Cillian Murphy and Micheal Caine makes this visual voyage well acted too. Its nice to see the Christopher Nolan knows precisely what he is doing.
rating: * * * * * (5 out of 5 stars) (what can I say he's awesome)
Christopher Nolan has made you experience short-term memory loss, sleep deprivation, magic, heroism and psychosis; so you shouldn't be surprised when he dives into your dreams for his next epic. Inception follows Leonardo DiCaprio as a thief who can search your dreams for anything you want kept hidden or secret. He is faced with most difficult task that will reunite him with his family, Inception. The visuals are reminiscent of the Wachowski brothers and action of Brian De Palma, but taken to the next level. This is a film that keeps you enthralled and just confused enough to dive right in. Rounding out the cast with Ellen Page, Ken Wantanbe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Cillian Murphy and Micheal Caine makes this visual voyage well acted too. Its nice to see the Christopher Nolan knows precisely what he is doing.
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