This morning I saw The Heat, starring Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy.
It will be the topic of Cinebanter #123, so tune in late July for our review.
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Saturday, June 08, 2013
Love is in the Air
This morning I saw Love is in the Air, starring Nicolas Bedos and Ludivine Sagnier.
To read my review, visit Cinebanter.com.
To read my review, visit Cinebanter.com.
Friday, June 07, 2013
The Prey
Tonight I saw The Prey, starring Albert Dupontel and Claire Linné.
To ready my review, visit Cinebanter.com.
To ready my review, visit Cinebanter.com.
The Hangover Part III
Today I saw The Hangover Part III, starring Bradley Cooper and Zach Galifianakis.
The Wolf Pack is back—this time to save Doug (Justin Bartha) from Marshall (John Goodman), a drug kingpin that has a score to settle with Mr. Chow (Ken Jeong).
The group is en route to get help for Alan (Galifianakis), who has gone off his meds in recent months, when they get kidnapped by Marshall's goons. Their task? To bring Mr. Chow (and the gold he stole) back to Marshall.
Through Alan's lasting friendship with Chow, they're able to locate him and the adventure begins.
Along the way, they're forced to return to the scene of the (first) crime, Las Vegas (oh, darn) where Alan falls for his soul mate, Cassie (Melissa McCarthy). There's also a visit to Jade (Heather Graham) and a heart-stopping cliffhanger that will never allow me to view Caesar's Palace the same way again.
It's all good fun—even if not as raunchy or laugh-out-loud as the first two—and great to see these actors, who have such a fun chemistry with one another, back for another ride.
~~~
Wednesday, June 05, 2013
The Hunt
Last night I saw The Hunt, starring Mads Mikkelsen and Annika Wedderkopp.
To read my capsule review, visit Cinebanter.com.
To read my capsule review, visit Cinebanter.com.
Tuesday, June 04, 2013
Before Midnight
On Saturday, I saw Before Midnight, starring Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke.
It will be the topic of our June Cinebanter episode, so tune in later this month for our review.
It will be the topic of our June Cinebanter episode, so tune in later this month for our review.
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Monday, May 27, 2013
Sunday, May 26, 2013
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Two Mothers
Today I saw Two Mothers, starring Naomi Watts and Robin Wright.
To read my review, visit Cinebanter.com.
To read my review, visit Cinebanter.com.
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Out of Print
Tonight I screened Out of Print, a documentary playing at the 39th Annual Seattle International Film Festival.
To read my review, visit Cinebanter.com.
To read my review, visit Cinebanter.com.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Mussels in Love
Tonight I screened Mussels in Love, a documentary that will play at the 39th Annual Seattle International Film Festival.
To read my review, visit Cinebanter.com.
To read my review, visit Cinebanter.com.
Saturday, May 11, 2013
It's a Disaster
Tonight I saw It's a Disaster, starring Julia Stiles and David Cross.
Tracy (Stiles) and Glen (Cross) are on their third date, attending a "couples' brunch" at the home of Tracy's friends.
Because there are couples there is naturally drama and soon the group learns that one of the pairs are enduring a breakup. This causes an obvious tension among the guests until something more important interrupts them: a neighbor in a Hazmat suit. He's come to ask for spare batteries because the city is apparently under a chemical warfare attack. Everyone is instructed to stay inside and duct tape the airways as they face their own demise. Phones, electricity and Internet are all gone.
And just as in real life, when a crises occurs, everyone reacts in their own way. One friend is obsessed with learning who is doing this to them; another goes catatonic; some drink heavily; others have sex.
The calmest of the bunch is the outcast, Glen, who everyone likes, but no one really knows. The most out of control is Hedy (America Ferrera) who teaches high school chemistry, and realizes the dismal fate they're all facing.
Sounds gloomy, huh?
Not so much—it's more silly than depressing, and if they didn't bring up the "terrorist attack" in every other sentence, we probably would forget that they're all sure to die by nightfall.
The banter is enjoyable, but it does unfortunately feel like dozens of other indie films with unfaithful spouses and betrayals of friendship. The odd thing about this one is that it's a comedy, and the jokes are stronger than the characters.
~~~
Tracy (Stiles) and Glen (Cross) are on their third date, attending a "couples' brunch" at the home of Tracy's friends.
Because there are couples there is naturally drama and soon the group learns that one of the pairs are enduring a breakup. This causes an obvious tension among the guests until something more important interrupts them: a neighbor in a Hazmat suit. He's come to ask for spare batteries because the city is apparently under a chemical warfare attack. Everyone is instructed to stay inside and duct tape the airways as they face their own demise. Phones, electricity and Internet are all gone.
And just as in real life, when a crises occurs, everyone reacts in their own way. One friend is obsessed with learning who is doing this to them; another goes catatonic; some drink heavily; others have sex.
The calmest of the bunch is the outcast, Glen, who everyone likes, but no one really knows. The most out of control is Hedy (America Ferrera) who teaches high school chemistry, and realizes the dismal fate they're all facing.
Sounds gloomy, huh?
Not so much—it's more silly than depressing, and if they didn't bring up the "terrorist attack" in every other sentence, we probably would forget that they're all sure to die by nightfall.
The banter is enjoyable, but it does unfortunately feel like dozens of other indie films with unfaithful spouses and betrayals of friendship. The odd thing about this one is that it's a comedy, and the jokes are stronger than the characters.
~~~
The Great Gatsby
On Thursday I saw The Great Gatsby, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Carey Mulligan.
It will be the topic of our May Cinebanter show, so tune in later this month for our review.
