DVD Reviews (Updated 6-7)

This is the page where I posted my DVD reviews. There will be no further updates to this page after the June 7th reviews. Take a look back through the old ones, and thanks for reading!!
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6-9-11

1) True Grit
Plot- A young girl recruits a tough U.S. Marshall to track down the man who killed her father. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Ethan Coen, Joel Coen (Blood Simple., Crimewave, Raising Arizona, Miller’s Crossing, Barton Fink, The Hudsucker Proxy, Fargo, The Big Lebowski, The Naked Man, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, The Man Who Wasn’t There, Intolerable Cruelty, The Ladykillers, No Country for Old Men, Burn After Reading, A Serious Man)

Starring- Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Hailee Steinfeld, Josh Brolin, Barry Pepper

Movieguy’s Verdict- With the Coen Brothers still soaring above the atmosphere on the wings of their magnificent Oscar-winning film “No Country For Old Men,” it seemed they had reached an entirely different strata in their already genius storytelling, style and presentation. This was the perfect project for them to take on, and generally speaking, any John Wayne movie deserves to be remade with real actors. The Coens had everything at their disposal, and if I was told that they would somehow manage to miss the mark, I would have never believed it. Even though critics and the Academy decided to shower this film with praise, it turned out to be highly disappointing. The film began with a barrage of religious messages and symbolism that were much too simple and obvious for the story. The Coens have made a habit of brilliantly using music to enhance the already thick moods in their films (“No Country for Old Men” had no music), but this film’s soundtrack was quite poor. Flowery, overly chipper and badly placed, the music was a constant reminder of how off the mark the Coen Brothers’ direction was. One of the Coens’ strongest directorial abilities comes from their ability to direct complex and heavily emotional sequences with stark simplicity that cuts to the core of the human condition. Their direction in this film felt empty and overly plain, reminiscent of a talented actor phoning in a romantic comedy performance they accepted for yacht money. While the screenplay was not as disappointing as their direction, it suffered from inconsistencies and other problems. The Coens have always had great success writing dialogue, and this film featured great conversations between characters that helped establish stretches of wit, intelligence and biting sarcasm that brought the characters to life. In the film’s final third however, the Coens attempted to force inspirational and motivational themes on the audience, which is something Clint “The Overrated One” Eastwood constantly does. By far this inconsistent film’s strongest feature was acting. Jeff Bridges was excellent in his tough as nails character. His menacing stare and forceful screen presence was outstanding, though it would have been even more powerful if the Coens had directed the film consistently. Matt Damon was also excellent in his quasi-polished and sarcastic supporting role which served as a nice compliment to Bridges’ raw performance. Surprisingly, the best performance of this film came from Hailee Steinfeld, whose remarkable co-starring showing stole the spotlight from Bidges and Damon. Her presence, delivery and personality were absolutely remarkable, and the unwavering command and dedication she displayed were the film’s most powerful qualities. This film was a highly disappointing work from a cast and crew with so much talent, but Steinfeld’s memorable performance was a must-see in a film that failed to do much else.

2) Just Go with It
Plot- A guy convinces a mother of two to pose as his soon-to-be-divorced wife in order to woo the woman of his dreams. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Dennis Dugan (Problem Child, Brain Donors, Happy Gilmore, Beverly Hills Ninja, Big Daddy, Saving Silverman, National Security, The Benchwarmers, I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, You Don’t Mess with the Zohan, Grown Ups)

Written by- Allan Loeb (Things We Lost in the Fire, 21, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, The Switch, The Dilemma), Timothy Dowling (Role Models)

Starring- Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston, Brooklyn Decker, Nick Swardson, Nicole Kidman, Bailee Madison, Rachel Specter

Movieguy’s Verdict- With Dennis Dugan and Adam Sandler at the helm, this project had every reason to be a complete failure. To my complete surprise, it actually turned out to be a legitimately funny movie. The film gained considerable strength from its dialogue, which was driven by wit and sarcasm, yet it carried an entirely natural feel. At times Sandler’s humor felt a tad childish (isn’t it always?) but it was never forced, delivered laughs, and the frequent feel of improvisation added personality. I also found good chemistry with the supporting players, as Jennifer Aniston and Nick Swardson were quite good in their roles. I was shocked to see Nicole Kidman’s name on the cast list, but even though this project is entirely atypical of her resume and talents, she did a fine job with a highly predictable character. Brooklyn Decker was simply hired to be a beautiful woman, and given that she has no real acting experience, her performance could have been a lot worse. Her character, however, was completely unbelievable. The film had plenty of legitimately funny scenes and ideas at its disposal, but for some reason, Dugan and co-writers Allan Loeb and Timothy Dowling simply gave up with 30 minutes of screentime left. The final half hour became a cheesy and conventional Hollywood romantic comedy filled with clichés and a couple of regrettable plot choices. Still, the overall result was quite surprising indeed. The film wasn’t Shakespeare, but it delivered plenty of comedy in a relaxed and enjoyable way, and made great use of the personalities and creativity of the cast. I’d give this one a try- you could do a whole lot worse.

3) Sanctum
Plot- A diving team experiences a life-threatening crisis during an expedition to an unexplored cave system. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Alister Grierson (Kokoda)

Written by- John Garvin, Andrew Wight

Starring- Rhys Wakefield, Allison Cratchley, Christopher Baker, Ioan Gruffudd, Richard Roxburgh, Alice Parkinson, Dan Wyllie

Movieguy’s Verdict- Though this film excelled in technical areas, its writing, acting, score and attitude were entirely second-rate. With James Cameron producing you knew that Hollywood themes and clichés would be in full effect, and they definitely were. This should have been a gritty suspense movie, but no doubt Cameron’s influence turned it into a heavily clichéd and mostly forgettable movie. Hollywood corniness could be felt right away as John Garvin and Andrew Wight’s screenplay created tired and predictable character dynamics. True to Hollywood blockbuster form, the film contained far too much music, and David Hirschfelder’s score was quite exaggerated and poor overall. The film’s main success was its underwater photography, which was a fantastic technical achievement. Alister Grierson was able to use the film’s 3D theatrical presentation very well, and his camerawork was quite solid overall. The use of lighting and sound were excellent also, which was a good thing because this movie’s technical excellence was the only thing that made it remotely watchable. Acting was extremely poor to say the least. Rhys Wakefield, Ioan Gruffudd and Richard Roxburgh were the film’s main performers, and they overplayed their parts to a severe and cringe-worthy degree. Hirschfelder’s terrible score found creative ways to loudly celebrate their worst on-screen moments. The screenplay was quite predictable, throwing around with regularity lazy disaster movie clichés and elementary character development. Even so, the film was able to achieve suspense in many of the right places as its technical achievements saved it from total failure. I’m not sure this film really works without its 3D theatrical presentation, and overall it’s not something I would recommend watching unless you could do so for free. Nevertheless it is a prime example of how standard Hollywood conventions (and horrendous acting) can spoil a perfectly good setting and direction.
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6-2-11

1) Drive Angry 3D
Plot- A felon breaks out of hell for one last chance at redemption: to prevent the cult who murdered his daughter from sacrificing her baby in three days’ time. He’s aided by a young waitress (Heard) and her ex-boyfriend’s muscle car, and together the duo will have to face down the leader of the cult, the police, and a killer known as “The Accountant” — who wants to return him to the Devil. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Patrick Lussier (Dracula 2000, White Noise 2: The Light, My Bloody Valentine 3D)

Written by- Todd Farmer (Jason X, The Messengers, My Bloody Valentine 3D), Patrick Lussier

Starring- Nicolas Cage, Amber Heard, William Fichtner, Katy Mixon, Billy Burke, David Morse, Christina Campbell, Pruitt Taylor Vince

Movieguy’s Verdict- This movie was indeed every bit as stupid as its premise and title would suggest. One of the worst movies of 2011 in many categories, this trashy and idiotic project was firing on all cylinders. Patrick Lussier wasted no time embracing the high level of stupidity of the writing and characters, and carried this through from beginning to end. Lussier was clearly attempting to make a slick, cool, stylish and funny action movie. His goal appeared to be some kind of mix between the uniquely exaggerated feel of “Sin City,” and the action-comedy content of “Mr. & Mrs. Smith,” but Lussier doesn’t have 5% of the skill or vision to pull that off. The result was a movie that was as idiotic as they come, filled with pointless sex scenes, badly constructed action sequences with possibly the worst gunfights ever conceived, and even failed 3D gimmicks for its theatrical presentation. What is there to say about Nicolas Cage? The man has Oscar caliber skill when he elects to use it, but he makes so many terrible decisions that it gets harder and harder to defend him. As anyone could have predicted, his performance in this movie was horrendous. He played his laughably stupid character with a fake layer of Lussier’s attempted coolness and overwhelming corniness to such a degree that it almost seemed as though he was trying to give the worst performance of his career. There is nothing left to say about this ultra-trashy movie other than to avoid it at all costs!
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5-26-11

1) I Am Number Four
Plot- Nine alien teens come to Earth after their planet is destroyed by an enemy species. But soon discover that their enemy is now after them on Earth. (imdb.com)

Directed by- D.J. Caruso (The Salton Sea, Taking Lives, Two for the Money, Disturbia)

Written by- Alfred Gough (Double Tap, Made Men, Shanghai Noon, Showtime, Shanghai Knights, Spider-Man 2, Herbie Fully Loaded, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor), Miles Millar (Double Tap, Made Men, Shanghai Noon, Showtime, Shanghai Knights, Spider-Man 2, Herbie Fully Loaded, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor), Marti Noxon (Just a Little Harmless Sex)

Starring- Alex Pettyfer, Timothy Olyphant, Dianna Agron, Dianna Agron, Kevin Durand, Callan McAuliffe, Jake Abel

Movieguy’s Verdict- This is an example of a movie that could have been decent, but its teen Hollywood corniness ruined any chance for success. Alex Pettyfer led the way with a dull and uninspired leading performance that contributed nothing good to the overall outcome of the movie. I felt sorry for Timothy Olyphant, who was the only legitimate actor in the movie and clearly has more talent than the entire cast combined. His performance was the only consistently positive aspect of the movie, which was filled with either transparent and week teen actors, or exaggerated and terribly overacted bad guy characters led by Kevin Durand. Alfred Gough, Miles Millar and Marti Noxon don’t have any good films in their resumes, and this screenplay is a great reason why. Filled with corny and completely unnecessary high school characters, a cheesy romantic subplot, exaggerated villains and periods of slowness, it was easy to see why there was very little substance to this movie. D.J. Caruso’s direction was quite poor as well. Caruso began the film with a good pace, but ruined it early with MTV-style direction that placed pop music over every cutscene in the first third of the movie. Caruso was unable to keep the film at a consistent pace, constantly allowing it to either slow to a crawl or grow extremely corny with highly exaggerated and overdone action sequences. Overall, this was an amateurish attempt by Hollywood to extract money from a teen demographic, and it didn’t do that very well either.

2) Gnomeo and Juliet
Plot- An animated version of Romeo and Juliet. With gnomes.

Written and Directed by- Kelly Asbury (Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, Shrek 2)

Voices of- James McAvoy, Emily Blunt, Maggie Smith, Jason Statham, Michael Caine, Patrick Stewart, Julie Walters, Matt Lucas, Jim Cummings, Stephen Merchant, Ashley Jensen, Hulk Hogan, Dolly Parton, Ozzy Osbourne

Movieguy’s Verdict- Quite obviously this was a bad idea, but the result was actually a lot more well-meaning than one might expect. If this movie looked corny to anyone, that’s because it was. Almost all aspects of Kelly Asbury’s writing and direction were extremely corny and overdone, as the film was filled with lots of commotion and standard kid’s movie antics. However there was quite a bit of creativity here as well, after all it’s not as though you can sarcastically say, “Great, another gnome movie…” Asbury’s writing was exaggerated as one would expect, but it was also quite clever, combining a decent wit with slightly less watered down Romeo and Juliet references than other kid’s movies. The film benefited from outstanding 3D CGI which was used as creatively and inventively as any Pixar production. Vocal performances were also pretty solid overall, with James McAvoy and Emily Blunt delivering great results from their title roles. The majority of the supporting performances were strong enough to help the film along as well. Though this isn’t a movie I’d recommend to anyone just for the hell of it, if you’re an adult who wants something G-rated to watch with your kids, I promise you won’t be bored.
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5-19-11

1) The Mechanic
Plot- An elite assassin takes on an apprentice who has a connection to one of his earlier targets. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Simon West (Con Air, The General’s Daughter, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, When a Stranger Calls)

Written by- Richard Wenk (Vamp, Just the Ticket, 16 Blocks), Lewis John Carlino (Seconds, The Fox, The Brotherhood, The Mechanic, A Reflection of Fear, Crazy Joe, The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea, I Never Promised You a Rose Garden, The Great Santini, Resurrection, Haunted Summer)

Starring- Jason Statham, Ben Foster, Donald Sutherland, Tony Goldwyn

Movieguy’s Verdict- The truth is, there wasn’t much of a reason to have any optimism going into this movie. After all, Jason Statham has taken a once promising career and ruined it with one cheesy action performance after another; why would this film be any different? Statham’s character was a total cliché, and he definitely overplayed the “strong and silent” dynamic. The film had its share of Hollywood action clichés as well, and director Simon West made no effort to camouflage them. What surprised me most was how well the film ended up working. Ben Foster, a vessel of pure energy and raw intensity, delivered a strong performance. He played well off of Statham and wound up generating a character dynamic that was worth watching. Though West’s direction was far from perfect, he created a nicely stylized atmosphere which made the film feel more intense at times than one would expect. Richard Wenk and Lewis John Carlino didn’t have to work very hard on the screenplay. Not only is it a remake of Carlino’s 1972 film (starring Charles Bronson and his mustache), but there wasn’t much of a plot to begin with. Though predictable at every turn, West’s action sequences were very well choreographed and the movie wasted no time with superfluous scenes or unnecessary dialogue. Its blunt, straightforward style made this movie, which appeared to have no potential for success, into a highly watchable guilty pleasure that accomplished everything it set out to do. Give this one a try and you’ll probably enjoy it.

2) The Rite
Plot- A thriller centered on a disillusioned American seminary student who attends exorcism school at the Vatican, and his encounter with demonic forces. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Mikael Håfström (Derailed, 1408)

Written by- Michael Petroni (The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys, Queen of the Damned, Till Human Voices Wake Us, Boys Own Story, Possession, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader)

Starring- Colin O’Donoghue, Anthony Hopkins, Ciarán Hinds, Alice Braga, Rutger Hauer, Toby Jones

Movieguy’s Verdict- Every positive quality that this movie contains can be countered with a negative one, making the film cancel itself out in the end. Colin O’Donoghue is an unassuming actor well suited for the lead of this film. His demeanor and presence felt natural and low key for the horror genre which was a fine casting decision. All eyes are on Anthony Hopkins of course, and he did not disappoint. Hopkins gave a forceful, lightning quick and chilling performance which grew more and more intense as the film developed. Mikael Håfström has done good work in the past, and his direction of this film had good ideas, but carried plenty of problems too. Håfström, and the film as a whole, benefited tremendously from filming on location in Rome and Budapest. The atmosphere was one of old fashioned authenticity with creepy castles, old villages and a generally antique feel. Håfström was able to create intensity at times, and built the film to get darker as it went along, however he and writer Michael Petroni wasted too much time. The film’s romantic subplot was useless and should have been removed entirely. Though he included some good surreal imagery, Håfström’s direction turned lackadaisical in places, never allowing for a consistent pace. Petroni’s screenplay was in need of tightening through much of the film, and he followed a conventional and predictable story structure. In actuality this could have been a legitimately good movie if it had been thought through properly, but the end result was entirely average.

3) The Roommate
Plot- College student Sara finds her safety jeopardized after she’s assigned to a dorm room with a new roommate, Rebecca, who becomes increasingly obsessed with her. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Christian E. Christiansen

Written by- Sonny Mallhi

Starring- Minka Kelly, Leighton Meester, Cam Gigandet, Alyson Michalka, Matt Lanter, Billy Zane

Movieguy’s Verdict- I will begin by saying how much I like this plot. After all, a psychotic, stalker roommate is something that does happen, and that realism makes any story better. However that is the extent of the good things I can say about this alleged movie, which turned a great plot into one of the year’s worst and most idiotic exercises in futility. The film began with typical college party clichés and went downhill from there. Minka Kelly will be 31 years old on June 24th. How she came to play an 18-year-old college freshman is beyond me, but the obvious age gap made her look ridiculous in the part. Her transparent, overly fluffy performance did not help either. Leighton Meester at least looked the part, but Sonny Mallhi’s horrendous excuse for a screenplay made her character totally absurd. Mallhi filled the movie with exaggerated superficial teen characters who were as empty as Christian E. Christiansen’s direction. Even though the plot had potential, Mallhi and Christiansen never created a single scene worth watching. This was a highly dull, predictable and ridiculous movie for a variety of reasons, such as Meester’s character being a psychotic stalker for no apparent reason. The film was quite dull and highly predictable as Christiansen’s clunky camerawork sloppily captured idiotic characters, terrible performances, a laughable climax and an awkward age disparity with the lead actress. Avoid this trash at all costs!
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5-12-11

1) No Strings Attached
Plot- A comedy centered on casual friends Adam and Emma as they try to keep their relationship strictly physical. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Ivan Reitman (Stripes, Ghost Busters, Twins, Ghostbusters II, Kindergarten Cop, Dave, Junior, Fathers’ Day, Six Days Seven Nights, Evolution, My Super Ex-Girlfriend)

Written by- Elizabeth Meriwether

Starring- Natalie Portman, Ashton Kutcher, Kevin Kline, Cary Elwes, Greta Gerwig, Lake Bell, Olivia Thirlby, Ludacris

Movieguy’s Verdict- In the end this was a formulaic romantic comedy that could easily pass as a guilty pleasure. Elizabeth Meriwether’s screenplay was the film’s strongest feature. She wrote dialogue very well and created cleverness, humor and sarcastic wit throughout most of the movie. Though much of her structure was standard for the genre, her blunt and often no-frills conversations made the film feel very realistic. Natalie Portman clearly has far more talent than this film required, but her performance was enthusiastic, filled with personality and carried a level of offbeat cleverness we haven’t seen from her in a while. Unfortunately, Ashton Kutcher underperformed yet again in his role, never capitalizing on the countless chances he was given by Meriwether and Portman to develop his character. Kevin Kline offered a colorful supporting performance which helped to offset Kutcher to some degree. Until the final third, the film was moving along quite nicely. It was a likable movie that carried mature humor farther than most comedies, and featured believable characters as well. I’ve never been a fan of Ivan Reitman’s direction, and the corniness and predictability of the film’s Hollywood ending definitely had his name on it. Despite its predictability, this was an enjoyable and legitimately funny movie that probably deserves a bit more credit than the average fare.
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5-5-11

1) The Green Hornet
Plot- A newspaper publisher by day and masked crime fighter by night, The Green Hornet and his martial arts expert sidekick, Kato, fight crime while trying to keep their true identities a secret. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Michel Gondry (Human Nature, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Science of Sleep, Be Kind Rewind)

Written by- Seth Rogen (Superbad, Drillbit Taylor, Pineapple Express), Evan Goldberg (Superbad, Pineapple Express)

Starring- Seth Rogen, Jay Chou, Christoph Waltz, Cameron Diaz, Tom Wilkinson, David Harbour, Edward Furlong

Movieguy’s Verdict- Perhaps the most curious storyline of this film was Michele Gondry as director. Gondry is a visual genius and his unique ability to capture bizarre, imaginative exchanges between odd characters makes him a one-of-a-kind filmmaker. His participation in this film was perhaps the strangest choice of his career, and sadly there wasn’t a moment in the movie in which any of Gondry’s talents were present. The film got off to a rough start which was glazed in Hollywood corniness and action movie clichés. After 15 minutes or so the film settled down, shifting into a more clever, offbeat comedy emphasizing the fantastic chemistry between Seth Rogen and Jay Chou. Rogen and Chou fit their parts well, and provided enjoyable and suitably clever performances. Rogen played a lazy and spoiled rich kid very well and created plenty of conversationally based humor with his attitude and speech pattern. Chou’s facial expressions and timing were razor-sharp, and he played nicely with Rogan’s personality. Cameron Diaz provided a surprisingly quick and witty supporting role, while Christophe Waltz did well with his bad guy role, adding slightly more personality than roles of this type usually carry. While Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s screenplay did contain some clever comedy and well written characters, the plot was highly predictable. The film featured quite a few over the top action sequences, especially near the end, and felt corny at times. Despite some inconsistencies and the film’s Hollywood corniness, this was an enjoyable guilty pleasure summer action movie that provided plenty of entertainment.

2) The Dilemma
Plot- A comedy centered on a guy who struggles with whether or not to tell his best friend that his wife is having an affair. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Ron Howard (Angels & Demons, Frost/Nixon, The Da Vinci Code, Cinderella Man, The Missing, A Beautiful Mind, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Edtv, Ransom, Apollo 13, The Paper, Far and Away, Backdraft, Parenthood, Willow, Gung Ho, Cocoon, Splash, Night Shift, Grand Theft Auto)

Written by- Allan Loeb (Things We Lost in the Fire, 21, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, The Switch)

Starring- Vince Vaughn, Kevin James, Winona Ryder, Jennifer Connelly, Channing Tatum, Queen Latifah, Amy Morton

Movieguy’s Verdict- Ron Howard’s directorial resume contains many notable films, but he has demonstrated a consistent inability to succeed in the comedy genre. With this film Howard had every possible opportunity to direct a truly outstanding comedy, but despite so many good qualities the film still found a way to end up in mediocrity. Vince Vaughn and Kevin James had great chemistry in a very well cast film. The emphasis of the screenplay was dialogue, and James and Vaughn delivered plenty of laughs in quick exchanges. Allan Loeb and Howard established well-written characters who were intelligently created and multidimensional. The plot was interesting and the screenplay was a fine blend of humor and mature realism. Unfortunately the second half of the film lagged considerably, slowing the pace to a crawl, eliminating all comedy and actually turning somewhat corny near the end. With the screenplay unable to finish what it started, the performances impressively found ways to remain the film’s best feature. Along with strong showings from James and Vaughn, Wynona Rider, Jennifer Connelly and others turned in convincing and well developed supporting roles. It was obvious that Howard was aiming for a mature and realistic comedy about friendship and romantic relationships. He was able to achieve this, but he lost sight of the film’s pace in the second half and screenplay inconsistencies prevented the movie from reaching its full potential.
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4-28-11

No DVDs released this week, unless you count Season 14 of South Park…
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4-22-11

1) The King’s Speech
Plot- A chronicle of King George VI’s effort to overcome his nervous stammer with the assistance of speech therapist Lionel Logue. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Tom Hooper (Red Dust, The Damned United)

Written by- David Seidler (Tucker: The Man and His Dream, Time to Say Goodbye?, Quest for Camelot, The King and I)

Starring- Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter, Guy Pearce, Michael Gambon, Geoffrey Rush, Timothy Spall, Jennifer Ehle

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was an excellent film which left nothing to be desired. In fact it was 2010’s sixth best movie, which is not too shabby. Goaded on by critics and lavished with awards, it was not the most deserving nominee in any of the major categories which it won. Now the film carries the unfortunate stigma of becoming yet another heavily over-awarded Oscar winner. Despite this fact, the film was, as I said, very well done indeed. As you’d expect from a film depicting the British upper class, the performances were highly delicate and nuanced. Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush were fantastic in roles that required considerable skill, instinct and intelligence. Firth’s performance was closed off and inaccessible, yet also highly vulnerable and surprising, fitted with layer upon layer of psychology to dissect. Rush displayed charisma and wit, and delivered an increased energy level that kept Firth on his toes. Tom Hooper’s direction was elegant yet distinctly modern, as he seemed to abandon the forced opulence with which British royalty has been portrayed in similar projects. Though he didn’t do anything else particularly noteworthy with his direction, he crafted the film with a highly accessible feel that paved the way for David Seidler’s screenplay to take over. By far the writing was the film’s most impressive attribute. Though the plot may not seem terribly compelling, the dynamic between the characters was written quite well, and Firth and Rush were fascinating to watch together. Seidler sifted through numerous levels of psychological issues, including them in a highly clever screenplay filled with wit, charm, intelligence, richly constructed dialogue and forcefully compelling characters that never stopped evolving. Overall this film was genuinely compelling and quite well-made from start to finish. It succeeded on the strength of Seidler’s masterful screenplay and perfectly constructed performances, and is indeed a must-see.

2) The Way Back
Plot- A young military officer leads an escape from a hellish gulag in Soviet-occupied Poland during WWII. Making a pact with six companions, the group embarks on a daring mission across Asia to hopeful safety in India. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Peter Weir (Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, The Truman Show, Fearless, Green Card, Dead Poets Society, The Mosquito Coast, Witness, The Year of Living Dangerously, Gallipoli, The Last Wave, Picnic at Hanging Rock, The Cars That Eat People)

Written by- Keith R. Clarke, Peter Weir (Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, Green Card, The Year of Living Dangerously, Gallipoli, The Last Wave, The Cars That Eat People)

Starring- Jim Sturgess, Ed Harris, Colin Farrell, Saoirse Ronan, Mark Strong

Movieguy’s Verdict- Peter Weir has shown flashes of brilliance in a long and inconsistent career. Despite plenty of opportunities the Australian filmmaker could not find a way to make this into a complete film. Often times it isn’t how you start, but how you finish. Some films can overcome a slow or lackluster start and still achieve success with a strong second half, but as Weir found out with this movie, it’s much harder to overcome the opposite. The first half of the film was brilliantly crafted as Weir placed the audience in the harshest of environments. His direction made it possible to feel the elements attacking the characters, weaving a forceful, brutish narrative between intense and very well acted performances. Perhaps most impressive was Weir’s ability to interact with the film’s sweeping cinematography, creating a strange sense of beauty in a barren, lifeless wilderness filled with danger at every turn. The story wasted no time, focusing solely on the characters as they tried to battle the elements and keep their sanity. Jim Sturgess and Ed Harris gave strong, dedicated performances and carried the film nicely. The best showing however came from Colin Farrell, whose intensity and unpredictability would have improved the outcome of the film greatly had he been given more screentime. Sadly, Saoirse Ronan was severely underused and under-directed by Weir, thus she contributed very little to the film. At the halfway point the film hit a wall and was never able to climb over. Weir’s direction lost its bite and symbolism, and the screenplay lost its motivation to become frustratingly redundant. Weir and Keith R. Clarke apparently felt no need to develop the characters for the duration of the film, and despite its potential for emotional resonance, the second half of the film was bland, uninteresting and contained almost no forward momentum. The film grew less and less interesting with each scene, and Weir seemed as lost as the characters he was filming. Despite a strong cast and enormous potential, this movie was ultimately very disappointing.

3) Gulliver’s Travels
Plot- Shipwrecked slacker Lemuel Gulliver finds himself transported to an island in the middle of the Bermuda Triangle, where he’s a giant among the natives, the Lilliputians. Initially taken prisoner, Gulliver becomes a favorite of the court and schemes for a way in which the Lilliputians can outwit their rivals, the Blefuscudians. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Rob Letterman (Shark Tale, Monsters vs Aliens)

Written by- Joe Stillman (Shrek, Shrek 2, Planet 51), Nicholas Stoller (Writer of: Fun with Dick and Jane, Yes Man, Get Him to the Greek; Director of: Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Get Him to the Greek)

Starring- Jack Black, Emily Blunt, Jason Segel, Amanda Peet, T.J. Miller, Romany Malco, Billy Connolly

Movieguy’s Verdict- There have been many adaptations of Jonathan Swift’s famous novel, and none of them have been particularly good. This movie didn’t have any real potential for success, and seconds into the opening credits it was clear what kind of poorly conceived Hollywood ride we were in for. Rob Letterman’s ultra corny presentation featured atrocious music and a forced Hollywood feel that was only outdone by the film’s ridiculous romantic subplot. The most curious contributor to this film was Nicholas Stoller, whose has shown consistent ability to be a smart and clever writer of well-rounded comedies. There was no sign of his intelligence in this most regrettable of movie choices, and let’s hope his involvement in this mess was a contractual obligation and not a delusion. Letterman’s direction was extremely forced and made the film very difficult to sit through, but the acting wasn’t much better. Jack Black has shown talent in some of his more serious films, but in this movie he clearly didn’t put forth a second of effort and showed no acting ability whatsoever. Jason Segel was the only one who gave a halfway decent showing, but his attempt at a British accent kept drifting in and out. Frankly I was just happy to see someone present the slightest amount of effort. This was a terrible kid’s action movie that displayed extreme levels of cheesiness, phoned in performances and a complete lack of any positive qualities – avoid at all costs!
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4-14-11

1) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I
Plot- Harry, Hermione, and Ron set out from Hogwarts to find and destroy the Horcruxes — the secret to Voldemort’s power and immortality. (imdb.com)

Directed by- David Yates (The Tichborne Claimant, The Girl in the Café, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince)

Written by- Steve Kloves (Racing with the Moon, The Fabulous Baker Boys, Flesh and Bone, Wonder Boys, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince)

Starring- Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Ralph Fiennes, Bill Nighy, Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman, Jason Isaacs, Bonnie Wright, Tom Felton, Maggie Smith, Rhys Ifans, Michael Gambon, Clémence Poésy, John Hurt, Miranda Richardson, Brendan Gleeson, Ciarán Hinds, David Thewlis, Robbie Coltrane, Warwick Davis, Timothy Spall, Jim Broadbent, Rade Serbedzija, Julie Walters, Imelda Staunton, David O’Hara

Movieguy’s Verdict- There hasn’t been anything resembling a plot or overarching purpose for this never-ending series since 2007, and dividing J.K. Rowling’s allegedly final Harry Potter book into two parts only accentuates this fact. At least this movie had roughly 45 minutes of plot, which is more than the last two films combined! It seems the overwhelming corniness that filled the early films is gone, and has been replaced with a darker atmosphere intended to create a mysterious and ominous aura. Unfortunately a total lack of storytelling ability, combined with an obvious effort to filibuster this series for more money made this movie as irrelevant as the previous three films, and as forgettable as the entire franchise. Steve Kloves and David Yates, whose names are quite familiar in this franchise by now, took the longest possible route to the most obvious and simple conclusion. The writing and direction wasted extreme amounts of time, leaving 65% of the film with no story or purpose to be found. Yates’ direction was visually strong, and if the film had a plot that carried beyond the first 45 minutes, his dark environment and well-formed effects would have been highly effective. Performances were less then great. Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint have always been the backbone of the series from an acting standpoint because supporting performances have been so consistently atrocious, but they have clearly outgrown these movies. The general boredom they showed in their bland and uninteresting performances was related to the lack of story, but also perhaps a reflection of the repetitive and aimless nature of the last few films. Thankfully the terrible performances of Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter and others had limited screentime in this offering. Despite consistently good visuals the film wasted far too much time and never felt like it was going anywhere. At this rate they’ll take Part 2 and break it into two parts, then each part will be divided into two more parts and so on, so that this cash cow can never be put out to pasture.

2) Country Strong
Plot- A drama centered on a rising country-music songwriter who sparks with a fallen star. Together, they mount his ascent and her comeback, which leads to romantic complications involving her husband/manager and a beauty queen-turned-singer. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Shana Feste (The Greatest)

Starring- Garrett Hedlund, Gwyneth Paltrow, Leighton Meester, Tim McGraw

Movieguy’s Verdict- This movie was obviously made in an effort to capitalize on any potential leftover popularity and critical good will from Jeff Bridges’ Oscar-winning film “Crazy Heart.” The result was probably not what the cast and crew expected. The problem with this film wasn’t a lack of sincerity. Shana Feste wrote and directed the film with emotion and created believable and dynamic characters. The trouble was, Feste failed to deviate from the standard music movie formula, leaving very little that hasn’t been done countless times before. Despite its tired and mostly predictable nature, excellent performances drove the first half of the film to success. Garrett Hedlund was outstanding, stealing the show from Gwyneth Paltrow, who most likely thought she would receive an Oscar nomination. Hedlund’s strength, resilience and natural screen presence took a very predictable and tired character to the next level, and his chemistry with Paltrow was strong as well. Paltrow’s performance shouldn’t be overlooked either, as her obvious dedication to her character and the film resulted in a very real, moving and superbly detailed showing. Curiously though, she became little more than a supporting player halfway through the film, which robbed the story of energy and momentum. While the first half was good, the second half slowed its pace tremendously, becoming a redundant and extremely drawn out attempt at romance. The actors did their best to remain heartfelt and committed to the story, and respectable supporting performances from Leighton Meester and Tim McGraw helped the cause, but Feste allowed the film to slow to a snail’s pace. Sadly, Feste created the perfect ending, but her inexperience as a filmmaker stunted its effectiveness with her handling of the movie’s middle portion. There are plenty of worse music films out there, but you’ve seen it all before, so this is one that can probably be skipped.
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4-7-11

1) TRON: Legacy
Plot- When Sam investigates a signal sent from his father’s old arcade, he’s pulled into the digital world where his dad, Kevin Flynn, has been trapped for 20 years. With father and son reunited, they team up with the warrior Quorra on a life-or-death journey across the cyber universe Kevin created. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Joseph Kosinski

Written by- Adam Horowitz, Edward Kitsis

Starring- Jeff Bridges, Garrett Hedlund, Olivia Wilde, Michael Sheen, James Frain, Beau Garrett

Movieguy’s Verdict- There is always cause for concern when a sequel is released so long after its predecessor. It has been 18 years since the 1982 “TRON” was released, and while that is typically a bad sign of things to come, director Joseph Kosinski and “TRON” writer and director Steven Lisberger made sure this was not just another greedy Hollywood sequel. Having the original “TRON” filmmaker working in this production as a producer was a fruitful decision, and Lisberger no doubt was one of the biggest reasons why the lengthy time gap was used to the movie’s benefit. “TRON” was groundbreaking with its use of special effects, and while this film didn’t necessarily do anything new, its utilization of technology was second to none. Joseph Kosinski’s vision of the future was astounding. He provided a dark and visually stunning atmosphere with great camerawork and intense action sequences. Perhaps most impressive was his use of 3D as a part of the film’s plot. While most filmmakers can’t do a thing with 3D, Kosinski’s all-encompassing direction puts him behind only James Cameron’s “Avatar” for best use of 3D to date. There wouldn’t be “TRON” without Jeff Bridges, and his performance was versatile, intense and truly fantastic. His ability to connect himself so deeply to his performance in the first film was impressive given the near two decade gap between movies. Garrett Hedlund was also outstanding in a strong, decisive and well-developed showing. Hedlund is making a habit of good performances, and he was the only good thing about the otherwise forgettable “Country Strong.” Michael Sheen, on the other hand, was horrendous in his terribly forced and corny supporting role that seemed very out of place with the overall mood of the film. Though their writing was not without problems, Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis created a screenplay that told a deep and exciting story with rich and layered characters and plot elements. While the film delivered good intensity and a strong story, it slowed considerably in the second half. Though it never lost its epic feel and strong style, the story and characters became quite hung up on an overly thick layer of sentimentality that started to feel a bit forced after a while. The pace did pick up at the end, and while Horowitz and Kitsis created the perfect ending to an epic story, it was slightly drawn out. Despite a few shortcomings, this film was truly excellent and delivered more than anyone could have possibly imagined.

1) The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
Plot- Lucy and Edmund Pevensie return to Narnia with their cousin Eustace where they meet up with Prince Caspian for a trip across the sea aboard the royal ship The Dawn Treader. Along the way they encounter dragons, dwarves, merfolk, and a band of lost warriors before reaching the edge of the world. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Michael Apted (Agatha, Coal Miner’s Daughter, Continental Divide, Gorky Park, Firstborn, Class Action, Blink, Moving the Mountain, Nell, Extreme Measures, Inspirations, Me & Isaac Newton, The World Is Not Enough, Enigma, Enough, Amazing Grace)

Written by- Christopher Markus (The Life and Death of Peter Sellers, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, You Kill Me, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian), Stephen McFeely (The Life and Death of Peter Sellers, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, You Kill Me, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian), Michael Petroni (The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys, Queen of the Damned, Till Human Voices Wake Us, Boys Own Story, Possession)

Starring- Ben Barnes, Skandar Keynes, Georgie Henley, Will Poulter, Laura Brent, Simon Pegg, Liam Neeson

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was a straightforward children’s adventure story which at times felt more like a religion class than an actual movie. Michael Apted’s direction exaggerated the kid’s fantasy element throughout much of the film. He included plenty of pointless silliness and longwinded side stories that had nothing to do with the main plot, which was weak at best. At least Apted managed to use the film’s 3D theatrical presentation with fair effectiveness, which is more than I can say about the majority of live action 3D films out there. Taking an overview of the film, it contained more passable acting than the majority of children’s action movies, though Will Poulter’s performance was so over-the-top aggravating (on purpose based on his character) that it made some of his scenes difficult to sit through. Georgie Henley and Ben Barnes look as though they have some growing up to do, but I like their potential for future projects. Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely and Michael Petroni wrote a screenplay in which they fully embraced the stereotypical kid’s fantasy characters and heavily overstated “good guys vs. bad guys.” Oddly enough, the film wasn’t as corny as you’d expect from a big budget Hollywood kid’s action movie, though it was so tired, predictable and obvious that there didn’t seem to be a non-financial or non-religious reason for making it. This has been done countless times, and the Narnia trilogy is certainly one we can do without.

3) Little Fockers
Plot- The Focker and the Byrnes families brace themselves for the arrival of a baby. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Paul Weitz (American Pie, Down to Earth, About a Boy, In Good Company, American Dreamz, Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant)

Written by- John Hamburg (Safe Men, Meet the Parents, Zoolander, Along Came Polly, Meet the Fockers, I Love You, Man), Larry Stuckey

Starring- Ben Stiller, Teri Polo, Robert De Niro, Jessica Alba, Dustin Hoffman, Harvey Keitel, Laura Dern, Barbra Streisand, Blythe Danner

Movieguy’s Verdict- “Meet the Parents” came out 11 years ago, and it was a surprising but enthusiastic success. Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro played off of one another with precise comedic timing, and the screenplay, while predictable, had strong material and plenty of cleverness to go around. A sequel was unnecessary, but not surprising considering the $166 million taken home by the first film. “Meet the Fockers,” while nowhere near as smart or clever as its predecessor, was entertaining, funny and truly well meaning. As for this latest meaningless page from the Focker family diary, it couldn’t possibly be any worse. The first clue to the film’s impending doom was its incessant immaturity. The first two films were aimed at “general audiences,” but the humor, themes and characters were mostly adult oriented. How this third movie, as unnecessary as it was, got turned into a kid’s movie is beyond me. Indeed, this film was as childish and corny as live action kid’s movies get. In fact, it had the exact same themes, plot and characters as “Shrek Forever After,” which shared its content with 90% of children’s movies. This entire misguided exercise felt like a bad sitcom with its cheesy situations, obvious and poorly written characters. There wasn’t a second of chuckle-worthy material in this movie, and its blatant stupidity made it very painful to sit through. Acting was awful across the board, as Ben Stiller, Dustin Hoffman and De Niro tried to repeat the same performances they gave in the previous films, only with a screenplay written for a 5-year-old’s mentality. Extreme exaggeration, immaturity, stupidity, predictability, corniness and pointlessness made this movie a torturous experience. Even if you LOVED the first two films, don’t make the mistake of thinking this flimsy kid’s movie will be just as good.
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3-31-11

1) Black Swan
Plot- While vying for the coveted lead roles in a production of Swan Lake, a veteran ballerina enters into a twisted friendship with a promising new dancer that threatens to consume her. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Darren Aronofsky (Director of: The Wrestler, The Fountain, Requiem for a Dream, Pi; Writer of: The Fountain, Below, Requiem for a Dream, Pi)

Written by- Mark Heyman, Andres Heinz, John J. McLaughlin (Man of the House)

Starring- Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel, Barbara Hershey, Winona Ryder, Janet Montgomery, Toby Hemingway

Movieguy’s Verdict- Darren Aronofsky has outdone himself with a film that will never let you look at a ballerina the same way again. However, no matter how well written and directed this film was, Natalie Portman absolutely stole the show with a breathtaking and haunting performance. Portman became completely consumed with her character both mentally and physically to play this role, and the intensity of her metamorphosis rivaled that of her character. Searing intensity was juxtaposed with fragile, delicate beauty and Portman’s ferocious ability to attack each and every scene created a performance that was almost too painful and real to stomach. Barbara Hershey had tremendous chemistry and raw energy with Portman, and the two played brilliantly off of one another. Hershey deserved an Oscar nomination for her chilling and forcefully crafted performance. Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel and Winona Ryder added outstanding supporting showings to a film that was filled by a small but fiery cast that made the most out of every scene. Though Portman was spectacular and highly deserving of her Oscar for Best Lead Actress, Aronofsky’s direction should not be overlooked. He put the audience right on the edge of the surreal and never let them go. His camerawork was edgy and ever so slightly off balance, yet the film carried a haunting, even forlorn sense of beauty left over from traditional adaptations of Swan Lake. The film thrives off of the unstable energy given out by its small cast of tortured characters, and Mark Heyman, Andres Heinz and John J. McLaughlin wrote them to perfection. Their screenplay perfectly captured vulnerability and instability, and they expertly blended the themes of Swan Lake into the obsession and delusion of troubled and highly vulnerable characters. The screenplay, Aronofsky’s direction and the performances found a way to uncomfortably trap the audience in the film’s unparalleled level of intensity and haunting surrealism. All of these elements forced intensity to build as the film evolved, exploding like an atom bomb with a mind-blowing climax and ending that will take the air right out of your lungs. This was filmmaking perfection, and its ability to envelop the audience with all that is haunting, surreal and passionate was a remarkable achievement. This was indeed one of the year’s best films, light years ahead of more heavily awarded films like “The King’s Speech” and “The Fighter.” Though it may be too intense for some, this is a unique film that cannot be missed.
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3-24-11

1) Skyline
Plot- A group of friends fight to survive as a mysterious light source causes people to vanish into the air. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Colin Strause (Aliens vs Predator: Requiem), Greg Strause (Aliens vs Predator: Requiem)

Written by- Joshua Cordes, Liam O’Donnell

Starring- Eric Balfour, Donald Faison, Scottie Thompson, David Zayas, Brittany Daniel, Crystal Reed

Movieguy’s Verdict- Though the brothers Strause don’t have much filmmaking talent, this was a movie that appeared to be a step in the right direction after their ridiculous “Aliens vs Predator: Requiem” debacle. The result was shockingly bad. Opening with highly obvious foreshadowing in every aspect of the production, the Strauses still managed to offer a glimpse of impressive visuals and an entertaining plot that should have made a watchable guilty pleasure science fiction movie. This was the only positive aspect of this failure, and it didn’t last long. Joshua Cordes and Liam O’Donnell wrote a truly horrendous screenplay filled with idiotic characters who acted in ways that were both aggravatingly annoying and entirely nonsensical from any perspective. This film featured a group of the most idiotic characters I’ve seen in a long time, and they were brought to life by the flimsy performances of a talentless supporting cast. The only actor who showed anything positive was, quite surprisingly, Donald Faison, whose small but watchable performance managed to briefly inject energy into such an amateurish cast and crew. Cordes and O’Donnell inserted numerous idiotic and nonsensical plot twists into a film already riddled with obvious plot holes. To say this movie was filled with gaps in logic would be incorrect, as this would imply the presence of logic. To make matters even worse, the Strauses ramped up the corniness and pointless explosions in the second half, which made it even more unwatchable than it already was. Though the plot looks interesting for any science fiction fan, this is a remarkably bad movie that should be avoided at all costs!

2) The Tourist
Plot- Frank Taylor travels to Venice to recover from a recent break-up, though he soon finds himself engaged by the beautiful and mysterious Elise — who happens to be an Interpol agent with a dangerous connection to a fugitive criminal. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck

Written by- Julian Fellowes (Gosford Park, Piccadilly Jim, Vanity Fair, The Young Victoria), Christopher McQuarrie (The Usual Suspects, The Way of the Gun, Valkyrie), Jeffrey Nachmanoff (The Day After Tomorrow, Traitor)

Starring- Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie, Paul Bettany, Rufus Sewell, Timothy Dalton

Movieguy’s Verdict- There are many reasons why this film was the biggest disappointment of 2010. Armed with a top notch, A-list cast, Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck had three capable, proven writers and a great plot at his disposal. How in the world did he screw it up so badly? The film began with James Newton Howard’s incessant overuse of music in absolutely every scene. Though it wasn’t all loud Hollywood fare, it was constantly in the background whether it was needed or not — and most of the time it was not. Von Donnersmarck is an inexperienced filmmaker, but a lack of experience is no excuse for his Eastwoodian absence of awareness. His direction reached for a constant feel of mystery, romance and elegance. The result was an unbearably dull, inauthentic and highly superficial Hollywood fluff piece that didn’t contain hardly anything watchable. Though von Donnersmarck’s direction was a bust, at least the acting was stellar, right? Wrong. Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie were atrocious. How could that be possible? Working from a screenplay written with such amateurism, Depp and Jolie were hung out to dry in the worst possible way. Depp in particular looked bored to death with every badly conceived scene he had to struggle through. Jolie, on the other hand, went in the other direction. She forced style and elegance as much as von Donnersmarck’s confused direction, and wound up looking downright foolish. As if things couldn’t get bad enough, the film tried to include numerous highly elaborate and overlong stunt sequences that managed to make things feel even cheesier than they already were. This film is indeed unwatchable, but I think it should be required viewing for aspiring filmmakers. Von Donnersmarck and company literally did everything wrong, and this movie should serve as a highly effective $100 million teaching tool. If not used for this purpose, this movie can cause lethargy, disappointment and frustration. Avoid at all costs!

3) How Do You Know
Plot- Feeling a bit past her prime at 27, former athlete Lisa Jorgenson finds herself in the middle of a love triangle, as a corporate guy in crisis competes with Lisa’s current, baseball-playing beau. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- James L. Brooks (Director: Terms of Endearment, Broadcast News, I’ll Do Anything, As Good as It Gets, Spanglish; Writer of: Starting Over, Terms of Endearment, Broadcast News, I’ll Do Anything, As Good as it Gets, Spanglish, The Simpsons Movie)

Starring- Reese Witherspoon, Paul Rudd, Owen Wilson, Jack Nicholson

Movieguy’s Verdict- It seems James L. Brooks has done a bit of a disappearing act since his smash hit “As Good as it Gets.” Brooks’ movies are few and very far between, but those of us eagerly awaiting this one may be a bit disappointed. Looking at this film objectively though, it was actually very watchable overall if your expectations aren’t too high. The first thing to notice is the cast, and Brooks assembled a smart and talented group. Owen Wilson fit his part perfectly and provided a colorful and ever so slightly odd performance that nicely brought his quirky character to life. Reese Witherspoon and Paul Rudd gave believable performances, but didn’t show anything particularly special. Disappointingly, Jack Nicholson was barely in the film, and was unable to do much with his scant role. Brooks’ screenplay contained smart and lifelike characters who had good chemistry together. The film was written with a very natural and thoughtful air, as the characters were mostly introspective in their intelligent interactions with one another. Brooks inserted subtle comedy into a number of scenes, and while the film felt realistic, he never seemed able to push the characters or story to their full potential. While believable, it found a way to devolve into a cheesy and predictable Hollywood romance, filled with all of the clichés you see from most other run of the mill movies in the genre. The slowness, predictability and corniness that filled the final half hour provided the biggest disappointment of all, as it is not what we’ve come to expect from a filmmaker who spends so much time carefully writing and developing a film. The end result was a film that was mostly enjoyable, but perhaps too weak and timid for its own good.

4) Yogi Bear
Plot- A documentary filmmaker travels to Jellystone Park to shoot a project and soon crosses paths with Yogi Bear and his sidekick Boo-Boo. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Eric Brevig (Journey to the Center of the Earth)

Written by- Jeffrey Ventimilia (Surviving Christmas, Tooth Fairy), Joshua Sternin (Surviving Christmas, Tooth Fairy), Brad Copeland (Wild Hogs)

Voices of- Dan Aykroyd, Justin Timberlake, Anna Faris, Christine Taylor, T.J. Miller, Tom Cavanagh

Movieguy’s Verdict- The popularity of Yogi Bear expired decades ago, so to make a Yogi movie now seems oddly out of place. Trailers made this look quite poor, and the crew didn’t make expectations any higher. Eric Brevig’s attempt at “Journey to the Center of the Earth” was a complete failure, and the three writers have three awful movies between them. Despite all of the negatives, Brevig and company managed to create a clever and surprisingly funny movie – that is, of course, until it fell apart at the halfway point. Dan Aykroyd was the perfect voice of Yogi, and he gave plenty of personality to the character. Justin Timberlake also gave a great co-starring vocal performance. I’ve said for years that Timberlake is supremely talented as an actor, and while the careful choices he made in his perfectly timed showing may be lost on the film’s young target audience, it serves as further proof that his range is expanding with each role he selects. Tom Cavanagh was also quite good in his live action performance. He was given the opportunity to display his usual quick wit because Jeffrey Ventimilia, Joshua Sternin and Brad Copeland wrote the first half of the film as a smart comedy with clever dialogue between characters. Brevig handled the mix of animation and live action nicely and even managed to incorporate successful slapstick sequences. The movie was obvious and predictable, but it still provided comedy and entertainment under difficult conditions. Unfortunately, as these films often do, it turned sour at the halfway mark, devolving into the cheesy, childish collage of bad stunts and corny kid’s movie messages. While it didn’t end well, the first half was quite impressive indeed, and I’ll take half of a good movie over a whole bad movie any day!
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3-17-11

1) The Fighter
Plot- A look at the early years of boxer “Irish” Micky Ward and his brother, Dick Eklund, who helped train to become a pro fighter. (imdb.com)

Directed by- David O. Russell (Spanking the Monkey, Flirting with Disaster, Three Kings, I Heart Huckabees)

Written by- Scott Silver (Johns, The Mod Squad, 8 Mile), Paul Tamasy (Air Bud, Air Bud: Golden Receiver, Walking Across Egypt), Eric Johnson

Starring- Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Melissa Leo, Amy Adams, Jack McGee

Movieguy’s Verdict- It has been a long time since a truly outstanding sports movie was made. More to the point, I thought boxing movies were dead when critics universally ignored the Oscar-worthy Russell Crowe helmed “Cinderella Man.” Not only was this a great sports movie, but it was a truly excellent film more than worthy of the praise it has received. David O. Russell is an odd choice to direct a film of this type considering he has no experience whatsoever in the genre. His documentary style direction was highly effective in opening up the audience to the gritty world of the emotionally charged characters. Russell’s direction reached for realism and no-frills authenticity at every turn, resulting in a poignant movie from start to finish. Scott Silver, Paul Tamasy and Eric Johnson came together to write a moving and electric screenplay. They developed complex relationships, and grew detailed and layered psychological elements in all characters. The film possessed soulfulness as characters reflected on their lives, the mistakes they made and the opportunities that passed them by. The push and pull between the characters was exhilarating, and the film’s large collection of phenomenal performances helped the film reach another level. Mark Wahlberg led the way with an outstanding performance built on sweat, determination and a fire in his eyes that pierced the screen. When this movie came out I’m pretty sure no one expected Christian Bale to win an Oscar, but his transformation into his washed up, delusional character made him by far the best supporting actor of the year. Bale gave so much to the actors around him, and his combination of raw energy, contemplation and love for his brother showed yet again the epic range he possesses. Amy Adams and Melissa Leo were very strong as well, though Leo’s Oscar win was a bit of a stretch. If anything Adams was more deserving, but no one can deny that the collective power of this film’s actors wasn’t tightly bound with its success. Ultimately this film found a way to completely transcend the sports movie genre and become a truly unforgettable film.

2) The Switch
Plot- An unmarried 40-year-old woman turns to artificial means in order to become pregnant. Seven years later, she reunites with her best friend, who has been living with a secret: he replaced her preferred sperm sample with his own. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Josh Gordon (Blades of Glory), Will Speck (Blades of Glory)

Written by- Allan Loeb (Things We Lost in the Fire, 21, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps)

Starring- Jennifer Aniston, Jason Bateman, Patrick Wilson, Juliette Lewis, Jeff Goldblum, Todd Louiso, Thomas Robinson

Movieguy’s Verdict- While this film’s trailers did not make it seem all that appetizing, there was reason to believe it could have been a sleeper success. Jason Bateman has the intelligence and pristine comedic timing to make almost anything funny, and directors Josh Gordon and Will Speck provided quite a few laughs in the random and highly bizarre “Blades of Glory.” Even though the film had some good quick humor early on, it ultimately fizzled out and became mostly forgettable. Allan Loeb’s writing contained a good mix of emotional sincerity and sarcastic humor which played very well into Bateman’s skill set. His screenplay was geared more toward intelligence and drama rather than comedy, which would have been fine had it been able to sustain interest and momentum from beginning to end. Gordon and Speck did very little with their direction to bring out either humor or the quirky personalities of the characters. The film’s performances were respectable overall, but quite surprisingly, child actor Thomas Robinson completely stole the show with an absolutely outstanding performance. His presence provided a shocking level of maturity, intelligent humor and comedic timing that only a seasoned actor like Bateman is supposed to be able to pull off. This was a well-meaning film that probably never intended to embrace the standard Hollywood relationship clichés that wound up defining it. Though the dramatic element of the film made the characters feel more realistic, it was simply too slow in its pacing and was unable to provide anything to fill those gaps. This is not a movie that I would recommend watching, but Thomas Robinson’s performance was so impressive for someone so young that it would be a shame to miss it.

3) Hereafter
Plot- A supernatural thriller centered on three people — a blue-collar American, a French journalist and a London school boy — who are touched by death in different ways. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Clint ‘The Overrated One’ Eastwood (Invictus, Gran Turino, Changeling, Flags of Our Fathers, Million Dollar Baby, Mystic River, Blood Work, Space Cowboys, True Crime, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, Unforgiven, The Rookie, Bird, Firefox, The Outlaw Josey Wales)

Written by- Peter Morgan (Dear Rosie, Martha, Meet Frank, Daniel and Laurence, The Last King of Scotland, The Queen, The Other Boleyn Girl. Frost/Nixon)

Starring- Matt Damon, Cécile De France, Bryce Dallas Howard, Jay Mohr, Richard Kind

Movieguy’s Verdict- Leave it to Clint Eastwood to take a promising idea with a great cast and run it into the ground. This is yet another example of Eastwood’s total inability to tell a story or accomplish even the simplest of filmmaking-related tasks. Right out of the gate the film took on a very scattered feel, and it only got worse from there. This was a very poorly written movie that had no sense of narrative structure, filling its unbearably long two hours with wandering, dull and overlong subplots crammed with useless information and characters that went nowhere. The main premise was quite intriguing, and Peter Morgan has experienced success as a writer, especially with his triumphant handling of “The Queen” and “Frost/Nixon.” With this screenplay it seemed that he had no idea what he was doing. Morgan found a way to focus on all of the wrong things, and before long he completely neutralized the potential of every interesting plot point. While this screenplay was quite poor, he was no doubt railroaded by Eastwood’s numerous directorial deficiencies. The monotonous and generally lackluster feel that is present in most Eastwood movies was in full force here, as it took over an hour of running time for something even mildly interesting to occur. The film dealt with supernatural themes, something Eastwood had never really dealt with in his lengthy career. His total inability to understand even basic themes relating to storytelling, mood, pace, camerawork and acting turned what should have been a supernatural thriller into a mind-numbing made-for-TV movie with no story. The only reason this movie was released in the United States at all was because of Matt Damon, who was billed as the star. Damon was barely present in the film, and though he was able to experience some success and believability in his scenes, they were too few and far between to make any impact whatsoever. The film’s main star was actually Cécile De France, who probably has more talent than her generally uninspired performance was able to show. Of course, being in a Clint Eastwood movie can bring any talented actor down to an amateur level. Ultimately there was nothing in this boring movie worth watching; chalk it up as another Eastwood failure.
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3-10-11

1) The Next Three Days
Plot- A married couple’s life is turned upside down when Lara Brennan is accused of murder. Three years into her sentence, Lara’s husband John is struggling to keep their family together and, realizing his wife’s deteriorating condition, he decides to break her out of prison. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Paul Haggis (Director of: Red Hot, Crash, In the Valley of Elah; Writer of: Red Hot, Crash, Flags of Our Fathers, Million Dollar Baby, The Last Kiss, In the Valley of Elah, Quantum of Solace)

Starring- Russell Crowe, Elizabeth Banks, Liam Neeson, Olivia Wilde, Brian Dennehy, Jonathan Tucker, Lennie James, RZA

Movieguy’s Verdict- Paul Haggis has had a difficult time following the brilliance of “Crash,” spending most of his time as a writer rather than building his career as a filmmaker. Though not an original story, his latest effort from showed a deliberate style and aggressive attention character development. The film was set up nicely, building a strong emotional core around the characters that was easy to be drawn into. One of the film’s most impressive features was Haggis’ ability to logically develop every one of the characters’ motivations. The film was engrossing not only for its action sequences, which were not necessarily the focal point. Rather, Haggis built such thick layers of growth into the plot and characters that watching them try to figure out what to do next became as absorbing as a car chase or shootout. Haggis’ dark and pensive direction also added plenty to the film, but Russell Crowe’s performance was an all-encompassing display of dedication, desperation, obsession and strength. Crowe’s attention to detail and the reaching effect of his simultaneously cerebral yet instinctive approach to his character created a performance that elevated an already great film to another level. Haggis did a wonderful job creating suspense and anticipation, even though he managed to change the mood of the film numerous times between character-driven drama, and a more action-oriented style. I think it’s hard to dislike a good prison break movie, even though there are relatively few of them made today. Many are filled with plot holes and turn out to be guilty pleasures more than anything else. This film, which is frustratingly underrated, can be regarded as a very high quality movie that is a must see for any fan of detail-driven suspense and great acting.

2) Morning Glory
Plot- A hotshot television producer is set the challenge of reviving a struggling morning show program, despite the constant feuding of its high-profile anchors. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Roger Michell (Persuasion, My Night with Reg, Titanic Town, Notting Hill, Changing Lanes, The Mother, Enduring Love, Venus)

Written by- Aline Brosh McKenna (Three to Tango, Laws of Attraction, The Devil Wears Prada, 27 Dresses)

Starring- Rachel McAdams, The Harrison Ford, Diane Keaton, Patrick Wilson, Matt Malloy, Jeff Goldblum, John Pankow

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was an outstanding, well-rounded and highly underappreciated movie that left nothing to be desired. Writer Aline Brosh McKenna got lucky with the enormous success of “The Devil Wears Prada,” but her other films were formulaic, lazy Hollywood flops. That is why the high level of intelligence, strong character development and undeniable charm she incorporated into this script was such a shock. From the very beginning characters were established with personality and wit, providing realistic and entertaining personalities that thrived in a wide range of environments. McKenna’s screenplay defiantly brought out the best in Roger Michell’s pitch perfect direction. Michell has a varied resume, and the depth of his experience was brought out whimsy, sincerity, class and complete authenticity in a movie that could have very easily been little more than forgettable Hollywood fluff. In fact, Michell and McKenna created an environment that had plenty of strong humor as well as a sincere dramatic side. Though the writing and direction did well to bring out the best in the film’s rich plot and characters, this fantastic cast deserves a great deal of credit, as outstanding performances were found at every turn. Rachel McAdams delivered another high quality, multi-dimensional performance as the film’s lead. Her high energy level, intelligence, drive and quick wit resulted in a perfectly crafted role. The Harrison Ford, whose career essentially bottomed out after “The Fugitive,” may have missed the boat on comedy because not only does he possess impeccable comedic timing, but he also has an impressive command of his voice and facial expressions. Ford used all of these tools to deliver his first great performance in a very long time. Speaking of rebounds, Diane Keaton also turned in an excellent supporting showing. Aided by an eccentric character and a great chemistry with Ford, Keaton added yet another dimension to a cast not lacking in eccentric characters. Though it may have the appearance of a forgettable Hollywood romantic comedy, this was a truly great movie that deserves praise and recognition.
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3-3-11

1) Love and Other Drugs
Plot- A romantic comedy that skewers the pharmaceutical industry and is centered on relentlessly charming Viagra salesman Jamie Reidy and his romantic involvement with free-spirited Maggie Murdock. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Edward Zwick (Defiance, Blood Diamond, The Last Samurai, The Siege, Courage Under Fire, Legends of the Fall, Leaving Normal, Glory, About Last Night)

Written by- Charles Randolph (The Life of David Gale, The Interpreter), Edward Zwick (The Siege, The Last Samurai, Defiance), Marshall Herskovitz (The Last Samurai)

Starring- Jake Gyllenhaal, Anne Hathaway, Judy Greer, Josh Gad, Hank Azaria, Oliver Platt, Gabriel Macht, George Segal

Movieguy’s Verdict- If you take a stroll through Edward Zwick’s resume you’ll quickly see that romantic comedy is not a genre with which he has a great deal of experience. His finely polished action-oriented style seems to have no place in a film like this, but the result proves that great acting, great writing and great characters bring out the best in any good filmmaker, regardless of previous experience. Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway had tremendous chemistry together and it was impossible not to connect with their personalities and intelligently written characters. Gyllenhaal’s quick delivery and dynamic persona constantly battled with Hathaway’s unpredictable, combative free spirit. Zwick, along with co-writers Charles Randolph and Marshall Herskovitz crafted a wonderful and highly layered screenplay. Characters were dynamic, detailed and lifelike, dialogue was smart and the story evolved wonderfully. Zwick’s direction managed moods very well, expertly interlacing comedy with serious and dark emotional scenes. The film had no shortage of colorful and interesting supporting characters, so it was no surprise that it reaped the benefits of enjoyable and well-crafted supporting performances from Josh Gad, Hank Azaria and Judy Greer. Zwick created a strong bond between the characters and the audience, making it impossible not to be engrossed in their lives. The film’s only shortcomings were its predictability down the stretch and an ending that was a bit too corny for such a mature and intelligent work. This was a heavily previewed film that wound up unjustly ignored by fans and critics, but it was truly a well-made movie that deserves to be seen.

2) Faster
Plot- An ex-con sets out to avenge his brother’s death after they were double-crossed during a heist years ago. During his campaign, however, he’s tracked by a veteran cop and an egocentric hit man. (imdb.com)

Directed by- George Tillman Jr. (Writer of: Soul Food; Director of: Soul Food, Men of Honor, Notorious)

Written by- Tony Gayton (Athens, Ga. – Inside/Out, The Salton Sea, Murder by Numbers), Joe Gayton (Uncommon Valor, Warm Summer Rain, Shout, Bulletproof, Sweet Jane)

Starring- Dwayne Johnson, Billy Bob Thornton, Maggie Grace, Carla Gugino, Tom Berenger, Jennifer Carpenter, Moon Bloodgood

Movieguy’s Verdict- Most of Dwayne Johnson’s movies fall under one of two categories – ultra-corny Hollywood kid’s movie or ultra-corny Hollywood action movie. While this film had the potential to be another addition to the latter, it actually turned out to be very solid and surprisingly well made. George Tillman Jr. is not a confidence-inspiring director. All three of his movies had too many problems to overcome, but this time he was able to effectively carve out a path for this movie. Tillman’s direction was methodical, but also had a stylish bluntness that allowed a highly simple screenplay to turn its collection of clichéd characters into a positive. Indeed we’ve seen these stereotypical characters a thousand times before, but Tillman’s ability to weave the film’s three storylines together and a complete lack of wasted time or embellishment provided the perfect blend of forceful action and excitement. Johnson was quite solid with his one-dimensional character, turning that simplicity into a performance that matched the grittiness of the direction. The same can be said about Billy Bob Thornton, who turned his highly clichéd character into a surprisingly excellent showing. Tillman’s style and vision went a long way, but unfortunately they seemed to quickly fade just as the film was reaching its climax, which revealed several highly predictable and elementary plot twists and proved to be somewhat of a letdown. Despite Tillman’s somewhat misguided handling of the ending, this was a very solid action film which achieved a gritty, strong-willed simplicity that many action films are unable to realize. Though not perfect, it was a highly watchable film that should provide solid entertainment.

3) 127 Hours
Plot- Mountain climber Aron Ralston becomes trapped under a boulder while canyoneering alone near Moab, Utah and resorts to desperate measures in order to survive. Based on a true story. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Danny Boyle (Shallow Grave, Trainspotting, A Life Less Ordinary, The Beach, 28 Days Later…, Millions, Sunshine, Slumdog Millionaire)

Written by- Danny Boyle, Simon Beaufoy (The Full Monty, Among Giants, The Darkest Light, Running Time, Blow Dry, This is Not a Love Song, Yasmin, Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, Slumdog Millionaire)

Starring- James Franco, Lizzy Caplan, Kate Mara, Amber Tamblyn, Clémence Poésy, Treat Williams, Kate Burton

Movieguy’s Verdict- Though critics have carried this film into slightly “overrated” territory, it is simply impossible to say enough about James Franco’s performance, which was hands down the best of 2010. Under no circumstances did Colin Firth deserve an Oscar more than he did, and his snub was disgraceful. Franco dove headfirst into a high energy character and the result was an astounding, otherworldly level of raw, unrelenting intensity. The chemistry between Danny Boyle and Franco was incredible. Boyle’s direction included plenty of his trademarked frenzy and chaos, but his ability to deposit the audience directly into the mind of the film’s lone character was even more impressive. Boyle has always been an experimental filmmaker, and his barrage of visual effects and inventive camerawork worked to perfection. Notably, he used close-ups better than I’ve seen a filmmaker do in a very long time, which brought the audience all too close to Franco’s emotionally explosive performance. Though its plot was highly tricky and admittedly not very attractive, it pulled the audience in immediately and didn’t let them go until close to the end. Franco and Boyle constantly increased the intensity, making the audience feel every bit of fear and desperation that Aron Ralston felt. At times the film even developed a dreamlike quality in which bright visuals were juxtaposed by a looming darkness that always brought things back to earth. For much of the film it seemed like Boyle could do no wrong, but his handling of the ending proved quite forced, obvious to the point of peachy, repetitive and perhaps even a bit corny for the intensity that preceded. It’s not a film you’ll watch more than once, but you’re not likely to forget it either.
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2-24-11

1) Due Date
Plot- High-strung father-to-be Peter Highman is forced to hitch a ride with aspiring actor Ethan Tremblay on a road trip in order to make it to his child’s birth on time. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Todd Phillips (The Hangover, School for Scoundrels, Starsky & Hutch, Old School, Bittersweet Motel, Road Trip)

Written by- Alan R. Cohen, Alan Freedland, Adam Sztykiel (Made of Honor), Todd Phillips (School for Scoundrels, Starsky & Hutch, Old School, Road Trip)

Starring- Robert Downey Jr., Zach Galifianakis, Michelle Monaghan, Juliette Lewis, Jamie Foxx, Danny McBride, Alan Arkin, RZA

Movieguy’s Verdict- After the incredible success Todd Phillips enjoyed from “The Hangover,” I wondered if a hangover was actually in store for him. The odds were against it however with the supremely talented Robert Downey Jr at the helm, and a reunion with Zach Galifianakis. However this film achieved success in an entirely different way than “The Hangover.” Downey Jr. and Galifianakis were indeed a great “odd couple” pairing. Galifianakis sported his usual laid back while completely bizarre yet slightly effeminate style of comedic acting, and Downey Jr. provided a sharp-witted and highly sarcastic performance that was perfect for his “straight man” character. If you go into this film expecting enormous laughs like “The Hangover” or “Old School,” you’re going to be disappointed; the film had very little comedy to speak of. Phillips and co-writer Alan R. Cohen did a great job in the creation of these real and extremely lifelike characters. As a pair they complemented each other in a variety of ways, and the screenplay made them real people who were not just deliverers of cheap Hollywood gimmicks. In his direction it was clear Phillips was going for a much more realistic approach than some of his other films, and though it was lacking in comedy, it created a strong connection to the characters that continue to build and evolve throughout the film. It is very possible that Phillips was attempting to downplay comedy to such a large degree that he left an enormous amount of intelligent and creative comedy unrealized. The outstanding chemistry between Downey Jr. and Galifianakis carried the film quite well and over the course of this surprisingly deep road movie. Though no one expected it to be more of a drama than a comedy, it was still a very solid and intelligently made movie that proved quite enjoyable.

2) Get Low
Plot- In 1930s Tennessee, backwoods hermit Felix Bush decides to throw his own funeral … while he’s still alive. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Aaron Schneider

Written by- Chris Provenzano, C. Gaby Mitchell

Starring- Robert Duvall, Bill Murray, Sissy Spacek, Lucas Black

Movieguy’s Verdict- When this tiny indie film earned a national summer release after wandering about in limited markets, everyone saw it as a surefire Oscar vehicle for Robert Duvall. Unfortunately the film simply had too many problems to overcome, and turned out to be entirely forgettable. Aaron Schneider opened the film with a dark mood juxtaposed by subdued off-kilter comedic moments. However it did not take long for the minimalistic story to feel slow, and this would only worsen as the film continued. There were periods of time when it seemed as though Duvall was going to save the film with a truly outstanding performance. His antisocial and seemingly emotionally absent character was buried under decades of guilt and pain, and Duvall showed presence, patience and impeccable decision-making. Bill Murray and Lucas Black also provided solid supporting performances in a movie that was very well acted overall. Unfortunately there wasn’t much else to enjoy other than the acting. After a promising start Schneider did nothing with the rest of the film, slowing things down to an almost nonexistent pace. The screenplay held plenty of psychological material but somehow found a way to become less and less interesting with each scene. This even railroaded Duvall’s performance near the end because the screenplay offered so little in the way of story or character development. Ultimately this film squandered tremendous potential with its failed minimalism and a one-track which plot simply could not sustain itself. Feel free to give this one a pass — you’re not missing anything.

3) Megamind
Plot- Megamind is the most brilliant super-villain the world has ever known, though after several unsuccessful attempts to conquer Metro City, a new foe sees him attempt — for the first time in his life — to use his powers for good. (imdb.com) Dir- Tom McGrath (Madagascar, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa)

Directed by- Tom McGrath (Writer and Director of: Madagascar, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa)

Written by- Alan J. Schoolcraft, Brent Simons

Voices of- Will Ferrell, Jonah Hill, Brad Pitt, Tina Fey, David Cross

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was a standard kid’s movie that never deviated from the themes, predictability and corniness that is present in the vast majority of films in this genre. The only noteworthy element of the film was the CGI, which was absolutely first rate. It even used 3D quite well which is a rare achievement indeed. The film contained a few scenes of clever comedy but there was just too much corniness and predictability to make it enjoyable. Vocal performances were forced all around, especially Will Ferrell who simply yelled in a monotone voice and seemed confused as to handle the majority of his scenes. Tina Fey was the only worthwhile performer in this cast, because no matter how bad things are around her, she has too much talent to look bad at anything. Much was made of Brad Pitt’s supposed co-starring role in this movie, but he was barely present. Obviously DreamWorks executives only use his name to sell tickets. Even though the film’s visuals were highly creative, every character’s eyes were WAY too big. Anyway just isn’t much to say about this predictable, corny and essentially forgettable kid’s movie.
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2-17-11

1) Unstoppable
Plot- A rail company frantically works to prevent an unmanned, half-mile-long freight train carrying combustible liquids and poisonous gas from wiping out a city. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Tony Scott (The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, Déjà-Vu, Domino, Man of Fire, Spy Game, Enemy of the State, Crimson Tide, Top Gun)

Written by- Mark Bomback (The Night Caller, Godsend, Live Free or Die Hard, Deception, Race to Witch Mountain)

Starring- Denzel Washington, Chris Pine, Rosario Dawson, Ethan Suplee, Kevin Dunn

Movieguy’s Verdict- Are you ready for an adrenaline rush? I hope so because there are not very many films that deliver non-stop intensity at such a breakneck pace. Tony Scott hit a four year rough patch in his career after his editing style took a turn for the incoherent and ruined the highly promising “Domino.” Then poor storytelling and directorial uncertainty proceeded to derail “Déjà Vu” and “The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3” remake. Scott is back, and with this movie there was no mistaking it. From the first scene Scott’s direction was crisp and decisive, and the story wasted no time. He packed the film with thick suspense and a level of intensity that frankly no one was expecting out of an excessively advertised Speed-esque Hollywood action movie. While Scott was delivering constant thrills, Denzel Washington and Chris Pine were developing a perfect one-two punch. These actors had outstanding chemistry, and their dedication to their characters did not go unnoticed. Both displayed a commanding star-like presence at different times throughout the film, and neither one could really be considered the official “star.” Scott and writer Mark Bomback did a great job with character development, allowing numerous reversals in attitude to help shape the story and provide it with a more well-rounded personality. The film’s lone black mark was a extremely ridiculous performance by Kevin Dillon of a completely idiotic and over-the-top sleazy character. Still there wasn’t much that could touch Scott’s frenetic, edge-of-your seat direction or the overall level of intensity this film achieved. This movie is a must see!

2) You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger
Plot- The passions, ambitions, and anxieties of two married couples — Alfie and Helena, and their daughter Sally and her husband Roy — lead the lovers into trouble and out of their minds. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Woody Allen

Starring- Anthony Hopkins, Naomi Watts, Josh Brolin, Antonio Banderas, Gemma Jones, Freida Pinto

Movieguy’s Verdict- Woody Allen’s European excursion continues to elevate his writing, direction, storytelling and an otherworldly ability to create detailed and lifelike characters. All the while, critics and fans continue to pay no attention to his great work, ignorantly passing it off as forgettable or mediocre. Woody crafted a wonderful screenplay for this film, filling it with colorful characters, all of whom were layered and remarkably well developed. Dialogue was smartly written and carried both familiarity and symbolism, a difficult combination indeed. Woody’s direction was both artistic and accessible, flawlessly interweaving classic character struggles with a lighthearted mood that made it feel all the more enjoyable. Performances were a treat as well with Josh Brolin, Anthony Hopkins and Naomi Watts giving memorable showings filled with personality and presence. Gemma Jones really stood out as the film’s most memorable performance. She embraced her character and presented a thoughtful and moving effort that was ridiculously snubbed for a worthy Best Supporting Actress nomination. Woody truly is a master of the ensemble cast, and his writing and direction always provides every actor with so many opportunities despite less screentime. This was an excellent offering from Woody Allen, and it, along with its creator, deserve a great deal more respect.

3) Waiting for ‘Superman’
Plot- A documentary on the state of public education in America. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Davis Guggenheim (An Inconvenient Truth, Gracie)

Movieguy’s Verdict- The education system is one with numerous problems- enough to fill at least a 10 part Ken Burns length documentary series. With lack of material not a concern Davis Guggenheim filled his film with a great deal of information, and covered the bureaucracy of the education system especially well. The trouble is, the vast majority of what was contained in the film is common knowledge. Whether you’ve heard about them on the news, read about them in the paper, heard someone else talking about them or experienced them yourself, the deficiencies in America’s education system aren’t mired in a Watergate-esque conspiracy. I liked how Guggenheim presented the film with a somewhat somber mood. He paced it very well with a solid narrative structure, and a constant barrage of information that touched on just about everything education-related. However Guggenheim made the terrible decision to break the flow of a serious documentary and make the end credits of the film just about as preachy and sappy as you can get, plus he included a terrible John Legend song to accentuate the cheesiness. Luckily the rest of the film wasn’t like that. Perhaps even worse was the fact that Guggenheim failed to present a single solution to any of the numerous issues presented in the film. The film serves as a well made documentary (sans John Legend) of what is wrong with America’s education system, but it completely missed its opportunity to travel beyond that.
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2-10-11

1) Paranormal Activity 2
Plot- A family becomes increasingly disturbed by a nightly demonic presence in their home. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Tod Williams (Writer/Director of: The Adventures of Sebastian Cole, The Door in the Floor)

Written by- Michael R. Perry

Starring- Brian Boland, Molly Ephraim, Katie Featherston, Seth Ginsberg, Sprague Grayden, Vivis Cortez

Movieguy’s Verdict- Did we need a sequel to the highly overrated “Paranormal Activity?” Absolutely not. However looking at it strictly from a filmmaking standpoint, the film had the opportunity to improve in practically all areas. Shockingly that’s exactly what happened, though no one could have predicted this based on the way the film started. Despite including a lot more characters in the first 30 minutes or so, there were also many unnecessary scenes. Basically the movie just teetered on the verge of mildly interesting. As it turned out, Michael R. Perry introduced some good ideas during this time, though he would have been better served had he not taken him more than half of the film’s running time to get them going. Tod Williams is a much stronger filmmaker than the first film’s director, Oren Peli, and this directorial change began to pay dividends after the story picked up steam. Williams handled suspense wonderfully and was able to thoroughly engross the audience in the events that were happening to the entirely normal family depicted in the film. This family was played believably by a group of unknowns whose performances were also a reason the energy level was able to climb appropriately as the intensity grew. Overall Williams packed a great deal of scares and intensity into the second half of the film, turning it into the exciting, raw horror minimalism that people pretended the first film was. I loved the way this sequel was constructed because it actually made its predecessor completely irrelevant. Though the film began with the same slowness and lackadaisical attitude of its ridiculously overrated predecessor, it actually turned into a very respectable horror film.

2) Life as We Know It
Plot- Two single adults become caregivers to an orphaned girl when their mutual best friends die in an accident. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Greg Berlanti (The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy)

Written by- Ian Deitchman, Kristin Rusk Robinson

Starring- Katherine Heigl, Josh Duhamel, Josh Lucas, Melissa McCarthy, Jean Smart, Faizon Love

Movieguy’s Verdict- With the exception of “Knocked Up,” Katherine Heigl has shown no promise in her movie career, and this film is just another example of the lazy, Hollywood characters that she continues to play. While the trailers made this film look like nothing more than a collection of cheesy sitcom moments that we’ve seen thousands of times already, director Greg Berlanti did his very best to turn it into a believable romantic drama. Overall the film was mostly believable, and Ian Deitchman and Kristin Rusk Robinson did a very solid job of bringing out real emotions in the characters and the challenges they faced. As usual, Heigl showed nothing special in her performance, but along with a respectable showing from Josh Duhamel, the two were entirely believable. Though this movie was not filled to the brim with cheesy Hollywood romantic comedy antics, it did carry a fairly extensive collection of every baby related joke and situation you’ve ever seen. Even though the direction and writing aimed more towards reality then Hollywood fantasy, the characters were quite one-dimensional and the entire movie was very predictable from beginning to end. Overall it did not have any original ideas and felt pretty slow at times, but it meant well as a feel-good romance and should probably work effectively in that regard.

3) My Soul to Take
Plot- A serial killer returns to his hometown to stalk seven children who share the same birthday as the date he was allegedly put to rest. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Wes Craven

Starring- Max Thieriot, Emily Meade, John Magaro, Frank Grillo, Denzel Whitaker, Zena Grey, Jessica Hecht, Nick Lashaway

Movieguy’s Verdict- Wes Craven is an empty, talentless filmmaker. The man had a couple of good ideas several decades ago and even those films failed to reach their potential. This movie was an idiotic and childish waste of time that had absolutely nothing to offer. The corny, obvious third-grade level of writing that Craven has provided time and time again was on full display here. His screenplay was little more than a partial copy of “Nightmare on Elm St.” mixed with a cheesy kid’s ghost story. To round out the awfulness, Craven even managed to include numerous high school clichés and plenty of awful characters. His direction was clunky and uninspired, and there wasn’t a single worthwhile idea in the entire exercise. The plot was predictable even though it bounced around in so many childish directions, ultimately selecting the most idiotic and nonsensical conclusion. Performances ranged from bland to exaggerated, but not even stellar acting would have done any good. Avoid this trashy excuse for a movie (and Wes Craven for that matter) at all costs! Aren’t you excited for “Scream 4?”

4) It’s Kind of a Funny Story
Plot- A clinically depressed teenager gets a new start after he checks himself into an adult psychiatric ward, where he bonds with one patient and sparks with another. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Anna Boden (Half Nelson, Sugar), Ryan Fleck (Half Nelson, Sugar)

Starring- Keir Gilchrist, Zach Galifianakis, Emma Roberts, Lauren Graham, Zoë Kravitz, Jeremy Davies, Viola Davis, Jim Gaffigan

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film had a great deal of potential and actually found many ways to realize it for 60% of the running time; unfortunately the last 40% simply ran out of steam. Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck hit a homerun with the gritty and highly authentic emotional delivery of “Half Nelson,” and while this film’s story and characters were not nearly as harsh, their writing and direction created a thick and heavy emotional core that contained intelligence and cleverness while also adeptly injecting moments of levity into dark scenarios. Keir Gilchrist did a great job with his quiet and unassuming character. His performance was entirely believable, and despite the often confused and understated personality he presented, he quietly adapted to a wide range of scenarios and eccentric supporting characters. Zach Galifianakis gave a pitch perfect supporting role, as he delivered his expressions, mannerisms and personality with precise timing and achieved a full immersion into his character. Boden and Fleck developed the film extremely well, creating a strong sense of attachment to the characters and their environment. Their direction creatively captured the characters’ states of mind, problems and idiosyncrasies, but as the film drifted into the second half it seemed to lose the majority of its effectiveness in storytelling, character development and humor. The screenplay showed more areas that needed tightening, and Boden and Fleck allowed the film to wander until it essentially became entirely predictable and had abandoned all of its real emotions and psychological detail. Ultimately the film became little more than a predictable teen romance that you’ve seen hundreds of times. Gilchrist and Galifianakis were essentially hung out to dry, as were quality supporting performers such as Emma Roberts and Jeremy Davies. Even though this film did not finish what it started I believe it accomplished a good bit and probably deserves to be seen.

5) You Again
Plot- When Marni realizes her brother is about to marry the girl who bullied her in high school, she sets out to expose the fiancée’s true colors. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Andy Fickman (She’s the Man, The Game Plan, Race to Witch Mountain)

Written by- Moe Jelline

Starring- Kristen Bell, Odette Yustman, Sigourney Weaver, Betty White, Kristin Chenoweth, Jamie Lee Curtis, Cloris Leachman

Movieguy’s Verdict- I have been waiting a long time to write this review. After suffering through this collage of extreme corniness and nervous breakdown-inducing stupidity, I thought surely this would be a front runner for many of the year’s worst Movieguy Awards. Unfortunately the likes of “Doctor Parnassus,” “Machete,” “Percy Jackson” and “Twilight” were bad enough to force this film out of the top five in most categories. Believe me when I tell you that this movie was absolute trash. If you look at Andy Fickman’s credits you know exactly what kind of director he is, and he wasted no time establishing the ultra corny and over-the-top antics that would fill every second of its 105 minute running time. After several minutes it became torturous to endure as the horribly forced, nails-on-a-chalkboard personalities of these idiotic “characters” attacked from every direction. The film was one inane, telegraphed and completely useless sequence after another, all backed by a cacophonous Hollywood soundtrack. This movie’s countless failures did not go completely unnoticed by the Movieguy Awards, as Kristen Bell ran away with the Worst Lead Actress award. Her performance was as bad as they get, and in each scene she somehow managed to be more aggressively enthusiastic and painfully immature, like a cheerleader on speed celebrating almost getting her GED. All of the performances were atrocious as well, but Bell blew them out of the water. This is a film that never should have been made, and I know I certainly did not do anything bad enough to deserve sitting through it.

6) For Colored Girls
Plot- A drama centered on a group of black women whose lives and experiences intersect at a 12-step healing program. (imdb.com)

Directed by the King of Clichés and Stereotypes- Tyler Perry (Diary of a Mad Black Woman, Madea’s Family Reunion, Daddy’s Little Girls, Why Did I Get Married?, Meet the Browns, The Family That Preys, Madea Goes to Jail, I Can Do Bad All by Myself, Why Did I Get Married Too)

Written by- Nzingha Stewart

Starring- Janet Jackson, Anika Noni Rose, Whoopi Goldberg, Omari Hardwick, Kerry Washington, Loretta Devine, Thandie Newton, Phylicia Rashad, Kimberly Elise, Macy Gray

Movieguy’s Verdict- I’ve spent a lot of time over the years dissecting Tyler Perry’s numerous faults as a director, writer and actor. His overtly racist and highly stereotypical movies are among the worst each year, and I was expecting this to be another zero star failure. Though the film ultimately ended up exactly as one would expect, Perry found a way to do at least a few things well. In all of Perry’s movies his direction looks cheap and trashy, but in this movie a dark atmosphere descended early and it seemed as though he was attempting to make a legitimate multi-character drama. The settings and scenarios were believable and Perry’s direction actually carried decent development and emotion, but the movie was not without problems. The film injected monologues of poetry every so often, and most of these were out of place and felt extremely forced as they were clearly trying too hard to be overly poetic and profound. They were neither. Even though Perry showed some positive traits as a director, his complete lack of casting sensibility was in full force yet again. The movie suffered from regrettable casting decisions, and inconsistent or downright awful performances easily overpowered the film’s good acting. Janet Jackson is not an actress. Regardless of how you classify what she does in front of the camera, it is still difficult to watch. Not surprisingly she was by far the worst performer in the movie, with Whoopi Goldberg and Thandie Newton not far behind. On the positive side Kerry Washington, Loretta Devine and Kimberly Elise gave strong performances and helped balance things out. The story was set up to draw strength from its many characters, and while their circumstances were believable and held potential, they were written without much intelligence and failed to develop beyond superficial entities. Despite constantly interrupting the movie with mostly nonsensical monologues, Perry was able to develop a surprisingly engrossing mood with a more serious style of direction. However there was just no way it was going to last, and sure enough the film stopped all forward momentum after the first hour. At this point each scene began to carry less and less meaning, repeating the same overly inspirational message and adding peachiness as well. Most of Tyler Perry’s movies are unbearably dull, and with a running time of 133 minutes, more than half of this film wound up feeling like it would never end. Given the title I thought this might be Perry’s most racist movie ever, but the title had absolutely nothing to do with the film, which was probably a good thing. Even though Perry showed a slight amount of skill, he still has absolutely no idea how to make a real movie.
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2-3-11

1) Never Let Me Go
Plot- Set in a dystopian Britain, boarding school friends Ruth, Kathy, and Tommy face the sobering reality that awaits them all as they mature into adults. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Mark Romanek (One Hour Photo)

Written by- Alex Garland (28 Days Later…, Sunshine)

Starring- Carey Mulligan, Andrew Garfield, Keira Knightley, Charlotte Rampling, Sally Hawkins

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was a stunning cinematic achievement filled with haunting beauty, stark elegance, brilliantly developed characters, Oscar caliber acting, a perfect musical score and a story with an intensely strong emotional pull. Unspeakably ignored by the Oscars in what will go down as one of the most disgraceful and unthinkable snubs of this young decade, this was one of the best films of 2010 in every category, and if not for the timeless brilliance of “Inception,” it probably would have won numerous Movieguy Awards. The film began with a dark sense of longing brilliantly juxtaposed with young and innocent characters. The story was centered around three main characters who together created the rich emotional core of the film. Alex Garland’s sensational screenplay should be battling it out with “The Social Network” for the Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar. The depth of the psychology behind the characters and their surroundings was both fascinating and engrossing, as his writing was highly intelligent and displayed fantastic evolution in the storytelling and the development of the complicated, multi-tiered relationships between the characters. After the brilliant indie surprise of “One Hour Photo,” movie fans everywhere have eagerly been awaiting Mark Romanek’s next project for a long time. His direction did not disappoint. It was the kind of intense, beautiful, elegant, dark and perfectly framed filmmaking that leaves a strong impression on the viewer both during and after the film. Romanek and Garland deserve tremendous credit for sculpting this incredible story into a mesmerizing work of art, but Carey Mulligan’s spellbinding performance was quietly mesmerizing and morbidly beautiful. Mulligan gave the second best leading performance of the year behind Natalie Portman’s “Black Swan,” and her lack of an Oscar nomination is a disgrace to the category of Best Lead Actress. Mulligan’s presence and passionate performance overshadowed an Oscar worthy supporting showing from Andrew Garfield, and an outstanding performance from Kieran Knightley. In the end this film left absolutely nothing to be desired, and proved to be one of the most beautiful and hauntingly memorable films I’ve ever seen. The Academy of idiots should be ashamed of itself for ignoring a true work of brilliance.

2) Let Me In
Plot- Owen is an alienated and bullied 12-year-old who builds a tentative friendship with his mysterious new neighbor, Abby. Only socializing at night and seemingly immune to the winter climate, Abby reveals her true nature to Owen after her father disappears and a series of murders grips their town. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Matt Reeves (Director of: The Pallbearer, Cloverfield; Writer of: Under Siege 2: Dark Territory, The Pallbearer, The Yards)

Starring- Kodi Smit-McPhee, Chloe Moretz, Richard Jenkins, Elias Koteas

Movieguy’s Verdict- I shall begin this review by saying that this film is not for everyone. It wholeheartedly committed itself to a style of direction, acting and storytelling that simply does not show up in horror movies anymore. Though not a perfect film, it achieved a great deal in story and method and deserves more recognition. Matt Reeves’ frenetic handheld direction of “Cloverfield” was nowhere to be found in this film, which was about as quiet, dark, methodical and exacting as a movie can get. This proves that Reeves is a versatile and smart filmmaker who has a great deal of talent which he can present in many different ways. His screenplay was also excellent, as his deceptively simple characters took up a lot more space on the screen then anyone would’ve thought. This is partly due to the outstanding performances of Chloe Moretz and Kodi Smit-McPhee, both of whom had as much to do with the perfectly paced development of their characters (and the film as a whole) as Reeves. Through careful progression and outstanding decision-making, Moretz and Smit-McPhee helped the film go farther than I think even Reeves thought possible. The confused emotional states of the characters, coupled with simplistic conversations, straightforward narrative and oddly hypnotic pace made this a unique movie experience that seemed to defy genre. Though the film was paced perfectly, Reeves could have done with a slight bit of tightening with the screenplay at times, but it did not affect the outcome of this outstanding film. From a filmmaking standpoint this is a must see, but if you are looking for a cookie-cutter Hollywood horror movie you certainly won’t find it here.

3) Conviction
Plot- A single mother spends nearly two decades putting herself through law school in order to overturn her brother’s unjust murder conviction. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Tony Goldwyn (A Walk on the Moon, Someone Like You, The Last Kiss)

Written by- Pamela Gray (A Walk on the Moon, Music of the Heart)

Starring- Hilary Swank, Sam Rockwell, Melissa Leo, Juliette Lewis, Minnie Driver, Ari Graynor, Clea DuVall, Peter Gallagher

Movieguy’s Verdict- Now that Hilary Swank has won two Oscars she is apparently obsessed with Hollywood style motivational/Oscar-bait films. This movie, in some ways, was yet another example of that. The shining star of this movie was director Tony Goldwyn, who provided the film with an authentic emotional feel. The soft touch he put into his direction nicely captured the passage of time, and his camerawork was excellent as well. Despite making this movie simply for its award potential, Swank did in fact give a very compelling performance. She was slightly overshadowed however by Sam Rockwell, who deserves much more recognition for his ability to carry the film when it was lacking. The biggest drawback of the film was its tendency to be somewhat slow and Pamela Gray’s propensity to exaggerate “good” vs. “bad” characters. Jumping quickly back to acting, Minnie Driver was on her way to an extraordinary performance but she disappeared halfway through the film for no apparent reason. Though the film was predictable and formulaic, it was easy to care about the characters and Goldwyn’s direction made it more effective than it would otherwise have been. I would not exactly call this film a must-see, but as far as motivational true stories go it is better than the usual fare.
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1-27-11

1) Nowhere Boy
Plot- A chronicle of the early life of John Lennon in 1950s Liverpool, from his relationship with his aunt Mimi and estranged mother, to the foundation of The Quarrymen. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Sam Taylor-Wood (Destricted)

Written by- Matt Greenhalgh (Control)

Starring- Aaron Johnson, Kristin Scott Thomas, Anne-Marie Duff, Ophelia Lovibond, David Morrissey, Sam Bell, Thomas Sangster

Movieguy’s Verdict- It’s somewhat strange to see a movie that is directly or indirectly involved with any aspect of The Beatles because through countless documentaries, television specials and other films, every aspect of their existence has been meticulously documented. For even a casual music fan there is very little to be discovered regarding this movie’s subject matter, but there is still something about it that remains intriguing. This movie revolves around the outstanding performance of Aaron Johnson, whose range as an actor is incredible. It’s hard to believe that mere months before this film came out he was playing a teenage superhero in “Kick-Ass.” Johnson’s transformation into the life and mind of John Lennon was deep and remarkably well developed. Though it is not Oscar-worthy material, Johnson is to be applauded for his dedication and psychological involvement with his character. Acting was solid in all areas of the film, and Matt Greenhalgh’s screenplay was filled with layered characters and multi-dimensional themes. Though it might seem difficult to believe given all the positive remarks thus far, this film was not terribly compelling and felt somewhat slow until the last half hour or so. Despite the detail put into the characters, they did not seem to resonate emotionally until the movie reached its climax. Upon closer analysis of the film is clear that almost all of the emotion that the climax generated was due to Johnson’s incredible performance- not the screenplay or Sam Taylor-Wood’s sadly bland direction. Ultimately this film accomplished everything it set out to do, and despite not necessarily pulling the audience in until the very end, it found strong staying power after it was over. Overall it may be a fairly standard music biopic with above average acting, but most of those films don’t stick with you like this one will.

2) Red
Plot- When his idyllic life is threatened by a high-tech assassin, former black-ops agent Frank Moses reassembles his old team in a last ditch effort to survive. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Robert Schwentke (Flightplan, The Time Traveler’s Wife)

Written by- Jon Hoeber (Montana, Whiteout), Erich Hoeber (Montana, Whiteout)

Starring- Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren, Morgan Freeman, Richard Dreyfuss, Karl Urban, John Malkovich, Brian Cox, James Remar, Ernest Borgnine

Movieguy’s Verdict- I’ve always said that Bruce Willis should do more comedy because he has the timing and wit to pull it off. Unfortunately this film’s inconsistencies prevented him, and the movie as a whole, from achieving its full potential. For the first half of the film Willis portrayed a clever and unpredictably funny character with personality and style. Though the trailers made it look like a somewhat cheesy Hollywood action movie, Robert Schwentke’s direction was quite refreshing. He adopted a laid back and somewhat understated style that made the film feel more mysterious and even slightly old-fashioned. Jon and Erich Hoeber wrote a screenplay containing clever comedy, action and plenty of twists and turns, but it also walked a very fine line between Hollywood corniness and entertaining creativity. With an enormous cast of big names (many of whom had very small bit parts) and exaggerated fight sequences, the film felt weighed down at times. However Schwentke’s direction was understated and contained a laid back personality; everything seemed to work well — for a while. Despite a hysterical supporting performance from John Malkovich and a very intense showing from Karl Urban, the Hoebers allowed the film to lag to the point of dullness in the second half. To make up for this slowness Schwentke attempted to turn the film into a serious (and highly clichéd) Hollywood action movie, complete with too many ridiculous fight sequences, large plot holes, loud and exaggerated music and a useless romance for good measure. Though this film did plenty of things well it wasted a great deal of talent, specifically Helen Mirren and Morgan Freeman, and missed out on a golden opportunity to be a smart, clever and funny. I would not necessarily say to avoid this film, but be aware that in the end what you see is exactly what you get.

3) Secretariat
Plot- The life story of Penny Chenery, whose racehorse, Secretariat, won the Triple Crown in 1973. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Randall Wallace (Director of: The Man in the Iron Mask, We Were Soldiers; Writer of: Braveheart, The Man in the Iron Mask, Pearl Harbor, We Were Soldiers)

Written by- Mike Rich (Finding Forrester, The Rookie, Radio, The Nativity Story)

Starring- Diane Lane, Scott Glenn, James Cromwell, John Malkovich, Dylan Walsh

Movieguy’s Verdict- Simply put, this was a very standard Hollywood formula sports movie. It presented predictable themes, obvious characters and plenty of sports film clichés. Randall Wallace, a filmmaker who does not have much else to offer, filled the movie with predictable scenes, many of which felt as though they could have easily been their own Disney movie. His pace was slow and drawn out, and even though you knew exactly what was going to happen at every turn it seemed to take a rather long time to get there. The film’s best feature by far was acting, as Diane Lane and John Malkovich delivered strong and believable performances. Lane was particularly impressive as she displayed great command of her character and the film as a whole. What makes horse racing films somewhat ironic is the fact that full-length horse races last only a minute or two at the most, so what happens between the races has to be most important. The racing sequences were an exciting break from the monotony of the movie, but it still received my standard sports film rating due to its solid performances.

4) Saw: The Final Chapter
Plot- That word lost its meaning four movies ago.

Directed by- Kevin Greutert (Saw VI)

Written by- Patrick Melton (Saw VI, The Collector, Feast 3: The Happy Finish, Saw V, Feast II: Sloppy Seconds, Saw IV, Feast), Marcus Dunstan (Saw VI, The Collector, Feast 3: The Happy Finish, Saw V, Feast II: Sloppy Seconds, Saw IV, Feast)

Starring- Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor, Betsy Russell, Cary Elwes, Sean Patrick Flanery

Movieguy’s Verdict- We’ve been down this road before, and there isn’t a person with a pulse who doesn’t know where it’s going. There was nothing left for this once intriguing franchise to accomplish after the second movie, but five films later the pointlessness drones on. The first couple of scenes picked up where the first film ended, but after that it was back to useless torture sequences that were delusional enough to believe they were clever. Acting was reasonable for the sheer stupidity of the movie’s existence, though Costas Mandylor still stunk up the screen with his usual blend of forced strength and arrogance. Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan have proven time and time again that they don’t have a brain cell between them, and the idiotic characters, cheesy situations and cavernous plot holes of this film should be proof enough. Kevin Greutert did nothing but film pointless torture sequences and not use the film’s 3D theatrical presentation, but at least he moved the film along with no lag. They call this film the final chapter, but there’s no way we could be so lucky.
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1-20-11

1) Takers
Plot- A hard-boiled detective gets in between a group of bank robbers and their plan to make away with a $20 million bounty. (imdb.com)

Directed by- John Luessenhop (Lockdown)

Written by- Peter Allen (Kla$h), Gabriel Casseus, John Luessenhop, Avery Duff

Starring- Matt Dillon, Paul Walker, Idris Elba, Zoe Saldana, Hayden Christensen, Jay Hernandez, Michael Ealy, Chris Brown, T.I.

Movieguy’s Verdict- If you thought this looked exactly like most of the modern crime movies you’ve seen, you’d be right. The film’s four screenwriters could not come up with anything in characters, story or dialogue that wasn’t obvious and had not been done countless times before. Despite this fact, John Luessenhop’s direction kept a good sense of forward movement, and he did a very good job of quickly advancing the timeline and weaving all of the small subplots together. The film’s main performers were solid and believable, and despite the B-list cast (and the presence of non-actors Chris Brown and T.I.), acting was never a problem. Matt Dillon, Hayden Christensen and Idris Elba gave the best performances, but no one in the cast did anything memorable. Luessenhop’s direction was solid and despite the film’s predictable nature, he did manage to create suspense at times. He also had a tendency to exaggerate action sequences, and the screenplay contained quite a few rather large plot holes. I liked the effort this film put forth, but the screenplay kept it off the mark.

2) The Virginity Hit
Plot- Four friends use a video camera and their Internet savvy to chronicle their buddy’s attempt to lose his virginity. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Huck Botko (Writer of: The Last Exorcism), Andrew Gurland (Writer of: The Last Exorcism)

Starring- Matt Bennett, Zack Pearlman, Krysta Rodriguez, Nicole Weaver, Justin Kline

Movieguy’s Verdict- Though the plot looks idiotic, you wouldn’t think that the two guys who did such a great job writing “The Last Exorcism” screenplay could write and direct such an utterly pointless movie. There’s almost nothing to say about this film so this will be a brief review. From the very beginning nothing about the story was particularly interesting. Botko and Gurland couldn’t find a way to make the audience care about the characters, who were nothing more than sex-obsessed teenagers who wasted their time doing nothing in particular. This was supposed to be a comedy, but there wasn’t a single moment of comedy to be found. In fact, there was nothing interesting or even watchable in the entire movie. The film had no redeeming qualities, but at least it was very short and wasn’t obnoxious or painful to sit through like all of 2010’s other zero star movies.
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1-13-11

1) The Social Network
Plot- Harvard undergraduate Mark Zuckerberg recruits some of his classmates to develop the social networking website, Facebook. The endeavor, however, leads to a messy fallout with friend and co-founder Eduardo Saverin. (imdb.com)

Directed by- David Fincher (Alien 3, Se7en, The Game, Fight Club, Panic Room, Zodiac, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)

Written by- Aaron Sorkin (A Few Good Men, Malice, The American President, Charlie Wilson’s War)

Starring- Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, Rashida Jones, Brenda Song, Joseph Mazzello, Max Minghella, Rooney Mara

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was one of the top films of 2010 in practically all major categories, and it achieved this status in impressive fashion. David Fincher has always been one of my favorite directors, but after his massively overrated misfire “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” I was ever so slightly worried that he was beginning to lose his way. After all, his first six movies were all thrillers, but now he’s changing to character-based dramas? No worrying necessary as Fincher’s direction was phenomenal. The vision he took proves that he can apply the same intensity to a drama that he can with a thriller-based plot. Fincher gave the film a dark, slightly vicious feel as he fed off of Jesse Eisenberg’s incredibly nuanced, fast paced and razor sharp personality. His mannerisms, facial expressions and even speech patter were impressively used to create one of the year’s best performances. Aaron Sorkin’s screenplay flew by at a lightning-fast pace, delivering constantly evolving psychological dynamics in a highly intelligent yet constantly accessible setting. The Fincher + Sorkin + Eisenberg equation was a revelation for bio-pics, which some people won’t even watch due to the assumption that they are all dull and formulaic. Fincher’s pitch perfect direction was a highly successful compliment to Sorkin’s taut and brilliantly crafted screenplay, but Eisenberg’s riveting performance caused the audience to never stop analyzing or changing their opinion of Mark Zuckerberg and the story of Facebook. The film also benefited from outstanding supporting performances, namely from Andrew Garfield and Justin Timberlake, whose characters saw the most screentime in that capacity. Both provided dynamic performances which fed off of the film’s intensity and complex character dynamics. Even the score, co-composed by Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor, was dark, brooding and creative. This film was many things, but first and foremost it was an emotional roller coaster of conflicting personalities, greed, betrayal, confusion and perhaps even genius. One of the film’s best qualities was its ability to allow the audience to form their own opinions of the characters, never forcing anyone to settle on one point of view. This was an absorbing and ferocious film that turned out to be absolutely flawless.

2) Piranha 3D
Plot- A tremor under the surface of Lake Victoria unleashes scores of prehistoric piranhas, an event which rallies the local sheriff who will risk everything to save her townsfolk. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Alexandre Aja (The Hills Have Eyes, Mirrors)

Written by- Alexandre Aja (The Hills Have Eyes, P2, Mirrors), Josh Stolberg (Kids in America, Good Luck Chuck, Sorority Row), Pete Goldfinger (Sorority Row), Grégory Levasseur (The Hills Have Eyes, P2, Mirrors)

Starring- Elisabeth Shue, Jerry O’Connell, Richard Dreyfuss, Adam Scott, Christopher Lloyd, Ving Rhames, Dina Meyer, Steven R. McQueen

Movieguy’s Verdict- Isn’t it fitting that after reviewing one of the year’s best films, I must now lower myself to the other end of the spectrum and warn you about one of the year’s worst. Simply put, this film was 60% porn and 40% pointless gore. It began with a laughably exaggerated attack sequence that would simply repeat throughout the 40% of the movie that wasn’t a big screen rendition of Girls Gone Wild. Typical college spring break antics quickly devolved even further into an idiotic montage of pointless sex and mindless partying with absolutely nothing vaguely resembling a plot. Alexandre Aja displayed good visual ability and ideas in his first two films, “The Hills Have Eyes” and “Mirrors,” but both ultimately failed because he lacks the ability to tell a complete story. After two disappointing films, this French filmmaker has clearly given up. This trashy remake of an awful 70s horror film was nothing more than a Girls Gone Wild video with the same shabbily filmed piranha attack sequence inserted every so often. This movie was filled with idiotic characters who made their mere presence even more painful by speaking. Performances, if you can call them that, were useless and mindnumbing. Aja and his team of moronic writers filled this tasteless, tacky and completely worthless movie with nonstop blatant stupidity and infantile sequences that no one should have to sit through. Not that it matters, but it made no use of its 3D theatrical presentation either. This wasn’t your ordinary waste of time, it a horrendously painful display of an otherworldly level of pure, unfiltered stupidity. I am embarrassed to admit I have seen it.
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1-6-11

1) Case 39
Plot- Social worker Emily Jenkins takes 10-year-old Lily out of her apparently abusive home, though while she shelters the little girl and searches for a foster family, Emily realizes that her new case is protected by dark, threatening forces. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Christian Alvart (Curiosity & the Cat, Pandorum)

Written by- Ray Wright (Pulse, The Crazies [2010])

Starring- Renée Zellweger, Ian McShane, Jodelle Ferland, Bradley Cooper, Callum Keith Rennie, Adrian Lester

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was a surprisingly solid, albeit mostly predictable horror movie that found success in most everything it tried. Christian Alvart’s last film, “Pandorum,” made him look like a promising and exciting filmmaker until the story quite drastically fell apart halfway through. Though this film had a more conventional narrative structure than “Pandorum,” Alvart was able to craft a convincing and all too believable tale of horror and paranoia. Renée Zellweger is not the actress you would expect to see as the lead of a horror film, but her unassuming and believable demeanor actually made her a perfect fit. Alvart’s direction was built on a genuinely creepy and realistic atmosphere in which the story progressed very naturally. Ray Wright’s screenplay was indeed predictable, and I would have a hard time believing that anyone who saw this movie did not have a strong idea about what is going to happen. In this instance that did not seem to be an issue as Wright and Alvart did a masterful job establishing a very uneasy and unsettling progression of the paranoia that would ultimately overtake Zellweger’s character. This was key to the film’s success, as Zellweger wonderfully played a terrified character who felt like she was in a nightmare that would not end no matter how many times she pinched herself. Jodelle Ferland gave a downright chilling supporting performance that pushed the film to the next level as far as believability and intensity were concerned. Ian McShane and Bradley Cooper also turned in respectable supporting performances that added to the credibility of an already very well acted film. Alvart never tried to force anything on the audience, nor did he resort to cheap horror clichés in his direction. Overall the film had the gradual progression of a classic “X-Files” episode, in which a bleak and moody atmosphere would slowly transformed into something nightmarish and otherworldly. Though this may look like the average Hollywood horror movie, it is definitely on the higher end of the spectrum and deserves a great deal more recognition than it received.

2) The Last Exorcism
Plot- A troubled evangelical minister agrees to let his last exorcism be filmed by a documentary crew, where a possessed young brings him face to face with the devil. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Daniel Stamm (A Necessary Death)

Written by- Huck Botko (Mail Order Wife), Andrew Gurland (Frat House, Cheats, Mail Order Wife)

Starring- Patrick Fabian, Ashley Bell, Iris Bahr

Movieguy’s Verdict- The documentary style horror film has been beaten to death by Hollywood ever since the out of nowhere success experienced by “The Blair Witch Project.” Some films have done it well, but many have done it badly, proving that it is a lot harder to do than it looks. I did not expect a great deal from this movie, and not only was I pleasantly surprised, I was highly impressed with the level of realism and intensity that this film achieved. Daniel Stamm’s camerawork was top notch and his documentary style direction was entirely believable. Stamm set the scene with a dreary, dark feel and let the characters, story and acting do the heavy lifting. Simply put, Patrick Fabian was outstanding as the lead in a film that was extremely well acted overall. Fabian exhibited remarkable control, energy and a sleazy personality that fit perfectly with his slick con artist character. Ashley Bell and Louis Herthum led a fantastic supporting cast of authentic and genuinely creepy performances. Stamm made great use of camerawork, lighting and editing to create a constantly evolving and highly natural atmosphere, but Huck Botko and Andrew Gurland also wrote a screenplay that wasted no time and established a small group of interesting and compelling characters. Their screenplay was not perfect however, and some gaps in logic were present at times. However the film moved along at a very quick pace and even though it was less than 90 minutes, it still maintained the feel of a very well developed horror movie. Overall this was a great horror movie that was not only genuinely creepy but contained great direction and outstanding acting. Much like this week’s “Case 39,” it is another highly underappreciated horror film that deserves more respect.

3) Dinner for Schmucks
Plot- Tim is a rising executive who “succeeds” in finding the perfect guest, IRS employee Barry, for his boss’s monthly event, a so-called “dinner for idiots,” which offers certain advantages to the exec who shows up with the biggest buffoon. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Jay Roach (Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery, Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, Mystery, Alaska, Meet the Parents, Austin Powers in Goldmember, Meet the Fockers, Recount)

Written by- Andy Borowitz (Never Say Die), Ken Daurio (Bubble Boy, 42K, The Santa Clause 2, College Road Trip, Horton Hears a Who!, Despicable Me), David Guion (The Ex), Michael Handelman (The Ex), Danielle Kasen, Cinco Paul (Bubble Boy, 42K, The Santa Clause 2, College Road Trip, Horton Hears a Who!, Despicable Me), Francis Veber (Partners, The Toy, The Man with One Red Shoe, Hold-Up, Three Fugitives, Pure Luck, My Father the Hero, Fathers’ Day, Dead Letter Office), Jon Vitti (The Simpsons Movie, Alvin and the Chipmunks, Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel)

Starring- Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, Stephanie Szostak, Zach Galifianakis, Bruce Greenwood, Ron Livingston, Jeff Dunham

Movieguy’s Verdict- Despite its dumb sounding title, this film had a promising plot, a comedically inclined cast and the potential to be a truly hysterical comedy. Unfortunately, as most comedies seem to do, it fell short with about a half hour to go. This film started out with genuinely funny personalities and exchanges of dialogue through which Steve Carell and Paul Rudd could showcase their many talents. Carell’s mannerisms and facial expressions were priceless, and the material presented was so wildly bizarre and off-the-wall that there was nothing to do but laugh. Rudd and Carell played nicely off of one another, and they also exhibited great chemistry with the even more randomly bizarre and hysterical supporting characters that showed up throughout the film. Zach Galifianakis and Jemaine Clement highlighted a solid group of supporting performers who were quite funny despite being on the more exaggerated side of the spectrum. The film was highly predictable and there were quite a few Hollywood comedy clichés to be found, but the film’s many screenwriters and director Jay Roach presented a wide range of comedy types and situations that kept the laughs coming. The film’s standard structure and predictability did begin to wear thin after a while, and the last half hour of the film found itself painfully corny and terribly mishandled. It’s possible that Roach & Co. had created so much bizarre and off-the-wall content that they thought there were no limits. In the end the film felt disappointing due to the complete meltdown that became the last half hour, and the unintelligent and lazy fashion with which the characters and story were handled at the end. Though it did have quite a few laughs, this movie underachieved way too much for its own good.

4) Machete
Plot- After being betrayed by the organization who hired him, an ex-Federale launches a brutal rampage of revenge against the people who double-crossed him. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Ethan Maniquis, Robert Rodriguez (Desperado, From Dusk Till Dawn, The Faculty, Spy Kids, Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams, Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Sin City, Grindhouse: Planet Terror)

Written by- Robert Rodriguez (Desperado, Spy Kids, Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams, Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Grindhouse: Planet Terror), Álvaro Rodríguez

Starring- Danny Trejo, Michelle Rodriguez, Robert De Niro, Cheech Marin, Jessica Alba, Steven Seagal, Jeff Fahey, Cheech Marin, Don Johnson, Lindsay Lohan

Movieguy’s Verdict- Robert Rodriguez needs advice. He should ask M. Night Shyamalan what it feels like to be completely lost in a profession in which he found great success a long, long time ago. If you are still hanging onto the filmmaker who brought you “Desperado,” “From Dusk Till Dawn” and 1/3rd of “Sin City,” it is time to let go before he drags you down with him. The idea for this film began as a joke for one of the fake trailers presented in the failed 2007 Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino double feature “Grindhouse.” The fake “Machete” trailer was actually funny because it made fun of how horrendously bad the movie looked. I had no idea Rodriguez would be so stupid that he would actually make this movie, but then again I thought Shyamalan was done making kids movies after “Lady in the Water.” The blatant stupidity of this film was overwhelming. The fact that it was somewhat racist was another story all together, but there were no shortage of horrendous ideas and characters throughout this film. Danny Trejo is a solid supporting actor who has played memorable (albeit somewhat identical) parts in a variety of movies and TV shows over the years, but his overly stoic and simultaneously exaggerated excuse for a performance in this film was painful to watch. The rest of the acting was putrid as well, but that really had very little to do with the outcome. The film took itself so seriously that it felt like it should have been a spoof, but whatever spin you place on this movie, the result will still contain some of 2010’s most idiotic and worthless material. Rodriguez and co-director Ethan Maniquis made every scene look downright terrible with poorly planned direction and clumsy camerawork. The characters were absolutely moronic and didn’t have a shred of potential. The film’s stunning levels of blatant stupidity made enduring it a horrifically painful experience. This infantile cesspool found numerous ways to be awful, as Rodriguez combined some of the dumbest characters you’ll ever see with elements of cheesy Hollywood action movies, trashy 80s horror films and the overt racism of some of Tyler Perry’s classiest work. Do not ever, under any circumstances, watch this movie- you will regret it for the rest of your days.

5) Catfish
Plot- Curious events cause New York City photographer Nev to head to Michigan to meet Abby, the 8-year-old girl he befriended on MySpace. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Henry Joost, Ariel Schulman

Starring- Nev Schulman, Rel Schulman

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was a really outstanding half of a movie, but my question is, Where the hell is the other half? Let’s put it this way, if filmmakers could be sued for false advertising this film would be the landmark case. The trailers indicated this film to be some sort of chilling Hitchcockian classic, and perhaps that was ever so slightly true of the first half. Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman crafted their direction like they were setting up a documentary style thriller for the digital age. Filled with clips of realistic interactions with Facebook, YouTube and other forms of current social media, the film was a slightly eerie, slowly developing mystery carried back and forth over the internet. Joost and Schulman developed with film with great care, very gradually increasing the level of uneasiness in the characters, all of whom were believably and realistically acted. Joost and Schulman relied on their ability to create anticipation within the delicate framework of the story, and they succeeded because the film was fabulously paced as it led up to its first major plot twist. Little did I know this is where the film would actually end- with over 40 minutes remaining. The movie’s first plot twist was one we pretty much saw coming, but still the anticipation was growing and I found myself wondering what would come next. Unfortunately, nothing came next. The second half of the film was more or less a repetition of the same idea that was behind the film’s first and apparently only plot twist. The intensity quickly died when it was apparent that nothing else was going to become of this once promising narrative. The characters and emotions were real and highly authentic, but nothing can change the fact that Joost and Schulman only made half of a movie. There’s a great deal of debate on whether or not this film was real (as the filmmakers say it is) or if it is a faux documentary. I personally believe it is fake, but the truth is they only made half of a movie, so they’re either inconsistent writers or they failed to realize their briefly interesting lives didn’t produce quite enough material to make a complete movie. This film had great potential but just failed to capitalize.
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12-30-10

1) Twelve
Plot- In New York City’s Upper East Side, the life of a young drug dealer is dismantled in the wake of his cousin’s murder, which sees his best friend arrested for the crime. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Joel Schumacher (Flatliners, Falling Down, The Client, Batman Forever, A Time to Kill, Batman & Robin, 8MM, Flawless, Tigerland, Bad Company, Phone Booth, Veronica Guerin, The Phantom of the Opera, The Number 23, Blood Creek)

Written by- Jordan Melamed (Director of: Manic)

Starring- Chace Crawford, Emma Roberts, Rory Culkin, Ellen Barkin, 50 Cent, Zoë Kravitz, Kiefer Sutherland

Movieguy’s Verdict- Joel Schumacher’s career has been characterized by high highs and low lows, but with this film he goes back to basics and creates an outstanding piece of work. The first scene opened to Kiefer Sutherland’s growling and blunt narration; an emotionally charged atmosphere was created instantly. Schumacher’s direction was thick, filled with rich emotion and a gritty feel that enveloped the audience and the characters. Jordan Melamed’s screenplay was phenomenal. He allowed the audience to learn a tremendous amount about the characters, and Schumacher’s direction really brought their various psychological complexities to the surface. This B-list ensemble cast was filled with understated performances that allowed the struggles and emotions of the characters to show through slightly more than their actual personalities. Schumacher and Melamed worked very well together to create a dark and brooding atmosphere filled with raw and highly unstable characters that could lose control at any moment. Despite a few slow moments here and there this was a powerful film from a number of different perspectives. It achieved success through strong direction and perfectly crafted storytelling — this unknown movie sadly went under the radar this year but it certainly deserves to be seen.

2) The American
Plot- An assassin hiding out in an Italian village while he anticipates his last-ever assignment tempts fate by seeking out the friendship of a priest as well as the affection of a local woman. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Anton Corbijn (Control)

Written by- Rowan Joffe (Last Resort, 28 Weeks Later)

Starring- George Clooney, Paolo Bonacelli, Violante Placido

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film may not be for everyone, but it is a throwback to a style of movie that is simply not made anymore. Anton Corbijn made a name for himself with his hauntingly beautiful debut film “Control,” and this time around he finds himself with the great George Clooney at his disposal. Though the trailers may have advertised it as a thriller of sorts, this was, in reality, a fantastically well-built character study. Corbijn’s direction is quiet and artful, and his goal is to display Clooney’s pensive and reserved character interpreting and analyzing everything around him. In this respect the film reminded me of “Chinatown,” in relation to how detailed Roman Polanski became in allowing the audience to see every piece of Jack Nicholson’s thought process in every scene. Corbijn and writer Rowan Joffe framed scenes and characters with a hint of uncertainty, longing and desperation. Clooney brought more and more of his character to the surface with a masterful and meticulously crafted performance. Watching Clooney develop his character and analyze everything around him (including himself) was fascinating, but the film did feel a bit slow at times and perhaps contained one or two unnecessary sequences. Even still there was a great deal of symbolism and an incredible amount of nuance in the direction, screenplay and Clooney’s performance. To some degree the slowness was acceptable given Corbijn’s style of direction, but the screenplay contained some elements of predictability that probably should have been more carefully planned out. In the end this was a great movie that recaptured the quiet analysis and vintage beauty of a forgotten era — “The Passenger” comes to mind. It may not be for everyone, but it was a gutsy movie that achieved a great deal.

3) Resident Evil: Afterlife
Plot- As the T-Virus continues to spread, Alice maintains her mission to find survivors and keep them safe from the Undead, and to take down the Umbrella Corporation. Reteaming with Claire, Alice makes a dangerous journey to a new city that is said to be a safe haven: Los Angeles. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Paul W.S. Anderson (Mortal Kombat, Event Horizon, Soldier, Resident Evil, AVP: Alien vs. Predator, Death Race)

Starring- Milla Jovovich, Ali Larter, Wentworth Miller, Sienna Guillory, Kim Coates, Shawn Roberts, Sergio Peris-Mencheta, Spencer Locke

Movieguy’s Verdict- The first “Resident Evil” film was very good. Though not perfect it achieved solid results in both of the horror and sci-fi genres. Subsequent movies were unnecessary but had great potential to build upon the story’s deeply rooted conspiracy elements. Three horribly conceived sequels later it is clear this once promising franchise is dead, never to be resurrected. This film had its moments, perhaps more than the other sequels, but ultimately it was just as bad. Paul W.S. Anderson came back on board to direct his first “Resident Evil” movie since the original, but it didn’t change a thing. Anderson included laughably corny fight sequences that indicated that he is now more interested in shooting a series of cheesy post-apocalyptic music videos than directing a real movie. Though he made plenty of bad decisions, he was successful in creating a decent air of conspiracy and sci-fi mystery during the middle of the film. Anderson’s screenplay showed that he clearly didn’t have any original ideas to bring to the table. Characters were highly typical and clichéd, and the writing contained numerous gaps in logic. Furthermore the film really didn’t have much of a plot. The only good ideas it had were already presented in earlier films, and the rest was lazy clichés and silly fight scenes. Milla Jovovich has given this series her all, but with writing and direction so badly mangled she has very little to do but go through the motions. The film’s supporting performances were mostly poor, but Shawn Roberts really stole the show with an absolutely atrocious and forced showing as the movie’s main villain. The film didn’t even achieve much visually, becoming another in the long line of films to do nothing with their 3D theatrical presentation. In the end this film did not achieve much of anything and can be quickly forgotten.
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12-23-10

1) Salt
Plot- When CIA officer Evelyn Salt is called a spy by a Russian defector, she goes on the run, putting all of her experience and skills to use to elude capture, learn the truth of her identity, and hopefully clear her name. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Phillip Noyce (Dead Calm, Clear and Present Danger, The Saint, Patriot Games, The Bone Collector, The Quiet American, Catch a Fire)

Written by- Kurt Wimmer (Law Abiding Citizen, Street Kings, Ultraviolet, The Recruit, Equilibrium, The Thomas Crown Affair, Sphere, The Wolves, Relative Fear, The Neighbor, Double Trouble), Brian Helgeland (Green Zone, Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant, The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3. Man on Fire, The Order, Mystic River, Blood Work, A Knight’s Tale, Payback, The Postman, Conspiracy Theory, L.A. Confidential, Assassins, Highway to Hell, 976-EVIL, A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master)

Starring- Angelina Jolie, Liev Schreiber, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Zoe Lister Jones

Movieguy’s Verdict- It has been a regrettable year for Angelina Jolie whose recent film “The Tourist” was a colossal failure. This mid-year effort had all the makings of a classic thriller, but one of the year’s most catastrophic screenplay collapses turned it into an expensive joke. The film began with good excitement and suspense, as Phillip Noyce’s shaky camerawork and tense editing brought out the numerous chase sequences and engrossing plot. Jolie gave a commanding pre-collapse performance by displaying good intensity and strong personality. The screenplay was built around a conventional structure that found a way to support the fast-paced narrative- for a while. Kurt Wimmer and Brian Helgeland deserve credit for attempting to insert a number of plot twists and surprises to keep the audience on their toes. However, after a while these plot twists became blatantly absurd and quickly made the film impossible to take seriously. Everything fell apart as it got closer to the end. Acting became ridiculous and unwatchable, characters lost their meaning and the direction was full of exaggerated action sequences. Most importantly, with each badly conceived plot twist, a dozen new plot holes were created. What began as a taut thriller ended as a misguided, confused and formless mess. Stay far away from this rotten egg!

2) Easy A
Plot- As she studies The Scarlet Letter, high schooler Olive Penderghast notices her parallels to the novel and begins to work the school’s rumor mill to advance her social and financial standing. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Will Gluck (Fired Up!)

Written by- Bert V. Royal

Starring- Emma Stone, Amanda Bynes, Penn Badgley, Dan Byrd, Thomas Haden Church, Patricia Clarkson, Cam Gigandet, Lisa Kudrow, Malcolm McDowell, Stanley Tucci

Movieguy’s Verdict- This had the look and feel of a very standard teen romantic comedy, and in many ways that’s exactly what it was. However, at least an attempt was made to create decent comedy and a clever atmosphere. Emma Stone was a fine choice for her part, and brought good enthusiasm and sarcasm to the film. There were moments of clever comedy to be found, most of which came from Stone’s performance and attitude. Will Gluck created a good energy level at times, but overall the film felt much too corny and childish for its own good. I enjoyed the supporting performances from Stanley Tucci, Thomas Haden Church and Patricia Clarkson, and Bert V. Royal made a valiant effort to write clever and humorous characters. Unfortunately the actual plot was so exaggerated and corny that the film felt a little too challenging to enjoy. This film definitely meant well and was created with the best of intentions, but even Stone’s energetic performance couldn’t save it from itself. With a better writer this movie could have been a sleeper comedy.

3) Devil
Plot- A group of people trapped in a elevator realize that the devil is among them. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Drew Dowdle (Writer of: Quarantine), John Erick Dowdle (Writer/Director of: The Dry Spell, The Poughkeepsie Tapes, Quarantine)

Written by- Brian Nelson (Hard Candy, 30 Days of Night)

Starring- Chris Messina, Caroline Dhavernas, Bokeem Woodbine, Matt Craven, Joshua Peace, Geoffrey Arend, Bojana Novakovic

Movieguy’s Verdict- This review tells the tale of a film that did everything right, but stopped trying when it came time for the ending. The film began ominously with dark direction and foreboding music. The Dowdle brothers embraced an old fashioned style of minimalism that stripped away all of the unnecessary Hollywood elements that are found in most of today’s films. This allowed the story’s forceful and sinister progression to constantly bombard the audience. Chris Messina led a patchwork cast of mostly unheard of performers whose anonymity probably aided in the believability of their performances. All together they formed a well balanced group who carried out the story with intensity and realism. The Dowdle brothers crafted a great visual experience here, and their choices proved that they have the ability to move beyond the immaturity teen silliness of “Quarantine.” Their direction was not CGI heavy, but rather they relied on an adept use of lighting, camerawork that enhanced the feeling of claustrophobia and a solid understanding of the elements of suspense. Brian Nelson created a minimalistic suspense/horror tale that developed well and felt all too believable, but his ending was a pitiful cop out. The weak and flimsy nature of Nelson’s ending was enough to send the film from great success to forgettable mediocrity. Often with minimalistic films it’s not enough to start strong- you have to finish even stronger to bring the idea home. The film did a great many things well, but simply could not bring itself to a satisfactory finish. Sometimes a weak ending can be tolerated, but not in an 80 minute work of suspense such as this.

4) Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps
Plot- Fallen stockbroker Gordon Gekko teams up with a young Wall Street trader, who’s mentor was recently murdered, to track down the killer and warn others about an impending massive financial meltdown. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Oliver Stone

Written by- Allan Loeb (Things We Lost in the Fire, 21, The Switch), Stephen Schiff (Lolita [1997], The Deep End of the Ocean, True Crime)

Starring- Shia LaBeouf, Michael Douglas, Carey Mulligan, Charlie Sheen, Susan Sarandon, Josh Brolin, Eli Wallach, Frank Langella

Movieguy’s Verdict- Was a “Wall Street” sequel necessary? Nope. Did a “Wall Street” sequel have enormous potential? Youbetcha. Think about it, Oliver Stone is directing, Michael Douglass is back and the cast is top notch. Even so, the disappointment of this film’s disposable irrelevance was wholeheartedly devastating to both Stone’s legacy and the Gordon Gekko character. Essentially this film was made as a “hindsight is 20-20” project about the events of the 2008 economic collapse. Though it was a detailed financial drama, there wasn’t a single original idea in the entire film. Stone and writers Allan Loeb and Stephen Schiff merely retold the events of the collapse and projected them onto the characters. Shia LaBeouf’s natural charisma was easily the film’s best feature. Overall the performances were technically sound, but could not alter the fact that this film was mostly painfully slow and essentially uninteresting. Josh Brolin and Carey Mulligan were high points of the supporting cast as both gave strong and highly believable performances. Michael Douglas did his very best to embody the fierce, killer instinct that made Gekko an iconic film character. Though it was disgraceful that Stone, Loeb and Schiff were too lazy to create an original plot, at least they managed to write clever, layered conversations for in the few scenes Gekko was actually in. The ending could be seen a mile away, and LaBeouf’s energy was the only consistently strong quality of the film. This was a huge misfire, and Stone owes Douglas a huge apology.
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12-16-10

1) The Town
Plot- Career thief Doug MacRay considers deepening his relationship with Claire, a bank teller who was traumatized by a recent heist — and who has no idea that Doug was behind the crime. Meanwhile, an investigator, who is close to unmasking Doug’s secret life, wrestles with his feelings for Claire. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Ben Affleck (Gone Baby Gone)

Written by- Peter Craig, Ben Affleck (Good Will Hunting, Gone Baby Gone), Aaron Stockard (Gone Baby Gone)

Starring- Ben Affleck, Rebecca Hall, Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner, Blake Lively, Pete Postlethwaite, Chris Cooper

Movieguy’s Verdict- Over the last five years, Ben Affleck has been putting together a resume of movies that shows he has developed himself into a much more diverse and talented actor. During that time he also gave us his directorial debut, the fantastic tightly knit crime drama “Gone Baby Gone.” Though I have always been fond of his largely underappreciated acting talents, Affleck’s skills as a director and storyteller have quickly eclipsed anything he could achieve as an actor. This film was a rich crime drama, filled with thick city characters with rough edges. Affleck and co-writer Peter Craig created supremely compelling relationships between the characters, bridging their connections in a variety of different ways which enhanced the storytelling and plot. The dynamic between Affleck and Rebecca Hall’s character was developed with great precision and care, and flourished in the film’s intense environment. Affleck’s direction was strong and definitive. He pushed the intensity at exactly the right moments, injected dark humor in the right places and masterfully built suspense. You will be hard-pressed to find a more tightly acted crime drama than this film. Affleck gives a commanding presence as the film’s lead, playing a damaged, conflicted and hopeful character with a fine balance of raw power and thoughtful grace. Jeremy Renner was also outstanding, bringing a more deliberate level of rage and intensity to the film, which leveled out nicely with Hall’s outstanding careful and vulnerable performance. With each scene Affleck pushed the suspense a little further, and carried the characters deeper and deeper into the complicated web they had created. Though the film did use a few standard crime clichés along the way, this was ultimately a film that worked equally well on many levels. Without question, this is a must see.

