Monday, April 26, 2010

Movie Review Catch Up

It has been forever and a day since I did any movie reviews, so I am going to remedy that.  I have such a list growing in my phone that if I don't do it now, I'm going to forget how I felt about any of these films.  So here you go:

I was mildly interested in seeing this movie just for Jamie Foxx.  I really enjoy watching him do character roles, and this was no exception.  The script is not great. . .  but the story is definitely compelling and the acting is great all the way around.  I wouldn't say RUN to your Netflix queue, but it's definitely worth it if you need stuff to add to your list.  Especially if you enjoy either of the lead actors.


I kind of loved this movie.  I know it's trendy to say how great it is.  I'm sure it makes me a wannabe hipster. . .  but seriously. . .  this movie is GOOD.  It's gut wrenching and exhausting in the sense that we have ALL been in both of the main character's shoes.  It made me NOT miss dating, to say the least.  But in a quiet and introspective way.  Not in the usual flashy and obnoxious sort of way that movies usually do.  Watch this.  Seriously.  It's good.

(but be warned, it doesn't have a chick movie happy ending.  I'm not ruining anything.  They tell you that at the very beginning)

 I honestly don't know how I felt about this.  I can't say I really loved any of the "characters".  I can't say I believe for one second that this is an ACTUAL documentary.  But it's sweet and it's cute and it definitely embraces the "real person" thing in a big fat way.  And there are some really charming little stop motion animation sequences.


This movie is stupid.  Pretty much all around stupid.  It IS interesting to watch Jane Lynch play the straight character surrounded by a bunch of crazies. . .  but that's really all it has going for it.  Skip it.  I should have.  REALLY.


 I can't say I totally ENJOYED this movie.  I watched it on a night when I really just wanted to relax. . .  and it was SO the wrong choice for that.  It captures intensity and anticipation in a way that only horror films have before for me. . .  but without the same darkness and fear.  It's incredibly well made.  More impressive because the director was a woman. . .  and I was completely OK with it winning best picture this year.  It's not a big shoot 'em up movie, though there is some of that. . .  but it definitely gives you a new perspective.  THe best part. . .  it doesn't take sides.  No, SERIOUSLY, it doesn't.  I was amazed.  It tells the story without a slant, from several different perspectives. . .  and that is a FEAT.


ARGH!  What IS IT with big name stars doing TERRIBLE movies.  This won't be the only time I say this in this post, but the leads were good, and had good chemistry. . .  but the script was AWFUL.  There were these random silly stupid side characters that I HATED. . .  Yeah.  Just don't waste the time.  Even if you like Kirsten or Josh. 
There's too much to get past.



So. . .  I love watch a good Clive film.  And this one is good, though sad.   It's set in Australia and it's very quiet and interesting and it feels a little bit like real life. . .  totally worth watching. 


 NO NO NO NO NO!  With a cast like this, you'll understand my disappointment in this movie very well when I say:  Ashton Kutcher was by FAR the best part of this movie.  Seriously.  The outtakes during the credits were better than the movie.  The silly little moments where there were tongue in cheek references to other Gary Marshall movies, while TOTALLY out of place, were a little funny.  But the movie as a whole?  HORRIBLE.  I want my 2 hours back.  Seriously.

If you can't believe that Patrick Dempsey is a doctor, something is wrong.

 GORGEOUS.  A lot of people whined about the plot of the movie and how it wasn't true to the books.  And I'm sure, if I had read the books as a kid, I'd have the same issue.  But I didn't.  So I didn't care.  It was beautiful, and captivating, and I really enjoyed the Tim Burtonness of it.  But if you care about the story, I can't be blamed if you disagree.



Again I say, good leads, terrible script. . . Bad movie.  I wanted to like it.  But I couldn't.
HOW HARD IS IT TO WRITE A GOOD SCRIPT?!  & why waste the money to produce the bad ones?  I'm just saying.

 Genius.  And by far my favorite Quentin Tarantino move ever.  It's got some look away moments, but mostly it's not gory.  And the language is amazingly tame.  I really really liked it.  SO much more than I thought I would.

 I fell asleep for at least 5 minutes in the middle of this movie. . . but that doesn't mean it was bad. . .  It was actually a really interesting concept.  I didn't really CARE that much about any of the characters. . .  and maybe that's because they were really robots half the time.  I'm not sure.  But it's definitely interesting.  And your husband will probably like it.


Oh my goodness, I liked this movie.  I have decided to officially abandon the idea that all digitally animated movies that aren't Pixar are crap.  It's just not true.  First I LOVED Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, and then THIS!  It's gorgeous.  The voices are great.  And the story is really compelling.  GO see it.  Or at LEAST add it to your Netflix queue.


Brilliantly written.  Brilliantly acted.  And, much to my surprise, I didn't EXPECT the way it turned out.  Not that I always know how things are going to end.  Hardly.  But I never knew, at any point in this film, where it was going next.  And that was kind of refreshing. 


And finally, the newest in the Masterpiece classics set of Jane Austen films.  I loved it.  LOVED it.  My only gripe, and it was a small one, was that I didn't feel like the age difference between Romola Garai and Johnny Lee Miller was all that obvious.  And it's kind of important.  But really, who cares?  Also, it was 4 hours long, spread over 3 weeks, and Ben watched ALL OF IT with me.  AND he liked it.  So that's saying something.  

6 comments:

Kelsey K. Hartley said...

I liked Emma too but I'm still partial to Gwyneth Paltrow's version. Partly because I preferred her Mr. Knightly to Romola's. Did you see Master Piece's story on Ann Frank? I liked it. It was more raw than I've seen and I wondered how much was artistic influence.
I still haven't seen 500 Days of Summer but would like to. I'm so behind on the latest movies. Last one we watched was Everybody's Fine. It was slow, but totally my kind of movie. Did you care for it?

Hel said...

Thanks for the reviews! I felt exactly the same way about Inglorius Basterds, but was really disappointed in the end of An Education. I think I felt like the rest of the moving was great and then it just ends like that? I am still mulling over it. Really want to see 500 Days of Summer.

mel said...

I'm glad you tag these posts. When we find time for a movie I am hunting down your reviews and red boxing some.

Emily Webster said...

Man, I've been reading your blog via ipod touch/bloglines so I haven't been commenting as much as I'd like! Anyway, I totally agree with your reviews (of the movies I've seen).

I'm Netflixing Damages right now. So good, but so dark. Have you seen any episodes? (you really have to start from the beginning on this one). Check it out!

Oh and I was looking back on your blog to when Nolan was about 2 months to see what he looked like back then and he looks a lot like he does now! I was just trying to get an idea of what Si will look like...anyway, he's still one cute little baby/toddler. :-)

Jules said...

I love your movie reviews. That's all I need to say, really. :-)

Stefanie said...

Yah!! I've been waiting for another of your review posts so I can update my netflix!!!! :)