It will be the topic of our May Cinebanter show, so tune in later this month for our review.
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Jurassic Park
Today I saw Jurassic Park in 3D, a 20th anniversary presentation of the Spielberg classic.
When the movie originally came out, I was a senior in high school and went to see it with my friend Laurie. My most distinct memory of the film is her bolting out of her chair during the T-rex attack and retreating to the lobby. I'm not 100% sure she ever came back in, but I made it through to the end.
Now, 20 years later, the magic has returned in a special 3D presentation, which makes the dinosaurs even more real (and horrific).
For those too young to remember, Dr. Grant (Sam Neill) and Dr. Sattler (Laura Dern) are scientists in love when they are plucked away from their dig to visit a yet-to-open theme park featuring resurrected dinosaurs.
Yes, it sounded ridiculous at the time, but now with all of the progress in genetics, the reality of the possibility makes it all the more frightening.
Anyway, wealthy John Hammond (Richard Attenborough), who "spares no expense" for anything has created this paleontology nerds' utopia without regard for what could happen if the security of the property is compromised. So of course, the climax of the movie is the security of the property being compromised. People get eaten; our heroes each experience a maximum state of peril.
I had no idea it would still get to me, knowing of course how it ends, but it did. It was almost just as thrilling as seeing it for the first time (and the only thing that looks dated are the hairstyles).
If you enjoyed it back in 1993, you'll enjoy it even more now as the dinosaurs leap off of the screen and lunge for your lap. If you've never seen it, brace yourself.
It may give you nightmares.
~~~
When the movie originally came out, I was a senior in high school and went to see it with my friend Laurie. My most distinct memory of the film is her bolting out of her chair during the T-rex attack and retreating to the lobby. I'm not 100% sure she ever came back in, but I made it through to the end.
Now, 20 years later, the magic has returned in a special 3D presentation, which makes the dinosaurs even more real (and horrific).
For those too young to remember, Dr. Grant (Sam Neill) and Dr. Sattler (Laura Dern) are scientists in love when they are plucked away from their dig to visit a yet-to-open theme park featuring resurrected dinosaurs.
Yes, it sounded ridiculous at the time, but now with all of the progress in genetics, the reality of the possibility makes it all the more frightening.
Anyway, wealthy John Hammond (Richard Attenborough), who "spares no expense" for anything has created this paleontology nerds' utopia without regard for what could happen if the security of the property is compromised. So of course, the climax of the movie is the security of the property being compromised. People get eaten; our heroes each experience a maximum state of peril.
I had no idea it would still get to me, knowing of course how it ends, but it did. It was almost just as thrilling as seeing it for the first time (and the only thing that looks dated are the hairstyles).
If you enjoyed it back in 1993, you'll enjoy it even more now as the dinosaurs leap off of the screen and lunge for your lap. If you've never seen it, brace yourself.
It may give you nightmares.
~~~
Tuesday, April 09, 2013
Room 237
Tonight I saw the documentary Room 237, about Kubrick's legendary film, The Shining.
Although I've seen The Shining a few times, and I realize its significance in the history of film, I'll confess that it's never been a favorite of mine. I hoped that this documentary would perhaps convince me to love it as much as the passionate horror fans do, but alas, instead I found myself chuckling for nearly two hours—finding no additional meaning in any of it.
Basically, Room 237 gives the microphone to a handful of obsessed fans who give film geeks a bad reputation. These individuals believe The Shining symbolizes everything from a faked landing-on-the-moon film to a metaphorical holocaust.
Their evidence? Well, they "see" paper-tray hard-ons and sexual intercourse in the pattern of the rugs, so it must be true, right?
Of course not, but as I laughed along with the rest of the audience hearing from these theorists, I started to cringe. Not only at how ridiculous these fans sound; but at the sound of our collective laughter in response.
Who among us hasn't held a belief or a passion that no one else shared? Who among us hasn't at some point been made fun of for something (or someone) that we sincerely love?
Though I enjoyed some of their far-fetched interpretations, and appreciated the comical visuals that accompanied their narrations, I felt bad when I thought about how they must have thought they'd be perceived (as film scholars) vs. how they're being portrayed (as nut cases).
If only the purpose of the film was really to hear from critics who approach this from a historical, academic perspective, I wouldn't have been left with such a bad taste in my mouth.
~~~
Although I've seen The Shining a few times, and I realize its significance in the history of film, I'll confess that it's never been a favorite of mine. I hoped that this documentary would perhaps convince me to love it as much as the passionate horror fans do, but alas, instead I found myself chuckling for nearly two hours—finding no additional meaning in any of it.
Basically, Room 237 gives the microphone to a handful of obsessed fans who give film geeks a bad reputation. These individuals believe The Shining symbolizes everything from a faked landing-on-the-moon film to a metaphorical holocaust.
Their evidence? Well, they "see" paper-tray hard-ons and sexual intercourse in the pattern of the rugs, so it must be true, right?
Of course not, but as I laughed along with the rest of the audience hearing from these theorists, I started to cringe. Not only at how ridiculous these fans sound; but at the sound of our collective laughter in response.
Who among us hasn't held a belief or a passion that no one else shared? Who among us hasn't at some point been made fun of for something (or someone) that we sincerely love?
Though I enjoyed some of their far-fetched interpretations, and appreciated the comical visuals that accompanied their narrations, I felt bad when I thought about how they must have thought they'd be perceived (as film scholars) vs. how they're being portrayed (as nut cases).
If only the purpose of the film was really to hear from critics who approach this from a historical, academic perspective, I wouldn't have been left with such a bad taste in my mouth.
~~~
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