2) Despicable Me
Plot- A trio of orphan girls cause the normally deplorable Gru to rethink his plan to steal the moon. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Pierre Coffin, Chris Renaud, Sergio Pablos

Written by- Ken Daurio (Bubble Boy, 42K, The Santa Clause 2, College Road Trip, Horton Hears a Who!), Cinco Paul (Bubble Boy, The Santa Clause 2, College Road Trip, Horton Hears a Who!)

Voices of- Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Jason Segel, Miranda Cosgrove, Ken Jeong, Will Arnett, Russell Brand, Julie Andrews, Danny McBride

Movieguy’s Verdict- Some movies are extremely tough to advertise. For instance, how do you make this movie look like something other than a corny and predictable kid’s movie? Despite clever and creative teasers, that’s exactly what it looked like. I was proud to discover that it was anything but. It is impossible to downplay outstanding level of creativity and consistently intelligent and clever humor that this film contained. Whether you’re talking about visually or in the screenplay itself, this was smarter and funnier than the vast majority of kid’s movies. Pierre Coffin, Chris Renaud and Sergio Pablos created an environment of impressive creativity, solid CGI and tightly edited scenes that flowed together nicely. The three directors and writers Ken Daurio and Cinco Paul included a wide variety of comedic styles and offbeat humor that combined well with interesting characters and a sharp environment. In most of the kids movies I’ve reviewed recently the vocal performances have been less than great, but not this time. The entire cast turned in a collection of well constructed voice parts, but none more so than Steve Carell’s phenomenal showing. While watching this movie it was easy to see the degree of preparation and thought that went into each scene, and then of course, Carell’s natural talent and charisma took him the rest of the way. This film was funny, creative and ultimately quite heartwarming. It was, without a doubt the best kid’s movie of the year, and should be considered the front runner for the Best Animated Feature Oscar over “Toy Story 3.”

3) The A-Team
Plot- A group of Iraq War veterans looks to clear their name with the U.S. military, who suspect the four men of committing a crime for which they were framed. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Joe Carnahan (Writer and Director of: Blood, Guts, Bullets and Octane, Narc, Smokin’ Aces; Writer of: Pride and Glory)

Written by- Brian Bloom, Michael Brandt (2 Fast 2 Furious, Catch That Kid, 3:10 to Yuma, Wanted), Skip Woods (Swordfish, Hitman, X-Men Origins: Wolverine)

Starring- Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Sharlto Copley, Jessica Biel, Patrick Wilson, Quinton Jackson

Movieguy’s Verdict- This is one of those Hollywood action movies that could have gone either way, but Joe Carnahan assembled the perfect group and created the optimal atmosphere for a high octane action film to succeed. The beginning and the end of the film contained some highly over-the-top stunts, yet there wasn’t a moment that was lacking fun, excitement and/or comedy. Carnahan is a highly energetic filmmaker as he showed with his no holds barred insanity laced “Smokin’ Aces,” but he also has a great deal of artistic style which he thoroughly showcased in “Narc.” While I wouldn’t exactly call this an artistic movie, it would be hard to argue that his direction didn’t have a little of everything. This film was filled with big personalities and entertaining characters, and Carnahan did a fantastic job allowing them every opportunity to combine a diverse grouping of talents and personalities. Speaking of personality, this film and it’s perfectly chosen ensemble cast had plenty. Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Sharlto Copley and Quinton Jackson had great chemistry together and all gave excellent performances. One of the film’s biggest surprises was Patrick Wilson’s outstanding supporting performance as a wickedly corrupt CIA agent. I’m sure every actor loves to play the bad guy every once in a while, but Wilson put something extra into every scene that made him shine as brightly as the main cast members. With writers who had worked on cinematic blunders such as “2 Fast 2 Furious,” “Catch That Kid,” “Wanted” and “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” I assumed that if the film was to have any chance of success, it would come from the direction and acting. As it turned out, Brian Bloom, Michael Brandt and Skip Woods brought their A-Game when it came to this reboot of the classic television series. The writers managed to create a fast-moving, highly exciting story that was surprisingly layered and well developed. It would have been easy to ignore details and character development in this big-budget Hollywood environment, but they did their homework and it showed. This was an outstanding action movie with a biting personality, great story and fantastic acting- put this one on your must-see list.

4) The Other Guys
Plot- Two mismatched New York City detectives seize an opportunity to step up like the city’s top cops whom they idolize — only things don’t quite go as planned. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Adam McKay (Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, Step Brothers)

Written by- Adam McKay (Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, Step Brothers), Chris Henchy (Land of the Lost)

Starring- Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Samuel L. Jackson, Dwayne Johnson, Eva Mendes, Michael Keaton, Ray Stevenson, Paris Hilton, Anne Heche, Lindsay Sloane, Steve Coogan, Rob Riggle, Damon Wayans Jr.

Movieguy’s Verdict- The Will Ferrell movie experience is hit and miss, but overall it has been mostly miss. Teaming up once again with Adam McKay and a solid cast, would this movie be comedic gold like the first half of “Anchorman,” or would crash and burn in a hazy cloud of inane non-humor like the second half of “Anchorman,” “Talladega Nights” and “Step Brothers?” It had a great deal to offer in humor, characters and presentation, but fell short in the same way most comedies do. After an intentionally over-the-top opening sequence that was quite painful to watch, a collection of funny characters and comedically charged chemistry between Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg created a wonderfully humorous atmosphere. Ferrell has a penchant toward excess and wild exaggeration in his movies, but this time around McKay and Ferrell seemed to take things a bit more seriously. Some of the humor definitely felt improvised, yet there was an undeniable air of restraint throughout the film, perhaps respecting the fact that someone other than Ferrell could be responsible for creating a laugh or two. Michael Keaton turned in a fantastic and absolutely hysterical supporting performance, and Eva Mendes made the most of her small, yet humorous role. I was impressed with the range of humor the film presented. A classic mix of bizarre randomness, priceless deadpan exchanges between Wahlberg (who possesses impeccable comedic timing) and Ferrell and a weak but watchable plot made this movie quite watchable- at least for a while. I’ve said it time and time again that most comedies will start out strong but will fade over time, leaving the audience with almost no humor usually for the second half of the film. With as many huge laughs as the film carried early on, over the last 40 minutes it completely abandoned everything it did well in favor of lengthy and exaggerated action sequences. There’s too much good material in this movie to ignore, but despite all of the things that were set up so well, McKay and co-writer Chris Henchy simply could not sustain it. This is a movie I can certainly recommend for a DVD viewing, but be prepared for at least moderate disappointment during the second half of this movie.

5) Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole
Plot- Soren is a young Barn Owl who lives in the peaceful forest of Tyto. Kidnapped and brought to the foreboding St. Aegolius Academy for Orphaned Owls, Soren must face certain challenges — including taking his first-ever flight — on a dangerous adventure that leads to the mythical Great Ga’Hoole Tree, where he and his friends Gylfie, Twilight, and Digge look to fight a great evil in their world. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Zack Snyder (Dawn of the Dead, 300, Watchmen)

Written by- John Orloff (A Mighty Heart), Emil Stern (The Life Before Her Eyes, Tenderness)

Voices of- Jim Sturgess, Hugo Weaving, David Wenham

Movieguy’s Verdict- Zack Snyder hit the ground running with his exciting and stylish remake of “Dawn of the Dead,” but took giant steps backwards with the horrendously corny “300” and the expensive and inconsistent “Watchmen.” I can’t say I knew what to expect from Snyder following “Watchmen,” but a CGI kid’s movie about owls was certainly not at the top of the list. While you’re thinking about that, take a look at the writers. John Orloff wrote a great film, “A Mighty Heart,” about the gut wrenching true story of Daniel Pearl, while Emil Stern has written two promising, yet ultimately disappointing dramas. What would possibly prompt these three to make a kids movie? I have no idea, but the results were surprising. Snyder has been praised throughout his career for his creative use of special effects. Even though two of his three movies displayed more bad than good, they were quite stylish, and he definitely brought intense high quality CGI to the table here. Snyder became one of the first directors to actually make full, masterful use of the 3D technology with which this film was made, to produce a result that was vastly superior to almost every 3D movie made to this point. Despite the fact that the dialogue was highly obvious and quite childish, Snyder tried his best to make the film visually scary and intense. He would have been more successful had the central story not been very predictable and extremely clichéd. Vocal performances were a bit forced overall, and they seemed to make the film feel much cornier than it actually was. However, this was not the film’s biggest problem. Somehow, Snyder allowed almost all of the owls to look practically the same, which made it impossible to tell them apart. This made the film feel choppy and disconnected, and the poor voice acting only intensified this effect. Despite the creativity and mature presentation created by the CGI, there were plenty of aspects to this movie that are present in practically every kid’s movie, such as exaggerated bad guy characters, overlong fight scenes, predictability and overly blunt dialogue. In the end, the film accomplished a lot more than the average moviegoer might have predicted, however it failed to become the complete movie it rightfully should have been. Despite a complete change in genre and technique, Zack Snyder’s inconsistency continues.

6) Nanny McPhee Returns
Plot- Nanny McPhee arrives to help a harried young mother, Mrs. Green, who is trying to run the family farm while her husband is away at war. With Mrs. Green’s children waging a personal war with their two spoiled cousins, Nanny McPhee uses her magic to teach the kids five important new lessons. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Susanna White

Written by- Emma Thompson (Sense and Sensibility, Nanny McPhee)

Starring- Emma Thompson, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Ralph Fiennes, Ewan McGregor, Maggie Smith, Rhys Ifans, Asa Butterfield

Movieguy’s Verdict- Five years ago I attended a press screening of an atrociously acted, corny and dreadfully clichéd Hollywood kid’s movie called “Nanny McPhee.” When the film was over I was thrilled, because I didn’t have to watch it anymore. Five years later I was putting together a summer movie preview edition for Standing Room Only and saw this film. My heart stopped. I began to sweat. What have I ever done to Emma Thompson? More to the point, what has Emma Thompson done to herself? Perhaps a bigger disappointment than the fact that this film exists is that Maggie Gyllenhaal allowed herself to be part of it. Gyllenhaal is a highly talented actress who has compiled an impressive resume of respectable movies, and this film will surely be the blackest mark on it. I will give Gyllenhaal her do here, because despite an infantile script, constant kid’s movie silliness and basically no story to work with, her performance was actually decent. Thompson, Rhys Ifans and Maggie Smith gave downright embarrassing performances that they should all be ashamed of, but the child actors (Asa Butterfield, Oscar Steer, Lil Woods, Eros Vlahos, Rosie Taylor-Ritson) were all quite good, and were really the only watchable aspect of the film. You may remember Butterfield from a few years ago, when he was snubbed for a much deserved Oscar nomination in the brilliant but ignored movie “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.” He has a bright future though, and all of these other child actors have potential as well. I will honestly admit that this movie was not nearly as painful or brutally corny as the first. Its worst quality was its pointlessness. As I said before, there was practically no story and the film felt like it was dragging on forever. There’s not much else to say about this movie, other than avoid it at all costs.
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12-9-10

1) Inception
Plot- A sci-fi/thriller set within the “architecture of the mind,” and centered on a group of business people who can construct a dream world for an individual and then infiltrate that world to steal their subconscious. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Christopher Nolan (Following, Memento, Insomnia, Batman Begins, The Prestige, The Dark Knight)

Starring- Leonardo DiCaprio, Ken Watanabe, Ellen Page, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Cillian Murphy, Tom Berenger, Lukas Haas

Movieguy’s Verdict- As a critic it’s always difficult to write a review of a film that left me speechless. While Christopher Nolan may have bent my mind into a very twisted pretzel, his genius will not deter this review! I first read the plot of this film while it was in production, and I was intrigued. When I saw the first trailer, I was floored with a level of anticipation and excitement I hadn’t felt in a long time. We’ve all been disappointed by high profile films in the past, but who am I to doubt Nolan? After all, the man has made six outstanding films in the course of a decade; the word ‘disappointment’ is not present in his vocabulary. Nolan has a style of direction all his own. His films are typically dark and brooding with ominous overtones, rich cinematography, crisp editing and forceful, calculated camerawork. His direction of this film took the style and presentation he’s been honing from the start of his career and injected a generation-defining dimension of detail and technique. Nolan left no stone unturned as he created a surreal fantasy world of epic dimensions. The film’s ideas and details were mind-blowing, and the plot was alight with intensity. Nolan’s visual landscape was so impressive that it would seem impossible for any group of actors to make an impact on the film. Again, Nolan defies conventional logic as he carried Leonardo DiCaprio to a dynamic, multi-layered performance worthy of the most serious Oscar buzz generated by a male lead this year. Ellen Page also shined, but Marion Cotillard was easily the strongest actress in the film, and her haunting, elegant performance merits an Oscar nomination. Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ken Watanabe also provided perfect and intense supporting performances, keeping the audience as much involved with the acting as Nolan’s incredible visual landscape. From a critic’s standpoint, Nolan’s writing was perhaps his most impressive feat here. Many filmmakers would be content to simply create an impressive visual world and at least partially ignore the screenplay. Nolan is too good for that, and his screenplay was an astounding achievement in its own right. The countless levels of detail and symbolism, psychological layers, precise character developments and unrelenting suspense took the audience on a journey that left this film a one of a kind, unforgettable classic. Christopher Nolan has created a masterpiece in every sense of the word, and at the very least it deserves every Oscar it is eligible for. This movie will be studied, puzzled over, analyzed and idolized as the definition of mind-bending, surreal perfection.

2) Shrek Forever After
Plot- A bored and domesticated Shrek pacts with deal-maker Rumpelstiltskin to get back to feeling like a real ogre again, but when he’s duped and sent to a twisted version of Far Far Away — where Rumpelstiltskin is king, ogres are hunted, and he and Fiona have never met — he sets out to restore his world and reclaim his true love. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Mike Mitchell

Written by- Josh Klausner, Darren Lemke

Voices of- Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy, Jane Lynch, Larry King, Antonio Banderas, Julie Andrews, Craig Robinson, Ryan Seacrest, Kristen Schaal, Kathy Griffin, Gilbert Gottfried, Regis Philbin

Movieguy’s Verdict- There was really no justification for any additional “Shrek” movies after the first one. These highly overrated films are redundant, mostly corny and completely unnecessary. While this movie wasn’t painful to sit through, it was, at the same time, tough to watch because there was purpose for it to exist. The film’s CGI was first rate, and while it was not Pixar, the graphics were really excellent. Vocal performances were mostly forced, though not to the extreme extent of Tom Hanks’ “Toy Story 3” showing. Antonio Banderas gave by far the best and most entertaining vocal performance, but Eddie Murphy had a number of good sequences too. Overall there was very little comedy present in the film, and the same kid’s movie message was repeated over and over again. The redundancy of the film was trying, but oddly enough it didn’t feel slow or lagging in any way. It pushed itself along with standard kids movie antics, and the CGI made it mostly bearable. Director Mike Mitchell included quite a few pop music montages, which grew cornier as the film went along. With these montages it was much easier to see the true purpose for the film. Music videos are designed to sell CDs and advertising for the channels on which they air, and this movie was made for the sole purpose of milking the Shrek cash cow until it has withered, died and composts itself back from whence it came.
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12-2-10

1) Going the Distance
Plot- A romantic comedy centered on a guy and gal who try to keep their love alive as they shuttle back and forth between Chicago and Los Angeles to see one another. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Nanette Burstein (On the Ropes, The Kid Stays in the Picture, American Teen)

Written by- Geoff LaTulippe

Starring- Drew Barrymore, Justin Long, Ron Livingston, Jason Sudeikis, Jim Gaffigan, Rob Riggle

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film looked very much like your standard Hollywood romantic comedy, but every once in a while the right people get together and make a great movie — this just happened to be one of those times. It did not take long to realize that this film was not going to be a formulaic exercise in futility. Director Nanette Burstein and writer Geoff LaTulippe created a highly realistic atmosphere for these colorful and engaging characters to thrive. The film had a strong level of comedy throughout, which was only enhanced by the great chemistry between Justin Long and Drew Barrymore. These two gave performances that were realistic, amusing and sincere, capturing the evolution of their characters throughout the film. Long and Barrymore have been in a number of great movies, and a number of flops as well, but these two have always shown tremendous charisma and personality, and in this film it came through in spades. LaTulippe, a completely unknown writer, should feel very proud of his screenplay. He created realistic characters and an environment that fostered comedy and romance almost interchangeably. LaTulippe particularly excelled at capturing the wide range of feelings and emotions which are brought to the surface in a long-distance relationship. Along with Burstein’s direction, this was an incredibly well developed film with strongly established and quite dynamic characters. Also, supporting performances were not merely window dressing, but legitimate characters in a larger environment. It was all too easy to care about these characters, and quite frankly this surprisingly perfect film left nothing to be desired. With great acting, sincere direction and intelligent writing it is beyond comprehension that this film has not yet received the credit it deserves.

2) Knight and Day
Plot- An action-comedy centered on a fugitive couple on a globe-spanning adventure where, amid shifting alliances and unexpected betrayals, nothing and no one are what they seem. (imdb.com)

Directed by- James Mangold (Heavy, Cop Land, Girl, Interrupted, Kate & Leopold, Identity, Walk the Line, 3:10 to Yuma)

Written by- Patrick O’Neill

Starring- Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, Peter Sarsgaard, Maggie Grace, Paul Dano, Marc Blucas, Viola Davis

Movieguy’s Verdict- It’s fair to say that the fad of Tom Cruise bashing is finally over. Though the development of his career was put on hold for a few years, Cruise is slowly but surely making his way back into the spotlight by starring in a film that was obviously Hollywood, yet weird enough to set itself apart from the rest. If you have a taste for oddness, this movie might have a lot of what you’re looking for. James Mangold created a bizarre dynamic of comedy, confusion, action and clichéd Hollywood romance. After his indie breakout hit “Girl, Interrupted,” Mangold became a very formulaic, by the numbers filmmaker; with that in mind, his directorial choices in this film make a bit more sense. At times the film was remarkably clever, combining a quick witted screenplay with a slight edge of black comedy that made great use of Cruise’s high energy level and impeccable comedic timing. There were other times however when the film relied on a clichéd and predictable Hollywood romance that detracted from the film’s credibility, but probably added to its guilty pleasure factor. There were also plenty of action sequences, some of which were a bit corny but mostly exciting. Cruise’s charisma and personality were easily watchable here, and his performance was quite solid overall. He displayed strong energy and enthusiasm, and kept the film moving along at probably a faster pace than Mangold intended. Cameron Diaz on the other hand was somewhat disappointing. She may have been doomed from the start due to the corniness of her romantic storyline, but she brought an odd combination of confusion and slightly self-deprecating romantic comedy clichés that made her a bit more watchable than most would have been. The story was interesting and the film had good pacing, however it did rely a bit too heavily on exaggerated villain characters and an ultra-corny Hollywood climax. Overall, this is not a movie that needs to be dissected too much. It did plenty of things well and also had its shortcomings, but it falls very easily into the “guilty pleasure” category, and should prove a fun experience for pretty much anyone.

3) The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
Plot- Master Sorcerer Balthazar Blake recruits a seemingly everyday guy in his mission to defend New York City from his arch-nemesis, Maxim Horvath. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Jon Turteltaub (Think Big, Driving Me Crazy, 3 Ninjas, Cool Running, While You Were Sleeping, Phenomenon, Instinct, The Kid, National Treasure, National Treasure: Book of Secrets)

Written by- Doug Miro (The Great Raid, The Uninvited, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time), Carlo Bernard (The Great Raid, The Uninvited, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time), Matt Lopez (Bedtime Stories, Race to Witch Mountain)

Starring- Nicolas Cage, Jay Baruchel, Monica Bellucci, Alfred Molina

Movieguy’s Verdict- Nicolas Cage certainly puts himself in more bad situations (personally and professionally) than probably any other actor of his caliber. His bad movies are truly awful and they keep coming, but he takes so many chances that eventually he just has to succeed. This was exactly the case in 2004 when, two years removed from his “Adaptation” Oscar nomination, he teamed up with Disney to star in what looked like a corny kid’s action flick called “National Treasure.” What looked like a mountain of cheesiness turned out to be one of the year’s more enjoyable movies. Unfortunately, the sequel was not so special, but would the third time be a charm for Cage and “National Treasure” director Jon Turteltaub? Yes – for about an hour. The film started out with a horribly corny and childish feel and a migraine-inducing musical score, but seemed to overcome those things to become creative and quite entertaining. Cage was fantastic for the first hour. He played a surprisingly dynamic character for a Disney movie, and Turteltaub used a wide range of his acting talents to create a diverse and engaging lead role. His energy and style played well with Jay Baruchel, who is still sticking to his usual bumbling, awkward characters. He was good and provided necessary amusement, but was nothing special. Alfred Molina was a big surprise here, as he turned out to be a very watchable villain unlike his horrendous “Spider-Man” showing. Turteltaub’s direction was solid through the first hour. He made outstanding use of high quality CGI and special effects, moved the story well, and seemed to be right on track for a creative and fun experience. Unfortunately, the clever ideas in the writing, as well as pretty much everything else I mentioned, slowly began to evaporate. The film leaned very heavily on a highly ridiculous romantic subplot and became cornier and more forced as it neared its childish climax. After a certain point it just became too difficult to watch. It is the ultimate mirage in the movie world — a movie that should be awful but starts out surprisingly well. This is a prime example of how great one of these movies could be with the right combination of wit, creativity and acting talent. Unfortunately, these movies almost never finish what they start, and we are left with just another Hollywood Disney movie.

4) Vampires Suck
Plot- A spoof of vampire movies.

Written and Directed by- Jason Friedberg, Aaron Seltzer (Spy Hard, Scary Movie, Scary Movie 2, Scary Movie 3, Date Movie, Scary Movie 4, Epic Movie, Meet the Spartans, Disaster Movie)

Starring- Matt Lanter, Crista Flanagan, Kelsey Ford, Ken Jeong, Jenn Proske, Anneliese van der Pol, Matthew Warzel

Movieguy’s Verdict- I had been waiting for some time for the spoof world to get a hold of the horrendous “Twilight” franchise. Even though almost every spoof movie since “Scary Movie” has been unwatchable, I thought this was a can’t miss. After all, how can making fun of “Twilight” not be funny? Somehow, two absolute morons named Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer answered that question in just under an hour and a half. Since Friedberg and Seltzer are so lazy and unintelligent, the only thing they really know how to do is imitate something someone else has already done, while inserting nonstop immaturity and mindless pop culture references. That is essentially all this film was, although it was nice to see that it was made with a strong hatred of the “Twilight” films. The very best part of the movie was when the Edward character referred to himself as “constipated.” As you know, I call Robert Pattinson “The Constipated One” on the show. As for the rest of the film, there was no comedy or anything worthwhile to be seen. I’m not sure how they managed to do this, but with a constant stream of pointless punching and kicking, immature teen pop culture references and simply copying scenes from the “Twilight” films, this was almost as dull and uninteresting as the real “Twilight” films.

5) The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
Plot- Bella Swan tries to choose between vampire Edward Cullen, who wants to marry her, and werewolf Jacob Black, who has just declared his love for her. Meanwhile, the Cullens and the Quileute werewolves unite to stop an army of powerful vampires from seeking their revenge on Bella. (imdb.com)

Directed by- David Slade (Hard Candy, 30 Days of Night)

Written by- Melissa Rosenberg (Step Up, Twilight, The Twilight Saga: New Moon)

Starring- Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Billy Burke, Ashley Greene, Jackson Rathbone, Nikki Reed, Kellan Lutz, Elizabeth Reaser, Peter Facinelli, Gil Birmingham, Christian Serratos, Dakota Fanning, Anna Kendrick, Bryce Dallas Howard, Jodelle Ferland, Cameron Bright

Movieguy’s Verdict- I am running out of ways to adequately describe how horrendously painful these movies are to watch. There is absolutely no story or plot to these films. They are cheaply made, dumbly directed, written by someone who could be legally brain-dead and filled with flimsy, dull, teen throwaway acting. What have I described? A soap opera. Soap operas are the lowest possible form of viewable media, and that is what this franchise is. The only noteworthy thing about this particular film was the fact that talented and highly promising filmmaker David Slade allowed himself to become part of it. Slade directed two outstanding movies to begin his career, but this was a decision that could set him back five years or more. Even a talented filmmaker cannot create a story where there is none or fix acting that would barely qualify for QVC sales segments. Words cannot describe how agonizingly dull, cheesy, sappy, pointless and uninteresting this movie was. It was even more badly written than “The Twilight Saga: New Moon,” in which “writer” Melissa Rosenberg compared the Edward and Bella romance to Romeo and Juliet. The last film had no story, and neither did this one. Robert Pattinson is still constipated, Taylor Lautner is still atrociously bad and can do nothing but take his shirt off, and Kristen Stewart is still waiting for this series to be over, hoping that she has not completely ruined a once promising career. The last book in this series, “Breaking Dawn,” is pulling a Harry Potter; it will be broken up into two separate movies. The universe hates me, I am sure of it.
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11-25-10

1) Eat Pray Love
Plot- Happily married Elizabeth Gilbert takes a sharp turn in her life by enduring a painful divorce and proceeding to take a round-the-world journey of self-enlightenment and fulfillment. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Ryan Murphy

Written by- Ryan Murphy (Running with Scissors), Jennifer Salt (Tempo)

Starring- Julia Roberts, Javier Bardem, Viola Davis, James Franco, Billy Crudup, Richard Jenkins

Movieguy’s Verdict- Simply put, there was very little to like about this movie. You know I’m an eternal optimist (sarcasm) so put all the positives out there right away. Richard Jenkins gave a fantastic supporting performance, and the filming locations were downright beautiful. As the film traveled from one country to the next, writers Ryan Murphy and Jennifer Salt introduced interesting cultural observations that turned out to be the film’s only meaningful and authentic content. The movie’s problems began almost instantly. The main character is nothing more than an ungrateful brat who got bored because she received everything she worked for, and got everyone she wanted. She is a shallow and selfish person who mistakes her selfishness and emotional vacancy for spirituality, so watching a movie in which she is made to be some kind of pioneer heroine was downright maddening. The story itself was almost as vacuous and superficial as the “Sex and the City” films. Throughout her “spiritual journey,” all the main character did was complain, eat and try on clothes. Julia Roberts gave a very strong performance because she attempted to play a character who was suffering from real problems, even though her actual character was the exact opposite and so resoundingly unlikable to boot. It was clear she believed in the film and the story itself, but in actuality there was very little to believe in. The plot had very little content and never felt as though it was going anywhere. Most of the scenes and conversations were repetitive, and the movie’s 133 minutes passed by at a snail’s pace. Murphy’s direction essentially had two components. The first was his ability to beautifully film foreign locations all over the world. The second was his nonstop filming of food. Close-ups of people eating food, people making food, people buying food, people talking about food… I think the majority of this movie was intended for some type of food porn fetish underground community. Anyway, the film was supposed to be a journey and character study, but the main character was shallow, self-centered, spoiled, whiny and completely oblivious to everything around her (not sarcasm). Don’t let big-name performers full you- there was nothing to this film and you would be wise to avoid it.

2) The Expendables
Plot- A team of mercenaries head to South America on a mission to overthrow a dictator. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Sylvester Stallone (Paradise Alley, Rocky II, Rocky III, Staying Alive, Rocky IV, Rocky Balboa, Rambo)

Written by- Dave Callaham (Doom, Horsemen), Sylvester Stallone (Rambo, Rocky Balboa, Driven, Cliffhanger, Rocky V, Rambo III, Over the Top, Cobra, Rocky IV, Rambo: First Blood Part II, Rhinestone, Staying Alive, First Blood, Rocky III, Rocky II, Paradise Alley, F.I.S.T, Rocky)

Starring- Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Eric Roberts, Randy Couture, Steve Austin, David Zayas, Giselle Itié, Terry Crews, Mickey Rourke, Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Brittany Murphy, Danny Trejo

Movieguy’s Verdict- Hollywood has produced countless idiotic moneymaking ploys in its long history, and surely we don’t need any help from Sylvester Stallone to add to that list; he’s done enough damage already! Stallone’s gimmick was simply to put every action movie has-been into one massive collaboration of stupidity, explosions and human growth hormone. From the first scene of the film it was clear how ridiculous and idiotic it was going to be. Every moment of this movie was pure unadulterated straight to DVD quality. Stallone’s trashy, overly dramatic and downright silly direction featured cheap special effects which were daisychained together by one pointless explosion and fight scene after another. The “acting,” if you can call it such, was pathetic at best. I was not surprised by the oafish stupidity from the likes of Stallone, Dolph Lundgren, Randy Couture and Steve Austin, but Jason Statham at least had talent at one point. He believes himself to be some sort of action superstar, even though his only successful movies have come from outside the genre. The Transporter franchise ruined a once promising career, and now he is just spitting on what is left. There’s not much to say about this non-movie. It is straight to DVD, exaggerated alpha male garbage. There wasn’t a single original moment in the entire debacle, as everything was taken from the most popular action movies ever made- good or bad. With one pointless explosion after another, ridiculous gunfights, Eric Roberts and one scene with The Governator, this film felt like it would never end. It was a pointless waste of time, money and special effects equipment. Do yourself a great service and stay away from this trash.

3) Flipped
Plot- Despite their many differences, romance blooms between 8th grader Juli Baker and the boy she’s liked since elementary school, Bryce Loski. (imdb.com)

Directed by- The Man Who Used to Be Rob Reiner (This is Spinal Tap, When Harry Met Sally, Misery, A Few Good Men, Rumor Has It…, The Bucket List)

Written by- The Man Who Used to Be Rob Reiner (This Is Spinal Tap), Andrew Scheinman (North, Bait, Kangaroo Jack: G’Day, U.S.A.!)

Starring- Madeline Carroll, Callan McAuliffe, Rebecca De Mornay, Anthony Edwards, John Mahoney, Penelope Ann Miller, Aidan Quinn

Movieguy’s Verdict- Rob Reiner’s career has been all over the place. He has made timeless American classics, and he has also made a number of flops. While his last film, “The Bucket List,” was technically successful, Reiner continues to be a shell of his former self. Even though this film turned out better than expected, Rob Reiner is clearly still The Man Who Used to Be Rob Reiner. Reiner’s overly thick sentimentality may have played well in the 80s, especially in “Stand By Me,” but at times it was a bit too thick in this film to allow it to be taken seriously. The film was intentionally old-fashioned, but its storytelling captured a lot of emotion and quickly made you care about the characters. Absolutely everything in the film was highly predictable, and there wasn’t a moment when you did not know exactly what was going to happen. Despite this fact, Reiner captured the innocence of youth and passage of time very well with his direction, which at times felt more like a time capsule of his own childhood memories than an actual story. The dialogue was purposely elementary and frustratingly simple, and even though we cared about the characters, the film was so blunt and obvious that it almost made watching it seem like a formality. All of the performances in the film were very believable, displaying the depth and personality that the obvious dialogue did not create. Youngsters Madeline Carroll and Callan McAuliffe had great chemistry together, turning in sincere and lifelike performances that popped off the screen at times. Supporting performances were also real, but extremely predictable much like the rest of the film. The film was only an hour and a half long and moved at a surprisingly fast pace through the first half, but it quickly became redundant and slightly tedious down the stretch. Though predictable and amateurish from a certain point of view, this film had a likable air and presented believable characters that were all too easy to care about. Rob Reiner is not back, and he probably never will be, but he has certainly done worse after passing his prime.
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11-18-10

1) The Kids Are All Right
Plot- An alternative-family drama centered on lesbian parents Nic and Jules, who each conceived a child through artificial insemination. The family’s dynamics are tested when their youngest child, 15-year-old Laser, convinces college-bound Joni, to look up their donor. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Lisa Cholodenko (High Art, Laurel Canyon, Cavedweller)

Written by- Lisa Cholodenko (High Art, Laurel Canyon), Stuart Blumberg (Keeping the Faith, The Girl Next Door)

Starring- Annette Bening, Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo, Mia Wasikowska, Josh Hutcherson

Movieguy’s Verdict- At this point in the year the top three films of 2010 are “Inception,” “Never Let Me Go” and “The Social Network.” This movie is number four. Lisa Cholodenko is a talented filmmaker who has made two very good and highly underrated films in “High Art” and “Laurel Canyon.” I had a feeling this film would be good, but I had no idea it would be an Oscar-worthy work of excellence. Cholodenko values realism in all aspects of her films, and it showed instantly in her acting, writing and direction. In many ways this film felt like a documentary. It captured a degree of nuance and style that can only come from watching real people behaving in believable and genuine situations. Cholodenko’s screenplay was filled with layer upon layer of psychology and character development. The personalities of her characters certainly came from her mind, but also benefited greatly from the Oscar-worthy performances of Annette Bening, Julianne Moore and Mark Ruffalo. All three are world-class performers, and each deserve nominations for their incredible performances. The actors were so in sync with each other that their reactions to one another seemed entirely realistic. Rounding out an incredibly well acted film were great supporting performances from Mia Wasikowska and Josh Hutcherson. I was especially surprised with Hutcherson here as he had been in several corny kids’ movies earlier in his career, but he clearly possesses the talent to move forward. Wasikowska, on the other hand, clearly possesses the ability to move away from that “Alice in Wonderland” debacle she participated in earlier this year. This film worked extremely well on a variety of levels. There were times when it felt like a straightforward character-based drama, but Cholodenko never stopped developing the characters and story. Just when you thought you had everyone figured out, she would add another layer to her writing and direction, providing the opportunity to view the characters and story from numerous new perspectives. This film is one of the more impressive character-driven “psychology of the family” movies of all time, and definitely deserves Oscar nominations for acting (Bening, Moore and Ruffalo), directing and writing (Cholodenko) and best picture. This film is a prime example of true excellence, and you owe it to yourself to watch it.

2) A Christmas Carol
Plot- An adaptation of Charles Dickens’ novel of the same title.

Written and Directed by- Robert Zemeckis (Used Cars, Romancing the Stone, Back to the Future, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Back to the Future Part II, Back to the Future Part III, Death Becomes Her, Forrest Gump, Contact, What Lies Beneath, Cast Away, The Polar Express, Beowulf)

Voices by- Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Cary Elwes, Robin Wright Penn, Bob Hoskins

Movieguy’s Verdict- Under no circumstances do we need another adaptation of “A Christmas Carol.” The classic Charles Dickens novel has been adapted for stage and screen probably thousands of times since its initial publishing in 1843. There have been plenty of animated versions of it as well, and even though they are essentially all the same, none have mind blowing 3D CGI like this one. Robert Zemeckis has been obsessed with photorealism and intense CGI ever since he took a ride on “The Polar Express” back in 2004. Zemeckis has a special effects background, but even though the quality of his effects has been remarkable, “The Polar Express” and “Beowulf” were largely forgettable. The 3D CGI made the theatrical presentation of this film quite impressive, but the movie itself was just as forgettable and corny as all of the other adaptations of the story. Jim Carrey took on eight different voice parts for this film, all of which he exaggerated to a severe degree. You can’t ignore his energy, but in the end he was simply too forced. All other vocal performances followed suit, and the presentation of the dialogue sounded like a really bad play where all of the characters simply shouted annoyingly at each other. Despite corniness of the voice acting, I was highly impressed with Zemeckis’ decision to stick very closely to the book’s diction and old-fashioned dialogue. It was refreshing to see that Zemeckis did not dull down the book’s dialogue for a younger audience, but he made up for this by packing almost every sequence with as much corniness and over-the-top antics as possible. Add to that a nails on a chalkboard musical score and you have a movie that is as corny and exaggerated as all other forgettable kids’ films. It is difficult to describe the level of beauty and detail Zemeckis put into his CGI. The film had a budget of $200 million, and I would assume every penny that didn’t go into Carrey’s pocket went into creating this monumentally beautiful visual achievement. Unfortunately DVD viewers will not get the full effect of this visual masterpiece, which leaves absolutely no reason to watch it.

3) Lottery Ticket
Plot- Over the Fourth of July weekend, Kevin Carson has to protect his new prize possession — a lottery ticket worth $370 million — from his greedy and conniving neighbors. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Erik White

Written by- Abdul Williams

Starring- Bow Wow, Brandon T. Jackson, Naturi Naughton, Terry Crews, Keith David, Ice Cube, Loretta Devine, Mike Epps, Chris Williams, Bill Bellamy

Movieguy’s Verdict- Winning the lottery is a fantasy that practically everyone in this country shares, so it is strange that so few films have been made about it. I was eager to see a film with this plot, but rapper Bow Wow and Brandon T. Jackson are not the people who are going to make it succeed. Abdul Williams’ screenplay was filled with inane conversations which showed his lack of intelligence and also exaggerated the lack of acting ability between Jackson and Bow Wow. While the writing appeared to be a first draft of a story written by a fourth grader, Williams and director Erik White found a way to capture the chaos and paranoia that a young lottery winner would feel as he carried around a $370 million piece of paper along the streets of a crowded urban neighborhood. The themes presented in the film were obvious and exaggerated, and despite the fact that there was no comedy present whatsoever, parts of the film managed to be at least mindlessly entertaining. However, the majority of the film was essentially a boring, drawn out attempt at a feel-good drama with a message. It was slow and highly predictable, and it didn’t take long for the exaggerated characters began to wear thin. Many people watch movies as a form of escapism, and there are few dreams more powerful than winning the lottery. Sadly this film took a strong idea and ruined it with a complete lack of talent and intelligence at almost every level. Do yourself a favor and wait for a real movie about the lottery to come out.

4) The Last Airbender
Plot- Aang, a young successor to a long line of Avatars, learns that he possesses the power to engage the Fire Nation and hopefully end their century-long war against the Water, Earth, and Air nations. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- M. Night Shyamalan (Praying with Anger, Wide Awake, The Sixth Sense, Stuart Little, Unbreakable, Signs, The Village, Lady in the Water, The Happening)

Starring- Noah Ringer, Nicola Peltz, Jackson Rathbone, Dev Patel, Cliff Curtis

Movieguy’s Verdict- M. Night Shyamalan’s career ended after “The Happening,” as he proved he was no longer able to tell a complete story and direct actors. Now the once talented and promising filmmaker is much like a sleepwalker shuffling clumsily from room to room. Shyamalan has turned his attention to a children’s story that should have never been adapted to movie form. From the first scene, the childish and flimsy nature of this movie came right to the surface. Noah Ringer is not an actor, and it showed. Shyamalan chose him not because he could act, but because he looked the most like the main character in the Nickelodeon cartoon from which this film was adapted. Ringer’s performance was mostly dull, but he did find ways to improve as the film went along, which is more than I could say for the rest of the movie. Shyamalan featured many fight sequences, most of which were ultra corny and very difficult to watch. His direction was clunky and uninspired, and even though he shot the film in 3D, it was absolutely impossible to tell because his visuals were so cheap and lackluster. In his screenplay, Shyamalan included ancient philosophies and a few good ideas that actually could have made for an interesting movie. Unfortunately, the childishness with which the rest of the film was made neutralized these promising elements. The film contained most of the things that make a bad live action kid’s movie, such as exaggerated evil characters, corny music, obvious flaws and plot holes and shoddy visuals. Supporting performances from Nicola Peltz and Dev Patel were workable, but Shyamalan always took the film’s positive achievements and rendered them irrelevant. The film had a tendency to be slow, and wound up entirely forgettable. I cannot believe studios still give Shyamalan money to make movies, and I sincerely hope that this flop is not made into a trilogy, which was Shyamalan’s intention.
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11-11-10

1) Grown Ups
Plot- After their high school basketball coach passes away, five good friends and former teammates reunite for a Fourth of July holiday weekend. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Dennis Dugan (Problem Child, Brain Donors, Happy Gilmore, Beverly Hills Ninja, Big Daddy, Saving Silverman, National Security, The Benchwarmers, I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, You Don’t Mess with the Zohan)

Written by- Adam Sandler (Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore, The Waterboy, Big Daddy, Little Nicky, Eight Crazy Nights, You Don’t Mess with the Zohan), Fred Wolf (Black Sheep, Dirty Work, Joe Dirt, Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star, Strange Wilderness)

Starring- Adam Sandler, Salma Hayek, Kevin James, Maria Bello, Steve Buscemi, Chris Rock, Rob Schneider, David Spade, Jamie Chung, Maya Rudolph, Tim Meadows, Norm MacDonald

Movieguy’s Verdict- The trailers made this film look unbearably awful, uncomfortably reminiscent of moronic works like “Furry Vengeance” and “Daddy Day Camp.” Add that to the presence of Adam Sandler acting, writing and producing, and Dennis Dugan directing, pointed to nothing but a zero star pain festival. The result just goes to show how important the chemistry of a cast can be. As anyone would expect, the screenplay didn’t contain much material, but numerous clearly improvised moments created a respectable level of spontaneous humor. While this movie won’t have anyone doubled over with laughter, Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, Rob Schneider and David Spade reacted well to one another and created sarcasm and personality throughout most of the film. Without the chemistry of this ensemble group, the movie had little else to offer. It wasted no time establishing standard kid’s movie themes and numerous stereotypical characters. The cast managed to stave off corniness for chunks of the film, but there were plenty of sequences that were as cheesy and flimsy as any of Sandler’s comedies. Furthermore, while the cast did have personality, it was essentially the same personality; characters and performances were basically identical. Despite periods of corniness, the film moved well and was surprisingly enjoyable overall until a highly exaggerated and overlong sports sequence at the end. As unlikely as it might seem, this movie scored points with the chemistry of its ensemble cast and a solid improvisational feel. It’s not among the best comedies of the year by any stretch, but at least it wasn’t as bad as “Daddy Day Camp.”

2) Charlie St. Cloud
Plot- After his younger brother Sam passes away, Charlie St. Cloud finds a way to deal with his grief by working as caretaker at the cemetery where Sam is buried. Charlie and Sam keep their bond with nightly conversations and playing catch, however, when a girl enters Charlie’s life, he struggles between remaining with Sam or pursuing real-world love. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Burr Steers (17 Again, Igby Goes Down)

Written by- Craig Pearce (Strictly Ballroom, Romeo + Juliet), Lewis Colick (The Dirt Bike Kid, Unlawful Entry, Judgment Night, Bulletproof, Ghosts of Mississippi, October Sky, Domestic Disturbance, Beyond the Sea, Ladder 49), Burr Steers (17 Again, Igby Goes Down, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days)

Starring- Zac Efron, Kim Basinger, Charlie Tahan, Chris Massoglia, Donal Logue

Movieguy’s Verdict- When it was time for Zac Efron to shed the tween idol status he attained from the “High School Musical” franchise, he put the wheels of change in motion. The trailers made “17 Again” look like a cheesy and ultra-corny Disney movie, but Efron’s performance was outstanding, and Burr Steers’ direction was clever and deceptively smart, turning the film into a big success. So, one would imagine that in the equation of good filmmaking, Steers+Efron=good movie, right? Sadly, this film was one of the year’s bigger letdowns. Ironically, all of the corniness I thought I’d see in “17 Again” was transferred to this movie and then multiplied several times over. However, the main problem had more to do with the film’s glaring lack of identity. Early on, Steers was trying to make the film into a character-driven drama, but later it felt more like a corny and clichéd teen romance. Steers was able to achieve decent emotion with his direction in certain scenes, but the film racked up clichés and predictable sequences too quickly to be effective. To make matters worse, this movie was dreadfully dull and seemed to go on forever. A horribly composed musical score made it feel even cornier and more difficult to watch. Performances were disappointing, but not surprising given the film’s content. Efron did his best and clearly believed in his character, but Steers and writers Craig Pearce and Lewis Colick hung him out to dry with lazy, corny, clichéd and dull storytelling that dragged on and on. This was a hugely disappointing failure that will set both Steers and Efron back a few years.

3) Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
Plot- Layabout musician Scott Pilgrim falls for the new girl in town, Ramona Flowers, but in order to win her heart, he must defeat her seven evil ex-boyfriends. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz)

Written by- Michael Bacall (Manic, Bookies), Edgar Wright (Hot Fuzz)

Starring- Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kieran Culkin, Chris Evans, Anna Kendrick, Brandon Routh, Jason Schwartzman, Mark Webber

Movieguy’s Verdict- The first half of this movie achieved an unprecedented level of smart and bizarre humor, but the second half fell victim to the most common problem comedies face- not knowing how to finish. Edgar Wright’s direction was razor sharp, and the writing was smart, clever and absolutely hilarious. Wright and co-writer Michael Bacall created an atmosphere of unparalleled creativity and odd characters behaving normally in an abnormal world disguised as a normal one. The pace of the dialogue and humor was lightning fast, and Michael Cera, Kieran Culkin, Ellen Wong and everyone else in this brilliantly selected ensemble cast thrived in this environment. The film featured a number of fight sequences which were extremely well choreographed, but also came across as somewhat corny. That didn’t matter too much in the first half, because everything else was working so well; the characters were developing nicely, and the comedy was still pouring in. Unfortunately, like most comedies, the film gradually fell apart in the second half. Wright’s witty direction slowly but surely disappeared, and he focused more on the fight sequences, which became longer and more difficult to watch. Characters devolved into abbreviated versions of what they once were, as Wright and Bacall took the worst possible path to a wimpy and wholly disappointing finish. While the film was unable to sustain itself, it was original, hilarious and perfectly acted, and these are traits that cannot be overlooked.

4) Antichrist
Plot- A grieving couple retreats to their cabin in the woods, hoping to repair their broken hearts and troubled marriage. But nature takes its course and things go from bad to worse. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Lars von Trier (Breaking the Waves, Dogville, Dear Wendy, Manderlay)

Starring- Willem Dafoe, Charlotte Gainsbourg

Movieguy’s Verdict- Lars von Trier is a talented and gutsy individual. The vision and passion the Danish filmmaker placed in his controversial and unique film “Dogville” showed that he is willing to leave no stone unturned. Von Trier had been developing this movie for some time, but despite its dark philosophical concepts, he failed to distinguish the fine line between art and absurdity. Von Trier has always used sex with great effectiveness in his films, but in this offering he replaced artistic vision with overkill. The film’s sex and gore content was extremely high, and there was hardly any emotional or psychological material to justify it. The film contained big ideas and at times von Trier’s direction was dark and ominously symbolic, but he failed to create proper transitions between key ideas. This left a disconnected and jumbled feeling that was even more accentuated by so much unnecessary sex and gore. By the time the film was supposed to reach the apex of its intensity, the story had already been lost and was unrecoverable. Acting was easily the least noticeable aspect of the film, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg could have developed a tandem of dark and nuanced performances, but the confusion and disconnected nature of von Trier’s writing and direction easily neutralized their effectiveness. In the end, these talented performers were all but forgettable in the flurry of moronic gore that served as the film’s climax and conclusion. Though it may seem appealing on almost every level, this is a failed effort on nearly every level.
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11-4-10

1) Toy Story 3
Plot- The toys are mistakenly delivered to a day-care center instead of the attic right before Andy leaves for college, and it’s up to Woody to convince the other toys that they weren’t abandoned and to return home. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Lee Unkrich (Toy Story 2, Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo)

Written by- Michael Arndt (Little Miss Sunshine)

Voices of- Tom Hanks, Michael Keaton, Tim Allen, Timothy Dalton, Joan Cusack, Cheech Marin, Whoopi Goldberg, R. Lee Ermey, John Ratzenberger, Bonnie Hunt, Wallace Shawn, Laurie Metcalf, Jodi Benson, Kristen Schaal, Ned Beatty, Don Rickles, Richard Kind, Gilbert Gottfried, Lou Romano, Jeff Garlin

Movieguy’s Verdict- More than 10 years after the sequel this much awaited third chapter of the Toy story franchise was released. Pixar started the advertising campaign over a year and a half before the film came out, and given their track record you knew it was going to be a cash cow. With a budget of $200 million and a box office take more than double that, it was pretty clear that this movie was going to be loved no matter what its content. This will more than likely win Best Animated Feature at next year’s Academy Awards, but that does not mean the film was flawless. In fact, I would say the enormous hype given to this film has made it slightly overrated. Nevertheless it proved to be a highly enjoyable kid’s movie. With Pixar at the helm you know the CGI is going to be breathtaking, and it was without a doubt. At this point it goes without saying that every film Pixar makes seems to render their previous effort a dusty relic, and with a solid use of the latest 3D technology, this film was indeed a visual treat. While it was great to look at, other problems were afoot. Randy Newman’s score was incredibly aggravating, and its nonstop, forced Hollywood background music made things feel much cornier than they really were. Tom Hanks’ vocal performance was as strained and exaggerated as Newman’s score, and at times it felt difficult to listen to him. Michael Keaton and Tim Allen were the true stars this time around, while the myriad of other vocal talent performed well overall. One of the film’s biggest surprises was the acquisition of Oscar-winning screenwriter Michael Arndt, as no one expected his follow-up to the acclaimed “Little Miss Sunshine” to be a kid’s movie. Given the flaws of the genre he fared well overall. He included great cleverness at every turn, and on the whole the film was smart and entertaining throughout. It was quite predictable of course, and definitely became more sappy and drawn out as it neared its conclusion, which took a bit too long to arrive. Tighter editing should have been applied to the second half, and also there was a bit too much silliness in parts. For as bad as Hanks and the musical score were this film performed quite well in the end. Though perhaps slightly glorified by critics and fans, this was a clever and enjoyable kid’s movie that featured flawless 3D CGI. I see no reason not to recommend it.
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10-28-10

1) Sex and the City 2
Plot- While wrestling with the pressures of life, love, and work in Manhattan, Carrie, Miranda, and Charlotte join Samantha for a trip to Morocco, where Samantha’s ex is filming a new movie. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Michael Patrick King (Sex and the City)

Starring- Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon, Chris Noth, David Eigenberg

Movieguy’s Verdict- I had reasonably high hopes for the first “Sex and the City” movie, so it was a massive shock when it turned out to be a mind-numbing waste of time. This film took every negative quality of the first movie and exaggerated it to an unbearable level. These movies are all about the four main characters and their exploits, but they barely qualify as characters as I understand the definition. First of all, they are all exactly identical to one another. Secondly, they were so sickeningly superficial and insincere that it made their incessant whining about love and marriage a laughable joke. These characters worked well in the TV series, but in the films all they care about are clothes and shoes, so Michael Patrick King’s attempts to depict them as anything other than horny, soulless liquor-soaked robots came across as pathetic and irrational. Speaking of clothing, these two films have sported some of the tackiest clothing seen by America since Fran Drescher graced television screens in “The Nanny.” At least “The Nanny” was funny! To his credit, King did attempt to provide the film with a story, but his writing was flimsy, obvious and lacked thought at all levels. His attempts at humor were so inane and cheesy that I truly expected to hear a rimshot after every failed joke. At times the film moved at a reasonable pace, but after a while it became as pointless and dull as the first movie. Just like each of the main characters were exactly identical, so were the performances of Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis and Cynthia Nixon. In a sea of sequins and shiny clothing, their phoned-in performances were all indistinguishable from one another. In the end, this bloated, overlong film accomplished nothing and, much like the first film, should never have been made.
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10-21-10

1) Predators
Plot- A group of elite warriors are hunted by members of a merciless alien race. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Nimród Antal (Vacancy, Armored)

Written by- Alex Litvak, Michael Finch

Starring- Adrien Brody, Laurence Fishburne, Topher Grace, Danny Trejo, Alice Braga

Movieguy’s Verdict- The whole “Alien vs. Predator” ploy was quite possibly one of the dumbest money making schemes Hollywood has ever done in the horror genre. That is why another appearance of the Predator character felt like a very bad idea. However, it did feature a talented cast and a director who has made two successful films in a row, so it was intriguing at the very least. The film began with a somewhat put on and manufactured feel, but it was mostly interesting. Nimród Antal placed a good mysterious atmosphere on this sci-fi movie, and the writing moved the film along nicely. Adrien Brody should have been the cornerstone of this film, but his performance was downright awful. Brody was clearly lost in his one-dimensional alpha-male action cliché of a character, and provided a severely overplayed, cringeworthy showing. Alice Braga was solid, but also clichéd in her supporting role, and Laurence Fishburne was also decent. Writers Alex Litvak and Michael Finch didn’t do much of anything regarding character development, relying on the usual action movie archetypes to drive the characters through a mostly predictable story. The film provided entertaining moments and decent visuals throughout at least the first half, but it buckled under the weight of Brody’s horrendous acting and far too many silly fight sequences. The vast majority of the second half was nothing more than a clichéd and predictable Hollywood action movie that got cornier and cornier with each cheesy explosion. Even though the film turned into a painful mess, Antal tried his best. Unfortunately there was no way to escape Brody’s dreadful showing or the corniness of the second half.
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10-14-10

1) Jonah Hex
Plot- The U.S. military gives bounty hunter Jonah Hex and offer he cannot refuse: in exchange for his freedom from the warrants on his head, he’s to take down a terrorist who is gathering an army and preparing to unleash Hell on Earth. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Jimmy Hayward (Horton Hears a Who!)

Written by- Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor (Crank, Pathology, Crank: High Voltage, Gamer)

Starring- Josh Brolin, Megan Fox, John Malkovich, Michael Fassbender, Will Arnett, Michael Shannon, Aidan Quinn, Thomas Lennon

Movieguy’s Verdict- Though it might sound harsh, this film was a failure before it ever really got off the ground. Director Jimmy Hayward allowed censors to ravage the film, removing a substantial amount of material in order to obtain a PG-13 rating. The result was a disjointed, disorganized and clichéd mess. While it was adapted from a comic book series, there didn’t appear to be much of a story present. As far as writers go, Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor aren’t the best storytellers, and they clearly lacked the vision and discretion to create much of a screenplay. Clichés riddled the film early and often, and the characters were one-dimensional, lazy action stereotypes. I was hopeful that Josh Brolin would be able to at least make the film credible, but his dull, wooden Clint Eastwood-like performance got old within minutes. Brolin was forced to severely overplay the strong and silent cliché because there was so little to the screenplay. John Malkovich and Will Arnett were atrocious as well, while Megan Fox was slightly bearable. Michael Fassbender provided the only decent acting in the entire venture, but it was not enough to make much of a difference. While Hayward’s direction was a jumbled mess of unfinished ideas, some of his visual ideas were actually decent. Sadly, the PG-13 rating and total lack of execution in all phases of the film nullified them all. Many of the recent comic book/graphic novel adaptations have been successful, but this is one blunder to ignore.
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10-7-10

1) The Karate Kid
Plot- Work pressures cause a single mother to move to China with her young son; in his new home, the boy embraces karate, taught to him by a master of the self-defense form. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Harald Zwart (Hamilton, Agent Cody Banks, The Pink Panther 2)

Written by- Christopher Murphey

Starring- Jackie Chan, Jaden Smith, Taraji P. Henson

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film had every possible mark against it before it was released. Think about it- remaking a cult classic, Harald Zwart of the recent classic The Pink Panther 2, Jackie Chan, a very young and unproven Jaden Smith, an unknown writer and a trailer filled with sports movie clichés and corniness- these are all negatives! So how did this film wind up as one of 2010’s biggest surprises? Yes, this film presented practically every predictable theme you could imagine for the genre, and plenty of exaggerated bully characters to boot. Its success began to grow from young Jaden Smith, whose natural presence and effortlessly appealing personality gave the film a solid backbone. Zwart, quite surprisingly, delivered believable and emotionally resonant direction. The beautiful scenery and authentic Chinese setting really added to the film’s believability and the flow of its well developed story. Yes there were sports movie training montages and silly fight scenes, but the dialogue and main characters were written with care and intelligence, and you really did care what happened to them. Jackie Chan was also a key part of the film’s success. His performance felt natural and quite believable, and the authenticity he brought to the part allowed him to form a successful chemistry with Smith. The final fight scenes were predictable and drawn out, but that really didn’t affect much. The film succeeded with authenticity, great acting and a likability of the story and characters that was more powerful than anyone could have envisioned. Jaden Smith is the real deal, and this film was quite enjoyable indeed.

2) Splice
Plot- Two scientists fuse DNA samples to create a new organism: a human-chimera they name Dren. As the creature rapidly develops from a deformed female infant into winged creature, her initial bond with her creators turns deadly. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Vincenzo Natali (Cube, Cypher, Nothing, Getting Gilliam)

Written by- Vincenzo Natali (Cube, Nothing), Antoinette Terry Bryant, Doug Taylor (The Carpenter, In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale, They Wait)

Starring- Adrien Brody, Sarah Polley, Delphine Chanéac, David Hewlett

Movieguy’s Verdict- As a critic one of the most frustrating qualities a film can have is when it starts off strong but finishes with a disappointing whimper. In the case of movie disappointments this year, this film is the front runner. The film’s failure is as shocking as they come, and with such a brilliant plot and presentation, one might think it was impossible to ruin this surefire classic. The film began with a minimalistic and compelling story that was filled with interesting scientific ideas and dark direction. Vincenzo Natali created a strong visual presentation with excellent camerawork and a sinister emotional core. The screenplay was filled with strange ideas that forced the audience to abandon all preconceived notions about genre or character development. Natali, Antoinette Terry Bryant and Doug Taylor created a psychologically fascinating story that grew in complexity as the film developed. Natali established direction that was elegant, classy, moody and suspenseful all at once. The film also benefited from great performances from Adrien Brody and Sarah Polley, who had strong chemistry together and helped build their characters with subtlety and nuance. As I said before, this film had the makings of a classic, but with roughly 30 minutes to go, Natali and company made one specific choice that left me stunned — in the worst possible way. This plot choice was literally the worst conceivable decision the filmmakers could have made, and in an instant it turned a thought-provoking, thrilling film into a laughable joke. After that, it was impossible to take the film seriously as it limped toward the least intelligent and most predictable ending the filmmakers could have dreamed up. I still find myself grimacing at the thought of this movie’s horrible choices, and angrily lamenting what it should have been. I recommend staying away from this one in order to avoid a great deal of frustration.

3) A Nightmare on Elm Street
Plot- Disfigured serial killer Freddy Krueger stalks a group of young people in their dreams, forcing them to remain awake as the only alternative to death. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Samuel Bayer

Written by- Wesley Strick (Glass House: The Good Mother, Love Is the Drug, Doom, The Glass House, Return to Paradise, The Saint, Wolf, Final Analysis, Cape Fear, Arachnophobia, True Believer), Eric Heisserer

Starring- Jackie Earle Haley, Rooney Mara, Kyle Gallner, Katie Cassidy, Thomas Dekker, Kellan Lutz, Clancy Brown

Movieguy’s Verdict- If you want to discuss remakes it’s generally a good idea to remake most Wes Craven movies, especially his earlier films. This movie (minus its countless sequels) was a perfect candidate for a remake. It had a great premise and plenty of room for chilling terror, but we could easily do without Craven’s lack of visual style and 80’s corniness. Unfortunately, this movie missed most of its opportunities and wound up simply forgettable. The film began well enough as Samuel Bayer created a dark and gloomy start which set the mood nicely. Unfortunately it became clear very quickly that Bayer’s inexperience and lack of vision was holding the film back. I liked the general atmosphere, but clunky camerawork downplayed the film’s scariest moments. Wesley Strick and Eric Heisserer also lacked imagination, crafting the story to play out exactly like all other teen horror movies. The story was predictable even though it did carry a somewhat mysterious feel. One of the film’s biggest selling points was Jackie Earle Haley as Freddy Krueger, and he was quite convincing indeed. He instantly improved any scene he was in by adding intensity and credibility, but he wasn’t in the film nearly enough to save it. The rest of the acting was workmanlike teen fare that brought nothing to the table, and Bayer proved to have no sense of urgency or incentive to make a truly scary and intense film. In the end this was nothing more than your usual teen horror movie, so it’s best to skip it.
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9-30-10

1) Iron Man 2
Plot- With the world now aware of his dual life as the armored superhero Iron Man, billionaire inventor Tony Stark faces pressure from the government, the press, and the public to share his technology with the military. Unwilling to let go of his invention, Stark, along with Pepper Potts, and James “Rhodey” Rhodes at his side, must forge new alliances — and confront powerful enemies. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Jon Favreau (Made, Elf, Zathura: A Space Adventure, Iron Man)

Written by- Justin Theroux (Tropic Thunder)

Starring- Robert Downey Jr., Mickey Rourke, Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell, Samuel L. Jackson, Clark Gregg, Leslie Bibb, Jon Favreau

Movieguy’s Verdict- “Iron Man” was one of the great Hollywood action surprises in recent years, and we have Robert Downey Jr. to thank. Downey’s energy, wit, intelligence and undeniable charm made Tony Stark a compelling character to watch, and in this sequel, he picked up right where he left off. His performance was a skillful, playful and energetic continuation of the Iron Man character, and he did his very best to carry this film to success. Jon Favreau is not the most creative or skilled director around, but with Downey at the helm all he has to do is stay out of the way. Favreau may have done a better job of that the first time around as this film contained quite a few corny fight sequences that were too highly exaggerated even by Hollywood standards. This film was exciting and highly entertaining overall, but it did suffer from a bit of lag in the middle. This was a consequence of Justin Theroux’s story which contained a few gaps in log and one regrettably exaggerated villain who was overplayed horrendously by Sam Rockwell. Rockwell plays the sleazy character all too well, but he was so over-the-top in this film that he was hard to watch. Mickey Rourke, on the other hand, was a sinister and commanding villain who should have been given more screentime. Gwyneth Paltrow had an expanded role in this film and she did very well, while Scarlett Johansson forced her seductive action cliché of a character far too much. From a story standpoint the film allowed Downey to build his character and add to several story arcs which show great potential. It was not a perfect film and it wasn’t better than the first movie, but in no way was it a letdown. It was fun, entertaining and exciting, and Robert Downey Jr. is always a treat to watch.

2) Frozen
Plot- Three snowboarders become stranded on a chairlift at a ski resort. Realizing it’ll be a week before the resort opens again, they are forced to make a series of life-or-death decisions. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Adam Green (Hatchet, Spiral)

Starring- Shawn Ashmore, Emma Bell, Kevin Zegers, Ed Ackerman, Rileah Vanderbilt, Adam Johnson

Movieguy’s Verdict- One thing is certain, after seeing this movie there is no way I will ever pick up snowboarding again! If you like skiing you should probably steer clear of this movie, because you will immediately sell your skis, poles, goggles, boots and gloves, burn your resort membership and never return to a place with snow for the rest of your life. These might sound like playful exaggerations, but after enduring this gut-wrenching worst case scenario movie you’ll understand where I’m coming from. Adam Green accomplished a great deal with his direction. Despite the childishness of “Hatchet” and his decision to make “Hatchet 2,” Green built on the under-the-radar success he attained with “Spiral,” adding considerable skill and technique to this minimalistic emotional roller coaster. Green’s direction actually made you feel cold as he trapped the audience in the raw fear that the characters felt. The realism he brought to the film was astounding, and it didn’t take long to realize this was the sort of movie that will give you nightmares. Green’s screenplay did not merely “manage” a simple story, but rather he carefully and delicately built layers of fear and emotional degradation into the characters. The film brought out the worst in the human condition and was entirely captivating from start to finish. The film even featured an appropriately somber score that put the finishing touches on a project that would have been equally chilling with no music at all. The only negative quality came from the performances, which were difficult and impressive overall, but a few scenes featured overly hysterical acting from the film’s principal players, Shawn Ashmore, Emma Bell and Kevin Zegers. Thankfully this did not occur very often and Bell, Ashmore and Zegers delivered performances that were all too believable. This was an emotionally devastating and skillfully directed film that will challenge your willpower. Watch it if you dare.

3) Get Him to the Greek
Plot- A record company intern is hired to accompany out-of-control British rock star Aldous Snow to a concert at L.A.’s Greek Theater. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Nicholas Stoller (Writer of: Fun with Dick and Jane, Yes Man; Director of: Forgetting Sarah Marshall)

Starring- Jonah Hill, Russell Brand, Elisabeth Moss, Rose Byrne, Aziz Ansari, Colm Meaney

Movieguy’s Verdict- “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” was a very funny and clever relationship comedy that featured great performances and quality writing. But a spinoff? Aren’t those usually a bad idea? Most of the time, but Nicholas Stoller, Jonah Hill and Russell Brand simply refused to make a bad movie. The first thing I noticed about this movie was the tremendous chemistry between Hill and Brand. If you know anything about Russell Brand, you know he is quite a lot like his out of control Aldous Snow character, and Jonah Hill is a laid back, intellectual guy. They are polar opposites, and yet they play wonderfully off of one another. The film was a great vehicle for both actors, and both Hill and Brand gave high quality performances that were not just concerned with collecting laughs. Stoller’s screenplay was as much character-based as it was comedy-based. This allowed Hill and Brand to develop their characters and create all sorts of humor along the way. The comedy was well-rounded with Stoller and company mixing almost all types of humor perfectly together, yet the film never lost its central plot or became concerned with over-the-top antics. It stuck to the story and let the characters carry things the rest of the way. I’m not quite sure why P. Diddy was in the movie when practically anyone else could have done a better job. His acting development started and stopped in 2001 when he had a small appearance in “Monster’s Ball.” He honestly didn’t do an awful job, but he’s not an actor, and a proper actor could have done more with his character. In the end however, it’s difficult to find fault with this funny and well-rounded comedy. The acting was top notch (except for that rapper/fashion designer), the writing was intelligent and the story was clever and creative. This is one I’d highly recommend.
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9-23-10

1) Robin Hood
Plot- The story of an expert archer who travels to the town of Nottingham toward the end of the 12th century, where the acts of a despotic sheriff and the presence of a beautiful widow inspire him to assemble a gang of mercenaries bent on raiding the upper class as a way to correct the sheriff’s injustices. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Ridley Scott (Alien, Black Rain, Thelma & Louise, G.I. Jane, Gladiator, Hannibal, Black Hawk Down, Matchstick Men, Kingdom of Heaven, A Good Year, American Gangster, Body of Lies)

Written by- Brian Helgeland (Green Zone, The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3. Man on Fire, The Order, Mystic River, Blood Work, A Knight’s Tale, Payback, The Postman, Conspiracy Theory, L.A. Confidential, Assassins, Highway to Hell, 976-EVIL, A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master)

Starring- Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, Matthew Macfadyen, Max von Sydow, William Hurt, Mark Strong, Danny Huston, Mark Addy

Movieguy’s Verdict- Ridley Scott + Russell Crowe + Maximus = Gladiator. Ridley Scott + Russell Crowe + Robin Hood = flop. How could this be possible? I was just as shocked as anyone when I settled into my theater seat for a trite and clichéd Hollywood mess. The characters were set up in a very traditional way, and the story was filled with predictability, clichés and a highly illogical romance. Scott’s direction was bland and uninspired, attaching himself to an overly stoic Russell Crowe who seemed bored by the conventionality and predictability of his by-the-numbers character. Supporting performances from this enormous cast of highly talented actors were equally bland. It didn’t help that the superficial and dull screenplay did not make the audience care about the characters or the plot, which was weak to say the least. Over the duration of the film, the poorly created characters became more wooden and overplayed, leading to a highly corny battle sequence which served as the film’s climax. If the film accomplished anything, it probably ended all future big budget Hollywood Robin Hood adaptations. It was indeed a massive failure of epic proportions that should be quickly forgotten. How such talented filmmakers and actors could have messed this up is beyond me, but unless you want to be bored out of your mind you should take my word for it and stay away from this film.
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9-16-10

1) Letters to Juliet
Plot- A young woman on vacation in Verona, Italy finds an unanswered “letter to Juliet” — one of thousands of missives left at the fictional lover’s Verona courtyard. Inspired by the volunteers who respond to the notes, she goes on an adventure to unite the author of letter with her beloved. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Gary Winick (Bride Wars, Charlotte’s Web, 13 Going on 30, Tadpole, Sam the Man, The Tic Code, Sweet Nothing, Out of the Rain, Curfew)

Written by- Jose Rivera (Trade), Tim Sullivan (A Handful of Dust, Where Angels Fear to Tread, Jack & Sarah)

Starring- Amanda Seyfried, Gael García Bernal, Vanessa Redgrave, Christopher Egan

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film and “Just Wright” were essentially the same forgettable Hollywood romantic comedies. In fact, they were released on the same weekend, and on the show we reviewed them simultaneously. I’ll write two reviews here, but they won’t be all that different. The word ‘forgettable’ really is the best way to describe this film. A talented cast was wasted on an overly flowery and quite dull romantic comedy that had no comedy to speak of. The quality of the actors did result in performances that weren’t noteworthy, but were at least watchable to a certain extent. This is even more impressive when you consider that the bland screenplay left the characters with no chemistry between them. Even though the screenplay was exactly the same as every substandard romantic comedy you’ve seen, Amanda Seyfried and Gael García Bernal were actually believable characters who could have been good if mindless Hollywood tool Gary Winick wasn’t at the helm. Winick’s presence insured the film’s forgettable Hollywood gloss, and even countless shots of the picturesque Italian countryside didn’t help his cause. The longer the film droned on, the slower it became. The last half hour felt like it would never come to an end! This was yet another predictable Hollywood style romantic comedy that only holds the slightest value if you direct your attention to the scenery.

2) Just Wright
Plot- A physical therapist falls for the basketball player she is helping recover from a career-threatening injury, though he’s drawn to her best friend, who has her sights set on being an NBA trophy wife. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Sanaa Hamri (Something New, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2)

Written by- Michael Elliot (Like Mike, Brown Sugar)

Starring- Queen Latifah, Common, Paula Patton, Pam Grier, Mehcad Brooks, Michael Landes

Movieguy’s Verdict- Just like the above film, this was a standard bland and forgettable Hollywood romantic comedy. The characters in the film were tailor-made for the genre, and it was literally possible to predict every word of Michael Elliot’s empty screenplay. What separates this film from this week’s “Letters to Juliet” was how it combined lazy romantic comedy clichés with lazy sports movie clichés. History has consistently shown that these two genres should never be combined. Nevertheless, the film’s genre was the least of its problems. This was one dull, slow and highly uneventful movie that had nothing to hold the audience’s attention. I have never been a huge fan of Queen Latifah’s acting. She may be a very likable person, but she’s not terribly talented in starring roles. Common has just about as much talent, and neither of them seemed to put much effort into their flat performances. Sanaa Hamri brought great directorial personality to “Something New,” but after she directed the Traveling Pants sequel her career stock took a nosedive. This film was even worse, so imagine where that leaves her now. There’s nothing else to say about this movie. There is no reason for it to exist, and no reason to watch it.

3) Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Plot- Set in medieval Persia, a rogue prince joins a mysterious princess in an effort to prevent a dark force from obtaining an ancient dagger that allows its handler to rule the world. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Mike Newell (The Awakening, Bad Blood, Dance with a Stranger, The Good Father, Amazing Grace and Chuck, Soursweet, Into the West, Enchanted April, Four Weddings and a Funeral, An Awfully Big Adventure, Donnie Brasco, Pushing Tin, Mona Lisa Smile, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Love in the Time of Cholera)

Written by- Boaz Yakin (The Punisher, The Rookie, Fresh, A Price Above Rubies, Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights, Death in Love), Doug Miro (The Great Raid, The Uninvited), Carlo Bernard (The Great Raid, The Uninvited)

Starring- Jake Gyllenhaal, Gemma Arterton, Ben Kingsley, Alfred Molina

Movieguy’s Verdict- I’ve had the pleasure of watching Jake Gyllenhaal grow into a fine young actor who can play a wide range of parts with thoughtful ease. This film was obviously done for a quick buck, and while it was a definite blow to his credibility, he won’t have a problem recovering. He did come at the part with a well toned physique and a skilled accent, but his actual performance was the typical wooden fare that Hollywood tends to covet in its corniest action movies. Speaking of corniness, director Mike Newell applied it in spades throughout the film. Atrocious Hollywood music covered each scene, and a cheesy romantic subplot only added to the film’s predictable nature. The action sequences were highly corny and hard to stomach at certain times, but Newell adopted a mostly quick pace which prevented the film from lagging at any one time. Alfred Molina did provide some humor in his clichéd supporting role, so if you could stand the cheesiness of the action scenes, the film was mildly amusing overall. One must credit Boaz Yakin, Doug Miro and Carlo Bernard for attempting to insert many plot twists into the film, but these were very predictable and ultimately made the climax and ending significantly cornier. The film did feature some decent special effects and was somewhat entertaining, but its Hollywood exaggeration and cheesiness combined with Gyllenhaal’s stiff performance made it hard to watch at times.
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9-9-10

1) MacGruber
Plot- A spoof of the ’80s TV show “MacGyver.”

Directed by- Jorma Taccone (Extreme Movie)

Written by- Will Forte (The Brothers Solomon, Extreme Movie), John Solomon (Extreme Movie), Jorma Taccone (Extreme Movie)

Starring- Will Forte, Kristen Wiig, Val Kilmer, Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig, Ryan Phillippe, Maya Rudolph, Powers Boothe

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film had great potential, but it also could have ended up with the same inane, unfunny stupidity as “Step Brothers” or “Walk Hard.” Thankfully, and quite surprisingly, this was one of 2010’s best comedies. Will Forte was horrendously bad in “The Brothers Solomon,” but was absolutely on point with this MacGyver spoof. Jorma Taccone’s direction played nicely on the commonly exaggerated themes of Hollywood action movies. The humor presented a great combination of 80s and current movie clichés, with wonderfully bizarre dialogue. Forte had a great comedic demeanor and carried a quick pace throughout the film. His personality was bumbling and unassuming, yet simultaneously ego-driven and completely unaware of his actions and surroundings- a fantastic combination indeed. Writers Forte, Taccone and John Solomon took a chance with the screenplay by giving Forte’s character ALL of the comedic material and laughs. The supporting characters were mostly straight, serious characters with the exception of Val Kilmer who was a surprisingly humorous villain. Kristen Wiig and Ryan Phillippe fit perfectly into this mold, and Forte played very well off of everyone. The film was quite funny perhaps because Forte and co. blended all types of comedy into a story and characters that were more than primed to accept it. It wasn’t a perfect movie of course, and there were a few lulls and a couple of missed chances with several scenes. Nevertheless, this was a very funny movie that is sure to provide many solid and bizarre laughs.

2) Killers
Plot- Three years into their perfectly suburban marriage, Jen learns that her husband Spencer is not only an undercover assassin — he’s also a target worth millions of dollars to a clutch of fellow assassins who have been trailing the couple in secret since they met. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Robert Luketic (Legally Blonde, Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!, Monster-in-Law, 21)

Written by- Bob DeRosa (The Air I Breathe), Ted Griffin (Ravenous, Best Laid Plans, Ocean’s Eleven, Matchstick Men, Rumor Has It…)

Starring- Katherine Heigl, Ashton Kutcher, Tom Selleck, Catherine O’Hara, Rob Riggle

Movieguy’s Verdict- I know what you’re thinking, and you’re right! They already made this movie, and it was called “Mr. and Mrs. Smith.” Sure the plot wasn’t EXACTLY the same, but this film really tried to do most of the things that “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” accomplished, but in a less intelligent and entertaining way. The first few scenes actually possessed an understated charm that would have made a pleasant film had it carried throughout, but there was no way it could sustain. Once the film really got going, Robert Luketic switched to all-action mode with over-the-top chase and fight scenes that actually tried to take themselves very seriously. The film was advertised as a romantic comedy, but there was no comedy to be found. Katherine Heigl and Ashton Kutcher gave bland and forgettable performances in cookie-cutter characters that were created without much thought. Bob DeRosa and Ted Griffin wrote a lazy screenplay. It copied plenty from “Mr. and Mrs. Smith,” contained many large plot holes, was highly predictable and actually tried to be a somewhat serious action film in the second half. All in all, there just wasn’t much to this movie. It was dull, uninteresting and has probably already been completely forgotten.
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9-2-10

1) Marmaduke
Plot- The Winslow family moves to a new neighborhood with their large yet lovable Great Dane, who has a tendency to wreak havoc in his own oblivious way. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Tom Dey (Shanghai Noon, Showtime, Failure to Launch)

Written by- Tim Rasmussen (Christmas Nightmare, License to Wed, Smother), Vince Di Meglio (Deadfall, Christmas Nightmare, License to Wed, Smother)

Starring- Owen Wilson, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Emma Stone, Sam Elliott, Stacy Ferguson, Steve Coogan, George Lopez; Starring: Judy Greer, Lee Pace, William H. Macy

Movieguy’s Verdict- No matter how much you like the comic strip, no matter how optimistic your attitude, there was really no way this film could possibly have been any good. I definitely respect Twentieth Century Fox for not making this yet another CGI movie filled with CGI silliness, but instead it was a live action movie filled with live action silliness. I guess sometimes you’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t, as the expression goes. If director Tom Dey or writers Tim Rasmussen and Vince Di Meglio had taken the film seriously, Owen Wilson would have been a perfect choice for the vocal performance of Marmaduke. All in all, he gave a solid effort, but the writing was lacking almost everywhere, so he didn’t have the opportunity to do anything worth mentioning. There wasn’t one moment in this movie that wasn’t a copy of the 1000 other child’s dog movies that exist. Scene after scene was filled with the same old and tired kid’s movie messages about family and friendship, and terrible sound effects and stunts only made them seem cornier and more clichéd. What surprised me the most about this movie was the cast. Big names were present in both the vocal performances and live action parts. William H. Macy? McLovin’? Steve Coogan? Judy Greer? Lots of talent wasted here, and the whole episode was a pretty solid waste of time as well.

2) Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married Too?
Plot- Another Tyler Perry movie (urgh), only this time it’s a sequel…

Written and Directed by the King of Clichés and Stereotypes- Tyler Perry (Diary of a Mad Black Woman, Madea’s Family Reunion, Daddy’s Little Girls, Why Did I Get Married?, Meet the Browns, The Family That Preys, Madea Goes to Jail, I Can Do Bad All by Myself)

Starring- Janet Jackson, Tyler Perry, Jill Scott, Michael Jai White, Tasha Smith, Louis Gossett Jr., Malik Yoba, Richard T. Jones, Cicely Tyson

Movieguy’s Verdict- With this sequel, Tyler Perry’s negative racial stereotypes were put mostly on hold in favor of a dull, sappy, soap opera-style drama. Perry’s writing was as sloppily constructed as usual. He appeared to believe he was making clever and legitimate observations about marriage, but all he did was point out obvious truths everyone knows. Personalities of the characters were quite exaggerated, mostly to support Perry’s badly constructed daytime TV plot twists. This time around Perry placed himself in one of the film’s leading roles, and was noticeably awful. He seemed to think everything the actors said was hysterical, and laughed constantly at inane gestures and standard dialogue. Janet Jackson was also quite poor for most of her exaggerated and drawn out performance. Taking an overview of the film, it didn’t force religion into every scene like most of Perry’s other films, and it was quite toned down in terms of negative racial stereotypes. All that was left was a collection of sloppily created characters, a screenplay that repeatedly pointed out the obvious, bad or forgettable acting and a predictable story that accomplished nothing. It wasn’t Perry’s standard racist, preachy fare, but it was indeed a poorly conceived movie in almost every regard.
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8-24-10

1) The Back-Up Plan
Plot- A single woman meets a potential husband on the day of her artificial insemination. Despite the initial spark, the two lovers begin to wonder if they’re taking the right steps to an enduring romance. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Alan Poul

Written by- Kate Angelo

Starring- Jennifer Lopez, Alex O’Loughlin, Eric Christian Olsen, Noureen DeWulf, Anthony Anderson

Movieguy’s Verdict- Jennifer Lopez had the chance to be a legitimate movie star, but she squandered her fame and talent on one too many cheesy and mindless romantic comedies. This film was just another by-the-numbers, disposable piece that was as forgettable as they come. The film had very little going for it, but Lopez and co-star Alex O’Loughlin had good personalities and gave respectable performances in spite of a predictable and lazy screenplay. An exaggerated and mostly illogical romantic relationship was the groundwork for the plot, and a few isolated laughs were not enough to distract the audience from this fact. The film grew increasingly cornier as it developed, and by the end neither director Alan Poul, Lopez or anyone else provided a single reason why we should care what happened to the characters. There was no reason for this film to be made, but since there’s no real risk of anyone watching it, that’s probably irrelevant.
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8-19-10

1) The Last Song
Plot- A drama centered on a rebellious young woman who is sent to spend the summer with her estranged father, who abandoned his family in the past. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Julie Anne Robinson

Written by- Nicholas Sparks, Jeff Van Wie

Starring- Miley Cyrus, Greg Kinnear, Bobby Coleman, Liam Hemsworth, Kelly Preston

Movieguy’s Verdict- Nicholas Sparks’ surprise hit “The Notebook” led people to believe he was going to inspire a totally new breed of romance movies. No one realized Sparks had nothing else to say. All Sparks adaptations are exactly the same. They feature the same overly sappy mentality, and cheap, clichéd characters. They feel much longer than they are and move at a snail’s pace, and this film was pretty much in line with all of Sparks’ post Notebook material. Total character clichés filled each scene, and the scenarios the film presented were thoughtless and predictable. While the characters were poorly created, the acting was decent. I suppose most critics would want to make fun of Miley Cyrus, what with being a child pop star and all, but she has talent. What she does with it is up to her, but she gave a solid effort and turned in a believable performance. Greg Kinnear also provided a good supporting showing in a film that was respectably acted overall. Julie Anne Robinson’s direction was quite sappy, clichéd and predictable, but there were real emotions put into the second half of the film, which helped counteract the many Disney moments and predictable clichés. In the end it really didn’t accomplish very much and was forgotten after the first eight seconds of credits. Ultimately there is no need to watch this film- you’ve seen much better many times over.

2) Furry Vengeance
Plot- An arrogant real estate agent gets in way over his head after he agrees to develop property on an Oregon forest and the area’s animals sabotage his plans. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Roger Kumble (Director of: Cruel Intentions, Cruel Intentions 2, The Sweetest Thing, Just Friends; Writer of: Unveiled, Senior Trip, Provocateur, Cruel Intentions, Cruel Intentions 2, College Road Trip)

Written by- Michael Carnes (Mr. Woodcock), Josh Gilbert (Mr. Woodcock)

Starring- Brendan Fraser, Brooke Shields, Ken Jeong, Dick Van Dyke, Angela Kinsey

Movieguy’s Verdict- As far as kid’s movies go, this is as bad as it gets. Stupidity absolutely overwhelms from the first second. It flooded every scene Michael Carnes and Josh Gilbert wrote, and every moronic character they created. The performances could hardly be classified as such, and they were, not surprisingly, unwatchable. Brendan Fraser continues to waste his mostly untapped talent on action trash and even smellier children’s trash, while Brooke Shields was never any good to begin with. The film was live action, but its animal effects were done with worst imaginable CGI. The animals, that didn’t look like animals at all, were graced with amateurish movements and ridiculously annoying facial expressions. They managed to be worse than the live actors, which one would think impossible. Roger Kumble’s “Cruel Intentions” could have been better, but it was a rather good movie. “Just Friends” was surprisingly funny, but I never imaged be could make a movie this bad. This was as painful, aggravating and blatantly stupid as a movie can be. The negative should be burned, and a task force should be formed to eradicate the world of this worthless filth.
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8-10-10

1) Date Night
Plot- In New York City, a case of mistaken identity turns a bored married couple’s attempt at a glamorous and romantic evening into something more thrilling and dangerous. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Shawn Levy (Just Married, Cheaper by the Dozen, The Pink Panther, Night at the Museum, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian)

Written by- Josh Klausner (The 4th Floor, Shrek the Third)

Starring- Steve Carell, Tina Fey, Mila Kunis, James Franco, Mark Wahlberg, Kristen Wiig, Mark Ruffalo, Ray Liotta, Taraji P. Henson

Movieguy’s Verdict- We just did a segment on the show about trends in the comedy genre. One of the most common and most frustrating is the fact that most comedies start out strong but stop trying halfway through. This film is yet another painful example of this lazy and sloppy filmmaking trend. The film opened with two wonderful things going for it — a smart, clever script and great personality and chemistry from Steve Carell and Tina Fey. Shawn Levy and Josh Klausner paced their ideas well, and scenes were filled with natural, witty and genuinely funny material. The best part of all was how natural and believable Carell and Fey were in their performances, carrying an effortless and easy laugh that was highly contagious. James Franco and Mila Kunis added great supporting performances which gave a different edge to the humor. Even Mark Wahlberg, who played a purposely silly character, added a few laughs. Then the film hit a wall and never recovered. Levy, who has a track record of only horrendous movies, thought it was a good idea to include it cheesy action sequences that got more and more over-the-top as the film went along. All aspects of humor were removed from the last 45 minutes of the movie as Klausner introduced terrible characters and one too many dumb situations. The first half was a well acted, funny and smart comedy. The second half was corny, forced, terribly acted and painful to sit through. Knowing this I’ll let you decide if you want to watch it, but prepare to be disappointed when the credits roll.

2) Death at a Funeral
Plot- A remake of the British comedy of the same title.

Directed by- Neil LaBute (In the Company of Men, Nurse Betty, Possession, The Shape of Things, The Wicker Man, Lakeview Terrace)

Written by- Dean Craig (Caffeine, Death at a Funeral)

Starring- Chris Rock, Martin Lawrence, Zoe Saldana, Keith David, James Marsden, Luke Wilson, Peter Dinklage, Danny Glover, Tracy Morgan, Columbus Short, Regina Hall, Loretta Devine

Movieguy’s Verdict- In one of the more curious and ill-conceived movie ideas of the past few years, Dean Craig decided to remake his hilarious and unanimously well received British comedy three years later for American audiences. It turned out exactly like you think it would. British and American humor is very different, and the nuance, personality and pace that made the first film so successful just didn’t translate. The situations felt awkward and the acting was unnatural. Comedic timing was off for most of the film, and the characters were disconnected from one another. Martin Lawrence and Chris rock give terrible performances, but Zoe Saldana and James Marsden were respectable overall. The film wasn’t boring or difficult to watch, but it contained very little humor and was made with a shallow and mostly non-existent personality. Watch the real one and skip this farce.
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8-3-10

1) The Ghost Writer
Plot- A ghostwriter hired to complete the memoirs of a former British prime minister uncovers secrets that put his own life in jeopardy. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Roman Polanski (Repulsion, Cul-de-sac, Dance of the Vampires, Rosemary’s Baby, The Tragedy of Macbeth, Che?, Chinatown, Tess, Pirates, Frantic, Bitter Moon, Death and the Maiden, The Ninth Gate, The Pianist, Oliver Twist)

Written by- Roman Polanski, Robert Harris

Starring- Ewan McGregor, Pierce Brosnan, Olivia Williams, Kim Cattrall, Timothy Hutton, Tom Wilkinson, James Belushi

Movieguy’s Verdict- Roman Polanski’s life of exile has been quite public lately, and his career seemed to climax when his intensely personal war epic “The Pianist” won critical acclaim across the board. Though it’s not the powerhouse “The Pianist” was, this latest Polanski film shows that the filmmaker still has a lot to offer. Polanski has crafted a throwback style mystery picture with old-fashioned elements of story and suspense. His direction was eerie and gloomy, yet very quiet. He wasted no time placing the audience in a mysterious world of lies and deception, but spent great care showing how characters reacted to the smallest and seemingly insignificant details. This style is reminiscent of the attention to detail he gave “Chinatown.” It’s a throwback type of movie that feels slow, but engrossing at the same time. Polanski’s creation of a secretive, closed off world was captured perfectly by Ewan McGregor’s great performance. His character was a “reactor” in his tendency to explore his mysterious surroundings and change his opinions gradually as he learned more, abandoning a clueless, seemingly blank slate of an existence which we can imagine before the film began. However, Pierce Brosnan was the most impressive actor in the film, providing a supporting performance that was filled with intensity and charisma. Unfortunately he was not given nearly enough screen time. Though the script was very clever and contained much subtlety, it was entirely predictable from beginning to end. The film’s largest plot twist was telegraphed and could be easily seen a mile away. Predictability is not an element of good mystery, but overall this was a solid film that told an interesting story with nuanced, old-fashioned direction and high-quality acting.

2) Kick-Ass
Plot- Despite the fact that he has zero superpowers, teenage fanboy Dave Lizewski looks to reincarnate himself as a crime-fighting superhero named Kick-Ass, a decision that will inspire a subculture of copy cats, put his life in danger, and unite him with a similarly minded father-daughter duo. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Matthew Vaughn (Layer Cake)

Written by- Jane Goldman (Stardust), Matthew Vaughn (Stardust)

Starring- Aaron Johnson, Nicolas Cage, Chloe Moretz, Mark Strong, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Lyndsy Fonseca, Tamer Hassan, Xander Berkeley

Movieguy’s Verdict- I will admit, the non-stop trailers for this film left me exasperated. It looked like nothing more than a silly children’s action/adventure film, and those never turn out well. Matthew Vaughn hit a home run with “Layer Cake,” but curiously he turned to more childish themes with his co-writing of the “Stardust” screenplay, so I had no reason to expect anything but a continued regression from this project. I love it when I’m wrong. It didn’t take long to realize that this film was going to be an outstanding surprise. I loved Vaughn’s ability to inject personality and wit into the characters, dialogue and story. Overall, his direction was masterful, and given the many moods and atmospheres he constructed, this was no easy task. Vaughn had the ability to make the audience take a certain scenes seriously, and then he’d have everyone laughing only moments later. The characters were eccentric and colorful, and the story was so bizarre that it just had to work. Albeit some of the fight sequences were cheesy, but they were quite well filmed and worked flawlessly in the context of this unquestionably odd world. Nicolas Cage didn’t impress me in the trailers, but his performance was outstanding. Cage displayed a level of control and nuance we haven’t seen from him since “Adaptation,” and his chemistry with Chloe Moretz was perfection. Speaking of which, her supporting performance was highly impressive, as was Aaron Johnson and Christopher Mintz-Plasse (McLovin!!!!). This group had great rapport and comedic timing as well as the perfect grasp of the many levels Vaughn was trying to create. I find myself saying this all too often, but this film’s romantic subplot was beyond absurd. It is plausible to say that every superhero film has a silly love interest, so Vaughn included this as a matter of necessity. Regardless of the purpose, it did detract from the movie’s intelligence and wit. In a strange criticism I can ever remember having before this movie, the characters’ superhero names were a bit dumb. Kick-Ass is not only a terrible superhero name, it is a worse movie title. Chloe Moretz’s character was named Hit Girl, which wasn’t much better. Other than those superficialities, this movie came out firing on all cylinders and delivered a smart, fun and original experience that you’re sure to want more than once.
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7-29-10

1) Repo Men
Plot- Set in a world where artificial organs are readily available for purchase, a man who makes his living repossessing organs from those who fail to make their payments first finds himself outfitted with a new heart, then forced to go on the run when he falls on hard financial times. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Miguel Sapochnik

Written by- Eric Garcia, Garrett Lerner

Starring- Jude Law, Forest Whitaker, Alice Braga, Liev Schreiber, Carice van Houten, RZA, Yvette Nicole Brown, Chandler Canterbury

Movieguy’s Verdict- It was a bizarre concept indeed, but an unknown director and two unknown writers joined forces with two highly talented actors to create a film filled with ups and downs. Ultimately though, it triumphed with a strong ending. From the first frame of the film you could sense a battle between Hollywood and indie filmmaking sensibilities. A typically loud and overly expressive Hollywood score filled the background of each scene, and parts of scenes felt somewhat corny and put on, much as they would in a typical Hollywood blockbuster. On the other hand, Eric Garcia and Garrett Lerner wrote a screenplay which contained many great ideas and developed an interesting and creative story. Miguel Sapochnik’s direction consisted of strong camerawork and compelling visuals. His action sequences were exciting and well filmed, and he did well to make the film more engrossing as it evolved. Jude Law and Forest Whitaker had amazing chemistry in this film. Their individual performances were outstanding, but together they formed a solid core that held the film together even in its most Hollywood moments. Their characters had fantastic personalities, and watching these two dynamic actors play off of each other was a treat. The story moved well, and I was pleased to notice the Hollywood corniness fade away at the halfway point. The film’s creativity, wit and excitement were in full swing when a horribly conceived climactic action sequence began. This lasted roughly 20 minutes and was so corny it was hard to watch. When the sequence ended I felt disappointed that yet another promising movie had ruined itself with a terrible climax. Then, when the actual ending was introduced, I was blown away! Sapochnik and company definitely saved the best for last. Overall this movie was great fun and I’d definitely recommend it.

2) Clash of the Titans
Plot- A loose adaptation from Greek mythology.

Directed by- Louis Leterrier (The Transporter, Unleashed, Transporter 2, The Incredible Hulk)

Written by- Travis Beacham (Dog Days of Summer), Phil Hay (Crazy/Beautiful, Æon Flux), Matt Manfredi (Dog Days of Summer)

Starring- Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, Gemma Arterton, Alexa Davalos, Danny Huston, Nicholas Hoult, Izabella Miko, Jason Flemyng, Pete Postlethwaite

Movieguy’s Verdict- Louis Leterrier directed two very good movies in “Unleashed” and “The Incredible Hulk,” but also came up empty with his trashy “Transporter” series. His career pattern has been: bad movie, good movie, bad movie, good movie. Would it continue? Yes. This film was standard Hollywood indulgence, and had very little to offer. In fact, the only good thing about the it was the high-priced CGI. It wasn’t used in a creative way, but at least it looked as good as one should expect from a big budget Hollywood action movie entirely dependent on special effects. Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes delivered horrendous supporting showings while Sam Worthington, who just hit the “Avatar” lottery, offered a commanding lead performance that made the film as bearable as possible. Leterrier did manage to film numerous action sequences with decent enthusiasm, but most of his scenes were copied from other action/adventure movies. This wasn’t entirely his fault because Travis Beacham, Phil Hay and Matt Manfredi told a typical Greek mythology tale that has been told countless times before. There was no room to do anything interesting or original here, so everyone just went through the motions. With Hollywood corniness, childish exaggeration and predictability at every turn, this movie turned into little more than a showcase for expensive CGI. You’ve seen it before, so give it a pass.
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7-22-10

1) The Losers
Plot- After being betrayed and left for dead, members of a CIA black ops team root out those who targeted them for assassination. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Sylvain White (I’ll Always Know What You Did Last Summer, Stomp the Yard)

Written by- Peter Berg (Very Bad Things, Friday Night Lights), James Vanderbilt (Darkness Falls, Basic, The Rundown, Zodiac)

Starring- Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Zoe Saldana, Chris Evans, Idris Elba, Jason Patric, Columbus Short

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was one of 2010’s best surprises. The film was somewhat overpreviewed but still managed to feel like it came out of nowhere. Sylvain White, whose first two movies would not inspire confidence in anyone, created a stylish and in your face action feel that never let up. Peter Berg and James Vanderbilt are two very different screenwriters, but their varying styles converged perfectly in this explosion of action, comedy, personality and brute force. The film wasn’t just a series of cleverly filmed action sequences, but also carried an engrossing, constantly moving story that led the audience to care about the collection of odd characters it created. This film featured a perfectly chosen ensemble cast who perfectly captured the odd, off-the-wall and intense nature of their characters and the atmosphere. Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Chris Evans, Idris Elba and Columbus Short had wonderful chemistry together, furthering the direction’s wonderful blend of action, personality and comedy. While her character was indeed a silly cliché, Zoe Saldana was quite enjoyable as well, bringing an added dimension to the story that served it well. Additionally, Jason Patric was an excellent villain, providing a stone cold performance that turned the tables on the film’s style. This was a witty and highly fun guilty pleasure that possessed no faults worth mentioning. If you’re looking for an enjoyable movie experience, I’d put this one near the top of your ‘To Watch’ list.

2) Cop Out
Plot- A comedy about two cops whose adventures include locating a stolen baseball card, rescuing a woman, and dealing with gangsters and their laundered money. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Kevin Smith (Clerks, Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Dogma, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Jersey Girl, Clerks II, Zack and Miri Make a Porno)

Written by- Robb Cullen, Mark Cullen

Starring- Bruce Willis, Tracy Morgan, Jason Lee, Michelle Trachtenberg, Seann William Scott, Rashida Jones, Adam Brody, Kevin Pollak

Movieguy’s Verdict- This is the first movie that Kevin Smith as directed but not also written. If that didn’t raise some eyebrows, he also admitted that the reason he was attracted to making this film was because it’s the kind of movie his late father would have enjoyed. Whenever a filmmaker makes a film explicitly for a family member, there is a very high percentage chance that it will be a mistake. Look what happened to Robert Rodriguez and M. Night Shyamalan- they had promising careers then started making movies for their kids. Now they are completely without credibility. Will Kevin Smith fall into this trap? This movie is not a good sign, that’s for sure. Smith manufactured the film to be a classic 80s/90s throwback buddy movie, and indeed it felt like one in the VERY early stages. Though the characters were typical, two great scenes in the first 10 minutes brought big laughs and a bright promise of things to come. Unfortunately unknown writers Robb and Mark Cullen had nothing else to say for the remainder of the movie. Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan had absolutely no chemistry together. Willis appeared highly disinterested in the film and brought nothing to the table, while Morgan was a constant source of exaggeration and painful overacting, much like his other movies. Both the writing and direction felt trashy and lacked any semblance of intelligence, the exact opposite of what you’d expect from a Kevin Smith movie. Seann William Scott was the only actor who put together more than one watchable scene, as the supporting cast was even worse than Morgan’s over-the-top performance. The Cullen brothers wrote this movie at an infantile level, and aside from those two great scenes early on, it didn’t have a second worth watching. Exaggerated, horribly acted and built on a landfill of lazy clichés of a dead genre, this was a horrible movie that turned out to be among 2010’s worst films.
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7-15-10

1) Greenberg
Plot- A jobless New Yorker moves to Los Angeles in order to figure out his life while he housesits for his brother. He soon sparks with his brother’s assistant, a musician and somewhat of a lost soul herself. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Noah Baumbach (Kicking and Screaming, Highball, Mr. Jealousy, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, The Squid and the Whale, Margot at the Wedding)

Starring- Ben Stiller, Greta Gerwig, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Rhys Ifans, Juno Temple, Chris Messina, Greta Gerwig, Mark Duplass

Movieguy’s Verdict- Noah Baumbach has done it again. His latest film is just another in a long line of complicated, layered and highly intelligent movies that continue to defy genre classification. Ben Stiller has a great deal of acting talent and impeccable onscreen decision-making ability, but too often he suppresses these talents in favor of mindless stupidity like “Night at the Museum” and “Zoolander.” In this film Stiller was in rare form indeed. His mannerisms and personality were perfectly crafted, displaying a complex blend of antisocial behavior, paranoia, anxiety and desperation. Baumbach’s direction and writing were highly detail oriented, focusing on the apparently small, yet infinitely large world inhabited by this film’s odd characters. He wonderfully captured social isolation and regret, injecting his trademark dark wit in the perfect spots for maximum effect in every scene. Perhaps Baumbach’s greatest strength as a filmmaker is his ability to show characters constantly evolving, and in this film he perfectly captured the growth of Stiller’s character, but did not minimize or summarize the development of supporting characters. Psychologically the film was fascinating, but oddly enough when taking an overview of the entire movie I’m not sure it was actually believable in the real world, which might isolate some from its opinions on societal conventions and interpersonal relationships. I don’t believe this decreases its impact however because Baumbach did a wonderful job of increasing its emotional power in the second half, then he crafted a great ending. Rounding out his outstanding film were great supporting performances from Greta Gerwig, Rhys Ifans and Jennifer Jason Leigh (Baumbach’s wife). This was a complex character study that worked on a variety of levels, and I’d definitely recommend it for fans of Baumbach or intelligent writing and direction.

2) The Bounty Hunter
Plot- A bounty hunter learns that his next target is his ex-wife, a reporter working on a murder cover-up. Soon after their reunion, the always-at-odds duo find themselves on a run-for-their-lives adventure with a bunch of New Jersey criminals in pursuit. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Andy Tennant (It Takes Two, Fools Rush In, Ever After, Anna and the King, Sweet Home Alabama, Hitch, Fool’s Gold)

Written by- Sarah Thorp (See Jane Run, Twisted, Cornelius)

Starring- Jennifer Aniston, Gerard Butler

Movieguy’s Verdict- It could have been a standard but enjoyable guilty pleasure, but what it turned into was painful to say the least. If you have the misfortune of sitting through this disaster, the first thing you’ll notice is the excessive amount of loud, obnoxious Hollywood music backing every moment of every scene. For a movie that was intended to be a comedy, all that could possibly pass as humor were perhaps two or three moments of light amusement. Sarah Thorp’s bland and uninteresting screenplay was partly to blame. Thorp didn’t appear to put a second’s thought into anything she wrote, and it didn’t take long for the film to become tedious to watch. This tedium was due to the mindless predictability with which the story was told, non-stop clichés, dumb supporting characters and just plain bad writing. Andy Tennant may have struck gold with “Hitch,” but you should take note that every one of this other films is either bland and forgettable or just plain unwatchable. This was indeed the latter. Tennant, knowing full well the film was worthless Hollywood fluff, simply sat back and cashed his check, which is basically what he’s done with his other movies sans “Hitch.” I have not been the biggest Gerard Butler supporter after suffering through his Heston-like overacting in “300,” but I must admit he has demonstrated a decent range over the course of his career. I find Jennifer Aniston to be a smart and intelligent actress with good instincts and strong comic timing. Sadly, these two had absolutely zero chemistry in this movie, and that was even more accentuated by the fact that their characters and story were so poorly conceived. Without a second that was enjoyable even at the most mindless guilty pleasure level, these two actors looked awful. I obviously didn’t expect Oscar buzz here, but I definitely didn’t anticipate a completely dull zero star pain festival either. Don’t waste your time on this trash.

3) Our Family Wedding
Plot- The weeks leading up to a young couple’s wedding is comic and stressful, especially as their respective fathers try to lay to rest their long-standing feud. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Rick Famuyiwa (The Wood, Brown Sugar)

Written by- Wayne Conley (King’s Ransom), Malcolm Spellman, Rick Famuyiwa (Talk to Me, The Wood, Brown Sugar)

Starring- America Ferrera, Forest Whitaker, Carlos Mencia, Regina King, Taye Diggs, Fred Armisen, Anjelah N. Johnson

Movieguy’s Verdict- Not much about the movie industry surprises me anymore, but I must say, I am quite shocked that these forgettable and formulaic types of movies are still being made, especially since they have no chance whatsoever of financial success. All you have to do is take look at the trailer to know exactly what will happen in practically every scene, which makes watching the film a mere formality. The screenplay and direction were typical in every respect. Rick Famuyiwa created a very standard atmosphere which would have been mostly dull had it not been for the energy and personality of this strangely assembled ensemble cast. This cast consisted of Ugly Betty, Oscar winner Forest Whitaker and an annoying comedian who steals 85% his material, then spends the rest of the time telling the audience he’s Mexican. While any true movie fan would spend the majority of the time wondering how Whitaker ended up in this movie, it would be unfair to ignore how great the chemistry was in this group. Each actor brought a different personality to the table, and while they all eventually fell into standard, predictable clichés, they managed to provide a decent amount of humor and likability. Whitaker seemed to have a decent sense of comedic timing, though perhaps the best acting in the film came from Anjelah N. Johnson’s sarcastic supporting performance. Famuyiwa, Wayne Conley and Malcolm Spellman did indeed write an obvious and predictable screenplay, but somehow they managed to make the audience care about the characters. Like most films in this genre the ending went on way too long and incorporated far too much forced silliness for its own good. Though I can’t necessarily recommend it, this film definitely meant well and proved to be mostly entertaining.
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7-8-10

1) Brooklyn’s Finest
Plot- In Brooklyn, New York, three veteran cops struggling with their own personal and professional dilemmas are dispatched to a notorious housing project, where they will each collide with destiny. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Antoine Fuqua (Bait, Training Day, Tears of the Sun, King Arthur, Shooter)

Written by- Michael C. Martin

Starring- Richard Gere, Don Cheadle, Ethan Hawke, Wesley Snipes, Jesse Williams, Lili Taylor, Ellen Barkin, Will Patton, Vincent D’Onofrio

Movieguy’s Verdict- If you are looking for a dark and compelling character drama, this film is as good as it gets. The first thing I noticed was the level of realism and raw emotion which began to bubble to the surface. Antoine Fuqua and Michael C. Martin created a world which was slowly wasting away while the characters’ frustration was slowly building, just waiting to violently erupt. Fuqua carefully portrayed a delicate balance of existence which these characters had walked on a tightrope for so long, and they were the only ones who didn’t know they were unraveling. The film was told from the point of view of three characters, each of whom was well-written and intelligently created. Their stories were compelling and fantastically developed, growing with emotion and intensity as the film progressed. Performances were impressive to say the least. Richard Gere, Don Cheadle and Ethan Hawke provided dedicated and exacting roles. They left as much beneath the surface as they allowed to rise to the top, capturing the desperation and chaos of their characters and the world they lived in. Fuqua’s direction built its intensity more and more until a suspenseful and menacing climax. Following the film all long was a moody score that added the perfect edge to the already brilliantly orchestrated atmosphere. In all, this was a fantastic film which succeeded admirably without any marks against it – a must see indeed!
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7-1-10

1) The Crazies
Plot- As a toxin begins to turn the residents of Ogden Marsh, Iowa into violent psychopaths, sheriff David Dutton tries to make sense of the situation while he, his wife, and two other unaffected townspeople band together in a fight for survival. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Breck Eisner (Thoughtcrimes, Sahara)

Written by- Scott Kosar (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Machinist, The Amityville Horror), Ray Wright (Pulse, Case 39)

Starring- Radha Mitchell, Timothy Olyphant, Danielle Panabaker, Glenn Morshower

Movieguy’s Verdict- Horror remakes have not been kind to us lately, but this film proves that there is still some energy and talent to be found in this failing genre. Breck Eisner may not have a stellar resume as a filmmaker, but his dark and creepy direction set the scene perfectly, creating an ominous atmosphere where fear and paranoia were allowed room to develop. He did well to engross the audience early on, and kept that mood throughout the film. Scott Kosar and Ray Wright penned a well-written screenplay that built suspense and fear and developed connections between characters. The film was constantly moving and never really let up, keeping its intensity throughout. Timothy Olyphant has shown on many occasions he can be a solid leading man, and this film was yet another in a long line of consistent and respectable performances. He had great presence here and so did the supporting cast, with Radha Mitchell taking the most praise from that impressive group. The film’s main flaw was its tendency to utilize sequences which were a bit too familiar and typically used in horror films. Furthermore, it was mostly predictable, but surprisingly this did not detract from its suspense or intensity. Overall this was a very strong horror film with plenty of upside and respectable acting – give this one a try for sure.

2) Hot Tub Time Machine
Plot- Four guys travel back to their respective 80s heydays in a hot tub. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Steve Pink (Director of: Accepted; Writer of: Grosse Pointe Blank, High Fidelity)

Written by- Josh Heald, Sean Anders (Never Been Thawed, Sex Drive), John Morris (Never Been Thawed, Sex Drive)

Starring- John Cusack, Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson, Chevy Chase, Lizzy Caplan, Crispin Glover, Kate Walsh, Charlie McDermott

Movieguy’s Verdict- I think it’s fair to say one can expect certain things from a movie called “Hot Tub Time Machine.” These things include infantile writing, pointless sex, purposeless gross out scenes and very bad acting. In every way possible, this was indeed exactly what you’d expect. Rob Corddry’s mere presence in the film severely exaggerated an already forced and over-the-top immature character. His mind-numbing performance pretty much set the scene for what was to come. Josh Heald, Sean Anders and John Morris wrote this screenplay at a third-grade level, creating one scene after another of material that the most immature elementary school boy would find hilarious, though admittedly not as funny as the time he discovered how to make himself burp. John Cusack was wasted in a film that was so far below him that he actually looked a foot taller than everyone else. The lone bright spot came from Clark Duke, whose sarcastic supporting performance provided essentially the only humor and watchability the film had to offer. Duke gave a very good performance, which was even more impressive given the environment he was working in. Otherwise, stupidity of the most unfunny and mindless nature spewed from every scene, and it didn’t let up until the credits rolled. With idiotic characters and worthless content at every turn, this useless trash should never have been made.

3) Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief
Plot- Life changes in an instant for troubled 12-year-old Percy Jackson when he learns his birth father is the god Poseidon and he’s looped in on a cross-country mission to settle a feud between his dad, Zeus, and Hades. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Chris Columbus (I Love You, Beth Cooper, Rent, 3-D Rocks, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Bicentennial Man, Stepmom, Nine Months, Mrs. Doubtfire, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, Only the Lonely, Home Alone, Heartbreak Hotel, Adventures in Babysitting)

Written by- Craig Titley (See Spot Run, Scooby-Doo, Cheaper by the Dozen, Cheaper by the Dozen 2)

Starring- Logan Lerman, Kevin McKidd, Steve Coogan, Rosario Dawson, Uma Thurman, Pierce Brosnan, Sean Bean, Catherine Keener, Joe Pantoliano

Movieguy’s Verdict- From the time of its release in February this film was on a bullet train to being one of the year’s worst films in nearly all categories. The pain from this film is still radiating through my body. Forced acting and loud, obnoxious music opened the film and did not let up for the duration of this disaster. Every scene was filled with extreme corniness and lazy children’s film clichés. One might expect brilliant things from Craig Titley, whose work on both “Cheaper by the Dozen” films was only eclipsed by his larger-than-life “Scooby-Doo” adaptation. Nevertheless, his writing was filled with useless, unnecessary dialogue and failed attempts at comic relief that littered every scene. His relentless inclusion of asinine characters and mindless stupidity only served as a constant reminder of how far above and beyond this film went in order to become the most painful, worthless and infantile children’s action film ever made. Logan Lerman was as brutally bad as every other cast member in this train wreck. His misplaced energy, total lack of screen presence and complete inability to deliver even one word naturally was essentially how I would go about describing this entire cast of moronic characters. Chris Columbus has directed plenty of children’s corniness and fluff in his long career, but this goes above and beyond anything I could have imagined, even from someone who directed two Harry Potter movies. His decision making caused me to scratch my head and wonder, as my brain boiled in my theater seat, if Columbus or anyone else in this movie can dress themselves without falling over.
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6-24-10

1) Green Zone
Plot- Discovering covert and faulty intelligence causes a U.S. Army officer to go rogue as he hunts for weapons of mass destruction in an unstable region. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Paul Greengrass (Resurrected, The Theory of Flight, Bloody Sunday, The Bourne Supremacy, United 93, The Bourne Ultimatum)

Written by- Brian Helgeland (The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3. Man on Fire, The Order, Mystic River, Blood Work, A Knight’s Tale, Payback, The Postman, Conspiracy Theory, L.A. Confidential, Assassins, Highway to Hell, 976-EVIL, A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master)

Starring- Matt Damon, Jason Isaacs, Greg Kinnear, Brendan Gleeson, Amy Ryan, Said Faraj

Movieguy’s Verdict- Matt Damon and Paul Greengrass- do I need to say anything else? Not really, because the paring of these two has given us two phenomenal Bourne films, and has created a working relationship that will result in more great movies. When Paul Greengrass directs, he puts you dead center in the chaos and never lets you leave, which is exactly what happened in this movie. Greengrass’ camerawork was perfect. He employed the ultra-real shaky effects that make you feel as though you are an active participant in the action. Matt Damon provided a commanding presence in this highly charged atmosphere that appeared to strive for documentary-style realism at all times. The story was nonstop chaos, so it was easy to forget that Damon was playing a layered and dynamic character who was quite interesting in his own right. This wasn’t a character-based film however, and supporting roles were brief, yet impactful. Greg Kinnear and Said Faraj were outstanding, forcing the audience to take their focus briefly away from Damon and Greengrass. Brian Helgeland created a plot that was highly complex and intricately presented, but despite this fact, it was still basically predictable. I’m not sure how that happened, but it was quite easy to see the plot twists coming. Even still, this was an adrenaline rush of a movie that was essentially ignored prior to and during its release. It provided nonstop realism and intensity in its direction and performances, and even if it was a bit predictable, I wouldn’t miss this film under any circumstances.

2) She’s Out of My League
Plot- A guy lets his insecurities pick away at his fledgling relationship with the perfect gal. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Jim Field Smith

Written by- Sean Anders (Never Been Thawed, Sex Drive), John Morris (Never Been Thawed, Sex Drive)

Starring- Jay Baruchel, Alice Eve, Mike Vogel, Krysten Ritter, Debra Jo Rupp, T.J. Miller

Movieguy’s Verdict- Every so often a comedy comes along with a concept so great it just has to work. “I Love You, Man” was a brilliant concept which had all of the possible pieces in place, but it still turned out to be a bland failure. This movie had a similarly great concept that was ruined by poor writing and just plain bad execution. From the very beginning, the film had a strong feeling of being highly exaggerated and unrealistic, both in its themes and storylines. This complete lack of realism never allowed the film to gain credibility. That’s not to say the film had no merits whatsoever. The writers of the horrendously bad films “Never Been Thawed” and “Sex Drive” managed to incorporate some good comedic moments into the story, and they made it pretty easy for the audience to care about the characters. Jay Baruchel delivered a solid and likable performance. Though the degree of difficulty in his role was quite low, he did a nice job of conveying awkwardness and feeling in over his head while dating a woman who was very obviously out of his league. However that’s as far as the positive comments will stretch. Alice Eve’s character was as poorly created as they come. She as not provided even a single scene of believable material, and it seemed that every action the character performed on screen detracted from the film’s great concept. Eve’s character was pivotal to the film’s success, and she was so badly written that there was simply no way the film could work. T.J. Miller tried so hard to be a funny and over-the-top supporting character, but just like his standup comedy, his performance was forced and aggravating. This movie should have been so much better, but it was brought below mediocrity by terrible writing and poor planning. Give this one a pass for sure.

3) Remember Me
Plot- A romantic drama centered on two new lovers: Tyler, whose parents have split in the wake of his brother’s suicide, and Ally, who lives each day to the fullest since witnessing her mother’s murder. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Allen Coulter (Hollywoodland)

Written by- Will Fetters, Jenny Lumet (Rachel Getting Married)

Starring- Robert Pattinson, Emilie de Ravin, Pierce Brosnan, Chris Cooper, Martha Plimpton, Lena Olin

Movieguy’s Verdict- I’ve said it many times before, and I’ll say it again for this review: there are times when a film will be good or even great for 90% of its running time, then one horrendous decision brings the film down to average, or even below average. This film is a prime example. Allen Coulter’s bleak and somber direction set the mood nicely for a character study about a desperate and confused group of individuals. The plot itself seemed to have potential, but it was a very slowly evolving story that didn’t quite pull you in, or even feel like it was going anywhere. Performances were solid overall, though at times Robert Pattinson came across as a bit overly whiny for his own good, but Pierce Brosnan gave a fantastic supporting performance, while Emilie de Ravin and Chris Cooper were solid and believable as well. Will Fetters (who is actually from here in Delaware!) and Jenny Lumet wrote a screenplay that was dull early on, but gained emotional energy as it developed. Coulter began to pull the audience further and further into the desperate and wandering world of these characters, and built a stronger and more complex bond between them. What happened with about 20 minutes left was as shameless and disgraceful as anything I’ve ever seen in my career as a film critic. Fetters and Lumet made a choice for an ending that was disgustingly cheap, blatantly sappy and downright disrespectful. Not only did Fetters, Lumet and Coulter exploit the emotions of the audience in an appalling way, but they ruined every second of carefully built credibility the film had developed out of its slow and uninspired beginning. The reprehensible decision by the filmmakers not only ruined the film, but tarnished their reputations for good. They should all be ashamed.
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6-17-10

1) Youth in Revolt
Plot- Like most teens, young Nick Twisp is ruled by his libido. And from the recesses of a trailer park in Northern California, Twisp concocts a plan — make that multiple schemes — to lose his virginity to a local girl, the precocious Sheeni Saunders. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Miguel Arteta (Star Maps, Chuck & Buck, The Good Girl)

Written by- Gustin Nash (Charlie Bartlett)

Starring- Michael Cera, Portia Doubleday, Ray Liotta, Jean Smart, Zach Galifianakis, Steve Buscemi, Fred Willard, Ari Graynor, Justin Long, M. Emmet Walsh, Mary Kay Place

Movieguy’s Verdict- This fantastic movie is one of 2010′s best films. Say what you will about Michael Cera playing the same character over and over again, but his performance in this film leaves little doubt that he is fully able to abandon the awkward teenager and play a wide range of parts. Cera effectively played two characters here, and even though one might expect his doppelgänger to be exaggerated and a bit silly, the character was as well developed as any other character in the movie. This was perhaps the biggest surprise when looking at the film as a finished product. Needless to say, Cera’s dry sense of humor and perfectly awkward comedic timing made him a pleasure to watch. Portia Doubleday gave a performance filled with good personality, but her character was so unrealistic in her interactions with Cera’s character that it slightly detracted from the story. Miguel Arteta’s artful and clever direction of “The Good Girl” combined with the biting social satire of Gustin Nash’s “Charlie Bartlett” screenplay was a very intriguing paring, and it worked out marvelously. Arteta directed the film with wonderful creativity and a perfect blend of youthful and mature themes. Nash’s screenplay was intelligent and funny, creating a variety of character traits and situations that were intricately developed and perfectly played by actors with natural comedic sensibilities. The story moved very well as it presented hilarious, clever, witty and interesting situations that always kept the audience involved. Perfectly directed and wonderfully acted, this movie has a lot going for it. It deserves a wider audience, and a lot more respect. Look for it at The Movieguy Awards next year!

2) The Book of Eli
Plot- In a post-apocalyptic United States, a lone man fights his way across the country in order to protect a sacred book that holds the secrets to saving humankind. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Albert Hughes, Allen Hughes (Menace II Society, Dead Presidents, American Pimp, From Hell)

Written by- Gary Whitta

Starring- Denzel Washington, Mila Kunis, Ray Stevenson, Gary Oldman, Jennifer Beals, Michael Gambon, Tom Waits

Movieguy’s Verdict- It’s no secret how much I love post-apocalyptic stories, and you can’t go wrong with Denzel Washington, right? This was a frustrating movie to review because in the end, so many of the things it did well were neutralized by several deliberate and ill-advised writing decisions. Albert and Allen Hughes did a wonderful job creating a dark and extraordinarily well constructed post-apocalyptic landscape, filling the environment with details that told a much larger picture of the struggles and history of the characters. Washington played his part perfectly, giving a dedicated and exacting portrayal of a complicated character who, for the first half of the movie, had tremendous potential to evolve into a classic lone wolf anti-hero. Mila Kunis also gave a very good supporting performance, adding a slightly differing yet welcoming complement to Washington’s character. Like so many movies, this film featured some exaggerated fight sequences that lessened its credibility at times, but the Hughes brothers provided excellent camerawork and a rich visual framework that mostly covered these scenes. Gary Whitta’s screenplay built a strong connection between the characters, and developed a detailed and meaningful connection between them as the film progressed. With every scene that passed, it was clear the audience was growing more and more attached to these characters and their journey. Unfortunately Whitta and the Hughes brothers decided to take the film’s rich symbolism and, over the course of the second half of the movie, to devolve it into an ultra preachy faith-based story that would seem more appropriate in a book of Christian short stories designed for high school religion classes. The film’s surprise ending was a great idea, but left one too many plot holes and inconsistencies that were only worsened by the preachiness of the screenplay. This was a missed opportunity on many levels, and though it had many great qualities, the problems created from poorly placed religious messages proved a little too much to overcome.

3) When in Rome
Plot- Beth is a young, ambitious New Yorker who is completely unlucky in love. However, when she impulsively steals some coins from a reputed fountain of love during a whirlwind trip to Rome, she finds herself aggressively pursued by a band of suitors. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Mark Steven Johnson (Director of: Simon Birch, Daredevil, Ghost Rider; Writer of: Grumpy Old Men, Grumpier Old Men, Big Bully, Simon Birch, Jack Frost, Daredevil, Ghost Rider)

Written by- David Diamond (Below Utopia, The Family Man, Evolution, Old Dogs), David Weissman (Below Utopia, The Family Man, Evolution, Old Dogs)

Starring- Kristen Bell, Josh Duhamel, Anjelica Huston, Will Arnett, Jon Heder, Dax Shepard, Keir O’Donnell, Kristen Schaal

Movieguy’s Verdict- Well, here I am again reviewing yet another forgettable, formulaic romantic comedy. This time it was directed by Mark Steven Johnson, whose last movie was “Ghost Rider,” an atrocious and pathetic attempt at cheesy comic book action. Johnson has proved to be a failure no matter what kind of film he directs, and with this movie sporting a moronic concept and terrible characters, it was not hard to predict how it would turn out. Writers David Diamond and David Weissman created a plot filled with stupidity, but the main problem was the dull and uninspired nature of the film’s clichéd and sophomoric sequences. Much like the recent “Letters to Juliet,” the scenery in this movie was beautiful, but with unintelligent writing, predictability at every turn and forgettable performances, there just wasn’t much to like about this movie. Credit must be given where credit is due, and though it had very little impact on the movie overall, there was one very funny sequence which helped to temporarily break up the dullness and frustrating amateurism of this meritless Hollywood fluff piece. Otherwise the film had no comedy or anything else to offer.
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6-10-10

1) Shutter Island
Plot- When a psychotic killer disappears from a mental institution on Shutter Island, a pair of U.S. Marshals race against the clock in order to track her down. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Martin Scorsese

Written by- Laeta Kalogridis (Alexander, Pathfinder)

Starring- Leonardo DiCaprio, Emily Mortimer, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Michelle Williams, Max von Sydow, Patricia Clarkson, Jackie Earle Haley, Elias Koteas, Ted Levine, John Carroll Lynch

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was one of the most highly anticipated films of the last few years, and one of the few that actually lived up to its potential. Martin Scorsese has never made a film like this before, but he clearly has an eye for the surreal. Scorsese’s direction was foreboding and ominous, creating a feeling of mounting suspense that carried throughout the film. Though he did a wonderful job filling the film with surreal and intense imagery, Scorsese also slowly built layers of elegance and detail that completely engrossed the audience in the film’s world. Along with the direction, Laeta Kalogridis’ screenplay had a great eye for details, especially those concerning the behavior and reactions of the characters to various settings and situations. The story was captivating, and Scorsese transferred the fear and paranoia of the characters onto the audience for the ultimate suspense experience. If you took a moment to peruse the names in this epic cast, you could easily assume acting would be a sure thing, and you’d be correct. Leonardo DiCaprio is a highly intelligent actor who can play any character in any environment, but his especially strong rapport with Martin Scorsese is hard to miss. DiCaprio’s performance was first rate, though this shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone at this point in his career. His character had many layers, and he definitely got under his skin. Ben Kingsley (that’s Sir Ben to those of us who saw that episode of “The Sopranos”) has played some awful characters throughout his career (most recently in “Prince of Persia,”) but his might be his best performance since “Sexy Beast.” Mark Ruffalo is a great actor who is a bit underrated, but he was excellent alongside DiCaprio, providing the perfect amount of nuance required to give his character the proper impact. Some films are easily predictable, and others blindside you like a cold slap to the face. This film was the latter. Though a few minor plot twists were telegraphed, a fantastic climax and ending more than made up for that. This was an outstanding film that played with your head and achieved a perfect blend of old fashioned suspense and modern horror- it’s a can’t miss!

2) From Paris with Love
Plot- In Paris, a young employee in the office of the US Ambassador hooks up with an American spy looking to stop a terrorist attack in the city. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Pierre Morel (Taken)

Written by- Adi Hasak (Shadow Conspiracy)

Starring- John Travolta, Jonathan Rhys Meyers

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film could have turned out any number of ways, but with Pierre Morel still running on adrenaline fumes from his ass kicking smash hit “Taken,” I had good expectations. It didn’t take long however to realize how poorly made this film really was. Jonathan Rhys Meyers has tremendous talent, having put together a strong resume filled with great performances in top notch films like “Match Point,” and misfires like “I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead.” With John Travolta doing his Mr. Clean impression, possibly in preparation for a series Halloween parties to amuse the 8-year-old fans of “Wild Hogs, Meyers was on his own, and did the best he could. Travolta’s highly exaggerated character was both corny and brutishly dumb, though the two did have a few humorous exchanges in the film’s clever moments. Had the film been written or directed with any thought or care, this might have turned out differently. Adi Hasak’s screenplay was flawed in almost every way. Perhaps intended to be a witty/high octane buddy action film, the characters and situations were painfully obvious, and all of the film’s “plot twists” were clearly predictable. The story itself was very weak and one dimensional, but the aforementioned predictability paled in comparison to the massive number of obvious plot holes. Pierre Morel’s direction appeared to desire that delicate balance between action and clever comedy. He hit the mark in a few places with creatively placed humor and several scenes of legitimate excitement, but the majority of scenes were filled with ridiculous and exaggerated fight sequences and many forced attempts at stylized action. Overall this film felt like a rough cut. Morel’s direction had no flow and the content was out of balance, though the screenplay was so flawed I’m not sure the most polished editing could have saved it. This was a weak and superficial attempt that probably should have gone straight to DVD.
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6-3-10

1) The Wolfman
Plot- Nobleman Lawrence Talbot returns to his ancestral homeland, where his brother has gone missing and villagers are being killed by a nightmarish beast. The search reunites him with his estranged father and draws him near to his brother’s fiancée. However, Talbot’s lager concern is the discovery of a side to himself which he never could have imagined existed … (imdb.com)

Directed by- Joe Johnston (Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, The Rocketeer, The Pagemaster, Jumanji, October Sky, Jurassic Park III, Hidalgo)

Written by- Andrew Kevin Walker (Brainscan, Hideaway, Se7en, 8MM, Sleepy Hollow), David Self (The Haunting, Thirteen Days, Road to Perdition)

Starring- Benicio Del Toro, Anthony Hopkins, Emily Blunt, Hugo Weaving, Geraldine Chaplin

Movieguy’s Verdict- There was no way to know how this film would end up. The cast was full of respectable talent, but stories about werewolves are notoriously difficult to make. Nevertheless, director Joe Johnston accepted this challenge and produced a rather impressive result. Johnston has been involved in a wide range of films across many genres, but his classic style horror presentation was top notch. He created a fantastic period feel while carrying a dark and creepy atmosphere. His camerawork was very good, playing into the film’s dark persona, but also adding extra personality to Andrew Kevin Walker and David Self’s smart and detailed conversations. The dialogue contained intelligence and wit, though it played a bit too heavily on the clichéd and ridiculous romance component, and unfortunate, yet “classic” remnant of the original 1941 film. Benicio Del Toro turned in a serious and dedicated performance, displaying intensity, class and respectability, even in the film’s cornier moments. Hugo Weaving was a great supporting actor here, playing an old fashioned style of supporting character to perfection; fans of vintage acting will be quite pleased. Anthony Hopkins gave a chilling but ultimately very predictable performance, while Emily Blunt had the misfortune of playing a clichéd and absurd romantic interest in a horror movie — never a pretty sight. Though this movie had plenty of upside, it did have its share of corny moments. Creature attack sequences were exaggerated and elongation at times, and while the film had some good music, Danny Elfman put together yet another forced and overly loud score. There was too much music and typical Elfman had no sense of scale. A very corny climax hurt things, but overall this was one of 2010’s biggest surprises. It’s a good movie in its own right, and you should give it a look.

2) Alice in Wonderland
Plot- An adaptation of the classic children’s story.

Directed by- Tim Burton (Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Corpse Bride, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Big Fish, Planet of the Apes, Sleepy Hollow, Mars Attacks!, Ed Wood, Batman Returns, Edward Scissorhands, Batman, Beetle Juice, Pee-wee’s Big Adventure)

Written by- Linda Woolverton (Beauty and the Beast, Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey, The Lion King, Mulan)

Starring- Mia Wasikowska, Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Crispin Glover, Anne Hathaway, Stephen Fry, Christopher Lee, Michael Sheen, Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall

Movieguy’s Verdict- There have been a variety of films over the years that have tried to adapt this bizarre acid trip of the story, and none have been fully able to capture the symbolism, characters and themes properly. Unfortunately, this trend continues with Tim Burton’s feeble attempt. As a director, Burton is concerned only with visual effects. He doesn’t have the ability to tell a story or direct actors, and those deficiencies showed themselves yet again. Early on though, I was surprised by the film’s quick, clever and bizarre personality, as it combined wit and creativity very well. However, there was an underbelly of corniness to it that continued to grow until it consumed everything. Burton has used Danny Elfman to score nearly every one of his movies, and while Elfman has some very strong musical ideas, he fills his movies with way too much music, most of which is very loud, overly expressive and highly cheesy. The score for this film was quite poor in that regard. For all of his enthusiasm for visual effects, Burton barely used the film’s 3D technology, becoming another in the growing list of filmmakers who couldn’t make any impact with it. I must say however that the CGI was very high-quality and the movie did contain a few scenes of great imagery and visual ideas. Sadly, since Burton has no eye for storytelling or scale, he wound up turning this complex narrative into a highly corny kids movie, filled with exaggerated visuals, sloppy characters and very little intelligence. Since Burton can’t work with actors, most of the performances were very poor. Johnny Depp was atrocious as the Mad Hatter, gathering a couple of decent scenes in a sea of exaggeration and clueless floundering about. Anne Hathaway was badly miscast and looked totally lost, while Helena Bonham Carter fully embraced all of her exaggerated character’s corniness. Mia Wasikowska, quite surprisingly, was the perfect Alice. Though the film was a failure, she grounded the character and gave her a brain. Her impressive performance in such an environment was the best part of the film. In the end, this turned out to be just another formulaic Hollywood kid’s movie filled with exaggeration, clichés and lots and lots of money. Another swing and a miss for Tim Burton.
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5-27-10

1) The Road
Plot- A father and son walk for months across a ravaged, post-apocalyptic landscape in search of civilization. (imdb.com)

Directed by- John Hillcoat (Ghosts… of the Civil Dead, To Have and to Hold, The Proposition)

Written by- Joe Penhall

Starring- Viggo Mortensen, Charlize Theron, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Robert Duvall, Guy Pearce, Garret Dillahunt, Molly Parker, Garret Dillahunt

Movieguy’s Verdict- Post apocalyptic movies are one of my favorite subgenres. Though this is a personal opinion, these films carry an unmistakable mood and countless critical qualities and opportunities. Unfortunately, this film did not live up to its enormous potential. John Hillcoat’s direction was phenomenal. His vision and attention to detail created a multilayered visual landscape that paralleled the story’s emotional journey. Hillcoat’s imagery and thick symbolism definitely resonated in a variety of ways. Viggo Mortensen was a very strong lead, bringing forth brute force combined with a passion and respect for life in an atmosphere of death and decay. Kodi Smit-McPhee felt a little forced at times, though he was passable alongside Mortensen. There were a few big supporting names in the cast but they had very minimal screen time, and contributed little to the overall result of the film. Though all of these qualities have been good thus far, the film’s only flaw proved too great to overcome. There just wasn’t enough of a story to fill a two hour movie. The basic storyline was similar to “Heart of Darkness,” with everything in the environment serving as a symbol of the human condition and a journey of survival. This is a brilliant concept, but Joe Penhall’s screenplay felt highly redundant and contained enough content to fill only half of the film, maybe less. He also overwrote the numerous “father and son” moments that felt much too slow and cheesy for the film’s environment. Symbolically, this content was supposed to have meaning, but it was contrived and poorly written. Overall the film felt quite slow, and ran nearly an hour too long even though it was two hours total. The plot, the cast or “From the author of ‘No Country of Old Men’ ” might attract viewers, but this was a disappointment and needed a complete screenplay overhaul.

2) Dear John
Plot- A romantic drama about a soldier who falls for a co-ed while he’s home on leave. Their relationship is tested in the wake of the September 11th terrorist attacks, an event that causes him to re-enlist for service. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Lasse Hallström (Hachiko: A Dog’s Story, The Hoax, Casanova, An Unfinished Life, The Shipping News, Chocolat, The Cider House Rules, Something to Talk About, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, Once Around)

Written by- Jamie Linden (We Are Marshall)

Starring- Channing Tatum, Amanda Seyfried, Richard Jenkins, Henry Thomas

Movieguy’s Verdict- Though it might be labeled a “chick flick” (a term I intensely dislike), Nicholas Sparks hit a home run with “The Notebook.” Ever since, his movies and books have been exactly the same in the worst way possible, and this film was just the latest reminder of how worn out his welcome truly is. The characters were realistic in an overall sense, though it didn’t take long for them to develop standard “tearjerker” movie qualities that were only present to set up the sappiest bits of the story. I found the pace to be good very early on, but things slowed to an absolute crawl after the first half-hour, leaving the audience with a painfully dull and uninteresting 80 minutes to go. Lasse Hallström found a way to create a feeling of tenderness and intimacy between the characters, but there were simply too many sappy and forced Nicholas Sparks moments to overcome. As the film became more and more agonizingly slow, it was clear that nothing much had actually happened since the first 30 minutes. For all of their faults, acting usually isn’t a problem in Sparks movies – it is the predictable, clichéd and overly sappy storylines that does them in. In this film, Amanda Seyfried played an often irrationally created character very well, and displayed strong presence in an atmosphere of complete dullness. Channing Tatum carried his part well too and was mostly believable, but Richard Jenkins gave a highly memorable and nuanced supporting performance that carried the film’s only true emotional subtext to its maximum potential. Ultimately, this sappy and predictable Nicholas Sparks product accomplished nothing, and was completely unnecessary.
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5-20-10

1) Valentine’s Day
Plot- Intertwining couples and singles in Los Angeles break-up and make-up based on the pressures and expectations of Valentine’s Day. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Garry Marshall (The Flamingo Kid, Nothing in Common, Overboard, Beaches, The Lottery, Pretty Woman, Frankie and Johnny, Exit to Eden, The Other Sister, Runaway Bride, The Princess Diaries, Raising Helen, The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, Georgia Rule)

Written by- Katherine Fugate (Carolina, The Prince & Me)

Starring- Julia Roberts, Jamie Foxx, Anne Hathaway, Taylor Lautner, Bradley Cooper, Jessica Biel, Jessica Alba, Taylor Swift, Julia Roberts, Emma Roberts, Jennifer Garner, Patrick Dempsey, Topher Grace, Joe Jonas, Eric Dane, Queen Latifah, Shirley MacLaine, Carter Jenkins, George Lopez

Movieguy’s Verdict- The movie is called “Valentine’s Day” and was released on Valentine’s Day weekend, so it’s appropriate that it contains a sampling of every V-Day-related scenario ever filmed. It’s impossible to look at this film and not be astounded by the sheer quantity of recognizable names in its behemoth cast. Obviously this was an ensemble piece, and the fact that the film was not centered around only one or two predictable storylines helped keep the pace somewhat lively. For the most part all of these performances were good. Though no one really had enough screen time to steal the show, Anne Hathaway’s hilariously amusing portrayal of a forlorn phone sex operator was indeed the most memorable portion of the movie. The rest of the cast members basically fell in line, providing the exact output you would expect from a large Hollywood ensemble, though Jamie Foxx looked wildly out of place. When assessing Katherine Fugate’s screenplay, it was interesting to note that the characters and their attitudes began as overly goofy caricatures from various romantic comedy stories, but matured in a surprising manner over time. I was disappointed by the fact that the film offered very little in the way of comedy, though given Garry Marshall’s movie history, we know better than to expect a good laugh from him. The film definitely presented a number of clichés and typical situations, but along with its Hollywood feel, it did have the ability to bring a smile to your face, which is exactly what you want with predictable, guilty pleasure entertainment. Ultimately, this film provided a huge cast and something for everyone to enjoy. It may not be the best movie in the world, but it served its purpose rather well.

2) Invictus
Plot- A look at life of Nelson Mandela after the fall of apartheid in South Africa during his first term as president when campaigned to host the 1995 Rugby World Cup event as an opportunity to unite his countrymen. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Clint “The Overrated One” Eastwood (Gran Turino, Changeling, Flags of Our Fathers, Million Dollar Baby, Mystic River, Blood Work, Space Cowboys, True Crime, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, Unforgiven, The Rookie, Bird, Firefox, The Outlaw Josey Wales)

Written by- Anthony Peckham (The Assassin, Don’t Say a Word)

Starring- Morgan Freeman, Matt Damon, Tony Kgoroge

Movieguy’s Verdict- With the exception of “Mystic River,” Clint Eastwood’s movies are extraordinarily overrated. I would comment on his directorial style if he had one, but watching a Clint Eastwood movie is like watching those big box office flops Kevin Costner tried to direct in the 90s- you could tell there was an idea in there somewhere, but the guy in charge had no idea how to get it out. When I learned that Clint Eastwood would direct a sports movie, I can’t say that I was surprised. After all, sports movies require no thought at all, and Eastwood has nothing to say. As I watched this movie, Eastwood’s deficiencies as a filmmaker were readily apparent, but amidst his terrible camerawork and a poor pace he figured out a way to have the movie work in the end. The first thing you’ll notice when you watch this movie is its frustratingly lackadaisical pace. Until the last 30 minutes or so, there was no indication that the film was going anywhere, or even had a defensible storyline. Anthony Peckham’s screenplay was written around one overlong rugby sequence, a handful of scenes containing inspiring Nelson Mandela quotations, and some very interesting historical footnotes. Aside from these things, there wasn’t much to occupy its 134 running time, which made watching it was quite tedious. Though this was a sports movie, the standard sports movie clichés were, for the most part, not present. In fact, Eastwood did a fine job of building the audience’s anticipation for the film’s climactic rugby sequence. Of course, we are talking about Clint Eastwood, so his lack of decision-making ability accounted for why the film contained so many unnecessary scenes. Movie fans everywhere have been waiting quite a while for Morgan Freeman to play Nelson Mandela. I was shocked that when this finally happened, Freeman’s accent would come and go like a wayward dog. Freeman did indeed provide a commanding presence that encompassed Mandela’s determination, wisdom and courage, but a shoddy accent should have prevented Freeman’s unjustified Oscar nomination. Speaking of undeserved Oscar nominations, Matt Damon’s performance deserves to be referenced here. I was most impressed with Damon’s fantastic South African accent, which carries a very specific style of diction that is quite hard to do. His performance was believable, but ended up being average given the one-dimensional nature of his character, who failed to mature given Peckham’s writing deficiencies, and Eastwood’s inability to develop characters. I said earlier that the film, despite having more negative qualities than positive ones, wound up working in the end. This is primarily because the film’s main ideas resonated quite powerfully at its conclusion, despite meandering hopelessly for over two hours. I cannot recommend this movie given its vast number of flaws, but there is a reward at the end for a very monotonous movie experience.

3) Extraordinary Measures
Plot- A drama centered on the efforts of John and Aileen Crowley to find a researcher to develop a potential cure for their two children’s rare genetic disorder. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Tom Vaughan (Starter for 10, What Happens in Vegas)

Written by- Robert Nelson Jacobs (The Water Horse, Flushed Away, The Shipping News, Chocolat, Dinosaur, Out to Sea)

Starring- Brendan Fraser, The Harrison Ford, Keri Russell, Dee Wallace, Jared Harris, Courtney B. Vance, Patrick Bauchau

Movieguy’s Verdict- If you are looking for a sappy, forgettable and manipulative Hallmark Channel movie, look no further. Tom Vaughan achieved a small level of success with his indie film “Starter for 10,” but squandered any goodwill he had with critics when he made the disastrous “What Happens in Vegas.” His direction in this movie wasn’t as corny as you might expect given the cheesy nature of the story, but the film as a whole was extraordinarily slow and quite tedious to sit through. Vaughan did nothing to help move things along, though there was nothing he could have done given the screenplay he had to work with. Robert Nelson Jacobs’ screenplay contained all the pieces of your standard Hallmark/Lifetime movie. Whether you want to mention the wooden performances, the predictable characters, the tiresome pace or the fact that every scene was dumbed down for a PG audience, there wasn’t much to like about this movie. Brendan Fraser continues to make bad career choices, and while this film was indeed a bad decision, his performance was acceptable given the movie’s flaws. The Harrison Ford, on the other hand, gave a disastrous performance. Perhaps doing this movie was the same for him as attending 50 charity banquets, and since he does not like crowds he figured this was the best option. Regardless, his scenes were wildly exaggerated, and his cliché of the character was forced both on the page and on screen. Even in the world of Hallmark sappiness, this was an all around bad movie.
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5-13-10

1) Daybreakers
Plot- In the year 2017, a plague has transformed most every human into vampires. Faced with a dwindling blood supply, the fractured dominant race plots their survival; meanwhile, a researcher works with a covert band of vamps on a way to save humankind. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Michael Spierig, Peter Spierig (Undead)

Starring- Ethan Hawke, Willem Dafoe, Sam Neill, Isabel Lucas

Movieguy’s Verdict- I’ve developed a new Movieguy award for the film that starts off very well but ruins itself in the second half; I call it the “Most Colossal Disintegration Award.” This film is a surefire nominee. Directors Michael and Peter Spierig set the scene with a gloomy, Gothic elegance in their presentation that definitely made the audience feel as though they were in another world. This environment was carefully crafted, and contained plenty of detail which the screenplay brought to the surface. Speaking of the screenplay, the Spierigs did a great job creating layers of emotions and psychological confusion in the characters. Ethan Hawke’s great performance was built around his character’s sense of guilt and desperation, and the writing brought this out perfectly. The score was moody and appropriately elegant, and the supporting performances from Sam Neill and Willem Dafoe were excellent. There was much beauty and symbolism in the direction, and the story was quite engrossing. Sadly, all of these achievements were neutralized by the extreme corniness and sheer stupidity of the climax and ending. After so much careful development and layered writing, someone got the bright idea to include a final fight sequence that was laughably gory and completely pointless. The developments that took place in the last 20 minutes of the film were moronic. The mood of the film was irreparably damaged, but a highly predictable ending removed intelligence from the direction in nuance from the acting. In the end, this was a disappointing film but it had no right to be.

2) Edge of Darkness
Plot- As homicide detective Thomas Craven investigates the death of his activist daughter, he uncovers not only her secret life, but a corporate cover-up and government collusion that attracts an agent tasked with cleaning up the evidence. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Martin Campbell (Casino Royale, The Legend of Zorro, Beyond Borders, Vertical Limit, The Mask of Zorro, GoldenEye, No Escape)

Written by- William Monahan (Kingdom of Heaven, The Departed, Body of Lies), Andrew Bovell (Blessed, The Book of Revelation, Lantana, Head On)

Starring- Mel Gibson, Ray Winstone, Danny Huston, Caterina Scorsone, Shawn Roberts

Movieguy’s Verdict- Mel Gibson has come back from the dead with a performance that reminds people how talented an actor he can be- provided he stays out of his own way. Gibson was dedicated and exacting, and built his character with determination and precision. His performance carried believable intensity and a level of real emotion that helped the audience become immersed in the movie. Before “Casino Royale,” Martin Campbell was a Hollywood filmmaker who had very little to offer. His movies were unrelentingly corny and completely uninspired, loaded with Hollywood clichés, clunky camerawork and one cheap gimmick after the next. After watching “Casino Royale” and now this film, it is clear that Campbell has turned a corner and has decided to make real movies. His direction was dark, quiet and somber, building a clue-by-clue mystery that was quite well developed from beginning to end. The writing was equally good, and I was impressed with how William Monahan and Andrew Bovell allowed Gibson’s character to piece together clues, taking him on a journey of suspense, discovery and personal anguish. Another shining star in this film was Ray Winstone, whose intense supporting performance took a brilliantly created, multi-dimensional character and turned him into a force to be reckoned with. His character also created a completely new layer to the film which added more intelligence, symbolism and power to the story. If this film has a flaw, it is the fact that its biggest plot twists were predominantly predictable. For a suspense movie, there should not be a great deal of predictability, but this film carried slightly more than it should have. Nevertheless, this was a fantastic exercise in dark, dedicated suspense both from an acting and directing standpoint. I’m pretty sure you don’t want to miss this.

3) Legion
Plot- At a remote truck stop diner, in the wake of a biblical apocalypse, a group of strangers unwittingly become humanity’s last line of defense when they discover the diner’s young waitress is pregnant with the messiah. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Scott Stewart

Written by- Peter Schink, Scott Stewart

Starring- Paul Bettany, Dennis Quaid, Charles S. Dutton, Kevin Durand, Doug Jones, Adrianne Palicki, Lucas Black, Tyrese Gibson, Kate Walsh

Movieguy’s Verdict- The trailers looked awful, and the full version was just as bad. It took a matter of minutes to decipher the inane religious symbolism writers Peter Schink and Scott Stewart inserted into their ridiculous screenplay. All characters and situations lined up perfectly with the standard religious allegory tales children are red at Sunday school, but Schink and Stewart, who also directed, rolled out plenty of standard action clichés too. In truth, Stewart actually found a way to include a few sequences of decent imagery early on. If the storytelling and pathetic collection of characters hadn’t been so sophomoric, Stewart’s direction might have felt suspenseful in the early stages. As if the movie didn’t already have enough going against it, performances were awful. Dennis Quaid severely overplayed his poorly written character, and forced every one of his shabbily written lines. Similarly, Paul Bettany relentlessly overplayed his “strong and silent” cliché of a character. This movie was loaded with plot holes and story problems, and each ridiculous battle scene was worse than the last. Stay away from this trashy movie!
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5-6-10

1) Leap Year
Plot- Anna has spent four years with her boyfriend, Jeremy, without a wedding proposal. During his business trip to Dublin, Anna opts to act on Leap Day, an Irish tradition that encourages women to propose to men on the date February 29th. A re-routed plane trip, however, lands her at the door of a Welsh innkeeper, who might offer a diversion of his own. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Anand Tucker (And When Did You Last See Your Father?, Shopgirl, Hilary and Jackie, Saint-Ex)

Written by- Deborah Kaplan (A Very Brady Sequel, Can’t Hardly Wait, The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas, Josie and the Pussycats, Surviving Christmas, Made of Honor), Harry Elfont (A Very Brady Sequel, Can’t Hardly Wait, The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas, Josie and the Pussycats, Surviving Christmas, Made of Honor)

Starring- Amy Adams, Matthew Goode, Adam Scott, John Lithgow

Movieguy’s Verdict- If you’re looking for a completely forgettable, by-the-numbers romantic comedy that put absolutely no effort into any aspect of its production, you’ve found your holy grail. Everything about this film was typical. From the clichéd characters, to the tired “romantic” plot, the predictable and all too silly ending, there wasn’t a single ounce of thought put into making this a watchable, or even remotely enjoyable movie. A good layer of comedy is sometimes enough to cover a substandard story, but Anand Tucker, Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont didn’t make even the most feeble attempt at a comedic edge to this alleged “romantic comedy.” Dull, uninspired and completely clichéd, Amy Adams wastes her talent in yet another substandard project. Though she was as forgettable as the rest of the film, Matthew Goode actually put a little energy into his performance, and as a result, became the only watchable piece of this movie. Goode had a nice screen presence and was able to place a fair amount of personality into an empty and superficial story. Though the film was beyond saving, he was able to look respectable amidst the total failure of everyone else involved, which is impressive in its own right. You’ve seen this film a thousand times, so there’s no reason to waste time on this version.
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4-29-10

1) It’s Complicated
Plot- During his son’s college graduation, Jane hooks up with her ex-husband, Jake, who’s married to a younger woman. Then, Jane also finds herself drawn to Adam, a smitten architect. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Nancy Meyers (The Parent Trap, What Women Want, Something’s Gotta Give, The Holiday)

Starring- Meryl Streep, Steve Martin, Alec Baldwin, John Krasinski, Lake Bell, Mary Kay Place, Rita Wilson

Movieguy’s Verdict- I read a review of this film in which the critic called it “lifestyle porn.” I got a laugh out of it, but I think there’s more to this film than escapism. Nancy Meyers seemed to pay more attention to detail with her writing and direction than she has in any of her other corny and forgettable films. Facial expressions and mannerisms were very important to the characters and story, and Meyers developed them well. I was impressed by the naturalism and realism Meyers instilled in her characters and their circumstances. Even though we were watching a Hollywood movie filled with big name performers, it did not feel at all like fiction. Speaking of performers, the acting in this film was excellent. After her horrible SNL-esque mockery of Julia Child in the terrible “Julie & Julia,” Meryl Streep slid into her character with natural ease, recapturing the grace, consistency and strongly instinctual acting that made her the best actress on earth. Alec Baldwin gave his best film performance in a very, very long time, delivering spot on comedic timing attached to an intelligent and believable personality that worked perfectly with Streep’s character. Supporting performances were largely forgettable, with Steve Martin at the helm of this trend. Martin was entirely bland and appeared to put no effort into his lazy performance. John Krasinski, on the other hand, helped breathe life into the supporting actors with an outstanding supporting showing that blended perfectly with Streep and Baldwin. Despite the fact that Meyers wrote a very true-to-life screenplay, this authenticity didn’t keep the film from feeling slow, especially in the last hour. In fact, the film got noticeable slower as it went along, and Meyers didn’t seem too concerned about keeping the smart pace she established early. The film also abandoned its comedic efforts at the halfway mark, so if you’re looking for a solid comedy, you won’t find it past the first hour. The acting was strong, the characters were well-written and the direction was much smarter than we typically get from Nancy Meyers, but the film needed a better pace. All in all, this was an enjoyable movie even if it was a bit slow.

2) The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus
Plot- A story-telling doctor’s deal with the devil sends him scrambling to save his daughter on the eve of her 16th birthday. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Terry Gilliam Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Time Bandits, The Meaning of Life, Brazil, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, The Fisher King, Twelve Monkeys, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, The Brothers Grimm, Tideland)

Written by- Terry Gilliam, Charles McKeown (Brazil, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, Plunkett & Macleane, Ripley’s Game)

Starring- Christopher Plummer, Lily Cole, Heath Ledger, Andrew Garfield, Lily Cole, Verne Troyer, Tom Waits

Movieguy’s Verdict- Someone really needs to put a leash on Terry Gilliam, because if given too much leeway or creative control, his movies are an incoherent mess, and that’s precisely what this so-called “movie” was. Gilliam has seen success with “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” “Brazil,” “Twelve Monkeys,” “The Fisher King” and “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas,” but the rest of his films have been brutally bad. From the first scene the audience was subjected to Gilliam’s wildly fantastical imagery, which was mostly incoherent, forced, corny or all of those simultaneously. Gilliam and co-writer Charles McKeown didn’t even try to tell a story, rather they assembled whatever collection of random silliness they could conjure up before the LSD wore off and decided to call it a movie. Technically you can’t even call this non-content corny or childish because that would mean it was intended to have a purpose. Watching people randomly flail about for no reason was quite painful, but looking at the talented cast Gilliam was able to somehow blackmail into working on this formless, incoherent, nonsensical acid trip was depressing. The fact that this was the last “movie” Heath Ledger worked on before he died makes it even more of an embarrassment. We’ve seen some awful movies over the years as Tyler Perry, Uwe Boll, Brett Rattner and a few others have redefined what truly horrible movies look like. In 2006 I saw “Date Movie,” which I proclaimed to be the worst film I’d ever seen. I look back on that piece of garbage and still wince a little, but after enduring this torturous disaster, it is time for “Date Movie” to step aside. This unbearable, worthless, incoherent, painful mess is far and away the worst “movie” I’ve ever seen. At this point, I firmly believe it is impossible to make a movie any worse than this.
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4-22-10

1) The Lovely Bones
Plot- Young Susie watches over her family from “the in-between” as they deal with the aftermath of her brutal rape and murder. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Peter Jackson (Bad Taste, Meet the Feebles, Braindead, Jack Brown Genius, The Frighteners, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, King Kong)

Written by- Fran Walsh (Meet the Feebles, Braindead, Jack Brown Genius, The Frighteners, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, King Kong), Philippa Boyens (The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, King Kong), Peter Jackson (Bad Taste, Meet the Feebles, Braindead, Jack Brown Genius, The Frighteners, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, King Kong)

Starring- Rachel Weisz, Mark Wahlberg, Saoirse Ronan, Susan Sarandon, Stanley Tucci, Thomas McCarthy, Jake Abel, Michael Imperioli, Reece Ritchie

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film has taken a considerable amount of flak from unhappy fans of its popular source material. I understand what it feels like to have a film not remain entirely faithful to the book from which it was adapted, but this was a very strong movie in its own right. Peter Jackson’s long awaited follow up to “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy contained an incredible amount of rich visuals, beautiful camerawork and fantastically creative imagery. Jackson provided the film with a rich dreamscape of surreal and fantastical imagery that conveyed a plethora of the characters’ emotional and psychological states. Performances were very strong overall, with Saoirse Ronan delivering a thorough and believable showing. She demonstrated dedication to her character, and added layers of nuance that only seasoned actors can provide. The real star of the film was Stanley Tucci, whose chilling supporting showing received a much deserved Oscar nomination. Tucci was a menacing presence whose rage, exacting mannerisms and pent-up psychotic personality gave the film an added dimension of fear. Mark Wahlberg started the film with a goofy and somewhat dull character, but over time he evolved his character with the story, and turned in a very compelling performance. The film’s actual story was rather slow overall, but Jackson’s direction and the strong cast kept the audience involved. The film’s main shortcoming was Jackson’s tendency to include unnecessary and somewhat lengthy fantasy sequences that kept the film at a somewhat uneven pace. Even so, the film was oddly engrossing, but it could have been tighter. There was a thick layer of sentimentality in the writing which resulted in a heavy emotional involvement with the characters, and the story overall. For all of its intensity and emotional development, Jackson’s handling of the ending came off as slightly silly, but other than that, this was a well made film that did a number of things well.

2) Crazy Heart
Plot- A hard-living country music singer makes a reach for salvation with the help of a journalist set in her attempt to find the real man behind the musician. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Scott Cooper (For Sale by Owner)

Starring- Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Colin Farrell, Robert Duvall

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was an interesting film to review, because even though Jeff Bridges’ Oscar-winning performance was phenomenal, the movie itself didn’t have much going for it. Bridges and co-star Colin Farrell deserve practically all of the praise this film can soak up. Bridges carried a disposition and personality that were perfect for the part, allowing the audience to gaze into his character’s turbulent past just as he did. His performance brought with it a sense of naturalism and unfettered honesty that was seductive from a character study point of view, but problems with Scott Cooper’s screenplay made it difficult to become emotionally involved in the story. More on the story issues in a moment, but Colin Farrell’s supporting performance deserves a great deal of credit. Overshadowed by the fact that Bridges’ was destined to win a Best Lead Actor Oscar from the moment the movie was finished, Farrell’s character was the only secondary storyline worth watching. Plus, his chemistry with Bridges’ character was multi-layered and quite fascinating to watch. Not to mention the fact that Ferrell, who is VERY Irish, played a country musician without batting an eye. As I mentioned earlier, Scott Cooper may have directed an Oscar-winning performance, but as far as content is concerned, his screenplay was quite dull and clichéd. If you’ve seen any riches-to-rags-to-redemption stories before you’ve seen everything Cooper had to offer. His handling of the romance between Maggie Gyllenhaal and Bridges was written without a shred of emotion or believability, and the two had zero on-screen chemistry as a result. Gyllenhaal is a supremely talented actress, and she did the best she could with such an irrationally created character, but there was no way she deserved an Oscar nomination. For all of the passion Bridges put into his performance, Cooper didn’t put any effort into generating emotional response from his direction (except for the very end), and his ultra-slow moving story prevented the movie’s psychological elements from coming to life. This is a film school movie. Bridges’ performance should be studied by acting students, but the movie itself was more or less forgettable.

3) Avatar
Plot- A paraplegic former marine accepts a unique mission that sends him to the planet Pandora, where, through a connection to a remotely controlled biological body, he learns the way of the indigenous people. His link to this world puts him in direct opposition with his orders to eliminate them extract the precious ore desired by military and corporate interests. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- James Cameron (Aliens of the Deep, Titanic, True Lies, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, The Abyss, Aliens, Piranha Part Two: The Spawning)

Starring- Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez, Giovanni Ribisi, Joel Moore, CCH Pounder

Movieguy’s Verdict- Is this the most overrated movie of all time? No, but it’s definitely in the top 10. I’ll begin by giving credit where credit is due — James Cameron created an unparalleled visual spectacle which fully embraced a 3D technology that has been used primarily for kid’s movies. The detail Cameron applied to every aspect of the film’s visual landscape was extraordinarily impressive. Cameron built a futuristic world filled with intelligently created technology that was based on quite a bit more science than people might realize. Carefully developed and gorgeous to look at, Cameron created a visual masterpiece — too bad he didn’t expend one millionth of that effort to tell a story that had a mere nanosecond of originality or creativity. There was an episode of “South Park” which said the film ripped off “Dances with Wolves,” and it did. Hundreds of films in every genre have used this movie’s tired and cliché-ridden narrative structure, and all Cameron did was copy bits and pieces of those films, while covering it all with brilliant 3D. The interaction between characters came off as childish, while the musical score was as highly exaggerated and cheesy as the film’s silly military content. Battle sequences were well filmed, but quite corny from a story standpoint. Sam Worthington, who is developing into quite the action star, gave a believable and convincing performance, despite being given a tired and transparent character. For all of its fanfare and expensive visuals, nothing could disguise the fact that this movie was 100% predictable in every second of its 160 minute running time. I did enjoy the film overall, but people continue to ignore its numerous flaws. Double-digit Oscar nominations? Completely undeserved. I’d be more forgiving if people weren’t showering this film with epic amounts of praise that it doesn’t deserve — it’s a guilty gorgeous looking pleasure, nothing more.
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4-15-10

1) Pirate Radio
Plot- A 1960’s comedy about an illegal radio station run by a band of rogue DJs on a ship in the middle of Britain’s North Sea. By defying the tastes and laws of the ruling government, the disc jockeys hooked their listeners on pop music and its attendant ideas of love and free will. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Richard Curtis (Director of: Love Actually; Writer of: The Tall Guy, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Bean, Notting Hill, Bridget Jones’s Diary, Love Actually, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, The Girl in the Café)

Starring- Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy, Nick Frost, Rhys Darby, Kenneth Branagh, Jack Davenport, January Jones, Emma Thompson

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film had a huge amount of potential, but squandered it on inept writing. Early on, we were introduced to a huge cast of odd and quirky characters who were played by talented and intelligent actors. Given that fact alone this film should have been a slam dunk. Unfortunately, soon after our introduction to these characters, Richard Curtis’ screenplay began to unravel. He created a group of hugely exaggerated and clichéd “bad guy” characters led by Kenneth Branagh, whose performance was technically sound but tough to watch given the obviousness of his cheesy character. Though this wonderfully chosen ensemble cast was filled with personality, there was absolutely no story or plot to speak of. The characters were engaging in acts of complete and total randomness, and nothing related in any way to a central narrative or even a basic idea. This sense of pointlessness only increased as the film advanced, and with no sense of progression or purpose, it was impossible to even form a superficial connection to it. Though the situations provided isolated pockets of enjoyment and humor, they amounted to nothing in the end, other than a terribly exaggerated climax. You might get sucked in due to an interesting premise, great cast and Richard Curtis, but believe me, this film was a dud.
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4-8-10

There were actually no DVDs released this week- can you believe it?!? I think that might be the first time that has happened since I’ve been reviewing movies. Scroll down to check out old reviews, and check back next week.
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4-1-10

1) Sherlock Holmes
Plot- Detective Sherlock Holmes and his stalwart partner Watson engage in a battle of wits and brawn with a nemesis whose plot is a threat to all of England. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Guy Ritchie (Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch, Swept Away, Revolver, RocknRolla)

Written by- Michael Robert Johnson, Anthony Peckham (The Assassin, Don’t Say a Word, Invictus), Simon Kinberg (xXx: State of the Union, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, X-Men: The Last Stand, Jumper)

Starring- Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Rachel McAdams, Mark Strong, Eddie Marsan

Movieguy’s Verdict- Guy Ritchie started off strong with two British crime films that carried as much wit as grit, and his ability to cast big name actors while simultaneously developing unknowns proved a desirable combination indeed. Then he made the horrid mistake of making a movie with then wife Madonna, and his image took a hit. It took five years after “Snatch” for Ritchie to make a real movie, and though it paired him with his pal Jason Statham, “Revolver” was a massive disappointment. Ritchie then made another crime film called “RocknRolla,” which was just plain awful. If you’re keeping score at home, that’s basically an entire decade wasted for the once promising filmmaker. With all that being said, no one could have known how unquestionably brilliant this film would turn out to be. Ritchie’s direction was dark and kept a breakneck pace for the duration of the film. This pace was matched in unparalleled fashion by the ultra-quick writing of Michael Robert Johnson, Anthony Peckham and Simon Kinberg. The three have plenty of Hollywood failure in their credits, but their witty dialogue was smart, clever and funny, creating a multi-layered story that never stopped developing. Ritchie kept the audience completely engrossed in the plot, which cultivated characters and story elements flawlessly, providing a captivating mystery oozing with personality and style. Personality brings us to the performances, which were first rate. Robert Downey Jr. is not human. He is a machine. He is a machine who, at this point in his maintenance cycle, cannot make a bad movie. His portrayal of Sherlock Holmes was, at times, a bit “off book” from the more stodgy character created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, but his keen observations and “unique” investigative methods were a perfect portrayal of the character’s potential. Downey’s energy was unmatched, and the way he controlled each and every scene was a true marvel. Jude Law was also a perfect Dr. Watson, and the two created an impeccable acting team. Their chemistry was exactly what this duo needed to fully come to life. In the midst of the film’s creativity, energy and vision, there were still a few exaggerated scenes of Hollywood corniness, but even they were entertaining, and didn’t come close to detracting from the film. In the end, this turned out to be a pretty flawless movie, and a sequel is already in the works. In fact, Downey Jr. quit the movie he was working on to be in it. I can’t wait for the sequel, but right now I just want to watch this movie again!

2) Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel
Plot- Alvin, Simon and Theodore must put aside music superstardom and return to school, where they look to win a $25,000 prize in a battle of the bands contest in order to save their school’s music program. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Betty Thomas (Only You, The Brady Bunch Movie, Private Parts, Doctor Dolittle, 28 Days, I Spy, John Tucker Must Die)

Written by- Jon Vitti (The Simpsons Movie, Alvin and the Chipmunks), Jonathan Aibel (Kung Fu Panda, Monsters vs Aliens), Glenn Berger (Kung Fu Panda, Monsters vs Aliens)

Starring- Jason Lee, Zachary Levi, David Cross; Voices of: Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler, Jesse McCartney, Amy Poehler, Anna Faris, Christina Applegate

Movieguy’s Verdict- Going into the first “Alvin and the Chipmunks” movie, I think pretty much everyone expected a completely typical kid’s movie. Thankfully, the film was actually quite funny and while reverting to corniness at times, it had a personality that proved there was more there than children’s film clichés. I had no real objection to a sequel, and my expectations were for the same kind of result as the first film. Boy was I disappointed. Though it did contain some laughs (mostly early on), it was quite clear that this film was made with a dumber personality. Though John Vitti was a writer on the first film, he teamed with two Hollywood kid’s movie writers who aren’t particularly good, and the three combined to create a movie filled with highly corny and exaggerated characters and situations. The Chipmunks as a group were quite annoying this time around, and had none of the personality and bite they once did. Jason Lee was a key part of the first film’s success, but was essentially written out of the sequel. Zachary Levi gave a respectable lead performance, singlehandedly saving the film from being completely awful. David Cross was atrocious to watch, but to be fair, so was his character. Overall, the film was extremely corny, crawling with standard children’s film clichés and filled with a strong amount of stupidity. Watch the first one, but stay far away from this disaster.
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3-25-10

1) Brothers
Plot- Sam Cahill returns from being held as a prisoner-of-war in Afghanistan to find that his ex-con brother has become the man of the household where Sam’s wife, Grace had been living under the assumption that she was a widow. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Jim Sheridan (My Left Foot, The Field, In the Name of the Father, The Boxer, In America, Get Rich or Die Tryin’)

Written by- David Benioff (25th Hour, Troy, Stay, The Kite Runner, X-Men Origins: Wolverine)

Starring- Jake Gyllenhaal, Natalie Portman, Tobey Maguire, Sam Shepard, Clifton Collins Jr.

Movieguy’s Verdict- Jim Sheridan’s career has seen many twists and turns. He began with creating three Oscar nominated movies in a row, two of which starred Daniel Day-Lewis. He then hit a wall with quasi-flop “The Boxer,” which also starred Day-Lewis, but came back in a big way with “In America.” Three years later, he committed career suicide by directing a horrendous movie starring rapper 50 Cent called “Get Rich or Die Tryin’.” In the wake of such unimaginable failure, no one thought Sheridan would get another movie made, but he came back, four years removed, with an all-star cast and strong emotional potential. Early on a thick emotional connection between the characters was instilled in the audience, creating a complex and detailed dynamic that would, for the most part, continue to develop over the duration of the film. Acting was a complete success here with Jake Gyllenhaal, Natalie Portman and Tobey Maguire providing a fantastic three-tiered starring ensemble. Their forceful, yet soulful portrayals of confused and desperate characters were precisely what the film required. Sam Shepard also provided an outstanding supporting performance, and if the Academy Awards hadn’t been a complete joke this year, he might have at least been considered for a nomination. David Benioff’s writing was complex and filled with rich psychology, especially concerning the dynamic between the three main characters. Though the psychology evolved and changed over and over again, the actual narrative did feel a bit slow at times, but this was hardly an impediment. Sheridan’s direction proved he is 95% recovered from his 50 Cent brain fart. He framed scenes with intensity and simplicity, allowing the actors the freedom to evolve their characters, and let the screenplay breathe. However, there were situations when he did not push the envelope enough. It felt like there were still elements of the characters hidden beneath the surface that were neglected, and it was Sheridan’s responsibility to properly channel them. Still he created a very intense climax which made up for the film’s few minor issues. Ultimately this was indeed the powerful film everyone expected it to be, but it fell inches short of perfection. I blame 50 Cent.

2) Fantastic Mr. Fox
Plot- Angry farmers, tired of sharing their chickens with a sly fox, look to get rid of their opponent and his family. Based on the book by Roald Dahl. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Wes Anderson (Bottle Rocket, Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, The Darjeeling Limited)

Written by- Wes Anderson (Bottle Rocket, Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, The Darjeeling Limited), Noah Baumbach (Margot at the Wedding, The Squid and the Whale, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, Conrad & Butler Take a Vacation, Mr. Jealousy, Highball, Kicking and Screaming)

Voices of- George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman, Michael Gambon, Willem Dafoe, Owen Wilson, Wes Anderson, Brian Cox, Adrien Brody

Movieguy’s Verdict- As every studio races to spend big bucks on ultra-fancy 3D CGI for their kid’s movies, films like this and “Where the Wild Things Are” are proving that there’s no substitute for intelligence and creativity. The juxtaposition of this film’s stop-motion presentation was a welcome break indeed as we’ve become so used to modern CGI. Wes Anderson’s direction showed a dedication to creativity and originality that is severely lacking in today’s Hollywood system. Anderson created a uniquely bizarre world full of detail and brilliant vision. His writing was witty and filled with odd exchanges between smartly created characters, as well as a good amount of clever comedy. Anderson paced the film quite well, and it never dragged or felt tedious to watch. Vocal performances were perfectly cast, with George Clooney giving a wonderful showing full of personality and crisp timing. Meryl Streep was a bit disappointing, but Bill Murray and Jason Schwartzman were quite enjoyable in their supporting roles. The film did find itself becoming a bit more traditional near the end, and the comedy, which was so prolific in the first half, trailed off at a certain point in the second half. Overall, this was a superb movie that should have won Best Animated Feature over the tremendously overrated “Up.” Watch it and see for yourself.

3) The Men Who Stare at Goats
Plot- In Iraq, reporter Bob Wilton meets Lyn Cassady, a man who claims that he’s a member of the U.S. Army’s First Earth Battalion, a unit that employs paranormal powers in their missions. Curiousity causes Wilton to join Cassady’s hunt for the battalion’s founder who has gone missing. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Grant Heslov (Writer of: Par 6, Good Night, and Good Luck.; Director of: Par 6)

Written by- Peter Straughan (Sixty Six, Mrs. Ratcliffe’s Revolution, How to Lose Friends & Alienate People)

Starring- Ewan McGregor, George Clooney, Kevin Spacey, Jeff Bridges, Stephen Lang, Robert Patrick, Waleed Zuaiter, Stephen Root, Glenn Morshower, Nick Offerman, Tim Griffin, Rebecca Mader

Movieguy’s Verdict- When it comes to movies, there are bound to be big disappointments. Even though a film has everything going for it, somehow it can still fail miserably. That’s precisely what happened to this movie. This film had a great cast at its disposal, as well as the reteaming of Grant Heslov and George Clooney from “Good Night, and Good Luck.” Add political satire in the mix and you’ve got a recipe for success. Though the film ended horribly, it certainly did not begin that way. Early on Heslov and writer Peter Straughan created one scene of bizarre content after another. The material was dark, satirical and hilarious, and provided Ewan McGregor a chance to shine. He gave a great performance for the first part of the film, offering a nicely balanced personality to Clooney’s off-the-wall supporting effort. Clooney has impeccable comedic timing, and for the first 40 minutes, it was on point with the rest of the movie. Heslov and Straughan did a wonderful job of taking highly bizarre content and condensing it into a well constructed narrative, but after 40 minutes, their efforts gave out almost all at once. The film lost its way in shocking fashion, displaying scene after scene of silly and over-the-top antics that were perhaps intended to add to the bizarre nature of the story, but in fact removed the entire narrative structure and made the film unwatchable. The huge ensemble cast was alienated by this awful content, making the talents of McGregor, Clooney, Kevin Spacey, Jeff Bridges and Nick Offerman totally irrelevant. As the film switched from scene after another of inane stunts and stupidity, it became more and more painful to sit through. It actually felt as though it would never end, and the pointlessness of the plot made this a sort of non-movie. Every so a film begins with brilliance and ends with a rush of agonizing disappointment- this happens to be one of them.

4) The Blind Side
Plot- A disadvantaged teenager is taken in by a conservative family who see tremendous promise in the young man. Despite certain obstacles, the attention and inspiration he receives helps him mature into an athletically and academically successful NFL prospect. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- John Lee Hancock (Writer of: Hard Time Romance, A Perfect World, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, The Alamo; Director of: The Rookie, The Alamo)

Starring- Quinton Aaron, Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw, Ray McKinnon, Kathy Bates

Movieguy’s Verdict- My perceptions of this film have changed so many times, but nothing changes the fact that this was a slightly above average sports movie. My initial impression when I saw the trailer for the first time was “Ugh, not another Disney sports movie!” Then I saw the film and was pleasantly surprised. After a very clichéd set up filled with typical situations and telegraphed characters, John Lee Hancock’s direction began to pay good attention to detail and created a somber mood overall. His writing developed a strong connection between the characters, and evoked legitimate emotion from the story. Overall the film did not have much of the Hollywood feel usually found in sports movies, but it did have its standard sports clichés. Despite its good qualities, the last half hour was quite corny and grew into the Hollywood/Disney sports movie everyone thought it would be. In the end the film was a little slow in places and dragged on too long, but had a sense of sincerity that most sports movies don’t achieve. This aforementioned sincerity was due in great part to the believable and emotionally genuine performances of Quinton Aaron and Sandra Bullock (more on her later). They gave wonderful personality to the film and proved to have great chemistry together. As I mentioned earlier, my perception of the film has changed many times. After the movie ended I was glad it was not a corny cliché festival set to pop music montages. Now, following two completely unwarranted Oscar nominations for Best Picture and Best Lead Actress, the movie is no longer something I can think of in a kind light. The fact that Bullock won an Oscar for her performance in this movie blows me away. In a year that didn’t feature 10 Best Picture nominees the film would have never seen the red carpet. But there was nothing Oscar-worthy about Bullock’s performance. She did better than expected and definitely contributed to the film in a positive way, but how someone gave her an Oscar for this movie is beyond me. It’s a shame, because over time this will grow into a highly overrated sports movie when, in fact, it was only slightly above average.
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3-18-10

1) The Fourth Kind
Plot- An investigator is dispatched to Nome, Alaska to figure out a 40-year-long mystery involving an extraordinary number of unexplained disappearances in the town. Her videotaped evidence looks to present the most convincing evidence of alien abduction ever documented. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Olatunde Osunsanmi (WIthIN)

Starring- Milla Jovovich, Elias Koteas, Will Patton, Corey Johnson

Movieguy’s Verdict- It is so frustrating when a film starts out brilliantly but ends up in a complete state of mediocrity. Unfortunately, this highly promising film found itself under those very circumstances. Olatunde Osunsanmi created an extremely engrossing atmosphere at the start, capturing a very suspenseful mood that was terrifying at times. Storytelling was captivating as well, developing characters and situations which covered every emotion with complete and total realism. Performances were top notch in all parts, with Milla Jovovich really excelling in a high pressure and layered environment. With the writing, direction and acting firing on all cylinders, this was a suspenseful, scary and creepy film that didn’t waste a second. Sadly, this did not last. Once the film passed the halfway point, it began to heavily rely on a compilation of standard and highly clichéd alien abduction stories that have been told over and over again. Also, in a very regrettable writing choice, Osunsanmi opted to rely on hypnosis to relay crucial plot information. Hypnosis scenes don’t play well on screen and come across as lazy and quite laughably corny, and this was precisely the case with its inclusion in this film. As the film drew to a close, what began as a highly captivating and terrifying story ended as a lazy and underdeveloped piece that couldn’t satisfactorily finish. Overall its successes were greater than its failures, but with such a lackadaisical final third it still managed to leave the audience unfulfilled.

2) Armored
Plot- A newbie guard for an armored truck company is coerced by his veteran coworkers to steal a truck containing $42 million. But a wrinkle in their supposedly foolproof plan divides the group, leading to a potentially deadly resolution. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Nimród Antal (Vacancy)

Written by- James V. Simpson

Starring- Columbus Short, Matt Dillon, Laurence Fishburne, Jean Reno, Skeet Ulrich, Amaury Nolasco, Milo Ventimiglia, Fred Ward

Movieguy’s Verdict- Nimród Antal gave a promising debut with “Vacancy,” showing impressive dedication to minimalist atmosphere and solid suspense. This film had a very controlled premise and a considerably larger number of players, but still plenty of potential. Antal quickly created a very thick suspense/crime/thriller atmosphere, along with solid camerawork. He assembled a great cast here, but Columbus Short and Matt Dillon really shined as the most exciting stars of the film. Their performances were top notch, and the way they handled their characters added considerable energy and personality to the film. The characters were mostly believable, and despite a few minor plot holes, so was the story. James V. Simpson did quite well to vary the dynamic between characters so the audience would constantly reevaluate their judgments and opinions of them. The film delivered strong suspense in its controlled atmosphere as it highlighted the ultimate display of the plan gone horribly wrong. At times, Antal and Simpson did have a tendency to go over the top with a few scenarios, but the film could have retained all credibility if it hadn’t abandoned every ounce of logic and common sense in the climax. Also, I’m not sure the ending made the slightest bit of sense, which is never good. In all, the film should have been more careful with its action scenes and had a better ending. Overall it was a solid, intense, well acted and enjoyable thriller.

3) Bandslam
Plot- An outcast bonds with the popular girl on campus over their shared love of music, and together they decide to form a rock group and enter their school’s upcoming battle of the bands competition. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Todd Graff

Written by- Josh A. Cagan, Todd Graff (Used People, Fly by Night,The Vanishing, Angie, The Beautician and the Beast)

Starring- Alyson Michalka, Vanessa Hudgens, Gaelan Connell, Lisa Kudrow

Movieguy’s Verdict- They always say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, and that’s very true this film. What looked like a totally ordinary and clichéd high school movie in sports film template turned out to be much more. From the beginning it was clear that the characters were not the typical collection of stereotypes found in most high school movies; they were real characters who were thoughtfully and intelligently created. Writers Josh A. Cagan and Todd Graff took care to inject a lot of heart and soul into the story, and by the end of the film you really cared about the characters and what happened to them. Graff’s direction was indicative of a more mature story trapped in a high school setting, but the film did feel a bit slow at times, and its two-hour running time was much too long for its own good. Another issue was that the film’s music content was way too professional and polished for high school aged kids who were essentially beginners. Though the writing carried good heart and emotion, the film could have used more comedy, as it really had none to speak of. It definitely went on too long and the music was unrealistic, but this was a film that had more heart and maturity than most of its kind.

4) Did You Hear About the Morgans?
Plot- In New York City, an estranged married couple who witness a murder are relocated to small-town Wyoming as part of a witness-protection program. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Marc Lawrence (Director of: Two Weeks Notice, Music and Lyrics; Writer of: Life with Mikey, Forces of Nature, The Out-of-Towners, Miss Congeniality, Two Weeks Notice, Miss Congeniality 2: Armed & Fabulous, Music and Lyrics)

Starring- Hugh Grant, Sarah Jessica Parker, Sam Elliott, Mary Steenburgen, Wilford Brimley

Movieguy’s Verdict- If you’re looking for a lackluster and completely by-the-numbers romantic comedy (sans the romance or comedy), you’ve found your match. Early on the film sported a few scenes of subtle, witty humor which would have made for a very good movie if it lasted. Unfortunately, it didn’t. Overall the film was very dull in terms of plot, offering a lazy story with clichéd characters in an uneventful setting. The film was quite slow and very little actually happened after the first few scenes. Hugh Grant and Sarah Jessica Parker are fine actors, but with such dull characters and no energy in the story, they had no chemistry whatsoever. Grant did have a few sarcastic lines which provides a laughs, but other than that both he and Parker were entirely forgettable, much like the film itself. In the end, everything was so clichéd, lackluster and by-the-numbers that it was impossible to care about the characters or get even the slightest bit of entertainment from this movie. You’ve seen it so many times and most of them were better, so you can easily forget about this Hollywood fluff piece.

5) Ninja Assassin
Plot- A young ninja turns his back on the orphanage that raised him, leading to a confrontation with a fellow ninja from the clan. (imdb.com)

Directed by- James McTeigue (V for Vendetta)

Written by- Matthew Sand, J. Michael Straczynski (Changeling)

Starring- Rain, Rick Yune, Naomie Harris, Stephen Marcus, Ben Miles

Movieguy’s Verdict- Based on its trailers and practically no-name cast, this movie looked like pure stupidity. Fortunately it was average, which was quite a feat considering the content. I was expecting something as trashy and immature as the recent zero star “Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li” disaster, but James McTeigue’s direction provided just enough commotion to keep a basic interest throughout the film. He did at least attempt to have layers and a progression of characters and emotions, which is more than I can say for the majority of ninja movies out there. However, McTeigue filled the film with atrocious fight sequences that were as stupidly exaggerated as they were laughable. He seemed quite content to film the same scene over and over, and appeared obsessed with having thick streams of blood spurting everywhere for no reason. These fight scenes, which were apparently choreographed by a 10-year-old meth addict who’d never watched a movie sober, really neutralized the efforts of writers Matthew Sand, J. Michael Straczynski. The two obviously tried their best to develop characters and create an emotional connection to the story, but whenever it seemed that the film was beginning to take itself seriously, another moronic battle sequence would ensue. With so many of these terrible scenes, it was tough to judge the acting, which was unfortunate as most of the cast did make strong efforts to be serious and believable. Though it wasn’t a great movie, it was certainly better than most ninja movies, if you fast forward through the fight scenes that is.

6) The Twilight Saga: New Moon
Plot- When Bella’s blood is shed at her birthday celebration, Edward’s intense reaction to the event causes his parents to pull up stakes and leave Forks, Washington for the sake of the young lovers. Heartbroken, Bella finds a form of comfort in reckless living. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Chris Weitz (Director of: Down to Earth, About a Boy, The Golden Compass; Writer of: Antz, Nutty Professor II: The Klumps, About a Boy, The Golden Compass)

Written by- Melissa Rosenberg (Step Up, Twilight)

Starring- Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Billy Burke, Dakota Fanning, Cam Gigandet, Michael Sheen, Elizabeth Reaser, Kellan Lutz, Nikki Reed, Graham Greene

Movieguy’s Verdict- Despite the sappy teen pulp trash material that “Twilight” was adapted from, the first film in the series was 100% average. In spite of an atrocious performance from Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart did a fine job bringing “Twlight” to life. Though it had some corniness about it, it really was neither bad nor good. With this in mind, I had no way of knowing how unbearably awful this sequel would actually be. The film began with Pattinson doing his usual constipated, expressionless character while caked in dreadful makeup. Early on, Melissa Rosenberg was delusional and/or ignorant enough to try to compare this tacky tween vampire soap opera to “Romeo and Juliet.” From there it only got worse. This film was more sappy and dull than its predecessor, as its nonexistent story went nowhere. I’m not sure how a sequel can be without a plot, but Chris Weitz & Co. made it clear that boring the audience to tears was a risk they had to take in order to showcase the nonexistent chemistry between Stewart and The Constipated One. Taylor Lautner also had a very large role in this film, which made it clear that he is probably the most talentless and mentally vacant cast member in this regrettable series. Weitz and Rosenberg did their worst to create a constantly dull and horrifically sappy tween romance that was just as cheap and worthless as a daytime soap opera or a Tyler Perry movie. Needless to say, this was an excruciating movie in every possible category and should never have been made. How much longer until this garbage is over?
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3-11-10

1) Up in the Air
Plot- Ryan Bingham is a corporate-downsizing expert whose cherished life on the road is threatened just as he is on the cusp of reaching ten million frequent flyer miles and just after he’s met the frequent-traveler woman of his dreams. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Jason Reitman (Thank You for Smoking, Juno)

Written by- Jason Reitman (Thank You for Smoking), Sheldon Turner (The Longest Yard, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning)

Starring- George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick, Jason Bateman, Amy Morton, Melanie Lynskey, J.K. Simmons, Sam Elliott, Danny McBride, Zach Galifianakis

Movieguy’s Verdict- Jason Reitman has done it again. Let’s face it; the man has an incredible ability to develop characters, situations and emotions. Reitman has an innate sense about what is honest and real, and that’s exactly the kind of decision making he used to make this movie a resounding success. Released at the perfect time in our economic climate, this film presented a sobering and psychologically fascinating reality. George Clooney’s performance was perfection. His handling of his complex and dynamically layered character was not only fascinating to watch, but proved even more compelling as Reitman’s fantastic screenplay got us more and more connected to him and his world. Filled with wonderful writing about life and people’s dreams and desires, his emotional honesty and psychological intricacy resonated on a variety of levels. Supporting performances were also first rate, with Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick adding world class acting to a film that would have been outstanding with Clooney and a pedestrian supporting cast. Farmiga and Kendrick held their own in a big way, and while they were stealing significant amounts of the spotlight from Clooney, they were adding to the film’s already rich atmosphere. Reitman’s direction was significantly more detail-oriented than in his previous two films, as the way he delicately displayed the characters interacting with their environment was something only great filmmakers like Steven Soderberg, Stanley Kubrick and Roman Polanski have been able to accomplish. If you haven’t already guessed by the tone of this review, this was a fantastic film that deserves every ounce of praise and attention it can possibly receive.

2) Capitalism: A Love Story
Plot- Documentary filmmaker Michael Moore sets out to uncover the truth behind the current economic crisis with interviews from Wall Street and government insiders. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Michael Moore (Roger & Me, Canadian Bacon, The Big One, Bowling for Columbine, Fahrenheit 9/11, Sicko, Slacker Uprising)

Starring- Michael Moore

Movieguy’s Verdict- Michael Moore is a great documentary filmmaker, but after his infamous Oscar rant the public has turned on him so severely that his movies will never again be taken seriously. This is a shame, because this was a very well constructed documentary/opinion piece that definitely left plenty to think about. Moore carries with him a dry wit and sarcasm that makes his analyses and opinions perfect for film. There was plenty of that wit and sarcasm in this movie, and though it began with some pretty typical situations, the film’s content got progressively darker and more shocking. Moore gave the audience plenty to think about what this film, which contained nonstop development and a constant stream of emotional and outwardly disturbing twists and turns. The film’s main flaw was that it focused primarily on the victims of various injustices rather than getting the point of view of people on the other side. Though it might not be a “newsworthy” type of documentary, it was indeed well researched and contained a great deal of intelligence and thought provoking material which people definitely need to see.

3) Old Dogs
Plot- Ben is a successful businessman whose professional and personal life is altered when an old flame re-enteres his life — with her two children in tow. Finding himself temporarily in charge of their welfare, he enlists his best friend and colleague to co-parent. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Walt Becker (Van Wilder, Buying the Cow, Wild Hogs)

Written by- David Diamond (Below Utopia, The Family Man, Evolution), David Weissman (Below Utopia, The Family Man, Evolution)

Starring- Robin Williams, John Travolta, Kelly Preston, Conner Rayburn, Ella Bleu Travolta, Lori Loughlin, Seth Green, Bernie Mac, Matt Dillon, Ann-Margret, Rita Wilson, Amy Sedaris

Movieguy’s Verdict- If you are a movie fan there is one thing you probably know already: there is a good Robin Williams and a bad Robin Williams. This is an example of the latter. From the opening scene you could feel the wasted talent oozing from Williams and John Travolta. Their characters really didn’t make much sense, but that’s fine because neither did any of the other characters in the movie. Needless to say, every actor in the film was horrible, though I think Kelly Preston was definitely the worst performer in the entire project. She is a horrible actress and it shows. Obviously, the only way this movie could have been bearable is if it had humor. Sadly, for me as an audience member, it did not. This useless film featured all of the typical Disney clichés, themes and messages, but thankfully it was not as painful to sit through as others like it. Although a horrendous Hollywood score and unrelenting corniness didn’t make it easy. Let’s face it, this is a movie that should never have been made, and there’s definitely no reason for you to subject yourself to it.

4) Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire
Plot- In Harlem, an overweight, illiterate and pregnant teen is invited to enroll in an alternative school in hopes that her life can head in a new direction. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Lee Daniels (Shadowboxer)

Written by- Geoffrey Fletcher

Starring- Gabourey ‘Gabby’ Sidibe, Mo’Nique, Paula Patton, Mariah Carey, Lenny Kravitz

Movieguy’s Verdict- While the ridiculously overrated “Inglorious Basterds” won the Movieguy Award for Most Overrated Film of 2009, this movie and its awful title were a very close second. The absurd Oscar nominations and wins for such an average and disappointing film are completely without justification. Mo’Nique’s highly exaggerated and forced performance of a poorly written character was the first of a number of flaws the film exhibited. Though she did have one good scene, her over-the-top performance was a strong reflection of director Lee Daniels inconsistency. How she won the Oscar is beyond me. Daniels had plenty of good ideas and was able to extract strong emotion and symbolism from certain scenes, but the film’s mood and narrative were all over the place. There were a number of inconsistencies in Geoffrey Fletcher’s screenplay, which only worked to more aggressively expose the horrible, bumbling performance of Gabourey Sidibe. Playing the film’s most important character, Sidibe gave us an unbearably dull, lifeless monotone shell of what could have been a great acting opportunity if a real actor had played the part. Instead we got a blank slate of a statue who mumbled through the movie, sporting the same motionless, lifeless expression regardless of what kind of scene she was doing. In fact, the best and most consistently played performance of the movie was provided by- see if you can believe this- Mariah Carey. This was a poorly acted film that was both inconsistently written and directed. It had plenty of heart and was compiled with the very best of intentions, but in no way did it deliver.

5) The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day
Plot- The MacManus brothers, who are living a quiet life on the family farm in Ireland, return to Boston to exact their unique form of revenge on the mob forces who have framed the brothers for the murder of a local priest. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Troy Duffy (The Boondock Saints)

Starring- Sean Patrick Flanery, Norman Reedus, Billy Connolly, Julie Benz, Clifton Collins Jr., Peter Fonda, David Della Rocco

Movieguy’s Verdict- “The Boondock Saints” was released in 1999, and became an instant cult classic. The film also carried with it a very interesting subplot involving writer and director Troy Duffy, whose rags to riches story was derailed by unrelenting arrogance and alcoholism. After Duffy had been completely ostracized from the film community, his name would be forever remembered as an intriguing one-hit wonder. 10 years later, with no publicity, no warning or justification of any kind, a sequel was released. Trust me; I was just as shocked as everyone else. What was even more shocking was how atrociously unwatchable this film was. From the very beginning it felt extremely forced, exaggerated and insincere. Duffy’s direction felt extremely full of itself, and his atrocious unintelligible writing only worsened this effect. Sean Patrick Flanery and Norman Reedus had solid chemistry in the original movie, but their performances in the sequel were absolutely terrible. Characters were as poorly written as any straight-to-DVD action movie, and the film’s awful excuse for a story showed just how delusional Duffy really is. Most of the film was nothing more than a pointless joke, an exaggerated alpha male bloodbath with no redeeming qualities at all. Toward the end, Duffy even attempted to steer the film in a more serious direction, which was even more of a joke. Duffy filmed the same horribly conceived action sequence over and over, but with abominable acting, mindnumbing writing and infantile direction. Obviously, this was a colossal piece of garbage that should never be watched. I have no idea how this movie ever got made, but after this I sincerely hope that Troy Duffy will never make another movie again.
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3-4-10

1) 2012
Plot- An academic researcher leads a group of people in a fight to counteract the apocalyptic events that were predicted by the ancient Mayan calendar. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Roland Emmerich (Moon 44, Universal Soldier, Stargate, Independence Day, Godzilla, The Patriot, The Day After Tomorrow, 10,000 B.C.)

Written by- Roland Emmerich (Moon 44, Stargate, Independence Day, Godzilla, The Day After Tomorrow, 10,000 B.C.), Harald Kloser (10,000 B.C.)

Starring- John Cusack, Amanda Peet, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Thandie Newton, Oliver Platt, Thomas McCarthy, Woody Harrelson, Danny Glover, John Billingsley, Stephen McHattie, Patrick Bauchau

Movieguy’s Verdict- As public fascination and curiosity with the apocalyptic predictions surrounding 2012 continue to grow, you would assume a film about these prophecies would be a resounding success. Unfortunately, when Hollywood gets its hands on something they have a way of ruining it, and that’s precisely what happened with this film. Early on, Roland Emmerich spent a good deal of time establishing characters and situations, but it was clear that everything about the backstory and coming events lacked even a shred of believability or accidental realism. Emmerich’s handing of “The Day After Tomorrow” was as good a Hollywood disaster film can get. The special effects and camerawork were solid, and he built suspense well. In this film there wasn’t a moment of suspense or excitement to be found. It was clear that Emmerich essentially shot the same action sequence and inserted different backgrounds behind it. For this reason, the film quickly became very redundant, and countless unnecessary scenes only worsened this effect. The mood of the film shifted between exaggerated and repetitive action sequences to overly sappy drama scenes. Though the cast was huge, it was impossible to gauge their competency against the film’s forced and corny Hollywood backdrop. The film did attempt to get more serious in the last hour, but by then a terribly constructed narrative and redundant direction had done too much damage. I know you’ll be tempted by the enormous cast and intriguing premise, but I’m still waiting for the first real 2012 apocalypse movie to be made.

2) Where the Wild Things Are
Plot- Young, mischievous Max is sent to bed without his supper, but when his bedroom turns in to a magical jungle landscape filled with strange creatures, he embarks on a wild imaginary adventure. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Spike Jonze (Being John Malkovich, Adaptation.)

Written by- Spike Jonze, Dave Eggers (Away We Go)

Starring- Max Records, Catherine O’Hara, Forest Whitaker, Mark Ruffalo, James Gandolfini, Paul Dano, Catherine O’Hara, Chris Cooper

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was the best children’s film of 2009, and won the Movieguy Award in that category. The book is one of the most popular kid’s stories of all time, but that didn’t mean it was corny or exaggerated like most other kid’s films. From the beginning, Spike Jonze’s direction contained great emotion that was deep and sincere. His camerawork and visual presentation were moody and full of feeling and unique style. The soundtrack was equally impressive as Carter Burwell and Karen O (of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs) created perfect music filled with expressive personality and creativity. Performances were very strong with a highly talented Max Records providing a skilled and mature performance that transcended his character, and at times, the story. At first it felt as though this would be a perfect movie, but after about 30 minutes the story seemed to lose focus. It seemed like the characters were doing little more than throwing themselves around, and the plot didn’t appear to be progressing. This random silliness subsided, but just when you thought the story had gathered consistency, it would begin again. Even with its story problems, the film contained a substantial amount of sincerity, and it had great acting as well. If you’re looking for a mature and well made children’s film, look no further.
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2-25-10

1) The Box
Plot- A young couple is gifted with a mysterious box that promises them a handsome windfall with deadly consequences. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Richard Kelly (Writer/Director of: Donnie Darko, Southland Tales; Writer of: Domino)

Starring- Cameron Diaz, James Marsden, Frank Langella, James Rebhorn, Holmes Osborne, Sam Oz Stone, Gillian Jacobs, Celia Weston

Movieguy’s Verdict- Richard Kelly exploded on the scene with his instant sci-fi classic “Donnie Darko.” His long awaited follow-up, “Southland Tales,” was a forced failure on all accounts. No one had any idea what to expect from his third film, but Kelly got over his sophomore slump in a very big way. Gloomy, slow and deliberate, Kelly directed this chilling suspense piece with a Hitchcockian flair that modern filmmakers just don’t use anymore. His ability to control mood, pace and mystery was excellent, and his touches of surreal imagery and thought provoking themes were fascinating to watch. The anchor to any film is its screenplay, and Kelly’s writing was as taut as his direction. Mysterious, philosophical, complex and featuring beautifully intertwined themes, Kelly’s screenplay was as good as it gets. Performances were very strong on all counts, and though Cameron Diaz and James Marsden were consistently good, Frank Langella stole the show with a chilling and completely captivating supporting performance that took the film to an entirely separate dimension, both atmospherically and cinematically. Even the film’s haunting score was perfect, and with all of its accomplishments added together, it felt like the rebirth of “The Twilight Zone” directed by Alfred Hitchcock. As far as I know, it doesn’t get much better than that.

2) The Informant!
Plot- The U.S. government decides to go after an agri-business giant with a price-fixing accusation, based on the evidence submitted by their star witness, company-man-turned-whistleblower Mark Whitacre (Damon). (imdb.com)

Directed by- Steven Soderbergh (Sex, Lies, and Videotape, Kafka, Underneath, Gray’s Anatomy, Schizopolis, Out of Sight, Erin Brockovich, Traffic, Ocean’s Eleven, Full Frontal, Solaris, Ocean’s Twelve, Bubble, The Good German, Ocean’s Thirteen, The Girlfriend Experience)

Written by- Scott Z. Burns (The Half Life of Timofey Berezin, The Bourne Ultimatum)

Starring- Matt Damon, Tony Hale, Patton Oswalt, Melanie Lynskey, Scott Bakula, Joel McHale, Mike O’Malley

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was a highly bizarre movie that definitely missed some opportunities, but cashed in on others to ultimately create a watchable and strangely enjoyable piece. This film might have been forgettable without the highly bizarre, off kilter performance of Matt Damon, whose unbalanced and schizophrenically unpredictable personality gave the audience plenty to pay attention to. It was Damon’s fantastic performance, and Scott Z. Burns’ screenplay which provided the film with a strange contradiction- it felt highly authentic, yet totally unbelievable. Burns used narration brilliantly to capture the random thoughts of the protagonist, and Damon’s often vacant facial expressions added an extra layer to the character that only a seasoned actor could provide. Steven Soderbergh’s understated direction didn’t exactly pull you in, but gave the film an entertaining feel just the same. He relied on the fact that the story was built on so many lies that the audience had no idea what the actual truth was. The film’s main shortcoming was its lack of comedy. Trailers made it out to be a comedy, but only a handful of scenes really captured that potential. But with such a talented cast, a smart filmmaker at the helm and a story that screamed white collar crime humor, this could have been a witty black comedy for the ages. Even so, supporting performances were good and Damon stole the show yet again. It works for Soderbergh fans, and it’s a treat for Matt Damon fans. Overall this was a solid, smart and very bizarre film and it wouldn’t hurt to give it a try.

3) Everybody’s Fine
Plot- A widower takes an impromptu road trip in order to reconnect with his grown children, only to discover that his family members are living far from perfect lives. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Kirk Jones (Waking Ned, Nanny McPhee)

Starring- Robert De Niro, Kate Beckinsale, Sam Rockwell, Drew Barrymore, Katherine Moennig, James Frain, Melissa Leo

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was one of those films that break your heart because it was so brilliant in its early stages but tragically lost its way in the second half. In what began as an Oscar-worthy performance, Robert De Niro’s very carefully crafted character came to life in every dimension. So much was hidden beneath his complex surface, and everything in the detailed direction and writing suggested that we’d spend the entire movie finding out what it was. Unfortunately it was not to be. Kirk Jones’ direction was thoughtful, quiet and soulful in the film’s first half, and his subtlety worked perfectly with De Niro’s delicate and quietly beautiful performance. Though everything was set up wonderfully, Jones’ screenplay hung De Niro and the rest of the film out to dry. It never developed storylines or characters at it should have, and ultimately never allowed De Niro to bring forth what was hiding beneath the surface of his complex character. Jones then allowed his direction to slip as well, removing all previous nuance and quiet passion for forgettable storytelling and badly developed themes and supplementary ideas. Even the talented supporting cast was alienated and could have been directed much more effectively, though they did perform well in what small parts they were given. Unfortunately, what began as an Oscar-worthy character study ended up as nothing more than a typically forgettable holiday movie with a big cast. Kirk Jones, how could you let this happen?

4) Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant
Plot- A traveling freak show’s most mysterious attraction recruits teenager Darren Shan as his assistant, though the young man soon finds himself used as a pawn in a battle between vampires and their deadlier counterparts. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Paul Weitz (American Pie, Down to Earth, About a Boy, In Good Company, American Dreamz)

Written by- Paul Weitz (Antz, Nutty Professor II: The Klumps, About a Boy, In Good Company, American Dreamz), Brian Helgeland (The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, Man on Fire, The Order, Mystic River, Blood Work, A Knight’s Tale, Payback, The Postman, Conspiracy Theory, L.A. Confidential, Assassins, Highway to Hell, 976-EVIL, A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master)

Starring- Chris Massoglia, John C. Reilly, Salma Hayek, Josh Hutcherson, Chris Massoglia, Patrick Fugit, Ken Watanabe, Orlando Jones, Frankie Faison, Willem Dafoe, Kristen Schaal

Movieguy’s Verdict- Among others, this film was nominated for the Movieguy Award for Worst Title, but it’s dumb title was the least of its problems. The opening credits introduced an abominable, ear-piercing musical score that never let up. The remainder of the film only got worse, with one trashy scene after another resulting in a migraine inducing corniness that made other substandard kid’s movies seem brilliant by comparison. Performances were no help. John C. Reilly had a few decent scenes, but his career has been so badly mismanaged over the last few years that he seems out of place and somewhat aggravating in every movie he’s in. Characters have little substance, and talented director Paul Weitz did nothing but accentuate every corny idea the film had. I have no idea why he would allow himself to be part of such a worthless project, but it’s definitely not good for his career. This was nothing more than a trashy, unbearably corny kid’s movie that never should have been made. Stay away from this garbage!

5) Sorority Row
Plot- A group of sorority girls pledge to keep mum on the accidental death of one of their sisters; after graduation, however, they find themselves stalked by a serial killer who seems bent on eliminating anyone who knows their secret. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Stewart Hendler (Whisper)

Written by- Josh Stolberg (Kids in America, Good Luck Chuck), Pete Goldfinger

Starring- Briana Evigan, Rumer Willis, Carrie Fisher

Movieguy’s Verdict- Speaking of the Movieguy Awards, this film was in the running for potentially every Worst Of award I have. This miserable piece of trash took stupidity to a new level, even for trashy 70s teen slasher remakes. The film featured “performances” from a large number of talentless moron actresses who no doubt couldn’t land that big porn gig they had been hoping for. Josh Stolberg and Pete Goldfinger’s screenplay contained infantile writing and horrible characters, with nonstop stupidity at every turn. Stewart Hendler helped foster the atmosphere of total and complete stupidity with awful camerawork and one idiotic teen slasher effect after another. Pointless nudity was even thrown into the mix, but that shouldn’t surprise anyone. This movie definitely featured the dumbest collection of “characters” I’ve ever seen, and a painful cameo by Carrie Fisher seemed like the perfect way to ensure as many in-theater suicides as possible. This was one of 2009’s worst films, and the people involved should be subjected to public ridicule.
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2-18-10

1) Law Abiding Citizen
Plot- After family man Clyde Shelton is failed by the court system, he concocts a series of events designed to exact his revenge on the killers of his wife and daughter. From inside his jail cell, the mastermind lures the prosecutor who orchestrated the unjust deal into his deadly plan. (imdb.com)

Directed by- F. Gary Gray (Friday, Set it Off, The Negotiator, A Man Apart, The Italian Job, Be Cool)

Written by- Kurt Wimmer (Street Kings, Ultraviolet, The Recruit, Equilibrium, The Thomas Crown Affair, Sphere, The Wolves, Relative Fear, The Neighbor, Double Trouble)

Starring- Gerard Butler, Jamie Foxx, Leslie Bibb, Colm Meaney, Michael Irby, Bruce McGill, Regina Hall, Richard Portnow, Viola Davis

Movieguy’s Verdict- From the trailers it seemed like this film wouldn’t offer much in the way of originality, or anything other than your typical Hollywood thriller. In a way it didn’t. F. Gary Gray’s direction was generally lacking in originality, and produced nothing but a conventional Hollywood style. Despite this, the film kept an absolutely nonstop pace from start to finish, and the sinister mood the direction adopted early on lasted for most of the film. Kurt Wimmer didn’t do anything groundbreaking with his screenplay, but like the direction, his slightly predictable writing wasted no time in developing the story and characters. Gerard Butler is usually guilty of overacting, but he played his part quite well in this film. His personality and demeanor were nicely established and held up throughout the film. Jamie Foxx on the other hand provided a highly uninspired performance. He clearly showed a complete lack of interest in his character in the film as a whole, and he put almost no effort into playing a character who had more potential than what Foxx’s laziness permitted. After a solid, nonstop story reached its climax, a less than satisfactory ending failed to address the enormity of the story’s events. A disappointing ending and a lazy supporting performance are never good, but the overall result was a fast-paced thriller with a solid leading performance. The fact is this ended up as the kind of movie you want to watch.

2) Good Hair
Plot- In this documentary, Chris Rock explores the wonders of African-American hairstyles. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Jeff Stilson

Written by- Lance Crouther, Chris Rock (Comedy’s Dirtiest Dozen, CB4, Down to Earth, Head of State, I Think I Love My Wife) Chuck Sklar, Jeff Stilson

Starring- Chris Rock

Movieguy’s Verdict- A good documentary brings an important issue to light, and provides a dynamic range of commentary and analysis from a variety of interview subjects; this film accomplished that very well. It provided a good set of thought provoking discussions on an important, but seldom talked about issue. Its interview subjects were well selected and provided a wide variety of socially relevant opinions, and added good personality to the film. For a film that was written by comedians and helmed by Chris Rock, you might expect a little more comedy. Though the film could have benefited from more humor (and there wasn’t a whole lot actually) it survived well enough without it. The film’s only shortcoming was that director Jeff Stilson decided to focus a substantial amount of time on a completely useless hairstylist competition. This time waster brought the running time to feature length, but was entirely useless. If you fast-forward through the awful hair competition garbage you’ll find an interesting in socially relevant documentary.
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2-9-10

1) Couples Retreat
Plot- Four couples settle into a tropical island resort for a vacation. While one of the couples is there to work on their marriage, the others fail to realize that participation in the resort’s therapy sessions is not optional. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Peter Billingsley

Written by- Jon Favreau (Swingers, Made, The First $20 Million is Always the Hardest), Vince Vaughn, Dana Fox (The Wedding Date, What Happens in Vegas)

Starring- Vince Vaughn, Malin Akerman, Jon Favreau, Jason Bateman, Faizon Love, Kristen Bell, Kristin Davis, Kali Hawk, Tasha Smith, Jean Reno, John Michael Higgins, Ken Jeong

Movieguy’s Verdict- With such a great cast it would have been reasonable to expect SOMETHING from this film, but a poorly developed script and a PG-13 rating prevented this movie from accomplishing very much. Early on the film benefitted from quick-witted exchanges from Justin Bateman and Vince Vaughn, which developed into a film full of performances that were technically sound, but often uninspired. There was comedy to be found in a sarcastic screenplay that even contained moments of realism and believability in the early stages, but its comedic and acting potential were handcuffed by a weak and flowery PG-13 rating. This material was intended for the masses, and these cast members do their best work in a mature atmosphere. The result? After the initial laughs subsided, the film became quite dull, predictable and entirely corny, especially in the last 40 minutes. The scenes became more telegraphed and by the numbers, and the entire exercise ended up as nothing more than a cheesy sitcom in a beautiful tropical setting. This wasn’t a painful movie to sit through, but it was corny, predictable and stereotypical. Don’t let the big cast fool you and give this one a pass- you’re not missing anything.

2) My One and Only
Plot- A 1950s-set comedy in which the glamorous Anne Deveraux leaves her adulterous husband and embarks on a drive down the Eastern Seaboard on a quixotic search for a wealthy man to fund a new life for her and her sons. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Richard Loncraine (Full Circle, The Missionary, Brimstone & Treacle, Bellman and True, Richard III, Wimbeldon, Firewall)

Written by- Charlie Peters (Music from Another Room, Krippendorf’s Tribe, My Father the Hero, Passed Away, 3 Men and a Little Lady, Her Alibi, Hot to Trot, Blame It on Rio, Kiss Me Goodbye, Paternity)

Starring- Renée Zellweger, Logan Lerman, Mark Rendall, Chris Noth, Kevin Bacon

Movieguy’s Verdict- From the very beginning it never felt like this film was going anywhere. While some movies start out slowly but pick up steam in the second half, this was one of those films that started out with a whimper and somehow found a way to end with less. Charlie Peters’ screenplay did contain some clever humor, but in order to keep this film from becoming tedious and boring, that humor needed to sustain from start to finish. Peters never came close, and an unspeakably dull movie was the result. At least there was an interesting dynamic between some of the characters, and Renée Zellweger and Logan Lerman gave believable performances. It was hard to tell what director Richard Loncraine was trying to achieve. Part of his direction was shifting toward a coming of age set of themes, while the rest went to a failed attempt at a silly period romantic comedy. Zellweger’s character, who was supposed to the film’s anchor, was very poorly developed; therefore it was impossible for the audience to connect with her on any level. As the film dragged along it felt as though it would never end. While it wasn’t corny or poorly made, it was entirely too easy to become disinterested in its weak plot, as there was nothing to pull you in. Even if you’re a fan of period films and Renée Zellweger, stay away from this one.

3) The Time Traveler’s Wife
Plot- A romantic drama about a Chicago librarian with a gene that causes him to involuntarily time travel, and the complications it creates for his marriage. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Robert Schwentke (Flightplan)

Written by- Bruce Joel Rubin (The Last Mimzy, Stuart Little 2, Deep Impact, My Life, Deceived, Jacob’s Ladder, Ghost, Deadly Friend, Brainstorm)

Starring- Eric Bana, Rachel McAdams, Ron Livingston

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film reminds me of “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” because it’s essentially a story that can’t work on film. It’s more or less irrelevant who stars, writes and directs because this story relies too much on a part of the imagination that can’t live outside of the pages of a book. Even though director Robert Schwentke and a talented cast gave their best efforts, the film was forgettable in the end. Aside from the unfilmable plot, it centered around Rachel McAdams’ character, who was completely unbelievable. The choices she made were often absurd and unjustifiable in any genre, and writer Bruce Joel Rubin was never able to link her irrational behavior to anything tangible. Schwentke’s direction carried a slight air of corniness throughout, and often the film felt more cheesy than sincere. Its themes and scenarios were all too predictable, and its lackluster pace never helped emotions develop as they were intended. Eric Bana gave an underwhelming and forgettable performance, while McAdams, in spite of her poorly constructed character, gave a very strong showing and held the film together as best she could. On the positive side of things, Schwentke’s direction captured the flow of time very well, and he did include decent emotion in several key sequences. While this is not the typical tearjerker you might expect, it just doesn’t work.

4) The Stepfather
Plot- Michael Harding returns from military school to find his mother living with her new boyfriend, David. As the two men get to know each other, Michael becomes suspicious of the man in his mother’s life: Is he really the man of her dreams, or could David be hiding a dark side? (imdb.com)

Directed by- Nelson McCormick (Prom Night)

Written by- J.S. Cardone (Prom Night, The Marksman, The Covenant, Alien Hunter, True Blue, The Forsaken, Outside Ozona, Exit in Red, Black Day Blue Night, A Climate for Killing, Shadowzone, Thunder Alley, The Slayer)

Starring- Penn Badgley, Dylan Walsh, Sela Ward, Amber Heard

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was a rather odd movie to review. First of all, the trailers revealed the entire plot from the beginning, to character conflicts and romances, and ending with the climax and inevitable ending. There was never a moment when you didn’t know exactly what was going to happen, and yet it still ended up as a very solid film. How did this happen? We must look no further than the flawlessly orchestrated performance of Dylan Walsh. Walsh was perfect for the role, and he captured his character’s layers of psychology quite well. His slowly building instability and understated contemplative side made his character fascinating and engrossing. Walsh made supporting performances better as well, with Penn Badgley and Sela Ward turning in convincing showings. Though the remake of “Prom Night” was no prize, Nelson McCormick showed great vision and understanding of the plot with his direction. He created suspense when necessary, but more impressively, he generated mystery when the film’s ending was never in question. While the story was developed reasonably well, J.S. Cardone’s screenplay did not provide enough insight into Walsh’s character, which turned him into a kind of supporting player even though he was supposed to be the main character. Cardone’s writing credits include numerous awful movies, so the fact that he was able to generate a believable and well developed screenplay was a pleasant surprise indeed. While teen horror remakes run wild, this is a 70’s remake that actually delivered. It could have been better, but I would certainly recommend the film over the original.
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2-2-10

1) Zombieland
Plot- In a world overrun by zombies, a guy described as “the most frightened person on Earth” musters the courage to lead a band of refugees on a cross-country pilgrimage to an amusement park where they think they’ll be safe. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Ruben Fleischer

Written by- Rhett Reese (Clifford’s Really Big Movie, Cruel Intentions 3), Paul Wernick

Starring- Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, Woody Harrelson, Abigail Breslin, Amber Heard, Bill Murray, Mike White

Movieguy’s Verdict- To be honest, I did not know what to expect from this film. It could have been worthless, corny and purposely amateurish like the regrettable horror/comedy “Slither,” or as witty and funny as “Shaun of the Dead.” After the film’s opening sequence featured laughably exaggerated gore, I felt the barometer pointing straight toward “Slither.” However, first time director Ruben Fleischer was able to right the ship with creative and clever direction. Though he did return to that exaggerated gore, those scenes were few and far between. The film’s pride and joy came from its screenplay. Wonderfully creative and witty in its creation, writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick gave us interesting and quirky characters with tremendous personality and charm. There was also plenty of intelligence to be found in the writing, and over time the audience had no choice but to fall in love with the characters. Jesse Eisenberg and Woody Harrelson gave the film’s best performances. Both had large personalities which often clashed, resulting in rich situations filled with personality and quick humor. Abigail Breslin was somewhat underwhelming in her mostly forgettable showing, and Emma Stone allowed herself to be overshadowed by Eisenberg and Harrelson. As the film went along, it was clear that despite some good laughs, the film definitely missed quite a few opportunities for a more consistent level of comedy. In spite of this, it was a well acted and smartly written film that was one of 2009’s great surprises.

2) Love Happens
Plot- On a business trip to Seattle, a popular self-help guru sparks with a woman who attends one of his seminars. Their connection causes him to realize, however, that he hasn’t truly confronted his wife’s recent passing. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Brandon Camp

Written by- Brandon Camp (Dragonfly), Mike Thompson (Dragonfly)

Starring- Jennifer Aniston, Aaron Eckhart, Sasha Alexander, Judy Greer, Martin Sheen, Dan Fogler, John Carroll Lynch

Movieguy’s Verdict- The previously reviewed “Zombieland” was this week’s only worthwhile DVD release. This film and “Amelia” are equally forgettable. While this movie may have meant well, it certainly didn’t deliver much of anything. Jennifer Aniston and Aaron Eckhart are both talented enough to carry a movie, but when the movie they’re in has almost no content and is totally by the numbers, what do you expect them to do? Though it was advertised as a typically Hollywood romantic comedy, Brandon Camp tried to make the film a more serious drama. This was a good decision, but as his screenplay was dull and mostly uneventful, I drama wasn’t the result. Camp and Mike Thompson wrote the shell of a solid drama, but the innards contained irrational character development, significant sappiness, almost constant predictability and a number of clichés. Ultimately the film presented very little content; it was just a collection of typical scenes that didn’t add up to much of anything. Even though you might like the two lead actors, there’s no need to sit through this one.

3) Amelia
Plot- A biopic about Amelia Earhart.

Directed by- Mira Nair (Vanity Fair, The Namesake)

Written by- Ronald Bass (Mozart and the Whale, The Lazarus Child, Passion of Mind, Snow Falling on Cedars, Entrapment, Stepmom, What Dreams May Come, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, My Best Friend’s Wedding, Waiting to Exhale, Dangerous Minds, When a Man Loves a Woman, The Joy Luck Club, Sleeping with the Enemy, Rain Man, Gardens of Stone, Black Widow, Code Name: Emerald), Anna Hamilton Phelan (Mask, Gorillas in the Mist: The Story of Dian Fossey, In Love and War, Girl, Interrupted)

Starring- Hilary Swank, Richard Gere, Ewan McGregor, Christopher Eccleston

Movieguy’s Verdict- This review begins with three facts. One: Amelia Earhart had a life that was too interesting not to have a comprehensive and enthralling movie made about it. Two: When Hilary Swank signed on to play Amelia Earhart, basically everyone started carving her name on what was surely to be her third Oscar statue. Three: This movie was unbearably dull. Just like sports movies and romantic comedies, there is a distinct formula to Hollywood biopics which makes many of them interchangeable. Mira Nair followed that formula to the letter, including every cliché and element of predictable historical filmmaking in her movie. Nair’s direction was corny and uninspired, and didn’t provide even a moment of interest in any aspect of Earhart’s amazing story. The only thing she did well was to inject news footage randomly throughout the film to help advance the otherwise dull story. Performances suffered tremendously as a result. Swank’s supposedly Oscar-winning showing was forced and empty. She looked and talked like Earhart, but there wasn’t a moment of transcendent passion or believability in the entire exercise. The usually dependable Richard Gere gave an awful performance that was flat out irritating. The only acting worth watching came from Ewan McGregor, whose impressive showing might not be award-worthy, but certainly noteworthy against such a bland and passionless backdrop. Nair couldn’t even make the beautiful scenery her cameras captured come alive, and against a setting of forced romance and numerous clichés, this Hollywood biopic accomplished absolutely nothing.
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1-26-10

1) Surrogates
Plot- Set in a futuristic world where humans live in isolation and interact through surrogate robots, a cop is forced to leave his home for the first time in years in order to investigate the murders of others’ surrogates. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Jonathan Mostow (Director of: Beverly Hills Bodysnatchers, Breakdown, U-571, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines; Writer of: Beverly Hills Bodysnatchers, Breakdown, U-571)

Written by- John D. Brancato (Terminator Salvation, Primeval, Catwoman, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, The Game, The Net, Mindwarp, Interceptor, Into the Sun, Severed Ties, Femme Fatale, The Unborn, Watchers II), Michael Ferris (Terminator Salvation, Primeval, Catwoman, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, The Game, The Net, Mindwarp, Interceptor, Into the Sun, Severed Ties, Femme Fatale, The Unborn, Watchers II)

Starring- Bruce Willis, Radha Mitchell, Ving Rhames, Rosamund Pike, James Cromwell, Jack Noseworthy

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was one of those disappointing situations in which a great concept was poorly executed. After “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines,” no one was really looking forward to the next Jonathan Mostow movie, but Hollywood gave him $80,000,000 and a big cast, and he went to work. Mostow’s vision of the future was well crafted and detailed, but his direction carried an all too familiar air of Hollywood superficiality to accompany its creativity. The movie’s Hollywood gloss was disappointing, but for a while it succeeded in spite of it. Bruce Willis was a great fit for his part, and even though he’s played this character many times, he’s good at it and it shows. Overall, Willis gave a solid and mostly believable performance, as did Radha Mitchell and Rosamund Pike. Ving Rhames, on the other hand, was sadly miscast, and his performance hurt the film. What I liked most about the acting as a whole was the cast’s ability to differentiate between humans and surrogates, which created a fine science fiction atmosphere. The film’s mystery element was well presented, though its biggest plot twists were highly predictable. Additionally, the film suffered from plot holes (mostly minor) and some clichés. With Hollywood superficiality slowly eating away at its potential, a terrible climax applied the killshot. The film’s heavily convoluted and horribly conceived final third was simply too much to overcome. It’s a shame to admit that so much effort and imagination will go to waste, but these things happen when two Hollywood screenwriters couldn’t write a complete screenplay.

2) Whip It
Plot- In Bodeen, Texas, and indie-rock loving misfit finds a way of dealing with her small-town misery after discovering a roller derby league. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Drew Barrymore

Written by- Shauna Cross (Taking 5)

Starring- Ellen Page, Drew Barrymore, Kristen Wiig, Alia Shawkat, Marcia Gay Harden, Jimmy Fallon

Movieguy’s Verdict- There is no way to make a movie about roller derby sound watchable. It doesn’t matter who acts in it or who writes and directs; a movie about roller derby is, and always will be, a movie about roller derby. The film’s only hope was to use its talented cast to perform a consistently funny social satire/black comedy that had roller derby as a backdrop. This was not the case, and the film followed the typical sports movie format to the letter. Predictability, teen clichés, sports movie montages and a food fight were all present and accounted for, making Drew Barrymore’s directorial debut basically irrelevant. She actually showed some talent and could be a good director someday, but we’ll see how she handles a movie that’s not a total cliché. Shauna Cross’ screenplay contained some dry wit and characters with decent personalities, but was forgettable on all other counts. Ellen Page and Alia Shawkat accounted for a few laughs, but their predictable characters were very happy in a predictable narrative that was never all that interesting. You’ve seen this movie many times, and there’s no reason to sit through it again. After all, a movie about roller derby is, and always will be, a movie about roller derby.

3) Saw VI
Plot- That’s a joke, right??

Directed by- Kevin Greutert

Written by- Patrick Melton (The Collector, Feast 3: The Happy Finish, Saw V, Feast II: Sloppy Seconds, Saw IV, Feast), Marcus Dunstan (The Collector, Feast 3: The Happy Finish, Saw V, Feast II: Sloppy Seconds, Saw IV, Feast)

Starring- Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor, Mark Rolston, Betsy Russell, Shawnee Smith, Peter Outerbridge, Samantha Lemole, Tanedra Howard

Movieguy’s Verdict- When will the torture end? Right now, “Saw VII” is scheduled to come out around Halloween of this year. I’m sure there will be more after that, because once you’ve made seven movies, why not make 13 more? After all, everyone knows that when you make your 20th movie everyone on the set gets a free Subway gift card and a month’s supply of Pepto Bismol. Anyone who still believes this is a real movie series is either high as a kite, or young enough to be excited that his parents are letting him watch an R-rated movie. I’ve said it so many times before that I find writing this review irritatingly redundant. Everything about the film was old and tired. From its terrible, overly serious acting to forced torture sequences, there wasn’t an accidentally worthwhile moment in the entire exercise. Not that it matters, but Costas Mandylor is a horrible actor, yet he’s somehow the perfect square-jawed face of the most ridiculous horror franchise out there. Writers Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan (the very same morons who helped ruin “Project Greenlight”) attempted to add storylines which the mentally challenged voices in their tiny heads told them would create more dimensions in the series. In reality there were no stories at all, just more pointless torture scenes and laughable irrelevance. To state the obvious, this worthless movie accomplished nothing, and should never be seen.
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1-19-10

1) Gamer
Plot- Set in a future-world where humans can control other humans in mass-scale, multi-player online gaming environments, a star player from a game called “Slayers” looks to regain his independence while taking down the game’s mastermind. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor (Crank, Pathology, Crank: High Voltage)

Starring- Gerard Butler, Amber Valletta, Michael C. Hall, Kyra Sedgwick, Logan Lerman, Alison Lohman, Terry Crews, Ramsey Moore, Ludacris

Movieguy’s Verdict- 2009 was a horrible year for directing pair Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor. “Crank: High Voltage” was one of the year’s worst movies in a variety of categories, and while this film’s premise actually held a reasonable amount of potential, the end result was simply awful. To put it kindly, Neveldine and Taylor have a huge imagination when it comes to visual effects. Unfortunately they lack restraint and the ability to understand that a motion picture is not a music video. Pointless editing and one stupid, overindulgent stunt and special effect after the next made this movie not really a movie at all. Every scene was forced and exaggerated, and the once promising story devolved into pointless sex and over-edited battle sequences. Gerard Butler was the perfect fit for the movie’s heavily forced alpha male bravado, and his performance was as forced as one might expect. Kyra Sedgwick was horrendous in her awful character, as were Amber Valletta and Terry Crews. The film held too much useless content and not enough of anything else that makes a watchable movie, and should never been seen by anyone who is not a 14-year-old boy with severe ADHD.

2) Whiteout
Plot- At the McMurdo Station in Antarctica, U.S. Marshal Carrie Stetko looks to identify and capture a killer before the sun sets for six months. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Dominic Sena (Kalifornia, Gone in Sixty Seconds, Swordfish)

Written by- Jon Hoeber (Montana), Erich Hoeber (Montana), Chad Hayes (The Dark Side of the Moon, House of Wax, The Reaping), Carey Hayes (The Dark Side of the Moon, House of Wax, The Reaping)

Starring- Kate Beckinsale, Gabriel Macht, Tom Skerritt

Movieguy’s Verdict- This is going to be a very short review, because there is almost nothing to say about this bland and unremarkable movie. Dominic Sena has not made outstanding movies in his brief career, but at least his movies are energetic and stylish. This movie was a complete departure for Sena, and I mean that only in a negative sense. Early on the film failed to leave an impact and never developed any interest in the flatlining plot or its dull characters. Kate Beckinsale and Gabriel Macht are two fine actors, but their performances in this movie were uninspired and completely forgettable. There was no excitement or suspense in the film, and even its mystery element was overshadowed by 100% predictability and nonexistent storytelling. I can think of nothing good about this film, other than the fact that its icy setting held great potential. Definitely skip this one.

3) The Invention of Lying
Plot- A comedy set in a world where no one has ever lied, until a writer seizes the opportunity for personal gain. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Ricky Gervais, Matthew Robinson

Starring- Ricky Gervais, Jennifer Garner, Jonah Hill, Louis C.K., Jeffrey Tambor, Fionnula Flanagan, Rob Lowe, Tina Fey

Movieguy’s Verdict- I’ve talked many times on my show about movies starting off strong and ending poorly, and this film is a prime example. Despite a silly and frankly idiotic premise, outstanding comedy flooded the early stages of this film, and Ricky Gervais absolutely thrived. The writing and direction from Gervais and Matthew Robinson created clever and original situations that were filled with smart laughs. Supporting performances thrived early on as well, especially Rob Lowe, who was particularly outstanding for the entire duration of the movie. Unfortunately when the film hit the 30 minute mark, everything began to quickly unravel. Though there was still some comedy present, it decreased in frequency until it was essentially absent. It was clear that Gervais and Robinson were more interested in turning the film into a completely by-the-numbers romantic comedy, which was disappointing for comedic reasons, but was also a regrettable choice considering Gervais had absolutely no chemistry with co-star Jennifer Garner. To her credit, Garner delivered a very good performance in what turned out to be a tricky character. Nevertheless, what started out as a hilarious and brilliantly clever comedy devolved into an occasionally funny and very typical attempted romantic comedy. Even if you are a Ricky Gervais fan, this movie might not work for you. Give it a try if you like, but you are setting yourself up for disappointment.

4) Pandorum
Plot- A pair of crew members aboard a spaceship wake up with no knowledge of their mission or their identities. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Christian Alvart (Curiosity & the Cat, Case 39)

Written by- Travis Milloy (Street Gun, Just Like Mona)

Starring- Dennis Quaid, Ben Foster, Cam Gigandet, Antje Traue

Movieguy’s Verdict- The fledgling science fiction genre received a great boost in 2009 with the two outstanding movies “Knowing” and “District 9.” However, if you are looking for a hidden science-fiction gem you’re not going to find it here. Just like the aforementioned “The Invention of Lying,” this movie began very strong, but finished with a pathetic whimper. Christian Alvart’s direction was phenomenal in the early going. He established a strong sense of claustrophobia and paranoia for the characters, and strong camerawork kept the intensity high. With a dark and very creepy minimalistic setting, and a great performance from Ben Foster, this movie had nothing but upside. Unfortunately Alvart and writer Travis Milloy included exaggerated fight scenes that detracted from the movie’s paranoia and minimalism, but that wasn’t close to the biggest problem. A constant stream of storytelling problems and enormous, gaping plot holes dominated the last half of the film, making it clear that even with the greatest possible optimism and generosity, this film came nowhere near working. Most of the film’s plot developments were revealed in the second half, and with each one a new stream of problems flooded in. Despite a brilliant setting and concept, constant plot holes and story problems prevented this movie from reaching its potential. I am actually hoping that another filmmaker with the ability to detect and avoid plot holes remakes this story, because if done right, it would be an instant classic.

5) No Impact Man
Plot- A Manhattan-based family looks to abandon their high-consumption lifestyle for one with no net environmental impact for one year. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Laura Gabbert (Sunset Story, The Healers of 400 Parnassus), Justin Schein (Down on Polk Street)

Starring- Colin Beavan, Michelle Conlin

Movieguy’s Verdict- The premise alone makes this movie a very interesting prospect, but its execution had one too many flaws. Any well-made documentary about the environment gives you a lot to think about, and this film definitely accomplished that. Colin Beavan and his family were the subjects of this movie, and that had its pros and cons. First of all, Beavan was not an entirely likable individual, and he seemed to have very little concern for the IMPACT that this experiment was having on his family. Along the way you felt yourself pitying his wife and child rather than putting the bulk of your attention into the actual purpose of the documentary. This is an interesting observation because, as it turned out, directors Laura Gabbert and Justin Schein placed far too much emphasis on making the movie into a reality show about Beavan’s family, and too little on the nuts and bolts of what he was trying to accomplish. I think this was out of necessity more than anything, because to remove all of the irrelevant family drama would bring the film’s running time to under an hour. Nevertheless, the directors did a nice job showing the reactions of people and the media to Beavan’s No Impact experiment, and they definitely left you with plenty to ponder. In the end, I’m not sure the Beavan’s experiment had the wide reaching effect his somewhat swelled ego thought it would. Still, if you watch the film it will more than likely get you thinking about environmental issues, and that is, after all, the purpose of documentaries like these.
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1-12-10

1) Halloween II
Plot- The second Halloween franchise remake by Rob Zombie.

Written and Directed by- Rob Zombie (House of 1000 Corpses, The Devil’s Rejects, Halloween)

Starring- Scout Taylor-Compton, Tyler Mane, Malcolm McDowell, Brad Dourif, Danielle Harris

Movieguy’s Verdict- While Rob Zombie’s first two movies, “House of 1000 Corpses” and “The Devil’s Rejects” were quite awful, I actually held a decent bit of optimism for his remakes of the “Halloween” franchise. After all, it was a franchise in desperate need of remaking because even the early films missed many opportunities. It was made abundantly clear in the first sequence of this movie that Zombie has no intention of making watchable horror movies. Like every other immature horror movie fan, Zombie wants only to show scene after scene of pointless gore and sex. His direction was dark and gloomy, but constantly mismanaged over-the-top bloody scenes made the movie into a laughable joke. Unlike his first “Halloween” remake, this film had absolutely no story to speak of, and each scene was more purposeless than the last. Zombie felt the need to make the Michael Myers character quite obviously superhuman, which would have worked well in a spoof but not in a supposedly serious film. Characters were horribly written and “developed,” especially main characters Laurie Strode and Dr. Loomis. Along with the lack of story, there was no acting to speak of. Scout Taylor-Compton and Malcolm McDowell were horrible to watch, fitting perfectly in the pointless atmosphere of this useless excuse for a movie. I can only imagine how many more of these worthless movies Rob Zombie will do, but at least they can’t get any worse.

2) Post Grad
Plot- When recent college graduate Ryden Malby discovers she can’t land a good job because of the working world’s harsh climate, she moves back in with her oddball family in order to reconsider her options. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Vicky Jenson (Shrek, Shark Tale)

Written by- Kelly Fremon

Starring- Alexis Bledel, Zach Gilford, Michael Keaton, Jane Lynch, Bobby Coleman, Carol Burnett, J.K. Simmons

Movieguy’s Verdict- There was plenty social relevance to this movie’s relatable plot, so, despite a weak cast, it had a fair amount of potential. Unfortunately its execution left almost everything to be desired. Set to a horrible overly expressive and annoying musical score, poorly created, obvious and forced situations dominated the landscape. At least Alexis Bledel wasn’t sharing ugly jeans with anyone, but her performance was a bit agitating. It gradually evolved into a generally bland feel, which would ultimately characterize the movie as a whole. Despite a relatable and realistic premise, director Vicky Jenson and writer Kelly Fremon turned the movie into hybrid failed comedy/forgettable romance. Even though the plot was very straightforward, Jenson’s direction was remarkably inconsistent, as it was clear she really had no idea what kind of movie she wanted to make. Michael Keaton showed good energy and actually produced a few laughs, which is more than I can say for the rest of the cast. Regardless, this was a very dull and uninteresting movie that doesn’t need a second thought.

3) Tyler Perry’s I Can Do Bad All By Myself
Plot- Another Tyler Perry movie. Sigh…

Written and Directed by the King of Clichés and Stereotypes- Tyler Perry (Tyler Perry (Diary of a Mad Black Woman, Madea’s Family Reunion, Daddy’s Little Girls, Why Did I Get Married?, Meet the Browns, The Family That Preys, Madea Goes to Jail)

Starring- Tyler Perry, Taraji P. Henson, Adam Rodriguez, Brian J. White, Mary J. Blige

Movieguy’s Verdict- Here we go with another Tyler Perry movie. We’ve been down this road many times, and the only noticeable difference between this movie and his others was the ugly title. Perry’s typical racial stereotypes rushed in like the winds of a typhoon, and never let up. His writing carried his standard poorly developed, drawn out and exaggerated situations. Perry forced preachy and arrogant religious messages into as many scenes as possible, and to make matters worse, his poorly conceived “story” was very dull and uninteresting. Acting in a Tyler Perry movie is forgettable at its very best, but all of the performances in this film were awful, with Taraji P. Henson, Adam Rodriguez and Mary J. Blige standing out in this regard. While this was more or less the same as all of Perry’s other films, it was easily his most preachy, overly religious and arrogant film to date. In fact, this didn’t come all that close to being an actual movie, because really, without characters, story or acting, what am I supposed to call it? Oh right, it’s a Tyler Perry movie.
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1-5-10

1) The Final Destination
Plot- After a premonition of a deadly race-car crash helps saves the lives of a group of teens, Death sets out to collect those who evaded their fate. (imdb.com)

Directed by- David R. Ellis (Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco, Final Destination 2, Cellular, Snakes on a Plane)

Written by- Eric Bress (Blunt, Final Destination 2, The Butterfly Effect)

Starring- Nick Zano, Krista Allen, Andrew Fiscella, Mykelti Williamson, Shantel VanSanten

Movieguy’s Verdict- Is it really the final destination? Let’s hope so, because there hasn’t been a point to this series in a very long time. The first “Final Destination” was actually a strong and likable movie. Imaginative and reasonably suspenseful, it took a clever idea and made it an overall success. After that however, there wasn’t any need whatsoever for additional films. This film was in 3D, but after the opening scenes it made no noticeable effort to utilize it. As you can probably imagine, this movie had no story whatsoever, since any connection to the original plot lines or characters was barely pursued beyond the second film. This was by far the most immature film in the series, and the obvious situations and immature characters didn’t contain even a rudimentary level of creativity. There were portions of the film that were mildly interesting, but with numerous silly and laughable action sequences and forgettable teen acting, it was quite clear this film should never have been made. Fingers crossed though, because maybe it really will be the final destination.
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12-29-09

1) 9
Plot- When 9 first comes to life, he finds himself in a post-apocalyptic world where all humans are gone. Upon discovering a community of other beings like him, 9 takes the lead in an effort to strike back at the machines that control the world and are bent on exterminating most signs of life. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Shane Acker

Written by- Pamela Pettler (Corpse Bride, Monster House)

Voices of- Elijah Wood, Jennifer Connelly, Crispin Glover, Christopher Plummer, Martin Landau, John C. Reilly

Movieguy’s Verdict- I’ve spent the longest time wondering if our modern CGI would ever be used for anything other than kid’s movies. Finally, this film came along and told a post-apocalyptic tale meant for a more mature audience. Unfortunately, it was nowhere near as good as it should have been. The first thing you notice about this film was its phenomenal visual atmosphere. Shane Acker put a great deal of thought and skill into creating an artistically rich world with incredible imagery and remarkable vision. Unfortunately, this atmosphere was wasted on one-dimensional characters and amateurish writing that turned the setting into a cheap sideshow. The vocal performances were overly melodramatic, attempting to compensate for the lack of depth in the storytelling. Elijah Wood was actually the perfect choice for his character, but the screenplay it let him down. The same could be said for Jennifer Connelly and Crispin Glover, who had a great deal of potential but were never able to realize it. The ending was also a copout in many ways, but definitely fit with the rest of the movie’s disappointments. Don’t get me wrong, the film was a visual achievement, but it was also a storytelling failure.

2) Jennifer’s Body
Plot- A cheerleader at a small midwestern high school becomes possessed by a demon and sets out to kill off all the guys in town. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Karyn Kusama (Girlfight, Æon Flux)

Written by- Diablo Cody (Juno)

Starring- Megan Fox, Amanda Seyfried, Adam Brody, Johnny Simmons, J.K. Simmons, Amy Sedaris, Kyle Gallner

Movieguy’s Verdict- From the trailers it was impossible to know what kind of film this would be. Perhaps it didn’t house a great deal of hidden potential, but early on the movie carried an undercurrent of ultra dark and subtle comedy that was also surprisingly intelligent. Diablo Cody’s screenplay featured clever dialogue and a well developed story, and despite some mishandled scenes from director Karyn Kusama, its highly bizarre feel made it surprisingly engrossing. Amanda Seyfried played a very good part, and put together a performance that was both dynamic and believable. As for Megan Fox, well the film is called “Jennifer’s Body,” not Jennifer’s intellect and acting ability. For this purpose, Fox fit the part. Kusama’s direction was eerie, but as the film passed the 40 minute mark, everything began to unravel. Certain aspects of Fox’s character and performance became simply too corny and overdone, and Cody’s writing lost purpose, storytelling and mood. The film never stopped developing, but near the end corniness, stupidity and a general lack of interest in the characters was all that remained of a promising start. It actually could have been very good, but you can easily skip this one.

3) Paranormal Activity
Plot- While settling into her new home, Katie is disturbed in her sleep by a mysterious presence. Her husband, Micah tries to ease her fear by installing video cameras in an attempt to capture the strange behavior on tape, but the plan backfires. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Oren Peli

Starring- Katie Featherston, Micah Sloat, Michael Bayouth

Movieguy’s Verdict- The hype surrounding this film was intense. Many were calling it the next “Blair Witch Project,” while others were saying it was one of the scariest movies ever made. While I am always glad to see an ultra low budget movie ($15,000) get lots of publicity, I see no reason to make a big deal out of this film. Oren Peli’s writing and direction provided a logical progression and realistic feel to the story and its two main characters. His direction was designed to make the audience imagine more than they saw on the screen, which had the potential to make the movie experience all the more intense. Performances by Katie Featherston and Micah Sloat were realistic and, for the most part, did not feel like acting. Peli brought plenty of good ideas to the film, but it seemed that much of the movie was spent waiting for the story to pick up steam. Unfortunately it never did. While the characters progressed through different situations, nothing ever felt scary or even the least bit tense. It was interesting from a voyeuristic point of view, but didn’t carry the slightest amount of intensity until the last 10 minutes. The final few scenes were quite good, but after the film was over, it definitely left the audience wondering what it accomplished. When a movie is over, you should never have to ask yourself, “What was the point of that?” With this movie, that’s exactly what you’ll say. It had the potential for sure, but did not deliver.

4) A Perfect Getaway
Plot- Two couples on a Hawaiian vacation discover that psychopaths are stalking and murdering tourists on the islands. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- David Twohy (Writer of: Critters 2: The Main Course, Warlock, Timescape, The Fugitive, Terminal Velocity, Waterworld, The Arrival, G.I. Jane, Pitch Black, Imposter, Below, The Chronicles of Riddick; Director of: Timescape, The Arrival, Pitch Black, Below, The Chronicles of Riddick)

Starring- Milla Jovovich, Steve Zahn, Timothy Olyphant, Kiele Sanchez

Movieguy’s Verdict- Aside from the picturesque Hawaiian scenery, this was an incredibly dull and heavily flawed movie. Early on it was quite clear that Steve Zahn was very wrong for his part. He did the best he could as he navigated a minefield of plot holes, but no amount of effort will make someone right for a part in which they shouldn’t be cast. Another huge problem was the film’s incredibly slow-moving story, which inched along for practically the whole movie. David Twohy tried to establish a consistent level of psychological cat-and-mouse between the characters, but the story was so uninteresting and uneventful that those efforts went unnoticed. Aside from the beautiful scenery, the only good feature of this movie was Timothy Olyphant’s performance and character. Not only did he fit his part perfectly, but his character was full of interesting energy. Olyphant’s performance breathed as much life as possible into a stagnant story, which makes and evaluation of his contributions to the movie all the more impressive. After so much dullness, Twohy inserted the most trite and sophomoric plot twist imaginable, which led to a laughable climax and terrible ending. It was clear that Twohy thought his movie was incredibly clever, but dullness, poor casting and terrible writing made it very unimpressive indeed.
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12-22-09

1) (500) Days of Summer
Plot- Greeting-card writer Tom, falls for his new colleague, Summer, on her first day of work. What comes next is a look at the subsequent year-and-a-half period the two lovers spend together. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Marc Webb

Written by- Scott Neustadter (The Pink Panther 2), Michael H. Weber (The Pink Panther 2)

Starring- Zooey Deschanel, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Geoffrey Arend, Chloe Moretz, Matthew Gray Gubler, Clark Gregg, Patricia Belcher

Movieguy’s Verdict- With a great story and tremendous personality, this was one of the top indie successes of the year. The film owes a great deal of its success to Marc Webb, and his undeniable ability to capture moments and emotions with layered and creative direction. It is impossible to believe that Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber, the writers of one of the year’s most painfully unwatchable movies, could also write such a smart and clever film. Their screenplay was filled with witty dialogue and very intelligent writing that offered an honest depiction and analysis of relationships for over 90% of the film. This number is quite impressive considering most films don’t crack the 30% barrier when it comes to romantic believability. Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt were wonderful together, and their chemistry was undeniable. They both seemed so perfectly at home in their characters that it felt like the story was written specifically for them. In the end, the film’s intelligence and creativity made it one of the best and smartest movies about relationships I’ve seen in a very long time.

2) District 9
Plot- A sci-fi/action story set in a fictional world, where extraterrestrials have become refugees in South Africa. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Neill Blomkamp

Written by- Neill Blomkamp, Terri Tatchell

Starring- Sharlto Copley, David James, Jason Cope

Movieguy’s Verdict- The trailers for this movie looked incredible, yet it seemed impossible for any movie to live up to such hype. Apparently, in District 9, the impossible is possible. Neill Blomkamp’s documentary style direction created an extraordinary environment of 100% realism and raw intensity. The emotional involvement Blomkamp and co-writer Terri Tatchell established with the setting, story and characters was impressive, but nothing was as awe-inspiring as the thought and creativity put into the structure of this epic story. Sharlto Copley, who had never acted before, gave an outstanding performance that was as intense and emotionally compelling as the film itself. The action sequences were expertly directed by Blomkamp, and the special effects were absolutely remarkable. We can talk about a captivating story, incredible direction, superb acting or breathtaking action sequences, but this is one of those rare movies that is basically without flaws. It will stand the test of time as one of the best science-fiction stories ever created.

3) Extract
Plot- The owner of a flower-extract plant, tries to contend with myriad personal and professional problems, such as his potentially unfaithful wife, a hot new temp, and employees who want to take advantage of him. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Mike Judge (Beavis and Butt-Head Do America, Office Space, Idiocracy)

Starring- Jason Bateman, Kristen Wiig, Ben Affleck, Mila Kunis, J.K. Simmons, Clifton Collins Jr., Dustin Milligan, David Koechner, Beth Grant, T.J. Miller

Movieguy’s Verdict- After the 1999 film “Office Space” became one of the greatest cult comedies ever created, audiences eagerly awaited the next Mike Judge movie. They waited, waited, waited and continued to wait. Then, in 2006 Judge released “Idiocracy,” which was a failure in practically every respect. Three years later, Judge has released another movie about the workplace, and I have a feeling this film will become another cult classic- it just might take a while for it to sink in. The film’s quiet comedy was similar in many ways to “Office Space,” and the very strange characters were created to have an odd dynamic with each other that played quite well on screen. Judge created lots of odd situations and interactions that were just slightly off kilter enough to be funny, but the humor worked in such a cerebral way that you didn’t realize the full extent of a comedic moment until the scene was over. The film achieved a fine level of social satire, and definitely lived in its own off-the-wall world. With their strength being smart, cerebral comedy, Jason Bateman and Kristen Wiig fit wonderfully into Judge’s dark world, as did Ben Affleck, Mila Kunis and J.K. Simmons. The entire cast gave great performances that will definitely hold up over time. I think this film works on many levels, and though it might take some time, it will be another cult comedy classic for Judge.

4) All About Steve
Plot- After Mary Horowitz has one date with a CNN cameraman, the brilliant crossword-puzzle constructor decides the hunk is her true love. While she alienates him by trailing him all over the country, she falls in with a crew of misfits who appreciate her eccentric nature. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Phil Traill (Writer of: Opal Dream)

Written by- Kim Barker (License to Wed)

Starring- Sandra Bullock, Bradley Cooper, Thomas Haden Church, Ken Jeong, DJ Qualls, Keith David, Howard Hesseman, Beth Grant

Movieguy’s Verdict- It would be wrong to call this a typical romantic comedy, even though the basic premise was exactly what you’d expect. Even the presence of Sandra Bullock made it easier to assume it would be nothing more than the usual Hollywood cookie-cutter formula. Early on the situations were very forced, and the social awkwardness of Bullock’s character was exaggerated. I was actually quite impressed with the movie’s wardrobe department, as they searched far and wide to find the worst possible clothes for Bullock’s character to wear. Overall the story was mildly interesting in a lighthearted way, and a decent level of mild humor was present throughout, but there were no big laughs to be found. Bullock did try a bit too hard, and the forced nature of her performance was hard to overlook. However you can’t fault her energy, and she did develop a bizarre on-screen chemistry with appropriately chosen co-star Bradley Cooper. Director Phil Traill and writer Kim Barker found a way to create such strange and bizarre content that the film felt more like an eccentric journey into a very odd character’s life, and less like a typical romantic comedy. The film actually got more humorous, and more unusual as it progressed, and I was beginning to believe that it had the potential to be one of the most unlikely sleeper hits of the year. Unfortunately Traill and Barker tried to make the film a bit too serious in the last half hour, and created insurmountable story and character problems that simply ruined what it had set up. In the end, I was happy that it wasn’t a typically forgettable Hollywood romantic comedy, but the movie should have been much better.
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12-15-09

1) The Hangover
Plot- In Las Vegas, three groomsmen lose their about-to-be-wed buddy during their drunken misadventures, forcing them to retrace their steps in order to find him before the church bells ring. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Todd Phillips (School for Scoundrels, Starsky & Hutch, Old School, Bittersweet Motel, Road Trip)

Written by- Jon Lucas (Rustin, Rebound, Full of It, Four Christmases, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past), Scott Moore (Rebound, Full of It, Four Christmases, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past)

Starring- Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha, Heather Graham, Sasha Barrese, Jeffrey Tambor, Ken Jeong, Rachael Harris, Mike Tyson, Mike Epps

Movieguy’s Verdict- No one expected this film to be such a smash hit, but after watching it, the reasons why were pretty clear. Simply put, this was a very funny movie. Todd Phillips can join his success with his ability to select the perfect cast of actors to play a tightly knit group of depraved friends. Though Jon Lucas and Scott Moore’s screenplay wasn’t as clever or witty as Phillips’ “Old School” or even “Road Trip,” the dynamic between the characters produced hilarious dialogue which basically sustained all the way through. The very nature of the plot suggested extremely over-the-top content, and there was plenty of that in the film as well. Still, while the overall story was exaggerated, the individual scenes were usually filled with laughs that were, more often than not, achieved without too much exaggeration. Justin Bartha, Bradley Cooper and Ed Helms were perfectly cast and played their characters wonderfully. They carried the perfect blend of believability and comedic delivery, and they seemed to know exactly what to do in every scene. Zach Galifianakis was also quite funny, though he was frequently overshadowed by Bartha in many scenes. Phillips added an extra dimension to the film’s success by allowing the audience to get to know the characters very well. Even with a regrettable sequence starring Ken Jeong, this movie delivered laughs from start to finish, and was definitely one of 2009′s funniest films.

2) Inglourious Basterds
Plot- An American-led killing squad known as “The Basterds” terrorize the Nazis in German-occupied France during World War II. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Quentin Tarantino (Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, Kill Bill: Vol. 1, Kill Bill: Vol. 2, Sin City, Grindhouse: Death Proof)

Starring- Brad Pitt, Diane Kruger, Eli Roth, B.J. Novak, Mike Myers, Michael Fassbender

Movieguy’s Verdict- There was so much excitement leading up to this movie, because Quentin Tarantino had spent so much time trying to get it made. I don’t think anyone thought the movie would turn out this badly. Early on, Tarantino’s direction carried a very delicate and detailed feel, and his writing created an atmosphere in which the line between seriousness and humor was ultra thin. His sets were perfect and everything felt ready for an epic movie experience. It became clear not too long after the opening sequence that Tarantino had made this into a foreign film, with the quantity of English dialogue running about 20%. It’s impossible to know how much of QT’s trademark wit was lost in translation, but let me assure you, it was a lot! As the film continued, it never felt like it was going anywhere. Long scenes of dialogue accomplished either nothing or incredibly little, which is unheard of for a Tarantino movie, as so many of his films rely heavily on dialogue. There were plenty of good ideas in the scenes, but the writing was so uneventful and devoid of content that it didn’t matter. QT always gets a lot out of his actors, and acting in this film was good, but misleading. Brad Pitt was advertised as the star of the film. He had the most time in all of the trailers, and his face was on all posters and DVD boxes. However, he had roughly 15 minutes of screen time. He gave an outstanding performance though, but it wasn’t enough to save the film. The film’s real lead was Christoph Waltz, and he gave a fantastic performance of a character who was actually very well created, and carried remarkable potential. But the fact remained that the movie just wasn’t very interesting. It was a missed opportunity, and really didn’t accomplish anything in the end. Now that’s something I never thought I’d say about a Quentin Tarantino movie!

3) Taking Woodstock
Plot- When Woodstock organizers have the plug pulled on their event, a young man spending the summer working on his parents’ farm, helps the event land a permit, and puts the organizers in touch with a dairy farmer whose plot of land could serve as a perfect spot for the concert. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Ang Lee (Sense and Sensibility, The Ice Storm, Ride with the Devil, Hulk, Brokeback Mountain)

Written by- James Schamus (Ride with the Devil)

Starring- Demetri Martin, Imelda Staunton, Emile Hirsch, Eugene Levy, Liev Schreiber, Paul Dano

Movieguy’s Verdict- One of the reasons a movie about Woodstock hadn’t come into existence before was because the massive scope of the concert and the social climate of the time made it nearly impossible to create a film mobile narrative. Despite a great deal of effort, this film did not attempt to solve that problem, and wound up avoiding success in other ways as well. Ang Lee’s direction did a great job of re-creating the times, and highlighted the interesting social dynamic between characters. There were plenty of characters, and James Schamus’ screenplay did offer a logical progression, establishing an interesting dynamic between those characters. The film’s problems were certainly not related to historical accuracy, as Lee did a fabulous job re-creating the times with accurate clothing, sets, props and everything else required to rebuild Woodstock. The film felt so realistic, but at the same time there wasn’t the slightest connection between the characters and the setting. This sprawled out and disconnected feeling can partially be attributed to Demetri Martin’s bland and uninspired performance as the movie’s star. He is a brilliant comedian, but not an actor at all. What was Lee thinking? The supporting cast was better, but the film lacked emotion, mostly because Lee seemed more concerned with re-creating history than actually putting any emotion or analysis into it. The screenplay was even more to blame for this because it offered nothing in the way of mood or emotion. In the end, the film meant well but turned out to be bland and completely forgettable, which was, ironically, the exact opposite of the real Woodstock.
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12-8-09

1) Public Enemies
Plot- FBI agent Melvin Purvis sets his sights on American gangster John Dillinger and others in an attempt to curb a rampant Chicago crime spree during the 1930s. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Michael Mann (Thief, The Keep, Manhunter, The Last of the Mohicans, Heat, The Insider, Ali, Collateral, Miami Vice)

Written by- Ronan Bennett (A Man You Don’t Meet Every Day, A Further Gesture, Face, Lucky Break), Michael Mann (Thief, The Keep, Manhunter, The Last of the Mohicans, Heat, The Insider, Ali, Collateral, Miami Vice), Ann Biderman (Copycat, Primal Fear, Smilla’s Sense of Snow)

Starring- Christian Bale, Johnny Depp, Stephen Dorff, Marion Cotillard, Channing Tatum, Billy Crudup, Giovanni Ribisi, Matt Craven, Leelee Sobieski, James Russo

Movieguy’s Verdict- Many movies have been released this year, but this magnificent film is far and away the best of 2009. No other film comes close to its phenomenal achievements, and it is unquestionably the frontrunner for practically every major Oscar. Michael Mann’s digital/handheld shooting style was perfect yet again, and his authentic, no frills direction oozed a mood that was vintage yet distinctly modern. Mann’s vision and direction placed the audience in the moment and never allowed them to drift away, even after the closing credits rolled. Johnny Depp’s Oscar-worthy performance as John Dillinger was brilliant. His charm, charisma and searing intensity was electric, as was his rich and dynamic chemistry with co-star Marion Cotillard. The film also reaped the benefits of fantastic supporting performances from Cotillard, Christian Bale and Billy Crudup. Mann built suspense and emotion beautifully in a film that was not only a crime epic, but a passionate character study as well. This rich, layered and deeply emotional work of art is a masterpiece, and easily the best film of 2009.

2) Carriers
Plot- Four young people speed across the Southwestern U.S. in a desperate attempt to outrun a viral pandemic. Over the course of a few days, tough moral decisions will have to be made if they have any chance at survival. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Àlex Pastor, David Pastor

Starring- Chris Pine, Piper Perabo, Lou Taylor Pucci, Emily VanCamp, Christopher Meloni

Movieguy’s Verdict- This little film received no press or publicity, but was an outstanding post-apocalyptic tale that cut to the core in more ways than one. Directors Àlex and David Pastor created a chilling and intense atmosphere that sustained from start to finish. They also employed expressive camerawork and editing techniques that brought out the story’s minimalism all the more. Their screenplay exposed a narrative of taut human drama and adeptly placed suspense. While the film was not devoid of plot holes, the symbolism (and plenty of literal content) still remained, which was a testament to the direction and acting. Chris Pine’s performance did feel a bit exaggerated at times, but all of the performances (including his) developed quite well throughout the duration of the film. The characters were well-written too, and the intensity of the plot did nothing but help. In the end, this completely unknown film was excellent and definitely needs to be watched.

3) Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Plot- In his sixth year at Hogwarts, Harry Potter discovers even more about the evil Lord Voldemort’s past, thanks to his mentor Dumbledore and mysterious textbook marked “This book is the property of the Half-Blood Prince.” By the end of the year, nothing will ever be the same. (imdb.com)

Directed by- David Yates (The Tichborne Claimant, The Girl in the Café, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix)

Written by- Steve Kloves (Racing with the Moon, The Fabulous Baker Boys, Flesh and Bone, Wonder Boys, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire)

Starring- Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Michael Gambon, Jim Broadbent, Julie Walters, Helena Bonham Carter, Timothy Spall, Alan Rickman, Robbie Coltrane, Warwick Davis, Maggie Smith, David Thewlis

Movieguy’s Verdict- While this movie was able to achieve a few positive qualities which the others in the series hadn’t, it still turned out to be just as bad as the rest of this highly overrated franchise. For the first time in the entire series, this movie was extremely well-directed. Filled with a dark and eerie atmosphere and strong camerawork, David Yates gave this film a thick and brooding mood that carried tremendous potential. This was quite difficult to believe considering he directed the last Potter, which was quite bland and forgettable. However, just like the last few Potters, there was a definite absence of story. Storytelling was completely non-existent in this movie, as its 150 minute running time contained, at most, 40 minutes of content relevant to its wafer thin main plot. There was no sense of character evolution, nor did the film ever feel like it was going anywhere. Yates’ direction was blissfully absent of the Hollywood corniness that has blanketed the franchise, and Rupert Grint’s performance was solid yet again. Daniel Radcliffe was basically forgettable in this film, as he looked quite bored with this stagnant series. Also, the typically atrocious supporting performances were present, this time from Helena Bonham Carter and Alan Rickman. Though I was thrilled with the direction, 40 minutes of relevant content in a 150 minute movie is simply unforgivable.

4) Julie & Julia
Plot- A frustrated secretary tries to shake up her life by chronicling her attempt to cook all 524 recipes in Julia Child’s “Mastering the Art of French Cooking” in a year’s time. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Nora Ephron (Writer of: Silkwood, Heartburn, When Harry Met Sally…, Cookie, My Blue Heaven, This is My Life, Sleepless in Seattle, Mixed Nuts, Michael, You’ve Got Mail, Hanging Up, Bewitched; Director of: This is My Life, Sleepless in Seattle, Mixed Nuts, Michael, You’ve Got Mail, Lucky Numbers, Bewitched)

Starring- Amy Adams, Meryl Streep, Chris Messina, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Jane Lynch

Movieguy’s Verdict- Though its basic plot was interesting, this film was a Hollywood fluff piece devoid of substance that seemed to be made to instantly forget. I can’t recall a time when I criticized Meryl Streep’s acting, but her performance in this film was dreadful. Her portrayal of Julia Child was little more than an intentionally goofy caricature which became agonizingly annoying after a half hour. Amy Adams fared better than Streep, giving what was at least a believable performance. She did however have the distinct advantage of having a character and storyline that were not as horribly written as Streep’s. Nora Ephron’s direction felt overly flowery and very enchanted with itself, as if Ephron was making the movie primarily for herself. Overall, there was a general sense of amusement that followed some of the film’s early sequences, but after that, Ephron allowed the film to become highly redundant. She also filled the movie with countless unnecessary scenes that had nothing to do with the basic storyline, and probably should have never been included in the screenplay in the first place. As the film dragged on, its 123 minute running time became more and more difficult to bear. Streep’s terrible performance continued to flow into one unnecessary scene after another, and this humorless, bland and repetitive Hollywood product was almost completely without merit. Unless you want yet another example of Hollywood fluff, stay away from this movie.
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12-1-09

1) Terminator Salvation
Plot- John Connor is joined in his attempt to defeat Skynet by Marcus Wright, a man who apparently has been rescued from the past, though Connor wonders if instead he’s been sent from the future as a foil to his plan. As Connor and Wright push deep into the heart of Skynet, they get closer and closer to learning the secret behind the organization’s mission to wipe humankind off the planet. (imdb.com)

Directed by- McG (Charlie’s Angels, Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle, We Are Marshall)

Written by- John D. Brancato (Primeval, Catwoman, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, The Game, The Net, Mindwarp, Interceptor, Into the Sun, Severed Ties, Femme Fatale, The Unborn, Watchers II), Michael Ferris (Primeval, Catwoman, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, The Game, The Net, Mindwarp, Interceptor, Into the Sun, Severed Ties, Femme Fatale, The Unborn, Watchers II)

Starring- Christian Bale, Sam Worthington, Moon Bloodgood, Helena Bonham Carter, Anton Yelchin, Bryce Dallas Howard, Common, Jane Alexander, Michael Ironside

Movieguy’s Verdict- After “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” everyone assumed the Terminator series was over. 12 years later, the ill-advised “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines” was released, after which everyone was definitely very sure there would be no more Terminator movies. Well, even though the storylines have been dead for many years, Hollywood attempted to squeeze a few more dollars out of this former cash cow. The result? Pretty much what you’d expect. After Christian Bale helped resurrect a dead Batman character, there was a glimmer of hope that the same would be true of this film. A reasonable assumption I suppose, but disappointment was the only result of that train of thought. With corniness, clichés, useless battle sequences, pointless explosions and over-the-top stunts at every turn, this movie had very little to offer. McG employed the same trashy direction he used in his expert handling of the “Charlie’s Angels” movies, and it seemed like all he could do was string together very expensive but purposeless explosions. John D. Brancato and Michael Ferris’ screenplay was absolutely filled with plot holes and gaps in logic, not to mention a total lack of story. Throw in a useless love story and a group of poorly created characters, and this film was a classic example of a Hollywood moneymaking scheme gone wrong. In the end, the film accomplished nothing it should never be watched.

2) Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
Plot- Security guard Larry Daley infiltrates the Smithsonian Institute in order to rescue Jedediah and Octavius, who have been shipped to the museum by mistake. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Shawn Levy (Just Married, Cheaper by the Dozen, The Pink Panther, Night at the Museum)

Written by- Robert Ben Garant (Taxi, The Pacifier, Herbie Fully Loaded, Let’s Go to Prison, Night at the Museum, Reno 911!: Miami, Balls of Fury), Thomas Lennon (Taxi, The Pacifier, Herbie Fully Loaded, Let’s Go to Prison, Night at the Museum, Reno 911!: Miami, Balls of Fury)

Starring- Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Amy Adams, Hank Azaria, Robin Williams, Christopher Guest, Steve Coogan, Ricky Gervais, Bill Hader

Movieguy’s Verdict- The first “Night at the Museum” was definitely a bad movie, but compared to this horror show it might as well have been a Best Picture nominee. The film began abruptly with an earshatteringly atrocious Hollywood musical score only worthy of a film this bad. Then it got really bad. Ben Stiller tried one scene after another of deadpan comedy that failed miserably because the writing was so abominable. The rest of the cast was just as horrendous, with Amy Adams and Hank Azaria giving performances that were among 2009’s worst, and hardest to watch. The film’s stupidity was too overwhelming to make a breakdown of its countless problems worthwhile. There wasn’t even an accidentally humorous moment in this painful movie, and Shawn Levy (who has quietly become one of the decade’s worst filmmakers alongside the likes of Uwe Bol, Brett Rattner and Tyler Perry) seemed content to use all of the film’s money to include every cheesy and overdone CGI effect crewmembers could think up. This was a completely worthless waste of money that was as wickedly painful as the Steve Martin “Pink Panther” movies. Never ever watch this. Ever.
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11-24-09

1) Angels & Demons
Plot- Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon finds himself in Rome, where must race against time to prevent the Illuminati, a secret society, from putting in motion a terrorist act that could destroy the Vatican. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Ron Howard (Frost/Nixon, The Da Vinci Code, Cinderella Man, The Missing, A Beautiful Mind, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Edtv, Ransom, Apollo 13, The Paper, Far and Away, Backdraft, Parenthood, Willow, Gung Ho, Cocoon, Splash, Night Shift, Grand Theft Auto)

Written by- David Koepp (Director of:Ghost Town, Secret Window, Stir of Echoes, The Trigger Effect; Writer of: Ghost Town, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Zathura, War of the Worlds, Secret Window, Spider-Man, Panic Room, Stir of Echoes, Snake Eyes, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, Mission: Impossible, The Shadow, The Paper, Carlito’s Way, Jurassic Park, Death Becomes Her), Akiva Goldsman (A Beautiful Mind, Cinderella Man, The Client, Batman Forever, Batman & Robin, Lost in Space, Practical Magic, I Robot, The Da Vinci Code, I Am Ledend)

Starring- Tom Hanks, Ayelet Zurer, Ewan McGregor, Stellan Skarsgård, Armin Mueller-Stahl

Movieguy’s Verdict- “The Da Vinci Code” was indeed a special movie. An Oscar-worthy film across the board, it was disgracefully cast aside because of its controversial religious statements. Nevertheless, the movie successfully balanced elegance and raw suspense in a way that few films have been able to do. However, if you were expecting the same kind of Oscar-worthy quality from this movie, you might be disappointed- but for most of the film that was not necessarily a bad thing. Ron Howard’s direction was ominous, dark and moody, and his ability to create an intense rise and fall in emotions and suspense appeared almost effortless. His direction carried the large-scale grandeur of a Hollywood blockbuster, but with a commanding presence that only a top-flight filmmaker can display. Though the writing team for this film are as Hollywood as they come, the screenplay contained an appropriately high-level of symbolism and philosophical intrigue. The writing balanced suspense and plot management extremely well, and gelled with Howard’s direction perfectly. While this film lacked the Oscar-worthy acting of the “The Da Vinci Code,” performances were outstanding nonetheless, save one part. Tom Hanks was excellent as you would obviously expect, and Ewan McGregor and Stellan Skarsgård provided strong supporting showings. Unfortunately Ayelet Zurer was the weak link. Though she gave a decent performance, there was absolutely no chemistry between her and Hanks. Until the last half hour this was an edge of your seat thriller that was as compelling and captivating as they come. Disappointingly, Howard and company mishandled the climax and ending to such a severe degree that the movie basically fell apart. The plot holes and numerous problems with the final portion of the movie made it easy to separate it from its predecessor, or a movie with a working ending for that matter. How anyone allowed the film to fall apart so severely I might never know, but it was fantastic until the end. Definitely watch it, but prepare for disappointment in the final moments.

2) Funny People
Plot- When seasoned comedian George Simmons learns of his terminal, inoperable health condition, his desire to form a genuine friendship inspires him to take a relatively green performer under his wing as his opening act. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Judd Apatow (Writer of: Heavy Weights, Celtic Pride, The 40 Year Old Virgin, Fun with Dick and Jane, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, You Don’t Mess with the Zohan, Knocked Up; Director of: The 40 Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up)

Starring- Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann, Jonah Hill, Eric Bana, Ken Jeong, Jason Schwartzman

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was one of the summer’s more highly anticipated movies, and while the end result contained considerably more success than failure, some were still disappointed. Everything about this movie begins and ends with Judd Apatow’s vision and execution. Apatow created wonderfully authentic situations and his characters were remarkably well developed. His direction was perfectly crafted with biting sarcasm and wit when necessary, but also fostered tenderness and deeply meaningful emotional connections. Adam Sandler’s performance was outstanding, and the character he played was appropriately complex and perfectly developed in the scope of the movie’s plot. Seth Rogen also gave a very strong supporting performance in a film that was quite well acted overall. As I said before, there was great authenticity to this movie and plenty of the film felt natural and comfortably improvised. There was plenty of humor and biting sarcasm to go around, but Apatow did allow the film to considerably slow down during its last hour. All who said the film went on too long were not mistaken, and the last hour of this two and a half hour film felt very confused and unnecessarily drawn out. In the end, this was a very complex (and funny) journey of sustained character and story development that Apatow couldn’t figure out how to complete.

3) Four Christmases
Plot- A comedy about a married couple (Witherspoon and Vaughn) from two divorced families who are tasked with attending four Christmas Day celebrations. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Seth Gordon (The King of Kong)

Written by- Matt Allen, Caleb Wilson, Jon Lucas (Full of It, Rebound, Rustin), Scott Moore (Full of It, Rebound, Rustin)

Starring- Reese Witherspoon, Vince Vaughn, Mary Steenburgen, Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek, Jon Voight, Jon Favreau, Dwight Yoakam, Tim McGraw, Kristin Chenoweth, Katy Mixon

Movieguy’s Verdict- Obviously what the movie industry most needs is yet another useless piece of Christmas garbage, but that’s exactly what this movie was. The ridiculous amount of talent this movie wasted is analogous to how bad of an experience it was. As you might expect, the film contained very contrived characters who were as poorly written as they were acted. Clearly the quality of the actors was not the problem here, because without a single moment of humor and situations as stupidly conceived as they come, this was never going to be anything but a complete disaster. Director Seth Gordon and the film’s four idiot writers tried so hard to make each character and situation eccentric and extremely over-the-top. In a way they succeeded, but the result of that success was a movie that was extremely painful to sit through. Basically, this was a totally thoughtless and failed excuse for a family Christmas movie that also happened to be a disgraceful waste of talent. It goes without saying that you should never watch this movie.
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11-17-09

1) Star Trek
Plot- The origin story of Captain James T. Kirk, Spock and the crew of the USS Enterprise before they had boldly gone where no man had gone before. (imdb.com)

Directed by- J.J. Abrams (Mission: Impossible III)

Written by- Roberto Orci (The Island, The Legend of Zorro, Mission: Impossible III, Transformers), Alex Kurtzman (The Island, The Legend of Zorro, Mission: Impossible III, Transformers)

Starring- Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Simon Pegg, Eric Bana, Bruce Greenwood, Karl Urban, Zoe Saldana, John Cho, Anton Yelchin, Winona Ryder, Clifton Collins Jr., Leonard Nimoy

Movieguy’s Verdict- Taking into account the plethora of poorly conceived television ripoffs and countless failed movies, it was fair to say that the “Star Trek” genre was officially dead and buried. I had no idea what J.J. Abrams could possibly contribute to storylines and characters that have been constantly and cheaply re-created for decades, but his presence in the film was more than noticeable. Though the opening sequence was rather forced, it was accompanied by a strong rush of emotion. Abrams attempted to build the characters with detail and care, though some did seem quite typical and predictable. Through his solid camerawork and direction Abrams put plenty of detail into the ship and all settings, making things feel much more real than previous adaptations. Chris Pine was excellent as Kirk, capturing the character’s presence and struggles with great personality and intelligence. Zachary Quinto was also outstanding as Spock, and the two proved to be a wonderful acting duo on screen. While the film was always exciting and had so much going on, I did detect certain Hollywood corniness throughout. This was made to seem worse due to an atrocious musical score which hurt the film considerably. Also, there was no excuse for a two scene cameo by Tyler Perry, one of the worst “filmmakers” of all time. How or why he became involved with a real movie no one will ever know. Still, the screenplay was actually much more intelligent than one might expect, despite highly exaggerated villain characters and a poorly conceived romantic subplot. Overall this was a guilty pleasure for sure, but one with a respectable sense of quality and purpose- pretty good for Hollywood these days.

2) Brüno
Plot- Flamboyant Austrian fashion reporter Bruno travels the world in search of the latest style trends. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Larry Charles (Masked and Anonymous, Borat, Religulous)

Written by- Sacha Baron Cohen (Ali G Indahouse, Borat), Anthony Hines (Borat), Dan Mazer (Ali G Indahouse, Borat), Jeff Schaffer (The Cat in the Hat, EuroTrip)

Starring- Sacha Baron Cohen, Gustaf Hammarsten, Clifford Bañagale

Movieguy’s Verdict- “Borat” was a very surprising success for many reasons, and while the film wasn’t perfect it was indeed a gutsy and oddly refreshing movie that had more intelligence than most realize. On every level it would be impossible to compare this alleged movie to “Borat,” because the trailers for “Borat” actually looked funny, and the movie was funny too. It was clear that the movie had far too many gross out moments, and one forced, useless over-the-top moment after another showed that it had very few actual ideas to its credit. The truth is, the Brüno character wasn’t very funny or even remotely interesting to begin with, though Sacha Baron Cohen displayed very good mannerisms and a solid accent. Overall this pitifully bad excuse for a movie had a few isolated laughs, but tried so hard to be gross, controversial, homophobic and obscene that it forgot to tell a story, or do much of anything. It is now looking like Cohen is a one-hit wonder in the movie industry. Do yourself a favor and stay far, far away from this garbage.

3) My Sister’s Keeper
Plot- Anna Fitzgerald looks to earn medical emancipation from her parents who until now have relied on their youngest child to help their leukemia-stricken daughter Kate remain alive. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Nick Cassavetes (Unhook the Stars, She’s So Lovely, John Q, The Notebook, Alpha Dog)

Written by- Jeremy Leven (The Notebook, Alex & Emma, Crazy as Hell, The Legend of Bagger Vance, Don Juan DeMarco, Playing for Keeps, Creator), Nick Cassavetes (Unhook the Stars, Blow, Whatever We Do, Alpha Dog)

Starring- Cameron Diaz, Abigail Breslin, Alec Baldwin, Sofia Vassilieva, Jason Patric, Emily Deschanel

Movieguy’s Verdict- If you saw the trailers and thought this would be just another forced tearjerker filled with manufactured emotions, you’d basically be right. The film did have good qualities however. Performances were good from all parts, though no one really stood out or did anything particularly noteworthy. I could tell that Nick Cassavetes’ direction was crafted with tenderness, accompanied by a quiet and thoughtful air. Throughout most of the film he really carried things very well, but near the end (the long, long drawn out ending), Cassavetes really laid it on thick with forced sentimentality, and overly melodramatic montages packed with forced tearjerking flashbacks. The writing fell short as well in a similar fashion. A movie that began with strong characters and well-written dialogue/narration turned into one too many unnecessary plot deviations, and too much attention paid to minor and insignificant characters. It did have something to offer, but in the end Cassavetes lost complete control over the film.

4) The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard
Plot- Used-car liquidator Don Ready is hired by a flailing auto dealership to turn their Fourth of July sale into a majorly profitable event. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Neal Brennan (Half Baked)

Written by- Andy Stock, Rick Stempson

Starring- Jeremy Piven, Ving Rhames, James Brolin, David Koechner, Kathryn Hahn, Ed Helms, Tony Hale, Ken Jeong, Alan Thicke

Movieguy’s Verdict- The awful title might suggest something extremely bad, but this movie did have its moments- there just weren’t very many of them. You can’t fault the movie for energy and effort because it had an overabundance of both. Jeremy Piven’s strong comedic energy worked very well at times, but in the long run it felt as though he was trying too hard. Still, Neal Brennan, Andy Stock and Rick Stempson adopted a quick comedic pace that created laughs early, but immature writing and a complete lack of even the most rudimentary level of believability caused that humor to burn out quickly. What was left? Nothing but typical and clichéd characters, failed antics and a terrible romantic subplot. Though the movie could have been much worse, it had very little real content to work with, which is always a recipe for failure.
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11-10-09

1) Up
Plot- By tying thousands of balloons to his home, 78-year-old Carl Fredricksen sets out to fulfill his lifelong dream to see the wilds of South America. Right after lifting off, however, he learns he isn’t alone on his journey, since Russell, a wilderness explorer 70 years his junior, has inadvertently become a stowaway on the trip. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Pete Docter (Monsters, Inc.), Bob Peterson

Written by- Bob Peterson (Finding Nemo)

Voices of- Edward Asner, Jordan Nagai, John Ratzenberger, Bob Peterson, Christopher Plummer, Delroy Lindo

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film will very easily win Best Animated Feature, but the perceived timeless grandeur with which it was received had more to do with the first 40 minutes than the product as a whole. The opening sequence was as beautiful, heartfelt and mature as you will ever see in a kid’s movie. The emotion and fantastic character development established early was remarkable from both audience and critical standpoints. There was also clever writing and solid comedy present during the first half of the film, once again showing Pixar’s ability to create intelligent and mature content that children and adults can simultaneously appreciate. Unfortunately, writer/co-director Bob Peterson and co-director Pete Docter chose to turn this heartfelt, amusing and clever tale into a corny and immature child’s action film with typically exaggerated villains, never-ending forced action sequences and a collection of ruined characters. When compared to the first 40 minutes, it felt like a totally different movie. Still, vocal performances from Edward Asner, Bob Peterson and Jordan Nagai were solid (especially Peterson), though Christopher Plummer was atrocious. And, as we all know, the Pixar CGI was every bit as breathtaking as you’d expect, and 3D made it even better. The first half of the film wins the Oscar hands down, but the second half makes the film feel overrated.

2) The Ugly Truth
Plot- A macho morning TV show correspondent makes a bet with his love-challenged producer: If his tips on how to land and keep a guy don’t work, he’ll quit the business. But while he coaches her through a fledgling romance, can he avoid falling for her, and vice versa? (imdb.com)

Directed by- Robert Luketic (Legally Blonde, Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!, Monster-in-Law, 21)

Written by- Nicole Eastman, Karen McCullah Lutz (She’s the Man), Kirsten Smith (She’s the Man)

Starring- Katherine Heigl, Gerard Butler, Bree Turner, Eric Winter, Cheryl Hines, John Michael Higgins

Movieguy’s Verdict- This movie had the potential to be a biting, sarcastic and irreverent comedy about relationships. Unfortunately it ended up as just another forgettable Hollywood romantic comedy. At least the film got casting right as Katherine Heigl and Gerard Butler fit their parts very well. Additionally, they had good chemistry together, and offered what felt like believable performances. Naturally, Butler’s character was exaggerated, and the screenplay was highly over-simplified, so clearly there wasn’t much intelligence to be found in the writing. Some decent comedy was present in the film’s early stages, but it lasted under 20 minutes. Nicole Eastman, Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith missed a huge opportunity to write a solid comedy that was energetic, quick and adult themed by failing to create any interesting content after the first 20 minutes. The rest of the way, they relied on typical Hollywood romantic comedy themes and tired plot lines. Predictability and dullness occupied the remainder of the movie, and those are not good qualities. Give this one a pass for sure.
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11-3-09

1) The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3
Plot- Armed men hijack a New York City subway train, holding the passengers hostage in return for a ransom, and turning an ordinary day’s work for dispatcher Walter Garbe into a face-off with the mastermind behind the crime. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Tony Scott (Déjà-Vu, Domino, Man of Fire, Spy Game, Enemy of the State, Crimson Tide, Top Gun)

Written by- Brian Helgeland (Man on Fire, The Order, Mystic River, Blood Work, A Knight’s Tale, Payback, The Postman, Conspiracy Theory, L.A. Confidential, Assassins, Highway to Hell, 976-EVIL, A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master

Starring- Denzel Washington, John Travolta, Luis Guzmán, Victor Gojcaj, John Turturro, James Gandolfini, Michael Rispoli, Ramon Rodriguez, John Benjamin Hickey

Movieguy’s Verdict- The directorial vision of Tony Scott has been all over the place. Some of his earlier films turned out to be action classics like “Crimson Tide,” “Top Gun,” “True Romance,” and “Enemy of the State.” However, his later work showed a new schizophrenic editing style that worked beautifully in “Man on Fire,” but made “Domino” an unwatchable disaster. His latest film, “Déjà Vu” had all the promise in the world, but was derailed by massive story problems. So, it’s fair to say that Scott’s career has been quite inconsistent in the last decade. Did he improve this time? Not really. An over-edited opening sequence was proof that he still doesn’t grasp how to properly pace his visual effects. This opening portion showed that Scott was trying to make the film’s simple set up overly complex. This was a recurring, and rather ironic theme in this film because while Scott and writer Brian Helgeland attempted to make the story detailed and involved, it was oddly lacking in substance and depth. The only bright spots were the performances of Denzel Washington (of course) and John Travolta. Both showed tremendous concentration and focus, and offered a wide range of emotions which brought positive energy to the film. Travolta was a solid and engrossing villain, though his performance was a bit exaggerated at times. John Turturro also provided an entertaining supporting performance, but James Gandolfini gave a horrible performance of a terrible character. Down the stretch it was clear that Scott didn’t provide a consistent mood for the film, and Helgeland included lots of unnecessary and superficial dialogue. The film as a whole felt very superficial and lacked any semblance of substance, ultimately accomplishing very little. There really isn’t a great need to make this movie, as the 1974 version is quite excellent by itself.

2) G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
Plot- An elite military unit comprised of operatives known as the Global Integrated Joint Operating Entity look to dismantle Cobra, an organization headed by a Scottish arms dealer. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Stephen Sommers (Writer of: Catch Me If You Can, The Adventures of Huck Finn, Gunmen, The Jungle Book, Tom and Huck, Deep Rising, The Mummy, The Mummy Returns, The Scorpion King, Van Helsing; Director of: Catch Me If You Can, The Adventures of Huck Finn, The Jungle Book, Deep Rising, The Mummy, The Mummy Returns, Van Helsing)

Written by- Stuart Beattie (Joey, The Protector, Shutter, Kick, Collateral, Derailed, 30 Days of Night, Australia), David Elliot (Nothing Sacred, The Watcher, Four Brothers, Catacombs), Paul Lovett (Four Brothers)

Starring- Dennis Quaid, Channing Tatum, Marlon Wayans, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Sienna Miller, Jonathan Pryce, Arnold Vosloo

Movieguy’s Verdict- The surprising financial success of the “Transformers” films has prompted Hollywood to try to extract every penny from as many children’s action figures as possible. The trailers looked horrible, but the film was much, much worse. Remarkable, unrelenting corniness oozed from every scene, as one terribly conceived stunt after another was forced upon the audience. The direction was laughably childish as Stephen Sommers rolled out every cliché in the book. The characters were as bad as one might expect, though Channing Tatum’s character was at least remotely believable. Writers Stuart Beattie, David Elliot and Paul Lovett expended more energy than most attempting to develop characters in such a horrible atmosphere, but over-the-top CGI and extreme cheesiness were the only noticeable results. Those are bad qualities of course, but at least the CGI was so overpowering (in a bad way) that it drowned out most of the poor acting. Obviously, this was a film that should have never been made, and as such, it should never, under any circumstances be watched.

3) I Love You, Beth Cooper
Plot- The last night of high school takes an unexpected turn after geeky grad Denis Cooverman declares his love for hottie cheerleader Beth Cooper in his valedictorian speech. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Chris Columbus (Rent, 3-D Rocks, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Bicentennial Man, Stepmom, Nine Months, Mrs. Doubtfire, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, Only the Lonely, Home Alone, Heartbreak Hotel, Adventures in Babysitting)

Written by- Larry Doyle (Duplex, Looney Tunes: Back in Action)

Starring- Hayden Panettiere, Paul Rust, Jack Carpenter, Lauren London, Lauren Storm, Shawn Roberts

Movieguy’s Verdict- The trailers made this look like a typical teen movie, but the first 20 minutes were quite impressive. There was a decent level of comedy during this time, and Paul Rust and Jack Carpenter fit their parts well, giving quirky performances. Director Chris Columbus and writer Larry Doyle created funny and clever situations for these oddball characters, and applied solid energy and creativity as well. After the first 20 minutes however, the film went downhill rather quickly. Too many forced stunts, exaggerated alpha male characters and poorly conceived antics turn the film into an all too familiar high school tale. The comedy disappeared as well, and while Rust and Carpenter remained good fits for their parts, Columbus and Doyle allowed the film to adopt a slow and lazy pace that made it feel like it would never end. Though it ended up exactly as you’d expect, the first 20 minutes were good enough to make this fact all the more frustrating.
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10-27-09

1) Whatever Works
Plot- An eccentric older man encounters a Southern belle and promptly falls in love. But how will the couple, her family, and his New York City friends mix? (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Woody Allen

Starring- Evan Rachel Wood, Larry David, Henry Cavill, Ed Begley Jr., Jessica Hecht, Patricia Clarkson

Movieguy’s Verdict- Woody Allen has worked with plenty of great actors and actresses over the years, but his decision to cast one of my personal heroes, Larry David, in a leading role was the perfect gutsy choice. You may know David as the co-creator of “Seinfeld” and creator/star of HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm”- also known as two of the most brilliantly conceived television programs of all time. David is known as a curmudgeon filled with angst for society’s conventions. In other words; a more perfect match for a Woody Allen movie you could not find. In this film, the character Allen created for David was one of his angriest ever, and he played the role perfectly. The script was smart and viciously funny with a classic Woody Allen feel, but also featuring an angry edge that we haven’t seen from Woody in a very long time. The film’s biggest surprise was the phenomenal performance of Evan Rachel Wood, whose bizarre, quirky and totally off-the-wall showing is definitely Oscar-worthy. There is historical president for this because in 1995, Mira Sorvino won Best Supporting Actress in Woody’s slightly above average film “Mighty Aphrodite.” Anyway, all characters were very well-created in this film, but unfortunately, its dark bite faded about halfway through, along with David’s screen time. I’m sad to report that after such a strong start, the film didn’t sustain for its entire running time. Nevertheless, the film was aided by interesting characters, great performances and a solid story, but it never should have lost its edge. In the end the film balanced out as a solid Woody Allen comedy, but it could have been so much more.

2) Orphan
Plot- After their unborn baby dies, Kate and John decide to adopt a child. However, through a strange sequence of events follows the child’s arrival, sinister intentions become apparent. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Jaume Collet-Serra (House of Wax, Goal II: Living the Dream)

Written by- David Johnson

Starring- Vera Farmiga, Peter Sarsgaard, Isabelle Fuhrman, CCH Pounder

Movieguy’s Verdict- The horror genre needs a boost, and fast. In fact, horror has been in trouble for quite some time, and this movie had all the potential in the world to be an adrenaline shot to the genre. Unfortunately, after doing so many things well, it turned out to be little more than average. Jaume Collet-Serra’s body of work is extremely poor. His first movie starred Paris Hilton, and his second was a forgettable sports film, so it’s fair to say that no one thought he had the slightest bit of vision or talent to offer. Surprisingly, this film was directed with considerable care, resulting in a thick atmosphere of well-developed substantive creepiness. David Johnson’s screenplay was filled with psychologically complex themes that were also enhanced by the direction. Though the film was slow to develop, Collet-Serra’s dark direction and Johnson’s chilling subject matter made for compelling viewing indeed. Vera Farmiga provided a solid leading performance as she always does, but Isabelle Fuhrman’s breathtakingly complex co-starring role captured the spotlight in a big way. Her performance was intense and chilling, and also very well developed for someone so young. Until the climax, the film was quite excellent on practically all fronts, despite feeling a bit sluggish in a few scenes. The climax was as poorly directed as it was written, and left a massive number of plot holes and gaps in logic which basically ruined all of the film’s credibility. This film could have been one of the year’s most surprising successes, but Johnson’s inability to write an ending that worked neutralized most of its good qualities.

3) Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
Plot- The third movie in the Ice Age series.

Written and Directed by- Carlos Saldanha (Ice Age, Robots, Ice Age: The Meltdown), Mike Thurmeier

Voices of- Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary, Queen Latifah, Karen Disher, Bill Hader, Jane Lynch, Seann William Scott, Kristen Wiig

Movieguy’s Verdict- Did we really need another “Ice Age” movie? Not really, but with its theatrical presentation in 3D, at least it had something different to offer. Bringing up the 3D, it was immediately noticeable how outstanding the CGI was. Overall, Carlos Saldanha and Mike Thurmeier used 3D quite well, and applied a good deal of cleverness and creativity to the film’s visuals, which were more or less all that made it watchable. At times the writing’s cleverness matched the visuals, and there was moderate humor to be found in places. With typical kid’s movie characters and poor vocal performances from all parts, it failed to separate itself in any way from the plethora of all kid’s films with solid CGI. The film moved fairly well until its overdone climax. After that, it just dragged on and on as it there was no end in sight. Ultimately the film had great CGI and made fine use of 3D, but was a typical and appropriately forgettable kid’s movie.

4) Nothing Like the Holidays
Plot- The scattered members of the Rodriguez family return to their parents’ home in Chicago for Christmas. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Alfredo De Villa (Adrift in Manhattan, Yellow, Washington Heights)

Written by- Alison Swan (Mixing Nia), Rick Najera

Starring- John Leguizamo, Freddy Rodríguez, Debra Messing, Alfred Molina, Elizabeth Peña, Luis Guzmán, Jay Hernandez, Vanessa Ferlito, Melonie Diaz, Alexander Bautista, Ramses Jimenez, Manny Perez

Movieguy’s Verdict- We certainly don’t need another Christmas movie, but thankfully this wasn’t a full-fledged holiday film. Nevertheless, it just wasn’t very good. Early on, Alison Swan and Rick Najera’s script was flooded with cheap ethnic jokes and flimsy cultural stereotypes. As the film progressed, the writing proved less than intelligent due to the characters’ lack of substance and absence of connection between them. The plot was rather slow and note terribly interesting, though there were a handful of scenes with interesting conversations. As the characters were rather dull, performances offered little. However, Freddy Rodríguez did manage to stand out from the pack. Alfred Molina, on the other hand, stood out in a bad way with an atrociously delivered accent. Though the film meant well, and wasn’t a typical Hallmark holiday movie, it offered very few positives.
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10-20-09

1) Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Plot- Decepticon forces return to Earth on a mission to take Sam Witwicky prisoner, after the young hero learns the truth about the ancient origins of the Transformers. Joining the mission to protect humankind is Optimus Prime, who forms an alliance with international armies for a second epic battle. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Michael Bay (Bad Boys, The Rock, Pearl Harbor, Bad Boys II, The Island, Transformers)

Written by- Ehren Kruger (Arlington Road, Scream 3, Reindeer Games, Imposter, The Ring, The Ring Two, The Skeleton Key, Blood and Chocolate), Roberto Orci (The Island, The Legend of Zorro, Mission: Impossible III, Transformers, Star Trek), Alex Kurtzman (The Island, The Legend of Zorro, Mission: Impossible III, Transformers, Star Trek)

Starring- Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Isabel Lucas, Josh Duhamel, Hugo Weaving, Michael Papajohn, John Turturro, Rainn Wilson, Tyrese Gibson

Movieguy’s Verdict- The first Transformers film was one of biggest Hollywood surprises in recent memory. What looked like the most aggressive display of corniness, product placements and exaggerated CGI of the year actually turned out to be a fun and highly entertaining summer blockbuster. Shia LaBeouf’s energy and natural charisma saved that film as it has many others. This time around it didn’t matter; nothing could have saved this film from being a horrible disaster. Michael Bay’s extremely forced special-effects and highly exaggerated Hollywood direction were very hard to watch. Each scene was more forced and corny than the last, and while LaBeouf delivered another high energy performance, he was drowned out by Bay’s poorly placed special effects, moronic characters, and total lack of story. The film had no plot of any kind; it was just one terribly conceived fight sequence after another. The first film made the mistake of allowing the transformer robots to talk, which was so corny it made me wince. This time around, they were given large portions of dialogue and stupid personalities, which made their impact on the first film look like an Oscar-worthy endeavor. Overall, this was a shocking waste of time, money and Shia LaBeouf’s talent. Someone needs to put Michael Bay on a leash.
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10-13-09

1) The Proposal
Plot- A publishing executive forces her assistant to marry her so she can avoid being deportated to Canada. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Anne Fletcher (Step Up, 27 Dresses)

Written by- Pete Chiarelli

Starring- Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds, Mary Steenburgen, Craig T. Nelson, Betty White, Denis O’Hare, Malin Akerman

Movieguy’s Verdict- In the very early stages, the film carried an enjoyable and somewhat whimsical mood as Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds played their characters perfectly. There was a marginal amount of light-hearted comedy to be found, but after less than a half-hour, any good content Pete Chiarelli’s screenplay might have had disappeared. In its place was a constant stream of clichés, predictability and a total lack of creativity from Anne Fletcher and Chiarelli. In fact, this was as by-the-numbers and clichéd as a Hollywood romantic comedy can possibly be, all the way down to the score. I have nothing against a film like this as long as it remains entertaining, but the last hour was as dull as they come, and there was no sign of comedy to be found. Even Reynolds and Bullock, who were solid choices for their parts, were forgettable in such a lifeless environment. This film failed to do anything much at all other than rack up the clichés. There are plenty of better films to watch in this genre.

2) Land of the Lost
Plot- On his latest expedition, Dr. Rick Marshall is sucked into a space-time vortex alongside his research assistant and a redneck survivalist. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Brad Silberling (Casper, City of Angels, Moonlight Mile, Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events, 10 Items or Less)

Written by- Chris Henchy, Dennis McNicholas (The Ladies Man)

Starring- Will Ferrell, Danny McBride, Anna Friel, Bobb’e J. Thompson

Movieguy’s Verdict- The trailers made this film look nothing short of a Will Ferrell-helmed zero star pain festival. Thankfully it was nowhere near as bad as it looked, and for a decent amount of time, this actually proved to be a surprisingly good movie. The writing and direction were much more witty and clever than anyone could have expected. Brad Silberling and writers Chris Henchy and Dennis McNicholas captured highly bizarre situations in a way that couldn’t help but result in humor. Though Danny McBride was guilty of delivering a forced and exaggerated performance, Ferrell delivered plenty of well-placed, bizarre lines with perfect timing and personality. He was indeed the ideal performer for a film so off-the-wall. There was a certain degree of corniness to the film, but Silberling’s vision and Ferrell’s performance took some of the most bizarre comedic content I’ve ever seen and brought it together as few others could. Unfortunately, the film fell apart in a huge way over the last half hour, as Silberling, Henchy and McNicholas attempted to add too many unnecessary elements to a story that already had plenty of content to go around. There was also a significant element of corniness to this last portion, which was so poor overall that it basically ruined the film. Though few expected anything from this movie, it was on its way to becoming one of the most surprising success stories of 2009. Unfortunately it ended up in the middle of the pack.

3) Drag Me to Hell
Plot- A loan officer ordered to evict an old woman from her home finds herself the recipient of a supernatural curse which turns her life into a living nightmare. Desperate, she turns to a seer for help, and learns she only has a short period of time before she is literally ushered into Hell. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Sam Raimi (Spider-Man 3, Spider-Man 2, Spider-Man, The Gift, For Love of the Game, A Simple Plan, The Quick and the Dead, Army of Darkness, Darkman, Evil Dead II, Crimewave, The Evil Dead)

Written by- Sam Raimi (The Evil Dead, Crimewave, Evil Dead II, Easy Wheels, Darkman, The Nutt House, Army of Darkness, The Hudsucker Proxy, Spider-Man 3), Ivan Raimi (Easy Wheels, Darkman, The Nutt House, Army of Darkness, Spider-Man 3)

Starring- Alison Lohman, Justin Long, Ruth Livier, Dileep Rao, Lorna Raver, David Paymer, Adriana Barraza

Movieguy’s Verdict- In its trailers this film was advertised as “The return of true horror.” Apparently, Sam Raimi believes that the horror genre is worthy of a constant stream of over-the-top antics, laughable stupidity and horrible special effects. The film began with a small collection of quiet moments that were artfully crafted and chilling, but Raimi’s tendency to purposely exaggerate key scenes in the most laughable way made it very hard to watch. The film was also extremely predictable, highly telegraphed and by the numbers at every turn. The film did have some definite good visual ideas, but too much exaggeration ruined them almost immediately. Acting was unimpressive with bland, forgettable performances from Alison Lohman and Justin Long. The screenplay was predictable, but also bogged down with dialogue that was as unintelligent as the direction. The laughable, corny exaggeration only got worse as the film progressed, and by the end it was nearly impossible to sit through. The return of true horror? Hardly. The return of stupidity shrouded in a haze of Sam Raimi’s enormous ego is more like it.
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10-6-09

1) Year One
Plot- When two lazy hunter-gatherers are banished from their primitive village, they set off on an epic journey through their ancient world. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Harold Ramis (The Ice Harvest, Analyze That, Bedazzled, Analyze This, Multiplicity, Stuart Saves His Family, Groundhog Day, Club Paradise, Vacation, Caddyshack)

Written by- Harold Ramis (Analyze That, Bedazzled, Analyze This, Groundhog Day, Rover Dangerfield, Ghostbusters II, Caddyshack II, Armed and Dangerous, Club Paradise, Back to School, Meatballs III: Summer Job, Ghost Busters, Stripes, Caddyshack, Meatballs, Animal House), Gene Stupnitsky, Lee Eisenberg

Starring- Jack Black, Michael Cera, Olivia Wilde, Oliver Platt, David Cross, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Vinnie Jones, Hank Azaria, Juno Temple, Xander Berkeley, Horatio Sanz, Harold Ramis, Bill Hader

Movieguy’s Verdict- There were many contributing factors that made this a zero star failure from beginning to end. Jack Black’s horrible and forced performance was among the most noticeable, though the stupidity and moronic ineptitude of the writing was obviously the main cause. The film’s content and premise were beyond sophomoric. There wasn’t a single second of comedy to be found in the entire movie, though lack of comedy was overshadowed by incessant, brutally painful scenes that were simply too worthless to watch. Michael Cera is usually good for a quality comedic performance, but with “characters” created by a brain-dead stoner mentality, and a “story” that was as infantile as they come, there wasn’t a second of watchable content in this entire waste of time, film and money. If you haven’t figured out by now, don’t go anywhere near this trash.

2) My Life in Ruins
Plot- A travel guide rediscovers her romantic side, with a very unlikely match, as she whisks a group of tourists around Greece. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Donald Petrie (Grumpy Old Men, Ri¢hie Ri¢h, Miss Congeniality, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Welcome to Mooseport, Just My Luck)

Written by- Mike Reiss (The Simpsons Movie)

Starring- Nia Vardalos, Richard Dreyfuss, Rachel Dratch, Alexis Georgoulis, Alistair McGowan, Harland Williams, Caroline Goodall

Movieguy’s Verdict- There are plenty of romantic comedies out there that don’t succeed, but this film seemed to do everything in its power to be as forgettable and clichéd as possible. The film opened with a barrage of tired situations that were as predictable and highly telegraphed as the sloppily created characters. Mike Reiss clearly had an easy time writing the screenplay because he merely copied the same sequence of contrived, corny antics and repeated it for the duration. The characters seemed written with a high cliché factor in mind, as their personalities and back stories were standard for a bad romantic comedy. Oddly enough, for a film so poorly made, the scenery of the Greek landscape (on location) was breathtakingly beautiful. Thusly, it was indeed disappointing that the film was so flawed, predictable, unintelligent, sappy and dull that it couldn’t find a way to glean the slightest bit of passion from it. It’s as forgettable of a film as they come, and it should be avoided at all costs.
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9-29-09

1) Away We Go
Plot- A couple who is expecting their first child travel around the U.S. in order to find a perfect place to start their family. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Road to Perdition, Jarhead, Revolutionary Road)

Written by- Dave Eggers, Vendela Vida

Starring- John Krasinski, Maya Rudolph, Allison Janney, Carmen Ejogo, Catherine O’Hara, Jeff Daniels, Jim Gaffigan, Samantha Pryor, Maggie Gyllenhaal

Movieguy’s Verdict- Sam Mendes is a world-class filmmaker who has made four magnificent films in a row. The mark he leaves on his films is unmistakable, which is why I found it odd that there was little, if any noticeable contribution from Mendes’ direction in this movie. His camerawork was solid and he did nicely capture the emotions of the characters, but other than that, I could easily be convinced that he didn’t direct the film at all. With that being said, this was still an outstanding movie that should garner a few Oscar nominations when the time comes. John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph delivered great nuanced performances of their eccentric and highly dynamic characters. There were also highly memorable contributions from the film’s numerous supporting roles played by Catherine O’Hara, Jeff Daniels, Jim Gaffigan, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Allison Janney. Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida should be expecting an Oscar nomination for their screenplay, as they created intricately crafted situations which were uniquely bizarre, comical, touching and full of color and personality. The entire universe of the movie was way out in left field, but there wasn’t a scene that didn’t play beautifully. The film illuminated so much about family, relationships and love, and did so with sensational acting in an entirely unconventional setting. This was a flawless film that deserves to be seen by everyone.

2) Monsters vs. Aliens
Plot- When Earth is attacked by aliens, a team of monster allies try to save the planet.

Directed by- Rob Letterman (Shark Tale), Conrad Vernon (Shrek 2)

Written by- Maya Forbes (Seeing Other People, The Rocker), Wallace Wolodarsky (Coldblooded, The Rocker), Rob Letterman (Shark Tale), Jonathan Aibel (Kung Fu Panda), Glenn Berger (Kung Fu Panda)

Voices of- Reese Witherspoon, Rainn Wilson, Stephen Colbert, Seth Rogen, Hugh Laurie, Will Arnett, Kiefer Sutherland, Paul Rudd, Julie White, Jeffrey Tambor, Amy Poehler, Ed Helms, Renée Zellweger, John Krasinski

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film was one of the year’s more financially successful kid’s movies, and while the fantastic 3D CGI was every bit as good as it could have been, the content and vocal performances were less than satisfactory. With extreme exaggeration from every voice part other than Seth Rogen’s, the film’s excessive corniness was noticeable in basically every scene. With that being said, there was creativity and cleverness to be found, and it was clear that the content had the potential to be better than it was. There were a few laughs scattered throughout, but ultimately they were engulfed by terrible vocal performances, extreme corniness and predictability. This film will likely get an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature, which has less to do with quality (except for the fantastic CGI) and more to do with the whopping $198 million it raked in at the box office. There are worse kid’s films out there, but there are also better ones.
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9-22-09

1) Battle for Terra
Plot- A space explorer crash-lands on the planet Terra and finds himself at the forefront of a battle to prevent his people, who are entrenched in a civil war at home, from invading the beautiful, peaceful planet. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Aristomenis Tsirbas

Written by- Evan Spiliotopoulos (Art Heist, Pooh’s Heffalump Movie)

Starring- Evan Rachel Wood, Luke Wilson, Justin Long, Rosanna Arquette, Brian Cox, David Cross, Beverly D’Angelo, Chris Evans, James Garner, Danny Glover, Mark Hamill, David Krumholtz, Amanda Peet, Ron Perlman, Dennis Quaid, Danny Trejo

Movieguy’s Verdict- Strangely enough, this film’s biggest shortcoming was the result of something that had nothing to do with the film itself. Apparently, it was supposed to be released in 3D (it was even advertised in the trailers as “an epic 3D battle” or something similar), but for some reason it wasn’t. The fact is, the film was made to be in 3D, and without this revolutionary technology, it lost something it simply couldn’t regain. Nonetheless, this was a solid CGI movie that had plenty of dimensions to work with. Despite the lack of the promised 3D, the CGI was phenomenal. The world Aristomenis Tsirbas and Evan Spiliotopoulos created was detailed and intricately laid out, and while the film’s social commentary was obvious, it was intelligent just the same. Spiliotopoulos (try saying these names on the radio!!) told an interesting story that held strong realism, though several key themes of the environment and its characters were highly exaggerated. Evan Rachel Wood and David Cross gave strong vocal performances, as did most of the cast, while Brian Cox was, like his character, a too forced. Despite a certain element of predictability, Tsirbas employed great imagery and displayed wonderful vision, symbolism and multiple levels of meaning. It’s definitely not your average, forgettable kid’s movie, and though it wasn’t perfect, it’s one I’d recommend.

2) Ghosts of Girlfriends Past
Plot- At his younger brother’s wedding, a womanizer is haunted by his romantic past. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Mark Waters (Head Over Heels, Freaky Friday, Mean Girls, Just Like Heaven, The Spiderwick Chronicles)

Written by- Jon Lucas (Four Christmases, Full of It, Rebound, Rustin), Scott Moore (Four Christmases, Full of It, Rebound, Rustin)

Starring- Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner, Emma Stone, Michael Douglas, Breckin Meyer, Lacey Chabert, Robert Forster, Anne Archer

Movieguy’s Verdict- Matthew McConaughey is usually good for an energetic and enjoyable performance in these Hollywood romantic comedies, regardless of the cliché factor. But when a movie is this bad, it simply doesn’t matter who the actors are. Director Mark Waters and writers Jon Lucas and Scott Moore took the ridiculous lothario lifestyle of McConaughey’s character to the most moronic of extremes. Let’s put it this way- the remarkable exaggeration displayed in the trailers was nothing compared to what they tried to make him do in the actual movie. A film like this needs comedy, and unfortunately there was none to be found. Waters hasn’t made a truly good movie since “Mean Girls,” and his bland, forgettable presentation left little to offer. There simply wasn’t much to this film, other than the standard romantic comedy clichés, telegraphed characters and uninspired acting. The saddest part was the film actually thought it had legitimate symbolism, which just goes to show how delusional some of these Hollywood filmmakers can be. This excruciating film felt like it would never end, and ultimately it achieved the result of being both painfully awful to sit through and completely forgettable at the same time. And who says Hollywood doesn’t know what they’re doing…

3) Observe and Report
Plot- A bi-polar mall security guard is called into action to stop a flasher from turning shopper’s paradise into his personal peep show. But when Barnhardt can’t apprehend the culprit, a surly police detective, is recruited to close the case, bringing out the worst in Ronnie’s temperamental personality. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Jody Hill (The Foot Fist Way)

Starring- Seth Rogen, Anna Faris, Ray Liotta, Michael Peña, Dan Bakkedahl, Jesse Plemons

Movieguy’s Verdict- Seth Rogen has been involved in some of the best comedies of the past few years, but his success streak had to come to an end at some point. I never thought it would be this bad though. Rogen and inept writer/director Jody Hill tried way too hard to achieve scene after scene of ultra serious deadpan comedy, which came across as moronic and totally unwatchable. Hill wrote and directed the film with an infantile personality that was excruciating to watch. He took the movie so seriously that you could literally feel an unwavering belief in his own brilliance. In actuality, the unrelenting stupidity, painfully absurd “characters” and atrocious acting spewing from this trashy excuse for a movie made it a lock for one of the top five worst films of the year.
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9-15-09

1) X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Plot- The back-story for the X-Men character Wolverine.

Directed by- Gavin Hood (Rendition, Tsotsi, A Reasonable Man)

Written by- David Benioff (25th Hour, Troy, Stay, The Kite Runner), Skip Woods (Swordfish, Hitman)

Starring- Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Ryan Reynolds, Dominic Monaghan, Lynn Collins, Danny Huston, Taylor Kitsch, Daniel Henney, Kevin Durand

Movieguy’s Verdict- The only good thing to come out of this movie was that the first trailer for the brilliant “District 9” was attached to it. As for the movie itself, well, there was no real reason for it to exist. It accomplished nothing, and spent a great deal of money in the process. The film was filled with an air of exaggerated corniness that only got worse as it progressed. The special skills displayed by the characters were laughably stupid, and were only enhanced by high quality CGI used in the worst way. Acting was forced as well, with classic overactor Hugh Jackman leading the way. Writers David Benioff and Skip Woods did attempt to create sincere themes and a legitimate connection to the Wolverine character, but Gavin Hood’s very Hollywood handling of the film, along with its highly exaggerated alpha male bravado made it basically unwatchable. In fact, it was clear that Benioff, Woods and Hood though they were making some sort of epic character journey, like Christopher Nolan’s brilliant Batman series. Unfortunately, the film was exaggerated Hollywood fluff all the way, and really had no redeeming qualities.

2) Next Day Air
Plot- When a delivery man leaves a package containing bricks of cocaine at the wrong address, it sets into motion a battle of wills and wits between the dealer, the intended recipients, and the people who have the drugs and plan to sell them off. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Benny Boom

Written by- Blair Cobbs

Starring- Mike Epps, Donald Faison, Wood Harris, Omari Hardwick, Emilio Rivera, Cisco Reyes, Yasmin Deliz, Mos Def

Movieguy’s Verdict- Going in I had no idea what to expect from this film, so that’s why I was filled with feelings of pleasant surprise and great disappointment. In its very early stages director Benny Boom and writer Blair Cobbs created an off color, quirky comedic style that had great potential. Though Cobbs’ writing was simple and straightforward, he appeared to incorporate many different styles of comedy that resulted in a decent laughs and a very unique comedic atmosphere. Unfortunately, it only lasted 20 minutes. After that the film devolved in the most disappointing way, replacing all cleverness and comedy with pure stupidity. Amateurish, forced acting flooded every scene, and Boom’s direction became more and more erratic, appropriate only for a poorly made music video. Even though the film was very short, it appeared to go on forever, as the nonstop stupidity and horrendous acting made it impossible to care even the slightest bit about the story or the characters. Ultimately, what began as a sleeper success ended up a completely pointless and unwatchable failure. Don’t feel bad about passing this one by.
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9-8-09

1) Crank: High Voltage
Plot- Chev Chelios hunts down the mobster who stole his heart and replaced it with a battery-powered unit that requires regular jolts of electricity to keep it working. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Mark Neveldine (Crank, Pathology), Brian Taylor (Crank, Pathology)

Starring- Jason Statham, Amy Smart, Clifton Collins Jr., David Carradine, Bai Ling, Corey Haim, Efren Ramirez, Dwight Yoakam

Movieguy’s Verdict- Let me begin by saying that the first “Crank” film was entertaining. Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor provided some interesting camerawork, but most importantly, the energy level they created was phenomenal. Sure it was exaggerated at times and a bit overly macho for its own good, but in the end it was entertaining and achieved mostly everything it set out to achieve. This time around, well, I almost don’t have the vocabulary to describe how truly awful this movie was. This sorry excuse for a movie took exaggeration to an entirely new level, as every scene was filled with the highest amount of extreme stupidity imaginable. It’s difficult to classify what Jason Statham did as “acting,” but rather as much childish exaggeration as he could muster. Neveldine and Taylor’s direction was impossible to watch, as all of their ridiculous editing effects slopped together in one ill-conceived music video hybrid that was bad even for music video standards. Overall the film was filled with pointless shootouts, pointless sex, trashy dialogue and scene after scene of painful stupidity. There have been plenty of bad movies this year, but this was by far the most painful film I’ve had to sit through in 2009. I’ll give the first film its due, but don’t go anywhere near this trash.

2) Dance Flick
Plot- A spoof of dancing movies.

Directed by- Damien Wayans

Written by- Damien, Shawn, Marlon, Craig and Keenen Ivory Wayans (Little Man, White Chicks, Most Wanted, A Low Down Dirty Shame)

Starring- Shoshana Bush, Damon Wayans Jr., Essence Atkins, Affion Crockett

Movieguy’s Verdict- These spoof movies have gotten out of control. There are too many of them and their weak toilet humor comes across as nothing but annoying. That being said, there have been a few spoofs over the years that were quite hilarious. These days though, the spoof genre is little more than a random collection of badly copied scenes from popular movies or TV shows. That was this film’s ultimate fate, but there were a few scenes in the beginning that contained just the right amount of funny political commentary, random comedy and sharp wit to suggest that it might be something more. Unfortunately, it didn’t last long. The film quickly devolved into a mass of bad puns and poorly placed sexual innuendos. Overall it felt that the Wayans family tried too hard to be controversial, and pushed gross-out humor a bit too far. Performances were a bit too exaggerated to be successful, and while the writing did carry a certain level of sarcasm, the few good ideas it had were used up in the first 10 minutes. Maybe one day a good spoof will be made by quality filmmakers who have something worthwhile to say, but I suspect we’ll be waiting a very long time for that.
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9-1-09

1) State of Play
Plot- U.S. congressman Stephen Collins seems to be the rising star in the world of politics — until his research assistant, who was also his mistress, is murdered. Then the secrets start coming out, and it’s up to a star reporter and his cohort to uncover the truth. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Kevin Macdonald (Chaplin’s Goliath, Donald Cammell: The Ultimate Performance, One Day in September, A Brief History of Errol Morris, Touching the Void, The Last King of Scotland, My Enemy’s Enemy)

Written by- Matthew Michael Carnahan (The Kingdom, Lions for Lambs), Tony Gilroy (The Cutting Edge, Dolores Claiborne, Extreme Measures, Armageddon, Bait, Proof of Life, The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy, The Bourne Ultimatum, Michael Clayton, Duplicity), Billy Ray (Color of Night, The Shooter, Volcano, Hart’s War, Shattered Glass, Suspect Zero, Flightplan, Breach)

Starring- Russell Crowe, Rachel McAdams, Ben Affleck, Katy Mixon, Jason Bateman, Robin Wright Penn, Helen Mirren, Jeff Daniels, Maria Thayer, Viola Davis

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film was based on a well received British TV mini-series of the same title. Even though director Kevin Macdonald and writers Matthew Michael Carnahan, Tony Gilroy and Billy Ray’s attempts to cram too much of the show’s themes, characters and storylines sent it slightly off track, it turned out to be a solid suspense/mystery film. From the start, Macdonald created a deep-seeded air of conspiracy and paranoia that carried for much of the film. His great camerawork also helped build a solid atmosphere for a thick mystery. The film’s main performers were outstanding, with Russell Crowe taking his tightly wrapped character and bringing home the goods. The screenplay held the character’s decades of experience and tremendous cynicism over the audience like a dark cloud, and Crowe seamlessly incorporated this into his performance. Ben Affleck was also quite good, providing a dedicated, exacting and quietly intense showing that worked very well alongside Crowe. Rachel McAdams was a consistent supporting player, though Jason Bateman and Helen Mirren were quite lost due to their characters not being properly adapted from the original series. Also on that note, the film made the mistake of incorporating a useless romantic subplot that detracted from the movie in a big way. The main characters and main story were well developed and acted with precision, and ultimately the film was much more emotionally resonant than you might imagine. Though not without problems, this was a good movie that I have no problem recommending.
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8-24-09

1) Adventureland
Plot- During the summer of 1987, a recent college graduate takes what he thinks is a going-nowhere job at his local amusement park, only to discover it’s a perfect opportunity to prepare himself for the real world. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Greg Mottola (The Daytrippers, Superbad)

Starring- Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Ryan Reynolds, Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader, Kelsey Ford, Michael Zegen, Ryan McFarland

Movieguy’s Verdict- If you watch this film expecting a great deal of comedy, you’ll be disappointed. In fact, this was a soulful and carefully crafted summer romance/coming-of-age movie that achieved everything it set out to achieve. Greg Mottola created an interesting and clever group of characters whose quirks and idiosyncrasies made for interesting viewing. Jesse Eisenberg was perfect for his part, capturing his awkward social ambitions flawlessly. Mottola’s screenplay developed relationships between the characters thoughtfully, and his direction was emotionally crafted and very authentic. Even the film’s musical score, written by the band Yo La Tengo, was soulful and introspective. Though it wasn’t intended to be a comedy, the film did miss some easy chances for quality laughs. Other than that, this was a wonderfully made film that really needs to be seen.

2) Duplicity
Plot- A pair of corporate spies who share a steamy past hook up to pull off the ultimate con job on their respective bosses — but can they learn to truly love and trust one another? (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Tony Gilroy (Writer of: The Cutting Edge, Dolores Claiborne, Extreme Measures, Armageddon, Bait, Proof of Life, The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy, The Bourne Ultimatum, Michael Clayton; Director of: Michael Clayton)

Starring- Julia Roberts, Clive Owen, Tom Wilkinson, Paul Giamatti

Movieguy’s Verdict- This movie was incorrectly advertised and perhaps a bit overly complicated for its own good, but in the end it worked marvelously on a variety of levels. Tony Gilroy kept the film advancing at a breakneck pace, so much so that if you blinked you were in danger of missing a gesture or facial expression crucial to the development of the story. Needless to say this film required an incredible amount of concentration, contrary to the lighthearted Hollywood romantic comedy spy flick the trailers made it out to be. Ultimately this deception was for the best, because Gilroy’s story and direction were intelligent and layered, aided by a stellar cast of excellent performances. Though nothing Oscar-worthy, these seasoned actors brought a great deal of style, class and finesse to their characters, thriving in Gilroy’s fast-paced environment. Spy movies do have a tendency to be very predictable even when they think they are not, and despite the film’s numerous layers and complexities, I did see the end coming. Nevertheless, this is the kind of movie we don’t see very much of these days. It’s a shame because its style, intelligence and personality are too much to pass up.

3) Sunshine Cleaning
Plot- Industrious single mother Rose Lorkowski starts an unusual business in order to send her son to a private school; alongside her unreliable sister, the two women enter the world of biohazard removal and crime scene clean-ups. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Christine Jeffs (Rain, Sylvia)

Written by- Megan Holley

Starring- Amy Adams, Emily Blunt, Alan Arkin, Jason Spevack, Steve Zahn, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Clifton Collins Jr., Eric Christian Olsen

Movieguy’s Verdict- Despite a confused start, this film contained two brilliant performances and a heartfelt and emotional story. In its early stages, the personality of the film felt muddled and awkward, as it seemed that director Christine Jeffs and writer Megan Holley weren’t quite sure what to do with two wonderful characters they created. The complexity of these characters gave the audience plenty to think about, and the brilliant, exacting performances of Amy Adams and Emily Blunt were wonderful to watch. The story itself contained a wonderfully dark wit, but neither Jeffs nor Holley were able to properly emphasize it. Though that aspect of the film was a missed opportunity, the movie’s complicated blend of emotion and complex psychological dynamic between characters was rich and fulfilling. It felt somewhat difficult to get into the flow of this movie, but once you did the film turned into a truly beautiful character study with brilliant acting and rich psychology. It’s probably not the movie you expected, but it is great nonetheless.

4) Goodbye Solo
Plot- Two men form an unlikely friendship that will change both of their lives forever. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Ramin Bahrani (Chop Shop, Man Push Cart, Strangers)

Written by- Bahareh Azimi (Chop Shop), Ramin Bahrani (Chop Shop, Man Push Cart, Strangers)

Starring- Souleymane Sy Savane, Red West, Diana Franco Galindo, Lane ‘Roc’ Williams, Mamadou Lam, Carmen Leyva

Movieguy’s Verdict- Ramin Bahrani has quietly become a director to watch, as his movies continue to win awards at film festivals and the hearts of critics. There is something about Bahrani’s ability to develop characters and create a powerful bond between those characters and the audience that makes his movies unique. Souleymane Sy Savane’s performance was a remarkable spectacle, Oscar-worthy in every regard. His command of scenes and the characters around him was something you see only from elite performers. Bahrani developed this film at an extremely slow pace, perhaps too slowly for its own good. The last 40 minutes of the movie contained an incredible emotional response, but the first half felt somewhat slow and perhaps even redundant in places. Also, in contrast to Savane’s brilliant performance and character, Red West’s character was a bit too clichéd and overdone at times. His was a character you have seen countless times and are probably used to ignoring. Bahrani’s direction put just the right touch on key moments, adopting a slightly minimalistic style that had plenty to say. In the end this was the incredible movie that we have come to expect from Bahrani, but it took the longest possible way to evolve into the film it should have been all along.

5) Fighting
Plot- In New York City, a young counterfeiter is introduced to the world of underground street fighting by a seasoned scam artist, who becomes his manager on the bare-knuckling brawling circuit. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Dito Montiel (A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints)

Written by- Robert Munic (The Pros & Cons of Breathing), Dito Montiel (A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints)

Starring- Channing Tatum, Terrence Howard, Luis Guzmán, Zulay Henao, Brian J. White

Movieguy’s Verdict- Thankfully this was not the sports movie cliché festival the trailers made it out to be, but in the end I’m not sure it left much of an impression. Dito Montiel’s direction was quite realistic, and carried a good sense of New York street life and the pulse of the characters. The film’s realism was aided by Terrence Howard’s convincing supporting performance, though Channing Tatum was his usual bland self. Montiel and Robert Munic did allow the audience to care about the characters, and even the film’s tired romantic subplot. As the title suggests, this film was about underground fighting rings, and Montiel allowed every aspect of this to be rather uninteresting. In fact, you ended up caring more about the clichéd romantic plot than the main storyline. Though Montiel’s direction was thoughtful and realistic, the film was predictable from start to finish, and failed to do anything noteworthy with its overused underground fighting concept. This one can easily be skipped.
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8-18-09

1) Surveillance
Plot- Two FBI agenta track a serial killer with the help of three of his would-be victims – all of whom have wildly different stories to tell. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Jennifer Chambers Lynch (Boxing Helena)

Written by- Jennifer Chambers Lynch (Boxing Helena), Kent Harper

Starring- Julia Ormond, Bill Pullman, Pell James, Ryan Simpkins, French Stewart, Kent Harper

Movieguy’s Verdict- There were plenty of things to like about this movie, but two main flaws held it back. Jennifer Chambers Lynch (daughter of the brilliant David Lynch) provided dark and creepy direction that built a great atmosphere. Her camerawork was also impressive, and she used lighting in key scenes to help further the mood. Her direction paid good attention to detail, as did her screenplay, which built a minimalistic small-town horror atmosphere with relative ease. The film’s main problem was its extreme predictability. It was centered around a plot twist that was supposed to be completely shocking, but was telegraphed right from the start. Secondly, the film wasted over 20 minutes on a completely worthless sequence that should have never been in the script at all. These two shortcomings were a shame, because Julia Ormond and Bill Pullman were outstanding for their perfectly created characters, and Lynch’s direction was first rate. This movie came frustratingly close to being outstanding, but despite plenty of good ideas and the talent involved, it remained slightly above average.

2) The Last House on the Left
Plot- After kidnapping and brutally assaulting two young women, a gang led by a prison escapee unknowingly finds refuge at a vacation home belonging the parents of one of the victims — a mother and father who devise an increasingly gruesome series of revenge tactics. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Dennis Iliadis

Written by- Adam Alleca, Carl Ellsworth (Red Eye, Disturbia)

Starring- Garret Dillahunt, Monica Potter, Tony Goldwyn, Joshua Cox, Sara Paxton, Spencer Treat Clark

Movieguy’s Verdict- This movie can be divided into two halves. The first half of the film contained a good set-up that provided good progression to the characters and plot. Dennis Iliadis’ direction was intense and engrossing, with perfectly placed camerawork that provided wonderful coverage of a variety of scenes. His handling of the film’s first half was chilling and brutal, yet possessed a certain degree of elegance which helped capture the rise and fall of emotion remarkably well. The acting was consistently good and convincing in all parts, which made the first half of the film, a four-star achievement. The movie’s second-half could not have been a more drastic opposite. Iliadis and writers Adam Alleca and Carl Ellsworth devolved the story into a cheesy and over-the-top revenge movie that was as laughably stupid as it was typical and exaggerated. Characters were ruined, fight sequences were childish and the direction was immature. It was depressing to watch Iliadis and company ruin the movie in such a shocking manner. It was almost as though different people were writing and directing the last half of the movie, and this is the only explanation I will except as to why this movie failed in such remarkable fashion.

3) Julia
Plot- A woman tries to extort money using a young boy as bait. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Erick Zonca

Written by- Aude Py, Erick Zonca

Starring- Tilda Swinton, Saul Rubinek, Kate del Castillo, Aidan Gould, Jude Ciccolella

Movieguy’s Verdict- The main story of this movie, and really it’s only redeeming quality, was the remarkable performance of Tilda Swinton. She received well-deserved recognition after she took home the Oscar for “Michael Clayton,” but really, she’s spent her lengthy career playing difficult characters and making it look easy. Nothing looked easy about her gutsy and riveting performance in this film, which would have been worthy of an Oscar nomination had the movie been better. This film was all over the place, attempting at times to be a character study, a journey of alcohol addiction, a suspense movie, and a drama. Erick Zonca’s direction was clearly having difficulty deciding what kind of film it wanted to be, and in the process left a very confused and choppy result. Overall the story developed much too slowly for its own good, and basically remained slow throughout its 140 minutes. There were also some story flaws that need to be addressed. Zonca was able to create strong suspense at times, and allowed the audience to fully experience the complexity of Swinton’s character. But that never seemed to be enough. Beneath the surface there were typical themes and typical supporting characters, though Kate del Castillo provided a wonderful supporting performance, which desperately needed more screen time. Swinton’s performance was impressive to say the least, but beyond that it was too choppy and confused for its own good.

4) Bridge to Nowhere
Plot- Centers on the rise and fall of four blue-collar men who team with a destitute prostitute to create a high-priced escort service. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Blair Underwood

Written by- Chris Gutierrez

Starring- Ben Crowley, Ving Rhames, Bijou Phillips, Danny Masterson, Daniel London

Movieguy’s Verdict- You’ve seen this movie 1000 times before, and neither director Blair Underwood (yes, the actor), nor writer Chris Gutierrez made any noticeable effort to do anything original or inventive. The ensemble cast had good chemistry, and Gutierrez’s screenplay did create a strong dynamic between the characters. The writing and direction contained a good amount of personality and allowed you to care about the characters. Unfortunately that didn’t matter much, because you knew exactly what was going to happen in every scene. Ben Crowley played one of the film’s central characters, and his performance came across as mostly annoying. Otherwise, the performances were passable but completely underwhelming. As I said before, this is a movie you’ve seen countless times, and while you could do a lot worse, it was so completely average that it ended up being forgettable.
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8-11-09

1) 17 Again
Plot- Mike O’Donnell has lived a life full of regrets. Suddenly, he reverts back to his 17-year-old self who looks to navigate high school and create a path that leads to a better adult existence. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Burr Steers (Writer of: Igby Goes Down, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days; Director of: Igby Goes Down)

Written by- Jason Filardi (Bringing Down the House, Drum)

Starring- Zac Efron, Matthew Perry, Leslie Mann, Thomas Lennon, Tyler Steelman, Allison Miller, Sterling Knight, Michelle Trachtenberg

Movieguy’s Verdict- Just like this week’s “I Love You, Man” is the year’s biggest disappointment, this movie is 2009’s biggest surprise. Everything about this movie looked as corny, cheesy and painfully bad as something that Eddie Murphy would participate in, but the result was as refreshing as it was surprising. The first 15 minutes of this film were as bad as the predictions, with typical situations and characters, tremendous corniness, terrible acting from Matthew Perry and an awful Hollywood musical score for good measure. Then everything changed. Zac Efron took over the movie, and carried on his shoulders. I’m as surprised as anyone to say this, but his performance was outstanding. His facial expressions, mannerisms and comedic timing were top notch, not to mention how well he captured the age/maturity dynamic of his character. Thomas Lennon also gave a very funny supporting performance in a film that was quite well acted, with the exception of Perry. Though it was predictable from beginning to end and fostered high school themes that were all too familiar, Burr Steers and Jason Filardi created a legitimately funny movie. Aside from the first 15 minutes, Filardi’s screenplay had good vision, consistent comedy and solid character development. The beginning was as bad as it gets, but overall, this was a well acted, well-written and well directed movie that deserves interest from a more varied audience.

2) London to Brighton
Plot- It’s 3:07am and two girls burst into a run down London toilet. Joanne is crying her eyes out and her clothing is ripped. Kelly’s face is bruised and starting to swell. Duncan Allen lies in his bathroom bleeding to death. Duncan’s son, Stuart, has found his father and wants answers. Derek, Kelly’s pimp, needs to find Kelly or it will be him who pays. Kelly and Joanne need to get through the next 24 hours alive… (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Paul Andrew Williams

Starring- Lorraine Stanley, Georgia Groome, Johnny Harris, Sam Spruell

Movieguy’s Verdict- This movie was intense and captivating from beginning to end, featuring outstanding performances and raw direction. Paul Andrew Williams’ direction and writing were searing, gritty and unquestionably real. His camerawork was unrefined and filled with intensity. His screenplay was equally excellent, and despite a straightforward plot, the characters were much more complex than you might imagine. It was all too easy to become intensely involved with the characters because of how hauntingly real the film was. Williams fostered this connection with his writing and direction, but the performances were so flawlessly convincing that at no point did it feel as though a fictional story was being watched. Georgia Groome’s emotionally brutal performance was difficult to watch, but took the already powerful film to an even higher level. Lorraine Stanley was also great, and Sam Spruell provided a brief but extremely chilling supporting role. Despite how engrossing and well constructed the film was from start to finish, it’s hard to say that it actually accomplished anything. It told its story with remarkable intensity, but otherwise it had no underlying themes, symbolism or messages. For as much as the audience was meant to care about the characters, it seems unfortunate that they left our minds the second the closing credits appeared.

3) I Love You, Man
Plot- Friendless Peter Klaven goes on a series of man-dates to find a Best Man for his wedding. But when his insta-bond his new friend puts a strain on his relationship with his fiancée, can the trio learn to live happily ever after? (imdb.com)

Directed by- John Hamburg (Safe Men, Along Came Polly)

Written by- John Hamburg (Safe Men, Meet the Parents, Zoolander, Along Came Polly, Meet the Fockers) Larry Levin (Doctor Dolittle, Dr. Dolittle 2)

Starring- Paul Rudd, Jason Segel, Rashida Jones, Sarah Burns, Jon Favreau, J.K. Simmons, Andy Samberg

Movieguy’s Verdict- For a movie that boasted one of the year’s most original and promising concepts, the result was tremendously disappointing. John Hamburg’s resume is weak, and he was clearly the wrong person to co-write and direct this movie. The film contained almost no humor whatsoever, despite countless opportunities and a plot that was dripping with potential. He and co-writer Larry Levin never seemed able to get the story on track, inching along a slow and predictable movie. The film’s romantic subplot was very typical and unimaginative, highlighting the basic lack of intelligence of Hamburg and Levin. Paul Rudd and Jason Segel gave great performances, saving the film from a bland and unceremonious fate. Both had great presence and personality, and fit their characters extremely well. Rudd was the most impressive, not only providing depth and insight to his character, but to the movie as a whole. Despite isolated pockets of smart dialogue and solid acting from a great cast, this movie was easily 2009′s biggest disappointment. It had everything in place to be a classic, ageless comedy, but was held back by lazy mediocrity and substandard writing and direction.

4) Gigantic
Plot- Mattress salesman Brian Weathersby finds his plan to adopt a Chinese baby augmented by the arrival of a young woman, Happy, who comes into his workplaces, falls asleep on one of the beds, and starts to affect his life upon waking up. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Matt Aselton

Written by- Matt Aselton, Adam Nagata

Starring- Paul Dano, Zooey Deschanel, Edward Asner, Jane Alexander, John Goodman, Sean Dugan, Zach Galifianakis

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was a disappointing movie that left a lot of potential unfulfilled. A great cast was assembled to play interesting, quirky and off-the-wall characters. Their performances were memorable, with Zooey Deschanel and John Goodman, standing out amongst the others. However, Deschanel was not in the film nearly enough to make the kind of impact that she could have. Matt Aselton’s direction seemed perfect for the film’s bizarre atmosphere, but screenplay problems doomed everything. Aselton and Adam Nagata’s script contained bits of clever and very strange comedy, but the majority of the film wandered, attempting to achieve philosophical and romantic themes without a story or narrative structure of any kind. If anything, Aselton and Nagata were as confused as their characters, creating isolated pockets of smart ideas that failed to connect to anything. Hidden somewhere in this movie was a promising concept that needed a better script to emerge.

5) The GoodTimesKid
Plot- A story about stolen love and stolen identities, shot on stolen film. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Azazel Jacobs (Nobody Needs to Know, Momma’s Man)

Written by- Azazel Jacobs (Nobody Needs to Know, Momma’s Man), Gerardo Naranjo

Starring- Sara Diaz, Azazel Jacobs, Gerardo Naranjo

Movieguy’s Verdict- If you read the back of this DVD box, the story behind how the movie was made turned out to be more interesting than the film itself. Azazel Jacobs provided a level of minimalism in his direction that was both refreshing and indicative of vision and intelligence. Strangely enough, after watching the movie for a while, you realize that it is completely devoid of emotion. Though the characters were confused and seemed to be suffering, there was no emotion in the performances. The minimalistic screenplay was also without feeling, and ultimately the movie amounted to a collection of sterilized exchanges between characters. Also, the film was problematic at its core because Sara Diaz’s character (the main character) was completely unrealistic and not believable in any way. Despite perfect direction, this film was barren and empty- and not on purpose.
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8-4-09

1) The Soloist
Plot- A Los Angeles reporter befriends a brilliant but troubled musician and one-time Julliard student who currently lives on Skid Row. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Joe Wright (Pride & Prejudice, Atonement)

Written by- Susannah Grant (Pocahontas, Ever After, 28 Days, Erin Brockovich, In Her Shoes, Charlotte’s Web, Catch and Release)

Starring- Jamie Foxx, Robert Downey Jr., Catherine Keener, Stephen Root, Tom Hollander, Rachael Harris

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was an incredible film that was held back slightly by one very regrettable choice. Robert Downey Jr. and Jamie Foxx gave phenomenal, Oscar-worthy performances filled with passion, creativity and courage. Downey Jr’s energy and emotional charisma captivated from beginning to end. Though his character could have been a tired, walking cliché, he transformed the role into an early Oscar contender. The real story was Foxx, whose mesmerizing performance was a rush of unpredictable intensity. He captured the depths of a troubled character with perfectly balanced mannerisms and nuance. At this point, he looks to be the front runner for the Best Supporting Actor Oscar. Joe Wright’s Oscar-worthy direction captured creativity, insanity and genius in a unique and emotional way, providing the perfect atmosphere for the characters and the story to succeed. The depiction of Foxx’s descent into madness and the layered elements of the story made this a nearly perfect film, had it not been for Susannah Grant’s regrettable decision to make the film’s final half-hour a public service announcement for the homeless. This cheapened the movies emotional authenticity, along with the power of its performances. This was indeed a brilliant, Oscarpworthy film, but Grant’s mistake cannot be overlooked.

2) Leaving Barstow
Plot- Growing up in Barstow, CA, high school senior Andrew hopes for a bigger world — but his devotion to his mother, Sandra, and his awakening attraction to newcomer Jenny, combine to keep him tied to home. Andrew’s loyalties become confused and his prior ambitions begin to fade as he realizes he must make the most difficult of all decisions — choosing between himself and the people he loves. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Peter Paige (Say Uncle)

Written by- Kevin Sheridan

Starring- Kevin Sheridan, Michelle Clunie, Ryan Michelle Bathe, Ryan Carnes, Marques Ray, Steven Culp

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was an impressive film on almost every level. Kevin Sheridan gave a great performance of a confused and troubled character with the precision and development of a seasoned actor. However, his screenplay was even more noteworthy. Sheridan wrote a wonderful portrayal of layered characters and their struggles. His dialogue was smart and understated with an emphasis on allowing the audience to think more about the characters. The film’s only flaw was its reliance on a completely unrealistic and poorly created character played by Ryan Michelle Bathe. Though her performance was good, her character was so unbelievable that it contradicted the film’s mood at times. The screenplay created a strong emotional atmosphere, and Peter Paige’s outstanding direction was the perfect compliment. His tender direction included great camerawork, and a flawless ability to capture the movie’s little moments with the same understated quality highlighted in Sheridan’s screenplay. This unknown film was a wonderfully told evolution of characters that deserves a larger audience.

3) Obsessed
Plot- “Fatal Attraction: The Remake”

Directed by- Steve Shill

Written by- David Loughery (Lakeview Terrace, Tom and Huck, Money Train, The Three Musketeers, Passenger 57, Flashback, Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, Dreamscape)

Starring- Beyoncé Knowles, Idris Elba, Ali Larter, Jerry O’Connell, Bonnie Perlman, Bruce McGill

Movieguy’s Verdict- Though the ideas behind “Fatal Attraction” have inspired plenty of movies, this is essentially the laziest kind of plagiarism. Filled with obvious foreshadowing and complete predictability at every turn, director Steve Shill and writer David Loughery didn’t even attempt the slightest bit of originality or imagination. None of the characters or actors had any chemistry or personality, making Loughery’s clichéd and stolen themes all the more trivial. His screenplay tried very hard to be clever, seductive and psychological, but sadly, the result contained none of those things. Performances were forgettable, though Idris Elba, fit his character to a certain extent. Had the rest of the movie been remotely watchable, he would have been believable. Ali Larter’s Glenn Close impersonation was forced, while Beyoncé was hardly worth watching. With a laughably stupid climax and a complete lack of intelligence, this was a regrettable movie that should never have been made.

4) Race to Witch Mountain
Plot- When a cab driver picks up an unusual fare — a brother and sister duo with paranormal powers, who are being pursued by a nefarious organization — he teams up with a discredited astrophysicist to protect the kids and, ultimately, the rest of humankind. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Andy Fickman (She’s the Man, The Game Plan)

Written by- Matt Lopez (Bedtime Stories), Mark Bomback (The Night Caller, Godsend, Live Free or Die Hard, Deception)

Starring- Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, AnnaSophia Robb, Alexander Ludwig, Ciarán Hinds, Tom Everett Scott, Chris Marquette, Billy Brown, Garry Marshall

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was a highly corny, extremely predictable and poorly written movie which, at times, found a way to be at least mildly entertaining. Matt Lopez and Mark Bomback’s screenplay was poor in every way. Their characters were obvious and contrived, exaggerating even the most trivial kids movie clichés. The story itself was highly flawed, filled with obvious plot holes and massive gaps in logic. Though Dwayne Johnson has reasonable acting talent, he was inconsistent in this movie. His forced scenes were tough to watch, but he was able to carry a mediocre showing for most of the film. AnnaSophia Robb and Alexander Ludwig were very good and held the movie together with convincing showings. The direction was quite exaggerated during a number of the movies forced and extremely corny action sequences. This film wasn’t painful to sit through or overly bad in any particular way- it was just tremendously corny and horribly written.

5) Labor Pains
Plot- A young woman to pretends to be pregnant in order to avoid being fired from her job. When that gets her a bunch of special treatment by everyone involved in her life, she tries to keep up the lie for nine months. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Lara Shapiro

Written by- Stacey Kramer, Lara Shapiro

Starring- Lindsay Lohan, Luke Kirby, Cheryl Heins, Chris Parnell, Aaron Yoo, Bridgit Mendler, Creed Bratton

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film actually had an interesting premise that could have been both original and clever. Unfortunately, the movie was sloppily constructed, bland and completely uninteresting. Though I still believe Lindsay Lohan has legitimate talent, she clearly lacks the ability to put effort into anything she does. This movie was a perfect example of that, as her performance was lazy and forgettable. The rest of the cast followed suit, though to be fair the screenplay was humorless and sluggish. Stacey Kramer and Lara Shapiro took a promising idea and drove it into the ground with poorly constructed situations and no comedy whatsoever. This movie was forgettable at every turn and ultimately did nothing well, but had the slightest level of intelligence been applied, it would have made for a very different result.
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7-28-09

1) Bart Got a Room
Plot- Awkward high school senior Danny searches desperately for a date to the prom while dealing with his parents’ divorce and romantic feelings for his best friend, Camille.

Written and Directed by- Brian Hecker

Starring- Steven Kaplan, William H. Macy, Alia Shawkat, Cheryl Hines, Chad Jamian Williams

Movieguy’s Verdict- I was very impressed with this little movie, and I think a lot of other people will be also. Steven Kaplan was the perfect leading man for the story. He captured the dreams, disappointments and awkwardness of his character with more nuance than most movies in the high school setting. William H. Macy gave a wonderfully quirky supporting performance of a cleverly written character. Brian Hecker’s screenplay and direction were filled with great imagination, symbolism, and meaningful emotion. The film had a steady string of subtle comedy, and a few huge laughs sprinkled in. Hecker was both clever and intelligent, never compromising the themes of the film or substituting tired teen clichés to get cheap results. He made it easy to involve yourself in the lives of the characters, and in the overall story itself. In a way it reminded me of the often sentimental nature of a Woody Allen comedy, sans his signature dose of demented neuroses. This is an enjoyable movie that was well written, well directed, and well acted; in other words, it is a must see.

2) Streets of Blood
Plot- A police officer’s partner has died during Hurricane Katrina, but he later discovers that he may have been murdered. An investigation follows, taking the officer and his new partner into the depths of the criminal underworld. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Charles Winkler (You Talkin’ to Me?, Disturbed, Red Ribbon Blues, Shackles, The Net 2.0)

Written by- Eugene Hess (Don’t Do It, Cruel World)

Starring- Val Kilmer, 50 Cent, Sharon Stone, Michael Biehn, Jose Pablo Cantillo, Brian Presley, Barry Shabaka Henley

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film had plenty of potential, but a complete absence of storytelling ability, inconsistent acting, and general lack of intelligence hurt it considerably. Though Charles Winkler is not a talented filmmaker, he created a realistic and authentic atmosphere with his direction. His camerawork was solid and was filled with enough good choices to create a consistently dark and intense setting. However, Eugene Hess’ screenplay was filled with problems. His story contained only one or two main ideas, which he continued to cycle over and over again throughout the film. Redundancy set in quickly, and when combined with a complete lack of intelligent dialogue, it quickly worked to derail the film’s progress. I was impressed with Val Kilmer’s effort in this film. He took a more or less clichéd character from a bad screenplay and used his talent and experience to craft a performance filled with rage and guilt. 50 Cent, on the other hand, displayed the same bland, dull and impassive facial expression in every scene, much like he has done with all of his fledgling acting roles. Sharon Stone was notably poor as well. Ultimately the writing was so bad you didn’t even care about the characters. It was indeed a realistic portrayal of corruption in a captivating setting, but in the end it was too poorly written.

3) Fast & Furious
Plot- An undercover cop and a fugitive try to take down the criminal underworld.

Directed by- Justin Lin (Shopping for Fangs, Better Luck Tomorrow, Annapolis, The Fast & the Furious: Tokyo Drift, Finishing the Game)

Written by- Chris Morgan (Cellular, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, Wanted)

Starring- Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, John Ortiz, Laz Alonso, Gal Gadot, Jack Conley, Shea Whigham, Liza Lapira

Movieguy’s Verdict- Other than possible financial benefits, there was no conceivable reason to make this movie. Standing on its own, the movie was corny and clichéd, but was entertaining enough to hold a cursory interest. Justin Lynn is an awful director with no visual ability whatsoever. His camerawork was awful and clunky, making the film feel even cheaper and more flimsy than it already felt. The screenplay didn’t contain the slightest bit of intelligence, and it’s heavily exaggerated “hot girls, hot cars” theme grew repetitive and forced. Though the characters were walking clichés, Vin Diesel and Paul Walker gave solid and enjoyable performances, carrying the film reasonably well. The film did contain a decent cop atmosphere in spite of its extreme predictability. In the most rudimentary sense, this was an entertaining movie, and was able to maintain interest throughout. Though horribly directed and predictable at every turn, it could have been as bad as “Tokyo Drift.”

4) Polanski Unauthorized
Plot- An unauthorized chronicle of the life of Roman Polanski. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Damian Chapa (Bobby Fischer Live, El padrino 2, Fuego, I.R.A.: King of Nothing, El padrino, Shade of Pale, The Calling, The Lonely Life of Downey Hall, Kill You Twice)

Written by- Damian Chapa, Carlton Holder (Bridge of Dragons, Wicked Game, El padrino, I.R.A.: King of Nothing, Fuego, Bobby Fischer Live)

Starring- Damian Chapa, Leah Grimsson, Tom Druilhet, Brienne De Beau, Silvia Suvadova, Christian Serritiello

Movieguy’s Verdict- The story of Roman Polanski’s life is as rich and infamous as anything in the history of Hollywood. It is shocking that no one has made a full-length biopic of the filmmaker, and after watching this movie, I want a real Polanski biopic more than ever. Damian Chapa has spent a career making the lowest quality movies, and this is just another in his resume. He had no business attempting to analyze and interpret Polanski’s life, and clearly lacks the insight, intelligence and creativity to properly do so. Though Chapa’s direction was able to capture certain moods, he failed to achieve anything beyond the obvious. The film was wrought with amateurism at every turn, and every aspect of the film felt extremely cheap, so much so that in some respects. It felt unworthy of being watched at all. Chapa’s performance as Polanski was not as poor, and though his resemblance was questionable, he did seem to capture some of his personality. The screenplay failed to achieve anything beyond relaying the obvious and already well known facts about the main points of Polanski’s life, and it was filled with the same amateurism that was present throughout. No matter how interesting the subject matter may seem to you, this is not a movie you want to watch.

5) Dragonball: Evolution
Plot- Upon discovering he was sent to Earth to carrying out a sinister plan, a humanoid alien named Goku looks to fulfill his dying grandfather’s wish: save the planet. (imdb.com)

Directed by- James Wong (Writer of: The Boys Next Door; Writer and Director of: Final Destination, The One, Final Destination 3)

Written by- Ben Ramsey (The Big Hit, Love and a Bullet)

Starring- Justin Chatwin, James Marsters, Chow Yun-Fat, Emmy Rossum, Jamie Chung

Movieguy’s Verdict- In this newsletter there are two nationally released movies that should have never been made, and this is one of them. The film contained extreme cheesiness at every turn. The characters were forced and horribly created, and Ben Ramsey’s screenplay was filled with terribly crafted scenarios and awful dialogue. To make matters worse, the film was loaded with ridiculous plot holes that even a children’s fantasy movie should be able to avoid. James Wong’s direction contained as much childish immaturity as Ramsey’s screenplay, and he managed to increase the corniness exponentially with moronic creatures and horribly choreographed fight sequences. Justin Chatwin and James Marsters gave two of the year’s worst performances in a film that was as poorly acted as it was written and directed. This was definitely one of the year’s worst movies- stay as far away as possible.

6) Miss March
Plot- Waking up from a four-year coma, Eugene takes a cross-country trip with his sex-crazed best friend in order to crash a party at a famous men’s magazine’s legendary headquarters so he can win back his former sweetheart — who is one of the mag’s hottest new pin-ups. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Zach Cregger, Trevor Moore

Starring- Zach Cregger, Trevor Moore, Raquel Alessi, Molly Stanton, Holly Hindman

Movieguy’s Verdict- When a movie is this bad there really isn’t much to say about it. First of all, I didn’t believe for a second that these characters were high school aged, but that was the least of the film’s problems. Zach Cregger and Trevor Moore probably thought the movie they wrote, directed and starred in was very funny while they were making it, but there was nothing funny about their horribly created characters and abnormally stupid antics. The film’s stupidity was overwhelming in every scene as the story constantly attempted to top itself. Not even the cheapest level of comedy could be found in this movie, and the talentless performances of Cregger and Moore only made this painful movie so much worse. With overwhelming stupidity at every turn, this movie was absolutely awful and should never have been made.
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7-21-09

1) Watchmen
Plot- Set in an alternate vision of the year 1985, the murder of an ex-superhero causes a vigilante named Rorshach to look into the matter, an investigation that reunites him with his surviving old colleagues — all of them former superheroes themselves — and gradually unveils a conspiracy with links to their shared past and catastrophic consequences for the future. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Zack Snyder (Dawn of the Dead, 300)

Written by- David Hayter (X-Men, The Scorpion King, X2), Alex Tse

Starring- Jackie Earle Haley, Patrick Wilson, Carla Gugino, Malin Akerman, Billy Crudup, Matthew Goode, Matt Frewer, Stephen McHattie

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was one of the more inconsistent film’s I’ve seen. It had so many excellent pieces, but was never able to come together in any tangible way. Zack Snyder has shown flashes of visual talent, but he tends to work without discretion, similar to Tony Scott’s disastrous handling of “Domino.” In this film, Snyder set the scene beautifully, creating a rich apocalyptic atmosphere filled with symbolism and strong imagery. However, his obsession with injecting slow motion into every other cut scene whether it made sense or not got old fast. Without judgment of any kind, he basically utilized the film’s huge budget to include every random visual idea he could come up with whether it made sense or not. David Hayter and Alex Tse wrote a screenplay filled with narration that was as brilliant as its anti-social themes and philosophical thought experiments. Unfortunately, they wasted extraordinary amounts of time on irrelevant side stories and insignificant characters. The film was also mostly predictable, taking the longest way possible to a conclusion that was simple, obvious and lacking in complexity. The film’s climax seemed downright silly when compared to the far-reaching themes and ideas it boasted. As far as acting was concerned, Jackie Earle Haley was the film’s saving grace. His performance was extraordinary, and he literally saved the film from the barrage of forgettable and completely mediocre performances surrounding him. Overall, this film turned out to be completely average, with its good and bad elements mostly cancelling each other out. It was highly confused, an hour too long and filled with missed opportunities.

2) The Great Buck Howard
Plot- A law school dropout, much to the chagrin of his father, becomes the new assistant to an illusionist in decline. Can the fledgling partnership lead to the comeback of a lifetime? (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Sean McGinly (Writer of: Two Days, Critical Mass, Sonic Impact, Scorned 2, Strategic Command, The Confidence Man, Sexual Roulette, Time Under Fire; Director of: Two Days, The Truth About Juliet)

Starring- Colin Hanks, John Malkovich, Emily Blunt, Patrick Fischler, Griffin Dunne, Ricky Jay, Adam Scott, Steve Zahn, Tom Hanks

Movieguy’s Verdict- Despite being rather slow at times, this was a heartfelt movie that deserves to be seen. Sean McGinly created a good comedic atmosphere, employing a smart, nuanced style of writing that was both clever and intelligent. Though the first half of the film had a decent amount of laughs, it certainly could have been funnier. The film featured a wonderful cast which was led by John Malkovich’s well-crafted and eccentric performance. Additionally, Colin Hanks delivered a believable co-starring performance, and Emily Blunt put in a respectable showing of an unbelievable character. McGinly wrote plenty of symbolism and authenticity into the characters, creating a meaningful coming-of-age atmosphere from beginning to end. Even though he developed the characters nicely, it was difficult to ignore its slow patches, or that after about 40 minutes McGinly abandoned all comedic efforts. Though perhaps it missed some of its opportunities, its meaningful characters and warm message were refreshing indeed.

3) Coraline
Plot- A secret door in her family’s new house offers a passage way to an unusual parallel world for a young girl. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Henry Selick (The Nightmare Before Christmas, James and the Giant Peach, Monkeybone)

Voices of- Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French, Keith David, John Hodgman, Robert Bailey Jr., Ian McShane

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film was almost entirely dependant on its visual effects. In the theater it was shown in 3D, and without this powerful visual effect, the movie would have been more or less forgettable. Henry Selick’s ability to create a wildly surreal and visually intense atmosphere was something I’ve never before seen in a children’s film. The movie was both creepy and highly engrossing from a visual standpoint, but Selick’s screenplay did have a tendency to lag and wander off at times. Though the plot and characters were interesting, the film also suffered from general storytelling problems that would have derailed most movies. However, Selick’s fantastic use of 3D CGI was able to cover many of its deficiencies. Vocal performances from Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher and others were essentially average, nicely capturing the film’s mood but not really adding anything special. This was a remarkably surreal children’s movie experience- if you are able to see it in 3D.

4) Echelon Conspiracy
Plot- At first, the strange phone messages promised great wealth. Soon, though, government agents pursue the young engineer receiving them around the world. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Greg Marcks (11:14)

Written by- Michael Nitsberg, Kevin Elders (Iron Eagle, Iron Eagle II, Aces: Iron Eagle III)

Starring- Shane West, Edward Burns, Ving Rhames, Sergey Gubanov, Martin Sheen

Movieguy’s Verdict- From the very beginning, this movie felt like “Enemy of the State” in both its direction and ideology. Though suspension of disbelief is always important, this movie’s plot came nowhere close to working. Filled with countless plot holes and gaps in logic, the film is only watchable if you don’t give it the slightest bit of thought. The cast looked good on paper, but Shane West gave a poor starring performance which hurt the rest of the cast. Martin Sheen’s performance was the worst of all, playing a horrible character as badly as one can imagine. Due to its constant stream of plot holes, Greg Marcks’ attempts at stylish, suspenseful direction mostly failed to materialize. Overall he did have a number of good visual ideas, and the story was entertaining in the most rudimentary sense, but one too many corny action sequences were not helpful. Strangely enough, this movie had much more negative traits than positive, but it was mindless and entertaining enough to serve that purpose alone.

5) Sherman’s Way
Plot- An eccentric Olympic has-been who prefers leisure to work, finds himself stuck with a rigid pre-law Yale student with no time for wasting time. Between skinny-dipping and stealing cars, this odd-couple learn from each other that balance is the key to getting the girl, getting the job and getting a life. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Craig M. Saavedra

Written by- Tom Nance

Starring- James LeGros, Michael Shulman, Enrico Colantoni, Lacey Chabert, Donna Murphy, Brooke Nevin, M. Emmet Walsh

Movieguy’s Verdict- A good road movie is always enjoyable, but when it is as heavily predictable and clichéd as this film, it has no chance of success. James LeGros and Michael Shulman had great chemistry and gave perfect performances. Their personalities were perfect for the genre, and under most circumstances they could have carried the film to a successful finish. Unfortunately, Tom Nance’s wrote a screenplay in which every scene was completely predictable, and every character was a walking cliché. He did incorporate decent comedy into the story, but it is difficult to make a meaningful movie without a single scene of original or even quasi-imaginative content.

6) The Northern Kingdom
Plot- There didn’t appear to be one.

Directed by- Dorothy Lyman

Written by- Nancy Fales-Garrett

Starring- Dorothy Lyman, Cosmo Pfeil, Heidi Armbruster, Dey Young

Movieguy’s Verdict- Despite a beautifully moody score, this film’s total lack of story made it seem disappointingly irrelevant. Nancy Fales-Garrett wrote selected scenes of strong dialogue that brought emotions to the surface. However, the majority of the movie felt like it was built on manufactured emotions, as if the audience was expected to care about the characters by default, even though there was no plot to bring everything together. Furthermore, the movie’s ensemble cast was nowhere near strong to carry a character driven movie, and the characters themselves were simply too predictable to create the level of intelligence this movie was attempting. This was a weak, amateurish film attempting to duplicate what made “Crash” so brilliant; no need to give it a second thought.
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7-14-09

1) The Haunting in Connecticut
Plot- A family who relocates to Northern Connecticut for their son’s health begins to experience supernatural behavior in their new home. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Peter Cornwell

Written by- Adam Simon (Brain Dead, Carnosaur, The Typewriter, the Rifle & the Movie Camera, The American Nightmare, Bones), Tim Metcalfe (Three for the Road, Million Dollar Mystery, Fright Night Part 2, Iron Maze, Kalifornia, Killer: A Journal of Murder, Bones)

Starring- Virginia Madsen, Kyle Gallner, Martin Donovan, Elias Koteas, Amanda Crew, Martin Donovan, Sophi Knight, Ty Wood

Movieguy’s Verdict- Stories about hauntings (especially haunted houses) are notoriously hard to tell. No matter how well you set up the film and its characters, the climax and ending are usually poorly conceived in one way or another. Despite remaining more or less true to the real life story, this movie fell victim to that same aforementioned fate. Peter Cornwell created a very realistic setting, using ominous and creepy direction to establish an eerie atmosphere. He used imagery well and slowly developed the film without cheap thrills. Characters were also well-developed, and until its unfortunate climax/ending, the story was quite engrossing. Virginia Madsen gave a very good performance of a fairly predictable and conventional character, but Kyle Gallner stole the show with a very impressive role as the film’s most important character. The film was chilling and intense, building well until, like most haunting films, it severely lost its way at the end. It was clear Cornwell and company had no idea how to properly end this movie, and what they settled for was flawed and overdone. This reinforces how difficult it is to make a complete haunting film work from start to finish.

2) Horsemen
Plot- A recently widowed detective grieving over his wife’s death discovers a shocking connection between himself and the suspects in a serial killing spree linked to the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

Directed by- Jonas Åkerlund (Spun)

Written by- Dave Callaham (Doom)

Starring- Dennis Quaid, Ziyi Zhang, Lou Taylor Pucci, Clifton Collins Jr., Barry Shabaka Henley, Patrick Fugit, Eric Balfour

Movieguy’s Verdict- It has been a very long time since Jonas Åkerlund made “Spun,” and many have been quietly awaiting a follow-up. Sadly, this is a movie that can most likely be skipped. Åkerlund directed the film with dark and gloomy overtones- a far cry from the schizophrenic atmosphere he created in “Spun.” For a while he seemed quite comfortable, developing a slow moving, yet engrossing story that seemed to be gradually increasing its potential. Dennis Quaid delivered a workmanlike leading performance, which fit nicely with the rest of the movie’s technically sound, yet unimpressive showings. Åkerlund assembled a talented cast, but Dave Callaham’s terribly flawed screenplay was never able to make proper use of them. Wandering back and forth between horror movie torture and family drama, the film fell apart in most ridiculous fashion over the last 40 minutes or so, growing more and more poorly conceived with each scene, all leading to a laughable ending. Well, what do you expect from the writer of “Doom” anyway? Don’t get sucked in by a good cast and good premise- this film was a flat out mess.

3) The Edge of Love
Plot- Two feisty, free-spirited women are connected by the brilliant, charismatic poet who loves them both. (imdb.com)

Directed by- John Maybury (Love Is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon, The Jacket)

Written by- Sharman Macdonald (The Winter Guest)

Starring- Keira Knightley, Sienna Miller, Cillian Murphy, Matthew Rhys

Movieguy’s Verdict- Though it had quite a few things going for it, this movie was suffocated by its disappointing screenplay. John Maybury’s direction was outstanding. His elegant camerawork created a rich and visually vibrant landscape. Maybury made excellent use of color, yet he created a distinct dreariness that was fitting for the film’s time period. Keira Knightley and Sienna Miller were perfect for their parts. They applied strong personality to their characters and provided plenty of room for the audience to analyze them, but Sharman Macdonald’s inadequate screenplay ultimately doomed the film. His main problem was that his narrative did not contain enough material for an entire film. Macdonald’s writing felt aimless and wandering, failing to hit its mark on most levels. There was also a forced element to the film, with each scene attempting to achieve a rich blend of insightful/clever/touching emotions all at once. A few were successful while the rest simply did not generate enough interest in the characters or the story itself. Though it turned out to be a disappointment, with a well-written screenplay it could have been a cross between “Atonement” and “Vicky Christina Barcelona.”

4) Dakota Skye
Plot- For as long as she could remember, Dakota Skye has been cursed with a super power. She has the ability to see the truth in any lie she hears. (imdb.com)

Directed by- John Humber

Written by- Chad J. Shonk

Starring- Eileen April Boylan, Ian Nelson, J.B. Ghuman Jr.

Movieguy’s Verdict- Despite an interesting premise, this was little more than your average teen movie in disguise. The film suffered from the leading performance of Eileen April Boylan, who misjudged her character’s disappointments and bitterness toward life, instead playing the character as an unlikable brat. This offset the efforts of director John Humber and writer Chad J. Shonk to make the film into a coming of age story. Furthermore, despite its success in creating a promising plot, the film was heavily reliant on high school movie clichés. While it did offer some refreshing sarcastic comedy, Shonk’s script had little in the way of story. In fact, the movie was quite dull overall, and was never able to hit its stride.
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7-7-09

1) Knowing
Plot- When Ted Myles begins to suspect that his son has discovered an artifact that accurately predicts natural disasters and other catastrophes, he goes on to believe his family plays a role in the events that are about to unfold. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Alex Proyas (The Crow, Dark City, Garage Days, I, Robot)

Written by- Ryne Douglas Pearson, Juliet Snowden (Boogeyman), Stiles White (Boogeyman), Stuart Hazeldine

Starring- Nicolas Cage, Chandler Canterbury, Rose Byrne, Lara Robinson, Nadia Townsend

Movieguy’s Verdict- The trailers made this film look like a silly children’s adventure, but it turned out to be one of the best surprise successes of the year. Alex Proyas has the ability to create the darkest and most ominous of worlds, and did it perfectly in this movie. His direction was moody and mysterious, creating the ideal blend of curiosity and creepy intensity. He built the perfect atmosphere for the story using lighting and special effects in the best way possible, making his directorial achievement one of the year’s most impressive showings. Under normal circumstances, four writers working on the same movie would be a bad sign, but together they carried out Proyas’ vision wonderfully. The screenplay was well developed and enhanced the film’s remarkable levels of suspense. Nicolas Cage’s performance was also outstanding. He portrayed the intensity and obsessions of his character well, and provided strong chemistry with his solid co-star, Rose Byrne. With only several small imperfections holding it back from being a perfect movie, this film was as intense as it was engrossing, and will likely hold up as one of the more impressive science fiction movies of the decade.

2) Push
Plot- In Hong Kong, a trio of young people with special abilities are pursued by a clandestine U.S. government agency who wants the gifted ones back in their fold. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Paul McGuigan (Gangster No. 1, The Reckoning, Wicker Park, Lucky Number Slevin)

Written by- David Bourla (Nostradamus, Larceny)

Starring- Dakota Fanning, Chris Evans, Camilla Belle, Djimon Hounsou, Cliff Curtis

Movieguy’s Verdict- Paul McGuigan is a director who continues to impress me. His latest work not only proves he is eager to try new things, but also shows he will excel in any genre. Speaking of genre, this movie doesn’t seem to have one. It lives in a world of its own, and makes its own rules. McGuigan and writer David Bourla started the film quickly with engrossing plot lines and an unrefined story that was told realistically enough to be believable in the face of its heavy fantasy elements. McGuigan’s direction was raw, and his visuals and camerawork were full of energy and style. Bourla’s screenplay carried character relationships quite well, developing an interesting story without distraction. Dakota Fanning and Chris Evans were indeed an unlikely duo, but their chemistry was perfectly fostered, and their performances were top notch. The entire cast delivered solid performances in a movie in which delivering the right performance was a challenge. Even the soundtrack was outstanding, nicely highlighting out the chaos in McGuigan’s visuals. All in all, this was one of the year’s more underappreciated movies. Not only did it tell a great story, it did so in style.

3) The Unborn
Plot- Haunted by strange dreams and recurring ghostly visions, Casey Beldon turns to a spiritual advisor for help. Together, they learn that a demon child is trying to kill her in order to manifest itself in our world. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- David S. Goyer (Director of; ZigZag, Blade: Trinity, The Invisible, Writer of; Death Warrant, Kickboxer 2: The Road Back, Demonic Toys, The Puppet Masters, The Crow: City of Angels, Dark City, Blade, ZigZag, Blade II, Blade: Trinity, Batman Begins, The Dark Knight)

Starring- Odette Yustman, Gary Oldman, Cam Gigandet, Meagan Good, Jane Alexander, Idris Elba, Rhys Coiro, Carla Gugino, James Remar

Movieguy’s Verdict- Reviewing a completely nonsensical movie like this is always difficult, but I’ll give it my best. Peruse David S. Goyer’s filmography and you’ll find that he has participated in one horrible movie after another. The success of the new Batman films is Christopher Nolan’s doing, and I imagine Goyer’s contribution to be minimal at best. Though he made some good directorial choices with his camerawork, Odette Yustman’s inconsistent and flimsy performance began to derail the film. This was before it was clear that Goyer’s screenplay was filled with gaps in logic, nonsensical plot twists, clichés and extreme predictability. The film’s special effects were as cheap and flimsy as it characters. This movie wasn’t horrible or painful- just very silly, dull and forgettable overall.

4) Five Fingers
Plot- In Morocco to assist with the creation of a food charity, a Dutchman is abducted by a terrorist. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Laurence Malkin (Soul Assassin, The Beltway)

Written by- Chad Thumann (Soul Assassin, The Beltway), Laurence Malkin (Soul Assassin, The Beltway)

Starring- Ryan Phillippe, Laurence Fishburne, Colm Meaney, Gina Torres, Touriya Haoud, Saïd Taghmaoui

Movieguy’s Verdict- Though it had a good cast and an interesting premise, poor writing prevented this film from reaching its full potential. Ryan Phillippe and Laurence Fishburne were well chosen for their parts, but Phillippe’s Dutch accent was wildly inconsistent. Though his personality and presence fit his character, he isn’t an actor who traditionally does accents, and there might be a reason why. Fishburne’s performance was solid as his mannerisms and facial expressions were well crafted. Laurence Malkin attempted to create a minimalistic environment of suspense and mystery, but the film was almost completely devoid of the necessary intensity. His direction was elementary and too bland for the type of film he was trying to make. The screenplay was the film’s biggest flaw. Supposedly built around political philosophy, its random political ramblings did not accomplish much, coming across as little more than sloppy generalizations. Early on it seemed as though the film would be quite predictable, but the writing did contain some surprising plot twists which kept things interesting. By no means was this a bad movie, but it simply did not achieve its goal.
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6-30-09

1) Two Lovers
Plot- Leonard returns to Brighton Beach, Brooklyn, where he soon falls for two very different women: the family friend his parents wish he would marry and his beautiful but volatile new neighbor. (imdb.com)

Directed by- James Gray (Little Odessa, The Yards, We Own the Night)

Written by- James Gray (Little Odessa, The Yards, We Own the Night), Ric Menello (Drop Dead Rock)

Starring- Joaquin Phoenix, Gwyneth Paltrow, Vinessa Shaw, Moni Moshonov, Isabella Rossellini, John Ortiz, Bob Ari, Julie Budd, Elias Koteas

Movieguy’s Verdict- Blanket statements cannot properly sum up this movie, but one thing is for sure: this is not your typical love triangle story, even though the title might imply just that. The success of this film came from the sum of its parts, with a textured foundation coming from James Gray’s dark, moody and minimalistic direction. The atmosphere Grey created was a big part of the movie’s personality, but Joaquin Phoenix’s performance captured an unsettled and complicated character with nuance and care. You could tell his character was carrying around a lot of baggage, and Phoenix captured him wonderfully. Supporting efforts from Gwyneth Paltrow and Vinessa Shaw were solid, though Paltrow’s performance left more of a mark on the film due to the erratic nature of her character. Gray and co-writer Ric Menello created a screenplay that worked quite well as a character study, with interesting characters and good psychological content. However, the story was a bit slow at times and Shaw’s character lacked believability which hurt the film’s realism. Also, the bulk of the film wasn’t as emotionally compelling as it should have been, though a fantastic ending definitely left the audience with much to contemplate. This is a well-made film that requires a lot of thought, but in the end it’s worth it.

2) The Education of Charlie Banks
Plot- College student Charlie Banks has to face old problems when Mick, a troubled young man from his past, arrives on campus and begins to insert himself into Charlie’s life. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Fred Durst (The Longshots)

Written by- Peter Elkoff

Starring- Jesse Eisenberg, Jason Ritter, Eva Amurri, Chris Marquette, Sebastian Stan, Gloria Votsis

Movieguy’s Verdict- With his music career more or less over, Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst has turned to filmmaking. His first movie, “The Longshots” was a completely forgettable sports cliché, which certainly isn’t the way you want to make your mark on the movie world. This time around, Durst’s direction provided the film with a truly vintage feel. His camerawork was authoritative, and overall it was clear he provided good atmosphere to the film. Great wardrobe selections were also a big part of the movie’s persona. Jesse Eisenberg, Eva Amurri and Chris Marquette gave solid performances, but were constantly overshadowed by Jason Ritter’s scene stealing effort. Ritter’s fantastic performance brought personality and layers to a role which could have easily devolved into an over-the-top joke. After this movie, people need to start looking at Ritter as a high caliber performer. Unfortunately, even Ritter’s performance could not disguise the fact that the movie was dreadfully slow, and felt more aimless than sincere. Without a story, it was extremely difficult to maintain even slight interest in the characters. Peter Elkoff’s screenplay was flawed for this reason, but he did write smart, analytical dialogue. This film had potential, but only a complete overhaul of the screenplay could bring it out.

3) 12 Rounds
Plot- Detective Danny Fisher discovers his girlfriend has been kidnapped by a ex-con tied to Baxter’s past, and he’ll have to successfully complete 12 challenges in order to secure her safe release. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Renny Harlin (Born American, Prison, A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master, Die Hard 2: Die Harder, The Adventures of Ford Fairlane, Cliffhanger, Cutthroat Island, The Long Kiss Goodnight, Deep Blue Sea, Driven, Mindhunters, Exorcist: The Beginning, The Covenant, Cleaner)

Written by- Daniel Kunka

Starring- John Cena, Aidan Gillen, Ashley Scott, Steve Harris, Brian J. White, Gonzalo Menendez

Movieguy’s Verdict- Basically every movie made in the wrestlers-to-the-big-screen fad has been awful, and I suspect most were expecting this film to follow suit. After all, John Cena’s first film, “The Marine,” was brutally bad, and this film had the same basic plot. In spite of corniness throughout the film and slightly below par acting from all parts, a fast moving story kept your attention for the most part. Renny Harlin’s direction was forced and featured one over-the-top stunt after another. He appeared to spend most of the film’s budget on making Cena look ridiculously superhuman. However, Harlin did fill the movie with non-stop action which helped hold the audience’s interest. As for Cena himself, he didn’t overact like you might expect, but he’s simply not a film actor, and it shows. No one seemed to notice that this movie was a scene for scene copy of “Die Hard 3” sans the quality acting and all of its other good qualities. Despite plagiarizing the entire movie, Daniel Kunka still managed to flood the story with plot holes of every possible kind. This movie was clichéd, poorly acted and full of plot holes, but for the most rudimentary form of entertainment there are worse movies.

4) Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li
Plot- Interpol agent Chun-Li enters an underground fighting tournament, with her eyes set on M. Bison, the contest’s founder and leader of a crime syndicate who may have been responsible for the death of Chun-Li’s father. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Andrzej Bartkowiak (Romeo Must Die, Exit Wounds, Cradle 2 the Grave, Doom)

Written by- Justin Marks

Starring- Kristin Kreuk, Chris Klein, Neal McDonough, Michael Clarke Duncan, Robin Shou, Moon Bloodgood, Josie Ho

Movieguy’s Verdict- This is easily one of the year’s top five worst movies. Centered around terribly choreographed fight scenes, the film’s obvious and heavily clichéd story was filled with cheap dialogue and horribly created characters. Andrzej Bartkowiak has done four awful movies (now five), cementing his position as a terrible director who knows nothing but trashy camerawork and the cheapest special effects. Even the film’s editing was flimsy and poorly constructed. Justin Marks’ pathetic attempt at philosophical commentary was about as laughable as the film’s acting. Kristin Kreuk’s terrible leading performance was indeed bad, but paled in comparison to Chris Klien’s atrocious, overly goofy showing. Featuring some of the worst fight sequences and stunts I’ve ever seen, this is a pathetic and trashy straight-to-DVD film that somehow ended up in theaters. Avoid at all costs!
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6-23-09

1) The Code
Plot- A veteran thief recruits a younger crook to help him pull off one final job in order to repay his debt to the Russian mob. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Mimi Leder (The Peacemaker, Deep Impact, Pay It Forward)

Written by- Ted Humphrey

Starring- Morgan Freeman, Antonio Banderas, Radha Mitchell, Robert Forster, Rade Serbedzija

Movieguy’s Verdict- All of Mimi Leder’s movies have had a general sense of corniness to them, and this one was no different. Neither Leder’s direction nor Ted Humphrey’s screenplay contained a single moment that wasn’t infested with clichés or plot holes. Morgan Freeman and Antonio Banderas actually gave good performances in spite of the film’s numerous problems, but their characters were forced, created to fit into a cookie cutter mold manufactured specifically for the heist genre. Leder attempted to be very suave and classy in her direction, but since the film ran on tired themes and clichés, she was not successful. In spite of the film’s total lack of originality and plethora of plot holes/gaps in logic, it did carry a certain level of mindless enjoyment that made it oddly bearable. Terrible supporting performances from Radha Mitchell and Robert Forster were difficult to watch, but somehow even they didn’t hurt the film’s basic level of watchability. It’s not a film I’d ever recommend, but you could do much worse.

2) The Pink Panther 2
Plot- Another Pink Panther film starring Steve Martin.

Directed by- Harald Zwart (Hamilton, Agent Cody Banks)

Written by- Scott Neustadter, Michael H. Weber, Steve Martin (The Pink Panther, Shopgirl, Bowfinger, L.A. Story, Roxanne, ¡Three Amigos!, The Man with Two Brains, Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid, The Jerk)

Starring- Steve Martin, Jean Reno, Emily Mortimer, Andy Garcia, Alfred Molina, Yuki Matsuzaki, Aishwarya Rai, John Cleese, Lily Tomlin, Jeremy Irons

Movieguy’s Verdict- After the first Steve Martin “Pink Panther” film was such a horrendous failure, I had no reason to believe a second movie was even a faint possibility. But here we are. As the first scene introduced an ear-shatteringly horrific musical score, it was clear that this movie would be of the most painful variety. The antics of Martin and the rest of the cast were as excruciating to endure as they were moronic. Martin’s ability to substitute pure aggravation for entertainment of any kind was emblazoned across every one of this movie’s dim-witted scenes. Each of its moronic stunts got worse and worse, reaching an otherworldly level of stupidity. The direction and writing were on par with the rest of the film’s failures, and this was truly one of the year’s most unimaginably bad movies. Stay as far away as you possibly can from this embarrassment of a movie. Someone needs to tell Steve Martin he’s not as funny as he thinks he is.

3) Inkheart
Plot- A little girl must rescue her father, a bookbinder who can bring characters to life by reading aloud, from the clutches of an evil man. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Iain Softley (The Skeleton Key, K-PAX, The Wings of the Dove, Hackers, Backbeat)

Written by- David Lindsay-Abaire (Robots)

Starring- Brendan Fraser, Andy Serkis, Eliza Bennett, Sienna Guillory, Paul Bettany, Helen Mirren

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was a decent movie that had plenty of ups and downs. Brendan Fraser is wildly inconsistent with the quality of his performances, and he was less than great in this movie after a strong showing from his 2006-2007 indie films. Helen Mirren gave a horrible supporting performance which mirrored her contribution to the “National Treasure” sequel. Eliza Bennett’s strong leading performance went a long way in leveling out the story’s highly telegraphed and predictable situations. Despite its predictability, the film was indeed interesting, and Iain Softley crafted his direction with a good eye for the outlandish visuals that fueled the story. Though he did have a tendency to exaggerate his special effects at times. David Lindsay-Abaire’s writing made it easy to get involved in the story and its characters, but he allowed the film to slow down drastically over its second half, during which time corniness and clichés grew more and more pronounced. Overall this was an enjoyable fantasy movie, even if it had a few too many problems.

4) The Garth Method
Plot- In 2001 out-of-work actor Garth Petridis was imprisoned for one of the most unusual crimes in Australian history. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Gregory Pakis

Starring- Gregory Pakis, Katrina Baylis, Scott Terrill, Jamie Unicomb, Jo Buckley

Movieguy’s Verdict- I must say, I admire Gregory Pakis. He had a vision and used creativity and cleverness to bring it to life. Pakis’ ability to switch between black and white and color in his direction was top notch, and the quirky characters he created were excellent as well. Pakis brought a distinct personality to the story, which he intelligently displayed with his direction, but also in his leading performance. The supporting cast was less involved in the film than they should have been, and the slack they left hurt the film down the stretch. The personality of Pakis’ writing and direction was rather addicting, and his screenplay brought out philosophical and existential qualities which blended well with its highly relatable narrative. While Pakis’ ingenuity was impossible to ignore, so was his inexperience as a filmmaker. The film’s odd qualities and off the wall humor disappeared gradually, and by the halfway point, it became repetitive and surprisingly dull compared to how it started. The first half was outstanding in many ways, but the second half was an unfortunate disappointment; judge for yourself if you want to give it a look.

5) Confessions of a Shopaholic
Plot- A compulsive spender lands herself in an ironic position of an advice counselor for a finance magazine.

Directed by- P.J. Hogan (Peter Pan, Unconditional Love, My Best Friend’s Wedding, Muriel’s Wedding, The Humpty Dumpty Man)

Written by- Tracey Jackson (The Guru, The Other End of the Line), Tim Firth (Blackball, Calendar Girls, Kinky Boots), Kayla Alpert

Starring- Isla Fisher, Hugh Dancy, Krysten Ritter, Joan Cusack, John Goodman, John Lithgow, Kristin Scott Thomas, Fred Armisen, Leslie Bibb, Lynn Redgrave

Movieguy’s Verdict- For a film purported to be about fashion, I was absolutely shocked at how tacky and tasteless its clothes were. Did Fran Drescher’s character from “The Nanny” dress the cast? Anyway, this was a forgettable and overly long movie that accomplished very little. Hugh Dancy’s supporting performance was just about all that held the film together, as Isla Fisher’s forced antics got old fast. Her enthusiasm for her character and resounding effort were notable, but this did not translate to much in the end. P.J. Hogan’s direction featured a few decent ideas, and provided creativity in places were the story had none. A small smattering of silly comedy also helped the film in places. However, most of its misplaced slapstick gags fell flat. The romantic plot was horribly conceived as one might expect, and the screenplay was hopelessly redundant, constantly repeating the same basic idea over and over. Though it was only 104 minutes, the film felt like it would never end. Its redundancy grew as tiring as its attempt to constantly inject cheesy and over-the-top sequences into every scene. There was a decent concept here, but no execution whatsoever.

6) Simon Says
Plot- Five college friends choose to spend their vacation debauching at the riverside. They find the perfect place to camp out, but end up crossing paths with twin brothers, Simon and Stanley. The twins then begin to knock off the campers in some extremely gruesome ways. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- William Dear (Free Style, The Sandlot 3, The Foursome, Wild America, Angels in the Outfield, If Looks Could Kill, Harry and the Hendersons, Timerider: The Adventure of Lyle Swann, Northville Cemetery Massacre, Nymph)

Starring- Crispin Glover, Margo Harshman, Greg Cipes, Carrie Finklea, Kelly Vitz

Movieguy’s Verdict- As far as the straight-to-DVD horror genre goes, this is as bad as it gets. Brainless teen horror clichés began immediately and were constantly present throughout the film. William Dear’s characters were beyond idiotic. Their personalities passed the effect of nails on the chalkboard after the first five minutes. Horrible performances from Crispin Glover and the rest of the talentless, unknown cast only made things worse, which I frankly thought was impossible. Dear’s direction was cheesy and filled with pointless gore, and his screenplay was infested with mindless dialogue, overwhelming predictability and a barrage of teen horror clichés. I can’t begin to imagine how this movie got made.
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6-16-09

1) Madea Goes to Jail
Plot- Another movie in Tyler Perry’s Madea series.

Written and Directed by the King of Clichés and Stereotypes- Tyler Perry (Diary of a Mad Black Woman, Madea’s Family Reunion, Daddy’s Little Girls, Why Did I Get Married?, Meet the Browns, The Family That Preys)

Starring- Tyler Perry, Keshia Knight Pulliam, Derek Luke, David Mann, Tamela J. Mann, RonReaco Lee, Ion Overman, Vanessa Ferlito, Viola Davis, Sofía Vergara

Movieguy’s Verdict- Though it lacked some of the elements which make Tyler Perry’s movies so resoundingly awful, there was no doubt that this was indeed another Tyler Perry film. In all of his movies he forces religion where it doesn’t belong, and aggressively preachy writing was present throughout the film. Thankfully it managed to achieve a decent level of comedy in a handful of scenes, making the slow and basically uneventful story slightly bearable. Madea’s comical lines and blunt personality seemed to move the film along in spite of its self-righteous religious messages, but horrendous performances from Keshia Knight Pulliam and Ion Overman were difficult to stomach. While Perry has never been a bastion of creativity or even good ideas, it was clear this movie contained very few actual plot elements. The scenes grew redundant very quickly as the film cycled though the same handful of sequences over and over again. As usual, the characters were highly clichéd, and racial stereotypes were in full swing in typical Perry fashion. Though it was free of the cheap sappiness that his other films contain, this was yet another awful movie from one of the worst “filmmakers” alive.

2) Friday the 13th
Plot- A group of young adults discover a boarded up Camp Crystal Lake, where they soon encounter Jason Voorhees and his deadly intentions. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Marcus Nispel (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Pathfinder)

Written by- Damian Shannon (Freddy vs. Jason), Mark Swift (Freddy vs. Jason)

Starring- Jared Padalecki, Danielle Panabaker, Amanda Righetti, Travis Van Winkle, Aaron Yoo, Derek Mears, Jonathan Sadowski, Julianna Guill, Ben Feldman

Movieguy’s Verdict- Marcus Nispel’s remake of “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” was one of the top five horror movies I’ve seen in the last decade. Intense, raw and devoid of the clichés that have infested this teen horror remake genre, Nispel’s vision was bloody brilliant. But after “Pathfinder” was an unwatchable catastrophe, Nispel’s reputation was on shaky ground. Though he was returning to the genre that brought him great success, this movie was an all around failure. Teen horror clichés were overwhelming from the first scene, and the film’s typical horror situations and extreme predictability made watching it essentially irrelevant. Along with the clichés, Damian Shannon and Mark Swift’s screenplay contained inane dialogue and worthless characters. The movie itself was far from scary, or even suspenseful. Nispel’s direction contained a handful of decent visual sequences, but the story wasted too much time and ultimately did nothing interesting or noteworthy with a horror story that has been dead for a very long time. Watch Nispel’s remake of “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” but definitely skip this movie.

3) The Perfect Sleep
Plot- A tortured man returns to the city he swore he would never return to, in order to save the woman he has always loved yet can never have. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Jeremy Alter

Written by- Anton Pardoe

Starring- Anton Pardoe, Roselyn Sanchez, Patrick Bauchau, Peter J. Lucas

Movieguy’s Verdict- I had high hopes for this movie, but unfortunately it found countless ways to avoid reaching its potential. Jeremy Alter’s direction contained visually appealing imagery and decent symbolism, but much of his presentation and style were forced. The film was so heavily reliant on narration that it included far too much of it, never giving the audience the chance to analyze the characters or think about the story. It basically felt like someone was talking through the entire film. Anton Pardoe’s performance was very poor. His forced toughness and exaggerated emotional torment made his scenes difficult to watch. In his writing, Pardoe made the critical mistake of flooding the audience with the entire backstory of the characters on a constant basis rather than letting the story evolve over time. The plot evolved more like a corny soap opera than the nourish dreamscape it tried to be. The story, characters and direction had such potential, but a constant stream of forced narration and incessant backtracking neutralized the movie before it got started. It was clear that Alter was attempting to make a dark and artistic movie with heavy noir influences, but he and Pardoe needed to reexamine their approach.
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6-9-09

1) The International
Plot- Interpol Agent Louis Salinger and Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Eleanor Whitman pool their resources in an attempt to break up an international arms dealing ring financed by a high-profile bank. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Tom Tykwer (Perfume: The Story of a Murderer)

Written by- Eric Singer

Starring- Clive Owen, Naomi Watts, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Ulrich Thomsen

Movieguy’s Verdict- This is one of those underrated movies that absolutely must be seen. Beginning with a chilling opening, the film’s dark and quiet minimalism was thrust into an atmosphere of paranoia and intrigue. The story began right away and continued to move quickly to the very end. Eric Singer’s script was a chess match with constantly evolving plots and engrossing characters. Clive Owen and Naomi Watts delivered intense and exacting performances, which perfectly complemented the pace of the film. Owen was the real star however, and his compelling and dedicated performance has been one of the few bright spots of the year so far. Tom Tykwer’s directorial vision was brilliant. He created mystery and intrigue that constantly evolved, often resulting in paranoia and suspense that felt overwhelming. Tykwer’s brooding minimalism and captivating intensity made this an intelligent thriller that asks a lot of its audience, but delivers in more ways than one. Its only flaw took the form of some relatively minor story oversights. These were not exactly plot holes per se, rather oversights that could have been corrected with minor tinkering. Still, this is a can’t miss.

2) Gran Torino
Plot- A bigoted and disgruntled Korean War veteran looks to clean up his neighborhood, which has been taken over by gangs. Reluctantly, Kowalski also forms a bond with one of his neighbors, a Hmong teenager, whose family is embroiled in a gang-related conflict. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Clint Eastwood (Changeling, Flags of Our Fathers, Million Dollar Baby, Mystic River, Blood Work, Space Cowboys, True Crime, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, Unforgiven, The Rookie, Bird, Firefox, The Outlaw Josey Wales)

Written by- Nick Schenk

Starring- Clint Eastwood, Bee Vang, Christopher Carley, Ahney Her, Brian Haley, Geraldine Hughes, Dreama Walker, Brian Howe, John Carroll Lynch

Movieguy’s Verdict- As a director Clint Eastwood might be bland and extremely overrated, but as an “actor,” it is almost impossible to argue that he is capable of portraying a human being of any type. In this film, like so many others, his series of grunts and growls made him more akin to a dog or wild woodland animal. In this movie, like most films in which he “acts,” his performance was difficult to stomach. His performance was so bad that the audience laughed at practically everything he said, even though 90% of the dialogue was not intended to be funny. Nick Schenk’s screenplay wasted time on a few storylines didn’t really accomplish much, but overall, he included symbolism and believable scenarios. Schenk’s ability to include symbolism and character development was matched by Eastwood’s unusually gritty and emotional direction, something not often seen from an Eastwood movie. Schenk went overboard on the numerous racist rants snarled by Eastwood’s character; these were quite redundant and got old fast. The film was held together by strong supporting acting, namely from Bee Vang, Christopher Carley, Ahney Her, and other members of this largely unknown cast. The film included a number of engrossing situations, and was as much a character study as it was a symbolic journey into a dying neighborhood. Though it is wildly overrated like most Eastwood movies, his ability to capture the relationship between the characters saved the film in the end, and it turned out to be a meaningful movie.

3) Fired Up
Plot- Two high school jocks decide to ditch their annual football training session for cheerleading camp, where they think their ruse will result in plenty of hook-ups. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Will Gluck

Written by- Freedom Jones

Starring- Eric Christian Olsen, Nicholas D’Agosto, Sarah Roemer, Molly Sims, Danneel Harris, David Walton, Adhir Kalyan, AnnaLynne McCord, Juliette Goglia, Philip Baker Hall, John Michael Higgins

Movieguy’s Verdict- Though the premise looked quite awful, this contained a surprisingly high amount of comedy and some notable comedic acting. First of all, Eric Christian Olsen is 30 years old and looks it. For him to be playing a high school aged character is ridiculous even for the most imaginative viewer. The film’s characters and situations were exaggerated as one would expect, and every female character in the film was written and conceived with overwhelming amounts of stupidity and childish male fantasy. Despite these shortcomings, Freedom Jones and Will Gluck managed to create a number of scenes in which Olsen and co-star Nicholas D’Agosto showed great chemistry and surprisingly adept comedic timing. Their ability to create sarcasm in the films exaggerated situations worked quite well at times. D’Agosto’s performance was quite good, and for a while, a one-two punch of D’Agosto and Olsen kept the laughs coming. Unfortunately, the film fell into a highly clichéd sports movie format and continued to create exaggerated situations which got worse and worse along the way. This film certainly had its moments, but ultimately, it just wasn’t very good.

4) Spinning into Butter
Plot- A hate crime on the campus of a New England college puts the school’s dean in a position where she has to examine her own feelings about race and prejudice, while maintaining her administration’s politically correct policies. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Mark Brokaw

Written by- Doug Atchison (Writer/Director of: The Pornographer, Akeelah and the Bee, Rebecca Gilman

Starring- Sarah Jessica Parker, Miranda Richardson, Beau Bridges, Mykelti Williamson, Paul James

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film’s success depended on the presence of psychologically intelligent writing, powerful characters and strong symbolism. Unfortunately, it went 0 for 3. The themes and situations were not as psychologically clever as writers Doug Atchison and Rebecca Gilman thought they were, and their screenplay felt weak from the start. Good ideas were present, but they were presented in a preachy and somewhat blunt fashion. Performances were mostly dull and uninspiring. Sarah Jessica Parker was as bland as her character, and the rest of the cast followed suit. Mark Brokaw and the writers attempted to capture an out of control spiral of events that reflected many of the inconsistencies in perceived racial tolerance. To a certain extent, the film did capture relevant issues and realistic situations, but in the context of a story that could carry a film, it wasn’t particularly smart or powerful enough.
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6-2-09

1) Revolutionary Road
Plot- A young couple raising a family in a Connecticut suburb during the mid-1950s look to break free from their frustratingly mediocre lives. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Road to Perdition, Jarhead)

Written by- Justin Haythe (The Clearing)

Starring- Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Kathy Bates, Max Casella, Michael Shannon

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was a brilliant movie in every respect. In this emotionally charged and psychologically powerful and dark drama, Sam Mendes’ direction was a monumental achievement. His unique and complex vision captured a “conventional” lifestyle as you’ve never seen it before. His direction seemed as ordinary as the characters were on the surface, but so much lurked beneath that you immediately became transfixed in their lives. Justin Haythe’s screenplay was written with great complexity, both emotionally and psychologically. His take on societal conventions was one of a kind, and he created tension not only between the characters but between the characters and society itself. The screenplay was artfully written with wonderful dialogue and biting symbolism, which was highlighted perfectly by Mendes’ direction. Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet gave powerful and moving performances, highlighting every intricate detail of their characters thoughts and feelings with the utmost precision and intensity. This monumentally complex work was brilliantly directed and hauntingly beautiful, making it one of the more underappreciated films of 2008.

2) Defiance
Plot- In 1941, a group of Jewish brothers organize the largest armed rescue of Jews during the Holocaust. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Edward Zwick (Blood Diamond, The Last Samurai, The Siege, Courage Under Fire, Legends of the Fall, Leaving Normal, Glory, About Last Night)

Written by- Clayton Frohman (Under Fire, The Delinquents), Edward Zwick (The Siege, The Last Samurai)

Starring- Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber, Jamie Bell, George MacKay, Alexa Davalos, Mark Feuerstein

Movieguy’s Verdict- Though it had plenty of the typical themes you would expect in a World War II film, it wasted no time and was extremely well acted. Daniel Craig’s exacting performance carried the film. His commanding presence was obvious in every scene, and his eyes literally pierced the screen. Clayton Frohman and Edward Zwick developed characters very well, and their screenplay raised many ethical and moral issues. The relationships between characters were also a perfect representation of human conflict and resilience. Zwick’s direction carried an understated beauty in its raw, no frills atmosphere of pure unfiltered realism. The film’s fascinating psychological elements were a big part of its success, as it created a strong level of fascination with the story and its characters. Supporting performances from Liev Schreiber and Jamie Bell were also noteworthy in this well-structured and emotionally driven film. It’s not as breathtaking as “Schindler’s List,” but this is a very high quality movie that you don’t want to miss.

3) He’s Just Not That Into You
Plot- Romantic woes affect an interconnected group of Baltimore singles and marrieds. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Ken Kwapis (Vibes, Sexual Life, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, License to Wed)

Written by- Abby Kohn (Never Been Kissed), Marc Silverstein (Never Been Kissed)

Starring- Ginnifer Goodwin, Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Connelly, Scarlett Johansson, Bradley Cooper, Justin Long, Ben Affleck, Kevin Connolly, Drew Barrymore, Kris Kristofferson

Movieguy’s Verdict- Terrible title aside, this film had a classic Woody Allen analytical feel to it as it explored various aspects of romantic relationships. The direction was appropriate and created a thoughtful and intelligent atmosphere for the film’s many characters. Abby Kohn and Marc Silverstein’s screenplay was insightful and contained plenty of good situational ideas, however there were tremendous issues with character and situational realism. For most of the relationships highlighted in the film, I did not sense much believability at all. In this wonderfully cast ensemble piece, Justin Long and Ginnifer Goodwin stood out in a big way, stealing the show with tremendous performances filled with personality and style. This film was in no way a corny or Hollywood romance, but it dropped the ball concerning realism and believability. All in all, it was an enjoyable, thoughtful and well acted movie that I would definitely recommend.

4) Elsewhere
Plot- A teen girl disappears after trying to meet men online in order to escape her small town. Apparently, only her best friend worries enough to investigate the mystery. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Nathan Hope

Starring- Anna Kendrick, Jon Gries, Tania Raymonde, Olivia Dawn York, Paul Wesley, Chuck Carter

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was a carbon copy of every teen movie ever made. Nathan Hope didn’t even attempt to include anything in this cookie-cutter film that was the slightest bit original or creative. His very typical teen characters and scenarios were immediately suffocated by trashy dialogue. Tania Raymonde may have been great on “Lost,” but her exaggerated performance of a horribly created character was difficult to sit through. Anna Kendrick gave a much better performance, but her character was a walking cliché, much like every other character in the film. Hope’s storyline was very slow to develop, and predictable from the first scene. To his credit, his direction did apply a necessary level of creepiness when required, and he did attempt to develop his characters, but his inclusion of one trashy teen cliché after another was too much to overcome. It had a certain degree of potential, but Hope’s lack of intelligence did it in.
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5-26-09

1) All the Days Before Tomorrow
Plot- In this quirky episodic tale about a friendship that’s almost something more, Wes and Alison are pals who ought to be lovers, but their timing has never been right. When Alison makes a late-night visit to Wes on the eve of leaving for Tokyo to rejoin her beau, the two chums travel down an emotional memory lane, discovering truths about their relationship in the process. In the mix is Wes’s mysterious and comical guardian angel. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- François Dompierre

Starring- Joey Kern, Alexandra Holden, Richard Roundtree

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was a truly special movie that has to be seen. François Dompierre’s vision was full of emotion and rich sentimentality. His screenplay contained plenty of philosophical observations and charm, though it was never tedious or drawn out. Dompierre’s desire to flood the audience with a plethora of ideas did backfire on certain occasions though, because some of his themes were just too broad to connect to anything tangible. With that being said, no matter what Dompierre did, you felt yourself growing closer and closer to the characters on their respective paths of self-discovery. His direction was artistic and thoughtful, yet grounded in a state of contemplative reality. Joey Kern and Alexandra Holden were wonderful. Their performances were actually much more deeply layered than you might think, and the outstanding direction brought out everything their rich characters had to offer. This brilliant little movie seemed larger than life at times, and contained a complex level of beauty that only the best films are able to achieve. Its journey of emotion was deceptively simple, subtle and powerful; do not pass on this gem.

2) Powder Blue
Plot- Four people in Los Angeles are brought together on Christmas Eve by a mixture of circumstances. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Timothy Linh Bui (Green Dragon)

Starring- Jessica Biel, Eddie Redmayne, Forest Whitaker, Ray Liotta, Lisa Kudrow, Patrick Swayze, Kris Kristofferson, Alejandro Romero, Sanaa Lathan

Movieguy’s Verdict- Despite Timothy Linh Bui’s classically dark direction and a good cast, this movie’s lack of consistent storytelling prevented it from reaching its full potential. Jessica Biel and Eddie Redmayne carried the film with their dynamically nuanced and passionate performances, providing the audience with the energy and power that Bui’s writing lacked. Though Bui had plenty of good ideas, his characters were wildly inconsistent, suffering from lapses in believability and a lack of development. Bui’s camerawork was excellent and got progressively better, unlike the various stories, which never seemed to have quite enough material. Overall the film moved much too slowly for its own good, giving its powerful scenes less of an impact. The performances of Forest Whitaker and Ray Liotta left much to be desired, and Patrick Swayze gave an out and out ridiculous performance of an absurd character. Ultimately, this film lacked a consistent mood, and had too many character problems to achieve what it wanted.

3) New in Town
Plot- A Miami-based consultant is shipped out to small-town Minnesota for her newest project: supervising the restructuring of a local manufacturing plant. After a frosty reception, she warms to the townspeople, though a tough business mandate causes her to reconsider her personal and professional objectives. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Jonas Elmer

Written by- Ken Rance, C. Jay Cox (Sweet Home Alabama, Latter Days)

Starring- Renée Zellweger, Harry Connick Jr., Siobhan Fallon, J.K. Simmons

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was a completely forgettable movie that accomplished almost nothing at all. The film made an effort to create a collection of odd and off the wall small town personalities, and succeeded to a lesser extent. Though these supporting characters were clichéd and a bit forced, Siobhan Fallon’s character and performance provided energy and charisma to a very dull and sterile film atmosphere. On the other hand, Renée Zellweger’s bland and uninteresting performance was as forgettable as the film itself. Her limited and always predictable personality was a perfect representation of the lack of thought put into this lackluster movie. Writers Ken Rance and C. Jay Cox did manage to create a handful of funny exchanges between characters, but a ridiculous love story and a high level of cheesiness constantly reminded the audience of the formulaic Hollywood sappiness (with food fight included) that this film truly was. Avoid at all costs!!
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5-19-09

1) Valkyrie
Plot- Near the end of WWII, a group of Nazi officers attempt to assassinate Adolf Hitler. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Bryan Singer (The Usual Suspects, Apt Pupil, X-Men, X2, Superman Returns)

Written by- Christopher McQuarrie (The Usual Suspects, The Way of the Gun), Nathan Alexander

Starring- Tom Cruise, Bill Nighy, Carice van Houten, Kenneth Branagh, Tom Wilkinson, Thomas Kretschmann, Terence Stamp, Eddie Izzard, Kevin McNally, Christian Berkel

Movieguy’s Verdict- Though Bryan Singer’s career has gone steadily downhill after the cult hit “The Usual Suspects,” he redeemed himself considerably by creating an extremely solid and suspenseful movie. The film’s all-star cast performed in stellar fashion. Tom Cruise led the way with a dedicated, intense and captivating performance, and his perfectly cast supporting players performed with equal talent. Bill Nighy, Kenneth Branagh, Tom Wilkinson and Thomas Kretschmann all delivered the precisely calculated performances that a film like this requires. Those Singer’s direction contained almost no visual creativity, he filled that void by creating an environment of remarkable suspense and intensity. Christopher McQuarrie and Nathan Alexander wrote a screenplay that contained remarkable historical accuracy, nonstop excitement, and well developed characters. This movie is a must-see for anyone who enjoys good acting, and even better suspense.

2) Yonkers Joe
Plot- Family life gets in the way of a con man’s search for the perfect scam. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Robert Celestino (Mr. Vincent)

Starring- Chazz Palminteri, Christine Lahti, Tom Guiry, Michael Lerner, Linus Roache, Michael Rispoli

Movieguy’s Verdict- Robert Celestino’s impressive direction created great realism and mood, laying the groundwork for the perfect gambling movie. He created an atmosphere of class and a certain understated grit that a film like this truly needs. Chazz Palminteri’s performance was outstanding. He played his character with as much beneath the surface as he showed on camera, and his personality and style left nothing to be desired. Celestino’s writing allowed for a good emotional connection to the characters, but his inclusion of a subplot involving Tom Guiry’s character (the son of Palminteri’s character) definitely held the film back. Down the stretch it seemed like Celestino was trying to make the movie about the struggles of a father and son, alienating the authentic gambling atmosphere that could have made this one of the top unknown films of the year. His direction and writing gave the film plenty of heart, but ultimately he strayed too far from the story’s best features.

3) Paul Blart: Mall Cop
Plot- When a shopping mall is overtaken by a gang of organized crooks, it’s up to a mild-mannered security guard to save the day. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Steve Carr (Are We Done Yet?, Rebound, Daddy Day Care, Dr. Dolittle 2, Next Friday)

Written by- Kevin James, Nick Bakay

Starring- Kevin James, Keir O’Donnell, Jayma Mays, Raini Rodriguez, Shirley Knight, Stephen Rannazzisi

Movieguy’s Verdict- The likability and pure comedic energy of Kevin James gave this movie as much as it could, but the simple fact that this was not a very good movie would ultimately overshadow his valiant effort. The film’s numerous clichés, horribly created characters and childish antics were ultimately its undoing. James’ performance was a lot funnier and more energetic than its feeble screenplay and shortsighted direction might suggest. Unfortunately there was no comedy in the writing, and every laugh the film managed to generate came specifically from one of James’ physical stunts. Otherwise this was a very uneventful and rather dull movie that inexplicably copied the plot of “Die Hard” almost verbatim and attempted to make it into a comedy. Amidst the collection of horrendous characters it was not difficult to like the Paul Blart character, and if there had been any intelligence, thought, originality or comedy put into the story this film could have been surprisingly good. But in its current form, this was just another failure directed by Steve Carr.

4) My Bloody Valentine
Plot- Tom returns to his hometown on the tenth anniversary of the Valentine’s night massacre that claimed the lives of 22 people. And when another horrific event occurs soon after Tom’s appearance, he finds himself suspected of the deadly acts. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Patrick Lussier (Dracula 2000, White Noise 2: The Light)

Written by- Todd Farmer (Jason X, The Messengers), Zane Smith

Starring- Jensen Ackles, Jaime King, Kerr Smith, Betsy Rue, Edi Gathegi, Tom Atkins

Movieguy’s Verdict- Armed with a no-name cast devoid of talent, a director with two bad movies under his belt and two writers with no notable accomplishments, this film proceeded to fail in almost every conceivable way. Todd Farmer and Zane Smith included enough absent-minded stupidity in their writing to fill two or possibly three movies. Their exaggerated characters and reliance on pointless gore to move the story forward did little to create even the most superficial level of excitement. For a film purported to be a horror movie, the lack of scares and suspense was noticeable. The horrible performances of Jensen Ackles, Jaime King and Kerr Smith were actually perfect for a movie with no achievements. Lasting 101 minutes, it film felt as though it was never going to end, as its numerous pathetic plot twists kept it on life support for much too long. Ultimately this was just another failed horror movie that will only be remembered by its feeble attempt to drum up publicity due to its 3D theatrical presentation. Even in 3D, this movie was bad.
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5-12-09

1) Taken
Plot- A former spy relies on his old skills to save his daughter who was kidnapped by slave traders during her vacation in Paris. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Pierre Morel

Written by- Luc Besson (Point of No Return, Kiss of the Dragon, The Professional, The Fifth Element, The Transporter, The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc, Unleashed, Transporter 2, Bandidas, Transporter 3), Robert Mark Kamen (Transporter 3, Bandidas, Transporter 2, The Transporter, Kiss of the Dragon, The Fifth Element, A Walk in the Clouds, The Next Karate Kid, Lethal Weapon 3, The Power of One, Gladiator (1992), The Karate Kid, Part III, The Karate Kid, Part II, The Karate Kid, Split Image, Taps)

Starring- Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Famke Janssen, Xander Berkeley, Leland Orser

Movieguy’s Verdict- Aided by its “take no prisoners” mentality, this raw adrenaline rush of a movie was very compelling and quite brutal. At the heart of the film was Liam Neeson’s phenomenal performance. His intensity and focus precisely wonderfully captured his well developed character, allowing him to take control of every scene. His powerful performance was greatly enhanced by Pierre Morel’s suspenseful and edgy direction. For a film with a PG-13 rating, its content was not at all compromised, and the pure brutality of the story and its characters did nothing but flourish in Morel’s high octane atmosphere. The story was extremely well-developed and moved without lag or wasted scenes. This movie required a very high level of suspended disbelief and its tendency to exaggerate its testosterone laced alpha male bravado was not hard to miss. However, it was never impossible to take this movie seriously, which is a testament to the vision and execution of Neeson and Morel. Ultimately, this movie can be classified as a very dark action film that delivered as much excitement and intensity as you could want.

2) Underworld: Rise of the Lycans
Plot- A look at how the werewolf named Lucian led an uprising against an aristocratic vampire sect — a revolt that will mark the beginning of a centuries-old war between the two races. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Patrick Tatopoulos

Written by- Danny McBride (Underworld, Underworld: Evolution), Dirk Blackman (Outlander), Howard McCain (Outlander)

Starring- Rhona Mitra, Michael Sheen, Bill Nighy, Kate Beckinsale

Movieguy’s Verdict- The first underworld film was surprisingly good. Though a bit cheesy at times, it was well directed, well acted and told an interesting story. The second film was completely worthless and accomplished nothing other than tarnishing its predecessor’s accomplishments. This third film somehow managed to be worse. Much, much worse. From the first scene the film carried a distinctively trashy feel that matched its nonstop stupidity until the closing credits. Bill Nighy’s ridiculously exaggerated and disgustingly overacted performance was among the worst performances of the year, or any year for that matter. Though Michael Sheen’s performance was not as painful to endure as Nighy’s, it was similarly meritless. Ultimately it is impossible to give it a worthwhile performance in such a trashy atmosphere, regardless of the actor’s talent. Terrible direction was another feather in this film’s cap, as Patrick Tatopoulos’s indecipherable camerawork and sleazy visual effects were as bad as direction can be. With scene after scene of trashy dialogue and characters exchanging sinister looks for no reason, this horrendous film was punishment to sit through, and one of the year’s worst in all categories. Watch the first one again if you want, but stay away from this garbage.

3) Personal Effects
Plot- A study of how the traumatic deaths of people affect those left behind. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- David Hollander

Starring- Michelle Pfeiffer, Kathy Bates, Ashton Kutcher, Rob LaBelle, Topher Grace

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was a good movie that could have been great if its screenplay had been a bit more focused. The film was carried by strong performances which left little to be desired. Ashton Kutcher was excellent, giving the best performance of his career. I know that’s not saying much, but for a while it was thought that he would develop differently after “The Butterfly Effect,” and this movie was a showcase of the talent some thought he had. Michelle Pfeiffer was fantastic as well, displaying tremendous emotion and psychological command of her complex and well developed character. David Hollander’s direction was quiet, dark and emotionally charged at the start, but he allowed the story to give away its intensity and let its ideas wander. The film’s mood was well established, but Hollander’s writing grew gradually slower and less psychologically involved over the course of the movie. Still, the film’s emotional ups and downs were interesting and realistic, and you did care about the characters. In the end, predictability and pacing problems prevented it from reaching its potential.
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5-5-09

1) Last Chance Harvey
Plot- During a weekend in which Harvey Shine travels to London for his daughter’s wedding, he first learns that he’s lost his job back in New York, then he discovers he won’t be the man giving away the bride at the ceremony. Harvey then meets Kate, which might be the beginning of some much-needed change in his life. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Joel Hopkins (Jump Tomorrow)

Starring- Dustin Hoffman, Emma Thompson, Kathy Baker, James Brolin, Eileen Atkins, Richard Schiff, Liane Balaban, Michael Landes, Alex Avery

Movieguy’s Verdict- This movie began with a typical and clichéd character set up, and was predictable from start to finish. However, Joel Hopkins did a remarkable job developing the characters and their struggles separately, setting the audience up for an emotional story. The true star of the film was Dustin Hoffman, whose brilliantly layered performance was absolutely teaming with the affect of a lifetime of emotional ups and downs. Though the characters and the film were predictable, it was still quite fascinating and enjoyable to watch. Hopkins direction was solemn, quiet and elegant, yet it carried an optimistic air reflective of the thoughtful and hopeful nature of the characters. The score was outstanding with perfectly placed music bringing out the moods of the characters in all the right places. Perhaps you could argue that there wasn’t much of a story to be found in the film, but even though it was slow moving, Hopkins’ reflective writing and Hoffman’s sensational performance proved to be a winning combination. Emma Thompson proved to be the film’s weak link. Though her performance was respectable, her character left much to be desired. Ultimately Thompson contributed very little to the movie. Hopkins did an incredible job of making the audience care about the characters, and despite the aforementioned predictability, you were hanging on their every move from beginning to end. Overall, this was a sincere and heartfelt movie that did exactly what it was supposed to do. Plus, a fantastic performance from Dustin Hoffman never hurt anyone.

2) The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Plot- Benjamin Button was born under unusual circumstances. As everyone around him grew older, he aged backwards, making the challenges of life such as creating friendships, finding a job and falling in love all the more difficult and heartbreaking. (imdb.com)

Directed by- David Fincher (Alien 3, Se7en, The Game, Fight Club, Panic Room, Zodiac)

Written by- Eric Roth (The Nickel Ride, Suspect, Memories of Me, Mr. Jones, Forrest Gump, The Postman, The Horse Whisperer, The Insider, Ali, Munich, The Good Shepard, Lucky You)

Starring- Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Tilda Swinton, Taraji P. Henson, Julia Ormond, Jason Flemyng, Elias Koteas, Elle Fanning, Jared Harris

Movieguy’s Verdict- On my website I recently released a list of the 25 most overrated movies of all time. This film was number one, and with good reason. The main problem was its source material. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s short story contained brilliant philosophical ideas and a gripping romantic narrative, all wrapped in a practically unfilmable concept. In fact, only Stanley Kubrick might have been able to make this film work, and even that isn’t a sure thing. David Fincher & Co. tried their hardest to film the unfilmable, but simply could not. Fincher’s visual presentation was appropriately bleak and sentimental, but a flowery and forced narrative structure was extremely damaging to the film’s atmosphere. Eric Roth’s screenplay was quite problematic indeed. It was filled with random interactions with random passersby, and a severely wandering plot that wasted a considerable amount of time on numerous unnecessary scenes. Oddly enough, while the film did manage a number of smart, meaningful and thoughtful scenes, it didn’t have any characters per se. The random people flowing through the story were little more than observers, and Benjamin Button himself was essentially a compilation of successfully and unsuccessfully transferred philosophical ideas. The CGI and art direction were excellent, which helped its style and mood greatly. Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett and Taraji P. Henson and others gave monumental effort in their performances, but they were ultimately hung out to dry by inconsistent writing and an unfilmable concept that simply did not work. The film’s romantic plot made sense and was the only idea that was successfully developed and contained real emotion. Ultimately, this was a film of ideas which just never materialized. So how did it get 13 Oscar nominations?

3) The Wedding Weekend
Plot- A group of guys who sang together in a college a cappella group reunite 15 years later to perform at a friend’s wedding and discover how their lives have progressed — and in some cases regressed — since their college heyday. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Bruce Leddy (My Teacher’s Wife)

Starring- David Alan Basche, Chris Bowers, Samrat Chakrabarti, Alexander Chaplin, Rosemarie DeWitt, Mark Feuerstein, David Harbour, Elizabeth Reaser, Reg Rogers, Molly Shannon, Liz Stauber, Camilla Thorsson, June Diane Raphael

Movieguy’s Verdict- This totally unknown film could be one of the year’s most surprising films. The film’s only flaw was a big one, and if the rest of it hadn’t been so excellent it might have crippled it permanently. The story revolves around the fact that the main characters were in an a capella singing group, which is just about the corniest thing that could possibly be inserted into a movie. Though the singing was used as a metaphor, Bruce Leddy would have been better served to use literally anything else in its place. Watching these characters sing instantly ruined every scene in which it occurred, which was roughly half a dozen. Aside from this, everything else about the film was fantastic. The acting was great as every member of the ensemble cast performed at a consistently high level throughout the film. Their distinct and perfectly complementary personalities worked perfectly with the screenplay and its ideas. Leddy writing was quite thoughtful and contained smart philosophy, clever comedy, realism and excellent personality. Overall this film contained a great deal of passion, and flaunted a zest for life that many films attempt (and fail) to achieve by using some combination of a corny Hollywood soundtrack and Matthew McConaughey. This is a true gem, and I urge you to stomach the singing and check it out – you will not be disappointed.

4) Incendiary
Plot- An adulterous woman’s life is torn apart when her husband and infant son are killed in a suicide bombing at a soccer match. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Sharon Maguire (Bridget Jones’s Diary)

Starring- Michelle Williams, Ewan McGregor, Matthew Macfadyen

Movieguy’s Verdict- If I had to use one word to describe this movie, it would be “mismanaged.” Sharon Maguire clearly did not know how to tell the story properly. It was clear in every scene that she was searching for the best way to craft the film and its characters; and she never found it. Maguire allowed the film to inch along at a snail’s space, letting the slightest plot development to drag out over a number of elongated scenes. Though she did manage to capture emotion and turmoil rather well, her inability to tell the story caught up with her. The film had a pretty solid mystery/thriller component which Maguire chose to ignore, focusing instead on the grief stricken ruminations of the main character. This was a poor choice as the film was quickly lost in a sea of wandering dullness. The saving grace of the film was Michelle Williams’ remarkable performance. The level of dedication and emotional commitment to her character was impressive to say the least. It was one of the most impressive performances I’ve seen all year, and it’s a shame that she will never get any type of award recognition for it. Ewan McGregor and Matthew McFadden were extremely disappointing in their throwaway roles of clichéd, predictable and disappointingly one-dimensional characters. Though the film was emotionally sincere and did contain a certain sense of visual beauty, it was as I said earlier, mismanaged.

5) Look
Plot- A movie captured entirely on the spliced footage from surveillance cameras.

Written and Directed by- Adam Rifkin (Never on Tuesday, Tale of Two Sisters, The Invisible Maniac, The Dark Backward, The Nutt House, Psycho Cop Returns, The Chase, Denial, Welcome to Hollywood, Detroit Rock City, Mousehunt, Small Soldiers, Zoom, Without Charlie, Night at the Golden Eagle, Homo Erectus)

Starring- Rhys Coiro, Hayes MacArthur, Giuseppe Andrews, Spencer Redford, Jennifer Fontaine, Heather Hogan, Jamie McShane, Sebastian Feldman

Movieguy’s Verdict- This is an entire film consisting of spliced footage from security cameras. Now you can’t say the premise isn’t completely brilliant, but the execution left a great deal to be desired. I absolutely loved Adam Rifkin’s intention to make a modern masterpiece of voyeurism and social commentary, but unfortunately, the footage Rifkin showed was more or less uninteresting and failed to be compelling in any way. I was quite surprised to note that every scene was completely predictable from start to finish. This predictability essentially robbed the viewer of any emotional involvement with the multiple storylines Rifkin attempted to set up. The “characters” Rifkin chose to display were realistic and relatable in an abstract sense, but they were transparent and written without much intelligence. When you combine extreme predictability with a general lack of intelligence in any movie it is not going to succeed. Ultimately, Rifkin failed to do what he needed to do to make this movie work, which was a shame because it had an extraordinary amount of potential.
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4-28-09

1) The Uninvited
Plot- A teenage girl is convinced that the new woman in her father’s life is not who she pretends to be.

Directed by- Charles Guard, Thomas Guard

Written by- Craig Rosenberg (After the Sunset, Half Light), Doug Miro (The Great Raid), Carlo Bernard (The Great Raid)

Starring- Emily Browning, Arielle Kebbel, Elizabeth Banks, David Strathairn, Maya Massar

Movieguy’s Verdict- This highly predictable and flawed movie was carried by solid acting and above average direction. The Guard brothers’ visual style was very well-crafted overall. Their direction was stylish and intense, and they were able to gradually develop an ominous atmosphere using strong imagery. Elizabeth Banks gave a very chilling performance which worked well with the direction and did wonders for the film’s progression. The rest of the cast also gave believable and consistent performances, though no one was particularly impressive. This should have been a very good movie had it not been betrayed by its feeble, transparent and highly problematic screenplay. This was one of the most predictable films I’ve seen since “Taking Lives” and “Secret Window.” I literally knew what was going to happen in every scene from start to finish. Furthermore, despite a promising set up, the story turned out to be laced with plot holes. If any of the THREE writers had put a moment’s thought into the screenplay, this film could have been a surprise success and easily escaped the clutches of mediocrity.

2) Bride Wars
Plot- Two best friends become rivals when a clerical error results in their respective weddings being held at the same place on the same day. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Gary Winick (Charlotte’s Web, 13 Going on 30, Tadpole, Sam the Man, The Tic Code, Sweet Nothing, Out of the Rain, Curfew)

Written by- Greg DePaul (Saving Silverman, Killer Bud), Casey Wilson, June Diane Raphael

Starring- Kate Hudson, Anne Hathaway, Candice Bergen, Bryan Greenberg, Chris Pratt, Steve Howey, Kristen Johnston

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was an extremely forgettable movie that didn’t really accomplish anything. Though it was apparently intended to be a comedy, it’s overly silly and childish antics got old fast. The film’s writers were not able to achieve any level of humor, and relied on a very high level of corniness to move the story forward. Furthermore, their clichés, exaggerated cheesiness and terribly conceived characters made for a very painful movie experience. Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson were completely wasted and throwaway roles, though despite poor writing and horrible characters, they were able to deliver what could qualify as passable performances- but only just. Gary Winick was able to incorporate a few mildly interesting visual ideas in his direction to keep the film from being completely mind-numbing, which was just about the only good thing I can say about it. This was a terribly conceived Hollywood failure that had no personality and a terrible story. Give this one a pass.

3) While She Was Out
Plot- A suburban housewife is attacked by thugs and fights to survive.

Written and Directed by- Susan Montford

Starring- Kim Basinger, Lukas Haas, Craig Sheffer, Jamie Starr

Movieguy’s Verdict- As far as minimalistic suspense movies go, it’s very possible that almost anyone could do better. For as contrived and silly as this film ended up, it did not start out that way. The setup was realistic and logical, and though it took a little bit too long, Susan Montford attempted to establish the main character’s state of mind. Unfortunately, this effort had absolutely nothing to do with the way the film turned out. Kim Basinger’s performance was decent overall. Despite a few scenes of questionable acting and a certain degree of silliness attached to her character, she did well under the circumstances. Montford’s directorial effort was solid. She created a well shot and nicely edited movie which held a suspenseful atmosphere for a very brief period of time. As it turned out, the story was extremely one-dimensional, and it turned stagnant with remarkable quickness. The bumbling stupidity of the “bad guys” was so intense and overwhelming that it turned the film from a decent suspense movie into a laughable joke in record time. Montford’s storytelling was so bad, and her characters were so poorly conceived that the film lost all of its intrigue after about 40 minutes. The rest of the film was filled with a level of inane stupidity that increased exponentially as it limped to its laughable conclusion. The story had potential, but this turned out to be a very bad movie.
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4-21-09

1) Frost/Nixon
Plot- A dramatic retelling of the post-Watergate television interviews between British talk-show host David Frost and former president Richard Nixon. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Ron Howard (The Da Vinci Code, Cinderella Man, The Missing, A Beautiful Mind, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Edtv, Ransom, Apollo 13, The Paper, Far and Away, Backdraft, Parenthood, Willow, Gung Ho, Cocoon, Splash, Night Shift, Grand Theft Auto)

Written by- Peter Morgan (Dear Rosie, Martha, Meet Frank, Daniel and Laurence, The Last King of Scotland, The Queen, The Other Boleyn Girl)

Starring- Frank Langella, Michael Sheen, Sam Rockwell, Kevin Bacon, Matthew Macfadyen, Oliver Platt, Rebecca Hall, Toby Jones, Andy Milder

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was a fantastic film full of great acting, wonderful direction, and superbly psychological writing. Ron Howard’s documentary style direction brought tremendous realism to the story and its characters. His camerawork was perfectly placed, and his direction told the story with seamless transition and remarkable intensity. Though Frank Langella neither looked nor sounded anything like Richard Nixon, his mannerisms and facial expressions were remarkable in the portrayal of his complex character. His power and dedication to the character was impressive to say the least. Michael Sheen was equally impressive. While his character was not as complex as Nixon, Sheen’s smart and exacting performance resulted in a wonderful onscreen dynamic with Langella. Outstanding supporting performances from Sam Rockwell, Kevin Bacon and Matthew Macfadyen also didn’t hurt. Peter Morgan’s screenplay was quite impressive. His writing was extremely detailed and told the story brilliantly. The film’s themes and ideas were wonderfully developed with a brilliant psychological dynamic between the characters and plot. The film provided an incredible amount of insight into Nixon as a man, which was perhaps its most impressive feat. This was an incredibly well-written, well directed and well acted film which contained brilliant psychology and a surprisingly high amount of emotional suspense. You cannot miss this one.

2) The Wrestler
Plot- With his battle scars and failing heart, retired professional wrestler Randy “The Ram” Robinson jumps back into the squared circle, climbing his way up the independent-circuit ladder, with his eyes on a showdown with his longtime rival. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Darren Aronofsky (Director of: The Fountain, Requiem for a Dream, Pi; Writer of: The Fountain, Below, Requiem for a Dream, Pi)

Written by- Robert D. Siegel (The Onion Movie)

Starring- Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei, Evan Rachel Wood, Mark Margolis, Todd Barry, Wass Stevens, Judah Friedlander

Movieguy’s Verdict- After “Requiem for a Dream,” Darren Aronofsky was labeled by some as the next Stanley Kubrick. Those were hard shoes to fill, and six years later it was unfortunate that his much anticipated follow-up, “The Fountain,” was gutted by the studios and never allowed to reach its potential. Aronofsky’s unflinching ability to build Mickey Rourke’s character was something that only the most skilled filmmaker could accomplish. Rourke’s performance was every bit as exceptional as advertised. We felt every wound, every hit, every disappointment and every failure that his character experienced for the duration of his life, both on and off screen. This was a character study, and as such, Aronofsky and writer Robert D. Siegel did an incredible job developing characters and utilizing the pure intensity of Rourke’s soulful, powerful, and emotionally charged performance. Aronofsky’s camerawork and visual presentation were absolutely perfect from beginning to end. His vision and ability to flawlessly capture the complex emotions of the characters was remarkable. The supporting cast was great as well with Marisa Tomei and Evan Rachel Wood turning in skilled and poignant performances. The film’s only flaw was its tendency to be slow in places, even though Aronofsky and Siegel were constantly building emotions and characters from beginning to end. Though this was not an easy film to watch, it was uncompromisingly beautiful and highly rewarding in its own way.

3) The Last Word
Plot- A man who makes his living composing other people’s suicide notes enters into a romance with the sister of a recent client. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Geoffrey Haley

Starring- Wes Bentley, Ray Romano, Winona Ryder, Katherine Boecher, A.J. Trauth, Gina Hecht, Allan Rich

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film took a brilliant concept and through ineffective writing and confused storytelling essentially drove it into the ground. Wes Bentley’s performance was very good, and was the highlight of the film. You could tell that there was a lot going on with his character and his closed off, shy performance was perfect for the atmosphere of the movie. Geoffrey Haley’s direction, for the most part, contained the dark beauty that the story and characters required. He captured emotions very well and seemed to incorporate a smart layer of psychology also. Unfortunately this was lost on the fact that the film had a very weak plot. At times it felt like the story wasn’t going anywhere, and it was quite predictable overall. Not a single aspect of the story’s romantic relationship was in any way believable, but the characters were interesting nonetheless. Winona Ryder was largely wasted in the movie, though Ray Romano provided an interesting and rather quirky supporting performance. While the film had a good heart, a good cast and a great concept, the screenplay needed a drastic overhaul.

4) Notorious
Plot- A chronicle of Christopher Wallace’s rise from the streets of Brooklyn to become Notorious B.I.G., one of biggest and best rappers of the 1990s, under the tutelage of mentor/producer Sean Combs. (imdb.com)

Directed by- George Tillman Jr. (Soul Food, Men of Honor)

Written by- Reggie Rock Bythewood (Get on the Bus, Dancing in September, Biker Boyz), Cheo Hodari Coker

Starring- Jamal Woolard, Anthony Mackie, Derek Luke, Angela Bassett, Naturi Naughton

Movieguy’s Verdict- The decision to make a film about the Notorious B.I.G. was a rather confusing one because Christopher Wallace released only two albums before his death at the age of 24. Until that time he lived a life that consisted of little more than abusing the people around him while using drugs and spending money. The fact is, there simply was not very much of a story to tell about Wallace which made this film particularly dull. Not helping matters was the horrendous performance of Jamal Woolard, whose bland, uninteresting, and routinely expressionless portrayal of the main character gave the audience little to connect with. Director George Tillman Jr. certainly made an effort to develop Wallace’s character from an early age, and childhood flashbacks saved it from being totally emotionless. After about 40 minutes the film became redundant and extremely slow, with each scene either revolving around the characters doing drugs, trying on clothes, and/or abusing women in recording studios. The writers were unable to develop any psychological or emotional connection to the characters or their environment. The relationship between the characters was also handled quite poorly. The film’s exaggerated superficiality and bland performances left the audience to wonder what this film really achieved.

5) Revolution Summer
Plot- A portrait of three restless young urbanites searching for meaning in love, sex, drugs, and political rebellion. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Miles Montalbano (D.I.Y. or Die: How to Survive as an Independent Artist)

Starring- Mackenzie Firgens, Samuel Child, Lauren Fox, Zak Kilberg

Movieguy’s Verdict- Other than its creative and rather well-crafted original score, there simply wasn’t much to this movie. Miles Montalbano wrote and directed the film with a very thoughtful feel. But despite the film’s good ideas there was almost no story in which they could work properly. Montalbano’s camerawork was well below average. His suffocating close-ups took a great deal of emotional potential away from the characters and minimized the ability for the actors to show any significant level of talent. His bad camerawork also prevented the actors from showing any of the thought they might have put into their performances. This last failure was largely irrelevant because the characters were intended to be defined by the ideas from which they were created. Unfortunately, Montalbano forgot to provide these characters with personalities or motivations of any kind. Overall this film was very uneventful, which was unfortunate, because it appeared to leave a lot of potential unrealized.
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4-14-09

1) The Spirit
Plot- A rookie cop returns from the dead to fight crime from the shadows of Central City. His main opposition is a former lab technician who has reinvented himself as The Octopus, an elusive criminal mastermind who knows his secrets. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Frank Miller (Writer of: RoboCop 3, RoboCop 2; Director of: Sin City)

Starring- Gabriel Macht, Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, Jaime King, Eva Mendes, Eric Balfour, Paz Vega, Frank Miller

Movieguy’s Verdict- The surprise success of “Sin City” has completely changed the cinematic approach to the adaptation of comics and graphic novels. The trailer didn’t disguise its similarities to “Sin City,” but its style and personality made it a fine achievement of its own. It was a very intriguing film overall, but Frank Miller’s propensity for the bizarre put the story and characters in a world that immediately sucked you in. His direction was dark, stylish and creative, which worked incredibly well with his screenplay. Though a well-written narrative, clever dialogue and an interesting story, Miller created an intoxicating sense of addiction to the plot and its characters. Gabriel Macht’s outstanding performance was not only a reflection of great direction and intelligent writing, but of his own creativity, talent and ability to develop his character. Samuel L. Jackson, Scarlett Johansson, Eva Mendes and Jaime King were excellent in their supporting performance, and their personalities gave the film and added element of style. Its fantastic creativity burned out in a big was with a horribly constructed climax and ending which completely stripped the guts out of the characters and the story. Even still, the rest of the film was an excellent surprise that really needs to be seen.

2) The Reader
Plot- Post-WWII Germany: Nearly a decade after his affair with an older woman came to a mysterious end, law student Michael Burk is reunited with his former lover as she defends herself in a war-crime trial. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Stephen Daldry (Billy Elliot, The Hours)

Written by- David Hare (Writer of: The Hours, Via Dolorosa, The Secret Rapture, Damage, Strapless, Paris by Night, Plenty, Wetherby; Director of: The Designated Mourner, Strapless, Paris by Night, Wetherby)

Starring- Kate Winslet, Ralph Fiennes, Bruno Ganz, Lena Olin

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was a rather interesting film full of psychology and strong performances. Kate Winslet’s Oscar winning performance was carefully crafted and remarkably courageous, in spite of the fact that her character’s development was somewhat problematic. The first half hour lacked any semblance of realism, but established personalities and the psychological mindset of the characters quite well. Bruno Ganz was the true star, delivering a performance that was as skillfully developed and soulfully intense as anything you’ll see. He certainly stole some of the spotlight from Winslet and was crucial to the film’s success. Stephen Daldry’s direction captured the passage of time brilliantly, which was critical to the story. His camerawork and editing were perfectly crafted, but overall the film had too many ups and downs. It contained either remarkable intensity or uneventful scenes- nothing in between. The power of the plot was obvious, but David Hare’s screenplay did not properly keep the emotions of the story flowing consistently. To be fair, this was a very difficult story to tell, but through its ups and downs the film delivered the psychological complexity and emotional involvement it required.

3) Splinter
Plot- Trapped in an isolated gas station by a voracious Splinter parasite that transforms its still living victims into deadly hosts, a young couple and an escaped convict must find a way to work together to survive this primal terror. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Toby Wilkins

Written by- Kai Barry, Ian Shorr (Rigged), Toby Wilkins

Starring- Paulo Costanzo, Jill Wagner, Shea Whigham, Rachel Kerbs

Movieguy’s Verdict- There are plenty of worthless straight-to-DVD horror films released every week for no good reason, but don’t make the mistake placing this movie in that category. Toby Wilkins displayed an impressive command of suspense and plot development, taking a plot that could have easily been ruined by shortsighted immaturity and molding it into a very respectable horror film. Wilkins drew strength from impressive camerawork and editing, as well as great make-up and special effects. To be fair, there were a few sequences were the gore factor was quite exaggerated, but Wilkins’ raw direction made for a consistent level of suspense. The screenplay was written with brevity in mind. The film wasted no time and the story and its characters were developed with precision. The simplicity of the film was its saving grace. Its straightforward nature made it much more intense and suspenseful in the end. It also drew from its acting, with Paulo Costanzo, Jill Wagner and Shea Whigham delivering believable performances that required a surprising amount of discretion. Whigham was the most impressive of the cast, and his strength helped pull the group together. With a great atmosphere and plenty of intensity, this is a totally unknown horror film that definitely deserves a look.

4) Ready? OK!
Plot- A single Mom struggles to understand her young son’s obsession with dresses, dolls and girls’ cheer-leading. With the recent death of her absent father, her wayward brother returns home, compelling them all to face themselves and what it truly means to be a “family.” (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- James Vasquez (29th and Gay)

Starring- Carrie Preston, John G. Preston, Lurie Poston, Michael Emerson

Movieguy’s Verdict- Despite its small budget indie feel, this movie was laced with the same childish cheesiness that defines most big budget Disney films. Carrie Preston gave a consistent and respectable performance, which was just about the only quality element of the film. Sadly it was wasted on a plot that was never able to find its way out of a “Brady Bunch” storyline. James Vasquez did very little to make the film original or interesting, and aside from a few light laughs, its typical characters and contrived supporting acting killed it. The film had a good heart and really meant well, but it just wasn’t very good.
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4-7-09

1) Yes Man
Plot- What happens when you agree with everyone and say “yes” to everything? Carl is about to find out when he chooses to become overly agreeable for an entire year. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Peyton Reed (Bring It On, Down with Love, The Break-Up)

Written by- Nicholas Stoller (Director of: Forgetting Sarah Marshall; Writer of: Fun with Dick and Jane), Jarrad Paul, Andrew Mogel

Starring- Jim Carrey, Zooey Deschanel, Bradley Cooper, John Michael Higgins, Rhys Darby, Danny Masterson, Fionnula Flanagan, Terence Stamp, Sasha Alexander

Movieguy’s Verdict- The trailers for this film did not look all particularly clever or funny, but this turned out to be one of the most surprising movies of 2008. Jim Carrey’s energy and charisma is hardly a secret, but despite trying a bit too hard at times, he delivered a very funny, inspired and believable performance. The quality of the acting was one of the main reasons for the film’s success. Supporting performance from Rhys Darby, Zooey Deschanel, Bradley Cooper and John Michael Higgins were very funny and full of personality and style. Nicholas Stoller, Jarrad Paul and Andrew Mogel wrote a screenplay that contained a consistent level of comedy and story development for basically the entire movie. I will admit that some of this film was a bit over the top. Toward the end it became evident that the comedy was somewhat one dimensional, giving its later scenes a slightly redundant feel. The film was also quite predictable; there wasn’t any point when you didn’t know exactly what would happen at the end. Nevertheless, this was a consistently funny and highly enjoyable movie with solid acting and a good heart.

2) The Day the Earth Stood Still
Plot- Aliens land on Earth with an important message for its citizens. A remake of the classic 1951 film. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Scott Derrickson (Director of: Hellraiser: Inferno, The Exorcism of Emily Rose; Writer of: Hellraiser: Inferno, Urban Legends: Final Cut, The Exorcism of Emily Rose)

Written by- David Scarpa (The Last Castle)

Starring- Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Connelly, Kathy Bates, Jaden Smith, John Cleese, Jon Hamm, James Hong

Movieguy’s Verdict- This is definitely one of the classic films that could benefit from a modern remake. The question is, what makes Scott Derrickson qualified to direct it? The original was a fantastic movie, but lacked the technology to fully bring the story home. The opening scene was brooding and ominous, installing a dark and foreboding atmosphere- something the original lacked. Though it had good atmosphere, Derrickson’s camerawork was very poor. Lost in a haze of clunky close-ups and poorly designed scenes, it was clear he didn’t quite grasp all of the elements that would make this story great. Though the special effects and CGI were quite impressive, they were held back by his poor camerawork. The screenplay was inconsistent. David Scarpa created a compelling atmosphere and made sure the story was always advancing. There was good symbolism to be found, but much of the dialogue was far too blunt. Overall I felt this modern retelling lacked the social and political relevance the original presented, and altered the story far too much for its own good. However, the film was partially saved by its acting. Jennifer Connelly gave a very respectable leading performance, but was overshadowed by Keanu Reeves, whose version of Klatu was absolutely top notch. Chilling and carrying the perfect presence for his character, his performance was the film’s best feature. Toward the end the film collapsed under its own weight. Poorly conceived military strategy and growing plot holes made it rather difficult to take seriously, making it a resounding disappointment.

3) Doubt
Plot- The principal of a Catholic school in the Bronx grows suspicious of a priest who might have crossed the line with one of their students; her subsequent accusation leads to a tense confrontation that also involves a young nun who might have proof of the priest’s wrongdoing. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- John Patrick Shanley (Writer of: Congo, We’re Back! A Dinosaur’s Story, Alive, Joe Versus the Volcano, The January Man, Moonstruck, Five Corners; Director of: Joe Versus the Volcano)

Starring- Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, Viola Davis

Movieguy’s Verdict- This wasn’t the most overrated film of 2008, but it was close. John Patrick Shanley had the potential to allow brilliant philosophical and social ideas to surround top notch talent in a minimalistic environment. Unfortunately he completely missed the mark. Shanley wasted incredible amounts of time displaying countless scenes that were totally irrelevant to the story, the characters or the film’s ideas. In the end, less than half of the film’s 104 minutes had even an indirect relevance to the story. In the relevant scenes, Shanley crafted dialogue intelligently and seemed to be building the film to its potential. His bleak direction was the perfect background for the story, and the symbolism he presented was both clever and intellectually searing. In spite of the wasted time, Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams performed incredibly well. Streep’s performance should have been more memorable, but her character was so stunningly problematic that what began as a carefully crafted performance turned into a time bomb that basically ruined what was left of the film. Hoffman’s performance was the best of the film, and his excellence singlehandedly saved it from being a total loss. Despite the promise of a complex psychological character study, Shanley never actually captured or properly developed ANY of the ideas the film was supposedly built upon. I give the actors the highest marks for effort, but Shanley’s screenplay needed a drastic overhaul.

4) The Tale of Despereaux
Plot- A brave mouse tries to save a kidnapped human princess.

Directed by- Sam Fell (Flushed Away), Robert Stevenhagen

Written by- Gary Ross (Seabiscuit, Pleasantville, Lassie, Dave, Mr. Baseball, Big)

Voices of- Matthew Broderick, Emma Watson, Dustin Hoffman, Tracey Ullman, Kevin Kline, William H. Macy, Stanley Tucci, Ciarán Hinds, Robbie Coltrane, Tony Hale, Frances Conroy, Frank Langella, Richard Jenkins, Christopher Lloyd, Charles Shaughnessy, Sigourney Weaver

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film featured outstanding CGI that was completely wasted on a boring, overused story. The film was full of highly exaggerated characters, though solid vocal performances from Matthew Broderick, Emma Watson and Dustin Hoffman made this less obvious to some extent. The excellent CGI helped enhance the level of realism that Sam Fell and Robert Stevenhagen appeared to be striving for. However, Gary Ross’ screenplay was quite slow and very dull overall. Story development was minimal and it contained absolutely no humor which only increased its dullness. Overall this was a very typical and generally uninteresting kid’s movie that had well above average CGI. There are plenty of better kid’s movies to sample, so I’d skip this one.

5) Shuttle
Plot- A late night airport shuttle ride home takes a turn for the worst.

Written and Directed by- Edward Anderson (Writer of: Flawless)

Starring- Tony Curran, Peyton List, Cameron Goodman, Cullen Douglas, Dave Power, James Snyder

Movieguy’s Verdict- Simply put, this was a very poorly developed movie. Edward Anderson introduced typical horror characters into a typical horror setting. Performances were consistent for the most part, though Cameron Goodman stood out as being the worst of this small, unknown cast. Anderson showed very little visual imagination, and did almost nothing to enhance the suspense or mood of the story. His screenplay was also quite problematic. It didn’t take long for plot holes to add up, and by the end you were thinking only about the numerous reasons the movie wouldn’t work. Anderson kept the gore factor to a minimum, but didn’t really build any suspense or emotion into the story or characters, so the movie carried a somewhat sterile feel. He did allow things to get pretty over the top and exaggerated near the end, and there never appeared to be much point to any of it. It just kept moving forward without any purpose, and it seemed as though it would never end. When the final purpose of the film was revealed at the very end, it was clear thought and emotion were put into making this film. Unfortunately none of that came out until the last three minutes.
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3-31-09

1) Seven Pounds
Plot- A professional man who is close to suicide for his role in an auto accident that claimed the lives of seven people finds a reason to live, and to atone, when he falls for a woman who wants to help him deal with his grief. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Gabriele Muccino (Director of: The Pursuit of Happyness; Writer of: The Last Kiss)

Written by- Grant Nieporte

Starring- Will Smith, Rosario Dawson, Woody Harrelson, Barry Pepper, Michael Ealy

Movieguy’s Verdict- If you’re looking for a beautifully directed and powerfully acted movie, this is a good bet. Gabriele Muccino directed the film with quiet elegance and delicate beauty, capturing the symbolism of the story and emotional journey of the characters with haunting precision. The film’s only “flaw” was in its screenplay. The film contained numerous pieces that you knew were ultimately going to fit together, but for quite some time, they didn’t appear to be going anywhere. This resulted in a slightly disjointed feel to the movie which hurt it initially, but ultimately forced you to think more deeply about the characters. Will Smith delivered a powerhouse performance of a very confused and tortured character. In every scene were able to watch as Smith brought us into his skin, making us feel every emotion he felt. Rosario Dawson’s supporting performance should have been nominated for an Oscar. Her intricately developed showing of a very complex character was the ingredient that truly brought the film to the next level. Overall this was a powerful, emotionally charged film with a great story and intelligent character. In other words, it’s a must see.

2) Slumdog Millionaire
Plot- The story of how impoverished Indian teen Jamal Malik became a contestant on the Hindi version of “Who Wants to be A Millionaire?” — an endeavor made without prize money in mind, rather, an effort to prove his love for his friend Latika, who is an ardent fan of the show. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Danny Boyle (Shallow Grave, Trainspotting, A Life Less Ordinary, The Beach, 28 Days Later…, Millions, Sunshine), Loveleen Tandan

Written by- Simon Beaufoy (The Full Monty, Among Giants, The Darkest Light, Running Time, Blow Dry, This is Not a Love Song, Yasmin, Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day)

Starring- Dev Patel, Freida Pinto

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was a peculiar film to review; you’ll see why at the end. But first, the beginning. Danny Boyle’s frenetic, electric direction brought considerable energy and style to a film that could have very easily wound up a cheap sob story. His handling of the setting was brilliant, and his direction did so much to help the characters grow not only on the screen, but in our minds. The writing was equally powerful with Simon Beaufoy doing a great job of making the audience so fiercely bound to the characters and the story. He also handled the story’s romantic aspect very well, and developed the characters as beautifully as one could hope for. This film was a triumph of emotions and the human spirit. BUT, Boyle’s decision to place a ridiculous dance number during the closing credits of the film was unforgivable. This was an inexcusable act under all circumstances and the ultimate definition of shortsighted, sloppy filmmaking. At the very least it should have cost him his Best Director Oscar. This should be a timeless classic, but because of one moronic decision, it won’t be. It’s strange because I never thought the closing credits could affect a film so completely. It just goes to show that movies are never lacking for surprises.

3) Special
Plot- A lonely metermaid has a psychotic reaction to his medication and becomes convinced he’s a superhero. A very select group of people in life are truly gifted. Special is a movie about everyone else. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Hal Haberman (The Failures), Jeremy Passmore

Starring- Michael Rapaport, Paul Blackthorne, Josh Peck, Robert Baker, Jack Kehler, Alexandra Holden

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was a very interesting little film that had a great deal of potential, but just couldn’t find a way to realize it. Hal Haberman and Jeremy Passmore captured the loneliness and isolation of the main character very well, developing his motivations, desires and ideas with insight, intelligence and clever social satire. Their direction was excellent as well, with great camerawork and a vey respectable soundtrack. Michael Rapaport’s performance was outstanding. He had a strong command of his character and the story, carrying the film remarkably well without a notable presence from a scantily utilized supporting cast. The screenplay was full of ideas, and carried itself quite well for 90% of the film before falling to pieces in the last ten minutes. This film was built on symbolism, character development and ideas; a good ending was absolutely essential to bring everything together. It sadly could not deliver in this regard, but was an interesting and thoughtful piece overall.

4) The Brøken
Plot- On a busy street in London, Gina thinks she sees herself drive past in her own car. Stunned by this strange event, Gina follows the mystery woman up to her apartment. From here, events take an eerie turn for the worse until Gina’s awareness slides from solid reality into a world that will haunt more than just her nightmares. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Sean Ellis (Cashback)

Starring- Lena Headey, Richard Jenkins, Asier Newman, Michelle Duncan, Melvil Poupaud

Movieguy’s Verdict- Don’t be fooled by the “After Dark Horrorfest” logo on this movie- it is a quality film that really needs to be seen. From the very first scene, Sean Ellis’ direction was dark, gloomy, creepy and absolutely itching with anticipation. His camerawork was fantastic, creating a visual elegance that the horror genre desperately needs. Perfect editing and an eerie background score combined to create a flawless atmosphere for the film. Ellis developed the film very quietly and with extreme minimalism, building suspense and forcing the audience to think a great deal about the story and characters. Strangely enough, for a film of this intensity it asked very little of its actors. Lena Headey gave a solid performance, while Richard Jenkins was very good, but quite underused. Though the cast performed well, Ellis’ screenplay did not contain enough character development, which handcuffed the cast’s potential. The film contained very little dialogue, which helped build the mood. Unfortunately, even though the film featured remarkable suspense and great intensity, Ellis never fully developed the story or the characters to their potential. His shortsighted writing made for a problematic ending, but this was still a chilling movie that can put anyone on edge.

5) Marley & Me
Plot- The story of a young couple through the first two decades of their marriage.

Directed by- David Frankel (Miami Rhapsody, The Devil Wears Prada)

Written by- Scott Frank (Writer of: The Lookout, The Interpreter, Flight of the Phoenix, Minority Report, Out of Sight, Heaven’s Prisoners, Get Shorty, Malice, Little Man Tate, Dead Again; Director of: The Lookout), Don Roos (Single White Female, Love Field, Boys on the Side, Diabolique, The Opposite of Sex, Bounce, Happy Endings)

Starring- Owen Wilson, Jennifer Aniston, Eric Dane, Kathleen Turner, Alan Arkin

Movieguy’s Verdict- Though this was a heartfelt and emotional tale, it had its share of problems. Firstly, there was no comedy to be found. With the exception of some isolated dog-related incidents, this was a very slow moving story that absolutely required comedy to break up the monotony. Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston gave believable performances, though their characters were so bland and overly ordinary that no pair of actors could have done any better. If you haven’t seen the film, you might be surprised to know that the story is mostly about a married couple and the evolution of their marriage over the years with a dog in the background. The writing did capture the development of their relationship, and put the “circle of life” cliché into perspective for the children in the audience. However, the film felt extremely long and felt like it was just never going to end. There was plenty of evolution and feeling in the characters and their struggles, but it was hard to appreciate amongst the monotony and dullness.

6) Bedtime Stories
Plot- A man tells bedtime stories to his young nephews and they begin to come true.

Directed by- Adam Shankman (The Wedding Planner, A Walk to Remember, Bringing Down the House, The Pacifier, Cheaper by the Dozen 2, Hairspray)

Written by- Matt Lopez (The Wild), Tim Herlihy (Mr. Deeds, Little Nicky, Big Daddy, The Waterboy, The Wedding Singer, Happy Gilmore, Billy Madison)

Starring- Adam Sandler, Keri Russell, Courteney Cox, Guy Pearce, Russell Brand, Lucy Lawless, Teresa Palmer, Jonathan Pryce, Nick Swardson, Carmen Electra

Movieguy’s Verdict- It really doesn’t get much worse than this. More aggravating than this horrible movie is the fact that Adam Sandler is a truly talented actor, yet he insists on wasting his talents on one brain-dead project after another. Infested with transparent, highly exaggerated and sloppily created characters, the film was loaded with atrocious performances. Sandler was at the helm of this trend as he tried his hardest to regress to infancy and fill each scene with as much moronic behavior as possible. The rest of the supporting cast was awful as well with Guy Pearce, Russell Brand and Courteney Cox being prime examples of talent wasted on a screenplay that was as bad as a screenplay can be. With one failed attempt at poorly conceived humor after another, and overwhelming idiocy spewing from every scene, there wasn’t a single aspect of this movie that was redeeming, worthwhile, entertaining or interesting. In fact, this is a movie I am embarrassed to have seen, and wish there was a way I could “unsee” it.
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3-24-09

1) Quantum of Solace
Plot- Picking up where Casino Royale left off, James Bond sets his sights on the organization behind Vesper Lynd’s betrayal. The mission puts him on a collision course with Dominic Greene, a ruthless businessman who, Bond soon learns, is brokering a deal to take total control of one of the world’s most precious resources. Relying on allies new and old — including Camille, a beautiful woman with her own agenda — Agent 007 looks to bring down Greene and his conspirators. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Marc Forster (Everything Put Together, Monster’s Ball, Finding Neverland, Stay, Stranger Than Fiction, The Kite Runner)

Written by- Paul Haggis (Red Hot, Crash, Flags of Our Fathers, Million Dollar Baby, The Last Kiss, In the Valley of Elah), Neal Purvis (Stoned, Return to Sender, Johnny English, Die Another Day, The World is Not Enough, Casino Royale), Robert Wade (Stoned, Return to Sender, Johnny English, Die Another Day, The World is Not Enough, Casino Royale)

Starring- Daniel Craig, Olga Kurylenko, Mathieu Amalric, Judi Dench, Giancarlo Giannini, Gemma Arterton, Jeffrey Wright, David Harbour, Jesper Christensen, Anatole Taubman, Rory Kinnear

Movieguy’s Verdict- The reinvention of the James Bond series is something I’d never thought I’d live to see, but Daniel Craig and Paul Haggis have brought Bond back from the dead in winning fashion. This film began exactly where the first film left off. Marc Forster, Haggis and Neal Purvis put great effort in tying this film together with “Casino Royale,” establishing the first vestige of legitimate continuity in the history of the series. In fact, the film almost requires that you watch “Casino Royale” right before you see it in order for everything to make sense. The film was extremely detailed with Forster’s direction focusing on the psychological state of Bond, and creating a high level of involvement with the story and characters. His direction contained the proper amount of style, but also carried a dignity that blended vintage Bond with the modern era. Daniel Craig’s James Bond is the best since Sean Connery, and his performance was outstanding. With each film you can see him building more and more of the character’s mental state and motivations, and that was indeed the case here. Supporting performances were also strong. Mathieu Amalric was an outstanding villain, displaying the perfect blend of rage and insanity. His character and performance did well to keep the audience on edge. As for the actual plot, it was slightly less involved than you might expect. While it did carry a good sense of mystery and intrigue, there were fewer plot twists and its 106 minutes seemed a bit too short for its own good. Overall this was a great sequel to “Casino Royale,” and another success in Daniel Craig’s James Bond series.

2) Bolt
Plot- Bolt is a celebrity dog and the star of a hit TV show where his amazing feats and powers draw big ratings. But when a mail-room mix-up finds him roaming free on the streets of New York City, the wonder dog will have to learn to rely on his actual strengths — as well as his new friends, an abandoned housecat and a starry-eyed hamster — in order to find his way back home. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Byron Howard, Chris Williams

Written by- Dan Fogelman (Cars), Chris Williams

Starring- John Travolta, Miley Cyrus, Susie Essman, Mark Walton, Malcolm McDowell, James Lipton, Greg Germann, Diedrich Bader, Nick Swardson

Movieguy’s Verdict- While this film probably wasn’t worthy of its Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature, it was a solid kid’s movie which did many things well. The film made a huge visual effort, and while it might not match the brilliant CGI of Pixar, it was probably the closest I’ve seen to competition in recent years. Writers Dan Fogelman and Chris Williams also made a consistent effort to build characters, though they were mostly typical for the genre. The film also carried good humor which contained a decent amount of intelligence and cleverness. As a whole, this was a clever and enjoyable film even if its themes and characters were very typical. Vocal performances were solid throughout, with John Travolta, Susie Essman and others giving consistent efforts. The film did suffer from a corny and ending and was rather predictable overall, though it was still a very respectable and entertaining kid’s film.

3) New York City Serenade
Plot- Two down on their luck childhood friends struggle to figure out their lives.

Written and Directed by- Frank Whaley (Joe the King, The Jimmy Show)

Starring- Freddie Prinze Jr., Chris Klein, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Ben Schwartz, Christopher DeBlasio, Frank Whaley

Movieguy’s Verdict- After watching this film it was clear that Frank Whaley is a filmmaker with something to say; he just doesn’t quite know how to say it. Casting was partly to blame as Chris Klein delivered a clumsy, forced and overly silly performance that didn’t convey the essence of his character. Freddie Prinze Jr. gave a fine performance, though there were times when his character was slightly out of his acting range. Whaley’s visual presentation was quite good. His camerawork and editing were like something Sofia Coppola might do, which is saying a lot. However much of this was lost on a screenplay that had absolutely no idea where it was going. Early on the characters seemed to have good chemistry together, and Whaley inserted some sarcastic and witty dialogue which helped provide extra personality to the film. It appeared the his writing was capturing the emotions of the characters well and developing their lives, but the film’s plot was very weak, and continued to lose strength as the film went along. Without a story or strong acting there just wasn’t much to hang on to. Whaley’s direction was classy and thoughtful, but his writing and storytelling left much to be desired.
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3-17-09

1) Twilight
Plot- A misfit teenager Bella Swan falls for her alluring and mysterious classmate, Edward Cullen. As it turns out, Edward belongs to a lineage of vampires. Will he be able to defend Bella from his family members who are coming for her? (imdb.com)

Directed by- Catherine Hardwicke (The Nativity Story, Lords of Dogtown, Thirteen)

Written by- Melissa Rosenberg (Step Up)

Starring- Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Billy Burke, Ashley Greene, Nikki Reed, Jackson Rathbone, Kellan Lutz, Peter Facinelli, Cam Gigandet

Movieguy’s Verdict- Honestly, I was expecting the film to be quite poor, but thankfully it was completely mediocre. Director Catherine Hardwicke and writer Melissa Rosenberg worked quite hard to bombard the audience with every conceivable high school movie cliché, and the transparency of the film’s heavily simplified characters made the clichés stand out all the more. I was happy to discover that Hardwicke and Rosenberg did very well to establish the film’s romantic relationship and create a fairly strong connection between the characters. Hardwicke’s special effects were quite flimsy and cheap however. Kristen Stewart gave a convincing performance. She put a good amount of emotion into her character and did a solid job of enhancing the romantic part of the film. Robert Pattinson, on the other hand, was atrocious. His pasty makeup and ridiculous facial expressions were what you’d expect from a character suffering from the world’s worst case of constipation. Needless to say, he was very difficult to watch. It didn’t help that Hardwicke’s camerawork around him was terrible. Overall the film did feel quite cheesy, yet it was consistently interesting in its own way. Stewart’s performance and a surprisingly strong connection between the characters prevented it from being the throw away pre-teen fluff piece it easily could have been.

2) Punisher: War Zone
Plot- Continuing his crusade to punish violent criminals, former FBI agent Frank Castle arrives in New York to take on the city’s underworld bosses. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Lexi Alexander (Green Street Hooligans)

Written by- Nick Santora (The Longshots), Art Marcum (Iron Man, Shadow of Fear), Matt Holloway (Iron Man)

Starring- Ray Stevenson, Dominic West, Julie Benz, Doug Hutchison, Colin Salmon, Dash Mihok, Wayne Knight

Movieguy’s Verdict- I think it’s fair to say that another Punisher movie was a terrible idea. The execution of that idea was even more painful than anyone could have possibly imagined. The film began with laughably dumb action sequences which provided an appropriate foray into the mindless, pointless gore that would fill every scene. The characters were horribly created, emphasizing unbearable stupidity and purposeless action clichés in every way possible. The performances were all equally terrible with Ray Stevenson leading the way. Though he could have been worse, his tactless performance combined with the blunt ugliness and the nonsensical lack of intelligence of the writing (if you can call it that) made for an intolerable result. The biggest surprise was that Lexi Alexander, who was moving up in the world after the critical success of “Green Street Hooligans,” agreed to direct a disgraceful project like this. Though it wasn’t surprising considering the movie’s overall lack of quality, her direction was atrocious. Sadly, this might just be a career killer for her. Much like the last Punisher movie, this film was a trashy waste of celluloid which should have never been made.

3) Goal II: Living the Dream
Plot- After gaining experience with the football club Newcastle United, Santiago Munez gets a huge break when he’s transferred to Real Madrid. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Jaume Collet-Serra (House of Wax)

Written by- Mike Jefferies (Goal!), Adrian Butchart (I Love Your Work), Terry Loane (Mickybo and Me)

Starring- Kuno Becker, Stephen Dillane, Anna Friel, Leonor Varela, Elizabeth Peña, Rutger Hauer, Alessandro Nivola

Movieguy’s Verdict- Since sports movies are all alike, my standard rating, assuming good acting, is two stars. This film fell under that classification. Stephen Dillane gave a solid performance as he does in every film he has ever been in, and Kuno Becker was passable as well. The “Goal” series is a trilogy, which is rather frustrating because it works only to spread out the story’s sports movie clichés into three parts. As such, the film’s entire story was basically a single cliché about success and ego in sports. Jaume Collet-Serra seemed an odd directorial selection considering his directorial debut involved directing Paris Hilton AND Chad Michael Murray. His handling of the film was adequate even though he is a horror director by nature. Technical details aside, the film celebrated tired sports movie themes and failed to do anything noteworthy.

4) The Life of Lucky Cucumber
Plot- None whatsoever.

Directed by- Sam Maccarone

Written by- Preston Lacy, Sam Maccarone

Starring- Dian Bachar, Preston Lacy, Sam Maccarone, Stella Keitel, Chris Owen

Movieguy’s Verdict- Fake documentaries can be incredible, but they require a delicate balance of style, tact, clever humor and intelligence. This film had none of those qualities. The stupidity of the characters was absolutely overwhelming, and it didn’t help that there wasn’t a single ounce of comedy to be found. Director Sam Maccarone didn’t have many ideas, so the best he could do was exaggerate everything as much as possible and hope no one noticed. I’m not even sure you could call this a movie in the technical sense. In philosophy, it is more akin to “Jackass,” where people simply go from one place to the next and film pointless vulgarity. The fact that Maccarone took the form of a mockumentary only showed how delusional he was to believe there was more to his “story” than that. With its rapid escalation of humorless over the top gross out antics, this is a movie no one should see. There really should be rules against making a “movie” like this.
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3-10-09

1) The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
Plot- A WWII-set story as seen through the eyes of Bruno, whose Nazi-Officer father has just been made the commandant of a concentration camp outside Berlin. Bruno’s eventual friendship with Shmuel, a boy his age who is detained at the camp, will usher in a troublesome reality for Bruno, and lead to a fateful attempt to alter Shmuel’s situation. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Mark Herman (Hope Springs, Purely Belter, Little Voice, Brassed Off, Blame It on the Bellboy)

Starring- Asa Butterfield, David Thewlis, Rupert Friend, Vera Farmiga, Amber Beattie

Movieguy’s Verdict- Without question, this was one of the best movies of 2008. It deserved to win and be nominated for a number of major Oscars, so if you want to see the very best of 2008, you’ll watch this film. Mark Herman does not have a history of directing powerful films, but after this, I am convinced he can do anything. Herman’s direction contained a brilliant amount of symbolism, intricately beautiful camerawork and immense power. His screenplay was just as impressive, developing the characters with subtle psychology and many layers of emotion. Much of Herman’s carefully placed plot developments happened in the background behind the characters, allowing the audience to see things the characters could not. Asa Butterfield was the true winner of the best actor Oscar for his performance, and he was disgracefully and inexplicably ignored from the ceremony altogether. There was no performance this year that compared the level of intelligence, power, emotional pull and raw genius of this 11-year-old boy. His stunning effort drowned out the great supporting performances given by David Thewlis and Vera Farmiga in a film that was extremely well acted. With deeply psychological and fascinating characters, and tremendous emotional intensity, this was a brilliant movie that absolutely must be seen.

2) Rachel Getting Married
Plot- A young woman who has been in and out from rehab for the past 10 years returns home for the weekend for her sister’s wedding. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Jonathan Demme (Caged Heat, Crazy Mama, Fighting Mad, Handle with Care, Last Embrace, Melvin and Howard, Swing Shift, Stop Making Sense, Something Wild, Swimming to Cambodia, Famous All Over Town, Married to the Mob, The Silence of the Lambs, Cousin Bobby, Philadelphia, Storefront Hitchcock, Beloved, The Truth About Charlie, The Agronomist, The Manchurian Candidate, Neil Young: Heart of Gold, Jimmy Carter Man from Plains)

Written by- Jenny Lumet

Starring- Anne Hathaway, Rosemarie DeWitt, Mather Zickel, Bill Irwin, Anna Deavere Smith, Anisa George, Tunde Adebimpe, Debra Winger

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film had remarkable potential but failed miserably in almost every possible way. Jonathan Demme’s lengthy résumé has been marked with the highest highs and the lowest lows, and this film perfectly accentuates the inconsistency that has plagued his career. At first, it appeared that Demme’s perfectly chosen documentary style direction was a brilliant choice for this alleged character study. However, Demme failed to detect the film’s fatal flaw: its script was entirely devoid of story, substance, character development and even quality dialogue. Jenny Lumet’s screenplay was horrifyingly bad. Her complete inability to develop a story of any kind resulted in over two hours of insufferable dullness. The characters had absolutely no substance, and with literally 80% of the film being completely unnecessary, there just wasn’t much to like. Anne Hathaway’s Oscar nomination was completely ridiculous given how awful the film was, but it was quite impressive how she used the full extent of her talents to create and develop a character that wasn’t in the screenplay. This actually resulted in two very intense scenes which served as a welcome diversion from the rest of this unbearable movie. Demme’s directorial style and Hathaway’s effort were noteworthy, but do not watch this movie!

3) Nobel Son
Plot- A young chemistry student throws a wrench into the existence of Nobel Prize-winning scientist Eli Michaelson by first kidnapping his son, then exposing Michaelson to his family, friends, and colleagues as the pompous, unscrupulous egomaniac he has become since his triumph. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Randall Miller (Bottle Shock, Marilyn Hotchkiss Ballroom Dancing & Charm School, The Sixth Man, Houseguest, Class Act)

Written by- Jody Savin (Bottle Shock, Marilyn Hotchkiss Ballroom Dancing & Charm School, Witchcraft), Randall Miller (Bottle Shock, Marilyn Hotchkiss Ballroom Dancing & Charm School)

Starring- Alan Rickman, Bryan Greenberg, Shawn Hatosy, Mary Steenburgen, Bill Pullman, Eliza Dushku, Danny DeVito, Ted Danson, Ernie Hudson, Tracey Walter, Lindy Booth

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was a very dark and bizarre movie that worked well on a number of different levels. Randall Miller’s sharp, edgy direction gave the film tremendous personality and style, and an outstanding soundtrack by Paul Oakenfold only worked to enhance the mood. Miller and co-writer Jody Savin crafted the film as half quick witted black comedy, half serious movie, and it worked very well on both levels. However, the film did contain a couple of small plot holes that could have been easily avoided had they been detected in time. This movie contained plenty of good performances. Alan Rickman played his arrogant and highly egotistical character perfectly, and Bryan Greenberg gave a consistently strong performance throughout the film. Danny DeVito provided a very interesting supporting performance, as did Eliza Dushku. Miller carried the film at breakneck pace, never giving the audience a chance to take a breath. In fact, this was one of those fast moving films that seemed like it ended moments after it began. With a great story, clever characters, dark wit and plenty of personality, this was a smart film that definitely flew under the radar in 2008.

4) Milk
Plot- A chronicle of Harvey Milk’s ascent to become San Francisco’s first openly gay city supervisor in 1977, and the political fallout that led to his assassination, as well as Mayor George Moscone’s, the following year. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Gus Van Sant (Drugstore Cowboy, My Own Private Idaho, To Die For, Good Will Hunting, Finding Forrester, Gerry, Elephant, Last Days, Paranoid Park)

Written by- Dustin Lance Black (The Journey of Jared Price)

Starring- Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, Emile Hirsch, Diego Luna, James Franco, Alison Pill, Victor Garber

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was an excellent film, but I’m not sure it was deserving of eight Oscar nominations. Sean Penn’s Oscar-winning performance was outstanding, bringing Harvey Milk to life in a very exacting, intense, free flowing performance that never stopped evolving. The supporting cast was very good as well, with Emile Hirsch, Diego Luna and James Franco delivering dynamic and interesting supporting performances. Josh Brolin’s performance was problematic however, as writer Dustin Lance Black failed to properly develop his crucial character, which prevented the film from achieving all it was supposed to. Gus Van Sant’s directorial style was very authentic to the period, and his dated visuals created a fantastic level of authenticity. Van Sant’s artistic creativity combined with Penn’s brilliant performance made it quite easy to be captivated by the movie and its characters. Despite the flaw in Black’s screenplay, he developed Penn’s character very well, creating a psychologically powerful and politically charged atmosphere. Though it might be slightly overrated because of its Oscar recognition, this was a great movie, and another winner for Gus Van Sant.

5) Role Models
Plot- Unsavory behavior forces a pair of energy-drink reps to enroll in a Big Brother program, where the duo learn, however reluctantly, to bond with their assigned kids. (imdb.com)

Directed by- David Wain (The Ten, Wet Hot American Summer)

Written by- Paul Rudd, David Wain (The Ten, Wet Hot American Summer), Ken Marino (Diggers, The Ten), Timothy Dowling

Starring- Paul Rudd, Seann William Scott, Elizabeth Banks, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Bobb’e J. Thompson, Jane Lynch, Ken Jeong, Ken Marino

Movieguy’s Verdict- The trailers for this film didn’t look all that appealing, but it ultimately was one of the most surprising successes of 2008. The film started strong with dialogue that ranged from mildly funny to hilarious. Paul Rudd and Seann William Scott were quite funny due to their abilities to play off of each other with biting sarcasm and quite a bit of vulgarity. Though the nature of their characters did not require much acting effort, they gave good comedic performances overall. The supporting cast was good as well, though at times they did seem to rely too much on vulgarity over substance. Jane Lynch, Christopher Mintz-Plasse (aka McLovin’) and others were quite funny and perfectly chosen for their eccentric roles. From beginning to end, you knew exactly where the story was going, and the writing made no attempt to deviate from this predictability. With that being said, tremendous creativity and imagination were put into creating the lives and quirks of the characters. Though it was always predictable and perhaps a little overly vulgar at times, this was a very creative and funny film with great personality that accomplished everything it set out to do.

6) Cadillac Records
Plot- A chronicle of the rise and fall of Chess Records, the Chicago-based record label founded by Leonard Chess, whose musical ear and business savvy helped foster the careers of Etta James, Chuck Berry and other rhythm-and-blues pioneers. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Darnell Martin (Prison Song, I Like It Like That)

Starring- Adrien Brody, Beyoncé Knowles, Mos Def, Gabrielle Union, Jeffrey Wright, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Eric Bogosian, Tammy Blanchard, Cedric the Entertainer

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film had a very authentic and vintage feel which was aided by good storytelling and solid acting. Adrien Brody, Mos Def and Jeffrey Wright were perfectly chosen for their parts and gave outstanding performances. Wright stood out from all the rest in a big way, delivering a powerful, well developed performance. Even Beyoncé Knowles gave a quality performance, albeit playing a pop star. Big stretch right? Darnell Martin’s direction perfectly captured the mood of the era. His screenplay developed the story and characters well, and Martin made it very easy for the audience to truly care about everyone in the film. Unfortunately, the story did lose a bit of its power in the last half hour or so. It felt as though Martin didn’t quite know how to end the film, and it dragged considerably toward its conclusion. Even so, with great characters and quality acting, this was a strong story about a colorful and important, yet forgotten era in music history.
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3-3-09

1) Australia
Plot- Set in northern Australia before World War II, an English aristocrat who inherits a sprawling ranch reluctantly pacts with a stock-man in order to protect her new property from a takeover plot. As the pair drive 2,000 head of cattle over unforgiving landscape, they experience the bombing of Darwin, Australia, by Japanese forces firsthand. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Baz Luhrmann (Strictly Ballroom, Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge!)

Written by- Stuart Beattie, Baz Luhrmann (Strictly Ballroom, Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge!), Ronald Harwood, Richard Flanagan

Starring- Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, David Wenham, Bryan Brown, Jack Thompson, David Gulpill, Brandon Walters

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was truly one of the most uncompromisingly awful movies of 2008, and it achieved that painful status in every possible way. Tremendous Hollywood corniness oozed out of each and every second of this movie, and Baz Luhrmann’s forced direction only worked to accentuate this fact. Luhrmann tried very hard to be whimsical, romantic, powerful, inspiring and captivating all at once, failing on all grounds. Though watching the film it was clear he thought he was making a masterpiece. Centered around some of the most idiotic narration I’ve ever heard, the screenplay lacked any sense of storytelling ability. This was not surprising really because in 160 minutes, the film offered no plot whatsoever. The first 90 mintues was spent on a tortuously pointless cattle drive. And the remaining time? Well, your guess is as good as mine. Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman were as forced and disingenuous as the rest of this painfully mangled excuse for a film. The characters, if you can call them that, were horribly clichéd, and the screenplay was as purposeless and poorly conceived as anything you’ll ever see. With no story, atrocious acting and a brain melting background score, this was a truly harmful disaster that should never been seen by anyone for any reason.

2) In the Electric Mist
Plot- A cop in the deep South is led into a series of surreal encounters with a troop of Confederate soldiers. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Bertrand Tavernier

Written by- Jerzy Kromolowski (The Pledge), Mary Olson-Kromolowski (The Pledge)

Starring- Tommy Lee Jones, John Goodman, Peter Sarsgaard, Kelly Macdonald, Justina Machado, Ned Beatty, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Buddy Guy, Mary Steenburgen

Movieguy’s Verdict- I wasn’t sure what to expect from this film, but Bertrand Tavernier’s eerie and ominous directorial style pulled me in almost immediately. The film carried a classic mystery feel to it as writers Jerzy Kromolowski and Mary Olson-Kromolowski built up the story with plenty of clues and interesting character developments. I was quite intrigued by how Tavernier made surreal/supernatural elements fit so naturally into a story based mainly in the modern world. His direction was quite good overall, featuring very well-crafted camerawork and a smart handling of the story and its characters. Speaking of characters, this film had a number of colorful personalities, all of whom contributed nicely and benefited from solid performances. Tommy Lee Jones played the same tightly wrapped character he always plays, but he did a good job as we’ve come to expect. John Goodman and Peter Sarsgaard turned in good supporting performances in a film that asked a little more of its actors than you might initially think. The film moved very well, seeming to always add something to the story, but all of this came to an abrupt end in the last half hour. There was a point when it became clear that the film was simply not going to develop into anything tangible. There was plenty of potential in the story, but ultimately the screenplay was unable to connect all of the pieces, leaving the film’s many story fragments drifting slowly beyond the point of no return. Despite good acting and an authentic Deep South feel, script problems stymied its potential.

3) Lake City
Plot- A mother and son reunite under desperate circumstances years after a family tragedy drove them far apart. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Hunter Hill, Perry Moore

Starring- Sissy Spacek, Troy Garity, Colin Ford, Rebecca Romijn, Dave Matthews, Keith Carradine, Drea de Matteo

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was an incredibly sincere and beautifully made film about the fragile psychology of a broken family. Unfortunately, a ridiculous and inexplicable handling of the climax and ending ruined just about everything it worked so hard to achieve. The film’s camerawork had a somber beauty to it, building complex and painful family history with careful and smart choices. Hunter Hill and Perry Moore’s screenplay captured nostalgia and painful memories without clichés, gimmicks or corniness. Sissy Spacek delivered a wonderfully developed and layered performance; it was her best in a very long time. Troy Garity was good as well, though he did falter during two key scenes. Dave Matthews was where the film began to unravel. Matthews was the center of a horribly conceived subplot which turned into a parasite that devoured the movie’s achievements. His flimsy performance and the silly, contrived characters he brought with him ruined the film’s carefully crafted direction and character development. By the end there was nothing left to hold on to. Even with all it did well, Hill and Moore’s horrendous story mistake ruined this movie beyond repair.

4) Weapons
Plot- Weapons presents a series of brutal, seemingly random youth-related killings over the course of a weekend in a typical small town in America,and tragically reveals how they are all interrelated. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Adam Bhala Lough (Bomb the System)

Starring- Nick Cannon, Paul Dano, Mark Webber, Riley Smith, Regine Nehy

Movieguy’s Verdict- To say the least this was an interesting film, not so much because of the story, but due to Adam Bhala Lough’s curious and often bizarre directorial choices. Lough’s decision making was all over the map as he appeared to be operating under the assumption that he was making a groundbreaking and important movie. In actuality, his screenplay contained no intelligence, insight, character development or psychological content- just blunt, childish conversations to move the weak story along. His visual choices were peculiarly random, injecting what might be classified as clever/experimental camerawork into one scene, only to follow it with a scene of bad choices and another full of decisions that made no sense whatsoever. Ultimately, this was an extremely dull movie. It contained a few scenes that had flashes of potential and a couple of decent ideas, but overall it was devoid of substance, intelligence and quality writing.
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2-24-09

1) What Just Happened
Plot- A comedy that chronicles two weeks in the life of a fading Hollywood producer who’s having a rough time trying to get his new picture made. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Barry Levinson (Diner, The Natural, Good Morning, Vietnam, Bugsy, Disclosure, Sleepers, Wag the Dog, Sphere, Liberty Heights, Bandits, Envy, Man of the Year)

Written by- Art Linson (Writer of: American Hot Wax; Director of: Where the Buffalo Roam, The Wild Life)

Starring- Robert De Niro, John Turturro, Stanley Tucci, Kristen Stewart, Lily Rabe, Bruce Willis, Moon Bloodgood

Movieguy’s Verdict- If you were hoping for another “Wag the Dog,” you won’t be pleased with this movie. This film had the potential to be a witty, intelligent and hilarious commentary on the film industry, but it amounted to very little in the end. In the early stages, Levinson’s direction perfectly captured the mood and psychological state of Robert De Niro’s character, using frenzied camerawork and chaotic editing in what appeared to be a promising satire. The film fell apart almost immediately however, and Art Linson’s horrendous screenplay was its undoing. Linson seemed to have interesting observations about the movie business, but he substituted intelligence and wit with an insufferable level of childish exaggeration. His narrative was as lost as the revolving door of unnecessary characters and situations he created, and only De Niro’s character had the slightest level of development or personality. As a result, the film was unbearably uneventful and several off the cuff situations were all that could pass for comedy. De Niro tried his best, and it seemed like all of the actors enjoyed participating in the film, but what they did could barely pass for acting. I think they liked the idea of playing a role in a satire of the movie industry regardless of its actual quality. This wasn’t a movie; it was a montage of over the top “insider” movie industry situations which accomplished nothing. In the end, it was just another forgettable movie in the extremely inconsistent career of Barry Levinson.

2) The Haunting of Molly Hartley
Plot- Molly Hartley looks to put her troubled past behind her with a fresh start at a new school, where she sparks with one of the most popular students. But can her secrets stay buried, especially as she learns more about the horrific truth that awaits her once she turns 18? (imdb.com)

Directed by- Mickey Liddell

Written by- John Travis, Rebecca Sonnenshine (Happily Even After, American Zombie, Within)

Starring- Haley Bennett, Chace Crawford, Jake Weber, Shannon Marie Woodward, Shanna Collins, AnnaLynne McCord, Marin Hinkle, Nina Siemaszko

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film contained a horribly constructed story that barely had enough material for a bad short film. Its only positive quality was Mickey Liddell’s ability to create a slightly creepy atmosphere using moody lighting. Other than that, this was a wasteland of horrifically bad acting and nonstop stupidity. All of the talentless teen “American Idol” rejects whom they absurdly called actors looked exactly alike, lacking talent and personality in a big way. The entire cast congealed into one poorly conceived pasty teen blob. Writers John Travis and Rebecca Sonnenshine wasted considerable time on plot elements that were completely insignificant to the film, and obviously didn’t spend much time thinking through what was left of the actual story. It didn’t take long for the movie to simply repeat the same poorly constructed scene over and over. With laughably stupid content and awful acting in practically every scene, this was a terrible film that should never have been made.

3) Sex Drive
Plot- High school senior Ian “borrows” his brother’s beloved ‘69 GTO and recruits his best friends on a road trip from Chicago to Knoxville in order to hook up with a babe he met online. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Sean Anders (Never Been Thawed)

Written by- Sean Anders (Never Been Thawed), John Morris (Never Been Thawed)

Starring- Josh Zuckerman, Clark Duke, Amanda Crew, James Marsden, Seth Green, Alice Greczyn, Katrina Bowden, Charlie McDermott

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was just another worthless movie in the over the top teen gross out genre, though it had several positive traits. I rather enjoyed Josh Zuckerman’s performance as the star of this film. Zuckerman nicely captured the awkwardness of his character which resulted in some decent humor. Seth Green also provided an amusing cameo. Sean Anders employed a quick directorial style that enhanced humor in several situations, but his obsession with pure shock value and unrelenting immaturity over comedy made this film an overall failure. Every character but Zuckerman’s was poorly conceived and ridiculously exaggerated which only worsened the unrelenting immaturity of the script. Ultimately, this was a fairly typical over the top teen movie that does not need to be seen.
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2-17-09

1) Body of Lies
Plot- In Jordan, an ex-journalist working to locate an Al Qaeda leader for the CIA faces pressure from an agent for whom failure is not an option. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Ridley Scott (Alien, Black Rain, Thelma & Louise, G.I. Jane, Gladiator, Hannibal, Black Hawk Down, Matchstick Men, Kingdom of Heaven, A Good Year, American Gangster)

Written by- William Monahan (Kingdom of Heaven, The Departed)

Starring- Leonardo DiCaprio, Russell Crowe, Mark Strong, Golshifteh Farahani, Oscar Isaac, Simon McBurney, Michael Gaston

Movieguy’s Verdict- After the tepid exercise in misguided dullness that was “American Gangster,” Ridley Scott retooled his narrative skills and found his way back on top in amazing fashion. The film featured a quickly moving story that never stopped evolving, and couldn’t think to waste even a second. I was highly impressed with William Monahan’s screenplay, as he threw the audience into an engrossing plot full of rich characters navigating their way through a tangled web of murder, corruption, lies, informants and terrorism. Leonardo DiCaprio gave a very powerful, authoritative and angry performance, which worked brilliantly with Russell Crowe’s flawless rendition of an arrogant, power-hungry character. Mark Strong also gave an excellent supporting performance in a film that was superbly acted in all parts. Scott’s direction was of the highest quality, displaying excellent camerawork and creating a perfect environment of constantly growing suspense until the very end. Scott and Monahan formed a perfect team to make a no-nonsense, high octane thriller that was compelling and intense until the very end. With fantastic acting and a great story, this is one you don’t want to miss.

2) How to Lose Friends & Alienate People
Plot- British journalist Sidney Young crosses the pond for a new job with a high-profile New York magazine, though he soon learns the bridges he burned on his way to the top can only lead to his downfall. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Robert B. Weide (Lenny Bruce: Swear to Tell the Truth)

Written by- Peter Straughan (Sixty Six)

Starring- Simon Pegg, Kirsten Dunst, Megan Fox, Jeff Bridges, Danny Huston, Max Minghella

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film got off to a rather rough start with an opening sequence that was forced and rather put on. After the opening credits however, everything improved dramatically. Much of the film’s success can be attributed to Simon Pegg’s performance. Pegg delivered in a big way, providing tremendous energy, charisma and personality. Oh, and he was also hysterical. Writer’s screenplay featured numerous types of comedy, all of which worked very well. Supporting characters were inconsistently handled, at times attempting to make them more complex and layered than they actually were. Pegg’s character was both entertaining and thoughtful, though he was clearly given too many opportunities for a ridiculous amount of success in relation to his track record for social and professional disasters. Like most Hollywood comedies, this film included a romantic subplot that really didn’t need to exist, as it killed the true nature of the film and its characters. Despite that shortcoming, this was a very funny movie that meant well, put forth great effort and accomplished everything it wanted.

3) Religulous
Plot- Atheist Bill Maher looks to understand the beliefs behind different world religions in this documentary. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Larry Charles (Masked and Anonymous, Borat)

Written by- Bill Maher

Movieguy’s Verdict- This documentary addresses questions that no one seems willing to ask, and no one smart enough is willing to answer. Bill Maher seemed appropriately poised to tackle a good amount of both. While Maher lacks the benefit of a “60 Minutes” research team, he was more than capable of assembling a convincing cast of interview subjects and quality information. This film wasn’t necessarily all about information; Maher gave plenty of thoughtful (and often hilariously witty) insights on a variety of issues that are in serious need of discussion. His commentary was thought provoking, and some of the interviews were more shocking than even he might have envisioned. This was less a straight documentary and more an interview driven opinion piece, but with a strong conclusion and plenty of quality material, it is indeed worth seeing.

4) Changeling
Plot- 1920s Los Angeles: A woman who is reunited with her missing son is subsequently committed to an insane asylum when she begins to question whether the boy is her child. Ultimately bringing her case to the city council, she begins to pick apart a conspiracy that reverberates throughout the city. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Clint Eastwood (Flags of Our Fathers, Million Dollar Baby, Mystic River, Blood Work, Space Cowboys, True Crime, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, Unforgiven, The Rookie, Bird, Firefox, The Outlaw Josey Wales)

Written by- J. Michael Straczynski

Starring- Angelina Jolie, Colm Feore, Amy Ryan, John Malkovich, Jeffrey Donovan

Movieguy’s Verdict- For all the decades Clint Eastwood has been directing movies, he has produced one good film (“Mystic River”), and there is a reason for that. The film half of the film was wholeheartedly brilliant. Eastwood’s uncharacteristically elegant direction created a very delicate and authentic view of 1920’s Los Angeles. His handling of the film was quiet and detailed, allowing Angelina Jolie every opportunity to bring every emotion to the surface. Her performance was nuanced and utterly magnificent, brining the highest level of emotional involvement to her character and the story. In the first half, Eastwood’s elegant and often eerie direction highlighted interesting and psychologically dynamic characters. John Malkovich also gave a brilliant supporting performance. J. Michael Straczynski crafted his screenplay in a very smooth and flowing manner, developing characters and plot flawlessly. Then the story ended, but there was, regrettably, another hour remaining. What proceeded to occur was an hour of Eastwood and Straczynski ruining everything the film had achieved, turning it into a weak, laughable and overly silly crowd pleaser. They also injected numerous superficialities that had nothing to do with the story or characters. Even Jolie’s performance grew difficult to stomach as it looked nothing like her Oscar-worthy first half showing. As one unnecessary and badly crafted scene spilled into the next, it became impossible to stomach this movie. If the director had any idea what he was doing, this would never have happened. The first half was brilliant and the second half was worthless- knowing that, I would not recommend this film. One final note, the title had literally NOTHING to do with the film. Did anyone bother to look up the word beforehand?

5) Choke
Plot- An adaptation of the Chuck Palahniuk novel, in which sex-addicted con-man Victor Mancini pays for his mother’s hospital bills by playing on the sympathies of those who rescue him from choking to death. Victor’s mother’s attending physician, Dr. Paige Marshall, initially sinks into his scheme, only to become his best chance for redemption. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Clark Gregg (Writer of: What Lies Beneath)

Starring- Sam Rockwell, Anjelica Huston, Kelly Macdonald, Brad William Henke, Paz de la Huerta, Bijou Phillips

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film was one of the year’s great disappointments, though it didn’t start out that way. Full of psychologically fascinating characters and situations, the blunt perversions of the screenplay took a quick hold on the audience. There was plenty of dark, subtle comedy to go around as its antisocial themes kept everyone on edge in a variety of ways. Sam Rockwell gave a great performance as he perfectly captured a character struggling through life on the fringe of society. The supporting characters were problematic in many ways, and it was absolutely shocking how quickly Clark Gregg allowed this brilliant story to turn lifeless. A brilliant plot twist at the end cleared up a number of gaping plot holes, but the screenplay contained more than a few flaws in its execution. The film’s deep psychological motivations cannot be ignored, but Gregg simply could not tell this story properly. A proper adaptation of this material could have resulted in an Oscar nomination.

6) Flash of Genius
Plot- Once Robert Kearns discovers that new cars are coming equipped with intermittent windshield wipers — a technology Kearns invented, patented, and unsuccessfully tried to sell — he launches a landmark lawsuit against the U.S. automotive industry. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Marc Abraham

Written by- Philip Railsback (The Stars Fell on Henrietta)

Starring- Greg Kinnear, Lauren Graham, Alan Alda, Dermot Mulroney, Jake Abel, Mitch Pileggi

Movieguy’s Verdict- Even though this film did many things well, the story was simply not compelling or interesting in any way. Therefore it just could not reach any level of excellence. Greg Kinnear delivered a determined, layered and carefully crafted performance, developing his character with the subtleties and intricacies he required. The supporting characters were much too one dimensional and simplistic in comparison to the main character. I was impressed with Marc Abraham’s camerawork, as he provided a visual edge that helped the film considerably. It was not enough however. The overall story was too dull, slow and uninteresting to warrant full immersion into the lives of the characters. The writing even allowed for proper evolution of the story from beginning to end, but the overarching dullness indicated that this was a story that should never have been made into a feature film.
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2-10-09

1) Blindness
Plot- A thriller set in a city that is suffering from an epidemic of sudden blindness, where only one woman remains able to see as the rest of her society is pushed to its limits. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Fernando Meirelles (The Constant Gardner)

Written by- Don McKellar (Roadkill, Highway 61, Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn Gould, Dance Me Outside, Last Night, Childstar)

Starring- Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo, Gael García Bernal, Danny Glover, Sandra Oh, Alice Braga

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was a brilliant piece of filmmaking that could have been a timeless classic with a slight reworking of the screenplay. Fernando Meirelles captured chaos and fear remarkably well in his direction, engulfing the audience in a psychologically complex environment of sheer terror and raw power. The film benefited from fantastic performances in all parts. Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo, Gael García Bernal and Danny Glover were phenomenal, showing tremendous talent and courage in their performances. Don McKellar’s screenplay contained brilliant psychology and fearless social commentary, providing a front row seat to the darkest recesses of the human condition. Amidst the chaos and brilliant characters, you almost fail to realize that the film lacked a central story arc, preventing it from having the powerful ending it required. Without this overarching narrative, the ending left the characters hung out to dry in some respects. What the film achieved was wholly brilliant, but it should have been a masterpiece.

2) W.
Plot- Texas Governor, George W. Bush, follows in the footsteps of his father, former President George H.W. Bush, in the wake of a controversial election to lead the United States of America. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Oliver Stone

Written by- Stanley Weiser (Wall Street, Project X, Coast to Coast)

Starring- Josh Brolin, Elizabeth Banks, Ioan Gruffudd, Ellen Burstyn, James Cromwell, Richard Dreyfuss, Thandie Newton, Scott Glenn, Jeffrey Wright, Toby Jones, Stacy Keach, Noah Wyle

Movieguy’s Verdict- As Dubya’s presidency drew to a close, this was the perfect film to lend an introspective glance into his political and personal history. Oliver Stone asked the questions many whished to ask, providing thoughtful and at times amusing answers. The film was a great deal more soulful than one might imagine, downplaying the comedic effect of the seemingly infinite number of “Bushisms,” as we’ve come to know them. Despite Stanley Weiser’s constant stream of psychological character development and symbolism, the film did tend to feel a bit slow. Stone’s camerawork was excellent as always, lending strong visual creativity to a film that could have very easily been bland in that regard. The film drew great strength from its magnificent cast, with Josh Brolin leading the way in a tour de force performance. He didn’t imitate Bush, rather he captured his essence in a way that only Stone could direct. The film’s most underrated performance came from Richard Dreyfuss in a brilliantly crafted showing as Dick Cheney. However, I did not buy James Cromwell as George H.W. Bush in any way- what a miscast that was. I found the film’s political commentary very compelling, though several times it felt that Stone was merely reenacting and not analyzing. The film did contain considerable thought and analysis, but it did feel quite long in spite of these successes. It was not the brilliant work that “Nixon” was, but Stone and company did a great job overall.

3) Soul Men
Plot- Though it’s been some twenty years since they have spoken with one another, two estranged soul-singers agree to participate in a reunion performance at the Apollo Theater to honor their recently deceased band leader. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Malcolm D. Lee (Undercover Brother, Roll Bounce, Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins)

Written by- Robert Ramsey (Man of the House, Intolerable Cruelty, Big Trouble, Destiny Turns on the Radio), Matthew Stone (Man of the House, Intolerable Cruelty, Big Trouble, Destiny Turns on the Radio)

Starring- Samuel L. Jackson, Bernie Mac, Sharon Leal, Adam Herschman, Sean Hayes, Affion Crockett, Fatso-Fasano, Jackie Long, Mike Epps

Movieguy’s Verdict- While this film had a good heart, it was very painful to sit through. Samuel L. Jackson and Bernie Mac’s strong musical abilities were quite impressive, and if the film had any regard for smart writing, they could have been memorable. Despite these strong performances, characters were highly exaggerated, and its cheesy buddy movie clichés and stereotypes added up fast. The film didn’t offer the slightest comedic edge, which only enhanced how boring it was. Malcolm D. Lee didn’t seem to have the slightest idea how to direct the film, creating a wandering and exaggerated environment that got dull very quickly. By the end, even solid performances didn’t prevent it from being unbearable. Without Jackson and Mac, this would have been a completely worthless waste of film.

4) Miracle at St. Anna
Plot- A murder committed by post office worker Hector Negron in 1984 sets in motion an investigation that ties back to the experiences of a battalion of black American soldiers who became trapped in a Tuscan village during WWII. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Spike Lee

Written by- James McBride

Starring- Derek Luke, Michael Ealy, Laz Alonso, Omar Benson Miller, Pierfrancesco Favino, Valentina Cervi, Matteo Sciabordi, John Turturro, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, John Leguizamo, Kerry Washington, D.B. Sweeney

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was one of 2008’s worst films, and it reached this status in a way I never thought I’d have to experience. The film opens with Spike Lee’s typically smug personal, present both in the writing and camerawork. The only positive aspect of the film was that it did have decent visuals, though not consistently. It was poorly acted in all parts and featured an atrocious score, most of which didn’t match the movie. The big story here was that this could very well have been the most racist film ever made. It didn’t take long for Lee to completely abandon the wafer thin presence of a “war epic” and fill each scene with hate filled explosions of bigotry and racism. The film had no characters, no plot and no story whatsoever. Plain and simple, it was nothing more than a delivery device for hatred and racism. As a critic, I have found problems with many of Lee’s films, attributed mostly to storytelling problems and the arrogance he transfers to his actors. I’ve never encountered this much racism in his movies, or any movie I’ve ever seen. This was an awful film for many reasons, and if you don’t want to experience any of them, you will stay very far away.

5) Nights in Rodanthe
Plot- A doctor who is traveling to see his estranged son sparks with an unhappily married woman at a North Carolina inn. (imdb.com)

Directed by- George C. Wolfe

Written by- Ann Peacock (Country of My Skull, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Kit Kittredge: An American Girl), John Romano (The Third Miracle, Intolerable Cruelty)

Starring- Diane Lane, Richard Gere, Christopher Meloni, Viola Davis, Mae Whitman, James Franco

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film spent a great deal of energy trying to be very tender, romantic and passionate. In doing so, it forgot about characters and story. In the early stages, the characters were developing nicely as Diane Lane and Richard Gere were given a great deal of freedom to craft strong performances in a minimalistic environment. George C. Wolfe and Ann Peacock did achieve a tender mood early on, but it was short lived. What began as a good character study devolved into mishandled scenes and an excess of sappiness near the end. The film’s score was also quite poor, playing as forced as the overall story. Nicholas Sparks novels rely on powerful endings, and this film’s ending should have been powerful, but it turned out to be just as sappy as the score. Good performances from Gere and Lane helped move the film along, but clearly the story wasn’t told properly.

6) My Name is Bruce
Plot- B Movie Legend Bruce Campbell is mistaken for his character Ash from the Evil Dead trilogy and forced to fight a real monster in a small town in Oregon. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Bruce Campbell (A Community Speaks, Man with the Screaming Brain)

Written by- Mark Verheiden (Terror Squad, Timecop)

Starring- Bruce Campbell, Grace Thorsen, Taylor Sharpe, Ted Raimi, Ben L. McCain, Ellen Sandweiss, Timothy Patrick Quill

Movieguy’s Verdict- The horror comedy is one of the worst movie genres ever, but I must admit, this film had a more than intriguing premise. The acting and writing were horrendous from the first scene, displaying the childish stupidity and pure lack of talent this genre is famous for. The characters were extremely immature and forced, and the writing lacked the comedy that could have made this a surprising success. Bruce Campbell was simply terrible, unable to achieve even the slightest level of self-deprecating references that the film called for, and the rest of the cast performed to an entirely different stratosphere of unwatchable. As a director, Campbell tried very hard to replicate and even exaggerate the trashy special effects that has made Campbell the kind of cult “star” that he is. Overall, this film that could have been a breath of fresh air for an awful genre, but it ended up as a painful reminder of how truly obnoxious these movies truly are.
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2-3-09

1) Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist
Plot- Nick frequents New York’s indie rock scene nursing a broken heart and a vague ability to play the bass. Norah is questioning pretty much all of her assumptions about the world. Though they have nothing in common except for their taste in music, their chance encounter leads to an all-night quest to find a legendary band’s secret show and ends up becoming the first date in a romance that could change both their lives. (fandango.com)

Directed by- Peter Sollett (Raising Victor Vargas)

Written by- Lorene Scafaria

Starring- Michael Cera, Kat Dennings, Aaron Yoo, Rafi Gavron, Ari Graynor, Alexis Dziena, Zachary Booth, Jay Baruchel, John Cho

Movieguy’s Verdict- I was very pleased with the level of emotional sincerity and intelligent characters this film presented, and only one minor flaw stood in the way of it becoming a full fledged cult classic. Michael Cera captured the social awkwardness of his lovesick and somewhat nerdy character to perfection. Kat Dennings was also excellent in a film that was written with mostly wonderfully developed personalities. The film was not intended to be a comedy, though it did contain some awkward/clever humor that added nicely to the mood. Alexis Dziena’s character was more than a little overdone however, and was quite out of place when compared to the rest of the cast. This was a wonderful film about relationships that was soulfully directed and intelligently written, wonderfully capturing the mood of a classic New York City romance. The film’s only flaw? It was completely ridiculous that the characters were supposed to be in high school. Otherwise, this was a great film of music, romance and New York that definitely needs to be seen.

2) Everybody Wants to Be Italian
Plot- Jake is a romantic guy who’s still pining for his ex some eight years after their separation. But when he sparks with Marisa, a beautiful Italian woman from Boston’s North End, he learns how far he’ll go for love when he opts to disguise the fact that he’s not Italian — a potential deal breaker for Marisa.

Written and Directed by- Jason Todd Ipson (Unrest)

Starring- Jay Jablonski, Cerina Vincent, John Kapelos, John Enos III, Marisa Petroro, Richard Libertini, Judith Scarpone, P.J. Marino, Tammy Pescatelli, Dan Cortese

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was the kind of indie film that had the perfect blend of likability, interesting characters and good personalities that is simply impossible not to enjoy. Jason Todd Ipson’s great conversations about relationships were one of the film’s main strengths, accompanied by its ability to create a very interesting dynamic between the two main characters. There was also a decent level of humor thrown in for good measure, which helped build atmosphere. The film’s performances won’t blow you away, but they left little to complain about. The exception however was Cerina Vincent, who was drop dead gorgeous, but didn’t come anywhere close to playing a believable character. Ipson’s writing must share the blame on this as well, but her performance was equally flawed. Ipson made the interesting choice to craft some critical scenes with an emphasis on symbolism over realism – an oddly welcoming choice for a film you were supposed to take at face value. Though predictability was present, this film accomplished everything it set out to do, and evolved into the kind of romance that will surely make you smile.

3) Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
Plot- In the sequel to Madagascar, Alex the lion and his friends board an NYC-bound plane, only to find themselves touching down in the African plains. It’s an opportunity for the animals to encounter their own kind for the very first time, and to discover, while various plots play out, what “home” truly means to each of them. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Eric Darnell (Antz, Madagascar), Tom McGrath (Madagascar)

Voices of- Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith, Sacha Baron Cohen, Cedric the Entertainer, Andy Richter, Bernie Mac, Alec Baldwin

Movieguy’s Verdict- Perhaps a second “Madagascar” film wasn’t entirely necessary, but it turned out to be the best pure children’s film of the year. The film continued the series’ solid visual quality with colorful, high quality CGI. The writing was creative and filled with cleverness and personality, though several characters were highly exaggerated in typically lazy kid’s movie fashion. The vocal performances picked up right where they left off with comical and entertaining contributions from Ben Stiller, Sacha Baron Cohen and Chris Rock, though David Schwimmer remains my personal favorite. The film lost much of its creativity at the end, becoming extremely clichéd and conventional. Overall the film was very entertaining and remained true to much of what made the first so great.

4) Zack and Miri Make a Porno
Plot- Lifelong platonic friends Zack and Miri look to solve their respective cash flow problems by directing and starring in their own adult film. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Kevin Smith (Clerks, Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Dogma, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Jersey Girl, Clerks II)

Starring- Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks, Jason Mewes, Gerry Bednob, Jennifer Schwalbach Smith, Kenny Hotz, Brandon Routh, Anne Wade, Justin Long

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was a rather intriguing project from Kevin Smith, but the result was slightly less than what you might expect. Smith’s writing was clever at times, but overall he attempted to stretch a small number of ideas much too far. His screenplay contained isolated pockets of comedy, but he substituted redundant crudeness for the typically introspective conversations we’ve come to expect from a Kevin Smith movie. Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks gave great performances, adding more personality to their characters than was contained in the script. However, the film benefited considerably from the hilarious and completely off the wall supporting performances of Justin Long and Jason Mewes. Though the film had a good collection of characters and average humor, the dialogue just felt too forced. It also lacked a layered screenplay, but it had a good heart and should prove to be appropriately entertaining.

5) The Secret Life of Bees
Plot- South Carolina, 1964: A fateful incident inspires young Lily Owens to flee her abusive household with Rosaleen Daise, the only parental figure she’s ever known, in tow. Together, the duo travel to the fictional town of Tiburon, where they are taken in by an eccentric trio of beekeeping sisters, and Lily begins to piece together the secrets of her deceased mother’s past. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Gina Prince-Bythewood (Love & Basketball)

Starring- Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson, Queen Latifah, Alicia Keys, Sophie Okonedo, Paul Bettany, Hilarie Burton, Tristan Wilds, Nate Parker

Movieguy’s Verdict- I expected this film to be an onslaught of Lifetime Original Movie sappiness, and was pleasantly surprised by its level of quality and sincerity. The film’s main strength was its acting, led by Dakota Fanning’s powerful, intense and entirely captivating performance. Paul Bettany gave a strong performance of a very typical character, but the rest of the cast succeeded admirably. The weak acting link was Queen Latifah, was intended to be nothing more than a caricature who was written to be generous and inspiring, like Oprah. Despite that awful character, Gina Prince-Bythewood’s writing was surprisingly excellent, allowing the audience to get heavily involved with the characters and story. Her direction was nicely symbolic and emotional, though she did seem to sell scenes short by ending them with the characters heaped together crying over more or less insignificant things. Unfortunately the film did drag near the end, but told its story very well.

6) The Good Student
Plot- An unpopular high school teacher finds his life turned upside down after a student is kidnapped. (imdb.com)

Directed by- David Ostry (Mr. Gibb)

Written by- Adam Targum (Mr. Gibb)

Starring- Tim Daly, William Sadler, Hayden Panettiere, Sarah Steele, Dan Hedaya

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was a very interesting little film that had good ideas, but also suffered its share of problems. Tim Daly delivered a good starring performance, playing an interesting character very well. His presence was perfect for the film’s mood, which director David Ostry established nicely. Overall the film suffered tremendously from an overarching amateurism that almost constantly attacked its credibility. It did manage to carry a decent sense of mystery and plot evolution, though writer Adam Targum failed to fully capitalize on the characters he and Ostry had created. The film was hurt considerably by William Sadler’s consistently over the top performance of the film’s most prominent supporting character. In case you were wondering, Hayden Panettiere had a tiny number of scenes, but performed well overall. Ultimately, the film’s promising ideas were only halfway utilized, leaving a lot to be desired. Despite the potential left on the table, good music, good ideas and a solid lead performance made this a respectable movie.
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1-27-09

1) Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Plot- Two girlfriends on a summer holiday in Spain become enamored with the same painter, fully unaware that his ex-wife, with whom he has a tempestuous relationship, is about to re-enter the picture. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Woody Allen

Starring- Rebecca Hall, Scarlett Johansson, Javier Bardem, Penélope Cruz, Kevin Dunn, Patricia Clarkson, Julio Perillán

Movieguy’s Verdict- Woody Allen’s self-imposed exile to Europe has been a breath of fresh air for this storytelling and filmmaking technique. His writing and directorial style have been much richer and more introspective lately, which was perfectly evident in this film. Allen’s characters were as rich and vibrant as the gorgeous Spanish landscape they inhabited. Javier Bardem, Scarlett Johansson and Penélope Cruz gave fantastic performances, capturing their colorful and very different characters as wonderfully as Allen’s smart writing brought them to life. Rebecca Hall seemed an odd choice to act alongside such an elite group, but she performed as well as the rest of the cast. Watching this film meant enjoying a group of rich characters exploring love and passion in a way only Woody Allen can seem to capture. The only very slight flaw of the film was that the lives of Hall and Johannson’s characters seemed a bit too easy and carefree, which allowed them to abandon practical obligations and responsibilities somewhat unbelievably. Also, what a horrendous title! Still, this was a wonderful romance that achieved quite a bit.

2) The Rocker
Plot- Two decades after he was kicked out of his famous rock ‘n’ roll group, Robert ‘Fish’ Fishman, an over-the-hill drummer, pounces on a second chance at coercing his way into a garage band fronted by his nephew. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Peter Cattaneo (The Full Monty, Lucky Break, Opal Dream)

Written by- Maya Forbes (Seeing Other People), Wallace Wolodarsky (Coldblooded)

Starring- Rainn Wilson, Christina Applegate, Teddy Geiger, Josh Gad, Emma Stone, Jeff Garlin, Jane Lynch, Jason Sudeikis, Will Arnett, Howard Hesseman, Fred Armisen, Bradley Cooper, Lonny Ross, Jon Glaser, Jane Krakowski

Movieguy’s Verdict- I expected this to be a very typical and extremely mediocre comedy, and was pleasantly surprised. Its success begins and ends with Rainn Wilson’s outstanding performance. Wilson carried such a high level of energy, and along with his facial expressions, vocal tones and electric presence, created most of the film’s humorous and quirky atmosphere. This was the movie’s saving grace because there was actually very little humor in the script. Much of the its charisma and personality came from Wilson and the rest of the perfectly chosen cast. The characters were much better than the writing, which would have been mostly bland without such well crafted and sincere performances. It was predictable however, and I don’t think there was much about the story I didn’t see coming. There were also several flaws with the plot elements related to the music business, though that was definitely not the film’s main focus. With a great combination of energy, style, personality and acting talent, this film was a surprising and highly enjoyable success.

3) Lakeview Terrace
Plot- An LAPD officer will stop at nothing to force out the interracial couple who just moved in next door. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Neil LaBute (In the Company of Men, Nurse Betty, Possession, The Shape of Things, The Wicker Man)

Written by- David Loughery (Tom and Huck, Money Train, The Three Musketeers, Passenger 57, Flashback, Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, Dreamscape), Howard Korder (The Passion of Ayn Rand, Stealing Sinatra)

Starring- Samuel L. Jackson, Patrick Wilson, Kerry Washington, Ron Glass, Justin Chambers, Jay Hernandez, Regine Nehy

Movieguy’s Verdict- Given that the trailer’s main point of excitement came from Samuel L. Jackson yelling “You didn’t get my permission to plant these trees!!” it was easy to say that this film didn’t have much chance for success. Upon watching it however, it was clear that it left plenty of potential unrealized. The result can be spread across the film’s two halves. In the first half, Neil LaBute built characters and situations carefully, employing a clever screenplay filled with psychologically taut situations and strong performances. Jackson’s performance was particularly good in the first half as he developed his character with good intensity and skill. The screenplay created a fantastic dynamic between the characters, which was as complex as it was layered. It even featured a great ambient score to heighten the mood. The second half fell apart in countless ways. Abandoning the psychological exploration of the characters, it regressed into a series of plot developments that were as misguided as they were nonsensical. It accomplished nothing other than running what had started as a very promising film. This was extremely disappointing, and it’s nothing you should spend time watching.

4) Pride and Glory
Plot- A family of prominent New York City cops is shaken to its core when one brother uncovers a scandal at his sibling’s precinct. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Gavin O’Connor (Tumbleweeds, Comfortably Numb)

Written by- Joe Carnahan, Gavin O’Connor (Tumbleweeds, Comfortably Numb)

Starring- Edward Norton, Colin Farrell, Noah Emmerich, Jon Voight, Jennifer Ehle, John Ortiz, Frank Grillo, Shea Whigham, Lake Bell, Carmen Ejogo, Manny Perez, Wayne Duvall, Ramon Rodriguez, Rick Gonzalez

Movieguy’s Verdict- With a great cast and a strong premise this should have been the best cop movie in years, but its inadequate screenplay ruined it beyond repair. The film began with a completely unnecessary football sequence which foreshadowed the plethora of pointless storylines and characters writers Joe Carnahan and Gavin O’Connor tried to employ. Though Colin Farrell’s performance was strong, Edward Norton’s character was a walking montage of every cop movie character you’ve ever seen. Farrell’s brutally intense performance nearly saved the film, but as Carnahan and O’Connor tried to force more random subplots into the story, it was clear it was beyond saving. O’Connor’s stylish direction, shaky camerawork and quality cinematography were wasted on a screenplay that rambled its way through wasting a great cast. Even still, supporting performances were surprisingly good under the circumstances. This movie was a badly written montage of cop film clichés, so you should feel confident about passing it by.

5) RocknRolla
Plot- In London, a real-estate scam puts millions of pounds up for grabs, naturally attraction the attention of some of the city’s scrappiest tough guys its more established underworld players, and others — all of whom are looking to get rich quick. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Guy Ritchie (Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch, Swept Away, Revolver)

Starring- Gerard Butler, Tom Wilkinson, Idris Elba, Toby Kebbell, Chris Bridges, Thandie Newton, Jeremy Piven

Movieguy’s Verdict- Guy Ritchie reached for the stars with “Revolver” but couldn’t quite make the complex plot work. With this movie he returned to his crime roots, so I had reasonably high expectations. Unfortunately, Ritchie was merely grasping at straws yet again, making it now three failed movies in a row. Ritchie packed the film full of excellent visual ideas, quirky personalities, clever dialogue and raw violence, but his narrative was completely incoherent. The film started well, seemingly blending the perfect amount of schizophrenic direction and lightning fast plot developments. The cast seemed perfectly chosen as everyone involved gave very good performances. Gerard Butler seemed perfectly in sync with Ritchie’s directorial style as he had the perfect combination of personality and intensity. Tom Wilkinson, Thandie Newton and Jeremy Piven also added plenty of personality to the film. Unfortunately personality alone does not equal success. Amidst Ritchie’s clever visuals and gritty crime mood, his story grew extremely scattered and reached incoherent status by the film’s halfway point. The film had almost no narrative structure to speak of and wasted a little too much time on unnecessary characters. I loved its style, but it was simply too scattered and poorly written.

6) College
Plot- A wild weekend is in store for three high school seniors who visit a local college campus as prospective freshmen. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Deb Hagan

Written by- Dan Callahan, Adam Ellison

Starring- Drake Bell, Kevin Covais, Andrew Caldwell, Ryan Pinkston, Camille Mana, Haley Bennett

Movieguy’s Verdict- First of all, this move stole the idea straight from John Belushi’s shirt in “Animal House.” This might be the first time a movie idea was stolen from a shirt. It wasn’t just the shirt though- the film stole quite a bit from “Animal House,” including entire sequences which were ripped off verbatim. The characters were awful, written with a combination of stupidity and aggravating teen clichés that made for a completely unpleasant film experience. You got the impression that the writers and actors believed the film’s over the top, contrived antics were comedic gold. In fact, they were nothing more than extremely immature copies of “Animal House” from people who had no ideas of their own. Add atrocious acting to the film’s overwhelming immaturity and purposeless grotesqueries and you have one of the year’s worst films in all categories.
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1-20-09

1) Max Payne
Plot- Coming together to solve a series of murders in New York City are a DEA agent whose family was slain as part of a conspiracy and an assassin out to avenge her sister’s death. The duo will be hunted by the police, the mob, and a ruthless corporation. (imdb.com)

Directed by- John Moore (The Omen, Flight of the Phoenix, Behind Enemy Lines)

Written by- Beau Thorne

Starring- Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Beau Bridges, Ludacris, Chris O’Donnell, Donal Logue, Amaury Nolasco, Kate Burton, Olga Kurylenko

Movieguy’s Verdict- Uwe Boll has pretty much ruined the videogame adaption genre with years of unwatchable trash, but this was a much needed (and completely surprising) step in the right direction. John Moore did a wonderful job creating the perfect atmosphere for the film and its characters with dark, brooding direction and perfectly lit scenes. Mark Wahlberg gave a convincing and very strong performance overall, carrying complete command of his character. Supporting performances were good as well with Mila Kunis and Beau Bridges contributing consistently to the cause. I found the story rather engrossing, and while the writing was never particularly intelligent or insightful, it never tried too hard and managed the film in the best way it knew how. There were a couple of plot holes however, and the “good / bad guys” were highly exaggerated. Still, I found this to be a highly enjoyable and overall high quality film in spite of its shortcomings. Much of the credit must go to Moore for the wonderful job he did creating the mood and atmosphere of this film and its characters. It is definitely a guilty pleasure, but it did many things well.

2) City of Ember
Plot- For generations, the underground City of Ember has been the only light in an otherwise dark world. But when the city’s generator begins to fail, teenagers Lina and Doon desperately race to help their fellow citizens escape before the lights go out permanently. To do so, they will have to search Ember high and low for clues that will unlock the ancient mystery of their city’s origins. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Gil Kenan (Monster House)

Written by- Caroline Thompson (Corpse Bride, Buddy, Black Beauty, The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Secret Garden, Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey, The Addams Family, Edward Scissorhands)

Starring- Saoirse Ronan, Toby Jones, Bill Murray, Harry Treadaway, Martin Landau, Mary Kay Place, Tim Robbins

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film had the potential to be a very clever science fiction movie but was disappointingly lost in a childish and overwhelmingly immature environment. The film began with great promise, introducing an interesting cast into a cleverly constructed world of characters living intricately constructed lives. While the cast had plenty of potential, they ultimately turned in disappointing performances. Saoirse Ronan gave an Oscar-worthy performance in “Atonement,” but this was not quite at that level. She is a talented young actress, but Caroline Thompson’s wooden, uninspired writing hung her and the rest of the cast out to dry. Bill Murray gave an awful performance of a downright terrible character. Though the story had enormous promise, Gil Kenan took its futuristic background and turned it into a childish “kids vs. adults” tale with exaggerated characters. The story also ran out of steam less than half way through the movie. Visually, I was impressed with Kenan’s special effects. He handled them in a very creative and often unusual way. The film had many good ideas and tremendous potential, but it seemed to miss more opportunities than it capitalized on.

3) The Express
Plot- A drama based on the life of Ernie Davis, a high school football standout who is recruited by Syracuse University, where he becomes the first African American to win the Heisman Trophy. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Gary Fleder (Kiss the Girls, Don’t Say a Word, Imposter, Runaway Jury)

Written by- Charles Leavitt (The Sunchaser, The Mighty, K-PAX, Blood Diamond)

Starring- Rob Brown, Dennis Quaid, Clancy Brown, Charles S. Dutton

Movieguy’s Verdict- There wasn’t a sports movie cliché this film didn’t contain. Racial tensions were portrayed in the typical sports movie way and the dynamic between characters was as standard as you can get. They even made one of the main character’s teammates into a bad guy for good measure. The writing, characters, motivational speeches and situations were as clichéd as they come, incorporating every sports movie stereotype in existence. All of this was set to the same Hollywood soundtrack that every sports movie has. Performances from Rob Brown and Dennis Quaid were solid despite the lazy screenplay. I was impressed with Gary Fleder’s direction of the film. While nothing was original, he captured the mood of the time with good camerawork and a fine visual presence overall. Since all sports movies are alike, my standard rating is two stars provided the acting is good. The performances were solid in this film, so it gets two stars. Honestly, did we really need another sports movie?

4) Saw V
Plot- Forensics expert Hoffman goes on the hunt in order to prevent being identified as the newest person to carry on Jigsaw’s legacy. (imdb.com)

Directed by- David Hackl

Written by- Patrick Melton (Feast II: Sloppy Seconds, Saw IV, Feast), Marcus Dunstan (Feast II: Sloppy Seconds, Saw IV, Feast)

Starring- Scott Patterson, Costas Mandylor, Tobin Bell, Betsy Russell, Julie Benz, Meagan Good, Mark Rolston, Carlo Rota, Greg Bryk, Laura Gordon

Movieguy’s Verdict- At this point there is no one who can possibly argue that this series is still alive. In Lionsgate’s pitiful attempt to keep this cash cow well fed, we’ve been subjected to three completely useless displays of pointless gore. The only positive quality of the film was its decent camerawork and visual effects, but beyond that, it was totally worthless. The “story” was laughable and extremely predictable. It was identical to the last three films in that it simply found different ways to torture people. Those scenes have gotten progressively more over the top and blatantly stupid, and horrible acting in this film only made things worse. With no story left to tell and no actors willing to participate in this dead series, only visual effort is left as a potential positive. This was the very definition of a time waster.
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1-13-09

1) Appaloosa
Plot- A pair of lawmen out to save a Western town from a rancher’s tyrannical reign find their bond, and their mission, tested by the arrival of a double-dealing widow. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Ed Harris (Pollack)

Written by- Robert Knott, Ed Harris

Starring- Ed Harris, Viggo Mortensen, Renée Zellweger, Jeremy Irons, Timothy Spall, Timothy V. Murphy

Movieguy’s Verdict- Ed Harris’ directorial debut, “Pollack,” was fantastic, though I really can’t say the same about this film. Harris leaned heavily on the very highly exaggerated good vs. bad themes that make most westerns all basically all alike. The characters appeared one-dimensional at times, but thorough performances from Harris, Viggo Mortensen and Jeremy Irons created depth that the screenplay failed to establish. The film was extremely slow overall, depending on a problematic romantic subplot to inch it along. Overall, practically every element of Harris’ direction tried way too hard to imitate the forced stoicism of the typical western. Despite good acting most of the film simply trudged along until the last half hour, which incorporated the brilliant ideas, themes and symbolism the rest of the film should have had. This last portion achieved a level of complexity and thought-provoking beauty that would make for an instant classic had it sustained. This left us with a reminder of how brilliant the film should have been after a lengthy showing of how disappointing it truly was.

2) Brideshead Revisited
Plot- Charles Ryder, an officer in the British Army during WWII, looks back on his pre-war dalliances with his Oxford schoolmate, Sebastian Flyte, and his equally beguiling sister, Julia, at their family’s lavish estate. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Julian Jarrold (Some Kind of Life, Kinky Boots, Becoming Jane)

Written by- Jeremy Brock (Mrs. Brown, Charlotte Gray, Driving Lessons, The Last King of Scotland), Andrew Davies (Consuming Passions, Circle of Friends, The Tailor of Panama, Bridget Jones’s Diary, Boudica, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason)

Starring- Matthew Goode, Ben Whishaw, Patrick Malahide, Hayley Atwell, Michael Gambon, Joseph Beattie

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was a film that had more positive qualities than negative ones, but unfortunately, its flaws were simply too much to overcome. It was based on a long-running British TV series which gave writers Jeremy Brock and Andrew Davies plenty of material to build rich and interesting characters. The screenplay showcased strong and dynamic characters who were skillfully played by a talented cast. Matthew Goode was excellent in his leading role, capturing the delicate and cautious dispositions of his character with great care. Ben Whishaw was also phenomenal in his supporting role, as were the many other members of this great cast. Julian Jarrold’s direction captured the beauty of the scenery, and the writing featured plenty of social commentary and subtle psychological character development. The problem was that the film had no story to speak of. Not even Goode’s soulful and reflective performance could disguise the fact that the characters were aimlessly drifting about with no focus of any kind. The film was supposed to establish Brideshead (an estate) as a living, breathing character that would serve as the epicenter of all the characters’ discoveries, growth and disappointments. The writing and direction completely failed to accomplish this. The film dragged on and on ultimately achieving nothing. What a huge disappointment this was considering the skill and passion with which it was made.

3) Mirrors
Plot- An ex-cop and his family are the target of a evil force that is using mirrors as a gateway into their home. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Alexandre Aja (The Hills Have Eyes)

Written by- Alexandre Aja (The Hills Have Eyes, P2), Grégory Levasseur (The Hills Have Eyes, P2)

Starring- Kiefer Sutherland, Paula Patton, Amy Smart, Cameron Boyce, Erica Gluck, Jason Flemyng

Movieguy’s Verdict- Alexandre Aja began this film with an intense opening sequence that helped to establish a genuinely creepy atmosphere. His dark and eerie direction used special effects and lighting well to heighten suspense and help build mystery. The film’s problems began with Kiefer Sutherland’s performance, which was marred by his extremely exaggerated reactions to the slightest event. The writing was fairly typical of the genre, wasting time on a few unnecessary characters and never really achieving much intelligence. Though Aja did try to keep a creepy and dark feel with a few good visual ideas, numerous plot holes and a terribly cheesy climax made the last half of the film pretty poor overall. Aja’s lack of foresight and complete inability to develop this story was disappointing for two reasons. Firstly, it’s just sloppy filmmaking. Secondly, the final scene of the film was brilliant, showing that there was a truly excellent concept buried in the awful screenplay.

4) My Best Friend’s Girl
Plot- Tank makes a living as an uncouth womanizer hired by guys who want their girlfriends or wives to reconsider leaving them. But what happens when his behavior has the opposite effect on Alexis, the love of his best friend’s life? (imdb.com)

Directed by- Howard Deutch (The Whole Ten Yards, The Replacements, Family Affair, The Odd Couple II, Grumpier Old Men, Getting Even with Dad, Article 99, The Great Outdoors, Some Kind of Wonderful, Pretty in Pink)

Written by- Jordan Cahan

Starring- Kate Hudson, Dane Cook, Jason Biggs, Alec Baldwin, Diora Baird, Lizzy Caplan

Movieguy’s Verdict- The energy that Dane Cook brings to his standup routine sometimes translates to his films, but their content is usually so immature and poorly conceived that in the end it seldom matters. In this film, Cook had good energy and attempted a quick pace in his deliveries, but because the dialogue was so poorly written, his efforts appeared as forced, contrived and exaggerated as the film’s “girls love jerks / nice guys finish last” theme. Jason Biggs was the only believable character present. The rest were forced and over the top, riding the fumes of bad writing that was rarely funny and never creative. Even still, the writers did make the attempt to develop Cook’s character, but the story was flawed in too many was for it to make much of a difference. This wasn’t a painfully bad film; it just wasn’t a very good one.

5) Swing Vote
Plot- When Bud Johnson goes to cast his vote for the next U.S. president, a glitch affects his ballot, and protocol allows him to make up his mind at his own discretion. It turns out however that his single vote will determine the presidency. With the entire nation focused on his every move — and, of course, his pending decision — will the admittedly lazy Bud make an informed choice? (imdb.com)

Directed by- Joshua Michael Stern (Neverwas)

Written by- Jason Richman (Bad Company), Joshua Michael Stern (Neverwas)

Starring- Kevin Costner, Madeline Carroll, Paula Patton, Kelsey Grammer, Dennis Hopper, Nathan Lane, Stanley Tucci, George Lopez, Judge Reinhold, Molly Johnson

Movieguy’s Verdict- Madeline Carroll delivered an excellent performance in a confused and poorly constructed film. Kevin Costner did appear to capture the essence of his lazy and mistake prone character, but on further reflection, it was clear that his performance required no effort whatsoever and could have been done by anyone. The film’s political commentary was displayed in a blunt and obvious fashion with no intelligence or creativity of any kind. Joshua Michael Stern and Jason Richman adopted a slow and lackadaisical pace to a film what was quite dull and uneventful overall. Though there was a general message, the characters were inconsistent and the narrative was very confused. After 90% of the film was completely uneventful, an emotional final scene indicated that there should have been much more to this story. Doesn’t it seem like every film this week followed this trend? This movie wasted a good cast and if it weren’t for Carroll, would have been a total loss.

6) The Family That Preys
Plot- Faced with a series of secrets and scandals that are threatening to tear their respective families apart, old friends Charlotte Cartwright and Alice Pratt embark on a cross-country road trip in hopes of finding a way to end the drama and rebuild their familial connections. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by the King of Clichés and Stereotypes- Tyler Perry (Diary of a Mad Black Woman, Madea’s Family Reunion, Daddy’s Little Girls, Why Did I Get Married?, Meet the Browns)

Starring- Alfre Woodard, Sanaa Lathan, Rockmond Dunbar, KaDee Strickland, Cole Hauser, Taraji P. Henson, Robin Givens, Tyler Perry, Kathy Bates

Movieguy’s Verdict- It really doesn’t get much worse than a Tyler Perry movie, and this was a very good representation of his complete lack of talent. The film’s situations and characters were blatant and obvious as always, though the setting did not seem as flimsy and cheap as it usually does in these movies. Perry always uses ultra-cheesy music to serve as the backdrop for his soap opera-like unprofessional corniness, and was true to form with this film’s soundtrack. Though it was horribly written and extremely transparent, the film managed to get solid supporting performances from Cole Hauser and Kathy Bates. Perry injected religious and social prejudices where they didn’t belong (as he always does) and his trashy dialogue merely enhanced the sappiness that engulfs his movies. Everyone should know by now to stay far away from Tyler Perry!
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1-6-09

1) Babylon A.D.
Plot- A veteran-turned-mercenary takes a high-risk assignment where he must escort a woman out of Russia. His client, however, is carrying a deadly secret. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Mathieu Kassovitz (Gothika)

Written by- Mathieu Kassovitz, Joseph Simas

Starring- Vin Diesel, Michelle Yeoh, Mélanie Thierry, Gérard Depardieu, Carlotte Rampling, Mark Strong, Lambert Wilson

Movieguy’s Verdict- I suppose no on really knows that to expect from a Vin Diesel movie, but this film would have turned out exactly the same regardless of the cast. I liked the post-apocalyptic vision Mathieu Kassovitz brought to the film. He deserves a great deal of credit because the dark, vicious and dreary world he created was actually much more complex than one might expect. The film had a strong sci-fi feel to it and Diesel’s solid performance added good intensity. There was naturally a good bit of action, but most of these sequences were exaggerated and quite put on. Overall though, Kassovitz and co-writer Joseph Simas crafted a good sci-fi story with interesting characters and promising ideas. This did not last through the entire film, as the story and characters completely fell apart in the last 1/3rd. The film grew increasingly exaggerated and tried to reach for concepts that simply weren’t there. Diesel and Michelle Yeoh gave good performances, and it had plenty of good ideas and imagery, but simply didn’t know how to finish.

2) Bangkok Dangerous
Plot- A hitman in Bangkok to pull off a series of jobs falls for a local woman and bonds with his errand boy. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Oxide Pang Chun, Danny Pang (The Messengers)

Written by- Jason Richman (Bad Company, Swing Vote)

Starring- Nicolas Cage, Charlie Yeung, Shahkrit Yamnarm, Panward Hemmanee

Movieguy’s Verdict- I’m not a fan of this film’s rather clunky title, but its dark and raw direction gave it an edge which was temporarily captivating. Ultimately, script problems, plot holes and character flaws neutralized its potential. Nicolas Cage was a solid choice for his part, but was never able to give a credible performance due to Jason Richman’s numerous deficiencies in character and plot development. Cage had some brooding intensity early on, but the various transitions of his character didn’t seem at all credible. The Pang brothers incorporated great visual ideas into their direction which properly captured the setting with symbolism brought out by great camerawork, lighting and editing. The film’s quasi tender romantic sub-plot added a good level of emotional confusion to the film, but was fundamentally flawed like the rest of the screenplay. Bringing things to a close was a poorly handled and rather cheesy fight sequence which was actually the perfect ending to such a disappointing film with no storytelling ability.

3) Righteous Kill
Plot- Two veteran New York City detectives work to identify the possible connection between a recent murder and a case they believe they solved years ago; is there a serial killer on the loose, and did they perhaps put the wrong person behind bars? (imdb.com)

Directed by- Jon Avnet (88 Minutes)

Written by- Russell Gewirtz (Inside Man)

Starring- Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Carla Gugino, Curtis Jackson, John Leguizamo, Donnie Wahlberg, Brian Dennehy, Trilby Glover, Alan Rosenberg, Melissa Leo

Movieguy’s Verdict- I don’t know anyone who thinks the idea of Robert De Niro and Al Pacino together on screen isn’t a great idea, but when you add completely inept writing and substandard direction to the mix, even two of the world’s greatest actors can’t fix it. Though both performances were technically good, De Niro clearly played the stronger character and was much more involved in the film than Pacino, who contributed little more than an uninspired performance. Though Jon Avnet went for a dark and ominous style of direction, his handling of the film was as flawed as the story itself. Though it had plenty of interesting elements to it, the film was as predictable as they come, with the “surprise” ending highly telegraphed from the beginning. Ignoring the predictability for a moment, Russell Gewirtz and Avnet did attempt to build the story without cheap thrills or clichés, but everything was so highly telegraphed that this film was completely forgettable. Supporting performances from John Leguizamo and Donnie Wahlberg were one of the film’s best features, but otherwise this was a forgettable misallocation of talent.

4) Pineapple Express
Plot- After mega-stoner Dale Denton witnesses a corrupt cop commit a murder, he and his dealer hit the road in an attempt to outrun the squad of police officers who want them dead. (imdb.com)

Directed by- David Gordon Green (Writer and Director of: George Washington, All the Real Girls, Undertow, Snow Angels)

Written by- Seth Rogen (Superbad, Drillbit Taylor), Evan Goldberg (Superbad)

Starring- Seth Rogen, James Franco, Danny R. McBride, Kevin Corrigan, Craig Robinson, Gary Cole, Rosie Perez, Ed Begley Jr., Nora Dunn, Amber Heard

Movieguy’s Verdict- First of all, why did David Gordon Green direct this movie? His films contain a style and artistic grace that this project had no use for. His direction did capture the mood of the film and the drug addled haze in which the characters lived, but I think just about anyone could have done exactly what he did. Seth Rogen and James Franco looked their parts and had good chemistry together, though Francy easily stole the show with what turned out to be a very good performance. With better writing, these two could have created a stoner comedy for the ages. Though the comedy was minimal, there were a few hilarious scenes which prevented things from dragging along monotonously. In an odd sort of way, the film was entertaining despite lacking consistent comedy and a decent plot. That all changed with a 30 minute firefight/action sequence during which Rogan was not wearing pants. The stupidity of this ludicrous and fantastically moronic last 30% of the film absolutely ruined everything it tried to accomplish – and made it painful on top of that.

5) Ping Pong Playa
Plot- A kid dreams of playing professional basketball in order to escape his dead-end job, living in the suburbs, his bossy older brother and running his Mom’s ping pong classes. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Jessica Yu (The Living Museum, In the Realms of the Unreal, Protagonist)

Written by- Jimmy Tsai, Jessica Yu (The Living Museum, In the Realms of the Unreal, Protagonist)

Starring- Jimmy Tsai, Roger Fan, Shelley Malil, Jim Lau, Elizabeth Sung

Movieguy’s Verdict- While this film wasn’t as awful as “Balls of Fury,” it had no good qualities. If there was a contest to see who could give the most outwardly obnoxious performance, it would be hard to find a more deserving winner than Jimmy Tsai. Tsai’s character was supposed to be annoying and mostly unlikable, but there’s a difference between playing an obnoxious character and giving a completely unwatchable performance. This distinction was apparently lost on Tsai whose antics went well past insufferable after 10 minutes. An additional annoyance was that someone decided to edit the film’s profanity using basketball sound effects in order to maintain a PG-13 rating. Imagine sitting through 90 minutes of that. Furthermore, the screenplay contained very little comedy or promising ideas of any sort, floating along with one scene of Tsai’s over-the-top antics after another. Aside from the lack of comedy, the story was as clichéd as your typical sports movie. Jessica Yu is a documentary filmmaker who won an Oscar for a 1997 live action short, and it would be advisable for her to stick with documentaries.
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12-30-08

1) The Women
Plot- Happily married Mary finds her world shaken when she discovers that her husband is cheating on her — and she was pretty much the last to know. Crying, divorce, recriminations, and revenge follow. Based on the 1939 classic. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Diane English

Starring- Meg Ryan, Eva Mendes, Annette Bening, Debra Messing, Jada Pinkett Smith, Bette Midler, Candice Bergen, Carrie Fisher, Cloris Leachman, Debi Mazar, India Ennenga

Movieguy’s Verdict- If you want to talk about a remake we didn’t need, you absolutely have to start here. The film made no effort to establish any semblance of a story early on, and the non-existent narrative made this a remarkably dull movie. Situations that were natural and true to life were turned into disjointed, winy gossip sessions in which the characters complained incessantly about their struggles. A film like this must establish strong a psychological connection to the characters with strong, dynamic performances and excellent writing. This film didn’t come close to either one. Performances were passable, though the writing was so painfully dull that strong acting was impossible. There were some sporadically decent performances filtered in, but other than that, it couldn’t sustain even the slightest bit of interest. This was the epitome of boredom, and it should never be seen; they covered all of this material better on the “Sex and the City” TV series anyway.

2) The House Bunny
Plot- A Playboy bunny who was recently booted from the mansion winds up becoming the new house mother for a sorority in jeopardy. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Fred Wolf (Writer of: Black Sheep, Dirty Work, Joe Dirt, Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star, Strange Wilderness; Director of: Strange Wilderness)

Written by- Karen McCullah Lutz (Legally Blonde, Ella Enchanted, She’s the Man), Kirsten Smith (10 Things I Hate About You, Legally Blonde, Ella Enchanted, She’s the Man)

Starring- Anna Faris, Colin Hanks, Emma Stone, Kat Dennings, Katharine McPhee, Rumer Willis, Kiely Williams, Hugh Hefner, Christopher McDonald, Beverly D’Angelo

Movieguy’s Verdict- The first 15-20 minutes of this film featured some genuinely funny writing, perfectly blending Anna Faris’ ditziness with the clever way characters and situations were introduced. Writers Karen McCullah Lutz and Kristen Smith had, for the briefest of moments, created a very clever environment in which the characters essentially made fun of themselves. Sadly, it was not to last. The off-the-wall charm gave way to a series of highly exaggerated situations, heavily reduced comedic content and moronic plot developments. The film was well acted though, with Faris, Emma Stone, Kat Dennings and others giving surprisingly solid performances. Still, the exaggerated, childish and misguided silliness that took over was even more disappointing after such a promising beginning. Ultimately, it ended up as badly as the trailers made it out to be.
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12-23-08

1) Burn After Reading
Plot- A disk containing the memoirs of a CIA agent ends up in the hands of two unscrupulous gym employees who attempt to benefit from the discovery. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Ethan and Joel Coen (Blood Simple., Crimewave, Raising Arizona, Miller’s Crossing, Barton Fink, The Hudsucker Proxy, Fargo, The Big Lebowski, The Naked Man, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, The Man Who Wasn’t There, Intolerable Cruelty, The Ladykillers, No Country for Old Men)

Starring- Brad Pitt, Frances McDormand, George Clooney, John Malkovich, Tilda Swinton, Richard Jenkins, David Rasche, J.K. Simmons

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was an odd project for the Coen brothers to follow the Academy Award-winning smash hit “No Country for Old Men,” and I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. The Coens have a fantastic ability for comedy that they seldom showcase, and that was indeed on display here. Though the film was not an outright comedy, the script was filled with quick witted biting humor that was enhanced by quick delivery from the actors. The story had tremendous oddness to it, and the more bizarre it was, the more engrossing it ultimately became. The film had a fantastic cast filled with fantastic performances. George Clooney was at the forefront of this trend, delivering a quirky and highly entertaining performance of a very odd character. Brad Pitt, John Malkovich, Frances McDormand and others were absolutely phenomenal. The Coen brothers directed with tremendous personality and great detail, carefully developing each scene and character with remarkable creativity and style. Though there was definite whimsy present, this film had a very dark edge, which was aided by fantastic ending. This was a film you have to see, especially if you have a flair for the bizarre.

2) Ghost Town [to be released on 12/27]
Plot- Bertram Pincus dies for a seven-minute period during his routine colonoscopy, then awakens to realize he has gained the ability to see and communicate with ghosts. Problem #1: He never had people skills, in life or in death. Problem #2: His ghostly patron, Frank Herlihy, pesters him into meddling with the impending marriage of his widow, Gwen, who lives in Bertram’s building and isn’t necessarily his number-one fan. (imdb.com)

Directed by- David Koepp (Secret Window, Stir of Echoes, The Trigger Effect)

Written by- David Koepp (Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Zathura, War of the Worlds, Secret Window, Spider-Man, Panic Room, Stir of Echoes, Snake Eyes, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, Mission: Impossible, The Shadow, The Paper, Carlito’s Way, Jurassic Park, Death Becomes Her), John Kamps (The Borrowers, Zathura)

Starring- Ricky Gervais, Greg Kinnear, Téa Leoni, Kristen Wiig

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film’s plot looked quite corny and I really didn’t expect much from it, but I was simultaneously surprised and impressed with its quality and personality. Ricky Gervais had a tremendous presence and gave a funny, well-crafted performance that was actually more complex than you might expect. Greg Kinnear tried a little too hard but was still decent overall. The screenplay was the movie’s most impressive feature. David Koepp and John Kamps developed characters and situations with care and thoughtful creativity, allowing for a good emotional connection between the characters. In his direction and writing, Koepp allowed humor to improve as the film progressed, which gave Gervais the opportunity to make excellent comedic decisions which were consistently backed by clever writing. All of this led to an ending that was simply perfect- then Koepp ruined it! If you watch it, you’ll see how. But Koepp redeemed himself with a fabulous last line. Watch this film- it will surprise you.

3) Death Race
Plot- Former NASCAR champ Jensen Ames is framed for the murder of his wife, and subsequently sent to a notorious prison overseen by a warden who has created the country’s most popular sport: a kill-or-be-killed car race in which her inmates compete for their freedom. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Paul W.S. Anderson (Mortal Kombat, Event Horizon, Soldier, Resident Evil, AVP: Alien vs. Predator)

Starring- Jason Statham, Joan Allen, Tyrese Gibson, Ian McShane, Natalie Martinez, Max Ryan, Jason Clarke, Jacob Vargas

Movieguy’s Verdict- From its trailers and plot, this film was basically identical to the cheap wrestling vehicle “The Condemned.” The stupidity of that film was thankfully absent from this movie, though there were more than enough overly macho, alpha male conventions to go around. The best part of the film was its visual presentation. Paul W.S. Anderson put great effort into making car races suspenseful and fast paced. He crafted the races like a modern racing videogame, which have a tendency to be exciting and quite addictive. His camerawork was stylish, and even lighting was used effectively. Jason Statham is wildly inconsistent, but he was vastly improved from his dreadful “Transporter” form this time around. Though he did enhance the film’s overly macho feel, he played his character well and managed the film with as much skill and style as the screenplay allowed. The writing included a few plot holes and had a penchant for being over the top, but the direction made it all feel quite engaging, and surprisingly interesting. Supporting acting was a wash with Tyrese Gibson and Natalie Martinez giving poor performances of terrible characters, but Ian McShane gave a good performance of a clichéd character. In all, if you’re looking for a fun 70’s style remake, this should do it.

4) The Duchess [to be released on 12/27]
Plot- A chronicle of the life of Georgiana Cavendish, the 18th century aristocrat who endured a difficult marriage to the Duke of Devonshire, and was known for her beauty, political maneuvers, and gambling indulgences. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Saul Dibb (Bullet Boy)

Written by- Jeffrey Hatcher (Casanova), Anders Thomas Jensen, Saul Dibb (Bullet Boy)

Starring- Keira Knightley, Ralph Fiennes, Dominic Cooper, Charlotte Rampling, Hayley Atwell, Simon McBurney, Aidan McArdle

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film featured another brilliant performance from Keira Knightley, who is likely to be nominated for an Oscar in a few months. Her exquisite performance was as delicate and powerful as anything you’ll see. Even her slightest glance spoke volumes about her character’s state of mind. Despite Knightley’s monster showing, the rest of the performances were rather pedestrian, mostly because the screenplay contained extremely telegraphed and clichéd supporting characters. The majority of the film was extremely slow, predictable and mostly uneventful. Saul Dibb and company did nothing to disguise the fact that the film was filled with very typical period piece themes and situations. The film’s atmosphere was enhanced significantly by Dibb’s beautiful and picturesque direction, and magnificent costumes. Though the first 80% of the film was particularly dull despite Knightley’s performance, emotional power and intensity did increase near the end. The screenplay needed work, but Knightley saved it from mediocrity.

5) Eagle Eye [to be released on 12/27]
Plot- Two strangers become the pawns of a mysterious woman they have never met, but who seems to know their every move. Realizing they are being used to further her plot for a political assassination, they must work together to outwit the woman before she has them killed. (imdb.com)

Directed by- D.J. Caruso (The Salton Sea, Taking Lives, Two for the Money, Disturbia)

Written by- John Glenn, Travis Wright, Hillary Seitz (Insomnia), Dan McDermott

Starring- Shia LaBeouf, Michelle Monaghan, Rosario Dawson, Billy Bob Thornton, Anthony Mackie

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film is the very definition of a guilty pleasure, because it doesn’t hold up to even the most cursory scrutiny or analysis. Shia LaBeouf’s tremendous personality, style and acting talent has singlehandedly saved many Hollywood blockbusters, and while his performance had great energy and presence as always, even he couldn’t save this one. Billy Bob Thornton provided a good supporting performance, though Michelle Monaghan was somewhat forgettable. D.J. Caruso began his career well with “The Salton Sea,” but has since failed to live up to his potential. His direction in this film was quite poor. Terrible camerawork prevented the film’s action sequences from reaching their full effect, and his overly Hollywood presentation made the story feel excessively superficial. That last point was accentuated due to the fact that the story was loaded with plot holes, gaps in logic and countless other flaws. There were times when the film was both exciting and suspenseful, but there were almost constant reminders of its problems. This film had a good premise and should have been a very compelling thriller. Instead it was exciting at times, but extremely flawed.

6) 99 Pieces
Plot- When Joshua Licet wakes up with his wife missing he must decide whether to lock himself in his house for forty days and 40 nights of torture or to leave her to die. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Anthony Falcon

Starring- Anthony Falcon, Lauren DeLong, Devyn Falcon

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film was a blatant and extremely forced copy of “Saw.” Every aspect of the film tried too hard, starting with a frantic and senseless editing style which looked like something Tony Scott would try. Anthony Falcon’s screenplay was horrible as well, combining awful dialogue with a story laden with plot holes. His direction wasn’t much better. I can’t say whether Anthony Falcon or Lauren DeLong gave the worst performance, but both were so dreadfully inept it’s basically irrelevant. It should be said that the film had some good ideas, but the complete lack of talent in every aspect of its presentation and creation made ideas completely insignificant. Also, the film had no suspense whatsoever, nor did it foster any connection to the characters. Let’s hope Anthony Falcon didn’t quit his day job.
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12-16-08

1) Traitor
Plot- FBI agent Roy Clayton heads up a conspiracy investigation which initially identifies a prime suspect: Samir Horn, a former special ops officer with strong ties to Afghan rebels in the Middle East. As Clayton chases Horn around the world, however, a tangled web of contradictory evidence is revealed. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Jeffrey Nachmanoff (Writer of: The Day After Tomorrow; Director of: Hollywood Palms)

Starring- Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Saïd Taghmaoui, Neal McDonough, Aly Khan, Archie Panjabi

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film was one of the highly underrated successes of the year. Don Cheadle led the way with a strong, multi-faceted performance which perfectly matched the overall atmosphere and thought-provoking tone of the film. Jeffrey Nachmanoff took a huge chance with the way he wrote and directed his film, sacrificing easy thrills for a slow and exacting pace which delivered quite a bit in the end. His handing of the film allowed the story and characters to develop perfectly in a highly realistic environment. Excellent supporting performances were led by Guy Pearce and Saïd Taghmaoui. Pearce’s tightly wrapped character added good personality to an always building story. I loved how the film gained complexity and excitement as it went along, adding a well placed psychological component which united the narrative and its multi-faceted story. In all, this was a well made film which delivered in many ways. If you’re looking for intelligent filmmaking, definitely don’t miss this one.

2) The House Bunny
Plot- A Playboy bunny who was recently booted from the mansion winds up becoming the new house mother for a sorority in jeopardy. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Fred Wolf (Writer of: Black Sheep, Dirty Work, Joe Dirt, Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star, Strange Wilderness; Director of: Strange Wilderness)

Written by- Karen McCullah Lutz (Legally Blonde, Ella Enchanted, She’s the Man), Kirsten Smith (10 Things I Hate About You, Legally Blonde, Ella Enchanted, She’s the Man)

Starring- Anna Faris, Colin Hanks, Emma Stone, Kat Dennings, Katharine McPhee, Rumer Willis, Kiely Williams, Hugh Hefner, Christopher McDonald, Beverly D’Angelo

Movieguy’s Verdict- The first 15-20 minutes of this film featured some genuinely funny writing and Anna Faris’ ditziness blending perfectly with the clever way characters and situations were introduced. Writers Karen McCullah Lutz and Kristen Smith had, for the briefest of moments, created a witty environment in which the characters essentially made fun of themselves. Sadly, it was not to last. Off-the-wall charm eventually became a series of highly exaggerated situations, heavily reduced comedic content and moronic plot developments. The film was well acted however with Faris, Emma Stone, Kat Dennings and others giving solid and entertaining performances. Still, the exaggerated, childish and misguided silliness that took over was even more disappointing after such a promising beginning. Thankfully it wasn’t as bad as the trailers made it out to be, but it was close enough.

3) The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
Plot- In the Far East, trouble-seeking father-and-son duo Rick and Alex O’Connell unearth the mummy of the first Emperor of Qin — a shape-shifting entity who was cursed by a wizard centuries ago. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Rob Cohen (A Small Circle of Friends, Scandalous, Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story, Dragonheart, Daylight, The Skulls, The Fast and the Furious, xXx, Stealth)

Written by- Alfred Gough (Double Tap, Made Men, Shanghai Noon, Showtime, Shanghai Knights, Spider-Man 2, Herbie Fully Loaded), Miles Millar (Double Tap, Made Men, Shanghai Noon, Showtime, Shanghai Knights, Spider-Man 2, Herbie Fully Loaded)

Starring- Brendan Fraser, Jet Li, Maria Bello, John Hannah, Michelle Yeoh, Luke Ford, Isabella Leong, Russell Wong

Movieguy’s Verdict- Aside from expensive, high quality special effects, this was a complete disaster. Accompanying the infantile characters was an extremely corny Hollywood score that made extra effort to accentuate every scene with an extra layer of cheesiness. Rob Cohen stole some scenes directly from “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom,” and the horrendous writing proved painful in a variety of ways. Characters were aggravatingly dim-witted and the acting was just as poor. Maria Bello’s accent faded in and out like cell phone reception, and Brendan Fraser was even more cartoonish and aloof than he was in “George of the Jungle.” The only performance that was watchable came from Jet Li, who despite a small part, somehow sifted through abominable writing and monumentally over-the-top corniness to lessen the pain factor. The second Mummy film didn’t really need to be made, and neither did this one.

4) Wild Country
Plot- After being forced to give her baby boy up for adoption, Glasgow teenager Kelly Ann decides to go on a cross country hike through the Scottish Highlands with a group of friends. They soon discover that a vicious is picking them off one by one. The group has to kill the creature or be killed themselves. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Craig Strachan (Writer of: Bring Me the Head of Mavis Davis)

Starring- Samantha Shields, Martin Compston, Peter Capaldi, Alan McHugh, Kevin Quinn

Movieguy’s Verdict- This straight-to-DVD movie was a pretty typical horror story overall, dominated with by-the-numbers teen characters and situations. Though Craig Strachan’s writing and direction were neither engrossing nor terrifying, he did just enough to keep your attention. The film’s gore effects were laughable at best, but Strachan’s direction was good for the overall production value. While many of the situations were quite silly, it was clear that Strachan did everything he could to make them exciting. The acting from the teen cast was passable and mostly believable. No performance stood out in this film, which was probably a good thing considering the genre. It was helpful to the juvenile horror plot that the film took place mostly at night, which camouflaged what were probably very flimsy effects. This film was less than 80 minutes long, and it really didn’t waste any time. It’s not a good movie, but it could have been much worse.
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12-9-08

1) The Dark Knight
Plot- The Caped Crusader teams up with Gotham’s Lieutenant Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent to take on the city’s newest villain — The Joker. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Christopher Nolan (Following, Memento, Insomnia, Batman Begins, The Prestige)

Written by- Jonathan Nolan (Memento, The Prestige), Christopher Nolan (Following, Memento, Batman Begins, The Prestige)

Starring- Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Caine, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, Monique Curnen, Ron Dean, Cillian Murphy, Chin Han, Nestor Carbonell, Eric Roberts, Anthony Michael Hall

Movieguy’s Verdict- Along with “Wall-E” and “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas,” this was truly the great masterpiece of 2008. This chapter in Christopher Nolan’s dramatic reinvention of the Batman series was covered in thick character analysis and non-stop plot development. Nolan’s writing was as rich and intelligent as any film you’ll see. Amazingly, the film covered enough material for more than two movies in a perfectly developed epic masterpiece. Christian Bale, despite playing the main character, was overshadowed by Heath Ledger’s Oscar-worthy supporting performance as the Joker. Aaron Eckhart had a surprisingly outstanding showing in one of the film’s pivotal characters. Through the film’s dark, brooding atmosphere and breakneck pace, Nolan established himself as one of the top tier directors alive. He has developed a story and characters which will last forever. Look for this spellbinding film to be nominated (and win) a number of high profile Oscars next year.

2) Man on Wire
Plot- A look at tightrope walker Philippe Petit’s daring, but illegal, high-wire routine performed between New York City’s World Trade Center’s twin towers in 1974, what some consider, “the artistic crime of the century.” (imdb.com)

Directed by- James Marsh (Wisconsin Death Trip, The Team, The King)

Movieguy’s Verdict- I’ll be the first to admit that just reading this film’s plot summary does not exactly make for an enticing documentary to watch. However, from the first scene, it was clear that James Marsh knew exactly how to tell this story and present its many subjects. The passion of the people involved was enormous, and it was easy for the audience to feed off of it. Marsh clearly knew just how to make that passion translate into a captivating film experience, and did so to perfection. The film included a wonderful background score and a pristine visual style that was as elegant as it was simple. There was something about hearing this story told that made it truly majestic. This film created a feeling of awe and wonderment that you just don’t see every day. Marsh created a conduit which fed the passion of the people involved directly to you. Regardless of what the story is about, that’s special when it happens.

3) The Man Who Came Back
Plot- Framed for murder and left for dead, a local legend comes back to make the guilty pay as he seeks revenge of those who killed his family. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Glen Pitre (The Scoundrel’s Wife, Belizaire the Cajun)

Written by- Glen Pitre (Journey Across India, Hurricane on the Bayou, Top Speed, The Scoundrel’s Wife, Belizaire the Cajun), Chuck Walker (Ryder P.I., Mexican Gold)

Starring- Eric Braeden, Billy Zane, Sean Young, Armand Assante, Carol Alt, Jennifer O’Dell, George Kennedy, James Patrick Stuart, Ken Norton, Tajh Bellow, Peter Jason

Movieguy’s Verdict- If it has Armand Assante it must be a classic, right? Maybe not, but he had nothing to do with this film’s many failings. Dripping with typical straight-to-DVD amateurism, it was difficult to take the film seriously through its shabbily assembled costumes and sets. Glen Pitre’s direction was also quite poor, but not as bad as the screenplay, which ran on the fumes of every clichéd western story ever told. The dialogue was clunky and forced like most films in the genre. Despite its amateurism, Pitre and company clearly could have done better than Eric Braeden, who stars on the soap opera “The Young and the Restless.” Braeden showed flashes of acting potential, but his decades as a soap star have all but eradicated any talent he might have once had. Billy Zane’s character had good personality, but his performance was as forced as the rest of the patchwork cast. It was clear to see that a lot of effort went into making this film, but sadly, very little of that effort actually translated into something watchable.
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12-2-08

1) Wanted
Plot- When Wesley Gibson discovers his recently murdered father was an elite assassin, the young man is recruited into his father’s old organization and trained by a man named Sloan to follow in his dad’s footsteps. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Timur Bekmambetov (The Arena)

Written by- Michael Brandt (2 Fast 2 Furious, Catch That Kid, 3:10 to Yuma), Derek Haas (2 Fast 2 Furious, Catch That Kid, 3:10 to Yuma), Chris Morgan (Cellular, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift)

Starring- Angelina Jolie, James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman, Terence Stamp, Thomas Kretschmann, Common, Kristen Hager

Movieguy’s Verdict- Curve the bullet?!?!?! Are you %*#@ing kidding me!?!?!? Between its asinine dialogue and awful action sequences, this was a disaster that failed in every way possible. I’m always up for a good bit of suspended disbelief, but the abilities and skills these terribly conceived characters went well beyond moronic. Like any lower quality Hollywood action film, the script contained loads of unnecessary dialogue. When mixed with the extremely low quality of the writing, the result was catastrophic. The film took the long way around every one of its exaggerated and ridiculous plot developments, though director Timur Bekmambetov and writers Michael Brandt and Chris Morgan did feature a few decent ideas amidst their failures. James McAvoy, a young actor with tremendous potential gave an awful, potentially career-threatening performance. Angelina Jolie and Morgan Freeman, on the other hand, offered the perfect mix of power and grace. Without Jolie’s magnetic presence and raw sex appeal, this might not have been bearable. With plot holes everywhere and as much corniness as could be stuffed into a failed Hollywood blockbuster, this film should never have been made.

2) The X-Files: I Want to Believe
Plot- The case of a missing FBI agent causes Fox Mulder and Dana Scully to assume their former roles and try to solve the mystery. Assisting them on the case is a troubled priest whose psychic visions lead them to their first clue, as well as a pair of seasoned agents. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Chris Carter

Written by- Frank Spotnitz, Chris Carter (The X Files: Fight the Future)

Starring- David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Amanda Peet, Billy Connolly, Xzibit

Movieguy’s Verdict- The X-Files television series had a tendency to spend half a season or so deviating from the show’s main story arcs with isolated episodes that had nothing to do with anything. The first film was a fine continuation of the series and its various conspiracies, but this second film seemed to come out of nowhere, and was little more than an average episode of “CSI.” To be honest, if the film hadn’t been pretended to be part of the X-Files world, I would have liked it more. It began with good intensity and quickly became a solid mystery that moved well with lots of clues. Chris Carter’s inclusion of a dark and snowy setting really helped the atmosphere of the film, and helped to accentuate most of the story’s more disturbing plot elements. In the screenplay, I found the attempt to develop the Mulder and Scully characters laughable and absurd. Similarly, the film really only had one interesting character, played wonderfully by Billy Connolly. Performances by David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson and Amanda Peet were uninspired and forgettable. As the film concluded, it was clear that the plot really wasn’t X-Files material, and the characters were so flawed that any other positive qualities were more or less irrelevant.

3) Step Brothers
Plot- Two spoiled adult men who still live with their parents are pulled into a new sibling rivalry after their respective single parents get married. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Adam McKay (Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby)

Written by- Will Ferrell (A Night at the Roxbury, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby), Adam McKay (Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby)

Starring- Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly, Mary Steenburgen, Richard Jenkins, Adam Scott

Movieguy’s Verdict- Will Ferrell’s comedic inconsistencies continue with this latest disaster. John C. Reilly doesn’t have a comedic bone in his body, which has been so painfully established with “Talladega Nights,” then again with “Walk Hard.” Ferrell took a step in the right direction with “Semi-Pro,” but teaming up with Reilly proved deadly yet again. Though the film did amass a small collection of truly funny sequences, the unrelentingly idiotic personalities of the characters were simply too painful to endure. While Reilly’s performance was ghastly, Ferrell was a few humorous facial expressions away from joining him. It didn’t take long for watching Ferrell and Reilly try so hard to be infantile and immature to become quite tiresome, and considering that the film consisted of 80% forced and inane fluff, this should not be surprising to anyone. Most impressive were the performances of Richard Jenkins and Mary Steenburgen, who managed to shape passable characters and give respectable showings out of a toxic environment. Jenkins even created some humor which I found particularly impressive. In all, the film’s forced immaturity, horrible characters and John C. Reilly made it completely unwatchable.

4) The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
Plot- The Pevensie children return to Narnia one year after their first adventure in the magical land. Soon after entering the kingdom, however, they learn that 1,000 years has passed here, and all is not well since an evil king ascended to the throne. The children and allies both old and new band together to help restore the kingdom to its rightful heir, Prince Caspian. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Andrew Adamson (Director of: Shrek, Shrek 2, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe)

Written by- Andrew Adamson (Shrek 2, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe), Christopher Markus (The Life and Death of Peter Sellers, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, You Kill Me), Stephen McFeely (The Life and Death of Peter Sellers, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, You Kill Me)

Starring- Ben Barnes, Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes, William Moseley, Anna Popplewell, Sergio Castellitto, Peter Dinklage, Warwick Davis, Vincent Grass, Liam Neeson

Movieguy’s Verdict- The first film was a flowery, childish journey into the lucrative world of children’s filmmaking. It was decently acted, but its story and supporting characters were exaggerated and quite poor. This film began quickly and, as children’s fantasy films generally go, was dark and reasonably intense. The story was pretty engrossing and seemed more or less free of the disingenuous cheesiness that made part one so poor. Like most fantasy films for any age group, the evil characters were rather exaggerated, but Andrew Adamson and Stephen McFeely devised a fairly engrossing story that didn’t lean as heavily on expensive CGI as one might expect. Adamson crafted the film’s two major battles very well, and it seemed as though this film was headed for success. Despite average acting, it had excitement and a good story. Then the story ended with about 30 minutes remaining. What occupied this remaining time was a barrage of poorly conceived religious messages. Everyone knows this series is motivated by religious symbolism, but the way Adamson handled the last half hour made the entire 140 minute experience totally unnecessary. If the film was merely a delivery device for such obvious religious content, couldn’t they have made it shorter? Ultimately the characters, story and CGI were all entirely irrelevant to the outcome of the film. This is unacceptable under any circumstances.

5) The Longshots
Plot- Eleven-year-old Jasmine Plummer looks to become the first female to play in the Pop Warner football tournament in its 56-year history. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Fred Durst (The Education of Charlie Banks)

Written by- Nick Santora, Doug Atchison (The Pornographer, Akeelah and the Bee, Spinning Into Butter)

Starring- Ice Cube, Keke Palmer, Tasha Smith, Jill Marie Jones, Dash Mihok, Matt Craven, Glenn Plummer

Movieguy’s Verdict- The story goes that sports movies are a hard sell because they don’t carry overseas appeal. If that’s true, then why are there so many?!? This is the same film you’ve seen 1000 times, except with the added displeasure of Ice Cube’s total lack of acting ability. At least he looked the part. The film featured scene after scene of the same old sports/motivational elements you’ve seen too many times, all guided by Fred Durst, the front man of Limp Bizkit. The film had no personality whatsoever and was quite dull overall. At least pointing out the minor plot holes along the way gave me something to do while watching it.

6) Rise of the Footsoldier
Plot- The film follows the rise and fall of Carlton Leach who went from average hooliganism and gradually became one of the most feared and respected criminals in England.

Directed by- Julian Gilbey (Rollin’ with the Nines, Reckoning Day)

Written by- Julian Gilbey (Rollin’ with the Nines, Reckoning Day), Will Gilbey (Rollin’ with the Nines, Reckoning Day)

Starring- Ricci Harnett, Terry Stone, Craig Fairbrass, Roland Manookian, Coralie Rose, Neil Maskell, Billy Murray, Ian Virgo, Kierston Wareing

Movieguy’s Verdict- If you take an overview of this film, you’ll quickly find that it’s nothing you haven’t seen before. Still, it was impossible to ignore Julian Gilbey’s raw and intense direction. His strong visual style was certainly enough to make a good film, but Julian and Will Gilbey’s screenplay was an empty shell of superficial brutality. The first 20 minutes were spent on one purposeless – albeit whimsically presented – street brawl after another. After this subsided, a predictable storyline and shallow, vacuous characters began to take over. Ricci Harnett and his supporting cast gave perfectly crafted performances, accelerating Julian’s raw and brutal direction. However, the Gilbey’s writing had absolutely no substance and offered no incentive to become interested in the shallow characters. It essentially had no plot to speak of, nor did it make any effort to develop the characters, even Harnett’s. Little more than a stylishly directed delivery device for street fights and random thuggery, I think it’s easy to give this one a pass.
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11-25-08

1) Hancock
Plot- An apathetic, hard-living superhero who has fallen out of favor with the public is approached by a public relations professional, who has ideas as to how he can repair his client’s image. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Peter Berg (Very Bad Things, The Rundown, Friday Night Lights)

Written by- Vincent Ngo (Hostage), Vince Gilligan (Wilder Napalm, Home Fries)

Starring- Will Smith, Charlize Theron, Jason Bateman, Jae Head, Eddie Marsan, David Mattey, Maetrix Fitten, Thomas Lennon

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was a tremendously disappointing film not because the trailers looked full of potential, but because it wasted a great deal of talent and missed numerous opportunities. Despite some decent chunks of humor, the film was quite corny. The film’s biggest problem was Vincent Ngo and Vince Gilligan’s script, which simply was not aggressive enough. They clearly tried too hard to make the film into a superhero action-based romance rather than focusing on the comedy that could have made it a success. With a tendency to be over-the-top and very corny, the film also lacked a distinct identity. Director Peter Berg and the writers had tremendous difficulty figuring out the best way to tell what fragments of a story they were able to piece together. Will Smith fit the part and tried his best, but script and directorial problems hung him out to dry. Charlize Theron was completely wasted with a terrible character, but Jason Bateman put together a good enough performance to almost singlehandedly save the film. He provided great humor and added significant personality to an extremely problematic film. This is not one I’d recommend.

2) Fred Claus
Plot- Santa’s little-known brother, embittered by living in the shadow of his sibling’s spotlight, is forced to move back to the North Pole. (imdb.com)

Directed by- David Dobkin (Clay Pigeons, Shanghai Knights, Wedding Crashers)

Written by- Dan Fogelman (Cars)

Starring- Vince Vaughn, Paul Giamatti, John Michael Higgins, Miranda Richardson, Rachel Weisz, Kathy Bates, Trevor Peacock, Ludacris, Elizabeth Banks, Kevin Spacey

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film came out around this time last year, and no one wanted to see it then, so why would that change now? Beginning with a poorly written backstory for the film’s numerous horribly created characters, this film worked hard to waste an enormously talented cast on a tremendously corny holiday story and 500 pounds of terrible fake snow. The film’s few moments of humor came entirely from Vince Vaughn’s delivery and personality, though his charm expired after about 15 minutes. Paul Giamatti was awful, as were Rachel Weisz and Kevin Spacey. Riddled with corny antics, short jokes stolen from “Elf” and a horrendous score, this film felt like it would never end, but thankfully it did. To be fair, this film had a very good heart and meant well, but it was very difficult to watch.

3) Meet Dave
Plot- Tiny aliens pilot a spacecraft that takes the form of a human, while the captain of the ship jeopardizes his crew and their mission to save their planet when he falls for beautiful earthling. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Brian Robbins (Good Burger, Varsity Blues, Ready to Rumble, Hard Ball, The Perfect Score, The Shaggy Dog, Norbit)

Written by- Rob Greenberg, Bill Corbett

Starring- Eddie Murphy, Elizabeth Banks, Gabrielle Union, Scott Caan, Ed Helms, Kevin Hart, Mike O’Malley, Pat Kilbane, Judah Friedlander, Marc Blucas

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film was as bad as you might expect, though Eddie Murphy did provide some very funny facial expressions in the early stages. Overall, the stupidity of the characters and the film’s sophomoric attempts at political and social commentary made it a pointless and idiotic movie experience. From the wide range of mostly awful multi-character films Murphy has made, this was among the very worst. While Murphy has comedic talent, he has spent decades wasting it with idiotic directors like Brian Robbins and Steve Carr (“Dr. Doolittle 2,” “Daddy Day Care”) who couldn’t write a funny or clever film if their lives depended on it. This movie captures the worst kind of awful, combining the effects of a bad children’s story with the idiotic ramblings and misplaced talents of an Eddie Murphy “comedy.” I’m kind of embarrassed to say I’ve seen it.

4) Dead of Winter
Plot- After leaving a New Years Eve party Kevin and Tiffany find themselves battling the elements as well as inner demons as they try to make their way out of the deep forest. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Brian McNamara

Written by- Robert Egan, Graham Silver

Starring- Al Santos, Sandra McCoy, Don Fischer, Brian McNamara, Ella Joyce, Helene McCardle, Kenneth Swartz

Movieguy’s Verdict- The reason most of these straight-to-DVD horror films are awful is, very simply, because the people who make them aren’t talented enough to come up with a good idea and make it work. Sadly, this had potential, but Brian McNamara and company simply weren’t the right people to bring it to life. Early on, the acting was decent and the ideas seemed to be developing into what could have been a minimalistic horror film. Despite its obviously amateurish feel, McNamara managed to build suspense at the start, but it was not to last. This was one of the most redundant films I’ve ever seen, which turned out to be the main reason it was so bad. McNamara’s direction carried some good imagery and even the performances of Al Santos and Sandra McCoy were passable, but the film literally repeated the same scene over and over for the last hour of its 88 total minutes. This short film managed to rack up plot holes and add an ending that was just too ridiculous to watch. Maybe a talented filmmaker could make a good film out of this story, but as it is, don’t watch this movie.

5) Kemper: The Co-Ed Killer
Plot- A film based on the true story of Ed Kemper, a serial killer who murdered ten in Santa Cruz, CA during the late sixties and early seventies. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Rick Bitzelberger (Embrace the Darkness)

Written by- Jack Perez (The Big Empty, La Cucaracha, Wild Things 2)

Starring- Christopher Stapleton, Robert Sisko, Sean Thomas

Movieguy’s Verdict- There really isn’t much to say about this film. Led by the goofy and often cartoonish of Christopher Stapleton, this wannabe “Zodiac” was a laughable film that was impossible to take seriously. The story began quickly and didn’t waste any time. That would have been a good thing, but it put even more pressure on forced characters, asinine dialogue, and actors who probably shouldn’t be starring in films. Rick Bitzelberger’s thoughtless ‘gore first’ directorial style made the film completely laughable, yet he seemed to take everything so seriously, as if he thought he was making a gritty true crime tale. Bitzelberger needs a reality check, and no one really needs to waste any time on this film.
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11-18-08

1) WALL•E
Plot- A trash-compacting robot who is left alone on a slowly dying planet Earth sets off on an adventure to discover the meaning of life. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Andrew Stanton (Director of: A Bug’s Life, Finding Nemo; Writer of: Toy Story, A Bug’s Life, Toy Story 2, Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo)

Voices by- Ben Burtt, Jeff Garlin, Fred Willard, Sigourney Weaver

Movieguy’s Verdict- Pixar hit a bump in the road with “Cars,” but rebounded in a big way with “Ratatouille.” This latest Pixar project is like nothing I’ve ever experienced. This is a once in a lifetime film, a truly magnificent achievement of visual genius, brilliant characters and symbolism. The film featured almost no dialogue for more than half of its screen time, and this courageous decision allowed for the audience to form an even stronger bond with WALL•E. Let there be no mistake: this was no children’s film. The age of the audience was totally irrelevant due to the intelligence, maturity and layering of the messages, symbolism and stories. It goes without saying that the CGI was breathtaking, and Andrew Stanton used great care to help shape the characters’ subtle and intricately crafted mannerisms. Overall, the film was incredibly engrossing from start to finish, establishing wonderful characters with a fantastic story. This film is a gift. It is a one of a kind treasure that brings out the best filmmaking has to offer. Look for many Oscar nominations and a few well deserved wins in 2009.

2) Gonzo: The Life and Work of Hunter S. Thompson
Plot- A portrait of late writer Hunter S. Thompson. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Alex Gibney (Taxi to the Dark Side, Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room, Behind Those Eyes)

Movieguy’s Verdict- Alex Gibney has made two great documentaries in a row, winning an Oscar with his last film about the Iraq war. That is why I was slightly disappointed with his new film about the complicated genius of Hunter S. Thompson. Make no mistake, if you’re looking for the ultimate informational look at Thompson, look no further. Gibney made sure to include interviews with many important people in Thompson’s controversial life, as well as valuable and rare video footage. Both worked to create a complete and balanced look at Thompson’s many personalities and motivations. The film was directed with visual creativity, though some of Gibney’s effects came off as slightly amateurish for a filmmaker of his caliber. The film’s main problem was its lethargic pace. It was almost as though Gibney’s philosophy was “We’ve got plenty of information to cover, but we’ll get to it, you know, whenever.” I was disappointed in its pace and a slight tendency to be redundant down the stretch, but this is an informative look a one of the great literary geniuses of our time.

3) Tropic Thunder
Plot- While shooting a big-budget war movie, a group of actors are forced to become soldiers in a real-life conflict. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Ben Stiller (Reality Bites, The Cable Guy, Zoolander)

Written by- Ben Stiller (Zoolander), Justin Theroux, Etan Cohen (Idiocracy)

Starring- Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr., Jay Baruchel, Steve Coogan, Nick Nolte, Matthew McConaughey, Tom Cruise

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film began with a clever intro scene to introduce the characters, but its actual opening sequence was reflective of the purposeless and relentless stream of pure stupidity the movie contained. The film’s best feature was Robert Downey Jr., whose energy, impeccable comedic timing and flawless technique made his character the only watchable and enjoyable aspect of the film. The screenplay did craft some admittedly hilarious scenes, but 85% of the film was so bad it made me cringe. Ben Stiller’s acting was mostly forgettable, and Jack Black was awful and unfunny. Aside from Downey Jr., the only other source of comedy came from the film’s marvelous cameo performances by Tom Cruise and Matthew McConaughey. The film tried to be some kind of action spoof, but it failed miserably, wasting a talented cast on mindless exaggeration and pure stupidity. If you want to laugh, stay away from this film. If you think you can stomach it, watch Downey Jr. take a horrible script and carve a great performance out of it.

4) The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2
Plot- Best friends who are having different experiences during their first year of college reunite in a Grecian seaside town in order to locate their missing pair of magical jeans. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Sanaa Hamri (Something New)

Written by- Elizabeth Chandler (A Little Princess, Someone Like You…, What a Girl Wants, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants)

Starring- Amber Tamblyn, Alexis Bledel, America Ferrera, Blake Lively, Rachel Nichols, Tom Wisdom, Rachel Ticotin, Leonardo Nam, Michael Rady, Blythe Danner

Movieguy’s Verdict- Overall, I think it’s fair to say there didn’t need to be a sequel to “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.” This time around, the film never tried too hard to be a warm and funny child-centered romantic comedy, but its problems came from an all-encompassing sense of predictability and total lack of originality. This film was so predictable that I could literally say the lines before the characters did. The very tired, unimaginative and clichéd plot got old very quickly. The performances were neither bad nor good; they were as forgettable and predictable as the rest of the film. Not helping matters was the fact that the film was way too long for its own good with a tendency to circle back onto itself. The only positive trait the film had was that it wasn’t corny or horrendously acted. Other than that, it’s not worth watching.

5) Garden Party
Plot- As April navigates Los Angeles, she falls in with a group of confused kids struggling to chase their dreams. The black widow at the center of this web is a sexy, pot-dealing realtor named Sally St. Clair. Anyone who gets too close falls victim to her kinky entanglements. For some it goes bad, for other worse, but that’s just a day in the life of the Garden Party. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Jason Freeland (Brown’s Requiem)

Starring- Willa Holland, Vinessa Shaw, Richard Gunn, Erik Smith, Alexander Cendese, Christopher Allport, Ross Patterson, Patrick Fischler, Jeff Newman

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was an unknown film that had potential, but sadly never realized it. Jason Freeland created a world with no moral compass and a good atmosphere. In the beginning, the characters seemed interesting enough and they were progressed nicely by Freeland’s writing. Unfortunately, his screenplay was not exactly thoughtful and really didn’t delve into their psychological states of mind. In fact, the acting, directing and writing possessed no psychological or emotional value whatsoever. Early on, Freeland adopted a raw feel that seemed to fit nicely, but the film grew progressively less and less interesting. By the end, you didn’t care about the characters nor did you sense the connection between them as you were supposed to. Ultimately, it just didn’t accomplish much at all.

6) The Devil’s Curse
Plot- After being evicted, a group of people move into an abandoned residence hall for seminary students, only to find it is haunted.

Directed by- Toni Harman

Written by- Alex Wakeford

Starring- MyAnna Buring, Clayton Watson, Stephen Gately, Rhea Bailey, Nathalie Pownall, Vanessa Zachos, Colin Salmon

Movieguy’s Verdict- This trashy straight-to-DVD film was literally a laundry list of the clichés that make horror films bad. Haunted house movies aren’t that common anymore mainly because even the most idiotic studios know they’ve been beaten to death. I guess the people behind this film didn’t get that memo. As poorly written as this film was, I must give credit to Alex Wakeford for figuring out how to include all of the classic horror clichés into his screenplay. Wakeford also created a character named Jock, who made Lloyd Christmas and Harry Dunne seem like Nobel Laureates. Had the film been crafted with a comedic point of view, we might have a very successful spoof on our hands. This would have been a zero star movie across the board, but the performances were not as exaggerated and noticeably awful as most straight-to-DVD horror films tend to be. Obviously, don’t watch this movie.
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11-11-08

1) Hellboy II: The Golden Army
Plot- When the mythical world engages their campaign to take over the Earth, the U.S. government reaches out to the only department staffed to handle the potential catastrophe: The Bureau for Paranormal Research, who once again turns to the demon hero Hellboy and his teammates to stop a merciless dictator from carrying out his plan. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Guillermo del Toro (Cronos, Mimic, Blade II, Hellboy)

Starring- Ron Perlman, Selma Blair, Doug Jones, John Alexander, James Dodd, Seth MacFarlane, Luke Goss, Anna Walton, Jeffrey Tambor, John Hurt, Brian Steele

Movieguy’s Verdict- Guillermo del Toro is a fantastically imaginative and creative visual filmmaker, but a poor storyteller. His brilliantly crafted direction provided a good atmosphere that was wasted on very over the top and cheesy characters, awful Hollywood music and inconsistent acting. The film and its characters did have energetic personalities, but ultimately, everything was so exaggerated and it simply ruined the mood. Del Toro’s intentions were good, but his story was quite poor. It almost seemed as though he didn’t have enough material for a whole movie. Amidst the cheesiness, the film was quite slow and very little happened during the course of the story. Although I did appreciate the film’s clever attempts at humor. Ron Perlman is a career overactor, and he had a tendency to overdo it in this film like most of his others, though he did possess the perfect disposition for his character. Overall, this is a sequel that no one really needed and ultimately accomplished very little.

2) Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Plot- Filling the gap between Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith, this animated tale chronicles the on-going intragalactic battle involving the Jedis of the Republic and the battle droids of the Trade Federation. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Dave Filoni

Written by- Henry Gilroy, Steven Melching, Scott Murphy

Starring- Matt Lanter, Ashley Eckstein, James Arnold Taylor, Tom Kane, Ian Abercrombie, Samuel L. Jackson, Christopher Lee

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was one of the more ridiculous “sequels” I have had the displeasure of viewing this year. The quality of the film’s CGI was high, but the character physics (movements) were graceless and awkward. A loud and overly expressive background score set the tone for a plethora of putrid vocal performances and moronic characters. The film was written with an immense amount of childish exaggeration, appropriate only for 5-year-olds watching a badly produced cartoon series at 5:30 in the morning. Despite the awkward physics, at least the battle scenes were exciting and kept the film from being completely mind-numbing. It also kept a decent pace which helped immensely. The strange thing was, the film seemed to indulge and exaggerate the negative traits that made episodes one, two and three so bad. Needless to say, this was a completely ill-advised waste of time.

3) The Perfect Holiday
Plot- A young girl turns to a department store Santa in the hopes that he will help find a new husband for her divorced mother. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Lance Rivera (The Cookout)

Written by- Lance Rivera, Marc Calixte, Nat Mauldin (Downtown, The Preacher’s Wife, Doctor Dolittle, The In-Laws, Open Season) Jeff Stein

Starring- Morris Chestnut, Gabrielle Union, Faizon Love, Charles Q. Murphy, Katt Williams, Jill Marie Jones, Rachel True, Malik Hammond

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film was an exact replica of hundreds of corny and clichéd holiday films, which were also replicas of “It’s A Wonderful Life.” The film lacked purpose, and as it went through the standard holiday film/romantic comedy motions, it became more and more indiscernible from every bad film in the genre. It did feature comical performances from Katt Williams and Faizon Love, which was essentially the film’s only positive attribute. Morris Chestnut was passable as an “everyman” kind of character, but Gabrielle Union, on the other hand, gave a forced and generally poor performance. With holiday clichés and bad romantic comedy antics aplenty, there is no reason to watch this poorly conceived film.

4) Cruel But Necessary
Plot- The story of Betty Munson’s strange journey of self-discovery and soul-awakening in the traumatic years following the revelation, on videotape, of her husband’s infidelity. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Saul Rubinek

Written by- Wendel Meldrum

Starring- Wendel Meldrum, Mark Humphrey, Luke Humphrey, Fred Goss, Julie Payne, James O’Connel

Movieguy’s Verdict- Much like another release from this week, “The Pink Conspiracy,” this film had a very interesting concept that, in the right hands, could have been very good. Director Saul Rubinek and writer Wendel Meldrum had a number of outstanding ideas, but they weren’t able to put an ounce of substance behind those ideas. Camerawork was a huge part of the story, though at times this prevented the audience from getting to know the characters properly- or even see their facial expressions in many cases. As a result, there really wasn’t much of an opportunity to evaluate acting in the film. I was able to see that the supporting characters were extremely exaggerated, which robbed the film of much of its credibility. Rubinek attempted to create a voyeuristic movie that took you inside the mind of the main character, but the aimless nature of the narrative made it a remarkably dull and emotionless experience.

5) The Pink Conspiracy
Plot- Unlucky in love Dave uncovers a plot in which all the women in his life are working to drive him to insanity. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Brian Scott Miller, Marc Clebanoff (Unspoken)

Starring- Bradley Snedeker, Sarah Thompson, Mercedes McNab, Mackenzie Firgens, Frank Krueger, James Russo, Dayton Callie, Chad Everett, Tricia O’Kelley

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film had a pretty interesting concept, and with clever writing and the right attitude, it might have been a very intriguing black comedy. Unfortunately, the end result was incredibly bad. Two inexperienced and obviously not very talented individuals came together to write and direct this film, and their amateurism ruined any potential the film might have had. I think this was supposed to be a comedy, but the screenplay was written without any humor. Brian Scott Miller and Marc Clebanoff’s writing was as transparent and flimsy as Bradley Snedeker’s terrible leading performance. Supporting performances consisted of a group of women so untalented that soap opera acting would have been a drastic step up. Miller and Clebanoff obviously have some pretty serious issues with women and relationships. However, they apparently do not have the ability to make those issues into a watchable film. This is one you can be confident in passing up, which is something you can actually say about every film of this forgettable DVD release week.
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11-4-08

1) Transsiberian
Plot- A detective hones in on a seemingly innocent American couple aboard a train headed to Russia from China. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Brad Anderson (Next Stop Wonderland, Happy Accidents, Session 9, The Machinist)

Written by- Brad Anderson (Next Stop Wonderland, Happy Accidents, Session 9, The Machinist), Will Conroy

Starring- Emily Mortimer, Woody Harrelson, Ben Kingsley, Kate Mara, Eduardo Noriega, Thomas Kretschmann

Movieguy’s Verdict- Brad Anderson is one of the most talented and highly underrated filmmakers alive. Four years have passed since his brilliant 2004 film “The Machinist,” and I was eagerly awaiting his next project. In his latest film, Anderson placed the audience in the blistering cold and bleakness of the Russian countryside, which framed the mood of the characters and the story perfectly. His direction was appropriately dreary and his camerawork showed the skill and precision of a filmmaker who knew how to get precisely what he wanted. The film was very well acted with Emily Mortimer delivering a powerhouse performance alongside Woody Harrelson, whose aloof and childlike character was an odd, yet welcoming addition to the balance of the film. Ben Kingsley delivered an excellent supporting performance as did Eduardo Noriega. The film also featured a wonderfully haunting score by Alfonso Vilallonga, which perfectly complimented Anderson’s elegantly bleak direction. Anderson and co-writer Will Conroy created strong, dynamic characters who functioned well together, but the film’s first half hour did feel somewhat awkward as it developed a bit too slowly and seemed to bounce around between conflicting philosophies. After that, the cold set in, and Anderson’s skill and brilliant storytelling took over to create a mood that was both chilling and highly suspenseful. However, just as the beginning of the film was awkward, the ending was a bit confused (and predictable) as well. This was disappointing because it felt too conventional for the themes and moods the rest of the film established. Nevertheless, this was a good thriller overall and a solid showing from Anderson and Mortimer.

2) Flashbacks of a Fool
Plot- A fading Hollywood star looks back at the days of his youth as he returns home from his best friend’s funeral. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Baillie Walsh (Mirror, Mirror)

Starring- Daniel Craig, Harry Eden, Eve, Miriam Karlin, Jodhi May, Helen McCrory, Olivia Williams

Movieguy’s Verdict- How many times have you seen this film? I’m sure it’s not as many as the mega clichéd sports underdog story, but it’s certainly up there. Baillie Walsh directed the film very elegantly with pristine camerawork displaying lush and beautifully lit scenery. Walsh captured the moods of the characters with intimacy and remarkable ease. However, the story moved rather slowly, which is to be expected with films of this kind. Daniel Craig was an excellent choice for this part, and played it to perfection. The choices he made were actually quite brilliant, but ultimately lost on a character who was so predictable and overdone that it neutralized the performance to some degree. Harry Eden gave a similarly skilled performance which, like Craig’s, was lost on the predictable nature of the story and characters. Though Walsh does craft a detailed and psychologically accurate film, it doesn’t accomplish anything special or original, and it’s been done too many times to be given the credibility it technically deserves.

3) Get Smart
Plot- Maxwell Smart, Agent 86 for CONTROL, battles the forces of KAOS with the more competent Agent 99 at his side. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Peter Segal (Tommy Boy, My Fellow Americans, Nutty Professor II: The Klumps, Anger Management, 50 First Dates, The Longest Yard)

Written by- Tom J. Astle (Failure to Launch), Matt Ember (Failure to Launch)

Starring- Steve Carell, Anne Hathaway, Alan Arkin, Dwayne Johnson, Terence Stamp, Terry Crews, David Koechner, James Caan, Bill Murray, Patrick Warburton, Masi Oka, Nate Torrence, Ken Davitian

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film more or less represents everything that is wrong with mainstream Hollywood. Set to an overture of immensely corny Hollywood music, this film dove into unwatchable status after the first 20 minutes or so. However, those 20 minutes did feature quick conversations and what amounted to clever comedy. Steve Carell, Dwayne Johnston and others delivered some laughs, but after that it was all downhill. Peter Segal and writers Tom J. Astle and Matt Ember completely abandoned all attempts at comedy (the TV show’s strength) and attempted to make some sort of cheesy action film. With each action sequence significantly worse than the last, and a multitude of elongated scenes that had nothing to do with anything, the film ultimately achieved nothing. Remarkably, Carell and Anne Hathaway actually delivered good performances, which is both shocking and impressive given the circumstances. With an awful story told by ghastly writing and Segal’s abysmal direction, this was a film that should never have been made. What’s very interesting is that the TV series aired from 1965 to 1970, so the film was almost exclusively marketed at people who had never heard of it, let alone seen it. Score another one for those moron executives and their seven figure salaries.
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10-28-08

1) Journey to the Center of the Earth
Plot- A geologist on a special mission with his son discovers the entrance into a previously unseen world. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Eric Brevig

Written by- Michael Weiss, Michael D. Weiss (Disaster, U.S. Seals II, Octopus 2: River of Fear, Death Train, I’ll Always Know What You Did Last Summer, The Butterfly Effect 2), Jennifer Flackett (Madeline, Wimbledon, Little Manhattan, Nim’s Island), Mark Levin (Madeline, Wimbledon, Little Manhattan, Nim’s Island)

Starring- Brendan Fraser, Josh Hutcherson, Anita Briem

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film was released in 3-D, but made very little effort to use this phenomenal effect. In fact, only a few scenes contained anything that was enhanced by 3-D, so it was a definite theatrical disappointment. As for the actual movie, it began by building characters well and establishing the story nicely. Josh Hutcherson provided the only decent performance of the film, with Brendan Fraser overplaying his character rather badly. Eric Brevig did incorporate some good visual ideas along the way, but nothing too impressive overall. In fact, his style was quite conventional. As the film went along, the writers didn’t continue to build the story as they did early on, paving the way for corny action clichés and the sort of wimpy, half-hearted adventure sequences that have all but ruined the children’s adventure genre. The film got cheesier and more predictable along the way, turning out to be a very forgettable movie.

2) Kit Kittredge: An American Girl
Plot- Young Kit Kittredge looks to weigh in on the Great Depression by having the story she’s written about the era published in Cincinnati’s major newspaper. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Patricia Rozema (I’ve Heard the Mermaids Singing, White Room, When Night Is Falling, Mansfield Park)

Written by- Ann Peacock (Country of My Skull, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe)

Starring- Abigail Breslin, Stanley Tucci, Joan Cusack, Glenne Headly, Jane Krakowski, Chris O’Donnell, Julia Ormond, Wallace Shawn, Willow Smith

Movieguy’s Verdict- While this film did show an accurate portrayal of what the Great Depression did to the social structure of the country, this was simply not a good movie. Performances were acceptable overall, though no one really stood out or did anything noteworthy. The film was obviously geared toward children because the writing was overly simplistic and very one dimensional. Patricia Rozema did well to portray the sadness and despair of the depression, but with unsophisticated characters and a very weak story, the content didn’t really serve the setting very well. Overall, I suppose you could say this was a decent child’s adventure, but the children in my theater seemed quite bored.
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10-21-08

1) The Incredible Hulk
Plot- Geneticist Bruce Banner takes flight in order to understand — and hopefully cure — that the condition that turns him into a monster. Complicating his situation is the military initiative that wants him captured and controlled, as well as the arrival of a more-deadly nemesis: The Abomination. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Louis Leterrier (The Transporter, Unleashed, Transporter 2)

Written by- Zak Penn (PCU, Inspector Gadget, Behind Enemy Lines, X2, Incident at Loch Ness, Suspect Zero, Elektra, X-Men: The Last Stand, The Grand), Edward Norton

Starring- Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth, Tim Blake Nelson, Ty Burrell, William Hurt, Christina Cabot, Peter Mensah, Lou Ferrigno

Movieguy’s Verdict- As a result of the success of Christopher Nolan’s new age Batman franchise, other comic series are adapting their films in his image. Though Louis Leterrier is no Nolan, he managed the film in such a way as to not ruin it. Edward Norton’s unassuming, scaled back performance was the film’s best feature. His complete naturalism and devotion to allowing the emotions of the characters to evolve is second only to Christian Bale’s Bruce Wayne. After an excellent opening sequence, the film adapted a very quick, exacting pace that wasted no time. Leterrier’s direction felt awkward and clunky at times and featured way too many close-ups. However, he handled everything but the final action sequence very well and never tried too hard to exaggerate special effects or other exciting scenes. The film wasn’t really dependant on a good script because the story and characters are so self-explanatory, but Zak Penn developed characters very well. The film’s romantic plot was extremely overplayed and pretty awful overall. As I mentioned earlier, Leterrier handled the final action sequence poorly, flooding it with Hollywood cheesiness. Even still, it’s the best Hulk film ever made, and hopefully the next one will be even better.

2) The Strangers
Plot- A couple in a country vacation home are terrorized by three unknown assailants. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Bryan Bertino

Starring- Liv Tyler, Scott Speedman, Kristen McKay, Gemma Ward, Kip Weeks, Laura Margolis, Glenn Howerton

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was the most minimalistic mainstream horror film I’ve ever seen, which turned out to be a blessing and a curse. The direction was very quiet and extremely delicate, creating an atmosphere thick with extreme anticipation. Even though the story was entirely fictional, it was set up like a classic true crime tale, which helped to increase suspense if even just a little bit. The dialogue was very sparse and whispered at times, which created a brilliantly juxtaposed environment of quiet against the terror that was to come. Scott Speedman gave a very good performance while Liv Tyler was somewhat inconsistent. Though Bryan Bertino used imagery and camerawork very effectively, there simply was not enough actual content to keep the film moving. The “strangers,” as it turned out, did very little and merely functioned to repeat the same handful of gestures while fostering apparently larger than life abilities and intelligence. One of the film’s main problems was that the characters behaved rather stupidly in key situations. It seemed that Bertino was actually too careful. His fixation on absolute minimalism led him to ultimately ignore content and logic, never allowing the audience to connect to the events or the characters.

3) Birds of America
Plot- A regular guy struggles with a repressive home and professional life, as well as making amends for the trouble his free-spirited brother and sister cause about town. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Craig Lucas (Writer of: The Dying Gaul, The Secret Lives of Dentists, Reckless, Prelude to a Kiss, Longtime Companion; Director of: The Dying Gaul)

Written by- Elyse Friedman (Suddenly Naked)

Starring- Matthew Perry, Ginnifer Goodwin, Ben Foster, Lauren Graham, Hilary Swank

Movieguy’s Verdict- Matthew Perry’s post-Chandler Bing work has showed promise, and this film was a good representation of that. Perry’s performance was good despite the fact that his character had very little substance. Ben Foster and Ginnifer Goodwin were the real heart of the film, providing the best performances probably because their characters were more carefully created. I was somewhat confused as to why Hilary Swank was in the film, as she played a completely worthless character. Craig Lucas directed the film well, paying good attention to detail and the moods of the characters. He created a good atmosphere for a troubled family with a complicated history, but writer Elyse Friedman failed to develop the characters to their full potential. Still, the film presented interesting situations with good conversations, but ended up dragging toward the end. The storytelling was not as psychologically illuminating as it should have been, and it really didn’t take any chances, but the movie accomplished most of what it needed to despite this shortcoming.
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10-14-08

1) Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Plot- Famed archaeologist/adventurer Dr. Henry “Indiana” Jones is called back into action to stop a Soviet plot to uncover and use ancient artifacts in order to take over the world. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Steven Spielberg

Written by- David Koepp (Zathura, War of the Worlds, Secret Window, Spider-Man, Panic Room, Stir of Echoes, Snake Eyes, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, Mission: Impossible, The Shadow, The Paper, Carlito’s Way, Jurassic Park, Death Becomes Her)

Starring- Harrison Ford, Shia LaBeouf, Cate Blanchett, Karen Allen, Ray Winstone, John Hurt, Jim Broadbent, Igor Jijikine

Movieguy’s Verdict- It would take too long to review the whole series here, but this much hyped film was ultimately a success. It was not without problems however. The film began with a completely useless car chase which kicked off an opening half hour rife with forced exaggeration, terrible acting, horrible character development and basically everything that makes a Hollywood action film bad. After this, the film evolved into a very enjoyable but very flawed film. Steven Spielberg tried to tie the previous films together using some subtle references, which worked nicely. The Harrison Ford definitely showed his age, and crafty special effects (likely most of the $125 million budget) were utilized rather heavily to heighten his abilities. Perhaps the film’s best feature was Shia LaBeouf, who once again took a Hollywood action film to the next level with a strong performance containing tremendous personality and charisma. In spite of his character’s predictability, his talent made the film. The film picked up gradually, gaining intrigue and mystery with interesting storytelling. Though, there were a substantial number of plot holes, numerous unnecessary and poorly developed characters, and action sequences that were simply too ridiculous to watch. The plot had more substance than the other films, and its flaws pretty much mirrored the flaws of the entire series. Nevertheless, if you don’t think about it too much and soak in its most superficial qualities, you’ll find a highly enjoyable experience.

2) War, Inc.
Plot- Hit man Brand Hauser is deployed to the nation of Turaqistan to off an oil minister who is interfering in U.S. interests in the region. Keeping his eyes on his target proves difficult for Hauser since he has to work undercover planning the nuptials of an Turaqi pop star and contending with the affections of a left-wing journalist (imdb.com).

Directed by- Joshua Seftel

Written by- Mark Leyner, Jeremy Pikser (The Lemon Sisters, Bulworth), John Cusack (Grosse Pointe Blank, High Fidelity)

Starring- John Cusack, Joan Cusack, Marisa Tomei, Hilary Duff, Ben Kingsley, Dan Aykroyd, Ned Bellamy

Movieguy’s Verdict- A good political satire is always welcome, and at least this film accomplished that for half of its running time. Though the commentary was fairly obvious, it was still very biting and hilarious when it had to be. I very much enjoyed Joshua Seftel’s fast paced directorial style, which also had creative visual appeal. The writers injected quick, humorous dialogue and plenty of fierce satire, but it wasn’t meant to last. Bizarre characters, off the wall situations and clever writing, were abandoned for a predictable and overblown Hollywood style which abandoned the narrative. Seftel, for whatever reason, included several awful action sequences that were bad enough to belong in a Wesley Snipes movie. John Cusack was perfect for his role and delivered a very good performance, though Marisa Tomei’s terribly clichéd and largely unnecessary character hurt the film considerably. When I heard that Hillary Duff was doing an accent in the film, I was afraid that it would make me want to kill myself. Amazingly, she managed to do a good job with her performance (there’s a first time for everything), which was cleverly written to satirize pop stars just like her. Though ultimately a disappointment, at least it did a few things well.

3) Salt
Plot- When an abusive husband’s twisted extra-marital relationship is exposed, the wife seeks revenge through a cruel and unusual way. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Bradford Tatum (Standing on Fishes)

Starring- Bradford Tatum, Alexandra Wilson, Stacy Haiduk, Judith Hoag

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film had a sadistic edge to it, which I liked, but Bradford Tatum’s awful performance and script problems kept the film from reaching full potential. Though it did feel somewhat amateurish at times, Tatum’s direction tried very hard to be artistic, and succeeded in a few key scenes. This would have been a good film had it not been for Tatum’s horrendous performance of a character so exaggerated and sloppily conceived that even Lifetime would have problems with it. Though Tatum’s screenplay had plenty of good ideas, it a tendency to deviate from its minimalistic narrative, wasting too much time on plots which detracted from the film’s mood. Performances from Alexandra Wilson and Stacy Haiduk were good, but Tatum’s acting and character never allowed the film to become the dark, artistic thriller it could have been.
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10-7-08

1) The Visitor
Plot- College professor Walter Vale travels to New York to attend a conference and finds a young couple — a Syrian man and a Senegalese woman — living in the apartment he keeps there. The surprise leads to unexpected friendships, and a much-needed new lease on life for Vale. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Thomas McCarthy (The Station Agent)

Starring- Richard Jenkins, Haaz Sleiman, Danai Jekesai Gurira, Hiam Abbass, Richard Kind

Movieguy’s Verdict- Thomas McCarthy’s first film, “The Station Agent” was quite well received, and his second effort continued to expand his reputation as one of the most talented filmmakers you’ve never heard of. His direction was beautiful and quiet, capturing the moods of the layered story with precision. His writing built characters well and established an intimate relationship with the main character, who was played marvelously by Richard Jenkins. Jenkins crafted an emotionally thorough and psychologically compelling performance out of the character’s emotional baggage and confusion. This film wasn’t a one man show. Haaz Sleiman, Danai Jekesai Gurira and Hiam Abbass delivered tremendous supporting performances. The relationship between the characters, which was absolutely essential to the film’s success, was also very well constructed by McCarthy’s intelligent writing. The film featured a wonderful score which only further accentuated its carefully constructed moods. Even the film’s title was brilliant and had numerous meanings that functioned on a variety of levels. Needless to say, this was an impressive film that truly needs to be seen.

2) The Happening
Plot- A family is on the run after natural disaster threatens the entire planet. (imdb.com)

Directed by- M. Night Shyamalan (Praying with Anger, Wide Awake, The Sixth Sense, Stuart Little, Unbreakable, Signs, The Village, Lady in the Water)

Starring- Mark Wahlberg, Zooey Deschanel, John Leguizamo, Ashlyn Sanchez, Betty Buckley, Spencer Breslin, Robert Bailey Jr., M. Night Shyamalan

Movieguy’s Verdict- M. Night Shyamalan started his mainstream career with a bang, but audiences have been cooling on him over time. His last film “Lady in the Water” was an out and out disaster. With a better plot and much improved cast, his latest project should have put him back in the public’s good graces. With its eerie beginning, the film seemed ready to both captivate and terrify in a slightly more graphic “Twilight Zone” kind of way. The story contained enormous potential, but almost immediately Mark Wahlberg’s annoyingly childish performance showed that Shyamalan couldn’t properly direct him, and Wahlberg had literally no idea who his character was. Shyamalan’s writing was quite poor overall, with superficial and badly created conversations between terribly developed and mainly non-existent characters. Shyamalan’s visual presentation, camerawork, lighting and editing were all exactly what a top-notch suspense/horror film should be. Unfortunately, the film’s predictable and weak (albeit slightly symbolic) story and childish acting made it one of 2008’s great disappointments.

3) A Very British Gangster
Plot- A documentary about one of Britain’s most dangerous crime families and introduces us to its magnetic, larger-than-life leader, Dominic Noonan (aka- Lattlay Fottfoy). (imdb.com)

Directed by- Donal MacIntyre

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film and its subjects were definitely interesting, but Donal MacIntyre directed and narrated with a degree of amateurism and lack of foresight that neutralized any potential it might have had. The main problem was that MacIntyre did not have a thesis, nor did he appear to have any idea what he was doing. He showed the gangsters and criminals going about their days, which was indeed something the public would find illuminating. Nevertheless, he had no narrative structure of any kind. Furthermore, MacIntyre apparently thought putting popular songs between scenes would establish the moods that he was unable to. About halfway through, the film seemed to shed some of its criminal underworld allure. I did enjoy some of the conversations the gangsters had, but other than that, this really didn’t accomplish very much.

4) You Don’t Mess with the Zohan
Plot- A Mossad agent orchestrates a scenario that will allow him to move to New York City and reinvent himself as a hairstylist. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Dennis Dugan (Problem Child, Brain Donors, Happy Gilmore, Beverly Hills Ninja, Big Daddy, Saving Silverman, National Security, The Benchwarmers, I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry)

Written by- Adam Sandler (Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore, The Waterboy, Big Daddy, Little Nicky, Eight Crazy Nights), Robert Smigel, Judd Apatow (Heavy Weights, Celtic Pride, The 40 Year Old Virgin, Fun with Dick and Jane, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story)

Starring- Adam Sandler, John Turturro, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Nick Swardson, Lainie Kazan, Ido Mosseri, Rob Schneider, Dave Matthews

Movieguy’s Verdict- What does Adam Sandler think about when he decides to make a film like this? What goes through his mind? The film’s stupidity was as relentless as Sandler’s idiotic character who was neither funny nor interesting. There was no comedy to speak of, aside from a couple of light laughs lost in a wasteland of asinine characters, unbearable acting and unyielding stupidity. The movie relied heavily on terrible CGI to make Sandler’s moronic antics come to life, which would have been bad enough. However, its attempt to make some kind socio-political statement was more insulting than anything else. Sandler, Turturro and the rest of the cast gave unwatchable performances in an unbearable disaster that was without question one of the year’s worst.
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9-30-08

1) Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Plot- Peter jets off to Hawaii for a vacation that is supposed to help him deal with his recent break-up with his TV star girlfriend, Sarah. Little does he know Sarah’s traveling to the same resort as her ex … and she’s bringing along her new boyfriend. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Nicholas Stoller (Writer of: Fun with Dick and Jane)

Written by- Jason Segel

Starring- Jason Segel, Kristen Bell, Paul Rudd, Mila Kunis, Russell Brand, Bill Hader, Liz Cackowski, William Baldwin

Movieguy’s Verdict- The Judd Apatow crowd has produced some classics (“The 40-Year-Old Virgin,” “Superbad,”) and some unwatchable flops (“Talladega Nights,” “Walk Hard”). Honestly, this film could have gone either way, but might just end up as the year’s funniest movie. Jason Segel’s performance was perfect. He played a likeable but flawed character whose honesty and Woody Allen-like nuances created a quirky, perverted and hilarious atmosphere. Though many will remember his performance, they should remember his screenplay, which injected the perfect blend of wit, depravity and creativity. The film’s comedy was biting and quick and was enhanced by its very well-crafted situations. Kristen Bell and Paul Rudd rounded out a strong supporting cast, but Russell Brand stole the show with a totally off the wall, yet brilliantly orchestrated performance in a part that could have easily ruined the film if mishandled. Though the direction was good, the film’s editing did a great deal to enhance its humor value. Perhaps the ending lacked realism and could have been reworked, but this was a fantastic comedy and a very authentic film about relationships.

2) Iron Man
Plot- While in captivity, industrialist Tony Stark creates a high-tech suit of armor which he first uses to fight his way to freedom, and then to prevent a dark-minded scientific genius from carrying out his nefarious plot against humankind. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Jon Favreau (Made, Elf, Zathura: A Space Adventure)

Written by- Mark Fergus (Consequence, First Snow, Children of Men), Hawk Ostby (Consequence, First Snow, Children of Men), Art Marcum (Shadow of Fear), Matt Holloway

Starring- Robert Downey Jr., Terrence Howard, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges, Leslie Bibb, Shaun Toub, Faran Tahir, Sayed Badreya, Bill Smitrovich, Clark Gregg, Jon Favreau

Movieguy’s Verdict- I’m sure we’ve seen enough poorly constructed comic book adaptations (“Spider-Man,” “X-Men” etc.) to be very cautious of the next comic series that is thrown on the big screen. I’m pleased to say that this film did exactly what it should have done, and excelled in areas that most comic adaptations have failed. You cannot mention the success of this film without attributing a large part of it to Robert Downey Jr. His natural talent, charisma, style, energy and personality were integral to the film’s quality. Unlike some of the lower caliber comic adaptations, this film featured a solid screenplay, which wasted no time, had no unnecessary dialogue and featured quite a bit of solid humor. There were flaws however, like Downey Jr’s severely overplayed womanizing lifestyle and a general sense of predictability. Perhaps Jon Favreau wasn’t the ideal filmmaker for this project, but he displayed good camerawork, strong technical quality and good creativity. The film’s story was very enjoyable, and interestingly, it did not feature the “take over the world” enemies we’re used to, but a rather pitted the Iron Man character against a believable enemy rooted in conspiracy and greed. The climactic fight scene was unbelievably corny, but this was still a very good film that succeeded where many others have failed.

3) Bigger, Stronger, Faster*
Plot- A documentary filmmaker examines the popularity of steroids in American culture by focusing on his two brothers and their experiences with different performance-enhancing drugs. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Chris Bell

Written by- Chris Bell, Alexander Buono, Tamsin Rawady

Starring- Chris Bell, Mike Bell, Mark Bell

Movieguy’s Verdict- If you follow sports or subscribe to Sports Illustrated, your patience for hearing the same steroid stories over and over again has been entirely exhausted. With that being said however, a documentary about steroid use in America is long overdue. Director Chris Bell uses his family as the backbone for the film’s thesis. At first I thought it was a signal for a low budget and inexperienced filmmaking, but it quickly proved a great decision and ultimately made its arguments so much more compelling. The film provided thought provoking arguments from both sides, and compiled a list of very important interviewees and video clips to help make its many points. Bell’s direction of the film was fantastic as he transitioned beautifully between one idea to the next. The film’s great ideas came out not in carefully written narration or clever graphics, but in the honest opinions of the interviewees. It was consistently interesting, and some of the information was quite shocking. The countless articles and news stories on performance enhancers in sports tend to be quite one sided. I never realized how much until I saw this film’s numerous opinions and points of view; this was truly a very eye-opening experience. In this way, the film was not only a breath of fresh air for the steroid controversy, but had biting commentary on American culture. This is a must see.
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9-23-08

1) Run Fatboy Run
Plot- Some ten years after he left his fiancée at the altar, the rather corpulent Dennis preps for a real-life marathon with real-life romantic consequences hanging in the balance. (imdb.com)

Directed by- David Schwimmer

Written by- Michael Ian Black (The Pleasure of Your Company), Simon Pegg (Shaun of the Dead, Free Jimmy, Hot Fuzz)

Starring- Simon Pegg, Thandie Newton, Hank Azaria, Dylan Moran, Harish Patel, India de Beaufort

Movieguy’s Verdict- I guess I really didn’t know what to expect from a film directed by David Schwimmer, but with the horrid failure of “Hot Fuzz” still fairly fresh, I was not expecting very much from this movie. The film’s mix of smart comedic writing and subtle British wit made for a surprisingly funny atmosphere. Simon Pegg’s handling of a lazy slob with a severe lack of motivation was perfect, as he also brought likability to a character who was actually quite impossible to support. Though it had clever comedic situations, the film was brought down considerably by Hank Azaria’s horrifically clichéd character, Thandie Newton’s terribly problematic character, and a romantic storyline simply too ridiculous to watch. Thankfully, the film wasn’t really a sports movie, and though Pegg, Dylan Moran and Harish Patel gave excellent performances, the film lost a lot due to its relationship absurdities and poorly created characters. Still, this was a surprisingly funny and very watchable film overall.

2) Sex and the City
Plot- Set four years after the television series ended, Carrie, Samantha, Miranda, and Charlotte negotiate their friendships, romances, and careers in New York City. At the center of it all is Carrie’s pending nuptials to Mr. Big. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Michael Patrick King

Starring- Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon, Chris Noth, Candice Bergen, Jennifer Hudson, David Eigenberg

Movieguy’s Verdict- As one of eight men in a Saturday night audience of 300, I’m not sure I’m even entitled to my opinion, but I shall offer it anyway. The TV series was known for its witty and intelligent conversations about relationships and everything along the way. The film continued this trend with great attention to conversations and decent humor. The majority of its 150 minutes were spent not on relationships, but rather on finding different ways to watch the characters try on clothes. In this way, it felt more like a fashion show broadcast on the E! Network than an actual film. Michael Patrick King did manage to incorporate several scenes of good imagery between fashion sessions and adult slumber parties, and found time to develop characters and storylines very well. King’s screenplay included a consistent level of comedy which helped greatly with pacing, but for the most part, the jokes were conventional and telegraphed. Performances were very good as anyone would expect from actors who have been playing characters for so long. Random comment: Sarah Jessica Parker’s makeup was noticeably awful. While the characters did progress well with their trials and tribulations, it dragged considerably near the end and should have been edited more diligently. Still, it’s one of the better television to film showings of the year.

3) Deception
Plot- An accountant is introduced to a mysterious sex club by his charismatic new lawyer friend. But in this new world, he soon becomes the prime suspect in a woman’s disappearance and a multi-million dollar heist. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Marcel Langenegger

Written by- Mark Bomback (The Night Caller, Godsend, Live Free or Die Hard)

Starring- Hugh Jackman, Ewan McGregor, Michelle Williams, Maggie Q, Lisa Gay Hamilton, Natasha Henstridge, Charlotte Rampling

Movieguy’s Verdict- It’s been quite a while since I’ve seen beautiful direction and a hauntingly elegant post-rock score put to waste in such horrendous fashion by a completely nonsensical screenplay. Marcel Langenegger gave his all to craft an elegant, seductive and suspenseful film. His camerawork was fantastic, as was the cinematography and moody lighting. Langenegger appears to be a talented filmmaker, but Mark Bomback’s awful screenplay made the film a definate failure. Bomback was clearly debating between making the film an odyssey into a lonely man’s sexual exploits, or a horrifically clichéd, predictable and flimsy crime plot that wandered like a blind dog in the forest. Somehow, he selected both, yet neither. It took over an hour before the alleged story and its characters were given any purpose whatsoever, but that came much too late. Langenegger was able to build good suspense which was surprising considering how badly written the film was. Hugh Jackman and Ewan McGregor were perfectly cast and poised to give strong performances, but Bomback’s screenplay neutralized them, and the film as a whole.

4) Leatherheads
Plot- Set in 1925, an aging football legend and the hot college star he’s drafted for his pro team fight for the heart of an intrepid up-and-coming journalist. (imdb.com)

Directed by- George Clooney (Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, Good Night, and Good Luck.)

Written by- Duncan Brantley, Rick Reilly

Starring- George Clooney, Renée Zellweger, John Krasinski, Stephen Root, Keith Loneker, Jonathan Pryce

Movieguy’s Verdict- George Clooney has proven himself a very skilled director with his first two films, but he clearly owed the studio if he had to captain this clunker. The film’s music, clothes and sets had a very authentic feel, which is something you’d expect from any good director, but bland, amateurish and extremely predictable writing was its undoing. In fact, the last hour was totally uneventful in all areas. Though the trailers never showed any potential, Clooney’s authenticity took the film as far as it could go. As a comedic actor, Clooney is very quick with his timing and facial expressions, which he clearly tried to impart to the cast. He and Renée Zellweger gave good performances under the circumstances, but their talents were obviously wasted. Amazingly, amidst the poor writing, the film did provide a few laughs, but generated extreme levels of cheesiness as well. This was a film that never should have been made, but without Clooney at the helm, it could have been much worse.

5) The Foot Fist Way
Plot- A down-and-out Tae Kwon Do instructor looks to turn his life around by going on a pilgrimage with his buddy and two of his students to see his hero, the martial arts legend Chuck “The Truck” Wallace, at a kung-fu convention. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Jody Hill

Written by- Ben Best, Jody Hill, Danny R. McBride

Starring- Danny R. McBride, Ben Best, Mary Jane Bostic, Collette Wolfe

Movieguy’s Verdict- Jody Hill’s documentary style direction was perfect for the film. Hill seemed to be the only person concerned with providing the film with any substance or character development. The film’s main problem was the writing, or lack thereof. The screenplay was aimless and wandering, attempting to substitute situations of pointless embarrassment and random stupidity for comedy and a story. There were times when Danny McBride seemed to fit his character well, yet the gaping holes in the writing prevented him from making the character work properly. The rest of the performances were quite awful, like the writing. Overall, the film achieved several very brief situations of odd comedy, but nothing substantial. I think McBride and Hill truly thought they were making a hysterical and brilliant comedy, which is quite depressing. Watching this film is kind of what I assume it would be like to watch children play Dungeons and Dragons; you know they’re having fun, but it’s not a spectator event.
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9-17-08

1) 88 Minutes
Plot- A college professor who moonlights as a forensic psychiatrist for the FBI receives a death threat telling him that he has only 88 minutes to live, causing him to scramble to stay alive while he tries to learn his potential assailant’s identity. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Jon Avnet (Fried Green Tomatoes, The War, Up Close & Personal, Red Corner)

Written by- Gary Scott Thompson (The Underachievers, White Ghost, Split Second, The Fast and the Furious, Timecop: The Berlin Decision)

Starring- Al Pacino, Alicia Witt, Leelee Sobieski, Amy Brenneman, William Forsythe, Deborah Kara Unger, Benjamin McKenzie, Neal McDonough, Leah Cairns

Movieguy’s Verdict- I suppose the main question to be answered is why Al Pacino would participate in this film. Jon Avnet was considered to have great potential after “Fried Green Tomatoes,” but never lived up to the hype. You could say the same about Leelee Sobieski, who was supposed to develop into a Scarlett Johansson-like talent, but rapidly faded into obscurity. With the exception of an amateurish and terribly conceived ending, this was a pretty decent film. Aside from the ending, Avnet’s direction was solid. He allowed the film to progress nicely and built suspense through creepy music and good camerawork. Gary Scott Thompson is obviously not a very talented writer, but his screenplay moved well and didn’t seem to waste any time getting from one plot development to the next. Thompson won’t win any points for imagination however, as the somewhat exaggerated supporting characters seemed to accentuate the film’s plot holes and rather large gaps in logic. Obviously, Pacino gave a good performance, but there wasn’t a single scene which required him to do anything that any average actor couldn’t do. Pacino’s presence gives the film a respectability it really doesn’t deserve, and I’ll admit, I’m giving the film a slightly higher rating because he’s in it. He’s the best film actor of all time; what am I supposed to do?

2) Speed Racer
Plot- An adaptation of the comic series “Speed Racer.”

Written and Directed by- Andy and Larry Wachowski (Bound, The Matrix Trilogy, V for Vendetta)

Starring- Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci, John Goodman, Susan Sarandon, Matthew Fox, Benno Fürmann, Hiroyuki Sanada, Rain, Richard Roundtree, Kick Gurry, Paulie Litt, Roger Allam

Movieguy’s Verdict- I truly don’t know where to begin this review. This film was so awful, so completely unbearable in every way that it’s really not possible to narrow it down to a handful of relatable review points. The Wachowski brothers had big shoes to fill after the fantastic Matrix trilogy, and “V for Vendetta” seemed an adequate follow up. I’m not sure anyone could have expected this film to be so putridly childish and exasperatingly disingenuous. The Wachowski brothers have a good eye for visuals, but their CGI and other special effects were so exaggerated and laughably corny that any technical wizardry they applied behind the scenes went unnoticed. Performances were as awful as the horrendous screenplay. The only actor who seemed to have any success (meaning avoiding total disaster) was John Goodman. Otherwise, a stellar cast was wasted on two hours of pure, unfiltered stupidity. Even worse, a few of the characters weren’t even relevant to the film, yet occupied tremendous amounts of screen time. And of them was a monkey. With each overly dramatic scene spilling into the next, this was a complete disaster in every imaginable way. The most shocking fact of all is the film reportedly cost $250-300 million to produce and market. Amusingly, Warner Bros. was so embarrassed by the film’s $18 million opening weekend that they purposely overestimated box office projections to have it come in second and not third. If you come across a more impressive waste of a few hundred million, let me know.

3) Finding Amanda
Plot- A television producer with a penchant for drinking and gambling is sent to Las Vegas to convince his troubled niece to enter rehab. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Peter Tolan (Writer of: My Fellow Americans, Analyze This, What Planet Are You From?, Bedazzled, America’s Sweethearts, Stealing Harvard, Analyze That, Guess Who, Just Like Heaven)

Starring- Matthew Broderick, Brittany Snow, Maura Tierney, Steve Coogan, Peter Facinelli

Movieguy’s Verdict- Though Peter Tolan is not the greatest writer, in “Analyze This” and “America’s Sweethearts” he showed his ability to create a fairly decent atmosphere of dark comedy. The rest of his films were mostly awful, but this was the best work of his career. Tolan created characters very well, nicely establishing their motivations and flaws. Though his character was not particularly difficult to play, Matthew Broderick’s performance was consistent and entirely realistic, though he would have benefited from injecting a little more personality into the role. There were key scenes when he simply seemed far too subdued for his character. Fresh off of the pitiful “Prom Night,” Brittany Snow has a lot to prove. Her performance was surprisingly quite good overall, though there were several scenes in which she was required to do more than she is capable of doing- and it showed. However, I still liked the level of personality she brought to the film. Tolan’s ability to inject subtle black comedy into the film worked very well and helped advance the story, which appeared to be nicely thought out despite remaining slightly predictable. Overall, I think this was a solid film with plenty to offer.

4) Made of Honor
Plot- A ladies man’s female best friend is getting married to a man she’s just met, and she’s asking him to be his maid of honor. Now that he realizes he loves her, he and his friends try to stop the wedding from within.

Directed by- Paul Weiland (Leonard Part 6, City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly’s Gold, Roseanna’s Grave, Sixty Six)

Written by- Adam Sztykiel, Deborah Kaplan (A Very Brady Sequel, Can’t Hardly Wait, The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas, Josie and the Pussycats, Surviving Christmas), Harry Elfont (A Very Brady Sequel, Can’t Hardly Wait, The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas, Josie and the Pussycats, Surviving Christmas)

Starring- Patrick Dempsey, Michelle Monaghan, Kevin McKidd, Kadeem Hardison, Chris Messina, Richmond Arquette, Kathleen Quinlan, Selma Stern, Sydney Pollack

Movieguy’s Verdict- It was very fortunate that Patrick Dempsey and Michelle Monahan gave such good performances, because this film literally had nothing to offer. Starting out with its atrocious musical score and moving through its lackluster narrative and mountain of predictability and clichés, the film featured ridiculously created characters and a totally absurd story. The fluffy script was so bad that it lacked even the slightest hint of romance, comedy or superficial entertainment value. The film exploded with cheesiness in the last half hour and moved from being simply forgettable to horribly painful. It was a silly concept to begin with that had so many problems and so much Hollywood sappiness that it really had no chance to turn out any other way.

5) The Love Guru
Plot- Pitka, an American raised outside of his country by gurus, returns to the States in order to break into the self-help business. His first challenge: Settle the romantic troubles and subsequent professional skid of a star hockey player whose wife left him for a rival lover before the NHL Stanley Cup. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Marco Schnabel

Written by- Mike Myers (Wayne’s World, Wayne’s World 2, Austin Powers Trilogy), Graham Gordy (War Eagle, Arkansas)

Starring- Mike Myers, Jessica Alba, Romany Malco, Justin Timberlake, Meagan Good, Omid Djalili, Ben Kingsley

Movieguy’s Verdict- It really doesn’t get much worse than this. Mike Myers has the ability to be funny, but this abomination had nothing in the way of humor or even the most elementary watchable quality. His penchant for puns and double entendres gave the Austin Powers series an oddly likable and cleverly funny persona, but with this film, Myers’ attempts to recapture that fell flat. Instead, his efforts were nothing more than blatant stupidity and the most infantile brand of toilet humor one can imagine. No one can excuse Ben Kingsley’s horrific cameo, but Justin Timberlake’s awful performance put a serious halt in what had just started to become a very promising acting career. Apparently Myers had a very personal connection to his “character” and the film as a whole, and that’s what makes his epic failure so much more depressing.
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9-10-08

1) Baby Mama
Plot- A career-driven single woman hires a surrogate mother to carry her child. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Michael McCullers (Writer of: Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, Undercover Brother, Austin Powers in Goldmember, Thunderbirds)

Starring- Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Sigourney Weaver, Greg Kinnear, Steve Martin, Romany Malco, Dax Shepard, Maura Tierney, Holland Taylor

Movieguy’s Verdict- Seeing Tina Fey waste her talents in this film reminded me of watching Zach Braff languish in “The Ex.” Both are extremely talented, but apparently they need the money, or have some kind of contractual obligation which would require them to participate in such projects. As a whole, the film was so bland that it might not have felt like a comedy at all without the hilarious and perfectly crafted performance of Amy Poehler. To be fair, there were a few scenes of very lighthearted humor, but overall, the film missed countless opportunities to be edgy and creative with key social issues. Oddly enough, the film was extremely corny at the beginning, but improved slightly over time despite being completely predictable. Perhaps it was bland writing combined with Fey’s character having almost no personality, but this was actually one of the most forgettable films I’ve ever seen.

2) The Forbidden Kingdom
Plot- A discovery made by a kung-fu obsessed American teen transports him back to ancient China, where he joins up with a band of martial-arts warriors in order to free an imprisoned king. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Rob Minkoff (The Lion King, Stuart Little, Stuart Little 2, The Haunted Mansion)

Written by- John Fusco (Crossroads, Young Guns, Young Guns II, Thunderheart, The Babe, Loch Ness, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, Hidalgo)

Starring- Michael Angarano, Jet Li, Jackie Chan, Yifei Liu, Collin Chou

Movieguy’s Verdict- Between a horrendously corny soundtrack, astoundingly cheesy fight sequences, clumsy camerawork and infantile writing, there was almost nothing positive to say about this dreadfully conceived Hollywood disaster. I did appreciate the creative energy director Rob Minkoff put into the film, but the concept was so bad that it had no chance of transferring to anything watchable. This would have been a zero star film had it not been for the entirely decent performance of Michael Angarano. Next to Jet Li and Jackie Chan, he obviously didn’t have to do very much, but his enthusiasm and energy at least helped move the film along. Still, listening to Chan and Li deliver line after line from John Fusco’s terrible script was excruciating. Finishing off the horribleness was a romantic subplot more poorly conceived than the film itself. This was a very difficult film to stomach, and clearly I wouldn’t wish it on anyone who wasn’t my sworn enemy.

3) Heckler
Plot- This documentary spends most of its 78 minutes showing actor/comedian Jamie Kennedy asking obscure bloggers why they hate his movies.

Directed by- Michael Addis (Poor White Trash)

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was a very promising documentary that succeeded for 20 minutes, then proceeded to wander farther and more pathetically off course. Jamie Kennedy began this film as an analysis of hecklers, specifically during live comedy performances. As a mediocre comedian himself, Kennedy is no stranger to heckling. Trust me, I’ve seen his act. Nonetheless, the film featured opinions from skilled and successful comics such as Lewis Black, Eugene Mirman, Patton Oswalt and Bill Maher about why people heckle, plus some amusing footage of comics attacking/embarrassing hecklers. Being a huge fan of stand-up comedy, I found this all quite interesting. However, the last hour of the film regressed to scene after scene of Kennedy interviewing mostly obscure bloggers and wannabe critics who inexplicably dislike his movies. Kennedy began his “interviews” by reading segments of a very negative review aloud, then asking its writer, “Why do you hate me?” Kennedy acts as if you have to have a mental defect or severe personality disorder to dislike “Son of the Mask.” Masquerading as an “analysis of film criticism,” director Michael Addis collected interviews from some truly talentless filmmakers of this decade, including Uwe Boll, Eli Roth and Craig Mazin of “Scary Movie 3,” “Scary Movie 4” and “Superhero Movie.” This was apparently supposed to unearth the fundamental flaws of film criticism. The truth is, the film had a very small handful of observations of various degrees of film criticism, but overall, it lacked the same amount of intelligence as everything else associated with Jamie Kennedy.

4) I.B.T.C
Plot- A recent high school graduate attempts to find herself after she becomes involved with a group of radical lesbian feminists.

Directed by- Jamie Babbit (The Quiet)

Written by- Tina Mabry, Abigail Shafran

Starring- Melonie Diaz, Nicole Vicius, Carly Pope, Melanie Mayron

Movieguy’s Verdict- The only memorable thing about this film was its title (abbreviated here), which was clearly designed to generate some sort of shock value or superficial interest in a film that had very little to offer. If you’re a hardcore feminist/punk rocker, this film was written especially for you. If you’re looking for a good story or an intelligent analysis of the film’s many interesting characters, look elsewhere. I liked the way Jamie Babbit crafted her dark and methodical direction of “The Quiet,” and in this film, she did a nice job of using props, sets and music to create the proper mood and atmosphere. However, like many of the misogynistic and exaggerated Hollywood action films, this was quite unrealistic and/or unfair in its portrayal of certain characters. Furthermore, Tina Mabry and Abigail Shafran’s screenplay was somewhat dull and uneventful- a noticeably odd contrast to the eccentric and passionate characters it contained. The writing also achieved very little in terms of social messages, which was its basic purpose. I liked the radical personality Babbit gave the film, but along with its abominable title, it accomplished very little.
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9-3-08

1) Then She Found Me
Plot- A New York schoolteacher hits a midlife crisis when, in quick succession, her husband leaves, her adoptive mother dies and her biological mother, an eccentric talk show host, materializes and turns her life upside down as she begins a courtship with the father of one of her students. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Helen Hunt

Written by- Alice Arlen (Silkwood, Alamo Bay, Cookie, The Weight of Water), Victor Levin (Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!, My Sassy Girl), Helen Hunt

Starring- Helen Hunt, Colin Firth, Bette Midler, Matthew Broderick, Lynn Cohen, Ben Shenkman, John Benjamin Hickey

Movieguy’s Verdict- Helen Hunt’s directorial debut showed a great deal of potential. Many of the choices she made worked well to establish a connection between the characters and develop them as the story progressed. Her realistic portrayal of complex and confusing emotional situations was captured by her outstanding performance, as well as her wonderfully cast co-star Colin Firth. Matthew Broderick played an excellent character who was quite disappointingly underutilized by the story. Written by Hunt, Alice Arlen and Victor Levin, the screenplay was indeed realistic and tender, though overall I felt it lacked a certain degree of personality and charm, which would have created a more solid bond between the audience and the characters. It’s odd actually, because while the film was never clichéd, corny or very predictable, Hunt didn’t seem too concerned with improving its often lackluster pace. It’s certainly one of the better romances of the year, but with slight improvement, it could have been truly great.

2) Married Life
Plot- A late 1940s drama about a meek man who falls for a younger woman and opts to spare him and his wife the agony of divorce by concocting a plan to poison her to death. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Ira Sachs (Forty Shades of Blue)

Written by- Ira Sachs (Forty Shades of Blue), Oren Moverman (Face, I’m Not There.)

Starring- Chris Cooper, Patricia Clarkson, Rachel McAdams, Pierce Brosnan, David Richmond-Peck

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was an extremely well-acted film which was a success until its dreadful ending. Chris Cooper remains one of the most unheralded actors around, but his superb showing here was another in a long line of amazing, intricately crafted performances. Patricia Clarkson and Rachel McAdams were also excellent, but Pierce Brosnan, who gave a very good performance, played a character who was dreadfully underused and very poorly developed. The screenplay was not as psychologically illuminating as it should have been, nor was it particularly intelligent, but it developed characters well (except for Brosnan’s) in the confines of an engrossing plot. Dickon Hinchliffe’s musical score was quite bad, as his loud, overly expressive music often detracted from the mood director Ira Sachs was trying to achieve. Despite Sachs’ inexperience and a few minor inconsistencies, he crafted the film very well, progressing to what promised to be an emotional and dramatic conclusion. Though there were a few alternate endings on the DVD, the primary ending was absolutely terrible as it belittled almost everything the film and its characters had achieved. This was still a good film, but it was not without problems.

3) The Art of Travel
Plot- Recent high school graduate Conner Layne is about to marry his first love, but when the wedding plans fail, he goes solo on his honeymoon to Central America, finding adventure with a ragtag group of foreigners who attempt to cross the Darien Gap in record time. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Thomas Whelan (Border to Border, Somewhere, RE(e)volution)

Written by- Brian LaBelle (Somewhere, RE(e)volution), Thomas Whelan

Starring- Christopher Masterson, Brooke Burns, Johnny Messner, James Duval, Shalim Ortiz, Jake Muxworthy, Angelika Baran

Movieguy’s Verdict- This totally unknown film featured good acting from Christopher Masterson, who appeared to carry the proper demeanor of a young man who had no idea what he wanted out of life, but was determined to find it anyway. Thomas Whelan did nothing original here, simply allowing the foreign landscapes and exotic environments to speak for themselves. However, a little visual style certainly would not have hurt the film. In fact, it’s fair to say that Whelan directed with no visual flair whatsoever. The film had an extremely weak story as it relied solely on Masterson’s ability to let the settings and situations to dictate the moods and psychological states of his character. The writing was not powerful, emotionally potent or psychologically illuminating enough to handle a film like this, but it certainly had its moments. While this was a movie with heart and potential, it failed to deliver what it needed to deliver.
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8-27-08

1) My Sassy Girl
Plot- A relatively innocent and normal guy falls head over heals for a complicated and apparently insane woman who proceeds to turn his live upside down.

Directed by- Yann Samuell

Written by- Victor Levin (Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!, Then She Found Me)

Starring- Jesse Bradford, Elisha Cuthbert, Austin Basis, Joanna Gleason

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film is a remake of a Korean film, the title of which was apparently lost in translation, because “sassy” is the wrong word to describe the lead female character. While Jesse Bradford didn’t give the greatest performance, he possessed a likeable innocence which grew on you as the film evolved. A better actor would have done more with the character, but Bradford seemed to hold his own when required. The real star was Elisha Cuthbert, whose performance perfectly combined the energy and insanity her bizarre and unpredictable character required. Yann Samuell directed the film with good visual style. Using fast paced editing and quick scene transitions he perfectly captured the quickly changing moods of Cuthbert’s character and Bradford’s reactions to them. Disappointingly, Samuell abandoned his style halfway though the film in favor of a more conventional approach that did not seem to suit the story or its two main characters. Victor Levin wrote a clever screenplay which nicely developed the relationship between the main characters and sustained their energy. The film contained good humor, as well as a sweet and romantic feel that would make this a more than adequate date movie.

2) What Happens in Vegas
Plot- Joy and Jack meet while on a Las Vegas bender, where their drunken nuptials are only part of a larger problem: What to do when Jack wins $3 million in a slot machine with Joy’s quarter, and they are forced to spend six months as wife and husband if they are to see a penny of their winnings. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Tom Vaughan (Starter for 10)

Written by- Dana Fox (The Wedding Date)

Starring- Cameron Diaz, Ashton Kutcher, Lake Bell, Queen Latifah, Krysten Ritter, Zach Galifianakis, Dennis Farina, Rob Corddry, Dennis Miller

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was an obviously formulaic romantic comedy that generated some laughs despite its highly telegraphed antics. Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher were completely average portraying of their forced and entirely predictable characters. As a result of their own individual levels of charisma, they managed to generate a surprising level of chemistry. Supporting cast members tried too hard to generate humor where there was none, which further accentuated the put-on nature of the story and its characters. The comedy that was present did just enough to hold the first half of the film together, but the second half was completely uneventful, droning on and on in a futile attempt to develop a fledgling love story. If the humor of the first half had sustained, this would be a film I’d actually recommend. In its present form, it turned out to be just another forgettable Hollywood romance.

3) August
Plot- Set in the summer of 2001, an Internet-startup guru struggles to keep his company in the black and his personal life together. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Austin Chick (XX/XY)

Written by- Howard A. Rodman (Joe Gould’s Secret, Takedown, Savage Grace)

Starring- Josh Hartnett, Naomie Harris, Adam Scott, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Andre Royo, Robin Tunney, Rip Torn, David Bowie

Movieguy’s Verdict- This little known film is one of the year’s biggest disappointments. Josh Hartnett gave a perfect performance as a greedy, arrogant and power hungry yet dangerously vulnerable businessman. Hartnett has come on strong the last few years, and it was a shame to have his stellar performance wasted on such feeble storytelling. Howard A. Rodman’s screenplay featured authentic dialogue which gave the film a very realistic feel. Austin Chick’s rugged yet stylish direction helped with this level of realism, but Rodman’s narrative was much too weak to sustain any kind of energy. His characters had tremendous potential, but were never given the chance to realize it because the film didn’t really have much of a story to drive them along. Despite tremendous realism, great acting and very well conceived direction, Rodman’s shortcomings never gave the film a chance.

4) Chicago 10
Plot- Archival footage, animation, and music are used to look back at the group of anti-war protesters who were put on trial following the 1968 Democratic National Convention. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Brett Morgen (On the Ropes, The Kid Stays in the Picture)

Voices of- Jeffrey Wright, Nick Nolte, Roy Scheider, Mark Ruffalo, Liev Schreiber, Dylan Baker, Daniel Hagen

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was a fantastically clever quasi-documentary. Brett Morgen’s vision for the film was impressive to say the least. Written and directed with amazing creativity, political angst, youthful rebelliousness and even witty humor, Morgen captured the mood of the time in style. The film did contain tremendous bias and featured no competing narrative or information that could provide another side to the story. Even though Morgen clearly had a point of view, this is a problem on the most fundamental level because there are always at least two sides to every story. The film featured music from Rage Against the Machine and other bands with political motivations, though most of the music wasn’t from the film’s time period, which seemed noticeably odd when playing in the background of archive footage from 1968. Still, if political rebelliousness interests you, than give this film a try. I highly doubt you will be disappointed.

5) Redbelt
Plot- A fateful event serves as the first chapter in a new story for top Jiu-Jitsu instructor Mike Terry. Though he has shied away from the professional side of the medium — opting instead to run his own struggling self-defense studio — circumstances conspire to force him to step into the ring for money for the first time. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- David Mamet (The Verdict, The Untouchables, House of Games, Glengarry Glen Ross, The Spanish Prisoner, Wag the Dog, Ronin, State and Main, Hannibal, Heist, Spartan, Edmond)

Starring- Chiwetel Ejiofor, Tim Allen, Emily Mortimer, Ricky Jay, Joe Mantegna, David Paymer, Rebecca Pidgeon

Movieguy’s Verdict- David Mamet has been a world class playwright and screenwriter for decades, but his recent work has been indicative of a loss of direction, scale and overall storytelling ability. This film began as a very disjointed effort to insert many jagged puzzle pieces into what seemed to be a complex and highly involved mystery. It became clear very quickly however that this was to be his second straight failure. Mamet inserted countless conversations and encounters that had no connection to any story, plot, message, character development, symbolism or anything that could vaguely represent a story by even the most liberal definition. Strong performances by Chiwetel Ejiofor and Emily Mortimer were wasted by their total lack of character and the film’s utter lack of content. As far as I could tell, this film was nothing more than a vehicle intended to capture mixed martial arts as a growing sport, and was actually identical to the teen movie “Never Back Down.” You care about the characters only by the power of the acting, which was remarkable considering the film had no content.

6) Virgin Territory
Plot- Young Florentines regale one another in the Italian countryside while the black plague decimates their city. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- David Leland (Writer of: Mona Lisa, Personal Services, Wish You Were Here, The Land Girls, The White River Kid; Director of: Wish You Were Here, Checking Out, The Big Man, The Land Girls)

Starring- Hayden Christensen, Mischa Barton, Tim Roth

Movieguy’s Verdict- Even after seeing it, I’m still not sure what this film was supposed to be. My best guess? It’s a period piece made in the image of the endless string of straight-to-DVD “American Pie” films. Doesn’t that sound brilliant? David Leland conceived this film more like an extremely cheesy high school soap opera. The film featured scene after scene of numerous cliques clashing in arguments that seemed as though they could, at any moment, turn into full blown musical numbers. After the resounding disappointment of the most recent Star Wars films, Hayden Christensen has been heavily (and somewhat unfairly) chastised, but no one can deny that he seemed totally out of place in this film. The film’s narrative was wandering, confused and as corny as its abominable musical score. Complete with poorly designed costumes and an awful non-story, this is one to avoid.
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8-20-08

1) Street Kings
Plot- Tom Ludlow is a veteran LAPD cop who finds life difficult to navigate after the death of his wife. When evidence implicates him in the execution of a fellow officer, he is forced to go up against the cop culture he’s been a part of his entire career, ultimately leading him to question the loyalties of everyone around him. (imdb.com)

Directed by- David Ayer (Director of: Harsh Times; Writer of: U-571, The Fast and the Furious, Training Day, Dark Blue, S.W.A.T., Harsh Times)

Written by- James Ellroy, Kurt Wimmer (Writer of: Double Trouble, The Neighbor, Relative Fear, Sphere, The Thomas Crown Affair, Equilibrium, The Recruit, Ultraviolet; Director of: One Tough Bastard, Equilibrium, Ultraviolet), Jamie Moss

Starring- Keanu Reeves, Forest Whitaker, Hugh Laurie, Chris Evans, Cedric the Entertainer, Jay Mohr, Terry Crews, Naomie Harris, Common, The Game, Martha Higareda

Movieguy’s Verdict- While this film didn’t make much of an effort to tell an original or particularly inventive cop saga, its unflinching portrayal of a dark criminal underworld made it very compelling indeed. Keanu Reeves was a perfect fit for his troubled character, leading a cast of mostly excellent performances. Reeves perfectly captured the character’s vicious internal anguish and put together one of the best performances of his career. Chris Evans was fantastic once again in a supporting role, as were Hugh Laurie and Jay Mohr. Forest Whitaker started out well, but quickly began to overact, becoming more and more exaggerated over time. While David Ayer’s camerawork felt a little awkward, his direction captured the engrossing, multi-layered story with the perfect amount of ferocity it required. James Ellroy, Kurt Wimmer and Jamie Moss wrote an excellent screenplay which provided the audience a front row seat to corruption, greed and violence. They handled dialogue well, but in true Hollywood fashion, inserted a totally useless romantic interest played by Martha Higareda. If the film had a weakness, it was present at the end, which was more than a little over-the-top. Still, this was a solid crime film with strong performances and a great story.

2) The Life Before Her Eyes
Plot- A two-tiered dramatic thriller centered on Diana, a wife and mother whose idyllic life begins to fray as she recalls a tragic, 15-year-old event which claimed the life of her best friend Maureen; running parallel to this story is another tale, that of the younger Diana, who is dealing with her strained relationship with Maureen, the tragedy itself, and the mystery behind the crime. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Vadim Perelman (House of Sand and Fog)

Written by- Emil Stern

Starring- Uma Thurman, Evan Rachel Wood, Eva Amurri, Oscar Isaac

Movieguy’s Verdict- After the tragic beauty of “The House of Sand and Fog,” I had been eagerly awaiting Vadim Perelman’s next work. Sadly, I found myself quite disappointed. The sublime beauty of Perelman’s direction was the film’s best quality. His use of vibrant colors (bright flowers especially) juxtaposed with the story’s somber mood was a brilliant technique which created a rich and complicated bundle of emotions for both the characters and the audience. While performances were not breathtaking, they were indeed strong. Uma Thurman and Evan Rachel Wood played complicated characters very well, but unfortunately, the writing hung them out to dry. While Emil Stern’s story was seemingly rich with psychological conflict, the characters quickly became redundant, wrestling with the same basic problems over and over again. Though Stern’s characters were pleasantly thoughtful, they were not as compelling or dynamic as they should have been. Furthermore, the sparse story moved very slowly with long stretches of the film never appearing to lead anywhere. The film was beautiful and well acted, but sadly did not live up to its potential.

3) Quid Pro Quo
Plot- A semi-paralyzed reporter is sent out to investigate a story that first leads him into an odd subculture, and then lured on a journey of disturbing self-realization by a beautiful, mysterious woman. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Carlos Brooks

Starring- Nick Stahl, Vera Farmiga, Joshua Leonard, Dylan Bruno

Movieguy’s Verdict- Despite strong performances from Nick Stahl and Vera Farmiga, a weak story and poorly handled characters prevented it from being as good as it should have been. While Stahl was the protagonist, Farmiga’s complicated and emotionally unpredictable performance was the highlight of the film. The film’s undoing, as it turned out, was the very thing that made it interesting in the first place. The film dealt with characters who were very psychologically complicated, but Carlos Brooks seemed to make them laughable and impossible to take seriously in the film’s most crucial moments. Additionally, the story was slow and predictable at the end. This is not a film I’d recommend, but it’s not totally without good qualities.

4) An American Crime
Plot- The true story of suburban housewife Gertrude Baniszewski, who kept a young girl locked in the basement of her Indiana home and severely tortured her during the 1960s.

Directed by- Tommy O’Haver (Billy’s Hollywood Screen Kiss, Get Over It, Ella Enchanted)

Written by- Tommy O’Haver (Billy’s Hollywood Screen Kiss), Irene Turner

Starring- Catherine Keener, Ellen Page, Hayley McFarland, Nick Searcy, James Franco, Romy Rosemont, Ari Graynor, Scout Taylor-Compton, Hannah Leigh Dworkin, Bradley Whitford

Movieguy’s Verdict- As intense and gruesome as small portions of the film were, 75% of the film was mostly dull and uneventful. The main problem was Tommy O’Haver, a filmmaker who obviously lacks the skills to tell this story properly. O’Haver’s direction was simple and mostly bland, while his screenplay with Irene Turner was extremely slow and problematic. A large portion this 90 minute film’s first hour could have been edited down to about 15 minutes of setup. O’Haver and Turner failed to delve deeply enough into the minds of any of the characters, especially the main character. These were highly complex and extremely troubled individuals; a good writer would never have missed such a golden opportunity. Catherine Keener and Ellen Page were cast perfectly, but the writing and direction essentially neutralized any chance they would have had to succeed. If a talented filmmaker had taken control of this film, Keener might have generated Oscar buzz.

5) Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
Plot- After she is dismissed from her job, a middle-aged London governess gains new employment with American actress and singer Delysia Lafosse — a move that catapults her into a glamorous and dizzying new life. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Bharat Nalluri (Downtime, Killing Time, The Crow: Salvation)

Written by- David Magee (Finding Neverland), Simon Beaufoy (The Full Monty, Among Giants, The Darkest Light, Running Time, Blow Dry, This is Not a Love Song, Yasmin)

Starring- Frances McDormand, Amy Adams, Ciarán Hinds, Lee Pace

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film began with the same putrid overacting and exaggeration that made “Enchanted” the worst film of 2007. Picking up where she left off from that movie, Amy Adams began with yet another forced and exaggerated performance. She did have her moments though, and somehow rebounded from an awful start to give what amounted to a very good performance in a bland and uninteresting film. The same can be said for Frances McDormand. The film’s corniness did die down after a while, but was replaced with a very dull and conventional romantic comedy that was completely predictable and quite dull. David Magee did offer an interesting look at 1940’s high society, but dullness and a total lack of story were the film’s undoing.

6) Prom Night
Plot- A group of high school students are stalked on their prom night by a vengeful killer who years ago witnessed the same kids cause a young girl’s accidental death. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Nelson McCormick (For Which He Stands)

Written by- J.S. Cardone (The Marksman)

Starring- Brittany Snow, Scott Porter, Jessica Stroup, Dana Davis, Collins Pennie, Kelly Blatz, James Ransone, Brianne Davis, Kellan Lutz, Mary Mara, Ming-Na, Johnathon Schaech, Idris Elba

Movieguy’s Verdict- It should come as no surprise to anyone that this film was quite awful. Filled with typical high school antics and cheaply predictable scenes, the film seemed more focused on selecting a popular song to fill each scene as opposed to, you know, telling a story. The non-stop giggling from Brittany Snow and company was extremely annoying, but overall I wouldn’t classify what the cast of this film did as “acting” at all. Call it what you will, but the result was extremely transparent and constructed without the slightest element of believability. J.S. Cardone’s wandering screenplay contained countless unnecessary scenes, constant predictability and the generally terrible writing expected from this sort of teen product. Surprisingly enough, the film was actually pretty well shot which looked admittedly odd against its flimsy production value. This trashy wannabe slasher film from the 80s would have failed then, and looks even worse now.
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8-13-08

1) Smart People
Plot- When Dr. Janet Hartigan agrees to look after her injured former professor, little does she know she will soon have to contend with his clumsy affections, the attitude of his Young Republican daughter, and the sudden arrival of Lawrence’s good-for-nothing adopted brother. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Noam Murro

Written by- Mark Poirier

Starring- Dennis Quaid, Sarah Jessica Parker, Thomas Haden Church, Ellen Page, Ashton Holmes, Christine Lahti, Camille Mana, David Denman

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was the first Oscar-worthy film of the year (released in early April), and it was worth waiting for. Packed with fantastic personalities and brilliant writing, the film would be hard pressed to do better. Mark Poirier’s writing was phenomenal. Packed with angry sarcasm, dysfunctional characters and no shortage of witty dialogue, Poirier created a fiercely funny environment in which the talented cast could excel. Dennis Quaid delivered one of his best performances in a long time. His character was mean-spirited and brilliant, yet socially devolved in a way that made him simultaneously hilarious and oddly sad. Ellen Page was equally marvelous, delivering another amazing performance in what is quickly becoming a great career. Both Quaid and Page should be nominated for Oscars next year. Thomas Haden Church was hysterical as always, while Sarah Jessica Parker was decent, but forgettable. Though there was plenty of comedy, the film was deeply psychological and, in its own way, extremely true to life. Through its bleak antisocial messages and socially awkward characters, it ultimately found its way to becoming a very rewarding and meaningful movie experience. Don’t miss this one.

2) The Search for John Gissing
Plot- An American businessman named Matthew Barnes and his wife have just arrived in London where Barnes is supposed to take over the final negotiations for a big merger with a German firm. Unfortunately, all of the arrangements were made by John Gissing, who feels passed over for the job and sabotages Matthew at every turn. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Mike Binder (Indian Summer, Blankman, The Sex Monster, Londinium, The Upside of Anger, Man About Town, Reign Over Me)

Starring- Mike Binder, Alan Rickman, Janeane Garofalo, Sonya Walger, Juliet Stevenson, Allan Corduner, Owen Teale

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film was made in 2001, never had a theatrical showing and is being released on DVD some seven years later. Simply put, this is a crime. Mike Binder is one of the most underrated filmmakers in the industry. Time and time again he has shown that he can write intelligent screenplays full of wonderful characters, smart humor and tremendous originality and creativity. This film was no exception. Binder played the lead in this one, though he usually plays supporting characters. He was excellent, displaying tremendous charisma, energy and top notch comedic timing. The same could be said of Alan Rickman and Allan Corduner, whose supporting roles gave the film considerable flair and personality. Binder’s story was as clever as it was interesting, and his smart comedy prevented the film from having a dull moment. The film’s only problem was Janeane Garofalo’s character, whose reactions to key situations seemed somewhat unrealistic. Her performance was adequate, though her comedic contributions to the film were not what they should have been. Still, this was a fantastic film that needs to be seen.

3) Outside Sales
Plot- A romantic comedy about a depressed salesman coping with a cheating wife, his sadistic boss and the beautiful sales rep hired to replace him. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Blayne Weaver (Writer of: Manic)

Starring- Lucas Fleischer, Tricia O’Kelley, Brandon Barrera, Andrea Grano, Rob Helms, Blayne Weaver, Tara Karsian, Christopher Shaw

Movieguy’s Verdict- I love a smart comedy, and this totally unknown film contained plenty of that. An outstanding cast led by Lucas Fleischer resulted in great performances across the board. Though the acting talent was obvious, wonderful writing and direction from Blayne Weaver made this film great. Weaver created funny, charming and bizarre characters. He also showed discretion by never trying too hard to push a joke on the audience. In fact, the humor flowed quite naturally and actually increased as the film developed, which is quite rare. However, Weaver did write one character who was much too exaggerated and detracted from the film somewhat. Ironically, Weaver actually played this character. Still, Weaver clearly has an eye for comedy and if you’re looking for a laugh, this film should do the trick.

4) The Secret
Plot- A wife and mother pass away, and the wife’s spirit returns in her daughter’s body, leaving a grief-stricken husband/father to figure out what is happening. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Vincent Perez

Written by- Ann Cherkis

Starring- David Duchovny, Olivia Thirlby, Lili Taylor

Movieguy’s Verdict- If you’ve see the bizarre, yet oddly beautiful film “Birth,” you know that this strange plot can work. After watching this film, it was clear that Vincent Perez didn’t really have the proper filmmaking mindset to pull off this intricate and difficult story. David Duchovny’s transition from television to film has not been particularly successful, but in the last three years or so, he’s come out with some solid performances. His showing here was on par with this trend as he clearly grasped the more difficult intricacies of his character, which resulted in a very believable performance. Although, his character was curiously similar to that Fox Mulder guy you may know. Olivia Thirlby was the real star of the film though, delivering a powerhouse performance worthy of serious praise. The reason the film was so poor was that Perez and writer Ann Cherkis appeared to have no idea of how to shape the mood of the film, or tell the story properly. The film wavered back and forth between ‘silly’ and ‘mildly interesting,’ though its leisurely pace and confused narrative structure kept it from developing into anything tangible.

5) The Art of War II: Betrayal
Plot- Agent Neil Shaw is called out of retirement and finds himself in the midst of a plot to assassinate several leading Senators with himself set-up to take the rap for a recent killing. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Josef Rusnak (No Strings Attached, Quiet Days in Hollywood, The Thirteenth Floor, The Contractor)

Written by- Jason Bourque (Shadow Company), Keith Shaw

Starring- Wesley Snipes, Athena Karkanis, Winston Rekert, Ryan Mcdonald, Lochlyn Munro

Movieguy’s Verdict- Well, “The Art of War” was so successful that clearly the thing to do is make a straight-to-DVD sequel. I’m not sure what I should focus on when reviewing this film. I can select from abysmal writing, moronic characters, flimsy direction, painful acting or just the general inconvenience of watching Wesley Snipes. Snipes is a terrible actor. He always has been and he always will be, and his total lack of personality combined with his penchant for pointless martial arts fight sequences make him basically unwatchable. The rest of the cast somehow managed to perform more poorly than Snipes, which I don’t quite understand. It goes without saying that this film should never have been made. Come to think of it, you could say the same about the first one.

6) Juncture
Plot- A woman with a terminal disease exacts revenge on various criminals.

Directed by- James Seale (Asylum, Scorcher, Throttle)

Written by- Robert Gosnell (Firewalker, Escape from Wildcat Canyon, Tiger Street, Dragon and the Hawk, Siren)

Starring- Kristine Blackport, John Hutton, Jeff Nicholson, Diana Dresser, Andrew Porter

Movieguy’s Verdict- I suppose I could say everything about this film that I said in my “The Art of War II: Betrayal” review. The only difference is this film does not have Wesley Snipes. Under normal circumstances this would be a good thing. However, the substitute was Kristine Blackport, whose performance was so bad it almost can’t be properly described. What was particularly frustrating was that while the writing and direction were very poor, the main character was such that a strong performance would have made the film at least watchable. Each of Blackport’s facial expressions were as painful to endure as every clichéd and thoughtless line she butchered. After a short while it became difficult to even look at her. These are not the kinds of things I want to be saying about a film’s lead actress. Anyway, avoid this disaster at all costs.
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8-6-08

1) Nim’s Island
Plot- A popular author teams up the adventure-loving Alex Rover in order to help her number-one fan, a young girl who lives on a secret island where her father has gone missing. Two problems the author
faces: her crippling fear of leaving her house, and the fact that Alex is merely the main character in her best-selling novels. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Jennifer Flackett, Mark Levin (Little Manhattan)

Written by- Joseph Kwong (Growing Pains), Paula Mazur, Mark Levin (Wimbledon), Jennifer Flackett (Madeline, Wimbledon, Little Manhattan)

Starring- Abigail Breslin, Jodie Foster, Gerard Butler

Movieguy’s Verdict- Well, no one needs to wonder when the worst DVD release week of the year will arrive. There are a few weeks every year when only one film is released, but that film usually isn’t one of the year’s worst. There are just so many things that made this film an abomination that I don’t quite know where to begin. The island where most of the film took place was absolutely beautiful, though this was somewhat nullified by the fact that its exotic animal inhabitants were better actors than anyone in this disaster. Enveloped in a level corniness that was almost beyond description it somehow took four writers to construct a screenplay that was 85% unnecessary, obvious dialogue. Painful overacting was present from all parts, and while this is expected from Gerard Butler, Abigail Breslin and Jodie Foster looked noticeably out of place in this cesspool of stupidity and amateurish direction. Their performances were quite poor of course. The film’s putrid musical score was one of the year’s worst, as was the story, which was intended to be lighthearted, but ended up as a display of everything a film should not be. This trashy children’s film masquerading as a Hollywood adventure romp was unwatchable in every respect, and clearly never should have been made. It could have been more easily forgettable if it hadn’t wasted the time and talents of Breslin and Foster.
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7-30-08

1) Doomsday
Plot- Three decades after the lethal Reaper Virus decimated the population of Great Britain, a team of specialists led by Eden Sinclair is dispatched into a hot zone where a new breakout has occurred. Their effort to develop a cure within the confines of a walled-off area quickly devolves into a waking nightmare. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Neil Marshall (Dog Soldiers, The Descent)

Starring- Rhona Mitra, Bob Hoskins, Alexander Siddig, Craig Conway, Malcolm McDowell

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film was the first gut-wrenching letdown of 2008. In 2005, writer / director Neil Marshall wowed and terrified audiences with one of the best horror films of the decade, “The Descent.” His next film took a post-apocalyptic world as its setting, and though the genre can be predictable, it had enormous potential. Marshall’s screenplay and supposed “story” were utterly incoherent, though what I could understand was written at a third grade level. His direction produced not a single moment of visual creativity, relying on pointless gore and pointless nudity. “The Descent” featured great performances, but “Doomsday” featured some of the worst performances of 2008. Talentless TV star Rhona Mitra and the unwatchable Craig Conway led the way in this disaster, and Malcolm McDowell didn’t help. This poor excuse for a movie was totally unwatchable in absolutely every regard.

2) Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay
Plot- Aboard their flight to Amsterdam, Harold and Kumar are caught trying to sneak a bong onboard, the first step in a misadventure that finds them mistaken for terrorists and sent to Guantanamo Bay. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Jon Hurwitz (Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle), Hayden Schlossberg (Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle)

Starring- John Cho, Kal Penn, Neil Patrick Harris, Rob Corddry, Roger Bart, Danneel Harris, Eric Winter, David Krumholtz

Movieguy’s Verdict- From the first scene, it was quite clear that this film would not carry the same wit, humor and charm as “Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle.” Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg began the film with an overly gross sequence that did everything possible to acquire cheap shock value with almost no humor content. Even though Hurwitz and Schlossberg wrote the first film, this screenplay was tragically unfunny. Drifting between fledgling attempts at political satire and stoner jokes that fell flat, the two never reestablished the first film’s witty conversational dynamic between stars John Cho and Kal Penn. Cho and Penn were the best parts of the film, delivering performances on par with the first movie. Unfortunately, these were wasted with awful writing and a terrible story that was quite clichéd, predictable and not even worth telling. Neil Patrick Harris saved the film from being completely humorless, but horribly exaggerated supporting performances led by Rob Corddry were almost as bad as their flimsy characters. With today’s political climate and the surprise success of the first film, this had potential, but became the kind of cheesy and immature non-comedy that makes you cringe.

3) Never Back Down
Plot- At his new high school, a rebellious teen is lured into an underground fight club, where he finds a mentor in a mixed martial arts veteran. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Jeff Wadlow (Cry_Wolf)

Written by- Chris Hauty (Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco)

Starring- Sean Faris, Amber Heard, Cam Gigandet, Evan Peters, Leslie Hope, Djimon Hounsou, Wyatt Smith

Movieguy’s Verdict- Is it “Fight Club” or a corny teen sports movie? Who can tell? With flimsy performances and every teen cliché ever devised, this was a film we can easily do without. Its only notable quality was the direction of Jeff Wadlow, whose camerawork and editing were quite good, bringing out the emotion of the characters in spite of infantile dialogue and a mountain of clichés. A hybrid teen movie and sports movie, this was a film that should never have been made, but Wadlow’s direction prevented it from being unbearable.

4) Shine a Light
Plot- A Rolling Stones concert DVD.

Directed by- Martin Scorsese

Movieguy’s Verdict- For those of you thinking this is a Martin Scorsese documentary about The Rolling Stones, you would be mistaken. This is a concert DVD with a handful of random clips of Rolling Stones interviews cut intermittently into a fantastic live performance. Keith Richards could in fact be the scariest looking person alive (am I the only one who fears that his skin could fall off at any moment?), but Mick Jagger shows his ageless energy and effervescent stage presence in a well shot, amazingly performed and adrenaline fueled concert. If you’re looking for a quality concert DVD, look no further. If you’re looking for a film that will provide an illuminating analysis of one of rock’s most storied bands, look elsewhere.

5) Wargames: The Dead Code
Plot- Computer hacker Will Farmer engages a government super-computer named Ripley in an online terrorist-attack simulation game. Little does Farmer know that Ripley has been designed to appeal to potential terrorists, and certain glitches have turned made him become paranoid. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Stuart Gillard (Kart Racer, RocketMan, Bach’s Fight for Freedom, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III, Taking Liberty, A Man Called Sarge, Paradise)

Written by- Randall M. Badat (Hear No Evil, Surf II)

Starring- Matt Lanter, Amanda Walsh, Susan Glover, Gary Reineke, Colm Feore

Movieguy’s Verdict- This really isn’t a “WarGames” sequel at all. It’s more or less a blatant copy of two excellent films- “2001: A Space Odyssey” and “Enemy of the State.” Regardless, in between numerous plot holes and logistical flaws, the film found plenty of time to incorporate a plethora of high school movie clichés, a pointless Hollywood-like romance and an atmosphere of complete predictability. With that said, the film was actually shot rather well, and Matt Lanter provided a very respectable lead performance. On the other hand, Amanda Walsh was quite awful and was, at times, difficult to watch. It wasn’t totally her fault as her character was beyond absurd, much like the film’s poorly constructed narrative. Despite the fact that its negative traits greatly outweigh its positive ones, the film had a very quick pace and from a purely superficial point of view, did well to hold my attention. It’s not a film I could ever recommend, but if you wound up watching it by mistake, you could do much worse.

6) Lost Boys: The Tribe
Plot- A man’s sister is infected by the leader of a surfer/vampire gang, and must kill him before she gets her first kill and becomes a full fledged member of the undead.

Directed by- P.J. Pesce

Written by- Hans Rodionoff (The Skulls II, Man-Thing, Bag Boy)

Starring- Tad Hilgenbrink, Angus Sutherland, Autumn Reeser, Kyle Cassie, Shaun Sipos, Gabrielle Rose, Corey Feldman

Movieguy’s Verdict- To this day, “The Lost Boys” remains a cult phenomenon and an accurate tribute to the style of the timeless yet dated ‘80s classics. So, a “sequel” made 21 years later and released directly to DVD by a talentless and totally unknown writer and director seems like a surefire hit, right? Ignore that for a moment, and focus on the many reasons this film was awful. The cast of inauthentic twenty-something actors were quite difficult to stomach, much like Hans Rodionoff’s infantile writing. Well, he did write “The Skulls II,” so I suppose he must be great. There’s not exactly a shortage of trashy teen vampire movies, so this film should have been easy to forget. However, Corey Feldman’s atrocious reprisal of his original role will be burned into my brain for some time. There is obviously no reason for this film to exist, and there is definitely no reason for anyone to watch it.
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7-23-08

1) 21
Plot- Based on actual events, six MIT students are trained by one of their professors in the art of card counting, and subsequently take a handful of Vegas casinos for millions. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Robert Luketic (Legally Blonde, Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!, Monster-in-Law)

Written by- Peter Steinfeld (Drowning Mona, Analyze That, Be Cool), Allan Loeb (Things We Lost in the Fire)

Starring- Jim Sturgess, Kevin Spacey, Kate Bosworth, Aaron Yoo, Liza Lapira, Jacob Pitts, Laurence Fishburne, Jack McGee

Movieguy’s Verdict- A good card movie is hard to find these days, and regardless of how Hollywood this film was, it was still very enjoyable. Though his character wasn’t exactly original, Jim Sturgess showed a respectable degree of progression and developed the personality of his character wonderfully, resulting in an excellent performance. The other supporting cast members were good as well, though Kevin Spacey overplayed his part more than a little bit. Robert Luketic’s visual presentation of card playing and card counting was very creative, providing a revealing window into the minds of the characters. The screenplay was above average, capturing the social dynamics between characters, as well as the evolution of Sturgess’ character. The film was completely predictable and highly telegraphed all the way through, but it still evolved into a very enjoyable guilty pleasure with some quality nerd humor.

2) Big Dreams Little Tokyo
Plot- An American obsessed with Japanese culture attempts to sell his translation services, Japanese/English lessons and his book to Japanese people and businessmen. With the help of his Japanese roommate who is training to be a sumo wrestler, he meets a cute Japanese nurse who might bring him customers and love.

Written and Directed by- Dave Boyle

Starring- Dave Boyle, Jayson Watabe, Rachel Morihiro, Drew Knight, Pepe Serna, Michael Yama

Movieguy’s Verdict- The fact that this title does not have a comma (or at least a preposition in the middle) makes me want to strangle someone. Misplaced grammatical rage aside, this film was, perhaps to a lesser extent, the “Napoleon Dynamite” of the year. Dave Boyle’s screenplay made less of an outright effort for humor, but did succeed on entirely on its own wavelength in much the same fashion. There was nothing conventional about Boyle’s characters, who were unquestionably original and quite fascinating. Boyle’s performance was as bizarre as it was fantastic, while Jayson Watabe and Rachel Morihiro proved excellent in their supporting roles. The film was directed very well, but Boyle’s screenplay developed too slowly and doled out plot developments much too sparsely. Some extra humor could have countered this, but in the end, the characters and story were quite satisfying. Be aware that this film, like “Napoleon Dynamite,” is not something that everyone will enjoy. If you don’t know which side of the fence you fall on, give it a try. You might be pleasantly surprised.

3) Autumn Hearts: A New Beginning
Plot- This film tells the story of three people who formed a life-long bond while housed at a detention camp during World War II that are reunited some 35 years later after being separated from one another. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Paolo Barzman (Time Is Money)

Written by- Jefferson Lewis (Ordinary Magic)

Starring- Susan Sarandon, Gabriel Byrne, Christopher Plummer, Max von Sydow, Roy Dupuis

Movieguy’s Verdict- Though it might seem like a sappy fluff piece, this was a sincere, beautiful and moving film. Paolo Barzman’s camerawork was intricate and quite picturesque, which fit nicely with an elegant and powerful score. The acting wasn’t necessarily Oscar-worthy, but Susan Sarandon, Gabriel Byrne, Christopher Plummer and Max von Sydow gave authentic and entirely believable performances. Sarandon was the most impressive of the group. Characters were introduced well and developed nicely overall, though one in particular was not properly included in the story. Jefferson Lewis took care to capture the complex mental states of the characters, allowing past experiences to weave seamlessly with the present. While its content was nothing new, the film was psychologically sincere and quite beautifully done, despite feeling a little slow in places.

4) Turn the River
Plot- A pool shark takes the ultimate gamble when she kidnaps her own son and flees her ex-husband. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Chris Eigeman

Starring- Famke Janssen, Jaymie Dornan, Rip Torn, Matt Ross, Lois Smith, Marin Hinkle

Movieguy’s Verdict- Most frustratingly, this film wasted a fantastic performance by Famke Janssen. Janssen’s ability to reach into the depths of her character was fierce and suffocating at times, but even she could not save the film. Its main problem was story- there was none. Chris Eigeman didn’t seem to have much of a vision for the path the film would take, as he seemed to put all of his efforts in creating a gritty and authentic gambling environment for the characters, then proceeding to ignore any sense of plot or story development. Janssen’s performance did evoke some of the emotions that the character was intended to bring out, but the screenplay was vacant and uneventful. This film would only work for the most intense Famke Janssen fans, or anyone who is willing to enjoy a great performance in a poorly developed film.

5) Dark Honeymoon
Plot- During a young couple’s honeymoon on the Oregon coast, a man uncovers the terrible truth about his new wife. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- David O’Malley (Writer of: Alien Zone, The Boogens, Snowballing, Kid Colter, Edge of Honor, Fatal Instinct; Director of: Kalamazoo?, Easy Wheels, Kid Colter, Awesome Lotus, Guardian of the Wilderness)

Starring- Lindy Booth, Nick Cornish, Roy Scheider, Tia Carrere, Daryl Hannah, Eric Roberts, Caker Folley, Wes Ramsey, Craig Shoemaker

Movieguy’s Verdict- This isn’t a good week for lead actresses. Famke Janssen’s brilliant performance was wasted in this week’s “Turn the River,” and now Lindy Booth’s creepy and highly disturbing performance was also let down by an asinine story, cheap editing and generally incompetent direction. Though David O’Malley has been involved in many awful movies since the ‘70s, his attempt to craft a chilling Hitchcockian thriller did not go unnoticed. Early on, the psychological instability of Booth’s character was quite unnerving, and created potential that never had a chance to be fulfilled. The film would quickly unravel at the hands of a screenplay plagued with mistakes, fatal flaws, terrible supporting characters and the most obviously thoughtless brand of predictability. Though the film turned out to be mostly a joke, Booth’s performance provided brief legitimacy to an O’Malley film, which is hard to do.
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7-16-08

1) The Bank Job
Plot- Based on one of the biggest crimes in British history, a group of unseasoned criminals are lured into a heist, thinking they are going to rip off the safety deposit boxes of some of London’s wealthiest citizens. Instead, they are unknowing recruits on a top-secret mission to steal photos of a Royal princess who was snapped in some compromising situations. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Roger Donaldson (Sleeping Dogs, Nutcase, Smash Palace, The Bounty, Marie, No Way Out, Cocktail, Cadillac Man, White Sands, The Getaway, Species, Dante’s Peak, Thirteen Days, The Recruit, The World’s Fastest Indian)

Written by- Dick Clement (The Jokers, Otley, Hannibal Brooks, To Catch a Spy, Villain, Porridge, Sunset Limousine, Water, Vice Versa, The Commitments, Excess Baggage, Still Crazy, Honest, Goal!, Flushed Away, Across the Universe), Ian La Frenais (The Jokers, Otley, Hannibal Brooks, To Catch a Spy, Villain, Porridge, Sunset Limousine, Water, Vice Versa, The Commitments, Excess Baggage, Still Crazy, Honest, Goal!, Flushed Away, Across the Universe)

Starring- Jason Statham, Saffron Burrows, Stephen Campbell Moore, Daniel Mays, James Faulkner, Alki David, Michael Jibson, Georgia Taylor, Richard Lintern, Chris Owen

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film took a very interesting, and rather odd piece of history and turned it into a very typical, yet engrossing Hollywood crime film. Jason Statham took a break from his usually awful action trash and gave a solid performance, as did Saffron Burrows and Stephen Campbell Moore. Roger Donaldson created a good atmosphere of suspense and excitement down the stretch, despite a beginning that was disconnected with a tendency to be overly dramatic. However he lacked even the slightest bit of visual creativity, which didn’t technically hurt the film, but prevented it from being the best it could be. Aside from a few unnecessary scenes, the story was well told and captured the audience’s interest from beginning to end. Though it probably should have been better, this was a very solid Hollywood crime film.

2) Penelope
Plot- Penelope is a modern-day princess who was born with a pig’s snout — a curse that can only be broken when she finds true love with a prince. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Mark Palansky

Written by- Leslie Caveny

Starring- Christina Ricci, James McAvoy, Catherine O’Hara, Peter Dinklage, Reese Witherspoon, Richard E. Grant, Simon Woods

Movieguy’s Verdict- For what essentially amounted to a film about a girl with pig face trying to find love, this turned out to be quite good. Overall, the film carried a very heartfelt and often depressing feel- not the fairy tale cheesiness to which the trailers alluded. Christina Ricci gave a solid performance, though James McAvoy stole the show as he displayed great energy and remarkable presence. Peter Dinklage was also excellent, as usual, in his supporting role. Mark Palansky’s direction was flowing and actually quite beautiful, turning a child’s fairy tale into a surprisingly mature and tender love story. Despite its childish moments, this was a pretty successful film considering the subject matter.

3) Shutter
Plot- A young American couple honeymooning in Tokyo discover strange, ghostly images in the photographs they’re taking. Are these images imaginary or real — and how are they related to a tragic accident they recently witnessed? (imdb.com)

Directed by- Masayuki Ochiai

Written by- Luke Dawson

Starring- Joshua Jackson, Rachael Taylor, Megumi Okina, David Denman, John Hensley, Maya Hazen

Movieguy’s Verdict- Obviously, there is a fairly simple (and usually asinine) formula to these Japanese horror remakes, but formulaic or not, it’s always helpful to have a story. This film contained barely half of a flawed story, which wasn’t embellished at all by Masayuki Ochiai’s bland and visually uninteresting direction. Before the story burned itself out, the film seemed to carry a promising mysterious feel to it, but with almost no development of any kind, that didn’t last long. Joshua Jackson was good considering what he had to work with, but Rachael Taylor was simply awful. This film took a very intriguing concept, wasted it on a non-existent story and sealed its fate with a ridiculously moronic ending. Skip this one.

4) Meet Bill
Plot- A man fed up with his job and married to a cheating wife reluctantly mentors a rebellious teen. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Bernie Goldmann, Melisa Wallack

Written by- Melisa Wallack

Starring- Aaron Eckhart, Elizabeth Banks, Logan Lerman, Holmes Osborne, Todd Louiso, Jessica Alba, Timothy Olyphant, Reed Diamond, Kristen Wiig, Jason Sudeikis

Movieguy’s Verdict- Though the characters were quite transparent and the story was very predictable, this was a strangely enjoyable film with a good bit of personality. Melisa Wallack did not appear to put a great deal of effort into filling her screenplay with jokes and gags, but created opportunities for the situations to generate their own quirky humor. Wallack devised a story with a good group of characters in mind, but she developed them with the sort of haphazardly conceived corniness that typically ruins films like this. Aaron Eckhart and Logan Lerman brought a certain degree of style and charisma to the film which helped it considerably, as did the clever supporting performances of Kristen Wiig and Jason Sudeikis. This film was the product of writing that seemed rushed together and never revised or checked. It contained plenty of good ideas but no one seemed able to correct its most obvious flaws, or improve an obviously inconsistent script. In spite of all of that, it turned out to be a positive, humorous and mostly enjoyable experience. Just imagine how good it could have been if Wallack was paired with a good writer.

5) Heavy Petting
Plot- A man falls in love with a woman but must battle with her dog for her affections.

Written and Directed by- Marcel Sarmiento (It’s Better to Be Wanted for Murder Than Not to Be Wanted at All)

Starring- Brendan Hines, Malin Akerman, Kevin Sussman, Steve Rosen, Sam Coppola, Juan Carlos Hernández

Movieguy’s Verdict- Built around a decent concept and a great lead performance by Brendan Hines, this film had its bright spots. However, in the end it isn’t really worth watching. Marcel Sarmiento did well to incorporate some clever humor into the story, but his reliance on clichés and tired romantic comedy plot developments seemed to nullify its redeeming qualities. The film was rather well acted with Hines, Malin Akerman and Kevin Sussman delivering solid performances. All of its problems fell on the writing, which was as transparent and clichéd as romantic comedies can possibly get. Though, if you wish to compare it to your average romantic comedy, the romantic relationship was haphazardly created and quite poorly maintained throughout the film. Overall, the film was clever in parts, though it turned out to be mostly forgettable.

6) College Road Trip
Plot- When an overachieving high school student decides to travel around the country to choose the perfect college, her overprotective cop father decides to accompany her in order to keep her on the straight and narrow. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Roger Kumble (Director of: Cruel Intentions, Cruel Intentions 2, The Sweetest Thing, Just Friends; Writer of: Unveiled, Senior Trip, Provocateur, Cruel Intentions, Cruel Intentions 2)

Written by- Emi Mochizuki, Carrie Evans, Cinco Paul (Bubble Boy, The Santa Clause 2, Special), Ken Daurio (Bubble Boy, The Santa Clause 2, Special)

Starring- Raven-Symoné, Martin Lawrence, Donny Osmond

Movieguy’s Verdict- If ever there was a man more wrongly associated with comedy (other than John C. Reilly) it is Martin Lawrence. His standup material is average, but his comedic sensibilities on camera are as non-existent as his general acting talent. If you needed an indicator of how poor this really was, you’ll find it in the fact that Donny Osmond was its only bright spot. However depressing that may seem, Osmond was absolutely hilarious in a small and completely off the wall role. Accompanying the typical family corniness was a horrible musical number and pig, which had nothing to do with anything. Raven-Symoné gave a horrible performance in a film that was as poorly conceived as any Disney trash out there.
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7-9-08

1) Chop Shop
Plot- Alejandro, a tough and ambitious Latino street orphan on the verge of adolescence, lives and works in an auto-body repair shop in a sprawling junkyard on the outskirts of Queens, New York. In this chaotic world of adults, young Alejandro struggles to make a better life for himself and his 16-year-old sister, Isamar. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Ramin Bahrani (Strangers, Man Push Cart)

Written by- Bahareh Azimi, Ramin Bahrani (Strangers, Man Push Cart)

Starring- Alejandro Polanco, Isamar Gonzales, Ahmad Razvi, Carlos Zapata, Rob Sowulski

Movieguy’s Verdict- This is a film that might not be easy to watch, but is ultimately very rewarding in a variety of different ways. Ramin Bahrani’s direction went well beyond what anyone could possibly imagine in terms of realism. The raw presence of the characters caused them to jump though the screen and transcend the level of naturalism you’d find in a first class documentary. Alejandro Polanco’s performance was beyond impressive. Along with every other member of the cast, he fostered a freakishly strong connection between the audience and his character. Even though he is only a young child, his mannerisms, gestures and facial expressions were representative of a gifted actor with decades of work to his credit. Aside from impressive realism, the film contained a sound narrative structure that relied as much on symbolic subtleties as it did on your emotional response to the characters. With this film, Bahrani explores the human condition in such a magnificent and unique way that it will remind you of the power a film can contain.

2) Stop-Loss
Plot- Back home in Texas after fighting in Iraq, a soldier refuses to return to battle despite the government mandate requiring him to do so. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Kimberly Peirce (Boys Don’t Cry)

Written by- Mark Richard, Kimberly Peirce (Boys Don’t Cry)

Starring- Ryan Phillippe, Abbie Cornish, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Channing Tatum, Timothy Olyphant, Ciarán Hinds, Victor Rasuk, Rob Brown

Movieguy’s Verdict- There have been many good and many bad movies about the Iraq war, but this one was one of the best – until the ending. Many people have been waiting a long time for Kimberly Peirce’s follow-up to “Boys Don’t Cry,” and until the ending, she did not disappoint. Her direction was brutally realistic and her writing was haunting, providing a very disturbing look at the situations of mental and physical displacement experienced by soldiers. Her direction showed phenomenal depth, visually and psychologically, which was aided by wonderful performances from Ryan Phillippe, Abbie Cornish, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Channing Tatum and Timothy Olyphant. In fact, Phillippe’s powerhouse performance was probably the best of his career. And then came the ending, which made the most powerful and poignant parts of the film lack purpose and meaning. In fairness, the ending did have a meaning, just not the one that best reflected the most pivotal aspects of the story, philosophy and arguments. As monumentally disappointing as it turned out to be, this could have been one of the year’s best. Now it’s basically just another movie made about the Iraq war.

3) The Ruins
Plot- A Mexican vacation takes a turn for the worse for a group of Americans when they head into the jungle to look for the missing brother of a fellow traveler. A foreboding encounter with a couple locals is only a hint of the evil that awaits them on a patch of secluded hillside. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Carter Smith

Written by- Scott B. Smith (A Simple Plan)

Starring- Jonathan Tucker, Jena Malone, Shawn Ashmore, Laura Ramsey, Joe Anderson, Sergio Calderón

Movieguy’s Verdict- Though this film contained some great ideas and pretty solid imagery, it seemed more obsessed with showcasing gore than an actual story. It’s not difficult to allow the beautiful and haunting scenery to captivate you, but don’t make the mistake of ignoring the fact that the film had a very one-dimensional and extremely underdeveloped story. It’s easy to forget that Scott B. Smith is an Oscar nominee for his writing of “A Simple Plan.” When comparing it to this exercise in amateurism and excess, it turned out to be little more than a standard teen horror film. Jonathan Tucker and Jena Malone gave good performances under the circumstances, but they did falter at times. It’s unfair to blame the film’s shortcomings on them, or director Carter Smith, who directed exactly what he was given. His heavily embellished gore and brutality showed he was attempting to offset the fact that there wasn’t enough material in the screenplay to fill half of a feature film. Before it was clear that the film was short on content, a great potential for suspense and visceral terror existed, and was actually present in small doses. In all this was a disappointment.

4) Sleepwalking
Plot- The drama follows an 11-year-old girl’s struggle to come to terms with her mother’s abandonment. (imdb.com)

Directed by- William Maher

Written by- Zac Stanford (The Chumscrubber)

Starring- Nick Stahl, AnnaSophia Robb, Dennis Hopper, Charlize Theron, Woody Harrelson, Deborra-Lee Furness

Movieguy’s Verdict- Great acting came close to holding this film together, but the shortcomings of the writing ultimately took over. Nick Stahl and AnnaSophia Robb gave great performances, but the real conversation piece of the film was Charlize Theron, who was poised to take over the film with a powerful and dynamic performance of a troubled and confused character. Disappointingly, the inexplicably minuscule amount of screen time she received hurt the film more than words can describe. Aside from the performances, there simply wasn’t much to take from this film. The narrative was weak at best as the writing never fostered any sort of emotional connection between the characters. Furthermore, there just wasn’t much of a plot present. It was especially frustrating to watch what was supposed to be a character study of growth and realization only to realize neither actually occurred. William Maher’s bleak camerawork and landscape created the proper atmosphere, but, like “The Ruins,” there wasn’t really much of a story.

5) December Ends
Plot- After his mother dies, a young man is left to take care of himself and his emotionally crippled and alcoholic father. The situation is complicated further when, in an effort to pick up extra money, he starts running drugs for a local dealer, and proceeds to fall for the dealer’s girlfriend.

Written and Directed by- Lee Toland Krieger

Starring- Josh Janowicz, Alex Thayer, Justin Matthews, Jacob Reynolds, Bryant Botero, Bill Buell, Barrett James, Scott Brandon

Movieguy’s Verdict- This is a story you’ve seen thousands of times. Lee Toland Krieger showed flashes of talent with some of the visual elements, but overall film fell short. The film was completely predictable, and, considering the nature of the story, didn’t actually contain the slightest hint of originality. That’s not something you want to say about a filmmaker’s debut. Josh Janowicz was very strong as the film’s lead, and carried the film much farther than it rightly should have gone. Barrett James was quite over the top with a performance that missed the core of the film’s most pivotal supporting character. I’m still trying to make sense of the movie’s overly dramatic tagline “Love. Will. Destroy,” which really had nothing to do with anything. Predictable and quite forgettable, there really isn’t much else to say here.

6) Superhero Movie
Plot- Another spoof movie.

Written and Directed by- Craig Mazin (RocketMan, Senseless, The Specials, Scary Movie 3, Scary Movie 4)

Starring- Drake Bell, Leslie Nielsen, Sara Paxton

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film wasn’t as bad as the other worthless spoof films, but that’s not saying much at all. Craig Mazin did find a way to create a few slightly clever laughs from random things, but the genre’s usual over the top stupidity was present throughout most of the film. I found it interesting that the quality of the writing was basically the same as the abysmal “Spider-Man” film it was making fun of. This film didn’t rely so heavily on pop culture references like its ____ Movie predecessors, but there was plenty of blatant stupidity and awful acting to make up for that. Its musical score was as horrible as any Hollywood action film, which further accentuated its high levels of corniness. Though not as painful as the other spoof movies, this was still a pretty horrible movie.
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7-2-08

1) Vantage Point
Plot- Five different points-of-view are woven together to chronicle an attempt on the life of the President of the United States. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Pete Travis

Written by- Barry Levy

Starring- Dennis Quaid, Matthew Fox, Forest Whitaker, Bruce McGill, Edgar Ramirez, Saïd Taghmaoui, Ayelet Zurer, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, William Hurt, James LeGros, Eduardo Noriega, Richard T. Jones

Movieguy’s Verdict- If you’re looking for a pure adrenaline rush, this film is the film for you. Great camerawork and editing tied a taut multi-level story together. Writing isn’t usually an action film’s forte, but Barry Levy did well to create a strong story with smart dialogue. The film featured great performances from a huge cast led by Dennis Quaid, Forest Whitaker, Matthew Fox, Edgar Ramirez and William Hurt, as well as a fantastic car chase scene. This was one of the most exciting films I’ve seen in a while, and even though it was told without predictability, its ending didn’t address the enormity of the film’s events. Nevertheless, this was a very special film that everyone should enjoy.

2) Drillbit Taylor
Plot- When two freshmen are tormented by a bully during their first day of high school, they enlist the services of a solider-of-fortune, fully unaware that he is anything but skilled in the art of protection. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Steven Brill (Writer of: The Mighty Ducks, D2: The Mighty Ducks, Heavy Weights, D3: The Mighty Ducks, Ready to Rumble, Little Nicky; Director of: Heavy Weights, Little Nicky, Mr. Deeds, Without a Paddle)

Written by- Kristofor Brown, Seth Rogen (Superbad)

Starring- Owen Wilson, Josh Peck, Alex Frost, Leslie Mann

Movieguy’s Verdict- The only thing this film had going for it was the fact that Josh Peck and Alex Frost were cast very well, and offered very realistic and highly believable performances. However, even perfect casting couldn’t hide the fact that this film’s horribly exaggerated high school antics were simply too ridiculous to stomach. There were scenes which carried a subtle element of soft humor, but overall the writing was extremely uninteresting and remarkably dull. It also boasted so many enormous plot problems that the film should never have been made at all. Owen Wilson was wasted on a horrible script that offered as much exaggeration as stupidity. I realize that Seth Rogen wrote a wonderful script for “Superbad,” but look at the director’s dismal resume and ask yourself how this could have turned out any other way.

3) Sex and Death 101
Plot- A guy’s life is turned around by an email, which includes the names of everyone he’s had sex with and ever will have sex with. His situation gets worse when he encounters a femme fatale who targets men guilty of sex crime. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Daniel Waters (Writer of: Heathers, The Adventures of Ford Fairlane, Hudson Hawk, Batman Returns, Demolition Man, Happy Campers; Director of: Happy Campers)

Starring- Simon Baker, Winona Ryder, Neil Flynn, Patton Oswalt, Mindy Cohn, Dash Mihok, Julie Bowen

Movieguy’s Verdict- Since his outstanding screenplay for “Heathers,” Daniel Waters hasn’t written anything worth watching. With the exception of a few scenes with clever dialogue, Waters did very little to write home about in his latest film. Simon Baker did bring personality and style to the starring role, but his character of a suave womanizer was neither complicated nor difficult. Performances were good all around, with the exception of the trashy porn star-like women Waters placed throughout the film. Luckily they didn’t have to do very much. Waters’ narrative seemed to stumble over itself time and time again, never really establishing any kind of rhythm or, at the very least, a plot that had any hope of sustaining the film’s lengthy two hour running time. With an overarching story that had the potential to nicely serve as a dark comedy, the film turned out to be mostly unfunny and rather dull.

4) Meet the Browns
Plot- A single mother takes her family to Georgia for the funeral of her father — a man she never met. There, her clan is introduced to their relatives: the crass, fun-loving Brown family. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by the King of Clichés and Stereotypes- Tyler Perry (Diary of a Mad Black Woman, Madea’s Family Reunion, Daddy’s Little Girls, Why Did I Get Married?)

Starring- Angela Bassett, Tamela J. Mann, David Mann, Rick Fox

Movieguy’s Verdict- I’ve suffered through enough of Tyler Perry’s movies to know that the man has no talent whatsoever. If it’s possible to compare the collected works of a talentless person, I am able to say that this film is by far Perry’s worst, and is a lock to be one of the worst films of 2008. Perry injects more thoughtless clichés and stereotypes into his films than any filmmaker in history, and does so with the worst achievable level of “writing,” if that’s what we’re calling it. With no story, terrible characters, exaggerated situations and sappy predictability, this screenplay was by far the worst of the year. A film like this doesn’t need clever direction or camerawork, but Perry’s total lack of directorial ability resulted in awkward camera angles and choppy, inconsistent editing. Angela Bassett gave a horrible performance as did everyone else involved. However, I think it’s impossible to give a good performance trapped inside the hazardous wasteland of a Tyler Perry movie. Perry is working on becoming one of the worst filmmakers in history, and his latest disaster is just another reason why.
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6-25-08

1) In Bruges
Plot- After a botched job in London, two hit men are ordered to cool out in Bruges, Belgium, where their perspectives on life and death become violently skewed as they begin to acclimate to the capital city. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Martin McDonagh

Starring- Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Ralph Fiennes, Ciarán Hinds, Zeljko Ivanek, Clémence Poésy

Movieguy’s Verdict- I don’t think anyone has tested Colin Farrell’s comedic abilities before now, but this film showed that his sense of timing, facial expressions and deliveries were nothing short of genius. A fantastic supporting performance from Brendan Gleeson helped greatly, but Martin McDonagh’s brilliantly funny, smart and tremendously well written screenplay was the film’s basis for success. Farrell and Gleeson formed an odd couple vibe, which McDonagh developed with intelligent conversations and a dark, biting edge to what was actually a serious story. McDonagh’s brooding direction fit perfectly with Bruges’ macabre landscape, but was also brilliantly juxtaposed with the film’s comedic genius. A smart black comedy with fantastic performances, brilliant writing and great characters, this is a can’t miss.

2) Charlie Bartlett
Plot- Initially failing to fit in at his new public school, Charlie Bartlett appoints himself as the new resident therapist, where he doles out advice, and the occasional prescription or two. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Jon Poll

Written by- Gustin Nash

Starring- Anton Yelchin, Robert Downey Jr., Hope Davis, Kat Dennings

Movieguy’s Verdict- Anton Yelchin played a very similar character in a film called “Fierce People,” which failed because of his dull, unconvincing performance. This time Yelchin got it right, delivering an energetic, comical, smart and sincere performance. Though his realism was lacking at times, Gustin Nash wrote a screenplay full of interesting, dynamic characters, offbeat humor and intelligent psychological concepts. Robert Downey Jr. was fantastic in his supporting role, matching Yelchin’s energy and charisma in every scene. Also great were Kat Dennings and Hope Davis in smaller roles. Smart, funny and sincere, this poorly promoted film was quite excellent.

3) Definitely, Maybe
Plot- As Will Hayes explains the complexities of his pending divorce to his daughter, Maya, he opens up about the three other women with whom he has had relationships — a process that gets him to reconsider some of his past decisions. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Adam Brooks (Director of: Almost You, Red Riding Hood, The Invisible Circus; Writer of: French Kiss, Beloved, Practical Magic, The Invisible Circus, Wimbledon, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason)

Starring- Ryan Reynolds, Rachel Weisz, Abigail Breslin, Isla Fisher, Elizabeth Banks, Kevin Kline, Derek Luke

Movieguy’s Verdict- With a great cast and a filmmaker who has been making romantic comedies for many years, this film seemed like a sure bet. For the most part, it was. Adam Brooks wrote the relationships between characters very well, creating a strong father-daughter bond, as well as a good romantic atmosphere overall. Ryan Reynolds led a wonderful cast of excellent performances, each of which added a different dimension to the film. For as well written as the film was, I was shocked that an entire plot was totally unnecessary, bringing down both the mood and pace of the film. Backed with moments of subtle comedy and lighthearted antics, this was a tender and heartfelt film which seemed very true to life. For the romantics out there, this is one you should see.

4) The Spiderwick Chronicles
Plot- Upon moving into the run-down Spiderwick Estate with their mother, twin brothers Jared and Simon Grace, along with their sister Mallory, find themselves pulled into an alternate world full of faeries and other creatures. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Mark Waters (Head Over Heels, Freaky Friday, Mean Girls, Just Like Heaven)

Written by- Karey Kirkpatrick (The Rescuers Down Under, James and the Giant Peach, Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves, Chicken Run, The Little Vampire, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Over the Hedge, Charlotte’s Web), David Berenbaum (Elf, The Haunted Mansion, Zoom), John Sayles (Piranha, The Lady in Red, Return of the Secaucus Seven, Alligator, Battle Beyond the Stars, The Howling, The Challenge, Lianna, Baby It’s You, Enormous Changes at the Last Minute, The Brother from Another Planet, The Clan of the Cave Bear, Wild Thing, Matewan, Eight Men Out, Breaking In, City of Hope, Passion Fish, Men of War, The Secret of Roan Inish, Lone Star, Men with Guns, Limbo, Sunshine State, Silver City, Honeydripper)

Starring- Freddie Highmore, Sarah Bolger, David Strathairn, Martin Short, Nick Nolte, Mary-Louise Parker, Seth Rogen, Joan Plowright

Movieguy’s Verdict- Of the constantly expanding children’s fantasy genre, this film began well, but tailed off with a poorly conceived ending. Mark Waters directed the film with good camerawork, and a dark and creepy visual presentation, which seemed to legitimize a great deal of its fantasy elements. The film was quite short and wasted no time as a quickly moving plot carried a well written and interesting story. Acting was strong with the highly talented Freddie Highmore playing two characters wonderfully. The film was highly creative and seemed to capture both the natural and supernatural with precision, but a sappy, poorly written and anti-climactic ending diminished the film’s effectiveness. Still, it turned out to be a very solid fantasy film for both age groups.

5) 10,000 B.C.
Plot- A young mammoth hunter journeys through uncharted territory to secure the future of his tribe, and save the woman he loves. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Roland Emmerich (Moon 44, Universal Soldier, Stargate, Independence Day, Godzilla, The Patriot, The Day After Tomorrow)

Written by- Roland Emmerich (Moon 44, Stargate, Independence Day, Godzilla, The Day After Tomorrow), Harald Kloser

Starring- Steven Strait, Camilla Belle, Marco Khan, Cliff Curtis, Nathanael Baring

Movieguy’s Verdict-
The first 20 minutes of this film were extremely poor, featuring forced acting, exaggerated characters, horrible music and cheesy action sequences. This died down after a while, but the film was always corny, and had a very flimsy, put on feel at all times. Camilla Belle and Steven Strait gave average, but ultimately forgettable performances in a film which only had top notch CGI to offer. In spite of exaggerated writing and bland direction, the film did manage to take the audience on a journey that felt captivating and exciting enough to keep their attention. That still doesn’t change the fact that the film didn’t actually accomplish anything.

6) The Signal
Plot- A horror film told in three parts from three perspectives, in which a mysterious transmission which invades every cell phone, radio and TV, turning people into killers. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- David Bruckner, Dan Bush, Jacob Gentry (The Lady from Sockholm)

Starring- Anessa Ramsey, Justin Welborn, AJ Bowen, Scott Poythress, Cheri Christian, Christopher Thomas

Movieguy’s Verdict- If you want to talk about disappointing films, you definitely need to talk about this one. The film was told in three parts, the first of which was quite excellent. Directors David Bruckner, Dan Bush and Jacob Gentry crafted the story with style, fantastic editing and a certain understated beauty that most horror films don’t have. It was well acted, well written and developed nicely, which paved the way for a project with tremendous potential. The second part was where the film completely fell apart. It’s sad when you think that this film’s glory can basically be confined to 30 minutes, but it’s true. The second segment blindsided the audience with a barrage of highly exaggerated horror comedy that ranged from slightly clever to completely moronic. The promise that the first segment showed was completely devoured in scene after scene of idiotic, laughable gore and pointless killing. Moreover, the story had almost completely fallen apart by this point, and more than half the film remained. The cheesy comedy of the second segment did not carry over to the final portion of the film, but the laughably excessive gore only increased, as did the film’s pride in running a fantastic plot. Throughout it all, the film did feature excellence in camerawork, editing and sound effects, but the characters and story became so ridiculous that none of that seemed relevant. A massive disappointment on numerous levels, this is one to avoid.
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6-18-08

1) The Grand
Plot- An improvisational comedy using a handful of actors playing characters competing in an actual poker tournament. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Zak Penn

Written by- Zak Penn (PCU, Inspector Gadget, Behind Enemy Lines, X2, Incident at Loch Ness, Suspect Zero, Elektra, X-Men: The Last Stand, The Incredible Hulk), Matt Bierman

Starring- Woody Harrelson, Cheryl Hines, Dennis Farina, David Cross, Chris Parnell, Richard Kind, Werner Herzog, Judy Greer, Estelle Harris, Ray Romano, Michael McKean, Michael Karnow, Jason Alexander, Hank Azaria

Movieguy’s Verdict- There are plenty of moronic ideas for comedies these days, and most of them appear to star Adam Sandler. However, there are a couple of good ones each year, and this film is certainly in the latter category. Zak Penn has been a Hollywood screenwriter for quite some time, and his involvement on many atrocious projects might indicate that he is totally talentless. After watching this film, it is clear that he has a flair for smart comedy. It might also help that over 80% of the dialogue was improvised by talented comedic actors. There just aren’t many improvisational comedies out there anymore, but Penn’s decision to combine some of today’s most talented comedic improvisers (David Cross, Cheryl Hines, Chris Parnell and Richard Kind) paid dividends. He also hit a home run with the casting of Woody Harrelson as the film’s most prominent character. Perhaps Harrelson is not known for his comedic prowess, but his deliveries, mannerisms and decision making were indicative of a man who was a seasoned master. He excelled in his bizarre character, as did every other cast member except Jason Alexander. Combining great talent and countless colorful personalities, this film was hilarious from beginning to end, and is clearly one of the year’s best comedies.

2) Cassandra’s Dream
Plot- In south London, two brothers in need of financial help turn to their rich uncle for aid, however, he proposes they commit a crime for him in return. A moral struggle ensues as each brother deals with the implications of the crime in different ways.

Written and Directed by- Woody Allen

Starring- Ewan McGregor, Colin Farrell, Hayley Atwell, Tom Wilkinson

Movieguy’s Verdict- In keeping with his “Match Point” form, Woody Allen’s latest drama was absolutely top notch. Though his screenplay was not as deeply philosophical as “Interiors” or “Match Point,” his themes and ideas were highly thought-provoking and perfectly crafted in this dark tale of misplaced ambition and moral decay. His direction was amazing as he skillfully crafted each scene with the subtle, nuanced touch that he has perfected over the years. Allen’s dramas seem to have an elegantly haunting style all their own, and the tension, suspense and symbolism were presented with such grace that the slow decomposition of the characters felt eerily natural. The casting of Ewan McGregor and Colin Farrell was excellent. The two complimented one another perfectly, and their performances were indeed stellar. Each character had his own particular quirks and challenges which the two versatile and talented actors met with ease, and Allen’s tutelage of course. In all, Allen’s latest film does not disappoint.

3) Be Kind Rewind
Plot- Unaware that he has a magnetized brain, a man accidentally erases every tape at the video store where his friend works. In order to satisfy the store’s most loyal renter, an aging woman with signs of dementia, the two men set out to remake the lost films. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Michel Gondry (Human Nature, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Science of Sleep)

Starring- Jack Black, Mos Def, Danny Glover, Mia Farrow, Melonie Diaz

Movieguy’s Verdict- In the most literal sense of the word, Michel Gondry is a genius. Every film he’s been a part of has existed in its own universe, accessing a very peculiar and creative level of consciousness. Starring Jack Black and Mos Def, this project could be considered the most mainstream of Gondry’s work to date, but his ingenuity and creativity had nowhere to hide. Perhaps the film lacked the visual touch of “Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind” or “The Science of Sleep,” but an inventive story and two highly bizarre characters made for a unique and ultimately touching cinematic experience. Gondry’s writing was off the wall and hilarious, perfectly complimenting Black and Def, who gave excellent performances. Mia Farrow was somewhat wasted in a basically insignificant role, while Danny Glover excelled in his small performance. Despite Gondry’s genius, he did not handle transitions between a few key plot developments very well, though the film was so bizarre it somehow turned out to be impervious to plot holes. In the end, it’s a film you’ll either love or hate, but you simply must give it a chance.

4) Fool’s Gold
Plot- A new clue to the whereabouts of a lost treasure rekindles a married couple’s sense of adventure — and their estranged romance. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Andy Tennant (It Takes Two, Fools Rush In, Ever After, Anna and the King, Sweet Home Alabama, Hitch)

Written by- John Claflin (Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid), Daniel Zelman (Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid), Andy Tennant (Ever After)

Starring- Matthew McConaughey, Kate Hudson, Donald Sutherland, Alexis Dziena, Ewen Bremner, Ray Winstone, Kevin Hart, Malcolm-Jamal Warner

Movieguy’s Verdict- Though this film began as an innocent and entertaining guilty pleasure, it ended as a painfully awful piece of Hollywood trash. Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson are talented performers with charisma and personality, but none of that was present in this film. Donald Sutherland was wasted in a horrible role with a terrible accent. The film was entertaining for a short while, but an unbearably dumb story that kept trying to extend itself turned out to be too much to handle. Andy Tennant and the idiot writers of “Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid” seemed hell-bent to achieve the maximum level of corniness and Hollywood cheesiness, and succeeded in doing just that. Tennant did capture the great scenery of the film’s lush tropical setting, but highly exaggerated characters, moronic writing, a putrid background score and one horrible action sequence after another made this an unwatchable disaster.

5) Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins
Plot- A popular talk-show host leaves Los Angeles to reunite with his family in the deep South. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Malcolm D. Lee (The Best Man, Undercover Brother, Roll Bounce)

Starring- Martin Lawrence, James Earl Jones, Margaret Avery, Joy Bryant, Cedric the Entertainer, Nicole Ari Parker, Michael Clarke Duncan, Mike Epps, Mo’Nique

Movieguy’s Verdict- Before I saw this movie, I would have had no trouble believing this was the latest Tyler Perry project. After all, predictable, highly telegraphed characters are one of Perry’s trademarks. While the film did feature exaggerated and mostly ridiculous characters, and was highly predictable from start to finish, it was saved by its strong comedic edge. Led by a hilarious Mike Epps and a surprisingly funny Michael Clarke Duncan, Malcolm D. Lee got away with writing absurd characters and a sappy story by creating a consistent level of humor throughout the film. Martin Lawrence has never been funny in any of the awful movies in which he’s starred, and could have brought the film down had Lee not cast him as the “straight man” without any comedic responsibilities. Joy Bryant was particularly awful in a performance that matched the stupidity of her character. Mo’Nique wasn’t much better. This film’s comedic value cannot be ignored, but its predictability, terrible characters and Joy Bryant prevented it from being memorable.

6) Jack and Jill vs. the World
Plot- Jack is a NYC advertising exec with a life as glossy as the ads he spins. Jill is new to the city, with nothing to stand on but her fiery personality and romantic ideals. Opposites attract, and together they author their own manifesto of “rules to live by.” But Jill betrays Jack by violating rule one – Be Honest. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Vanessa Parise (Kiss the Bride)

Written by- Vanessa Parise (Kiss the Bride), Peter Stebbings

Starring- Freddie Prinze Jr., Taryn Manning, Vanessa Parise, Kelly Rowan, Peter Stebbings, Hannah Lochner, Robin Dunne, Charles Martin Smith, Robert Forster

Movieguy’s Verdict- Though this looks like a film that could be atrocious, it actually did a number of things well even if the overall result was less than great. The film featured a good story and what seemed to be competent direction, but faltered in a big way with the inconsistent performances of Freddie Prinze Jr. and Taryn Manning. Both played their parts well for roughly 80% of the film, but wavered in the most difficult and important moments as the content seemed slightly beyond the scope of their acting ranges. Writers Vanessa Parise and Peter Stebbings gave the characters interesting quirks and made them believable, but sadly abandoned this in favor of a conventional and ultimately predictable romance. Also, the subplots were somewhat poorly conceived, which only accentuated the film’s romantic clichés. Though it wasn’t a fluff piece, it probably could have been reworked and acted much more effectively for a better result.
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6-11-08

1) Funny Games
Plot- Two assailants infiltrate a cabin in the woods and, with unexpected sophistication, put a vacationing family through a series of psychologically and physically abusive games. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Michael Haneke

Starring- Naomi Watts, Tim Roth, Michael Pitt, Brady Corbet, Devon Gearhart, Boyd Gaines, Siobhan Fallon

Movieguy’s Verdict- This kind of minimalistic “torture” film is usually aimed at 14-year-old boys, but this movie broke all of the rules and clichés of the genre to create something terrifying and unique. It is impossible to think of this film in conventional terms, as Michael Haneke created a bare, no frills environment of chilling and subliminal horror. There was almost no gore to speak of, as the film was furled entirely by its ability to dig deep into your subconscious. Michael Pitt and Brady Corbet were fantastic in their sociopathic characters, and Naomi Watts gave an equally excellent performance. Haneke’s writing and direction were so realistic that you felt everything that the characters felt, both psychologically and physically. With its brilliant dialogue and eerily quiet direction, the film actually turned out to be much more complex than its generally simplistic plot would suggest. Indeed it’s not for the faint of heart, but this is quality filmmaking.

2) Flawless
Plot- A crime-drama set in swinging 1960s London, where a constrained executive at the London Diamond Corporation is recruited by a veteran janitor to help him steal from their employer. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Michael Radford (Another Time, Another Place, Nineteen Eighty-Four, White Mischief, B. Monkey, Dancing at the Blue Iguana, The Merchant of Venice)

Written by- Edward Anderson

Starring- Demi Moore, Michael Caine, Joss Ackland, Simon Day, Jonathan Aris

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was a totally unknown film that should have been slightly better, but in reality, it was a very solid crime picture that had strong characters and a very good plot. Demi Moore gave a very good performance overall, but was hindered by an extremely inconsistent (and technically unnecessary) accent. Though the story was set in London, her character was American. Somehow, this translated into an indiscernible hybrid accent that was barely British, slightly American and pretty difficult to listen to. Michael Caine was the film’s true star. He played a rich character with the grace, wit and intelligence that has made him one of the best actors of all time. Michael Radford’s direction was elegant and quite pristine, capturing the time period perfectly, as well as the suspense and plot development required of a high brow crime film. First time writer Edward Anderson’s screenplay was good, but minor plot holes and a poorly chosen narrative style removed some of the elegance that Radford and Caine applied to the film. Regardless, this is a different breed of crime film. It doesn’t sport the superficial flashiness of the Hollywood caper genre, but rather it builds a good story with elegance and mystery. I’d recommend this any day.

3) The Bucket List
Plot- Two terminally ill men escape from a cancer ward and head off on a road trip with a wish list of to-dos before they die. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Rob Reiner (This is Spinal Tap, When Harry Met Sally, Misery, A Few Good Men, Rumor Has It…)

Written by- Justin Zackham (Going Greek)

Starring- Jack Nicholson, Morgan Freeman, Sean Hayes, Beverly Todd, Rob Morrow, Alfonso Freeman, Rowena King

Movieguy’s Verdict- After two decades or so of wonderful films, Rob Reiner produced a lengthy string of duds – until now. While this film had the potential to reach a Hollywood level of “carpe diem” corniness, it managed to achieve authenticity and psychological realism though intricate performances and solid writing. As anyone would expect, Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman were fantastic, exuding personality and tremendous depth. Their characters weren’t as dynamic as they could have been, but Justin Zackham’s efforts to make the film a strong character study did not go unnoticed. Aside from several mishandled scenes, the film was a very cohesive journey of life, death and everything in between.

4) The Other Boleyn Girl
Plot- Two sisters vie for the affections of King Henry VIII. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Justin Chadwick (Sleeping with the Fishes)

Written by- Peter Morgan (Dear Rosie, Martha, Meet Frank, Daniel and Laurence, The Last King of Scotland, The Queen)

Starring- Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson, Eric Bana, Jim Sturgess, Mark Rylance, Kristin Scott Thomas, David Morrissey

Movieguy’s Verdict- Hollywood has done a great disservice to these period pieces in recent years, and while this wasn’t by any means a bad movie, it didn’t really do this true story justice. Peter Morgan’s overly polished screenplay was full of very blunt, obvious and clunky dialogue. Early on, the film felt very put on, though the writing did address the complexity and pressures of the period’s male dominated social hierarchy. From a cheesy beginning, the film progressed to form some passionate scenes that led to a somewhat darker underbelly. Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson began with unimpressive performances, but grew into their characters and ultimately finished with strong showings. For as redundant as the writing was, the darker portions of the film did contain a certain seductive beauty that made most of it quite engrossing. This intensity did not hold up in the end however, but with an excellent performance by Portman and what turned out to be captivating direction, this was a very decent (albeit Hollywood) film.

5) Jumper
Plot- Once David Rice discovers he has the power to teleport from one place to another, he uses his ability to search for the man he believes is responsible for the death of his mother. Complicating his mission is the existence of a secret organization who want to exterminate people like David, which causes the young man to enter into a shaky alliance with a fellow “jumper.” (imdb.com)

Directed by- Doug Liman (Swingers, Go, The Bourne Identity, Mr. & Mrs. Smith)

Written by- David S. Goyer (Dir: ZigZag, Blade: Trinity, The Invisible, Writer: Death Warrant, Kickboxer 2: The Road Back, Demonic Toys, The Puppet Masters, The Crow: City of Angels, Dark City, Blade, ZigZag, Blade II, Blade: Trinity, Batman Begins), Jim Uhls (Fight Club, Sweet Talk), Simon Kinberg (xXx: State of the Union, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, X-Men: The Last Stand)

Starring- Hayden Christensen, Samuel L. Jackson, Jamie Bell, Rachel Bilson, Diane Lane, Michael Rooker, AnnaSophia Robb, Max Thieriot, Jesse James, Tom Hulce, Kristen Stewart

Movieguy’s Verdict- This Hollywood film’s concept was simply too absurd to take seriously even with an enormous imagination and a bottomless well of suspended disbelief. However, with the right attitude, the film is just barely watchable. If you look at all of Doug Liman’s films, this was clearly his worst. His camerawork was fair, and in spite of some extremely corny and overblown action sequences, the film was reasonably exciting. Surprisingly, Hayden Christensen gave a strong and confident performance as the film’s lead, though Samuel L. Jackson’s poorly created character made for a laughable showing and hurt the film considerably. Though the dialogue was decent, the screenplay was filled with problems, beginning with a horrendously absurd romantic plot concerning Rachel Bilson’s preposterous character. The writers also made no effort to rationalize or even provide a cursory explanation for any of the film’s extremely fantastical realities, which left the audience wondering what the point was supposed to be. This is the kind of scantily constructed science fiction that studios wrap around focus group results to make a cheap (or not so cheap) dollar. It’s not as bad as some of the other Hollywood films out there, but I would not recommend it.

6) Cleaner
Plot- A former cop who now earns a wage as a crime scene cleaner unknowingly participates in a cover-up at his latest job. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Renny Harlin (Born American, Prison, A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master, Die Hard 2: Die Harder, The Adventures of Ford Fairlane, Cliffhanger, Cutthroat Island, The Long Kiss Goodnight, Deep Blue Sea, Driven, Mindhunters, Exorcist: The Beginning, The Covenant)

Written by- Matthew Aldrich

Starring- Samuel L. Jackson, Ed Harris, Eva Mendes, Keke Palmer, Luis Guzmán, Christa Campbell, Ritchie Montgomery, Robert Forster

Movieguy’s Verdict- Renny Harlin is an odd Hollywood specimen. He’s not exactly dedicated to cheesy action films like “Cliffhanger,” but he seems to provide a great deal of personality and creativity to his films, which are just far enough under the radar to prevent him from being sucked into the abyss of Michael Bay-like blockbusters. Most of his films are average, or slightly below average, but they have personality. This film was no exception. Harlin and writer Matthew Aldrich worked well together to create an interesting and layered main character. Harlin’s direction was actually quite perfect. His camerawork and editing were imaginative and rather quirky, resulting in a very promising atmosphere for success. Samuel L. Jackson, Ed Harris, Eva Mendes and Luis Guzmán formed a solid cast of good performances. However, Aldrich’s screenplay clearly did not challenge them enough, which resulted in what felt like an underutilization of available talent. Many of the supporting characters were forgettable, and even Jackson’s promising character fell apart near the end. The story was interesting and quickly captured the audience’s attention, but a poorly devised ending seemed to trivialize much of the film’s early ingenuity. It’s not a bad film by any measure, but it really should have been much better.
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6-4-08

1) The Eye
Plot- A young woman receives an eye transplant that allows her to see into the supernatural world. (imdb.com)

Directed by- David Moreau, Xavier Palud

Written by- Sebastian Gutierrez (Judas Kiss, Gothika, The Big Bounce, Snakes on a Plane, Rise: Blood Hunter)

Starring- Jessica Alba, Alessandro Nivola, Parker Posey, Rade Serbedzija, Fernanda Romero, Rachel Ticotin, Obba Babatundé

Movieguy’s Verdict- I suppose this film was similar to the other Asian horror remakes, but unlike the incoherent “One Missed Call” and “Shutter,” it developed a story and incorporated good visual presentation. Directors David Moreau and Xavier Palud made the film very visually engrossing with great camerawork, sharp editing and gloomy lighting. Jessica Alba was very good, unlike most of her vacuous eye candy roles. Alessandro Nivola provided a strong supporting performance, however Parker Posey was disappointingly wasted in an insignificant role. The film was suspenseful and scary at times with a dark and sinister feel. Most of these films fall apart at the end, and this film did lose some of its edge with a slightly corny climax and an ending which created plot problems rather than resolving them. Still, this was a pretty solid film, and a surprising success within the genre.

2) Meet the Spartans
Plot- A parody of the movie “300,” which includes various pop culture references.

Written and Directed by- Jason Friedberg, Aaron Seltzer (Spy Hard, Scary Movie, Scary Movie 2, Scary Movie 3, Date Movie, Scary Movie 4, Epic Movie)

Starring- Sean Maguire, Carmen Electra, Ken Davitian, Kevin Sorbo, Diedrich Bader, Method Man, Jareb Dauplaise, Travis Van Winkle, Phil Morris, Jim Piddock, Nicole Parker

Movieguy’s Verdict- This is the latest worthless piece of trash from two of the biggest morons in the film industry, Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer. Either they’re dumb enough to think they’re funny, or they’ve found a way to make millions of dollars without doing any real work. I’d actually admire the latter if I didn’t have to watch the finished product. Lab rats are too smart for the completely unfunny homophobic toilet non-humor this never-ending string of spoof films regurgitate year after year. I can’t wait for the glorious day when these idiots are finished making movies, or whatever it is they do.

3) Semi-Pro
Plot- Jackie Moon, the owner-coach-player of the American Basketball Association’s Flint Michigan Tropics, rallies his teammates in an effort to make their far-fetched NBA dreams come true. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Kent Alterman

Written by- Scot Armstrong (Road Trip, Old School, Starsky & Hutch, School for Scoundrels, The Heartbreak Kid)

Starring- Will Ferrell, Woody Harrelson, André Benjamin, Maura Tierney, Andrew Daly, Will Arnett, Andy Richter, David Koechner, Rob Corddry, Matt Walsh, Jackie Earle Haley, DeRay Davis

Movieguy’s Verdict- Will Ferrell has been working his way through sports comedies, and none of them have been remotely bearable. Though I had no reason to think this would be any different from the mind-numbing stupidity that was “Talladega Nights,” the final result was a very solid (and often clever) comedy. The film differed from some of Ferrell’s previous failures because he actually had funny material to work with, and a talented cast around him. Woody Harrelson, André Benjamin, Will Arnett and others gave sound supporting performances of realistic characters in a fictionalized world. Ferrell was truly in his element, using the maximum extent of his comedic abilities to deliver a steady stream of quality laughs. Scot Armstrong did well to make the film consistently funny, despite relying on sports movie clichés. In the end, this was a quality Will Ferrell comedy, which is becoming something of a rarity.

4) The Air I Breathe
Plot- A drama based on an ancient Chinese proverb that breaks life down into four emotional cornerstones: happiness, pleasure, sorrow and love. A businessman bets his life on a horse race; a gangster sees the future; a pop star falls prey to a crime boss; a doctor must save the love of his life. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Jieho Lee

Written by- Jieho Lee, Bob DeRosa

Starring- Brendan Fraser, Andy Garcia, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Forest Whitaker, Kevin Bacon, Julie Delpy, Clark Gregg, Emile Hirsch, Kelly Hu, Evan Parke, Taylor Nichols, Victor Rivers

Movieguy’s Verdict- This project received no publicity whatsoever and I’m not sure why. Great casts have been wasted in similar films released recently, but thankfully this film fully lived up to its potential. Told with the same segmented, interconnecting narrative style utilized to beautiful perfection by first-rate filmmakers like Alejandro González Iñárritu and Paul Haggis, the story more than achieved its desire to express key elements of the human condition. Jieho Lee’s direction was both fierce and elegant, showing that the inexperienced filmmaker has the ability to completely evoke emotional response from every scene as well as allow the story to progress. Performances were delivered with tremendous command and great poise as Brendan Fraser, Andy Garcia, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Forest Whitaker were phenomenal. Fraser’s character was slightly more prominent, and his restrained, tortured performance was quite excellent, though Whitaker’s intensity in the beginning set the tone for the film as a whole. Though the writing was a little slow in a few places, Lee and Bob DeRosa created excellent characters and inserted wonderfully symbolic elements into the stories, which allowed them to work on multiple levels. To top it off, the film featured a wonderful soundtrack full of excellent music. Though it’s probably not a film you’ve heard of before, it’s one you should definitely see.

5) Diary of the Dead
Plot- A group of young film students run into real-life zombies while filming a horror movie of their own. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- George A. Romero

Starring- Joshua Close, Scott Wentworth, Michelle Morgan, Joe Dinicol, Shawn Roberts, Amy Ciupak Lalonde, Philip Riccio, Megan Park, Chris Violette, Tatiana Maslany

Movieguy’s Verdict- George A. Romero invented the zombie genre with the 1968 film “Night of the Living Dead” as a form of social satire. Since then, the genre has resulted in hundreds of knockoffs and a great deal of predictability. It’s true that these films can become a bit redundant, and that was one of this film’s biggest flaws. Though the overarching message was more socially ferocious and blunt than any of the other films, this film was still a victim of inexcusably corny horror/comedy moments and an ever-present sense that you know what’s coming next. Romero’s camerawork and visual presentation were more experimental and ambitious than anything he’s ever done, and his message was legitimate, but forgettable acting and nonexistent characters prohibited the film from transcending the straight-to-DVD amateurism that would ultimately engulf this project. While it’s not Romero’s best work, it clearly represents his desire to be more artistic, experimental and more socially direct than ever before. Ambition doesn’t usually excuse flaws, but in this interesting film, it came awfully close.
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5-28-08

1) Rambo
Plot- In Thailand, John Rambo assembles a group of mercenaries and leads them up the Salween River to a Burmese village after hearing that a group of aid workers he assisted have gone missing. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Sylvester Stallone

Starring- Sylvester Stallone, Julie Benz, Matthew Marsden, Graham McTavish, Reynaldo Gallegos, Jake La Botz, Tim Kang, Maung Maung Khin, Paul Schulze

Movieguy’s Verdict- If you’re looking for the most intentionally over-the-top film you’ve seen in a very long time, this is the film for you. Stallone’s half drunk, snarling performance was as poorly orchestrated as the ridiculous characters and their moronic exploits. Stallone’s absurd attempts to show, in his words, “the horrors of war” might be taken seriously by someone who has never watched a movie before, but for those of us who have a brain, the ridiculously exaggerated weapon effects and explosions were simply too cartoonish and flat out dumb to endure. Though there was little emphasis on writing, the mangled screenplay was still noticeably awful. To top it all off, the Stallone figured out a way to include a corny Hollywood action ending, complete with cheesy music and predictability. Bad acting, terrible writing and non-stop absurdity were pretty much the story of this completely unwatchable film.
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5-21-08

1) National Treasure: Book of Secrets
Plot- Tracking down the missing pages of John Wilkes Booth’s diary is the first step in treasure hunter Benjamin Franklin Gates’s plan to uncover a worldwide conspiracy. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Jon Turteltaub (Think Big, Driving Me Crazy, 3 Ninjas, Cool Running, While You Were Sleeping, Phenomenon, Instinct, The Kid, National Treasure)

Written by- Cormac Wibberley (Motel Blue, The 6th Day, I Spy, Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle National Treasure, The Shaggy Dog), Marianne Wibberley (Motel Blue, The 6th Day, I Spy, Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle National Treasure, The Shaggy Dog)

Starring- Nicolas Cage, Justin Bartha, Diane Kruger, Jon Voight, Helen Mirren, Ed Harris, Harvey Keitel, Bruce Greenwood, Alicia Coppola

Movieguy’s Verdict- As far as a guilty pleasures go, this is a film that everyone can enjoy, and apparently did judging by the box office numbers. Obviously, the concept of “the President’s secret book” is insanely corny and beyond absurd. Additionally, the film had nothing to offer in the way of realism or even a marginal level of believability. However, Nicolas Cage gave an amusing performance which was particularly impressive considering the absurdity of every character in the film, including his. Though the direction was very bland, the writing was humorous enough to counter this deficiency. A guilty pleasure is a film that contains more flaws than good qualities, yet still manages to maintain likability. This film is a prime example and indeed provides an enjoyable movie experience. Still, someone needs to tell me why Helen Mirren was anywhere near this project.

3) Strange Wilderness
Plot- The two stars of a struggling animal adventure show look to give their ratings a boost by scoring footage of Bigfoot in the wild. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Fred Wolf

Written by- Peter Gaulke (Say It Isn’t So, Black Knight, Ice Age: The Meltdown), Fred Wolf (Black Sheep, Dirty Work, Joe Dirt, Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star)

Starring- Steve Zahn, Allen Covert, Justin Long, Ashley Scott, Jonah Hill, Kevin Heffernan, Peter Dante, Robert Patrick, Jeff Garlin

Movieguy’s Verdict- The first ten minutes of this film were quite funny, featuring comical acting and some pretty sharp humor despite its very typical stoner plot. After this however, the film rapidly devolved into a completely pointless waste of time. Though Steve Zahn has been good in other films, he delivered an atrocious and unwatchable performance here. The rest of the cast followed suit, feeding off of a terrible screenplay that was as nonsensical as it was unfunny. The film seemed to take a bad idea and make it worse, continuing to beat the same awful jokes into the ground. This was a painful movie which was as basically as bad as any film can be. It was so painful in fact that the first ten minutes didn’t even warrant a half star.
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5-14-08

1) Youth Without Youth
Plot- A love story wrapped in a mystery. Set in Europe before WWII, a timid professor is changed by a cataclysmic event and explores the mysteries of life. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Francis Ford Coppola (The Bellboy and the Playgirls, Tonight for Sure, Dementia 13, You’re a Big Boy Now, Finian’s Rainbow, The Rain People, The Godfather, The Conversation, The Godfather: Part II, Apocalypse Now, One from the Heart, The Outsiders, Rumble Fish, The Cotton Club, Captain EO, Peggy Sue Got Married, Gardens of Stone, The Godfather: Part III, Dracula, Jack, The Rainmaker)

Starring- Tim Roth, Alexandra Maria Lara, Bruno Ganz, André Hennicke, Marcel Iures, Adrian Pintea

Movieguy’s Verdict- What the hell happened to Francis Ford Coppola? In the 70s and the early 80s, he was the envy of Hollywood. An elite filmmaker, he showed the ability to master an unforgettable epic story, a minimalistic paranoid thriller (The Conversation), and one of the best war movies ever made. He was a visual genius, brilliant writer, and famed producer. From 1971 to 1980 he won five Academy Awards and was nominated for a total of 12. After that, he faded into total obscurity and a depressing level of mediocrity. When you watch this film, do so with that in mind. Coppola clearly had great passion for the Romanian novella upon which the film is based, but, for reasons impossible to understand, he simply lacks the focus to bring this complex work to life. Coppola’s screenplay was forced and choppy, absent of scale and continuity. It contained snippets of brilliant philosophical notions, but otherwise failed to develop characters or an overarching sense of story. His visual presentation was quite good however. His camerawork and editing were highly artistic and abstract like the film’s content, but the flaws in the screenplay were impossible to overcome. Tim Roth’s effort and dedication to his extremely difficult character must be recognized. His performance was strong, but Coppola’s inability to properly direct the film made his efforts moot. Hopefully, a filmmaker will properly adapt this obscure philosophical work, because it carries a potential that Coppola simply does not have the ability to touch.

2) I’m Not There.
Plot- A retrospective look at the life of musical icon Bob Dylan told in various stages of his career. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Todd Haynes (Poison, Safe, Velvet Goldmine, Far From Heaven)

Written by- Todd Haynes (Poison, Safe, Velvet Goldmine, Far From Heaven), Oren Moverman (Jesus’ Son, Face)

Starring- Cate Blanchett, Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Marcus Carl Franklin, Richard Gere, Ben Whishaw, Charlotte Gainsbourg, David Cross, Bruce Greenwood, Michelle Williams, Julianne Moore

Movieguy’s Verdict- Todd Haynes’ highly experimental direction and abstract philosophical and psychological themes made this a languid journey into the life and mind of one of America’s most beloved and mysterious musical talents. The scope of the film’s numerous performances was so grand that it often made it difficult to concentrate on the fantastic screenplay. Without question, Cate Blanchett’s Oscar-nominated performance stole the show. She was absolutely convincing and probably captured more reality and psychological conflict in her performance than anyone who attempts to play Bob Dylan ever will. Heath Ledger, Richard Gere and Ben Whishaw were also phenomenal, but paled in comparison to Blanchett. Haynes and Oren Moverman wrote a challenging and engrossing screenplay that asked a great deal of the viewer, but gave so much more in return. If the film has a flaw, it’s that it requires an almost encyclopedic knowledge of Dylan and his life. If you don’t know your Dylan history, or who Woody Guthrie was, you run the risk of being alienated from some of its striking symbolism, though thankfully not from the overall meaning.

3) Untraceable
Plot- An FBI agent races to identify and bring down a killer who flaunts his crimes on the Internet. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Gregory Hoblit (Primal Fear, Fallen, Frequency, Hart’s War, Fracture)

Written by- Robert Fyvolent, Mark Brinker, Allison Burnett (Bloodfist III: Forced to Fight, Bleeding Hearts, Red Meat, Autumn in New York, Resurrecting the Champ, Feast of Love)

Starring- Diane Lane, Billy Burke, Colin Hanks, Joseph Cross, Mary Beth Hurt, Peter Lewis, Tyrone Giordano, Jesse Tyler Ferguson

Movieguy’s Verdict- The trailers made this film out to be a very formulaic CSI-like crime story, and though I suppose it’s not totally innocent to this accusation, it was a high quality suspense/mystery film with the pulse of the digital world. Diane Lane, Billy Burke and Colin Hanks gave excellent performances in a very well acted movie. Robert Fyvolent, Mark Brinker and Allison Burnett wrote a strong screenplay that gradually built suspense. The story was dark, sinister and engrossing, which seemed particularly impressive considering the film was set up like any crime television show. Gregory Hoblit’s direction made the film dark and mysterious, but was not visually creative, relying too much on a rather cheesy score. The film was plausible but not accurate in the technical sense, therefore plot holes were present, but not as a direct result of the story itself. In spite of its technical flaws, this was an excellent thriller for the modern age, and could have been even better with detailed research and a more creative director.

4) Mad Money
Plot- Within the confines of the Federal Reserve, three female janitors conspire to steal a fortune in money that is about to be destroyed. (imdb.com

Directed by- Callie Khouri (Director of: Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood; Writer of: Thelma & Louise, Something to Talk About, Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood)

Written by- Glenn Gers (Fracture)

Starring- Diane Keaton, Ted Danson, Katie Holmes, Adam Rothenberg, Queen Latifah, Christopher McDonald, Stephen Root, Meagen Fay

Movieguy’s Verdict- Diane Keaton has transformed from one of the best actresses in film to a habitual overactor who selects one meritless fluff piece after the next. This film wasn’t overly bad or even difficult to watch, but it’s the kind of weak, predictable filmmaking we need to figure out how to get rid of. Characters were very typical and while their actions were always predictable, the film did offer a logical progression of events which indicated Glenn Gers put at least some thought into his screenplay. Despite being very cheesy and mostly bland, the film somehow managed to hold your attention. Though it was slightly whimsical, neither Gers nor the cast offered anything in the way of comedy, which hurt the film in the end. Callie Khouri actually tried to make the film in the mold of “Ocean’s Eleven,” except her direction lacked style, personality and a reasonable amount of believability. Keaton overacted as usual, while Katie Holmes contributed nothing to the film as her part seemed more appropriate for a small child or an unknown actress. Though I’m sure everyone involved had fun making it, this was a very forgettable film that doesn’t need to be seen.

5) The Great Debaters
Plot- In 1935, Melvin Tolson, a professor at Wiley College in Marshall, Texas, leads his underdog team of speech and debate students into a competition with Harvard University. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Denzel Washington (Antwone Fisher)

Written by- Robert Eisele

Starring- Denzel Washington, Nate Parker, Jurnee Smollett, Denzel Whitaker, Jermaine Williams, Forest Whitaker, Gina Ravera, John Hear, Kimberly Elise

Movieguy’s Verdict- The title of this film not only sounds ugly, but reeks of the motivational sports movie clichés that would inevitably engulf each and every scene. Dynamic performances from Denzel Washington and Forest Whitaker were wasted in the film’s completely predictable sports movie template. Typical racial elements were injected into the film, and they did little to move the film along or make the audience care about the characters. Washington’s direction was unimpressive and mostly by the numbers, leading to a highly telegraphed ending. The film was no different than every other feel good sports film outline and is very easily forgotten.

6) Cover
Plot- When someone is murdered on New Year’s Eve, the prime suspect is Valerie Maas, a church-going home-maker whose life unravels when she discovers that her husband of many years has been leading a double life. Her strength of character and faith keep her going as the revelation of her husband’s betrayal threatens to destroy all that they have known. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Bill Duke (Flag, A Rage in Harlem, Deep Cover, The Cemetery Club, Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit, Hoodlum)

Written by- Aaron Rahsaan Thomas

Starring- Aunjanue Ellis, Razaaq Adoti, Louis Gossett Jr., Vivica A. Fox, Patti LaBelle, Leon, Mya

Movieguy’s Verdict- If you’ve seen a single episode of “Matlock,” “Murder, She Wrote,” “Columbo” or any such “mystery” show, you’ve seen them all. Apply the same logic to this film, only your experience was much shorter and without suffocating self-righteous indignation. Performances in this ensemble cast ranged from exaggerated to barely passable, but when your story is so tired, predictable and obviously flimsy, the quality of acting matters less and less with each passing scene. Bill Duke’s direction was quite poor. Clearly the man responsible for “Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit” has all the answers, but his camerawork, editing and even simple scene transitions were indicative of a man who, laughably, wanted to achieve an atmosphere similar to Hitchcock’s “The Wrong Man.” The result was astoundingly, well, not. A blend of “Murder, She Wrote,” a Lifetime Original Movie and a Tyler Perry movie, this was simply a bad film.
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5-7-08

1) Bella
Plot- A man and a woman with troubled lives leave their jobs at a busy restaurant and spend the day together walking around NYC.

Directed by- Alejandro Gomez Monteverde

Written by- Alejandro Gomez Monteverde, Patrick Million, Leo Severino

Starring- Eduardo Verastegui, Tammy Blanchard, Manny Perez, Ali Landry, Angelica Aragon, Jamie Tirelli, Ramon Rodriguez

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was one of those completely unknown film that capture your heart from the first frame. Dynamic characters were developed nicely in this emotionally charged romance / character study. Alejandro Gomez Monteverde, Patrick Million and Leo Severino wrote a thoughtful and intelligent screenplay, which was also tender and romantic. Fantastic performances by Eduardo Verástegui and Tammy Blanchard and a great supporting cast were the icing on the cake for a film that essentially had nothing wrong with it. This was a soulful film full of introspection and psychological and emotional growth.

2) P.S. I Love You
Plot- A widow discovers love letters written by her recently deceased husband that are meant to help her begin the next chapter of her life. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Richard LaGravenese (Living Out Loud, A Decade Under the Influence, Freedom Writers)

Written by- Richard LaGravenese (Rude Awakening, The Fisher King, The Ref, A Little Princess, The Bridges of Madison County, Unstrung Heroes, The Mirror Has Two Faces, The Horse Whisperer, Living Out Loud, Beloved, Freedom Writers), Steven Rogers (Hope Floats, Stepmom, Kate & Leopold)

Starring- Hilary Swank, Gerard Butler, Lisa Kudrow, Gina Gershon, James Marsters, Kathy Bates, Harry Connick Jr., Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Dean Winters

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film’s opening sequence provided a realistic window into the difficulties and states of mind of the main characters. This psychological realism turned a surefire fluff piece into a watchable film. Gerard Butler’s death prevented his penchant for overacting from running what turned out to be a generally well acted film. Hilary Swank’s talent was obviously wasted here, but her performance was good, despite the fact that it could have been done by anyone. Richard LaGravenese and Steven Rogers did well to allow the characters to progress psychologically, but there were a few plot problems that weren’t properly addressed. Indeed, the film was romantic, but exaggerated in parts. Though there wasn’t as much Hollywood sappiness as one might anticipate, the film dragged on and on near the end, but had a good message, turning out to be a worthwhile experience overall.

3) First Sunday
Plot- Two petty criminals bungle their plot to rip-off a local church, only to learn the error of their ways from the parishioners they’re holding hostage. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- David E. Talbert

Starring- Ice Cube, Tracy Morgan, Katt Williams, Loretta Devine, Michael Beach, Keith David, Regina Hall, Malinda Williams, Chi McBride, Clifton Powell, Nicholas Turturro

Movieguy’s Verdict- Ice Cube has become my model for the worst overall level of acting a film actor can possibly achieve. Not only does he overplay every scene with his pathetic, snarling demeanor, he lacks the ability to do even the simple things, like deliver a line believably. However horrible the performances might have been, acting was the least of this atrocious film’s problems. David E. Talbert made sure to insert as many overblown Tyler Perry-like stereotypes and character exaggerations as possible into an enormously flawed story that went absolutely nowhere. Tracy Morgan’s exaggerated, off the wall antics play brilliantly on “30 Rock,” but without solid writing to back them up, they were unwatchable. Even Katt Williams, who is always good for a laugh, was totally unfunny. Like Perry’s movies, this film was excruciatingly painful and absolutely torturous to endure. Stay away from this piece of garbage at all costs.

4) Over Her Dead Body
Plot- A ghost tries to sabotage the fledgling relationship between her old flame and his new, psychic girlfriend. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Jeff Lowell (Writer of: John Tucker Must Die)

Starring- Eva Longoria Parker, Paul Rudd, Lake Bell, Jason Biggs, Lindsay Sloane, Stephen Root, William Morgan Sheppard, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Ali Hillis

Movieguy’s Verdict- If you want to talk about stupid movie concepts, look no further. Though I suppose it should be noted that the writer of “John Tucker Must Die” isn’t capable of much else. Ignoring the asinine story for a moment, the film took a very roundabout way of becoming a totally forgettable romantic comedy, that really didn’t have any romance or comedy to offer. Eva Longoria is listed as the star of the film, but she had very few scenes and wasn’t too great to begin with. The film’s only redeeming quality came from the performances of Paul Rudd and Lake Bell, who could have been awful given the material they had to work with, but generated skilled and entertaining performances which reduced the film’s pain factor considerably. Without Rudd and Bell’s chemistry, this was a zero star film, but it’s still not worth watching.
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4-23-08

1) Charlie Wilson’s War
Plot- Enigmatic Texas congressman Charlie Wilson and his CIA allies orchestrate that agency’s most successful covert op: the arming of the Mujahedeen in Afghanistan during their war with the Soviet Union. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Mike Nichols (Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, The Graduate, Catch-22, Carnal Knowledge, The Day of the Dolphin, The Fortune, Gilda Live, Silkwood, Heartburn, Biloxi Blues, Working Girl, Postcards from the Edge, Regarding Henry, Wolf, The Birdcage, Primary Colors, What Planet Are You From?, Closer)

Written by- Aaron Sorkin (A Few Good Men, Malice, The American President)

Starring- Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film succeeded on the strength of brilliant performances and phenomenal writing. Tom Hanks gave a delightful performance, exuding personality and all of the grandeur that would accompany an alcoholic Lothario who happens to be a congressman from Texas. Julia Roberts was great as well, but Philip Seymour Hoffman’s angst-ridden performance was truly a sight to behold. Aaron Sorkin’s screenplay was incredibly thorough and bitingly funny. Though it was supposedly based on a true story, I’m sure there wasn’t much truth to the film. However, if you take a step back and look at the big picture, the story worked on so many levels that whether or not it was true to life seems pitifully irrelevant.

2) Cloverfield
Plot- A going-away party turns into a frantic fight for survival for a group of young people in Manhattan, as they bear witness to a monster’s attack on New York City. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Matt Reeves (Director of: The Pallbearer, Writer of: Under Siege 2: Dark Territory, The Pallbearer, The Yards)

Written by- Drew Goddard

Starring- Lizzy Caplan, Jessica Lucas, T.J. Miller, Michael Stahl-David, Mike Vogel, Odette Yustman

Movieguy’s Verdict- The hype resulting from this film’s clever advertising campaign was massive. As the hype grew and grew, it felt as though it was becoming an insurmountable obstacle that the actual movie could never surpass. Amazingly, the film managed to live up to its hype, featuring great acting from a cast of unknowns and fantastic camerawork from director Matt Reeves. Reeves certainly didn’t invent the handheld shaky effect, but he still used it to perfection. The film’s editing was also top notch, giving it the realistic, raw feel it required. Reeves created an atmosphere of remarkable chaos that was emotionally captivating and terrifying from start to finish. The film was already brief, but the party sequence in the beginning should have been significantly shortened, or possibly omitted altogether. Still, amazing direction and perfect writing fully captured the emotions and terror of the situation with tremendous intensity and remarkable power. This is a creative film that everyone should see.

3) One Missed Call
Plot- A detective investigates mysterious calls received by college students that reveal the date, time, and details of their deaths. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Eric Valette

Written by- Andrew Klavan (A Shock to the System)

Starring- Shannyn Sossamon, Edward Burns, Ana Claudia Talancón, Ray Wise, Azura Skye, Johnny Lewis, Jason Beghe, Margaret Cho, Meagan Good, Rhoda Griffis

Movieguy’s Verdict- Visually, this was pretty much like every other English language remake of a Japanese horror film. Dark, gloomy and featuring decent camerawork, I really had no problems with the film’s visual presentation. The performances of Shannyn Sossamon and Edward Burns were forgettable, but not necessarily bad. This was a horrible film strictly because of how stupid and completely incoherent the “story” was. The film didn’t even come close to making sense, and was written without the slightest bit of logic or thought. I guess it’s pretty obvious that this film should have never been made, so it shouldn’t be watched either.

4) The Savages
Plot- Estranged siblings Wendy and Jon Savage reunite to weigh the long-term care options for their mentally deteriorating father.

Written and Directed by- Tamara Jenkins (Slums of Beverly Hills)

Starring- Laura Linney, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Philip Bosco

Movieguy’s Verdict- After giving it considerable thought, I declare this to be the bleakest and most depressing movie I have ever seen. That’s really neither a positive nor a negative, but I think the comment is warranted. This film was nominated for two Oscars (Best Original Screenplay and Best Lead Actress), and I’m not sure I agree with either. Though Laura Linney was superb, her nomination only came due to the fact that it was a slow year in the lead actress category. Philip Seymour Hoffman was also stellar, as was Philip Bosco. The trio combined to form a crippling portrayal of decades of abuse, depression and misery, 90% of which was obtained through watching the actors contemplate and interact. The film’s only notable shortcoming came from Tamara Jenkins’ screenplay, which was slow in places and wandered a bit. Jenkins gave no reason to sympathize with the characters, which was an understandable choice, but she didn’t offer any room for empathy either. This created a distance between the audience and the characters that became impossible to fill with great performances or beautiful camerawork.

5) Starting Out in the Evening
Plot- An ambitious graduate student convinces a writer that her thesis can resurrect his career. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Andrew Wagner (The Talent Given Us)

Written by- Fred Parnes (A Man Is Mostly Water), Andrew Wagner (The Talent Given Us)

Starring- Frank Langella, Lauren Ambrose, Lili Taylor, Adrian Lester, Jessica Hecht, Michael Cumpsty

Movieguy’s Verdict- I’ll say right away that if you’ve seen “Finding Forrester” than you can easily skip this film. It’s actually a shame, because the film managed to waste a carefully crafted performance by Frank Langella, which, in the right hands, could have been very meaningful. The film’s main flaw was its screenplay, which, while featuring a strong intellectual flavor, felt extremely forced and entirely unnatural. Though Langella’s character was written and directed with great detail, Lauren Ambrose’s was quite the opposite. Seemingly created as a composite of various literary stereotypes, she turned out to be more of pod person rather than an actual person. Furthermore, Andrew Wagner developed the story more like a soap opera than the delicate character study that it should have been. He included numerous unnecessary characters in the film, perhaps to overcompensate for the deficiencies created by Ambrose’s unbelievable character, who ultimately reminded me of Emma Roberts in “Nancy Drew.” I respect what Wagner tried to do, but unfortunately he did not succeed.

6) Trailer Park Boys: The Movie
Plot- After they are released from jail for trying to rob an ATM, Ricky and Julian reunite with their pal Bubbles at the Sunnyvale Trailer Park, where they soon plan a new caper: a coin heist that will make them all rich. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Mike Clattenburg (Trailer Park Boys)

Written by- Mike Clattenburg, Robb Wells (Trailer Park Boys)

Starring- Robb Wells, John Paul Tremblay, Mike Smith

Movieguy’s Verdict- If Larry the Cable Guy ever wrote and directed a film, this is essentially what it would be. The film’s asinine concept more or less paralleled the blatant stupidity of its brain damaged characters and their moronic exploits. It was shocking how much the film relied on tired concepts and clichés considering no thought was really put into the film. Apparently this is a very popular television series in Canada, but whatever comedic voice the show allegedly has did not translate to a feature film. The film integrated a documentary style (like TV’s “The Office”), which would have worked nicely had the writing and acting not been instantly comparable to a Larry the Cable Guy movie.
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4-16-08

1) Lars and the Real Girl
Plot- A delusional young man strikes up an unconventional relationship with a doll he finds on the Internet. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Craig Gillespie (Mr. Woodcock)

Written by- Nancy Oliver

Starring- Ryan Gosling, Emily Mortimer, Paul Schneider, R.D. Reid, Kelli Garner, Patricia Clarkson

Movieguy’s Verdict- A film with such astounding originality and deep psychological pull is rare, but truly wonderful to experience. Without question, Ryan Gosling should have been nominated for an Oscar for his brilliant portrayal of a complicated and difficult character. Paul Schneider and Emily Mortimer were also excellent, but Gosling was simply magnificent. Nancy Oliver’s Oscar-nominated screenplay was perfect, displaying an odd blend of comedy and the kind of social ineptitude and personal trauma that you don’t feel right to laugh at. It’s hard to believe the same person who directed the unwatchable “Mr. Woodcock” would follow that film with such detailed and captivating direction. Nevertheless, Craig Gillespie captured the characters perfectly, showing numerous symbolic parallels in key scenes and displaying a keen sense of scale and mood. Moving, funny and tragic, this was a rare and amazing film.

2) Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead
Plot- Two brothers, both in dire financial straits, conspire to rip off their parents’ jewelry store, only to experience a lethal miscue that puts the entire family on a collision course. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Sidney Lumet (Find Me Guilty, Night Falls on Manhattan, The Verdict, Network, Dog Day Afternoon, Serpico)

Written by- Kelly Masterson

Starring- Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke, Albert Finney, Marisa Tomei, Rosemary Harris, Aleksa Palladino, Michael Shannon, Amy Ryan

Movieguy’s Verdict- It should be a crime to waste such a brilliant cast on such a feeble story and poorly created characters. Frankly, someone with Sidney Lumet’s experience and skill should know better. His direction showed good visual promise, but Kelly Masterson’s screenplay was the one and only reason for the film’s dismal failure. Perhaps Masterson had good material for a short story, but after about 40 minutes (and with over an hour remaining), there was simply no story left to tell. His characters weren’t necessarily predictable, but they were abandoned in a tepid pool of underdeveloped bleakness that was intended to serve as the tone of the entire film. As a result, each one of the all-star cast members ended up with the chore of playing a character that had no emotional foundation, much like the story itself. It’s not just the disappointment of such a wonderful cast going to waste; this really was an awful film.

3) Juno
Plot- After her best friend gets her pregnant, teen-aged Juno takes an unusual approach in order to make sure the child is cared for properly. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Jason Reitman (Thank You for Smoking)

Written by- Diablo Cody

Starring- Ellen Page, Michael Cera, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman, Allison Janney, J.K. Simmons, Olivia Thirlby, Eileen Pedde, Rainn Wilson

Movieguy’s Verdict- Jason Reitman is quickly becoming one of the great black comedy filmmakers of our generation. “Thank You for Smoking” was a brilliantly funny satire which was as well written as it was directed. This film didn’t pack as much blunt humor, but its subtle comedy and social commentary made it equally effective. Ellen Page and Michael Cera were perfect for their roles, though Page was clearly the star. Her sarcastic wit and infectious charm fit perfectly with Reitman’s personality. First time writer Diablo Cody showed flashes of strong talent, but her screenplay was inconsistent. At times conversational dialogue was far too immature for the characters, while it was unbelievably mature in other situations. The film was as much about relationships (married and unmarried) as it was about teen pregnancy, and succeeded on many levels. That being said, it didn’t deserve to be nominated for or win any Oscars, but it was a still a great film.

4) Revolver
Plot- Ex-con and card shark Jake Green enters into a dicey alliance with two mysterious men in order to bring down the gangster responsible for sending him to prison. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Guy Ritchie (Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch, Swept Away)

Starring- Jason Statham, Ray Liotta, Vincent Pastore, André Benjamin, Terence Maynard

Movieguy’s Verdict- Guy Ritchie’s last real movie was released in 2000, so many of us have been waiting close to a decade for his next film. Released in Ritchie’s native UK two years ago, many wondered why this film never really got an opportunity to open in the US, or anywhere else for that matter. After seeing the film, that’s a little more clear. Since “Snatch,” Ritchie has clearly learned some new sleek editing / coloring techniques which he used to perfection in this film, creating a gritty and engrossing atmosphere. The film’s musical score was also excellent, as was Ritchie’s camerawork. Jason Statham’s performance improved compared to some of his recent work, but his overly stoic portrayal of his character robbed him of his complexity. Ray Liotta was atrocious, seeming to relish his clichéd, highly predictable and poorly handled character. Vincent Pastore and André Benjamin turned out to be the strongest actors in the film. The hole left by a lack of quality performances was further intensified by a story that was handled quite poorly. The film wasn’t written to be another of Ritchie’s simplistic crime sprees, but rather, a thought provoking look at a basic building block of the human condition. Upon reflection, the concept was actually quite brilliant, but the structure of Ritchie’s narrative was filled with flaws, and didn’t actually achieve what it was supposed to. I credit Ritchie for his style and effort, but his screenplay and a weak cast ultimately sunk this film.

5) In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale
Plot- A farmer sets out to rescue his kidnapped wife and avenge the death of his son — two acts committed by a race of animal-warriors. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Uwe Boll (Blackwoods, Heart of America, House of the Dead, Alone in the Dark, BloodRayne, Postal)

Written by- Doug Taylor (The Carpenter)

Starring- Jason Statham, Ron Perlman, Ray Liotta, Leelee Sobieski, John Rhys-Davies, Claire Forlani, Kristanna Loken, Matthew Lillard, Burt Reynolds

Movieguy’s Verdict- Uwe Boll is one of the worst filmmakers alive, and his latest journey into videogame adaptations continues to prove why. Boll clearly thought he was making a wonderful fantasy epic, when all he really did was rip off “Gladiator” and “Lord of the Rings.” Jason Statham gave yet another atrocious action performance as he continues to ruin his once promising career. To be fair, he was just one in a large cast of Ice Cube-like performances. The film also featured the worst background score I’ve ever heard. Boll crafted the film like a medieval soap opera with horrible characters and even worse writing. The “story” was as bad as a story can be, and this film was as painful as a film can be.

6) Alien vs. Predator: Requiem
Plot- Warring alien and predator races descend on a small town, where unsuspecting residents must band together to survive. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Colin Strause, Greg Strause

Written by- Shane Salerno (Shaft)

Starring- Reiko Aylesworth, Steven Pasquale, Shareeka Epps, John Ortiz, Johnny Lewis, Ariel Gade, Kristen Hager, Robert Joy

Movieguy’s Verdict- This “versus” series has to be the dumbest concept in film history. There have been enough of these films to realize that there is no story or purpose whatsoever, other than to show alien creatures killing each other, and people. The film had the word “requiem” in the title, which was inserted there for no apparent reason. I guess they thought it sounded good? I suppose if you want to watch aliens fight for no reason, this is the film for you.
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4-9-08

1) There Will Be Blood
Plot- A story about family, greed, religion, and oil, centered around a turn-of-the-century prospector in the early days of the business. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Paul Thomas Anderson (Sydney, Boogie Nights, Magnolia, Punch-Drunk Love)

Starring- Daniel Day-Lewis, Paul Dano, Dillon Freasier, Ciarán Hinds, Sydney McCallister, Russell Harvard

Movieguy’s Verdict- While no one has questioned Paul Thomas Anderson’s genius, I’m not sure anyone expected him to follow “Punch-Drunk Love” with a film so remarkably gritty and intense. As far as casting is concerned, no other actor could have captured such a complex and riveting character with the intensity Daniel Day-Lewis displayed. There is no way to properly describe the enormity and sheer brilliance of his performance in such a short space, but without question, it was the year’s best. Perfectly paired with Day-Lewis was Paul Dano, who provided a raw and passionate supporting performance. Anderson was simply phenomenal as he created an ominous and foreboding background for a deeply psychological story. Often, the film carried a very sinister feel, which was enhanced by its magnificent and transfixing score, which was inexplicably snubbed from the Oscars. Psychologically brutal and extremely captivating, this epic tale was brilliant and unforgettable.

2) Lions for Lambs
Plot- A congressman, a journalist and a professor are drawn into an investigation of two injured American soldiers in Afghanistan. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Robert Redford (Ordinary People, The Milagro Beanfield War, A River Runs Through It, Quiz Show, The Horse Whisperer, The Legend of Bagger Vance)

Written by- Matthew Michael Carnahan (The Kingdom)

Starring- Robert Redford, Meryl Streep, Tom Cruise, Michael Peña, Andrew Garfield, Peter Berg, Kevin Dunn, Derek Luke

Movieguy’s Verdict- It’s strange, because for a film that featured strong performances from Tom Cruise and Meryl Streep, and well-written, thought-provoking political dialogue, it felt hollow and lifeless. Robert Redford did nothing artistic or creative here, creating an environment for a film that did little more than show people having political conversations. There were no characters to speak of, as each person in the film was merely a conduit asserting a specific point of view. The film featured three main plots, one of which was so lacking in realism and rich in mistakes that it threatened the authenticity of the political arguments in the other two portions. Disappointingly, the film wasted Cruise’s excellent portrayal of a conniving politician and actually, despite its intelligent political discussions, accomplished very little.

3) Resurrecting the Champ
Plot- Searching for his big story, a young newspaper reporter encounters a homeless man who thinks he is a former champion boxer. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Rod Lurie (The Contender, The Last Castle)

Written by- Michael Bortman, Allison Burnett

Starring- Samuel L. Jackson, Josh Hartnett, Kathryn Morris, Dakota Goyo, Teri Hatcher, Alan Alda, Rachel Nichols, David Paymer, Ryan McDonald, Harry J. Lennix, Peter Coyote

Movieguy’s Verdict- While perhaps this wasn’t the most exciting film you’ll see, it did speak volumes about truth, love and the admiration of parents. The film was fueled by the strength of its acting, with Samuel L. Jackson providing an Oscar-worthy and completely captivating performance. Jackson pretty much stole the show here, so even though Josh Hartnett, Kathryn Morris and Alan Alda were excellent, they drifted into the background. Rod Lurie directed elegantly and writers Michael Bortman and Allison Burnett worked well together to form a plot that exhibited a passion for storytelling and developing strong characters. While the film did exhibit a good emotional response, it did feel a bit manufactured at times, and seemed to drag quite a bit over the last 30 minutes or so. Still, it was a very well acted film with intelligent characters and a great story.

4) P2
Plot- On Christmas Eve, a driven career woman finds herself targeted by a sadistic security guard who traps her in her work’s parking garage. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Franck Khalfoun

Written by- Alexandre Aja (The Hills Have Eyes), Franck Khalfoun, Grégory Levasseur (The Hills Have Eyes)

Starring- Rachel Nichols, Wes Bentley

Movieguy’s Verdict- I am a huge Wes Bentley fan, but he’s made some bad choices lately, so a minimalistic film in which he could be given free reign to portray an insane and intense character seemed very appetizing. Rachel Nichols and Bentley seemed well-paired and played nicely off of one another. Early on, the film thrived on Franck Khalfoun’s dark and eerie direction, and the good performances of Bentley and Nichols. However, as the film developed, it was clear that writers Alexandre Aja, Grégory Levasseur and Khalfoun put very little thought into how the film would actually progress and end, because as each predictable twist led the audience closer and closer to the most obvious ending, there was no room to feel anything but disappointment. Though this was made to be a teen horror film, it contained none of the clichés or corniness that encapsulates the genre. However, despite solid performances, predictability and a lack of originality ruined it.

5) Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
Plot- A mockumentary look at the life of fictional music legend Dewy Cox and his turbulent, “Behind the Music”-like career. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Jake Kasdan (Orange County, The TV Set)

Written by- Judd Apatow (Heavy Weights, Celtic Pride, The 40 Year Old Virgin, Fun with Dick and Jane, Knocked Up), Jake Kasdan (Zero Effect, The TV Set)

Starring- John C. Reilly, Jenna Fischer, David Krumholtz, random cameos

Movieguy’s Verdict- When you talk about stupid concepts, you’ll not find many dumber than this film. Allegedly a parody of music biopics, the film made fun of musicians while copying and exaggerating scenes from “Walk the Line” and “Ray.” The film featured scene after scene of unrelenting stupidity, and a John C. Reilly performance that was as bad as bad acting can be. I’d love to find the person who told Reilly that he was funny and beat him/her to death. The film’s only bright spots came from a few random lines which were so off the wall that they couldn’t help but be funny. Other than that, this was a moronic piece of garbage that should never have been made.

6) The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep
Plot- A lonely boy discovers a mysterious egg that hatches a sea creature of Scottish legend. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Jay Russell (End of the Line, My Dog Skip, Tuck Everlasting, Ladder 49)

Written by- Robert Nelson Jacobs (Out to Sea, Dinosaur, Chocolat, The Shipping News)

Starring- Alex Etel, Emily Watson, David Morrissey, Ben Chaplin, Brian Cox

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was a kid’s fantasy film that had a decent spooky feel and a reasonable level of maturity. Early on, the film had good rhythm and what seemed to be a knack for storytelling. Ben Chaplin and Emily Watson gave good performances, but Alex Etel was short on personality and quite dull to watch. From his performance, the film began to unravel. The film featured good CGI but, what started out as a good story never actually went anywhere. The film dragged on an on and in the end, it actually became quite pointless. Despite decent production value and pretty good supporting performances, there was simply not enough story to sustain a full length film.

7) Southland Tales
Plot- Southland Tales is an ensemble piece set in the futuristic landscape of Los Angeles on July 4, 2008, as it stands on the brink of social, economic and environmental disaster. Boxer Santaros is an action star who’s stricken with amnesia. His life intertwines with Krysta Now, an adult film star developing her own reality television project, and Ronald Taverner, a Hermosa Beach police officer who holds the key to a vast conspiracy. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Richard Kelly (Donnie Darko; Writer of: Domino)

Starring- Dwayne Johnson, Justin Timberlake, Seann William Scott, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Mandy Moore, Nora Dunn, John Larroquette, Bai Ling, Jon Lovitz, Holmes Osborne, Cheri Oteri, Amy Poehler, Lou Taylor Pucci, Miranda Richardson, Wallace Shawn, Christopher Lambert, Janeane Garofalo

Movieguy’s Verdict- The suspicion that Richard Kelly was in trouble should have started when he wrote an incoherent screenplay for the incoherent film “Domino.” Basically everyone forgot about it and gave him a free pass (myself included) because of the brilliance of “Donnie Darko.” However, Kelly’s latest film cost $17 million to make and never made it to theaters. There is a reason for that. It was clear early on that Kelly was grasping at straws, attempting to incorporate a vast array of plot elements and stylistic creativity into a film that was simply too broad for its own good. Kelly’s talents as a director and writer were on display at times, as portions of the film were excellent, indicating that at some point they would lead somewhere. His visual presentation was very strong and highly imaginative, and some of his writing was equally inventive. However, there came a point when all of the film’s bizarre happenings were simply too over-the-top while its story was left hanging in the balance. The film was well acted for the most part, with Justin Timberlake, Seann William Scott, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Mandy Moore giving very strong performances. Dwayne Johnson seemed out of place at times, and was generally miscast, though Jon Lovitz, John Larroquette and Cheri Oteri were severely miscast and the film suffered considerably for it. The film was bizarre and creative, but after the first hour, it began to ramble, becoming less and less coherent. This ultimately indicated that Kelly simply tried too hard to make numerous political, social and comedic statements at the expense of a cohesive story. From an abstract point of view, the film actually made sense, but Kelly’s narrative was so confused that it really wasn’t watchable.
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4-2-08

1) Alvin & the Chipmunks
Plot- A spin-off of the cartoon series about a trio of chipmunks brothers, their musical inclinations, and their life with their adoptive human guardian. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Tim Hill (Muppets from Space, Max Keeble’s Big Move, Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties)

Written by- Jon Vitti (The Simpsons Movie), Will McRobb (Snow Day), Chris Viscardi

Starring- Jason Lee, David Cross, Cameron Richardson, Justin Long, Jane Lynch, Matthew Gray Gubler, Jesse McCartney

Movieguy’s Verdict- In spite of an exaggerated and generally poor performance from Jason Lee, horrible musical numbers and the director of the “Garfield” sequel, this film was actually quite enjoyable due to clever, humorous writing and good CGI. Kid’s movies are many things, but funny usually isn’t one of them. Writers Jon Vitti, Will McRobb and Chris Viscardi did an excellent job of making three consistently funny characters out of the chipmunks, which resulted in a film that was surprisingly comical throughout. It was strange that no one seemed at all surprised that chipmunks were talking and singing like regular people, but watching real people dance WITH them was just too stupid for words. David Cross gave the only solid human performance of the film, but the comedy provided by the chipmunks made up for that somewhat. Despite the standard corny family message and cheesy action climax sequence, this film gives enough comedy and creativity to make it more than enjoyable.

2) Silk
Plot- The story of a married silkworm merchant-turned-smuggler in 19th century France traveling to Japan for his town’s supply of silkworms after a disease wipes out their African supply. During his stay in Japan, he becomes obsessed with the concubine of a local baron. (imdb.com)

Directed by- François Girard

Written by- François Girard, Michael Golding

Starring- Michael Pitt, Keira Knightley, Alfred Molina, Sei Ashina, Nicola Tovaglione

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was a little known film that can best be described as a combination of “The New World” and “The English Patient.” François Girard’s direction was pristinely beautiful, capturing the epic nature of a bittersweet romance with phenomenal elegance and great longing. Michael Pitt delivered a fantastic performance, carrying the film perfectly. His stoicism and deeply hidden emotional conflicts were played with the mark of a truly gifted performer. Keira Knightley gave a strong showing in her small role, as did Alfred Molina and Sei Ashina. François Girard and Michael Golding wrote an outstanding screenplay, evoking great emotional response in very few powerful words. It should be said that the film is not for everyone. Many might find it slow or dull, which is understandable. But if you found beauty in “The New World,” and love a good romance, this is a film you should see.
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3-26-08

1) The Mist
Plot- Everyman David Drayton is caught up in a freak storm that unleashes a species of blood-thirsty monsters in his small town. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Frank Darabont (Dir: The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, The Majestic, Writer: A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, The Blob, The Fly II, The Shawshank Redemption, Frankenstein, The Green Mile)

Starring- Thomas Jane, Marcia Gay Harden, Laurie Holden, Andre Braugher, Tobey Jones, Bill Sadler, Jeffrey Demunn, Frances Sternhagen, Alexa Davalos, Nathan Gamble, Chris Owen, Sam Witwer, Robert Treveiler, David Jensen

Movieguy’s Verdict- For those of you expecting yet another corny and disappointing creature movie from Stephen King, prepare for something you will never forget. This fantastic film was lead by Frank Darabont’s brilliant direction, as it evolved methodically with great suspense and increasing levels of intensity and pure chaos. Perhaps Thomas Jane was an overly typical “hero,” but he and an enormous cast delivered strong performances, though Jane did falter at key moments. The film’s strength was not its performances, but its psychological brutality. The film took no prisoners and left no stone unturned as it careened to an unforgettable ending. This film will be talked about for years to come.

2) Chaos
Plot- Two cops, a rookie and a grizzled vet, pursue an accomplished bank robber.

Written and Directed by- Tony Giglio (Soccer Dog: The Movie, In Enemy Hands)

Starring- Jason Statham, Ryan Phillippe, Wesley Snipes, Henry Czerny, Justine Waddell, Nicholas Lea, Jessica Steen

Movieguy’s Verdict- No good can come from having Jason Statham AND Wesley Snipes in the same movie. There was an outside chance that Ryan Phillippe could save the film, but his character was so poorly written (like all the other characters) that it left the film dead in the water. Like most amateur crime films, this film was crafted to follow the cleverness and genius of “The Usual Suspects.” However, Tony Giglio clearly has no writing talent whatsoever and, in his efforts to make a clever crime film, created a story that was completely nonsensical, yet predictable at the same time. With clichéd characters, poor performances and almost no directorial creativity, there really isn’t much reason to watch this film.

3) Goya’s Ghosts
Plot- In late 18th century Spain, a muse of painter Francisco Goya is falsely accused of being Jewish, and the young woman finds herself subsequently tortured, violated, and imprisoned. Some years later, she re-encounters her accuser/assailant, who returns to his country as an Enlightenment revolutionary. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Milos Forman (One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Hair, Ragtime, Amadeus, Valmont, The People vs. Larry Flynt, Man on the Moon)

Written by- Milos Forman (Valmont), Jean-Claude Carrière (Birth)

Starring- Natalie Portman, Stellan Skarsgård, Javier Bardem, Randy Quaid, Blanca Portillo, Michael Lonsdale

Movieguy’s Verdict- Perhaps it’s because his name is the possessive noun taking up half of the title, but don’t be fooled into thinking this film has anything to do with brilliantly macabre Spanish painter Francisco Goya. In fact, this film is about the Spanish Inquisition, and films about the Spanish Inquisition are about as interesting as, well, films about the Spanish Inquisition. Milos Forman has directed a few great films, but this was easily his worst. He and writer Jean-Claude Carrière did inject some interesting psychological components into the story, but its dullness, repetitive tendencies and lack of plot wasted a good cast and didn’t really accomplish anything. Although, how Randy Quaid was cast as the King Carlos IV I’ll never know. For purposes of comparison, this was basically the same as “Amazing Grace,” which was, coincidentally, a film no one needed to see.

4) Sleuth
Plot- A wealthy mystery writer engages in a twisted game of cat and mouse with his wife’s lover. This is a remake of the 1972 film of the same title. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Kenneth Branagh (Henry V, Dead Again, Swan Song, Peter’s Friends, Much Ado About Nothing, Frankenstein, Hamlet, Love’s Labour’s Lost, Listening, As You Like It, The Magic Flute)

Written by- Harold Pinter (The Trial, The Comfort of Strangers, The Handmaid’s Tale, Reunion, Turtle Diary, Betrayal, The French Lieutenant’s Woman, The Last Tycoon, The Go-Between, Accident, The Servant, The Caretaker)

Starring- Michael Caine, Jude Law

Movieguy’s Verdict- I’m not sure why anyone would want to remake a classic film that has not only stood the test of time, but left nothing to be desired. It’s also a mystery why Michael Caine would participate in this film, playing the opposite character. Without question, Caine and Jude Law were a formidable paring on screen, but acting was never this film’s shortcoming. Anthony Shaffer’s original 1972 screenplay was a work of pure genius. Complex, witty and diabolical, it was probably the best minimalistic thriller script ever written. Harold Pinter’s adaptation was less than stellar. Though it featured intelligent conversations and clever dialogue, it did not serve the characters properly. The post-modern house Caine’s character lived in was completely over the top, featuring a ridiculous new age gadget in every corner, all operated seamlessly by a remote that appeared to be an iPod shuffle. Pinter’s story was also quite predictable, and each of the few plot twists were highly telegraphed. However, Kenneth Branagh’s direction did provide a good visual component to the film, adding good camerawork and dark, eerie coloring. Still, this was one of those remakes that we can easily live without.
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3-19-08

1) Atonement
Plot- Fledgling writer Briony Tallis, as a 13-year-old, irrevocably changes the course of several lives when she accuses her older sister’s lover of a crime he did not commit. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Joe Wright (Pride & Prejudice)

Written by- Christopher Hampton (A Doll’s House, The Honorary Consul, The Good Father, Oviri, Dangerous Liaisons, Carrington, Total Eclipse, Mary Reilly, The Secret Agent, The Quiet American, Imagining Argentina)

Starring- Keira Knightley, James McAvoy, Saoirse Ronan, Brenda Blethyn, Vanessa Redgrave

Movieguy’s Verdict- From just watching the trailer, this film didn’t really seem to have a lot to offer. That’s because its emotional and psychological value is far too complex to be broken down into a three minute summary. The film was brilliantly acted, with Keira Knightley and James McAvoy giving fantastic performances. Surprisingly though, Saoirse Ronan stole the show with one of the best supporting performances of the year. Joe Wright’s direction was simply brilliant. Beautifully foreboding and exquisitely shot, Wright deserved an Academy Award nomination. The source material is an incredibly hard book to adapt, but Christopher Hampton wrote a brilliant adaptation which flawlessly captured the emotions, psychology, evolution of the characters and passage of time. The film was passionate, intense and beautiful, and was one of the best of 2007.

2) Enchanted
Plot- When she falls in love with a prince, a peasant girl is banished from her animated kingdom by the evil queen. She winds up in the very real New York City, where she falls in love with someone else, though her prince — and the queen — are heading her way. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Kevin Lima (A Goofy Movie, Tarzan, 102 Dalmatians)

Written by- Bill Kelly (Blast from the Past, Premonition)

Starring- Amy Adams, Susan Sarandon, James Marsden, Patrick Dempsey, Timothy Spall

Movieguy’s Verdict- Just as “Snakes on a Plane” tested the limits of how bad a film could purposely make itself, this film reached a similar level of absurdity and blatant stupidity. Amy Adams has thrown away a once promising career in record fashion after her Oscar nomination for “Junebug” just three years ago. She gave one of the worst performances of the year, or any year for that matter. The film’s absurd shenanigans got so bad that they became literally offensive to endure. From its horrendous cartoon intro to its pathetic romantic comedy plot, Kevin Lima and Bill Kelly truly tried their hardest to make the worst film possible, and succeeded disgracefully.

3) I Am Legend
Plot- Robert Neville finds himself the only healthy survivor of a biological attack, as his fellow New Yorkers have become zombies. By day, Neville hunts the undead who walk the streets. By night, he barricades himself in his home against the mob gathered outside. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Francis Lawrence (Constantine)

Written by- Mark Protosevich (The Cell, Poseidon), Akiva Goldsman (A Beautiful Mind, Cinderella Man, The Client, Batman Forever, Batman & Robin, Lost in Space, Practical Magic, I Robot, The Da Vinci Code)

Starring- Will Smith, Alice Braga, Dash Mihok

Movieguy’s Verdict- Will Smith is an extraordinary performer with the ability to excel in any role, including one which required him to carry an entire film on his own. His performance was phenomenal, as he precisely and intensely portrayed a man crippled by guilt, isolation and fear. Francis Lawrence handled the film with tremendous minimalism and great camerawork, allowing for moments of sheer terror and great suspense. Though the story was written well, the ending was anti-climactic, and, frankly, a little hokey. Also, the film’s CGI, a critical part of the film, lacked realism or respectability in any scene with creatures. Overall, this was an excellent film, but with a better ending and higher quality CGI, it would have been extraordinary.

4) The Seeker: The Dark is Rising
Plot- The life of young Will Stanton is turned upside down when he learns that he is the last of a group of immortal warriors who have dedicated their lives to fighting the forces of the dark. (imdb.com)

Directed by- David L. Cunningham (Beyond Paradise, The Dream Center: Hope for the Inner City, To End All Wars)

Written by- John Hodge (Shallow Grave, Trainspotting, A Life Less Ordinary, The Beach, The Final Curtain)

Starring- Alexander Ludwig, Ian McShane, Christopher Eccleston, Frances Conroy, Amelia Warner, Gregory Smith, Jonathan Jackson

Movieguy’s Verdict- I’m pretty sure we have plenty of these children’s fantasy / adventure films to watch each year, but in comparison to the plethora of other “Harry Potter” clones, this film is slightly above average. Well acted for the most part, Alexander Ludwig and Ian McShane both gave solid performances. Christopher Eccleston was an exaggerated, but decent villain. The film began well enough, with David L. Cunningham’s direction providing good visuals and camerawork. The story itself appeared to be leaning quite a bit on the formulaic nature of the genre, relying on stereotypical characters and bad guys hell-bent on taking over the world for no particular reason. However, the writing did achieve a level of intelligence that most films in the genre cannot. Editing gave the film a surreal effect, which helped balance out the corny, overly dramatic Hollywood background score. Predictability was present, as were some minor plot holes and gaps in logic. While its awkward title doesn’t help, I’d recommend this over the likes of “Harry Potter” any day.
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3-12-08

1) No Country for Old Men
Plot- A series of violent events ensue after a hunter decides to keep the heroin and $2 million in cash he discovers amongst a pile of dead men near the Rio Grande. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Ethan Coen, Joel Coen (Blood Simple., Crimewave, Raising Arizona, Miller’s Crossing, Barton Fink, The Hudsucker Proxy, Fargo, The Big Lebowski, The Naked Man, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, The Man Who Wasn’t There, Intolerable Cruelty, The Ladykillers)

Starring- Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Woody Harrelson, Kelly Macdonald, Garret Dillahunt, Tess Harper, Barry Corbin, Stephen Root

Movieguy’s Verdict- Along with “Into the Wild,” “Atonement” and “There Will Be Blood,” this was one of the year’s best films. The Coen Brothers were back in top form as their quiet, subtle and dark direction was chilling and mesmerizing. They gave the audience a direct line into the the minds of the characters, providing the chance to watch them analyze, think and reason internally. Their screenplay was as good as storytelling can possibly be, with sparse dialogue that cut to the core of every scene with precision and gritty intensity. Josh Brolin was brilliant in his portrayal of his tight-lipped character struggling for a sense of morality. Tommy Lee Jones and Woody Harrelson were also excellent, but Javier Bardem’s spellbinding portrayal of a sociopathic killer was beyond description. His Oscar win was among the most deserving of the year. The film was as brutal as it was intelligent, and brilliant performances against the backdrop of the Coen Brothers’ Oscar-winning direction and writing made this one for the ages.

2) August Rush
Plot- A young musical genius is aided by a mysterious stranger in his effort to find the parents from whom he was separated at birth. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Kirsten Sheridan (Disco Pigs)

Written by- Nick Castle (Skatetown, U.S.A., Pray TV, Escape from New York, Tag: The Assassination Game, The Boy Who Could Fly, Tap, Hook), James V. Hart (Gimme an ‘F’, Hook, Dracula, Muppet Treasure Island, Contact, Tuck Everlasting, Sahara, The Last Mimzy)

Starring- Freddie Highmore, Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Robin Williams, Leon G. Thomas III, Terrence Howard, Jamia Simone Nash, William Sadler, Alex O’Loughlin, Aaron Staton

Movieguy’s Verdict- I expected this to be a very corny Hollywood romance, but it actually turned out to be a rich and fulfilling artistic experience. Kirsten Sheridan directed the film with incredible passion and a lust for inspiration and beauty. Her camerawork was elegant and gracefully artistic; a perfect combination for this story. The film was very well acted, but Freddie Highmore’s performance was by far the most outstanding of the film, and one of the best child performances of the year. Keri Russell and Jonathan Rhys Meyers were excellent as well, but it was very difficult to tell how old their characters were supposed to be. Robin Williams excelled in a difficult supporting role with his usual energy and style. The film progressed with remarkable passion as the characters grew closer and closer through the film’s amazingly crafted musical backing. This movie was truly fantastic.

3) Dan in Real Life
Plot- While advice columnist and single dad Dan Burns attends his family reunion, he meets, and falls for, Beth, a funny, smart, beautiful woman — who just happens to in a relationship with his brother. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Peter Hedges (Pieces of April)

Written by- Pierce Gardner (Lost Souls), Peter Hedges (What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, A Map of the World, About a Boy)

Starring- Steve Carell, Juliette Binoche, Dane Cook, Alison Pill, Brittany Robertson, Marlene Lawston, Dianne Wiest, John Mahoney

Movieguy’s Verdict- Coming off the horrendous failure of the ill-advised “Evan Almighty,” Steve Carell was in top form in this project, which was not only a surprisingly deep character study, but a warm and tender comedy as well. Carell played a great character with precision and understanding, as he allowed the audience to truly empathize with him, and feel what he felt. Peter Hedges’ direction provided a clear window into the psyche of the characters, and the roots of their choices. From start to finish, the film felt very sincere. The supporting cast helped tremendously with this, with Juliette Binoche and even Dane Cook giving strong performances. However, an ill-advised and totally unnecessary scene that played during the end credits actually ruined the film’s realism and personality quite a bit. Even so, this was a tender, funny and romantic film which truly deserves to be seen.

4) Hitman
Plot- An assassin known as Agent 47 is hired by a group known as “The Agency” to kill targets for hire. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Xavier Gens

Written by- Skip Woods (Swordfish)

Starring- Timothy Olyphant, Dougray Scott, Olga Kurylenko, Robert Knepper, Ulrich Thomsen, Michael Offei, Henry Ian Cusick

Movieguy’s Verdict- The “Hitman” videogame series is one of the better series out there, and, in the right hands, a film adaptation should have been great. However, the film was treated like an immature music video, ignoring the deep psychology of the main character and replacing it with a hollow shell that ultimately accomplished nothing. Timothy Olyphant had all of the tools to be a fantastic Agent 47, but a 5th grade screenplay hung him out to dry. That same screenplay inserted a worthless, skanky character played horribly by Olga Kurylenko. Xavier Gens molded his camerawork to resemble the game in certain scenes, and for a while, the plot was able to maintain a surprising degree of excitement under the circumstances. Ultimately, the film was suffocated under an avalanche of plot holes and MTV style immaturity, making it a resounding disappointment.

5) Bee Movie
Plot- Barry B. Benson, a bee who has just graduated from college, is disillusioned at his lone career choice: making honey. On a special trip outside the hive, Barry’s life is saved by Vanessa, a florist in New York City. As their relationship blossoms, he discovers people actually eat honey, and subsequently decides to file a lawsuit against humankind. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Steve Hickner (The Prince of Egypt), Simon J. Smith

Written by- Jerry Seinfeld, Spike Feresten, Barry Marder, Andy Robin

Voices of- Jerry Seinfeld, Renée Zellweger, Matthew Broderick, Patrick Warburton, John Goodman, Chris Rock, Kathy Bates, Barry Levinson, Larry King, Ray Liotta, Sting, Oprah Winfrey, Larry Miller, Megan Mullally, Rip Torn, Michael Richards

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was supposed to be Jerry Seinfeld’s gift to children’s filmmaking, but in the end, it was just another forgettable kid’s movie that didn’t accomplish very much. The film displayed an extraordinary amount of detail and creativity, yet plenty of gaps in logic and mistakes were still present. Most voice parts were quite poor and highly exaggerated, with Seinfeld being at the forefront of this trend. The writing did carry some humor value, but most jokes were highly telegraphed and fell flat. Despite excellent CGI and efforts to be creative, this was just another kid’s film to be quickly forgotten.

6) Nancy Drew
Plot- While accompanying her father on a trip to Los Angeles, teen detective Nancy Drew begins to put clues together that could unravel the mystery behind a movie star’s death. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Andrew Fleming (Threesome, The Craft, Dick, The In-Laws)

Written by- Andrew Fleming (Bad Dreams, Every Breath, Threesome, The Craft, Dick), Tiffany Paulsen

Starring- mma Roberts, Josh Flitter, Craig Gellis, Rich Cooper, Max Thieriot, Rachael Leigh Cook, Amy Bruckner, Tate Donovan, Barry Bostwick, Kay Panabaker, Cliff Bemis, David Doty, Laura Elena Harring, Monica Parker

Movieguy’s Verdict- With terrible music in every scene and exaggerated high school antics in what felt like an episode of “Matlock” gone Hollywood, this film never should have been made. I appreciate that Emma Roberts tried very hard to give her character personality and charm, but the result was irritating for about 85% of the film. On the other hand, Josh Flitter was quite amusing in his supporting performance. Andrew Fleming seemed to have difficulty finding a genre for the film, as he combined elements of cheesy teen girl movies, corny Hollywood mysteries, and “Matlock.” The film featured a plethora of unnecessary scenes and was probably too long for its own good. This is not a film I’d recommend to anyone for any reason.
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3-5-08

1) Into the Wild
Plot- Right after graduating college, Christopher McCandless abandons his conventional life for an odyssey in the Alaskan wilderness. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Sean Penn (The Indian Runner, The Crossing Guard, The Pledge)

Starring- Emile Hirsch, Vince Vaughn, Catherine Keener, Marcia Gay Harden, Hal Holbrook, William Hurt, Jena Malone, Kristen Stewart

Movieguy’s Verdict- Though it was disgracefully ignored for all of the many Oscars for which it deserved nominations, this was one of the year’s best films. The film and its true story had the potential to turn into a rambling road movie, but Sean Penn crafted the film with extraordinary beauty, remarkable grace and exceptional psychological value. Penn’s camerawork was magnificent, as he not only captured the beauty of nature, but marvelously captured the essence of the film’s main character. Emile Hirsch gave a wonderful performance in a role that didn’t appear difficult on the surface, but was extremely demanding and very dense. Supporting performances from Catherine Keener, Vince Vaughn and Hal Holbrook were excellent as well. Penn established a very strong relationship between the characters, which put the finishing touches on a film which was breathtakingly beautiful, intense, highly intelligent and completely captivating. This is a film you don’t want to miss.

2) Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium
Plot- Edward Magorium, the eccentric, 243-year-old owner of the most fantastic toy shop in the world wills his business to his shy, awkward store manager. But her leadership is soon challenged by a dark, ominous presence in the shop. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Zach Helm (Stranger than Fiction)

Starring- Dustin Hoffman, Natalie Portman, Jason Bateman

Movieguy’s Verdict- Zach Helm is a genius. His skills as a writer were established with “Stranger than Fiction,” and now that he’s shown the ability to direct, there should be no stopping him. Helm made a fantastic and imaginative film out of a concept which seemed all but doomed for failure. Visually, the film was astounding with unsurpassed creativity and ingenuity. Helm’s writing was equally clever as there was never a moment without emotional value. Dustin Hoffman portrayed a highly bizarre character with great skill, while Natalie Portman and Jason Bateman were also fantastic. The film’s only flaw came from a climax and ending which were handled with great corniness and predictability. Still, we may never see another film like this, and I hope you give it a chance to blow you away.

3) Things We Lost in the Fire
Plot- A recent widow invites her husband’s troubled best friend to live with her and her two children. As he gradually turns his life around, he helps the family cope and confront their loss. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Susanne Bier

Written by- Allan Loeb

Starring- Halle Berry, Benicio Del Toro, David Duchovny, Alexis Llewellyn, Micah Berry, John Carroll Lynch, Alison Lohman, Robin Weigert

Movieguy’s Verdict- From the first scene it was clear that director Susanne Bier was attempting to make a very artistic and elegant film. Her directorial style featured numerous close-ups of eyes, faces, and random objects, which was intimate and artful at times, but also suffocating. Often, Bier didn’t appear to discriminate when she used this visual technique, as her lack of experience worked to highlight her lack of discretion. For the most part though, her direction was beautiful and captivating. Halle Berry, Benicio Del Toro and David Duchovny were fantastic, showing great command over their complex characters. The psychological transformation of the characters was written and directed beautifully, and it was truly fascinating to watch them evolve. Though the plot carried great poignancy, the film seemed to lack the emotional power it required, especially near the end. Even so, the psychology of the characters and the acting were strong enough to make it work well.

4) Awake
Plot- A young man experiences “anesthetic awareness” during his heart surgery. Aware of the complications that develop while still under the knife, he’s left helpless as his troubled wife is forced to make life-altering decisions. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Joby Harold

Starring- Hayden Christensen, Lena Olin, Jessica Alba, Terrence Howard, Christopher McDonald

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film began with great promise. It made a point of developing characters, along with elegant direction from Joby Harold and good performances from Hayden Christensen, Jessica Alba and Terrence Howard. The fear and anxiety felt by Christensen’s character was flawlessly transferred to the audience. The film also displayed strong intensity and realism, and it felt like a minimalistic cult classic in the making. However, the story abruptly stopped developing and somehow settled on an ending so predictable and asinine that it I had trouble believing it. Furthermore, it was rife with plot holes and errors in logic, assuming that logic is actually applicable in this situation. The first half of the film was excellent, but the rest was unwatchable. This unforgivable lapse in planning was an absolute disgrace, and for this reason, the film really doesn’t need to be seen.

5) The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Plot- Facing a lean winter, Jesse James brings in a couple of new recruits, one of whom, young Robert Ford, will grow resentful of the legendary outlaw, and ultimately betray him. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Andrew Dominik (Chopper)

Starring- Brad Pitt, Casey Affleck, Sam Rockwell, Paul Schneider, Mary-Louise Parker, Brooklynn Proulx, Dustin Bollinger, Jeremy Renner, Sam Shepard, Garret Dillahunt, Zooey Deschanel

Movieguy’s Verdict- Though largely ignored from any sort of theatrical exhibition, and the 2008 Academy Awards, this magnificent film was an exercise in powerful and beautiful filmmaking. Perhaps the biggest surprise of the film was the pristine, elegant direction and fantastic writing of Andrew Dominik, an unproven and inexperienced filmmaker. Dominik’s minimalistic and brooding and canvas was perfect for the film’s complex and constantly evolving characters. The film also boasted a hauntingly beautiful score, which seemed to flawlessly accentuate the characters and Roger Deakins’ exquisite cinematography. Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck were stupendous in their pained portrayals of intricate characters. Sam Rockwell and Paul Schneider were fantastic in their supporting roles as well. Running at 160 minutes, the film kept a menacing, unhurried pace, yet seemed to fly by in record time. A character study on an epic scale, this film will delight fans of quality filmmaking.
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3-5-08

1) College Road Trip
Plot- When an overachieving high school student decides to travel around the country to choose the perfect college, her overprotective cop father decides to accompany her in order to keep her on the straight and narrow. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Roger Kumble (Director of: Cruel Intentions, Cruel Intentions 2, The Sweetest Thing, Just Friends; Writer of: Unveiled, Senior Trip, Provocateur, Cruel Intentions, Cruel Intentions 2)

Written by- Emi Mochizuki, Carrie Evans, Cinco Paul (Bubble Boy, The Santa Clause 2, Special), Ken Daurio (Bubble Boy, The Santa Clause 2, Special)

Starring- Raven-Symoné, Martin Lawrence, Donny Osmond

Movieguy’s Prediction- 0 / 4 Stars

2) 10,000 B.C.
Plot- A young mammoth hunter journeys through uncharted territory to secure the future of his tribe. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Roland Emmerich (Moon 44, Universal Soldier, Stargate, Independence Day, Godzilla, The Patriot, The Day After Tomorrow)

Written by- Roland Emmerich (Moon 44, Stargate, Independence Day, Godzilla, The Day After Tomorrow), Harald Kloser

Starring- Camilla Belle, Steven Strait, Marco Khan, Cliff Curtis, Nathanael Baring

Movieguy’s Prediction- 1 / 4 Stars

3) The Bank Job
Plot- Based on one of the biggest crimes in British history, a group of unseasoned criminals are lured into a heist, thinking they are going to rip off the safety deposit boxes of some of London’s wealthiest citizens. Instead, they are unknowing recruits on a top-secret mission to steal photos of a Royal princess who was snapped in some compromising situations. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Roger Donaldson (Sleeping Dogs, Nutcase, Smash Palace, The Bounty, Marie, No Way Out, Cocktail, Cadillac Man, White Sands, The Getaway, Species, Dante’s Peak, Thirteen Days, The Recruit, The World’s Fastest Indian)

Written by- Dick Clement (The Jokers, Otley, Hannibal Brooks, To Catch a Spy, Villain, Porridge, Sunset Limousine, Water, Vice Versa, The Commitments, Excess Baggage, Still Crazy, Honest, Goal!, Flushed Away, Across the Universe), Ian La Frenais (The Jokers, Otley, Hannibal Brooks, To Catch a Spy, Villain, Porridge, Sunset Limousine, Water, Vice Versa, The Commitments, Excess Baggage, Still Crazy, Honest, Goal!, Flushed Away, Across the Universe)

Starring- Jason Statham, Saffron Burrows, Stephen Campbell Moore, Daniel Mays, James Faulkner, Alki David, Michael Jibson, Georgia Taylor, Richard Lintern, Chris Owen

Movieguy’s Prediction- 3 / 4 Stars

4) Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day [limited]
Plot- After she is dismissed from her job, a middle-aged London governess gains new employment with American actress and singer Delysia Lafosse — a move that catapults her into a glamorous and dizzying new life. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Bharat Nalluri (Downtime, Killing Time, The Crow: Salvation)

Written by- David Magee (Finding Neverland), Simon Beaufoy (The Full Monty, Among Giants, The Darkest Light, Running Time, Blow Dry, This is Not a Love Song, Yasmin)

Starring- Frances McDormand, Amy Adams, Ciarán Hinds, Lee Pace

Movieguy’s Prediction- 1 / 4 Stars

5) Snow Angels [limited]
Plot- A small-town drama set amongst two fractured families, and a single gunshot that connects them to one another. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- David Gordon Green (George Washington, All the Real Girls, Undertow)

Starring- Kate Beckinsale, Sam Rockwell, Michael Angarano, Griffin Dunne, Nicky Katt, Amy Sedaris

Movieguy’s Prediction- 4 / 4 Stars

6) Married Life [limited]
Plot- A 1940s-set drama about a meek man who falls for a younger woman and opts to spare him and his wife the agony of divorce by concocting a plan to slowly poison her to death. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Ira Sachs (Forty Shades of Blue)

Written by- Ira Sachs (Forty Shades of Blue), Oren Moverman (Face, I’m Not There.)

Starring- Pierce Brosnan, Chris Cooper, Patricia Clarkson, Rachel McAdams, David Richmond-Peck

Movieguy’s Prediction- 3.5 / 4 Stars

8) Paranoid Park [limited]
Plot- A teenage skateboarder’s life begins to fray after he is involved in the accidental death of a security guard. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Gus Van Sant (Drugstore Cowboy, My Own Private Idaho, To Die For, Good Will Hunting, Finding Forrester, Gerry, Elephant, Last Days)

Starring- Gabe Nevins, Daniel Liu, Taylor Momsen

Movieguy’s Prediction- 4 / 4 Stars
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2-27-08

1) Death at a Funeral
Plot- Two brothers look to stop a blackmailer from exposing their deceased father’s secret as their family gathers to mourn him. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Frank Oz (The Dark Crystal, The Muppets Take Manhattan, Little Shop of Horrors, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, What About Bob?, HouseSitter, The Indian in the Cupboard, In & Out, Bowfinger, The Score, The Stepford Wives)

Written by- Dean Craig (Caffeine)

Starring- Matthew Macfadyen, Peter Dinklage, Ewen Bremner, Rupert Graves, Alan Tudyk, Daisy Donovan, Kris Marshall, Any Nyman, Jane Asher, Keeley Hawes, Peter Vaughn

Movieguy’s Verdict- I love black comedies, but I’m not sure you can beat a black comedy in which everyone is actually wearing black. While “Knocked Up” and “Superbad” were commonly listed as the two best comedies of 2007, this film actually featured more laughs per scene than either of those films. I didn’t expect much from this project because Frank Oz hasn’t made a decent movie since “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,” which was, coincidentally, his only successful comedy. The film succeeded with brilliant, hilarious and inventive writing from the relatively untested Dean Craig, who crafted this comedy with great characters, razor sharp wit and an onslaught of jokes and subtle, dark humor. Led by Matthew Macfadyen, a wonderful ensemble cast with fantastic chemistry provided scene after scene of superb performances and memorable hilarity. Though the ending didn’t necessarily match the dysfunction and chaos of the rest of the film, this little known comedy was the funniest film I’ve seen in a very long time.

2) The Darjeeling Limited
Plot- Three American brothers who have not spoken to each other in a year set off on a train voyage across India with a plan to find themselves and bond with each other — to become brothers again like they used to be. Their “spiritual quest” veers rapidly off-course, and they eventually find themselves stranded alone in the middle of the desert with eleven suitcases, a printer, and a laminating machine. At this moment, a new, unplanned journey suddenly begins. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Wes Anderson (Bottle Rocket, Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou)

Written by- Wes Anderson (Bottle Rocket, Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou), Roman Coppola, Jason Schwartzman

Starring- Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody, Jason Schwartzman, Amara Karan, Wallace Wolodarsky, Waris Ahluwalia, Irfan Khan, Barbet Schroeder, Camilla Rutherford, Bill Murray, Anjelica Huston

Movieguy’s Verdict- Wes Anderson has developed his own rhythm and, some might say, his own sense of humor. You can’t “sort of” like his films- you either love them or hate them. So, for those of us who love the films, this was Anderson’s best work to date. Anderson’s vintage visual presentation was simply genius, but his ability to create fantastic characters and the countless layers of psychological complexity between them was more prevalent here than any of his previous work. Wes Anderson, Roman Coppola and Jason Schwartzman wrote a brilliant screenplay, which captured the offbeat sensibilities and total lack of conventionality of the story and its characters. Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody and Jason Schwartzman formed a wonderful team with amazing chemistry, which seemed even more pronounced against a surprisingly beautiful cinematographic backdrop. The film was filled with random moments, yet everything made perfect sense when viewed through the right lens of dysfunction. Sadly, the film was denied the plethora of Oscars nominations it rightly deserved, but it was still one of the year’s best.

3) 30 Days of Night
Plot- A pack of vampires descend upon Barrow, Alaska just as the sun is about to set for 30 days. Two cops, a husband and wife team, rise up to protect their town and its citizens. (imdb.com)

Directed by- David Slade (Hard Candy)

Written by- Steve Niles, Stuart Beattie (Joey, The Protector, Shutter, Kick, Collateral, Derailed), Brian Nelson (Hard Candy)

Starring- Josh Hartnett, Melissa George, Danny Huston, Ben Foster, Mark Boone Junior, Mark Rendall, Amber Sainsbury

Movieguy’s Verdict- There’s something highly compelling about this film’s plot and arctic setting, despite the fact that it’s really a next generation vampire / zombie movie. David Slade showed wonderful visual choices in “Hard Candy,” and exhibited similar excellence here with his visual creativity, great camerawork, and ominous direction. These days, audiences are used to seeing films like this filled with ditzy teen actors, but Slade assembled an excellent cast of Josh Hartnett, Melissa George, Danny Huston and Ben Foster, all of whom delivered strong, believable performances. With great music and stellar sound effects, the film’s technical achievements were top notch. Despite its great intensity and technical potency, the film suffered heavily from problems in continuity, severe logistical issue with the ending and a plethora of plot holes. The plot holes could have been avoided if the screenplay had actually been proofread, but it still did a great many things well.

4) Beowulf
Plot- An animated adaptation of the epic poem in which a hero saves the Danes from the indomitable monster Grendel, only to incur the wrath of the demon’s mother, a wickedly seductive entity. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Robert Zemeckis (Used Cars, Romancing the Stone, Back to the Future, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Back to the Future Part II, Back to the Future Part III, Death Becomes Her, Forrest Gump, Contact, What Lies Beneath, Cas Away, The Polar Express)

Written by- Neil Gaiman, Roger Avary (True Romance, Pulp Fiction, Killing Zoe, The Rules of Attraction, Silent Hill)

Voices of- Ray Winstone, Anthony Hopkins, John Malkovich, Robin Wright Penn, Brendan Gleeson, Crispin Glover, Alison Lohman, Angelina Jolie

Movieguy’s Verdict- I saw this film in 3-D, which was probably the only reason I wasn’t in pain when I left the theater. The film had everything a bad fantasy/action film could contain- exaggerated music, mostly poor voice parts, infantile writing and a cheesy Hollywood climax. The CGI and Zemeckis’ motion capture technology were first rate, but that does not excuse or hide the stupidity of the writing. Ray Winstone is a fine actor, but he gave a horribly forced vocal performance here, as did everyone except Anthony Hopkins. If you saw “300,” you’ve seen this movie already, so don’t waste your time.
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2-20-08

1) American Gangster
Plot- In 1970s Harlem, Frank Lucas constructs a heroin empire by stashing the drug inside the coffins of soldiers returning from Vietnam. Once he is dethroned by Det. Richie Roberts, the former kingpin turns informant, the duo sets out to take down law enforcement agents and foreign nationals who are part of his syndicate. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Ridley Scott (Alien, Black Rain, Thelma & Louise, G.I. Jane, Gladiator, Hannibal, Black Hawk Down, Matchstick Men, Kingdom of Heaven, A Good Year)

Written by- Steven Zaillian (Director of: Searching for Bobby Fischer, A Civil Action; Writer of: Awakenings, Schindler’s List, Clear and Present Danger, Hannibal, Gangs of New York, The Interpreter, All the King’s Men)

Starring- Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Josh Brolin, Lymari Nadal, Ted Levine, RZA, Cuba Gooding Jr., Armand Assante, Idris Elba, Common, Jon Polito

Movieguy’s Verdict- With Ridley Scott directing, Russell Crowe and Denzel Washington starring and a fantastic true story being told, this film was a lock for a plethora of Oscars. The result was easily the biggest disappointment of 2007, or any year for that matter. Starting out, the film felt choppy and awkward, trying too hard to build a story around clashing personalities and a mountain of cop vs. drug lord movie clichés. Crowe should have been brilliant, but his character was a walking cliché devoid of emotion. The sum of his many talents was a dull and dispassionate performance. Washington’s character had more depth, and as a result he saved the film from complete meltdown, delivering the strongest performance of the film. At times, the film felt obsessed with its own Hollywood epic status, attempting to manufacture emotions and symbolic connections between characters that the weak screenplay never established. About 20% of the writing was good, but the rest was a total wash. However, the last 30 minutes were quite strong, with Washington kicking his performance into high gear and the film reaching a high level of intensity. Still, the abysmal failure of this ultimately forgettable project will linger for decades.

2) Michael Clayton
Plot- An in-house “fixer” at a top New York law firm risks his career, and his life, on a sabotaged class action suit that pits him against a rival litigator. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Tony Gilroy (Writer of: The Cutting Edge, Dolores Claiborne, Extreme Measures, Armageddon, Bait, Proof of Life, The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy, The Bourne Ultimatum)

Starring- George Clooney, Tilda Swinton, Tom Wilkinson, Sydney Pollack

Movieguy’s Verdict- Beginning with its fantastic opening sequence, this multidimensional film was a marvelous dark and complex thriller. As a writer, Tony Gilroy has been around Hollywood for quite some time, but in his directorial debut, he showed tremendous skill and remarkable intelligence. Gilroy’s moody and intense direction was as compelling as his taut, tremendously well developed screenplay. Like an onion, the film kept providing layer after layer of character development and story advancement. Gilroy managed to make the film methodical, yet schizophrenic at the same time. Though this was not merely a reflection of his excellence, but of the fantastic, precise performances from an outstanding cast. George Clooney was brilliant in the lead role, capturing his complex character from every angle. The supporting performances of Tom Wilkinson and Tilda Swinton were fantastic as well, rounding out a deep and crafty thriller.

3) Rendition
Plot- CIA analyst questions his assignment after witnessing an unorthodox interrogation at a secret detention facility outside the US. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Gavin Hood (Tsotsi, A Reasonable Man)

Written by- Kelley Sane (Franchesca Page)

Starring- Reese Witherspoon, Jake Gyllenhaal, Alan Arkin, Omar Metwally, Peter Sarsgaard, J.K. Simmons, Meryl Streep, Bob Gunton, Igal Naor, Zineb Oukach, Mohammed Khouas

Movieguy’s Verdict- There have been plenty of political thrillers with similar intentions since September 11th, but only the best match the psychological power or suspense of this film. Though the story was complex, the film was not presented in an overly complicated or even artistic way; its elegance, psychological impact and strong performances formed its bridge to excellence. Kelley Sane developed the story and its characters very well, creating a character study as well as a suspense/thriller. Gavin Hood directed without a great deal of visual creativity, but his elegance and ability to consistently build the story through its characters and the evolution of the plot made it highly compelling. Jake Gylenhaal gave an outstanding lead performance, as did Omar Metwally. Reese Witherspoon, on the other hand, was not as engrossing, though she displayed great power and strength when the film most required it. When combined with fantastic and emotionally charged climax and ending sequences, this film was simply outstanding.

4) In the Valley of Elah
Plot- A career officer investigates the suspicious circumstances surrounding the death of his son during his tour of duty in Iraq. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Paul Haggis (Red Hot, Crash)

Starring- Tommy Lee Jones, Charlize Theron, Frances Fisher, Susan Sarandon, James Franco, Jonathan Tucker, Wes Chatham, Jake McLaughlin, Mehcad Brooks, Rick Gonzales, Wayne Duvall, Brent Brisco

Movieguy’s Verdict- After the brilliance of “Crash” and a failed television series, Paul Haggis rebounded with a somber, brooding project. Wrapped tightly with political messages, Haggis juxtaposed the guilt and pure rage of the characters with his elegant, sublime direction and a beautifully tender score. The film achieved tremendous emotional power and thrived on the Haggis’ ability to establish beauty and strength in the unspoken moments between characters. Though Tommy Lee Jones plays the same character in every film he’s ever done, I’m not sure I’ll ever tire of it. His tight-lipped, stoically thoughtful performance was, as always, fantastic. The film featured excellent acting at every turn with Charlize Theron giving her best showing since her Academy Award-winning performance in “Monster.” Susan Sarandon also gave a strong supporting effort. Profoundly psychological, this beautiful film digs deep into the psyche and leaves nothing to be desired.

5) Fierce People
Plot- A bizarre billionaire invites a troubled woman and her son to his estate, where they become integrated into an aristocratic and dysfunctional lifestyle.

Directed by- Griffin Dunne (Addicted to Love, Practical Magic, Famous)

Written by- Dirk Wittenborn (Mr. Mike’s Mondo Video)

Starring- Diane Lane, Anton Yelchin, Donald Sutherland, Chris Evans, Kristen Stewart, Paz de la Huerta, Christopher Shyer, Elizabeth Perkins

Movieguy’s Verdict- Films like this can be brilliant, but they have a tendency to crash and burn easily. This one fell victim to the latter fate. The highly dysfunctional psychological component to its numerous quirky characters was indeed appetizing, but Dirk Wittenborn’s sprawling, disconnected and often incoherent narrative made for a frustrating viewing experience. Wittenborn’s characters had great potential, but, as a director, Griffin Dunne clearly does not possess the creativity (or insanity) to tie them together properly. Diane Lane gave a strong performance, but Anton Yelchin was less than adequate in playing the film’s most crucial character. Excellent supporting performances from Chris Evans, Kristen Stewart and Elizabeth Perkins managed to pick up the slack somewhat, but the film was not able to recover from Yelchin’s shortcomings. Though it had potential and a great cast, deficiencies in acting, writing and direction were too much to overcome.
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2-13-08

1) Gone, Baby, Gone
Plot- A pair of detectives track down a missing four-year-old girl in one of Boston’s toughest neighborhoods. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Ben Affleck

Written by- Ben Affleck (Good Will Hunting), Aaron Stockard

Starring- Casey Affleck, Michelle Monaghan, Morgan Freeman, Ed Harris, John Ashton, Amy Ryan, Amy Madigan, Mark Margolis

Movieguy’s Verdict- Ben Affleck proved his writing ability with “Good Will Hunting,” and now he’s shown how strong of a director he is. Affleck’s sensational direction not only featured strong camerawork, but his grittiness and intensity captured the pulse of Boston, and the complex characters which made the film so rich and emotionally engrossing. The film was very well acted, with Casey Affleck, Morgan Freeman and Amy Ryan giving outstanding performances. For as well acted and directed the film was, Ben Affleck and Aaron Stockard’s screenplay was by far its strongest feature. Not only did the film function as a dark and captivating mystery, it was a thought provoking study of morality and the darkest parts of the human condition. Its complex plot continued to evolve until its excellent ending. This film didn’t make much money and got minimal publicity, but should be regarded as a true showing of all around filmmaking excellence.

2) We Own the Night
Plot- Though nightclub owner Bobby and his police officer brother Joseph haven taken decidedly different paths in life, a near-fatal incident causes them to unite in a deadly confrontation with the mobsters who run Bobby’s club. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- James Gray (Little Odessa, The Yards)

Starring- Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Wahlberg, Robert Duvall, Eva Mendes, Tony Musante, Edward Conlon, Antoni Corone, Alex Veadov, Katie Condidorio, Burton Perez

Movieguy’s Verdict- Though the film really didn’t pack much of an appeal during its previews, its classy, old fashioned grittiness made for a truly excellent movie experience. James Foley’s outstanding direction captured the mood of the 80s, featuring wonderful camerawork and a chillingly dark crime film atomsphere. Built around strong characters in an emotionally charged hotbed of corruption and betrayal, Foley’s screenplay featured plenty of depth and excellent character development. Relationships between characters were crucial to the film’s success, and Foley handled them intelligently and naturally. Another reason for the film’s resounding success was the strength of its performances. Built on a fantastic ensemble cast of Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Wahlberg, Robert Duvall, Eva Mendes and Tony Musante, wonderful acting cemented this film’s triumph.

3) No Reservations
Plot- The life of a neurotic, tightly wound chef changes when she unexpectedly becomes the guardian of her young niece. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Scott Hicks (Down the Wind, Freedom, Sebastian and the Sparrow, Call Me Mr. Brown, Submarines: Sharks of Steel, Shine, Snow Falling on Cedars, Hearts in Atlantis)

Written by- Carol Fuchs

Starring- Catherine Zeta-Jones, Aaron Eckhart, Abigail Breslin, Patricia Clarkson, Jenny Wade, Bob Balaban, Brian F. O’Byrne

Movieguy’s Verdict- Though it was advertised as a typical romantic comedy, and was in some respects, this film made a valiant attempt to tell a complex and meaningful story. Catherine Zeta-Jones was wonderful. Both controlled and exuberant, she captured the essence of a character whose fear of the world and obsessive compulsive tendencies drove most aspects of her decision making. Scott Hicks did very well to capture moods of sadness and realism, and, for the most part, stayed away from sappiness and corny Hollywood romantic comedy clichés. In fact, the film contained more sadness and emotional sincerity than you might expect. Additionally, Carol Fuchs did well to establish characters, with the exception of Aaron Eckhart’s character, who was pretty thin at best. Fuchs never really made an attempt at comedy, which fit well with the mood of the story. Abigail Breslin was good as well in a film that was well-acted overall. Even though the structure of the romantic storyline was completely clichéd, predictable and corny, the film was not necessarily centered around it, which made it more than watchable.

4) Becoming Jane
Plot- A young Jane Austen, before she found fame with her novels, undergoes a romance with a young Irishman. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Julian Jarrold (Kinky Boots)

Written by- Kevin Hood, Sarah Williams

Starring- Anne Hathaway, James McAvoy, Julie Walters, James Cromwell, Maggie Smith, Joe Anderson, Lucy Cohu, Laurence Fox, Ian Richardson

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film made no effort to distinguish itself from your by-the-numbers period piece, nor did it make any reasonable attempt to avoid becoming an exact copy of “Pride and Prejudice.” It was advertised as a romantic biopic which was to delve deeply into the subconscious of Jane Austen before she became a famous writer, but didn’t do much of that. The frustrating part of watching this film is that Austen chronicled her life and experiences so meticulously in her novels, that another movie was completely unnecessary in every regard. It should be noted that Julian Jarold crafted the film with considerable elegance. Its lush landscapes, beautiful coloring and strong camerawork were the perfect visual framework for the story, but the screenplay was very weak. Featuring isolated pockets of passionate conversations and a handful of good quotes, Kevin Hood and Sarah Williams did the best they could with a story that had almost no chance of succeeding. Along with the direction, the best part of the film was its lead performances. Anne Hathaway and James McAvoy delivered strong, passionate performances despite having to contend with predicable, telegraphed characters. Save yourself from the predictable dullness of this film and watch “Pride and Prejudice” instead; it’s the same film, just done better.

5) Why Did I Get Married?
Plot- An adulterous incident causes four couples to take a hard look at their respective marriages during their annual week-long vacation in the Colorado mountains. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Tyler Perry (Madea’s Family Reunion, Daddy’s Little Girls)

Starring- Tyler Perry, Janet Jackson, Jill Scott, Lamman Rucker, Sharon Leal, Richard T. Jones, Denise Boutte, Michael Jai White, Malik Yoba, Tasha Smith

Movieguy’s Verdict- The question shouldn’t be why you got married, but rather, why Tyler Perry is still allowed to make movies. The level of horribleness Uwe Boll achieves with extreme corniness and bluntly dumb filmmaking, Perry achieves with moronic characters, extremely clichéd situations and sloppy writing. Unlike all of Perry’s other films, there were brief moments of biting comedy which distracted the audience from extreme sappiness and its absurd characters. Though it isn’t the main focus of a film like this, it should be noted that Perry’s camerawork was extremely sloppy, as were his editing and scene transitions. More importantly, as a writer, Perry lacks the ability to develop characters, or even demonstrate the most basic grasp of reality. Though the acting wasn’t as blatantly poor as Perry’s other films, most performances reflected the extreme sappiness of the characters and the fluffiness of the story. Perry would like you to believe the film is about relationships, but it’s little more of a fluffy attempt at a crowd pleaser, with all of the intelligence psychological value of a trashy daytime soap opera.

6) Martian Child
Plot- Trying to rebuild his life after his wife’s death, a writer adopts a troubled young boy who believes he’s a Martian. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Menno Meyjes (Writer of: Max, The Siege, Foreign Student, The Color Purple)

Written by- Seth Bass (The Twilight of the Golds), Jonathan Tolins

Starring- John Cusack, Bobby Coleman, Amanda Peet, Sophie Okonedo, Joan Cusack, Oliver Platt, Richard Schiff

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was an interesting film to review, because it essentially did everything well, but a poorly planned, problematic, corny, overly simplistic and rather dull ending seemed to neutralize all of its good qualities. John Cusack was excellent playing his somber, yet quirky character. Bobby Coleman was also great as a troubled child, and Joan Cusack and Oliver Platt provided levity with solid supporting performances. The film was written around interesting characters and displayed imagination and creativity. Menno Meyjes directed with elegance and flowing beauty, but all of this was wasted on an ending so poor that it made watching the film a trivial experience.
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2-6-08

1) Feast of Love
Plot- Free-spirited Chloe shakes up the romantic lives of a group of friend living in suburban Oregon. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Robert Benton (Bad Company, The Late Show, Kramer vs. Kramer, Still of the Night, Places in the Heart, Nadine, Billy Bathgate, Nobody’s Fool, Twilight, The Human Stain)

Written by- Allison Burnett (Bloodfist III: Forced to Fight, Bleeding Hearts, Red Meat, Autumn in New York, Resurrecting the Champ)

Starring- Greg Kinnear, Morgan Freeman, Radha Mitchell, Alexa Davalos, Jane Alexander, Billy Burke, Toby Hemingway, Selma Blair, Missi Pyle, Fred Ward

Movieguy’s Verdict- If you’re looking for a film with great stories, wonderful characters and fantastic storytelling ability, this is a good choice. Robert Benton structured the film’s excellent stories very nicely, paving the way for a passionate movie with a lust for life and love. Allison Burnett’s writing was very profound at times, and deeply psychological. Unlike many of the films made about love and relationships, this film contained no fluff and was very realistic. Perhaps its only flaw was that it began to meander a bit when it shifted from primary to secondary characters. Wonderful performances were found in all parts of this excellent ensemble cast. Morgan Freeman was excellent, as was Greg Kinnear, Radha Mitchell, Alexa Davalos, Jane Alexander, Billy Burke and Toby Hemingway. The film finished with a great ending that brought a great deal of meaning to the story and the characters as well. This was an excellent film that contained a great deal of psychological value, and it deserves to be seen.

2) The Brave One
Plot- New York radio host Erica Bain looks to recover from a brutal attack, one that left her severely wounded and her fiancé dead, by setting out on a mission for revenge. With her anonymous exploits earning their fair share of public attention, and a detective inching closer to naming a suspect, she begins to question if the path she’s on is the right one. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Neil Jordan (Angel, The Company of Wolves, Mona Lisa, High Spirits, The Miracle, The Crying Game, Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles, Michael Collins, The Butcher Boy, In Dreams, The End of the Affair, The Good Thief, Breakfast on Pluto)

Written by- Roderick Taylor (American Outlaws), Bruce A. Taylor, Cynthia Mort

Starring- Jodie Foster, Terrence Howard, Naveen Andrews, Nicky Katt, Mary Steenburgen

Movieguy’s Verdict- Though Charles Bronson had successfully bludgeoned the revenge movie to death by the end of the 80s, it has begun to creep back into Hollywood in recent years. Though this didn’t start out like a typical Hollywood revenge film, it ended up like one. It began with an artful intro sequence, which laid the groundwork for Neil Jordan’s beautiful camerawork, and passionate and engrossing direction. Jordan not only captured the mental state of the characters, but early on, he appeared to be developing the characters nicely. Jodie Foster and Terrance Howard delivered strong performances, but the impact of those performances was lessened due to lapses in Jordan’s judgment in the latter part of the film. At times, Jordan appeared to be making an emotionally charged, beautifully crafted story of psychological trauma, while other portions of the film were cheesy, poorly conceived, overly aggressive audience pleasers. Without question, the film did plenty of things well, but ultimately, Jordan’s inability to determine the direction of story held it back considerably.

3) Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Plot- England’s Queen Elizabeth struggles to maintain her powerful reign in the face of conspiracies to overthrow her and a budding relationship with explorer Sir Walter Raleigh. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Shekhar Kapur (Elizabeth, The Four Feathers)

Written by- William Nicholson (The March, Sarafina!, Shadowlands, Nell, First Knight, Firelight, Grey Owl, Gladiator), Michael Hirst (The Deceivers, Wherever You Are…, Fools of Fortune, The Ballad of the Sad Cafe, Meeting Venus,Uncovered)

Starring- Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush, Clive Owen, Samantha Morton, Abbie Cornish, Jordi Molla, Rhys Ifans

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was a case of a film that got so caught up in its own “epicness” and superficialities that it ended up as literally nothing at all. From the first scene, acting, direction, writing and music oozed with overly grandiose Hollywood sterility. Shekhar Kapur has definite visual skills, but no sense of scale, story or characters as every scene tried so hard to be moving and beautiful, but failed miserably. There was beauty to be found however, but it lacked meaning of any kind. Cate Blanchett’s excellent (but NOT Oscar-worthy) performance was sadly wasted on the fact that William Nicholson’s screenplay lacked a coherent narrative, plot or character development. There were small pockets of scenes which appeared to fit well together, but beyond those, the film was all style, forced Hollywood techniques and no substance.

4) The Jane Austen Book Club
Plot- Six Californians start a club to discuss the works of Jane Austen, only to find their relationships — both old and new — begin to resemble 21st century versions of her novels. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Robin Swicord (writer of: Cuba Crossing, Shag, The Red Coat, Little Women, The Perez Family, Matilda, Practical Magic, Memoirs of a Geisha)

Starring- Kathy Baker, Hugh Dancy, Amy Brenneman, Emily Blunt, Marc Blucas, Lynn Redgrave, Jimmy Smits, Nancy Travis, Maria Bello

Movieguy’s Verdict- I know this title screams Lifetime Original Movie. Furthermore, the story pretty much only appeals to people who are, in fact, members of a Jane Austen book club. However, with solid acting, interesting characters and a good overall story, this was a very watchable film. The film makes Austen’s novels a refuge from a stressful and complicated world in which men are idiotic scum and women are constantly slighted and mistreated. This exaggeration is always aggravating, but the film was intelligently written, well paced and characters were nicely developed. The film most resembled a book report in which everything was a metaphor for something else. Emily Blunt, Amy Brenneman, Maria Bello and Hugh Dancy gave great performances in what turned out to be a very solid and enjoyable film.
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1-30-08

1) The Invasion
Plot- As a Washington psychiatrist unearths the origin of an alien epidemic, she also discovers her son might be the only way it can be stopped. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Oliver Hirschbiegel, James McTeigue (uncredited) (V for Vendetta)

Written by- Dave Kajganich

Starring- Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig, Jeremy Northam, Jackson Bond, Jeffrey Wright, Veronica Cartwright, Josef Sommer, Celia Weston, Roger Rees

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film began quickly with a creepy, dark and ominous feel of paranoia. The camerawork and visual choices of directors Oliver Hirschbiegel and James McTeigue suited the film’s mood nicely, as it gradually increased in intensity and suspense. The film’s creepiness was further accentuated by strong performances from a great cast. Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig were paired well together, and Craig’s unassuming demeanor nicely balanced the film’s suspenseful mood. However, most of the film’s positive qualities were nullified by an overly simplistic ending that was both anti-climactic and very Hollywood. Furthermore, the film failed to capitalize on any of its psychological or sociological ideas, making it a pretty substantial disappointment. Stick to the 1978 film with Donald Sutherland and Jeff Goldblum and skip this one.

2) Bordertown
Plot- A journalist investigates a series of murders near American-owned factories on the border of Juarez and El Paso. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Gregory Nava (Writer of: The Confessions of Amans, The End of August, A Time of Destiny, My Family, Selena, Frida; Director of: The Confessions of Amans, A Time of Destiny, My Family, Selena, Why Do Fools Fall in Love)

Starring- Jennifer Lopez, Antonio Banderas, Maya Zapata, Kate del Castillo, Martin Sheen, John Norman

Movieguy’s Verdict- Contrary to popular opinion, Jennifer Lopez is actually a pretty good actress. She’s done well with most of her serious roles, though her reputation is questioned every time she does a romantic comedy. Actually, Lopez gave an excellent performance in this film, as did Antonio Banderas. Though Martin Sheen’s performance was slightly exaggerated, acting was never the film’s problem. Gregory Nava’s camerawork was perfect, as was the film’s cinematography, but the film’s undoing had nothing to do with its visual presentation. In the first scene, there were two paragraphs of text which were supposed to establish the story. What they actually did was tell the entire story from beginning to end. After reading them, there was no reason to watch the film. Nava crafted the film to be a suspenseful tale of greed and immeasurable corruption, but there was no mystery to be found. The film turned out to be little more than the shell of a great concept that apparently wasn’t planned at all.

3) The Comebacks
Plot- A college football coach with the worst record in the history of the sport vows to turn things around with his new team of ragtag recruits. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Tom Brady (The Hot Chick)

Written by- Ed Yeager, Joey Gutierrez

Starring- David Koechner, Robert Ri’chard, DJ Qualls, Carl Weathers, Melora Hardin, Matthew Lawrence, Brooke Nevin, Nick Searcy, George Back, Noureen DeWulf, Jesse Garcia, Jackie Long

Movieguy’s Verdict- Spoof / parody films like this have managed to redefine stupidity over the last decade or so. Much like “Epic Movie,” “Date Movie” or any of its other clones, the film had no comedic value whatsoever, though an appearance by comedian Frank Caliendo didn’t hurt. David Koechner was downright annoying, as were most of the film’s other exaggerated and humorless performances. The film captured the clichés of sports films, but this had more to do with the ripple effects of its own stupidity, and not any conscious efforts of the writers or director. This was nothing more than scene after scene of poorly constructed jokes and bad puns, and should never have been made.

4) The Nines
Plot- A troubled actor, a TV producer, and a maverick video game designer find their lives intertwining in mysterious and unsettling ways. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- John August (writer of: Go, Titan A.E., Charlie’s Angels, Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle, Big Fish, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Corpse Bride)

Starring- Ryan Reynolds, Hope Davis, Melissa McCarthy, Elle Fanning, Dahlia Salem, David Denman, Octavia Spencer, Ben Falcone

Movieguy’s Verdict- For all of the things this film did well, the self-righteous indignation of its preachy, moronic ending rendered it 100% unwatchable. I have always been a fan of Ryan Reynolds, and while he was miscast in “The Amityville Horror,” his performance in this film was consistent and seemingly well-crafted, though it, like the rest of the film, was ruined by the ending. Early on, it seemed that John August was aiming his writing and direction for the kind of obscurity and surreal randomness that has given filmmakers like David Lynch keys to their own private universe. However, it became clear that August hasn’t shed the stupidity that must accompany working with Tim Burton, and writing both “Charlie’s Angels” films. Hope Davis was sadly wasted in the confines of her idiotic character, and Elle Fanning’s excellent supporting performance amounted to nothing whatsoever. Honestly, I’ve never seen a film with such potential ruined so completely by an ending, no matter how bad it was. I can honestly say that this is the worst film ending I have ever seen. For that reason, don’t waste your time on this film.

5) Daddy Day Camp
Plot- Charlie Hinton looks to expand his day care business by opening up a camp for kids. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Fred Savage (Yes, it’s THAT Fred Savage)

Written by- Geoff Rodkey (Daddy Day Care, The Shaggy Dog, RV), J. David Stem (The Rugrats Movie, Rugrats in Paris: The Movie – Rugrats II, Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, Clockstoppers, Shrek 2, Are We There Yet?), David N. Weiss (All Dogs Go to Heaven, Rock-A-Doodle, The Rugrats Movie, Rugrats in Paris: The Movie – Rugrats II, Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, Clockstoppers, Shrek 2, Are We There Yet?)

Starring- Cuba Gooding Jr., Lochlyn Munro, Richard Gant, Tamala Jones, Paul Rae, Josh McLerran, Spencir Bridges, Brian Doyle-Murray

Movieguy’s Verdict- It’s actually quite difficult to convey how painfully awful this film is, but I suppose its enthusiasm for finding ways to make each scene progressively worse is a good place to start. Cuba Gooding Jr. won an Oscar for his fantastic supporting performance in “Jerry Maguire,” but his facial expressions alone were enough to refund anyone’s lunch. Taking into account that the film’s writers are responsible for such projects as “Are We There Yet?,” “Shrek 2” and “ Rugrats in Paris,” it should surprise no one that the alleged “story” made no sense whatsoever. The film also had the distinction of featuring some of the worst child actors I have ever seen all piled together in one festival of crap. I would say more, but I have to review “Feel the Noise” now, and I need my energy.

6) Feel the Noise
Plot- A young man from the South Bronx dreams of making it as a rapper, until a run-in with local thugs forces him to hide in Puerto Rico with the father he never knew. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Alejandro Chomski

Written by- Albert Leon

Starring- Omarion Grandberry, Giancarlo Esposito, Melonie Diaz

Movieguy’s Verdict- This fledgling tale of urban struggle has taken many forms. You have dance competitions (“You Got Served”), rap competitions (“8 Mile”), the exaggerated gang story (“Get Rich or Die Tryin’”), whatever “Drumline” was about, the exaggerated gang to sports glory story (“Crossover”), or films like this one, which try to combine as many of these clichés as possible. Regardless of the path, the result is always the same. The films are usually so heavy with clichés that they are totally devoid of emotional value or psychological validity of any kind. What’s left is the result of some focus group which apparently believes these stories will make money. You can say the same things about this film I’ve said about all of the other films like it- bad acting, exaggerated characters, superficial writing and a predictable story. The end.
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1-23-08

1) The Hunting Party
Plot- A cameraman and two journalists at different stages of their careers take an unauthorized mission in Bosnia to find the region’s top war criminal. Their goal becomes seriously jeopardized when their target decides to come after them, thinking that they are a CIA hit squad. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Richard Shepard (The Matador, Mexico City, Oxygen, Mercy, The Linguini Incident)

Starring- Richard Gere, Terrence Howard, Jesse Eisenberg, James Brolin, Joy Bryant, Dylan Baker, Mark Ivanir, Ljubomir Kerekes, Diane Kruger

Movieguy’s Verdict- Richard Shepard is a fantastically creative filmmaker whose talents and storytelling ability equal his imagination. Shepard’s narration was biting and intelligent, which rounded out a fantastically written, dynamic screenplay. While Shepard’s visual abilities (camerawork, coloring etc.) were excellent, the performances of Richard Gere and Terrence Howard were top-notch. The film was full of dynamic characters and enthusiastically captured the full breadth of their emotions from whimsy to the unfettered brutality of war. In every sense, this was a very complete film, which achieved everything it set out to achieve; give it your undivided attention.

2) Adrift in Manhattan
Plot- The lives of three lonely strangers intersect while commuting on New York’s 1 and 9 subway lines. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Alfredo De Villa (Washington Heights, Yellow)

Written by- Nat Moss (Washington Heights)

Starring- Victor Rasuk, Heather Graham, William Baldwin, Dominic Chianese, Elizabeth Peña, Marlene Forte, Richard Petrocelli

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film was highlighted by great performances and its minimalistic portrayal of the human condition. The film didn’t make any groundbreaking discoveries, and writer Nat Moss won’t get any points for originality, but Alfredo De Villa’s direction carried a certain understated beauty that helped bridge a strange kind of emotional connection to the deep, and interesting characters. A great cast of Victor Rasuk, Heather Graham, William Baldwin, Dominic Chianese and Elizabeth Peña delivered wonderful performances, which were not necessarily dynamic, but ripe with emotional energy. The film also featured a beautiful score, which helped establish a level of artistic elegance throughout. In all, this was a completely unknown independent film which deserves to be seen.

3) The Game Plan
Plot- As he pushes his team toward the NFL championships, superstar quarterback Joe Kingman discovers that he has a 7-year-old daughter from a previous relationship. Turning to his hard-nosed agent, the parentally challenged duo try to turn a serial bachelor into a responsible father. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Andy Fickman (She’s the Man)

Written by- Nichole Millard, Kathryn Price

Starring- The Rock, Kyra Sedgwick, Madison Pettis, Roselyn Sanchez, Morris Chestnut, Hayes MacArthur, Brian J. White

Movieguy’s Verdict- There was never any question as to how truly atrocious this film was. Though The Rock carried the enormous ego of an athlete, his performance was among the worst of the year. Furthermore, it was equally ridiculous to see him attempt to play a man nearly half his age. Madison Pettis was truly annoying, while one kept asking why Kyra Sedgwick was in the film at all. In true Disney sports movie fashion, every scene oozed corniness and moronic writing. In fact, the film was the corniest, most poorly written Disney film I’ve seen in a long time- and that’s saying something. This was an awful film in every way, combining the worst aspects of children’s sports movies and childish family movies.

4) Saw IV
Plot- The deaths of Jigsaw and his apprentice Amanda ensnare various law enforcement officials in the grisly details of the killers’ final game. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Darren Lynn Bousman (Identity Lost, Saw II, Saw III)

Written by- Patrick Melton (Feast), Marcus Dunstan (Feast)

Starring- Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor, Scott Patterson, Betsy Russell, Lyriq Bent, Athena Karkanis, Justin Louis, Simon Reynolds, Donnie Wahlberg, Angus Macfadyen, Shawnee Smith, Bahar Soomekh, Dina Meyer

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film began with two scenes in which director Darren Lynn Bousman attempted to display as much purposeless gore as possible. Thusly, the tune was set for the rest of the film, which had a few good ideas, but logistical problems and plot holes didn’t give it a chance to work. It has become quite clear that these films are now set up to repeat over and over again without purpose or any conceivable end in sight. Despite its pointlessness, the film did manage to keep your attention, was generally well acted and featured decent camerawork. Still, you can’t ignore the fact that it achieved nothing.

5) Sydney White
Plot- A modern version of the Snow White fable, in which a legacy sorority pledge becomes disillusioned with her school’s social hierarchy, then bands together with seven outcasts in an attempt to shake things up. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Joe Nussbaum (Sleepover)

Written by- Chad Creasey

Starring- Amanda Bynes, Sara Paxton, Matt Long, Jack Carpenter, Jeremy Howard

Movieguy’s Verdict- Amanda Bynes is a strange person. She has a forced and rather annoying personality, but she’s funny sometimes. Her skin is the color of sun dried carrots, and she always appears to be wearing a splotchy coating of spray-on tan. She’s not a good actress. That last one wasn’t strange at all. She has chipmunk cheeks, and I can’t decide whether they are cute or not, but they do form an undeniably strange combination with that orange skin of hers. With all of that said, this film was a pretty typical teen girl movie, which had a few moments of comedy and a scattering of quirky characters who provided personality. The film reached for the balance of comedy and social commentary that “Mean Girls” achieved, but failed not because of Bynes, but mostly due to a consistent level of exaggeration and the added knowledge that it was an adaptation of “Snow White.”
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1-16-08

1) The Ten
Plot- The film tells ten stories, each inspired by one of the ten commandments.

Directed by- David Wain (Wet Hot American Summer)

Written by- Ken Marino (Diggers), David Wain

Starring- Paul Rudd, Famke Janssen, Jessica Alba, Adam Brody, Bobby Cannavale, Kerri Kenney, Ken Marino, Gretchen Mol, Oliver Platt, Winona Ryder, Liev Schreiber, Justin Theroux, Michael Ian Black, Thomas Lennon, Charlie McDermott

Movieguy’s Verdict- I was very surprised (okay, shocked) at how truly funny this film was. Irreverent, biting and well-paced, the film was very well written. Each portion of the film was little more than a sketch, which was advantageous because it put more pressure on the writers to condense their humor and creativity. Line for line, the film had as many laughs as any top tier comedy you’ll see. Along with its hilarity, the film was well acted, with an enormous ensemble cast doing an outstanding job. The film moved quickly and the laughs never stopped, until the last 15 minutes or so, in which an over-the-top cartoon sequence and a horribly ill-advised musical number came dangerously close to ruining everything the film did well. This film was hilarious and quite clever, but came dangerously close to collapsing in on itself.

2) Good Luck Chuck
Plot- In order to keep the woman of his dreams from falling for another guy, Charlie Logan has to break the curse that has made him wildly popular with single women: Sleep with Charlie once, and the next man you meet will be your true love. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Mark Helfrich

Written by- Josh Stolberg (Kids in America)

Starring- Dane Cook, Jessica Alba, Dan Fogler, Jodelle Ferland

Movieguy’s Verdict- Much like “Employee of the Month,” this fledgling Dane Cook comedy was a predictable collection of flat, highly telegraphed jokes. Although this time, the film appeared to be little more than a reason for Cook to make out with many beautiful women. While it should be noted that Cook brought a definable energy to this otherwise bland film, he tried much too hard and had didn’t have any good writing to help him out. As usual, Jessica Alba occupied an empty character who was nothing more than eye candy. Ultimately, I can’t think of a single reason to watch this film.

3) Mr. Woodcock
Plot- John Farley returns home in an effort to stop his mom from marrying his old high school gym teacher, a man who has made high school hell for generations of students. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Craig Gillespie (Lars and the Real Girl)

Written by- Michael Carnes, Josh Gilbert

Starring- Billy Bob Thornton, Seann William Scott, Susan Sarandon, M.C. Gainey

Movieguy’s Verdict- Other than the obvious fact that Billy Bob Thornton was perfect for his part, this was a horribly written, and unbelievably stupid waste of time. The film was so bad that even a perfectly cast Thornton did nothing to improve it. Seann William Scott delivered an awful performance which lacked as much talent as entertainment value. I still cannot understand why Susan Sarandon would involve herself in such an obviously horrible project. Needless to say, she contributed nothing to the film. Michael Carnes and Josh Gilbert wrote a dreadfully pointless screenplay which contained nothing in the way of humor. If it hasn’t already been made clear, do not see this film.

4) Suburban Girl
Plot- A Manhattan book editor finds her take on the game of romance changed after she lures the attention of an influential older man. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Marc Klein (Writer of: Serendipity, A Good Year)

Starring- Sarah Michelle Gellar, Alec Baldwin, Maggie Grace, James Naughton, Chris Carmack

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film was clearly fashioned from the mold of coming of age films like “The Devil Wears Prada,” but without character development or decent writing, how could it succeed? Sarah Michelle Gellar and Alec Baldwin were indeed good choices for their roles, but horribly dull and uninteresting writing was the film’s undoing. Not only did it neutralize the talent of the actors, but it made the film impossible to watch. Marc Klein tried incredibly hard, both in his writing and direction, to make every scene witty, romantic and intelligent. He failed emphatically in all three endeavors. In the end, this was a film which had some potential, and while everyone gets an ‘A’ for effort, nothing good can come from watching it.

5) Death Sentence
Plot- After his son is brutally murdered by a gang, a father sets out on a mission to kill each thug involved with the crime. (imdb.com)

Directed by- James Wan (Saw, Dead Silence)

Written by- Ian Jeffers

Starring- Kevin Bacon, Garrett Hedlund, Kelly Preston, Jordan Garrett, Stuart Lafferty, Aisha Tyler, John Goodman, Matt O’Leary, Leigh Whannell

Movieguy’s Verdict- My apologies for forgetting to review this film when it was released last week. This is a tale of two films. The first film lasted a little less than 90 minutes, and was fantastic. James Wan established the characters with great emotion, and his visual choices were excellent as well. The same could be said of Kevin Bacon, who delivered a strong and convincing powerhouse performance. Overall, the first film was engrossing and sustained great emotional value. The second film was the final half hour or so, which was as bad as a clichéd revenge film could possibly be. Overly macho and completely over-the-top in every way, Wan and writer Ian Jeffers did an epic job of brutalizing the last 15% of an excellent film, making the entire thing an utterly unwatchable joke. Even though the first film did so many things well, the second film was so bad I would recommend staying clear from the project all together.
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1-9-08

1) 3:10 to Yuma
Plot- Small-time rancher Dan Evans agrees to transport captured outlaw Ben Wade to a nearby town until the daily train can take him to Yuma for trial. Holed up in the same hotel, the two men engage in a battle of wills as the hours tick by… (imdb.com)

Directed by- James Mangold (Heavy, Cop Land, Girl, Interrupted, Kate & Leopold, Identity, Walk the Line)

Written by- Halsted Welles (The Hell with Heroes, A Time for Killing), Michael Brandt (2 Fast 2 Furious, Catch That Kid), Derek Haas (2 Fast 2 Furious, Catch That Kid)

Starring- Christian Bale, Russell Crowe, Ben Foster, Gretchen Mol, Dallas Roberts, Alan Tudyk, Kevin Durand, Vinessa Shaw

Movieguy’s Verdict- The fantastic performances of Russell Crowe, Christian Bale and Ben Foster carried this film to resounding success. Crowe’s performance was unquestionably Oscar-worthy, and, at the very least, he should be recognized with a nomination at the upcoming Academy Awards. James Mangold is not a filmmaker known for excitement, but his direction captured a classic Western feel, sans the extreme corniness with which the genre is typically associated. Amazingly, the same idiots who wrote “2 Fast 2 Furious” and “Catch That Kid” were able to craft a gritty and stylish screenplay, full of intelligent dialogue, dynamic characters and a thick structure of morality. Mangold’s direction held strong intensity until the film’s final battle sequence, which was too ridiculous and handled too poorly to take seriously. Despite this shortcoming, the film should be viewed as one of the classic action films of the decade.

2) Sunshine
Plot- Earth is doomed to frozen desolation by a sun that is quickly dying. A group of scientists has been sent in a ship to seed the sun’s core with enough energy to refuel it and save mankind. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Danny Boyle (Shallow Grave, Trainspotting, A Life Less Ordinary, The Beach, 28 Days Later…, Millions)

Written by- Alex Garland (28 Days Later…)

Starring- Cillian Murphy, Chris Evans, Cliff Curtis, Michelle Yeoh, Hiroyuki Sanada, Rose Byrne, Benedict Wong, Mark Strong

Movieguy’s Verdict- First of all, I’m sure that in terms of physics and science, this film lacks even the tiniest measure of plausibility. Though, if you can completely suspend your disbelief, you’ll find an emotional science fiction story rich in creativity and artistic direction. After his “Millions” flub, Danny Boyle returned to the visual intensity and beauty which put him on the map. Cillian Murphy’s rapport with Boyle translated into another strong and highly believable performance, which could be said about the rest of the outstanding ensemble cast. The film featured a wonderful soundtrack and benefited from the creative use of sound effects, high quality visual effects and editing. Alex Garland developed the story nicely, and it gradually gained intensity. The film was progressing flawlessly until Garland introduced a completely unnecessary and absurd plot twist which cheapened the film considerably, nearly ruining its emotional climax and conclusion. Nevertheless, this was an ingenious and highly imaginative achievement in science fiction that should not go unnoticed.

3) Dragon Wars: D-War
Plot- As two dragon-led armies bring their war to the city of Los Angeles, an ailing young woman and reporter realize their centuries-old connection to one another is the only thing can restore peace on Earth. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Hyung-rae Shim

Starring- Jason Behr, Amanda Brooks, Robert Forster, Aimee Garcia

Movieguy’s Verdict- If the overwhelming stupidity of the story wasn’t enough to make this an unwatchable film, some of the worst special effects and fight scenes I’ve ever seen rounded it out in dramatic fashion. Acting was horrendous in all parts, though I’m curious as to find out why Robert Forster would involve himself in something so obviously horrible. That curiosity is pretty much the only worthwhile analysis this film generated. Usually, I say films like this should go straight to DVD, but in this case, this film should have gone straight to the Sci-Fi Channel, where its corniness and exaggerated stupidity would be right at home.

4) Boogyman 2
Plot- A young woman traumatized by the killing of her parents checks into a mental health facility. She begins to realize however that her fears may be a reality.

Directed by- Jeff Betancourt

Written by- Brian Sieve

Starring- Danielle Savre, Tobin Bell, Renée O’Connor, Matt Cohen, David Gallagher, Michael Graziadei, Chrissy Griffith, Johnny Simmons, Mae Whitman

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was one of the most amazingly successful straight-to-DVD “sequels” I’ve ever seen. Certainly the film was structured around the template of any teen horror film, but the clichés and corniness that kill those films were simply not prevalent. There were obvious plot holes and gaps in logic, but amazingly, Jeff Betancourt’s direction was raw enough to retain a high level of intensity from start to finish. The film’s other main problem was its overblown degree of gore, which only exaggerated the film’s plot problems. Brian Sieve’s screenplay worked to establish characters, even though the film was clearly not intended to be a deeply psychological character study. Acting was surprisingly strong, but Danielle Savre’s great performance as the film’s lead helped solidify its success. Terrifying at times and always compelling, this film’s success is shocking, but well-deserved.

5) Eye of the Dolphin
Plot- A young girl discovers she can communicate with dolphins. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Michael D. Sellers (Vlad)

Written by- Michael D. Sellers (Goodbye America, Vlad, Karla), Wendell Morris (The Medicine Show)

Starring- Carly Schroeder, Adrian Dunbar, George Harris, Katharine Ross, Christine Adams, Jane Lynch, Christopher Herrod, Vivica Watkins, Joey Jam, Rudy Levarity

Movieguy’s Verdict- While this film wasn’t necessarily corny or bad in the traditional sense, it didn’t do much of anything well. If you like dolphins, it was entertaining to watch them swim around, but that basically had to be the film’s lone bright spot. Michael D. Sellers and Wendell Morris offered very little in the way of story, as the film was emotionally bland and generally uninteresting throughout. Performances were almost as emotionally vacant as the characters themselves, though, the dolphins actually contributed more to the film than the actors. All in all, there really isn’t any reason to watch this.

6) White Noise 2: The Light
Plot- A man’s family is killed and he is brought back from the verge of death, he then realizes he can identify people who are about to die. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Patrick Lussier (The Prophecy 3: The Ascent, Dracula 2000, Dracula II: Ascension, Dracula III: Legacy)

Written by- Matt Venne

Starring- Nathan Fillion, Katee Sackhoff, Craig Fairbrass, Adrian Holmes, Kendall Cross, Teryl Rothery, William MacDonald, Joshua Ballard

Movieguy’s Verdict- This is another one of those countless straight-to-DVD sequels like which has nothing whatsoever to do with the original film. “White Noise” was a letdown for a variety of reasons, but this film was pretty much exactly what you’d expect. Matt Venne’s screenplay was infested with plot holes, logistical errors and continuity problems, so it really never stood a chance. The guy who directed “Dracula 2000” actually had a few decent visual ideas, but a miscast Nathan Fillion was the final nail in the coffin. Precognition, EVP and other related phenomena are fantastic ideas around which to build a film, but this was a pretty well-rounded failure.
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1-2-08

1) Shoot ‘Em Up
Plot- A loner who goes by the name Mr. Smith pacts with an unlikely ally to protect a newborn baby from a determined criminal. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Michael Davis (Beanstalk, Eight Days a Week, 100 Girls, Beanstalk, Girl Fever, Monster Man)

Starring- Clive Owen, Monica Bellucci, Paul Giamatti, Greg Bryk, Stephen McHattie, Ramona Pringle, Jane McLean

Movieguy’s Verdict- If someone told me that Clive Owen, at any point in his career, would be in one of the worst films of the year, I would have laughed in your face and called you a moron. And yet, here we are. This film was a non-stop onslaught of corniness, clichés and moronic characters. Owen, Monica Bellucci and Paul Giamatti were thoughtlessly wasted on a film which was probably fun to make, but was obviously too ridiculous to watch. Michael Davis clearly crafted the film to poke fun at the clichés and cheesiness of the typical Hollywood action flick, but he took his efforts so seriously that instead of parody, the result was an over-the-top collage of the very films he was trying to satirize. Though the film’s many perversions had a strangely hypnotic effect, extreme corniness and horrendous acting took over, making the film utterly unwatchable.

2) Resident Evil: Extinction
Plot- Led by the tough, sharp-minded Claire, survivors of the Raccoon City catastrophe travel across the Nevada desert, hoping to make it to safety in Alaska. Their chances are improved when Alice joins the caravan and their fight against the Umbrella Corporation. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Russell Mulcahy (Derek and Clive Get the Horn, Razorback, Highlander, Highlander II: The Quickening, Ricochet, Blue Ice, The Real McCoy, The Shadow, Silent Trigger, Tale of the Mummy, Swimming Upstream)

Written by- Paul W.S. Anderson (Shopping, Resident Evil, AVP: Alien Vs. Predator, Resident Evil: Apocalypse)

Starring- Milla Jovovich, Oded Fehr, Ali Larter, Iain Glen, Ashanti, Christopher Egan, Spencer Locke, Matthew Marsden, Linden Ashby, Jason O’Mara, Mike Epps

Movieguy’s Verdict- I rather enjoyed the first “Resident Evil” film (as a guilty pleasure of course), but the sequel was so unspeakably awful that making a third film was out of the question. The result of making a film out of a ruined story was 95 minutes of bad writing, corny fight scenes and what basically amounted to a copy of “Land of the Dead.” Milla Jovovich delivered a forced performance, the effect of which was not as detrimental to the film as it should have been since the performances were divided among a cast of walking zombie film clichés. Thankfully though, the film moved quickly. Unfortunately, it was on a path to a terrible climax/ending which topped the absurdity of the second film, but, actually, seemed quite fitting for what this series has become. I’m sure the fourth, fifth and sixth films will be go straight to DVD before you know it.

3) War
Plot- An FBI agent wedges himself in a conflict between a Triad boss and Yakuza chief in order to kill the assassin who murdered his partner three years ago. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Philip G. Atwell

Written by- Lee Anthony Smith, Gregory J. Bradley

Starring- Jet Li, Jason Statham, John Lone, Steph Song, Nadine Velazquez, Kane Kosugi, Andrea Roth, Devon Aoki

Movieguy’s Verdict- Guy Richie put Jason Statham on the map, but despite his talent, Statham has done a fine job of throwing his career away with one horrible action cliché after another. This film was just another nail the coffin. While Philip G. Atwell’s direction offered a reasonable degree of visual style, the film tried much too hard to be a slick, stylish and cool action experience. In reality, the film was little more than one tired action gag after another. As has been the case with most of Statham’s action disasters, his performance was quite poor. The film offered nothing in the way of authenticity, believability or creativity, which was evident in the fact that Jet Li’s performance was the best part of the film. If that doesn’t spell failure, I don’t know what does.

4) Jimmy and Judy
Plot- Two suburban kids challenge society and run from the police while documenting all of their deeds with a digital camera. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Randall Rubin, Jon Schroder

Starring- Edward Furlong, Rachael Bella, Chaney Kley, William Sadler, A.J. Buckley, Gay Storm, Lindsay Beamish

Movieguy’s Verdict- I’m always glad to see films attack their subject matter from an experimental point of view. In this case though, immaturity and a penchant for exaggeration neutralized what should have been an exploratory and raw emotional experience. This was intended to be a story driven by its two main characters, but, along with the writing, they were flawed in such a way that this was simply not able to happen. Still, Edward Furlong and Rachael Bella had good chemistry together, though I suppose that had less to do with the film’s content, and more to do with being married in real life. At times, the characters seemed to permeate the barrier of fantasy and leak into the real world with all of their erratic and unstable tendencies. Most of the time however, it seemed that their dysfunctions were merely the product of forced writing and exaggerated concepts, which required a grounded psychological analysis that the filmmakers were not able to provide.
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12-26-07

1) The Kingdom
Plot- An FBI agent and his team are dispatched to a formerly off-limits Middle Eastern kingdom to find those responsible for a bombing that claimed the lives of American workers in Riyadh. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Peter Berg (Very Bad Things, The Rundown, Friday Night Lights)

Written by- Matthew Michael Carnahan

Starring- Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner, Jason Bateman, Jeremy Piven, Chris Cooper, Ashraf Barhom

Movieguy’s Verdict- In the past few years, there have been plenty of films made about terrorism in the Middle East. Some have been great, others have been poor, and while this genre is becoming somewhat commonplace, this film was on the higher end of the spectrum. It was cast nicely as Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman established an odd chemistry that worked better than it probably should have. There were no breathtaking performances here, mostly because the characters were not layered enough to allow for intense individual performances. In fact, the main character was the violence itself, which enveloped the audience with tremendous emotional power. The film was a solid thriller, though Matthew Michael Carnahan would have benefited from the exclusion some of the film’s oddly prevalent humor element. Peter Berg is not a director with a history of directing visually stylish films, but his visual abilities took a step up with strong camerawork and solid visual themes throughout. When you add an incredibly emotional ending, this film is a can’t miss.

2) Eastern Promises
Plot- While trying to learn the identity of a dead prostitute, a hospital midwife encounters a mysterious crime boss who illuminates a path through London’s underbelly that may lead to her answer. (imdb.com)

Directed by- David Cronenberg (A History of Violence, Spider, eXistenZ, Dead Ringers, The Fly, The Dead Zone, Videodrome, Scanners, The Brood, Fast Company, Rabid, Crimes of the Future, Stereo)

Written by- Steven Knight (Gypsy Woman, Dirty Pretty Things, Amazing Grace)

Starring- Viggo Mortensen, Naomi Watts, Vincent Cassel, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Sinéad Cusack, Donald Sumpter

Movieguy’s Verdict- David Cronenberg has a tendency to purposely make his films dull by taking the story and intentionally lessoning its emotional and psychological impact. I’m not sure why he does this, but it was more than apparent here. Cronenberg’s direction was realistic, dark and often creepy, though the story should have been much more intense and suspenseful. Luckily, the film was driven not by the direction, but by Viggo Mortenson’s captivating, Oscar-worthy performance of a brilliantly created character. Sadly, Naomi Watts was largely wasted in this film, as her character was inconsistent and problematic. Inevitably though, Cronenberg’s dulling down of the story became impossible to ignore. He progressively lessened the emotional pull of the film to the point where it was almost totally bland. Mortenson’s performance was perhaps the only thing holding the film together at the end, but it was enough to at least partially redeem Cronenberg for his last failure, “A History of Violence.”

3) The Brothers Solomon
Plot- Two well-meaning, but socially inept brothers try to find their perfect mates in order to provide their dying father with a grandchild. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Bob Odenkirk (Let’s Go to Prison)

Written by- Will Forte

Starring- Will Arnett, Will Forte, Chi McBride, Kristen Wiig, David Koechner, Malin Akerman

Movieguy’s Verdict- Will Forte is yet another SNL graduate with hopes of making it big on the big screen. Some succeed (I love you, Tina Fey), but most have their efforts go up in smoke or burn out and fade away (stop making sports movie parodies, Will Farrell). I think Forte has genuine ability, but the immaturity and forced nature of his unfunny screenplay all but doomed the film. Bob Odenkirk’s last film, “Let’s Go to Prison,” was a horrifically awful exercise in comedic futility which wasted the talent of Will Arnett and many others. Odenkirk was similarly effective here, directing with great exaggeration and no style or rhythm. Despite the film’s corniness and exaggeration, some of Arnett and Forte’s expressions and mannerisms were very funny. Clearly though, facial expressions can’t carry a film. Mostly, the two actors exaggerated their performances so severely that their characters were simply annoying. The film didn’t boast many bright spots, and was ultimately a very painful film to sit through.

4) Rush Hour 3
Plot- Fast-talking detective James Carter teams up with Hong Kong’s finest once more to face-off against Chinese gangsters in Paris. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Brett Ratner (Money Talks, Rush Hour, The Family Man, Rush Hour 2, Red Dragon, After the Sunset, X-Men: The Last Stand)

Written by- Jeff Nathanson (For Better or Worse, Speed 2: Cruise Control, Rush Hour 2, Catch Me if You Can, The Terminal, The Last Shot)

Starring- Jackie Chan, Chris Tucker, Vinnie Jones, Hiroyuki Sanada, Noémie Lenoir, Max von Sydow, Yvan Attal

Movieguy’s Verdict- Brett Ratner may be the worst mainstream filmmaker alive. Not only does he lack any measure of visual ability, but his camerawork and framing are so problematic and flawed that he is simply unable craft a coherent film. Obviously, this was a highly flawed and extremely illogical film, featuring the highly annoying and untalented Chris Tucker in a torturous performance. Most of the acting in the film was quite poor, but Jackie Chan delivered the only watchable performance. I’m not saying he was good per say, just not unwatchable. Ratner’s lack of visual ability was the least of the film’s problems. Despite the relentless stupidity of the plot, the film still found a way to be highly predictable. Asinine writing from Jeff Nathanson put the finishing touches on a film which paraded scene after scene of super corny comedy/action clichés, atrocious stunts and terrible camerawork. Just like the two films before it, this film should never have been made, or watched, or talked about ever again.

5) Living & Dying
Plot- Two killers turn the tables on a trio of robbers when they find themselves in a hostage situation. Surrounded by the police, the robbers must become the heroes before the killers execute everyone. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Jon Keeyes (Fall Down Dead)

Starring- Edward Furlong, Ling Bai, Arnold Vosloo, Michael Madsen, Jordana Spiro

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was a case of a great plot ruined by awful acting and poor planning. Jon Keeyes had all of the pieces in place to craft a visually exciting thriller/mystery, but the obvious flaws in his screenplay could not be overlooked. Initially, it appeared that Edward Furlong and Arnold Vosloo could carry the film, but when Michael Madsen made his entrance, the film had passed the point of no return. Madsen, a usually dependable actor, delivered a forced, corny and simply awful performance. Plot holes and large gaps in logic didn’t help either. This film had plenty of potential, but never cashed in on any of it.

6) Shattered
Plot- A perfect family’s dynamic is ruined by a kidnapper’s brutally efficient plot. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Mike Barker (The James Gang, Best Laid Plans, To Kill a King, A Good Woman)

Written by- William Morrissey (The Rocket Post)

Starring- Gerard Butler, Pierce Brosnan, Maria Bello, Claudette Mink

Movieguy’s Verdict- Gerard Butler is an overactor of the William Shatner school who has the ability to ruin any film in which he appears. In the lead role here, Butler’s overacting was obvious, especially in the film’s pivotal climax sequence. Thankfully, strong performances from Maria Bello and Pierce Brosnan did not allow him to damage the film too much. Mike Barker returned to the cleverness and ingenuity of his earlier film “Best Laid Plans,” in a film that was always engrossing, never corny or disingenuous and well-shot. For the most part, the film kept the audience guessing, and while it had a few minor flaws, should entertain even the most critical viewer.
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12-19-07

1) The Simpsons Movie
Plot- The plot (and the exact location of Springfield) is unknown, but we hear Homer’s toxic slip-up causes the city to be evacuated — possibly forever?! (imdb.com)

Directed by- David Silverman (The Road to El Dorado, Monsters, Inc.)

Written by- James L. Brooks (Starting Over, Terms of Endearment, Broadcast News, I’ll Do Anything, As Good as it Gets, Spanglish), Matt Groening, Al Jean, Ian Maxtone-Graham, George Meyer, David Mirkin, Mike Reiss, Mike Scully, Matt Selman, John Swartzwelder, Jon Vitti

Voices of- Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Harry Shearer, Hank Azaria, Marcia Wallace, Joe Mantegna, Albert Brooks, Tom Hanks, Erin Brockovich-Ellis, Minnie Driver, Maile Flanagan, Kelsey Grammer

Movieguy’s Verdict- For a four star film, I really have very little to say here. I was skeptical of a “Simpsons” movie for a variety of reasons, but from the very first frame, the fast-paced humor, hilarious dialogue and brilliantly creative and clever situations transformed the success of the show seamlessly to the big screen. It goes without saying that all vocal performances were first-rate. This was an truly excellent film, and should be recognized as a nominee for Best Animated Feature at the next Oscars. This film did everything right, and achieved everything it set out to do. You can’t ask for much more than that.

2) The Heartbreak Kid
Plot- A newlywed regrets marrying his wife and ends up meeting the girl of his dreams while on his honeymoon. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Bobby and Peter Farrelly (Dumb & Dumber, Kingpin, There’s Something About Mary, Me, Myself & Irene, Osmosis Jones, Shallow Hal, Stuck on You, Fever Pitch)

Written by- Scot Armstrong (Road Trip, Old School, Starsky & Hutch, School for Scoundrels), Leslie Dixon (Outrageous Fortune, Overboard, Loverboy, Look Who’s Talking Now, Mrs. Doubtfire, That Old Feeling, The Thomas Crown Affair, Pay It Forward, Freaky Friday, Just Like Heaven, Hairspray), Bobby and Peter Farrelly (Dumb & Dumber, There’s Something About Mary, Outside Providence, Me, Myself & Irene, Shallow Hal, Stuck on You), Kevin Barnett

Starring- Ben Stiller, Michelle Monaghan, Jerry Stiller, Malin Akerman, Carlos Mencia, Rob Corddry, Stephanie Courtney

Movieguy’s Verdict- I didn’t expect much from this film, mostly because the Farrelly brothers hadn’t produced a genuinely funny comedy since “There’s Something About Mary.” However, I was pleasantly surprised at the quality and comedic power of the dysfunctional characters, and the film’s quirky and offbeat moods and sensibilities. Ben Stiller was brilliant and, while the writing was truly funny, he completely transformed the film- and his character- into a memorable film experience. Ben’s comedic timing, facial expressions and delivery were absolutely razor sharp- a huge improvement from “Night at the Museum.” The film was carried by a good story, though there were a few plot holes which resulted from a lack of foresight by the Farrelly brothers. The supporting cast was nicely assembled, though I think Jerry Stiller (Ben’s real father) was slightly forced and not necessarily the best choice for the role. With the success of “Superbad” and “Knocked Up,” any other comedies just seem silly, but this was the third best comedy of the year, and it’s an underrated film which should be enthusiastically watched.

3) Stardust
Plot- In order to win the heart of the woman he loves, a villager sets out to fetch a newly fallen star, which he soon discovers is actually a young woman with secret powers — ones that have earned the interest of a king’s scheming heirs, as well as a powerful witch looking to stay young forever. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Matthew Vaughn (Layer Cake)

Written by- ane Goldman, Matthew Vaughn

Starring- Claire Danes, Charlie Cox, Sienna Miller, Ricky Gervais, Jason Flemyng, Rupert Everett, Peter O’Toole, Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert De Niro

Movieguy’s Verdict- Perhaps this was yet another attempt to capitalize on the financial success of “The Lord of the Rings” and those Harry Potter fantasy movies. However, the end result was a rare fusion of typical fantasy elements, edgy symbolism, quirky performances and a touch of British wit, resulting in a surprising success. Charlie Cox and Claire Danes delivered a strong lead performance, and were helped by delightful supporting performances from Robert De Niro, and Michelle Pfeiffer. Matthew Vaughn crafted a wonderfully layered film which contained a great deal more substance, maturity and visual excellence than the usual breed of superficial breed of childish fantasy ripoffs. While the ending did rely on a few typical fantasy clichés which lessened the overall impact, Vaughn’s direction was visually imaginative and highly engrossing. This film’s success was one of the most joyous surprises of the year.

4) Once
Plot- A film about a street musician and an immigrant, and their eventful week, as they write, rehearse and record songs that tell their love story. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- John Carney (November Afternoon, Park, On the Edge, Zonad)

Starring- Glen Hansard, Markéta Irglová

Movieguy’s Verdict- I found this film to be a highly original, emotionally charged and musically brilliant. This is not a musical like “Chicago,” where the characters do not speak, but rather sing to one another to advance the plot. This film is more comparable to “Black Snake Moan,” where music is a character by itself. The pure musical talents of Glen Hansard (lead singer/guitarist of the fantastic indie band The Frames) gave the film a level of authenticity that few films about music achieve. Despite having no acting experience, he and Markéta Irglová formed a perfect duo, bonded not only through their artistic inspiration, but through the struggles of their lives as well. John Carney’s camerawork was raw and unrefined- a perfect choice for the film’s content. His writing was the only true flaw, as he seemed more focused on watching Hansard and Irglová perform than allowing their characters to reach the full extent of their potential. Additionally, the film felt a bit repetitive at times, but a brilliantly directed ending gave it the extra push it needed to secure its originality in the hearts and minds of viewers.

5) Balls of Fury
Plot- A former champion ping-pong player is recruited by an FBI agent to infiltrate an underground tournament in order to take down the crime boss who runs the event. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Ben Garant (Reno 911!: Miami)

Written by- Thomas Lennon (Taxi, The Pacifier, Herbie Fully Loaded, Let’s Go to Prison, Night at the Museum, Reno 911!: Miami), Ben Garant (Taxi, The Pacifier, Herbie Fully Loaded, Let’s Go to Prison, Night at the Museum, Reno 911!: Miami)

Starring- Dan Fogler, Christopher Walken, George Lopez, Maggie Q, James Hong, Terry Crews, Robert Patrick, Diedrich Bader, Aisha Tyler, Thomas Lennon

Movieguy’s Verdict- Before I begin, I have a question: Christopher Walken, what were you thinking? After 10 minutes of the fake, trashy ping pong CGI I was ready to gouge my eyes out, but the fact that the film gleefully displayed all of the standard sports movie clichés really put me over the edge. For as bad as the film truly was, Dan Fogler was a good choice for his part, and, with writing that wasn’t humorless and blatantly infantile, he would have excelled. Taking an overview of the film, it was mildly amusing that the characters took everything so seriously. Thomas Lennon also had an over-the-top, but still funny appearance. Regardless, the film took an awful concept and drove it into the ground with extreme corniness, sports movie clichés, stupidity and a lack of comedy.

6) Halloween
Plot- After being committed for 17 years, Michael Myers is mistakenly released from the mental institution where he was committed as a 10 year old. His return to Haddonfield, Illinois spells mortal danger for his sister, Laurie, and anyone else who crosses his path. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Rob Zombie (House of 1000 Corpses, The Devil’s Rejects)

Starring- Tyler Mane, Scout Taylor Compton, Malcolm McDowell, Daey Faerch, Sheri Moon Zombie, Danielle Harris, Hanna Hall, Danny Trejo, Udo Kier, William Forsythe, Kristina Klebe

Movieguy’s Verdict- fter the “Halloween” franchise’s three decades of atrocious sequels, I suppose a remake/prequel directed by a grunge rocker was the most logical next step. Rob Zombie is a die-hard fan of horror films, and, like Eli Roth, die-hard horror fans make terrible films. As one would expect from Zombie, this film was instantly brought down by infantile dialogue, and excessive, pointless gore. Zombie had said this film was partially a remake of the original film, but also a prequel which was intended to develop the Michael Myers character from childhood. However, his obsession with pointless gore and inability did not result in psychological character development. Unlike his other films, this film contained some decent performances, with Malcolm McDowell’s being the most noteworthy. The film quickly became very repetitive, and, despite a high production value and some good visual moments, was as immature and unnecessary as the likes of “Hostel” and “The Devil’s Rejects.”

7) Illegal Tender
Plot- While on the run from a crime boss’s henchmen, Wilson De Leon Jr. learns from his mother the secrets of his murdered father’s past — a revelation that ultimately sends the young man to Puerto Rico, seeking his revenge. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Franc. Reyes (Empire)

Starring- Rick Gonzalez, Wanda De Jesus, Delilah Cotto, Dania Ramirez

Movieguy’s Verdict- Like a few of this week’s other films, this should have gone straight to DVD. Rick Gonzalez has been on a collision course with stardom after years of playing small but memorable roles in a variety of films. Clearly, he should have been smarter with the film he choose to supposedly transform him into a leading man. With a screenplay overrun with clichéd and poorly written characters, there wasn’t much hope for any kind of success for Gonzalez, or the film as a whole. As for his performance, he did the best he could under the circumstances, but he spent the majority of the film trying much too hard to achieve a level of emotional attachment to his character which the film clearly did not provide. What’s more, Franc. Reyes created a very thin story which stretched on much longer than it should have. Still, the film meant well, but in the end it was nothing more than a wannabe gangster film.

8) The Last Legion
Plot- A soldier escapes the crumbling Roman empire as barbarians descend upon his land. He embarks on a fantastic adventure where he forms a band of legionaries determined to save his emperor (imdb.com)

Directed by- Doug Lefler

Written by- Jez Butterworth (Steel Dawn), Tom Butterworth (Birthday Girl)

Starring- Colin Firth, Ben Kingsley, Aishwarya Rai, Peter Mullan, Kevin McKidd, John Hannah, Iain Glen, Thomas Sangster, Rupert Friend

Movieguy’s Verdict- If this wasn’t a straight-to-DVD film, I don’t know what is. Looking back to my time enduring this disaster, I don’t know how I survived the onslaught of horrifyingly awful writing, corniness and total lack of authenticity or believability. The sets, props and costumes looked as fake as anything I’ve ever seen, but when combined with horrible CGI, it was truly a frightful film experience. The film featured yet another terrible role for Ben Kingsly, who seems to gravitate to these kinds of films. While Colin Firth was totally wrong for the role, his performance wasn’t bad, and his raw talent as a true performer provided this brutal film’s only positive quality.
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12-12-07

1) The Bourne Ultimatum
Plot- Amnesiac superspy Jason Bourne puts together the final pieces not only of his identity, but also of the mysterious Treadstone project. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Paul Greengrass (Resurrected, The Theory of Flight, Bloody Sunday, The Bourne Supremacy, United 93)

Written by- Tony Gilroy (The Cutting Edge, Dolores Claiborne, Extreme Measures, The Devil’s Advocate, Armageddon, Bait, Proof of Life, The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy), Scott Z. Burns, George Nolfi (Timeline, Ocean’s Twelve, The Sentinel, Michael Clayton)

Starring- Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, David Strathairn, Scott Glenn, Paddy Considine, Edgar Ramirez, Albert Finney, Joan Allen

Movieguy’s Verdict- I had always been a fan of the “Bourne” series, but never for a moment did I imagine that the third film would turn out to be one of the year’s best. Paul Greengrass seamlessly and artfully tied this film together with the first two, carrying the Jason Bourne character to the best imaginable conclusion. Greengrass’ visual presentation was astonishing, as his shaky camerawork and off-center framing created a visual atmosphere that films rarely achieve. The film was clever and detailed, yet it carried non-stop action and breathtaking choreography in its perfectly placed fight sequences. To say Matt Damon was outstanding would be an understatement. Damon showed why he is one of the greatest American actors in his age group by delivering a carefully orchestrated powerhouse performance which will stand the test of time. Intense to the very end, Greengrass’ artful direction, Tony Gilroy’s excellent script and Matt Damon made this a film that absolutely everyone has to see.

2) Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Plot- With their warning about Lord Voldemort’s return scoffed at, Harry and Dumbledore are targeted by the Wizard authorities as authoritarian bureaucrat Dolores Umbridge slowly seizes power at Hogwarts. Disturbing dreams, dire prophecies, raging hormones, and Lord Voldemort’s continued influence contribute to the mix. (imdb.com)

Directed by- David Yates (The Tichborne Claimant, The Girl in the Café)

Written by- Michael Goldenberg (Bed of Roses, Contact, Peter Pan)

Starring- Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Warwick Davis, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon, Richard Griffiths, Jason Isaacs, Gary Oldman, Alan Rickman, Fiona Shaw, Maggie Smith, Imelda Staunton, David Thewlis, Emma Thompson, Julie Walters, Robert Hardy

Movieguy’s Verdict- What’s interesting about this film is it spent more than 70% of its screen time following a self-serving plot which had absolutely nothing to do with the overall progression of the series. The total immersion in Hollywood clichés and childish nature of this cash cow has been most frustrating for me. However, the fact that this film could have been cut down to a 30 minute segment which could have been added to the last film or the next one was simply infuriating. The vast majority of the United Kingdom’s talent base had tiny appearances in this film which were severely overacted, completely forgettable and unnecessary to the story. Ralph Fiennes continues to provide horrific performances in the film’s pivotal villain role, while Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint remain the only actors contributing positively to the franchise. Watching them has been the only consistent pleasure of the series. As usual, the CGI was fantastic, though this was overshadowed by the fact that director David Yates copied significant portions of the film’s visual style from “The Lord of the Rings” films. Despite all of the negatives I’ve listed, the film actually contained a long stretch in which it felt like Yates was trying to shed the series’ corniness and direct the film into a different level of quality. For a fleeting moment he succeeded, but the irrelevance of the majority of the plot, atrocious acting and a corny ending (of course) proved this series will always be as superficial and formulaic as all of the films trying to copy its enviable financial success.

3) Interview
Plot- After falling out with his editor, a fading political journalist is forced to interview America’s most popular soap actress. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Steve Buscemi (Trees Lounge, Animal Factory, Lonesome Jim)

Starring- Steve Buscemi, Sienna Miller

Movieguy’s Verdict- This wonderful character study was driven by a marvelous performance from Sienna Miller, whose performance was brilliantly layered, dynamic, honest and revealing. Miller is truly one of the under-appreciated talents in film today. In this way, she is oddly similar to her co-star, Steve Buscemi, who has become a master of a vast array of interesting, odd and troubled characters over his diverse career. True to form, he gave a flawless performance, but was overshadowed by Miller’s brilliance. Buscemi’s writing and direction were stellar as well, as the many moods and emotional twists and turns of this exercise in minimalism reached into the darkest recesses of the characters’ personalities. The film was flirting with perfection, but the ending created realities about the characters that were never established during the course of the film. Furthermore, the ending was extremely contradictory to the mood of the film. Though its finish was a disappointment, this was an ingenious film which intelligent film lovers should value.

4) Undead or Alive
Plot- Elmer Winslow is a soldier on the run from the Union Army, and Luke Budd is a cowboy with a broken heart. When the two misfits rob the corrupt sheriff of an old west town, they have no idea that a plague of zombies is sweeping the country, or that Geronimo’s sexy niece may be their only hope of survival. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Glasgow Phillips

Starring- Chris Kattan, James Denton, Navi Rawat, Brian Posehn, Chloe Russell, Ben Zeller, Mia Stallard, Chris Coppola

Movieguy’s Verdict- Look at the plot summary! Look at the cast! If Chris Kattan can’t pull off a zombie movie set during the Civil War, while playing alongside that guy from “Desperate Housewives” and the extremely qualified actress from “Feast,” well, I just don’t know who can. The stupidity of this film was absolutely overwhelming and, clearly, it should never have been made. I actually feel insulted having seen it. I can’t bring myself to say anything else.

5) A Perfect Day
Plot- A family man and suddenly-successful author encounters a mystic stranger who warns him he has only 40 more days to live. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Peter Levin

Written by- Joyce Eliason

Starring- Rob Lowe, Paget Brewster, Frances Conroy, Rowena King, Jude Ciccolella, Kevin Dunn, Christopher Lloyd

Movieguy’s Verdict- With a film like this, there are really no surprises. Generally, the content is mapped out with little imagination and strong predictability. The only variables are the quality of acting and the level of sappiness. Nearly everything in this Hallmark-esque film was telegraphed and very predictable, with the exception of a fairly silly plot twist at the end that I actually didn’t see coming. Even though this was a completely forgettable film which instantly blended with the thousands of others like it, the quality of acting was worth mentioning. Rob Lowe, Paget Brewster and Frances Conroy delivered believable, high quality performances, making the film watchable. I wouldn’t recommend it, but the fact that it was watchable should count for something.
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12-5-07

1) Superbad
Plot- On one of their last nights as high schoolers, best friends and social outcasts Evan and Seth experience a legendary evening as they attempt to buy booze for a cool-kid party. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Greg Mottola (The Daytrippers)

Written by- Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg

Starring- Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Bill Hader, Seth Rogen, Emma Stone, Martha MacIsaac, Aviva, Stacy Edwards, Scott Gerbacia

Movieguy’s Verdict- If you combine this film with the recent release of “Knocked Up,” you’ve got two of the best comedies ever on the same New Releases shelf. The genius of the writing really propelled this film to a level that few modern comedies reach. Jonah Hill and Michael Cera have become the young Zen masters of deadpan comedy, and having a script full of brilliant dialogue at their disposal only enhanced their impeccable timing, delivery and comedic sensibilities. Amazingly, McLovin (aka Christopher Mintz-Plasse) was such a memorable and well played character he ALMOST stole their thunder. However, the film didn’t function only as a comedy, but served as a great coming of age story as well. With hilarious dialogue, great characters and wonderful performances, this is without question one of the best comedies of this year, or any year.

2) Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End
Plot- In the third film of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise, Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann form an alliance with surprise accomplice Captain Barbossa. They sail to the Far East in order to save Jack Sparrow from the mysterious afterworld known as Davey Jones’s Locker. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Gore Verbinski (Mousehunt, The Mexican, The Ring, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, The Weather Man, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest)

Written by- Ted Elliott (Little Monsters, Aladdin, The Puppet Masters, Small Soldiers, The Mask of Zorro, The Road to El Dorado, Shrek, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, The Legend of Zorro, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest) Terry Rossio (Little Monsters, Aladdin, The Puppet Masters, Small Soldiers, The Mask of Zorro, The Road to El Dorado, Shrek, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, The Legend of Zorro, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, Déjà Vu)

Starring- Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Jack Davenport, Bill Nighy, Jonathan Pryce, Lee Arenberg, Mackenzie Crook, Kevin McNally, David Bailie, Stellan Skarsgård, Tom Hollander, Naomie Harris, Martin Klebba, Chow Yun-Fat, Keith Richards

Movieguy’s Verdict- This has been a very popular series marred by inconsistency. The first film was dripping with Hollywood corniness, but a brilliant performance by Johnny Depp saved the film and made it unique. The second film tried way too hard and as a result, was extremely choppy and disconnected, plus Depp was hardly in the film. This time, Depp returned to full form in a film that was much more bizarre and original than the first two combined. Though the film had an overly expressive score and typical Hollywood moments, it required extensive knowledge of the other two and made a sincere effort to develop characters. Though largely neutralized in the second film, Gore Verbinski’s fantastic visual abilities and imagination were on full display here, as his direction left little to be desired. Though the film’s ending was a little forced, it was a fitting conclusion to the series I think.

3) Midnight Clear
Plot- A recently homeless and jobless loser, a senior citizen estranged from her family, a mother of one dealing with her husband’s brain damage, a gas station owner stuck in a job he hates, and a youth pastor feeling irrelevant face depression and loneliness on Christmas Eve. As they cross paths and experience random and minor acts of kindness, their lives are changed forever. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Dallas Jenkins

Written by- Wes Halula

Starring- Stephen Baldwin, K Callan, Kirk B.R. Woller, Mary Thornton, Mitchell Jarvis, Richard Fancy, Victoria Jackson, Richard Riehle, Diane Delano, Wren T. Brown, Dominic Scott Kay, Loren Lester, Patricia Rae, Nikki Boyer

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was the most surprising straight-to-DVD film I’ve seen in a while. Wonderful performances from K Callan, Stephen Baldwin, Kirk B.R. Woller and the rest of this excellent cast of little-known actors took hold right away and never faltered. Wes Halula wrote each of the film’s many characters with care and managed to take an overused message and make it touching. Director Dallas Jenkins set the film’s sincere mood with carefully chosen music and camerawork that was simplistic and quietly beautiful. However, I did feel the film could have taken a few more chances, and it glossed over the a few of the characters at the end. Still, the film had a tremendous upside, and it is a film I’d recommend.

4) The Nanny Diaries
Plot- A college student goes to work as a nanny for a rich New York family. Ensconced in their home, she has to juggle their dysfunction, her studies, a new romance, and the spoiled brat in her charge. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Shari Springer Berman (The Young and the Dead, American Splendor)

Written by- Robert Pulcini (The Young and the Dead, American Splendor)

Starring- Scarlett Johansson, Laura Linney, Alicia Keys, Chris Evans, Donna Murphy, Paul Giamatti, Judith Roberts

Movieguy’s Verdict- This could be the most ill-advised debacle of Scarlett Johansson’s career. This had all of the potential to be one of the most moronic films of the year, and made good on that promise. Framed as a fairy tale, the film attempted to be a coming of age story like “The Devil Wears Prada,” as well as a romantic comedy, failing miserably in both genres. Most of this film’s one star comes from Laura Linney, who demonstrated a surprising degree of depth in a character who was designed to be little more than a prop and motivational tool for Johansson. Though the film made a few legitimate sociological observations, it was impossible to see it as more than a fluff piece with a tired romantic subplot, corny gags, and, most obviously, a terrible waste of Scarlett Johansson’s talent.

5) The Hottest State
Plot- A struggling young actor crisscrosses the country in pursuit of an elusive musician. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Ethan Hawke (Chelsea Walls)

Starring- Mark Webber, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Laura Linney, Ethan Hawke

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film had tremendous potential to be a philosophical, conversation-based examination of love and life. However, its problems began with the fact that it was built around two characters who were interesting, but significantly lacking in personality. Additionally, the conversations weren’t as rich and revealing as they should have been, considering the film was structured solely on the analysis of love and its effects on the two main characters. Ethan Hawke’s direction was one of the film’s strongest qualities as his intimate camerawork provided an opportunity for a connection with the characters that his screenplay did not. Mark Webber gave an excellent performance of an erratic and emotionally confused character. He was the film’s best feature. Catalina Sandino Moreno was adequate I suppose, but she definitely lacked personality, which was partly the fault of the writing. In theory, this should have been a great film, but in execution, it operated around an inadequate script, and was 30 minutes too long.

6) Arctic Tale
Plot- A nature documentary that follows the lives of a walrus and a polar bear as their frozen homeland melts from underneath them. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Adam Ravetch, Sarah Robertson

Written by- Linda Woolverton (Beauty and the Beast, Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey, The Lion King), Mose Richards, Kristin Gore

Narrated by- Queen Latifah

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was a shameless ripoff of “March of the Penguins” fused with “An Inconvenient Truth,” created to cash in on the growing public concern over climate change. I mean, the narration was written by the same person who wrote “The Lion King,” and, of all people, Al Gore’s daughter. Come on! Despite these ploys, the film didn’t even gross $900,000 in the box office. While no one can argue against its pristine nature video clips, clever editing clearly allowed the directors to pretty much make the film look however they wanted. Despite its tackiness and top 40 soundtrack, the film did put together a collage of straightforward examples of climate change and its effects on a complex and delicate ecosystem. The film was not without merit, but its elementary school narration and lack of originality didn’t help at all.
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11-28-07

1) The Namesake
Plot- This film chronicles the travels of an Indian family, and how their trials and tribulations have affected one another.

Directed by- Mira Nair (Mississippi Masala, The Perez Family, Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love, Monsoon Wedding, Vanity Fair)

Written by- Sooni Taraporevala (Mississippi Masala)

Starring- Irfan Khan, Tabu, Kal Penn, Jacinda Barrett, Brooke Smith, Zuleikha Robinson

Movieguy’s Verdict- I think Mira Nair is a heavily overrated filmmaker. Her films do contain a great deal of visual beauty, but her storytelling abilities are certainly not as sharp as they should be. This was an odd film to review because, while the characters were created with a great deal of psychology, depth and intelligence, the film still seemed stagnant due to its inability to develop any semblance of a plot. Nair’s camerawork was beautiful, but her portrayal of the characters, who had such depth and potential, was bland and often devoid of emotion. Though Nair had a powerful central message, it felt as though the film went to great lengths to keep the audience emotionally cut off from the characters, thus never giving a chance to form any legitimate connection with them. However, phenomenal performances by Irfan Khan and Tabu, as well as a strong supporting performance from Kal Penn, provided perhaps just enough connection with the characters to make the film watchable.

2) First Snow
Plot- A psychic’s ominous reading sends a man into a tailspin. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Mark Fergus

Written by- Mark Fergus (Children of Men), Hawk Ostby (Children of Men)

Starring- Guy Pearce, Piper Perabo, William Fichtner, J.K. Simmons, Shea Whigham, Rick Gonzalez, Jackie Burroughs, Adam Scott

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film’s plot has been played out over and over again (since before Shakespeare, really) in every genre and storytelling medium imaginable. I suppose this lack of originality would prevent the film from getting a perfect rating, no matter how well done it was. Watching Guy Pearce’s character undergo a complete psychological transformation before my eyes was fascinating, and a tribute to how talented Pearce really is. Pearce carried this compelling film on his back, as dark and ominous writing and direction created a captivating atmosphere. Though the screenplay had many good qualities, its inclusion of Piper Perabo’s completely unnecessary character hurt the film. Additionally, its penchant for deliberately misleading the audience in an effort to create a diversion from the predictability of the ending was a regrettable choice. Though not original in any way, the film was thought-provoking and chilling at times, and featured a great lead performance.

3) Hot Rod
Plot- An accident-prone daredevil plans to jump the Snake River on a moped in order to win over his emotionally distant stepfather. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Akiva Schaffer

Written by- Pam Brady (South Park: Bigger Longer & Uncut, Team America: World Police)

Starring- Andy Samberg, Isla Fisher, Ian McShane, Jorma Taccone, Bill Hader, Danny R. McBride, Will Arnett, Sissy Spacek

Movieguy’s Verdict- This had to be one of the most difficult reviews I’ve had to write in a very long time, mostly since the film was so random and purposely obscure that any concrete observations about it seem sadly irrelevant. The film could best be described as a stochastic journey into a comedic non-style that makes “Napoleon Dynamite” and “Borat” seem structured and boring. The film was dragged down by a horrible romantic subplot and the wasted appearances from Ian McShane and Sissy Spacek, but for the most part, it was comedic gold. While Pam Brady’s screenplay would normally garner the credit for the film’s success, Akiva Schaffer’s direction and the film’s razor sharp editing made the numerous jokes and stunts land with precision and a unique sense of timing. The film seemed, at times, to be a parody of itself, but my classifications of it are irrelevant in this instance because it worked.

4) Waitress
Plot- Jenna is a pregnant, unhappily married waitress in the deep south. She meets a newcomer to her town and falls into an unlikely relationship as a last attempt at happiness. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Adrienne Shelly (Sudden Manhattan, I’ll Take You There)

Starring- Keri Russell, Nathan Fillion, Cheryl Hines, Jeremy Sisto, Andy Griffith, Adrienne Shelly, Eddie Jemison, Lew Temple, Darby Stanchfield

Movieguy’s Verdict- After having ample time to reflect on this film, it was clear that, without Keri Russell’s Oscar-worthy performance, the film would have been mostly forgettable. Russell’s sadness and longing permeated the screen in countless ways, as the audience fell in love with her character instantly. Adrian Shelly created quirky characters, but those characters (with the exception of Russell’s) were so absurdly exaggerated that no sense of realism could be achieved. This, along with a horrifically clichéd and cheesy ending, prevented the film from being what it truly should have been. The high quality of Russell’s performance was evident in the fact that, despite the severely overstated characters around her, she created a sense of authenticity and atmosphere that the screenplay truly lacked. In a way, this was a disappointing film, but Russell compensated in more ways than one.

5) I Know Who Killed Me
Plot- A young woman is left physically and mentally altered after a brutal attack by a deranged assailant. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Chris Sivertson (The Lost)

Written by- Jeff Hammond

Starring- Lindsay Lohan, Julia Damond, Neal McDonough, Brian Geraghty

Movieguy’s Verdict- I know everyone hates Lindsay Lohan, so it’s obvious that everyone wants to hate this film with equal vigor. While this was not a great film in any way, it deserves a little more credit. Chris Sivertson’s direction was stylish and artistic with good intensity and camerawork, creating an authentic environment for what was initially supposed to be a retro suspense film. Even the music was perfectly chosen. Make fun of her all you want, but I felt Lohan was a strong and believable choice for her role. Her performance certainly won’t win any awards, but she did have the proper personality and demeanor to carry the type of suspense film that this was intended to be. However, it was clear early on that the film was on a collision course for a terrible ending which would nullify all of its good qualities. This was indeed the case. The sheer stupidity of the ending, and the plot holes that came with it, more than ruined everything the first 75% of the film accomplished- a major disappointment indeed.

6) Mr. Bean’s Holiday
Plot- Mr. Bean, a curious, bumbling, nearly silent chap, travels to the south of France for a holiday, where his video diary somehow winds up as a world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Steve Bendelack (The League of Gentlemen’s Apocalypse)

Written by- Hamish McColl, Robin Driscoll (Bean)

Starring- Rowan Atkinson, Willem Dafoe, Emma de Caunes

Movieguy’s Verdict- Look, here’s the thing: Rowan Atkinson is a funny guy. His appearances on British TV have been loved by many, his stand-up comedy is outstanding, and his small to medium roles in films over the years have been mostly excellent. However, the Mr. Bean character is simply a terrible character for anything longer than a three minute comedy sketch. The film’s G-rated antics were repetitive, predictable, bland, aggravating, and, frankly, unless a caption rolled along the bottom of the screen explaining that Bean was a schizophrenic who’d lost his medication, too stupid to watch. It seems Bean makes an appearance in a feature film every decade or so, but I’m hoping this will be the last time.
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11-21-07

1) Rescue Dawn
Plot- Early on in the Vietnam War, a U.S. fighter pilot is shot down and captured in Laos. Banding together with some of his fellow POWs, he escapes and makes his way through the jungle in hopes of being rescued. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Werner Herzog (Invincible, Wheel of Time, The White Diamond, Grizzly Man, The Wild Blue Yonder)

Starring- Christian Bale, Steve Zahn, Jeremy Davies

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was one of the top five films of the year. Werner Herzog’s writing and direction were phenomenal and Oscar-worthy, as he told an incredible true story with remarkable emotion and realism. Herzog’s deeply psychological screenplay captured the full breadth of the characters and gave us a disturbing, yet often reassuring view to their every thought and feeling. His camerawork was outstanding as well, capturing tremendous realism and detail, but the performances of Christian Bale, Jeremy Davies and Steve Zahn truly took the film to the next level. All three delivered powerhouse performances in a film in which every scene put tremendous amounts of physical and psychological pressure on them. Bale and Davies stood out as wholly deserving Oscar contenders, while Zahn played the greatest role of his young career. Herzog captured the human condition with such awe-inspiring completeness that it seemed everything he did was pure genius. However, a slight mishandling of the ending did hurt the film, but I still like his Oscar chances.

2) Live Free or Die Hard
Plot- John McClane takes on an Internet-based terrorist organization systematically shutting down the United States. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Len Wiseman (Underworld, Underworld: Evolution)

Written by- Mark Bomback (The Night Caller, Godsend)

Starring- Justin Long, Bruce Willis, Timothy Olyphant, Maggie Q, Cliff Curtis, Jonathan Sadowski, Andrew Friedman, Kevin Smith, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Zeljko Ivanek

Movieguy’s Verdict- Interestingly, while the first three “Die Hard” films were original stories, this film was adapted from a novel. It just seems odd that the final chapter in one of the best action series ever didn’t attempt to tell an original story. That pales in comparison to the fact that Justin Long was the star of this film! Not only was Willis a supporting actor, but John McClane was very obviously a secondary character. These are only criticisms if you’re viewing the film as the fourth “Die Hard” movie. By itself, the film was a very solid action film, which succeeded in spite of Len Wiseman’s total lack of visual creativity. The film featured plenty of overblown action sequences, a horrible climax and plenty of plot holes at the end. However, the quirky and surprisingly solid performance of Justin Long really brought the film together. Timothy Olyphant was also a fantastic villain. Additionally, the film moved constantly and nothing close to a dull moment could be found. There is no reason whatsoever to consider this another “Die Hard” film, but it’s still a very enjoyable guilty pleasure.

3) Broken
Plot- Deep in the LA night, a young woman confronts all the wrong turns she’s made since leaving Ohio and ultimately meets the biggest wrong turn of all in her ex-boyfriend, who’s determined to win back her love or die trying. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Alan White (Erskineville Kings, Risk)

Written by- Drew Pillsbury (100 Mile Rule)

Starring- Heather Graham, Jeremy Sisto, Jake Busey, Arthur Williams Jr., Linda Hamilton, Bianca Lawson, Valerie Azlynn, James Brandon, Michael A. Goorjian, Mark Sheppard

Movieguy’s Verdict- While Heather Graham might seem like an odd choice for this film, I could not find a single fault with her performance. She’s really made no effort to establish herself as a serious actress, but her excellent performance here showed she’s actually better in serious films. The film carried a certain degree of predictability, but its constant string of symbolism and artistic, emotionally charged direction allowed for a much less literal translation, making the basic message more effective. The talented and underused Jeremy Sisto provided an excellent supporting performance by superbly capturing the film’s most pivotal character. A low budget effort, this film succeeded with a symbolic screenplay, artistic direction and strong acting. It is a completely unknown project, but it’s one that should be seen.

4) The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause
Plot- Santa, aka Scott Calvin, is faced with double-duty: how to keep his new family happy, and how to stop Jack Frost from taking over Christmas. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Michael Lembeck (The Santa Clause 2)

Written by- Ed Decter (There’s Something About Mary, The Santa Clause 2, The Lizzie McGuire Movie, Rebound, The Wild), John J. Strauss (The Santa Clause 2, The Lizzie McGuire Movie, Rebound, The Wild)

Starring- Tim Allen, Martin Short, Elizabeth Mitchell, Judge Reinhold, Wendy Crewson, Eric Lloyd, Spencer Breslin, Liliana Mumy, Alan Arkin, Ann-Margret, Darian Bryant, Kate Emerick, Madeline Carroll, Ridge Canipe, David Krumholtz

Movieguy’s Verdict- What’s a horrible Christmas film without the complete lack of talent and unrelenting stupidity that is Tim Allen? Obviously, extreme corniness could be found at every turn, which seemed to work nicely into a story that was perhaps more moronic than the other films in this series. The full arsenal of Allen’s cheesy antics were on display in this ill-advised disaster, paving the way for Martin Short to give a similarly forced, but at least barely amusing performance. There hasn’t been a watchable movie about Christmas since “A Christmas Story,” and I think we can blame Allen for most of that. This was one of last year’s worst films, and probably one of the 10 worst Christmas films of all time.

5) Stir of Echoes 2: The Homecoming
Plot- A soldier returns home from the Iraq war only to be haunted by visions of the dead. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Ernie Barbarash (Cube Zero)

Starring- Rob Lowe, Marnie McPhail, Zachary Bennett, Ben Lewis

Movieguy’s Verdict- This instantly reminded me of “8MM 2,” a similar straight-to-DVD sequel that wasn’t a sequel at all, and had nothing to do with the original film. Rob Lowe was a goofy choice for the part, and while I am and will always be a huge fan, he looked out of place in almost every scene. The film was probably more comparable to “Lions for Lambs” than “Stir of Echoes,” mainly because it was about the Iraq war and little else. Ernie Barbarash’s direction did create some startling moments, but the film was extremely repetitive as Barbarash essentially used the same series of techniques over and over again. Clearly, the film accomplished nothing whatsoever and should never have been made.
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11-14-07

1) Ocean’s Thirteen
Plot- Danny Ocean rounds up the boys for a third a heist after casino owner Willy Bank double-crosses one of the original eleven, Reuben Tishkoff. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Steven Soderbergh (Sex, Lies, and Videotape, Kafka, Underneath, Gray’s Anatomy, Schizopolis, Out of Sight, Erin Brockovich, Traffic, Ocean’s Eleven, Full Frontal, Solaris, Ocean’s Twelve, Bubble, The Good German)

Written by- Brian Koppelman (Rounders, Knockaround Guys, Runaway Jury, Walking Tall), David Levien (Rounders, Knockaround Guys, Runaway Jury, Walking Tall)

Starring- Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Matt Damon, Michael Mantell, Elliott Gould, Al Pacino, Eddie Jemison, Don Cheadle, Shaobo Qin, Casey Affleck, Scott Caan, Bernie Mac, Carl Reiner, Eddie Izzard, Ellen Barkin, Vincent Cassel, Andy Garcia

Movieguy’s Verdict- The brilliant Steven Soderbergh finished his “Ocean’s” series in style with a film that was stylish, clever, beautifully shot and colored, and hilarious on top of everything else. Soderbergh’s direction expressed a certain nostalgia for the old Las Vegas (when the mob owned everything), which showed in the film’s clever dialogue and how the characters interacted with one another. The film contained a substantial amount of humor, but also managed carry a very detailed and creative plot. Perhaps the biggest disappointment of the film was the handling of Al Pacino’s character, who was created as a silly caricature of a villain rather than an actual villain. Pacino did the best he could, but this character flaw was too much to overcome. Additionally, the film did nothing to address the the disappearance of the previously important characters played by Julia Roberts and Catherine Zeta-Jones. For the final chapter of a trilogy, this is unacceptable. Acting was fantastic of course, with Casey Affleck, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt and George Clooney giving the most memorable performances. In all, this was a great end to a fantastic series.

2) Amazing Grace
Plot- In 18th century England, William Wilberforce maneuvers his way through Parliament, endeavoring to end slavery in the empire — a mission that puts him at odds with some of the most powerful men of the time, including the king. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Michael Apted (Agatha, Coal Miner’s Daughter, Continental Divide, Gorky Park, Firstborn, Class Action, Blink, Moving the Mountain, Nell, Extreme Measures, Inspirations, Me & Isaac Newton, The World Is Not Enough, Enigma, Enough)

Written by- Steven Knight (Dirty Pretty Things)

Starring- Ioan Gruffudd, Albert Finney, Michael Gambon, Rufus Sewell, Toby Jones, Ciarán Hinds, Nicholas Farrell

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was a very uninspired, by-the-numbers inspirational story which tried incredibly hard to achieve a level of beauty and emotion which director Michael Apted is simply not capable of achieving. When looking at the list of films he’s directed, it’s obvious he was the wrong director for this film. All acting in the film was excellent, but it felt as though the impact of the performances was lost in Apted’s constant struggle to make each scene swell with power and emotion. This was supposed to be a film about redemption and the darkest parts of the human condition being defeated by the best parts of that same human condition. However, Apted’s direction was bland, sloppy, frivolous and formulaic, creating an easily forgettable film out of a fascinating true story.

3) Shrek the Third
Plot- The third installment of the animated children’s film franchise.

Directed by- Chris Miller, Raman Hui

Written by- Howard Gould (Mr. 3000), Jeffrey Price (Trenchcoat, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Doc Hollywood, Wild Wild West, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Last Holiday), Peter S. Seaman (Trenchcoat, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Doc Hollywood, Wild Wild West, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Last Holiday), J. David Stem (The Rugrats Movie, Rugrats in Paris: The Movie, Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, Clockstoppers, Shrek 2, Are We There Yet?), David N. Weiss (All Dogs Go to Heaven, The Rugrats Movie, Rugrats in Paris: The Movie, Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, Clockstoppers, Shrek 2, Are We There Yet?), Jon Zack (Out Cold, The Perfect Score)

Voices of- Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Antonio Banderas, Julie Andrews, John Cleese, Rupert Everett, Eric Idle, Justin Timberlake, Susan Blakeslee, Cody Cameron, Larry King, Christopher Knights, John Krasinski, Ian McShane, Cheri Oteri, Regis Philbin, Amy Poehler, Seth Rogen, Maya Rudolph, Amy Sedaris

Movieguy’s Verdict- Like the “Spider-Man” franchise, I really don’t understand why these films are so successful. Aside from breathtaking CGI, there’s very little that separates any of the films in this series from your typically corny, overblown children’s film. Most of the vocal performances were over the top, with Eddie Murphy at the forefront of this trend. Thankfully, bits of intelligent humor and situations were present, but in general, the film was cluttered with cheesy shenanigans and a few illogical character developments. Also hurting the film was its Hollywood soundtrack, which spliced 30 second bits of popular songs back to back for what seemed like the duration of the film, making it feel more like a music video than a movie. The film was a very long 92 minutes, but whatever creativity it did have was lost in the film’s horrid final half hour. If you’ve seen either of the other two, I can’t see why you’d need to watch this film, but if you’ve seen both, you’ll probably see it anyway.
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11-7-07

1) Ratatouille
Plot- A rat with a sophisticated palate makes him his in an upscale restaurant that is ruled by an eccentric, world-famous chef. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Brad Bird (The Iron Giant, The Incredibles)

Voices of- Patton Oswalt, Ian Holm, Lou Romano, Brian Dennehy, Peter Sohn, Peter O’Toole, Brad Garrett, Janeane Garofalo, Will Arnett, Julius Callahan, James Remar, John Ratzenberger

Movieguy’s Verdict- The failure of “Cars” caused Pixar’s genius to hit the wall with a dull thud, but it was impressive to see them bounce back with such fervor, clearly regaining the swagger that made them the creators of the world’s finished animated films. The quality of the CGI keeps getting better, which is a scary thought because whenever you watch a Pixar film you wonder how that’s even possible. The vocal performance of Patton Oswalt was top notch, as were most of the supporting cast, though a few performances did try a bit too hard. Brad Bird created a mature and intelligent story which featured unparalleled creativity and plenty of room for suspended disbelief. Perhaps a hangover from the unbearable dullness of “Cars,” the film was slow in parts and, despite its creativity, completely predictable. Nevertheless, this is a lock to win Best Animated Feature at the Oscars, and is an incredibly enjoyable film for all ages.

2) Sicko
Plot- An exposé on the inner workings of America’s health-care system. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Michael Moore (Roger & Me, Canadian Bacon, The Big One, Bowling for Columbine, Fahrenheit 9/11)

Starring- Michael Moore

Movieguy’s Verdict- Michael Moore’s long awaited documentary did not disappoint as it presented important, and disturbing information with creativity and an infectious level of cynicism. Moore asked essential questions that need answering, but his analysis of the issue seemed a bit one-sided. Moore is not a journalist by any stretch of the imagination, and in this film he seemed to abandon the more fact-based approach he employed in “Bowling for Columbine” and “ Fahrenheit 9/11” in favor of a more persuasive film. I don’t see this is a negative or a positive quality- simply a different method of presenting a point of view. Still, this thought-provoking film should be a lock for a Best Documentary nomination at the very least.

3) I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry
Plot- Two Philadelphia firefighters pretend to be a gay couple in order to receive domestic partner benefits. They face a series of challenges in order to maintain their ruse, the toughest being one friend’s romantic feelings for the sexy lawyer who’s representing them. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Dennis Dugan (Problem Child, Brain Donors, Happy Gilmore, Beverly Hills Ninja, Big Daddy, Saving Silverman, National Security, The Benchwarmers)

Written by- Barry Fanaro (Kingpin, The Crew, Men in Black II), Alexander Payne (Citizen Ruth, Election, Jurassic Park III, About Schmidt, Sideways), Jim Taylor (Citizen Ruth, Election, Jurassic Park III, About Schmidt, Sideways)

Starring- Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Jessica Biel, Dan Aykroyd, Ving Rhames, Steve Buscemi, Nicholas Turturro, Allen Covert, Rachel Dratch, Nick Swardson, Gary Valentine

Movieguy’s Verdict- I don’t think anyone expected this film to be any good, but the fact that Adam Sandler allowed his talent to languish in such an obviously awful project is almost as painful as watching the film itself. The only quality that made the film remotely bearable was the energy and charisma Kevin James brought to a film that never made a huge effort to surpass mild amusement. Dennis Dugan continues to direct terrible films and his touch is evadent from the first scene, which was horribly corny and set the pace for the rest of the film. The screenplay seemed to contain one poorly constructed pun after another, which was only surprising because Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor (the OSCAR WINNING writers of “Sideways”) were involved. Blackmail can be the only explanation. This is a completely forgettable film that really doesn’t need to be seen by anyone- even Kevin James fans.

4) Deck the Halls
Plot- Near Christmas, a friendly neighborhood dad goes berserk after the new guy on the block decorates his family’s house so outrageously that it can be seen from space. (imdb.com)

Directed by- John Whitesell (See Spot Run, Malibu’s Most Wanted, Big Momma’s House 2)

Written by- Matt Corman, Chris Ord, Don Rhymer

Starring- Danny DeVito, Matthew Broderick, Kristin Davis, Kristin Chenoweth, Alia Shawkat, Dylan Blue, Sabrina Aldridge, Kelly Aldridge, Jorge Garcia, Fred Armisen, Gillian Vigman, Ryan Devlin, Sean O’Bryan

Movieguy’s Verdict- For the extreme corniness of this film and its blatantly awful script, director John Whitesell should be pleased at the talented cast he assembled. Danny DeVito and Matthew Broderick played nicely off of one another, and had they been in a completely different film, they would have been great. There wasn’t much in this film that separated it from the typical PG comedy failures of the holiday season, as its cheesy antics mostly fell flat. DeVito’s character had a few funny/clever ideas associated with him, but they never developed into anything concrete. It’s no surprise that this film was your typical corny holiday film, which ultimately had less of a point than most in its regrettable genre.

5) Heavens Fall
Plot- Two young woman accuse nine black youths of rape in the segregated South. Based on a true story. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Terry Green (Almost Salinas)

Starring- Timothy Hutton, David Strathairn, Leelee Sobieski, Anthony Mackie, Bill Sage, Azura Skye, Bill Smitrovich, Francie Swift

Movieguy’s Verdict- From the very first scene, this film’s thick movie-of-the-week gloss prevented it from expressing any of the emotional value of its historically based subject matter. This gloss effected the acting as well, which was fundamentally sound, but suffered from writer and director Terry Green’s desire for every scene to be overly theatrical and generally exaggerated. As a result, there was very little emotional pull from any of the performances. Keeping with its made-for-TV quality, it carried poor production value and lacked any semblance of artistic value. Even though the performances were forced, the film moved well and told the story with good structure and a reasonable level of character development. The film was forgettable, but could be good for a middle school history class if the teacher runs out of worksheets.
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10-31-07

1) In the Land of Women
Plot- When Carter Webb is dumped by the love of his life, he flees Los Angeles for the Michigan suburbs to live with his ailing grandmother. From across the street, the Hardwickes, a family of three women, help Carter rediscover himself and redefine his life. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Jon Kasdan

Starring- Adam Brody, Kristen Stewart, Meg Ryan, Elena Anaya, Olympia Dukakis, Makenzie Vega, Clark Gregg, Dustin Milligan, JoBeth Williams

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film succeeded in so many ways, but at the forefront of it all was Adam Brody, whose quirkiness and excellent personality captured all elements of a wonderfully developed and fascinating character. The screenplay was fantastic. Half sad, half comedy, Jon Kasdan’s writing and direction truly built a poignant and memorable mood for the film. Meg Ryan’s supporting performance was tremendous and stole some of the spotlight from Brody. Perhaps it wasn’t Oscar-worthy, but it was among the best work of her career. This was a wonderful film about romantic relationships, and mother-daughter relationships as well. Don’t miss this one.

2) Spider-Man 3
Plot- The third installment of the Spider-Man films adapted from the famous comic series.

Directed by- Sam Raimi (Spider-Man 2, Spider-Man, The Gift, For Love of the Game, A Simple Plan, The Quick and the Dead, Army of Darkness, Darkman, Evil Dead II, Crimewave, The Evil Dead)

Written by- Sam Raimi (The Evil Dead, Crimewave, Evil Dead II, Easy Wheels, Darkman, The Nutt House, Army of Darkness, The Hudsucker Proxy), Ivan Raimi (Easy Wheels, Darkman, The Nutt House, Army of Darkness), Alvin Sargent (Spider-Man 2, Unfaithful, Anywhere But Here, Bogus, Hero, Other People’s Money, White Palace, Dominick and Eugene, Nuts, Ordinary People, Straight Time, Julia, Bobby Deerfield, Paper Moon, Love and Pain and the Whole Damn Thing, The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds, I Walk the Line)

Starring- Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, Thomas Haden Church, Topher Grace, Bryce Dallas Howard, Rosemary Harris, J.K. Simmons, James Cromwell, Theresa Russell, Dylan Baker, Bill Nunn, Bruce Campbell, Elizabeth Banks, Cliff Robertson, Ted Raimi

Movieguy’s Verdict-
Despite massive amounts of box office, DVD and merchandising money, this franchise has accomplished little more than extreme levels of corniness, a new level of action clichés and disgracefully poor writing. This film featured more good acting that the other two, but Peter Parker was the only character of any reasonable substance. Maguire’s performance was by far the best part of the film, though supporting performances from Topher Grace and J.K. Simmons livened things up a bit. The film featured an unending rush of horrible dialogue and remarkable immaturity. Despite being so long, the film really had little to say and was very repetitive. The film’s action climax was as corny, clichéd and painful as any such scene could be, but at least the CGI was worth watching. I’m still dumbfounded as to why so many people like this series.

3) Talk to Me
Plot- In 1960s Washington, D.C., a man transforms from an ex-con into a popular radio personality and influential community activist. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Kasi Lemmons (Eve’s Bayou, Dr. Hugo, The Caveman’s Valentine)

Written by- Michael Genet (She Hate Me), Rick Famuyiwa (The Wood, Brown Sugar)

Starring- Don Cheadle, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Mike Epps, Taraji P. Henson, Cedric the Entertainer, Martin Sheen

Movieguy’s Verdict- The magic and passion that Don Cheadle brought to his fascinating character really made this film. Though the high quality of the writing had a great deal to do with his success, Chiwetel Ejiofor played very well with Cheadle, creating a powerfully constructed character study. Kasi Lemmons captured the mood of the time with precision and mastery. The supporting cast played well with Cheadle and Ejiofor, but their characters tended to blend together as one. The film’s other fault came from its tendency to try too hard at a few key moments in the beginning. Part biopic, part character study, this film, which had a very limited theatrical release, is certainly special.

4) Captivity
Plot- A fashion icon is taken captive by a serial killer who preys upon her childhood fears via in a series traps and twisted games. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Roland Joffé (The Killing Fields, The Mission, Fat Man and Little Boy, City of Joy, The Scarlet Letter, Goodbye Lover, Vatel)

Written by- Larry Cohen (Phone Booth, Misbegotten, The Ex, Uncle Sam,Invasion of Privacy, Guilty as Sin, Maniac Cop 3: Badge of Silence, The Ambulance, Maniac Cop 2, Wicked Stepmother, Maniac Cop, Deadly Illusion, Best Seller, A Return to Salem’s Lot, It’s Alive III: Island of the Alive, The Stuff, Perfect Strangers , Special Effects, Women of San Quentin, Q, I, the Jury, Full Moon High, The American Success, Company, It Lives Again, The Private Files of J. Edgar Hoover, god Told Me To, It’s Alive, Hell Up in Harlem, Black Caesar, Bone, Condor, El, Daddy’s Gone A-Hunting, Scream, Baby, Scream), Joseph Tura

Starring- Elisha Cuthbert, Daniel Gillies, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Laz Alonso, Michael Harney, Rebekah Ryan

Movieguy’s Verdict- In the wake of the “Saw” franchise’s popularity, minimalistic films about calculated torture have become the subjects of countless cheap knock-offs. This was a direct copy of “Saw,” but with much more detail and brutality. The film ran just over 80 minutes, and nearly all of those minutes were spent wondering what the point was supposed to be. This film clearly existed as a vehicle to be as graphic and gory as possible, giving no regard for story, character development or intelligence of any kind. Elisha Cuthbert overacted severely, ruining the outside chance that this misguided film could succeed on the strength of acting alone. Her co-star, Daniel Gillies, was awful as well. The film did contain some good ideas here and there, and a few excellent visual choices, but was basically a trashy straight-to-DVD torture film.

5) License to Wed
Plot- A reverend puts an engaged couple through a grueling marriage preparation course if they intend to marry in his church. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Ken Kwapis

Written by- Kim Barker, Tim Rasmussen, Vince Di Meglio

Starring- Robin Williams, Mandy Moore, John Krasinski, Eric Christian Olsen, Christine Taylor, Josh Flitter, DeRay Davis, Peter Strauss, Grace Zabriskie, Roxanne Hart, Mindy Kaling, Angela Kinsey, Rachael Harris, Brian Baumgartner

Movieguy’s Verdict- Robin Williams really has a penchant for wasting his talent in films that simply have no value of any kind, and this is the latest in his string of poor decision-making. John Krasinski and Mandy Moore were two additional subjects of pitifully wasted talent. The film had some humor value, but you really had to look for it. The film presented a childish and flowery view of relationships, and tried way too hard to be silly, which was the fault of unimaginative writing. Ultimately, this film was just like most corny, by-the-book romantic comedies, and was just as bland and forgettable. I’d give you some examples of similar films, but I’ve forgotten them.

6) The Wendell Baker Story
Plot- A mild-mannered, recently paroled conman takes a job at a retirement hotel, where a trio of residents advise him on how to win back his woman and help defend him against the hotel’s evil head nurse. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Andrew Wilson, Luke Wilson

Written by- Luke Wilson

Starring- Luke Wilson, Seymour Cassel, Eddie Griffin, Kris Kristofferson, Eva Mendes, Harry Dean Stanton, Owen Wilson, Spencer Scott, Jacob Vargas, Will Ferrell

Movieguy’s Verdict- With a cast so rich in comedic talent, you’d think the end result would be funnier- or at least consistently funny. Don’t get me wrong, the film did have its moments of blunt humor from Will Ferrell, and more offbeat humor from the brothers Wilson. However, the main plot was rife with amateurism and a certain absurdity that never allowed any sort of connection to any of the characters. A good cast might lead you to believe this is worth watching, but don’t be fooled.
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10-24-07

1) Mr. Brooks
Plot- A detective tracks a potential serial killer, an otherwise normal man with a devious alter ego. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Bruce A. Evans (Kuffs)

Written by- Bruce A. Evans (A Man, a Woman and a Bank, Starman, Stand By Me, Made in Heaven, Kuffs, Jungle 2 Jungle), Raynold Gideon (A Man, a Woman and a Bank, Starman, Stand By Me, Made in Heaven, Kuffs, Jungle 2 Jungle)

Starring- Kevin Costner, Demi Moore, Dane Cook, William Hurt, Marg Helgenberger, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Danielle Panabaker, Aisha Hinds, Lindsay Crouse, Jason Lewis, Reiko Aylesworth

Movieguy’s Verdict- Kevin Costner says he wants the Mr. Brooks character to become a series. I hope it does, because a character so intensely psychological deserves more than one film. Costner played his character wonderfully with precision and elegance, giving his character a strong presence, as did Bruce A. Evans’ dark and sinister direction. Evans captured the elegance of Costner’s performance as well, but his direction was a little Hollywood at times, certainly too polished for the film’s grittiness. Demi Moore gave her best performance in a long time, and even Dane Cook was passable, but William Hurt’s Oscar-worthy supporting performance all but stole the show from anyone who wasn’t Kevin Costner. The film was well-written, and the lives of the characters were tightly interwoven. All in all, this was a generally unknown, but very strong film that needs to be seen.

2) The Tripper
Plot- A serial killer obsessed with Ronald Reagan targets a bunch of hippies who are heading to the Redwood Forest for a weekend-long concert. (imdb.com)

Directed by- David Arquette

Written by- David Arquette, Joe Harris

Starring- Jaime King, Thomas Jane, Lukas Haas, David Arquette, Richmond Arquette, Courtney Cox, Balthazar Getty, Brad Hunt, Jason Mewes

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film is about a serial killer who targets hippies and is obsessed with Ronald Regan. That’s one bizarre concept, and shouldn’t have been so pointless and blatantly awful. Looking at the cast, it seemed as though David Arquette had assembled an excellent group for his feature film directorial debut. Most of the talent was shamefully wasted however. Lukas Haas, Thomas Jane, Balthazar Getty and even Arquette himself contributed nothing whatsoever to the film, mostly because it was so poorly written that all actors were hung out to dry. The concept was promising, but in execution, the film was little more than a poorly constructed teen horror movie which succeeded in its attempts to be as cheesy and clichéd as possible.

3) Home of the Brave
Plot- At the end of their respective assignments in Iraq, four American soldiers look to complete a final mission; to bring medical supplies to a remote village. Ambushed, the unit suffers heavy losses and the survivors are then forced to try and readjust to life at home. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Irwin Winkler (Guilty by Suspicion, Night and the City, The Net, At First Sight, Life as a House, De-Lovely)

Written by- Mark Friedman

Starring- Samuel L. Jackson, Jessica Biel, Brian Presley, Christina Ricci, 50 Cent, Chad Michael Murray, Joyce M. Cameron, Victoria Rowell

Movieguy’s Verdict- Other than Samuel L. Jackson, this film’s horrendous casting is probably the reason why it was supposed to be released in theaters nationwide last December, but somehow ended up becoming more or less a straight-to-DVD film. I mean, putting a thug rapper in a war movie during war time? Come on. Thankfully, Curtis Jackson (aka: 50 Cent) had little to do with the outcome of the film. Though it was by no means original, and said nothing that hasn’t been said in countless war films, Irwin Winkler created tenderness between the characters and their lives, allowing the audience to truly empathize with them. The film achieved strong realism at times, but Mark Friedman’s superficial writing clearly showed that the majority of the film was designed to create emotions with somber music rather than strong characters. The film was well-acted for the most part, with Samuel L. Jackson and Jessica Biel giving consistent, but uninspired performances. The production value was high, but this modern day war film was pretty much by the numbers.

4) Hostel: Part II
Plot- Three American college students studying abroad are lured to a Slovakian hostel, and discover the grim reality behind it. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Eli Roth (Cabin Fever, Hostel)

Starring- Lauren German, Roger Bart, Heather Matarazzo, Bijou Phillips, Richard Burgi, Vera Jordanova, Jay Hernandez, Jordan Ladd

Movieguy’s Verdict- As if it wasn’t apparent from the trailers, this film was horrifically clichéd, disgracefully acted and, while lacking the blatant pornographic content of its predecessor, ultimately more pointless. Eli Roth has expressed his desire to make films that are essentially montages of senseless gore, nudity and horror clichés. He has succeeded yet again. The film was 100% predictable, which was slightly surreal considering the astounding stupidity of every painfully crafted scene. Most of the performances were over the top, or just plain bad- or both in the case of Richard Burgi. Not surprisingly, this dim-witted exercise in teen horror clichés should never have been made.

5) Meet the Robinsons
Plot- When a young boy’s invention is stolen, he meets Wilbur Robinson, a boy from the future who will help him get it, but he has to help Robinson’s family along the way.

Directed by- Stephen J. Anderson

Written by- Jon Bernstein (Ringmaster, Beautiful)

Voices of- Angela Bassett, Daniel Hansen, Jordan Fry, Matthew Josten, John H. H. Ford, Dara McGarry, Tom Kenny, Laurie Metcalf, Don Hall

Movieguy’s Verdict- The first thing that you notice while watching this film were the pristine computer graphics that made every scene ooze quality and precision. Jon Bernstein, who wrote Jerry Springer’s movie, did well to create a consistently quirky script with humor that managed to appeal to kids and adults alike. Still, he made the dialogue and characters overly simplistic, which was ironic considering the plot. Daniel Hansen and Jordan Fry both voiced the main character at different ages, and were equally annoying in doing so. Judging the vocal performances as a whole, it is fair to say they tried too hard. This hurt the overall quality of the film, which, for children’s films, still ended up at the higher end of the spectrum.
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10-17-07

1) The Hoax
Plot- In what will cause a fantastic media event, Clifford Irving sells his bogus biography of Howard Hughes to a premiere publishing house in the early 1970s. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Lasse Hallström (What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, Something to Talk About, The Cider House Rules, Chocolat, The Shipping News, An Unfinished Life, Casanova)

Written by- William Wheeler (The Prime Gig)

Starring- Richard Gere, Alfred Molina, Hope Davis, Marcia Gay Harden, Stanley Tucci, Julie Delpy, Eli Wallach, John Carter, Christopher Evan Welch, Zeljko Ivanek

Movieguy’s Verdict- The real Clifford Irving has adamantly voiced his disapproval of this film, and was extremely unhappy with the creative liberties and falsehoods applied to his true story for supposed Hollywood effect. I was disappointed when I heard this, but that doesn’t mean this wasn’t an excellent film. Lasse Hallström crafted the film with a certain playfulness and quirky humor, complementing a wonderfully written screenplay that developed characters and situations with precision and style. Richard Gere was phenomenal in this movie, as his performance perfectly displayed the lust for deception and vibrant energy of his character. Alfred Molina was fantastic in his supporting role, as were the collection of talented actors who made up the supporting cast. I found the ending rather corny and somewhat trite, but still effective in conveying the appropriate messages and moods. I truly enjoyed this film and I think you will as well.

2) Transformers
Plot- Two warring alien robot races, the Autobots and the Decepticons, wage their latest battle on Earth, where a mystical entity highly regarded by the mechanical beings has been hidden for centuries. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Michael Bay (Bad Boys, The Rock, Pearl Harbor, Bad Boys II, The Island)

Written by- Roberto Orci (The Island, The Legend of Zorro, Mission: Impossible III), Alex Kurtzman (The Island, The Legend of Zorro, Mission: Impossible III)

Starring- Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, Rachael Taylor, Anthony Anderson, Jon Voight, John Turturro, Michael O’Neill, Kevin Dunn, Peter Cullen, Julie White, Bryan Cox, Amaury Nolasco, Mark Ryan, Zack Ward, Bernie Mac

Movieguy’s Verdict- I’m willing to call this film the biggest surprise of the year. Michael Bay might be a complete Hollywood tool with all the decision-making abilities and talent of a garbage fly, but he somehow managed to make a dumb concept into an outstanding guilty pleasure. Though the film was full of typical overly expressive Hollywood music and displayed the cleavage of barely clothed females in every scene, Shia LaBeouf’s energy, personality and excellent performance completely changed the direction of the film. LaBeouf brought sincerity to the film and, without him, Hollywood corniness would have taken over. In general, supporting performances were very forced, trying too hard to be comedic, though there was plenty of humor in the film. I’m shocked to say this, but I found myself very involved in the plot, which is hard to say about a Michael Bay film. The film’s massive final fight scene was overdone in typical Michael Bay fashion, which hurt the film considerably. Still, this was a guilty pleasure that should be enjoyed for years to come.

3) A Mighty Heart
Plot- Mariane Pearl leads the frantic effort to locate her journalist husband, Daniel, after he’s abducted while on assignment in Karachi, Pakistan. Based on a true story. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Michael Winterbottom (Under the Sun, Butterfly Kiss, Go Now, Jude, Welcome to Sarajevo, I Want You, Wonderland, With or Without You, The Claim, 24 Hour Party People, In This World, Code 46, 9 Songs, Tristam Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story, The Road to Guantanamo)

Written by- John Orloff

Starring- Angelina Jolie, Dan Futterman, Archie Panjabi, Infan Kahn, Will Patton, Denis O’Hare, Adrian Siddiqui, Gary Wilmes

Movieguy’s Verdict- To say this film was heartbreaking would be an epic understatement. However, the power of Angelina Jolie’s brilliant performance and Michael Winterbottom’s beautiful direction make it a must-see for fans of quality filmmaking. Jolie captures the horrific transformation of her character with the utmost levels of realism and compassion; she clearly deserves an Oscar nomination for her performance. Winterbottom’s direction succeeded in much the same way, as his intimate camerawork and ability to progress Jolie’s character made him another deserving recipient of an Oscar nomination. The film did well to abstain from political commentary, focusing only on the gradual spiral of pain and grief that Jolie’s character would endure. This is an Oscar-worthy film and should not be missed.

4) The Reaping
Plot- A professor known for providing scientific proof for miracles heads to a small town to investigate occurrences that resemble the 10 Biblical plagues. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Stephen Hopkins (Dangerous Game, A Nightmare on Elm Street: The Dream Child, Predator 2, Judgment Night, Blown Away, The Ghost and the Darkness, Lost in Space, Under Suspicion, The Life and Death of Peter Sellers)

Written by- Carey and Chad Hayes (The Dark Side of the Moon, House of Wax)

Starring- Hilary Swank, David Morrissey, Idris Elba, AnnaSophia Robb, Stephen Rea, William Ragsdale, John McConnell, David Jensen, Yvonne Landry

Movieguy’s Verdict- Hilary Swank has done little since her second Oscar win to solidify herself as a dependable performer in quality films. Her most recent film, “Freedom Writers,” a cheesy motivational story, was a letdown. The same can be said for her involvement in this film, which was illogical, transparent and almost completely nonsensical. AnnaSophia Robb’s chilling performance was pretty much the film’s only positive quality. Characters were overly simplistic and written without a shred of depth. Stephen Hopkins has directed a plethora of corny horror and action films over the years, but he did show a certain degree of skill in his direction here, making the film appropriately surreal and often graphic. Corny music and a Hollywood action feel diminished the value of Hopkins’ direction, though an inconsistent performance from Swank and a screenplay that was absolutely awful were the main focus of criticism here. Do yourself a favor and avoid this one.

5) The Invisible
Plot- After he’s attacked and left for dead, Nick Powell finds himself in a strange sort of limbo. His predicament: Find a way to solve his own murder and communicate with the living — who cannot hear him — who did it, and why. (imdb.com)

Directed by- David S. Goyer (Dir: ZigZag, Blade: Trinity, Writer: Death Warrant, Kickboxer 2: The Road Back, Demonic Toys, The Puppet Masters, The Crow: City of Angels, Dark City, Blade, ZigZag, Blade II, Blade: Trinity, Batman Begins)

Written by- Mick Davis (The Vampyre Wars, Love in Paris, The Match, Modigliani, Wake of Death), Christine Roum

Starring- Justin Chatwin, Margarita Levieva, Marcia Gay Harden, Chris Marquette, Alex O’Loughlin, Callum Keith Rennie, Michelle Harrison, Ryan Kennedy

Movieguy’s Verdict- If “The Reaping” made no sense, I’m not sure what the hell I should call this. Though this film was inexplicably bad, it actually began with tremendous promise. The film opened with elegance, beauty and symbolism, wonderfully capturing the pain and longing of the main character. Justin Chatwin’s performance was strong, and the writing and direction were intelligent. After about 20 minutes, the film careened downhill, undergoing a transformation into unspeakable stupidity and completely nonsensical story developments. Performances began to break down until the actors were impossible to watch. To say there were plot holes would imply the film had a plot, which is clearly not the case. In the end, the film was a disgrace.
——-

10-10-07

1) Reign Over Me
Plot- Emotionally shut off after losing his wife and daughters on 9/11, Charlie Fineman runs into his old college buddy, Alan Johnson. Rekindling the friendship is the one thing that appears able to help Charlie begin to wrestle with his grief. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Mike Binder (Indian Summer, Blankman, The Sex Monster, Londinium, The Search for
John Gissing, The Upside of Anger, Man About Town)

Starring- Adam Sandler, Don Cheadle, Jada Pinkett Smith, Liv Tyler, Saffron Burrows, Donald Sutherland, Robert Klein, Melinda Dillon, Mike Binder

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was the first Oscar-worthy film of 2007, so it will likely be forgotten and ignored come Oscar season, but it shouldn’t be. Mike Binder has become a quiet master of creating psychologically complex characters, and directing them intimately and intelligently. For this film, Binder crafted a wonderfully layered, complex and emotional script, which I feel deserves an Oscar nomination. The film also thrived on the strength of its actors, with Adam Sandler delivering an emotionally-charged, powerhouse performance worthy of an Oscar nomination. Don Cheadle was excellent as usual, and Jada Pinkett Smith and Liv Tyler followed suit with strong supporting performances. Giving the film an extra edge was Binder’s use of music as a way of speaking through the characters, or perhaps one could even say it was a character itself. It goes without saying at this point, but this film is a must-see.

2) 28 Weeks Later
Plot- Six months after London was struck by the rage virus, the city is being carefully repopulated by the U.S. Army. Though under quarantine, a carrier of the virus is admitted to the city and unknowingly causes a second deadly outbreak. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Juan Carlos Fresnadillo (Esposados, Intacto)

Written by- Rowan Joffe (Last Resort), Juan Carlos Fresnadillo (Esposados, Intacto), Jesús Olmo, Enrique López Lavigne

Starring- Robert Carlyle, Rose Byrne, Amanda Walker, Shahid Ahmed, Catherine McCormack, Garfield Morgan, Emily Beecham, Jeremy Renner, Harold Perrineau,, Imogen Poots, Mackintosh Muggleton, Idris Elba

Movieguy’s Verdict- After the surprise success of Danny Boyle’s “28 Days Later…,” movie fans were a little suspicious of the sequel, and for good reason. Boyle refused to direct and none of the previous cast agreed to re-appear- a bad omen indeed. Spanish filmmaker Juan Carlos Fresnadillo was a good choice to direct the film, as his visual skills, camerawork and chaotic editing choices gave the film the best possible venue in which to succeed. The problem came with the writing, which was often illogical and flawed, especially when dealing with the military characters. The screenplay had good qualities as well, and seemed to capture emotion and tragedy appropriately. Robert Carlyle and Rose Byrne gave solid performances, but they lacked the energy Cillian Murphy and Naomi Harris provided the first film. A highly problematic climax and script inconsistencies hurt this film considerably, but for a horror sequel, you have to be impressed.

3) Evan Almighty
Plot- A man claiming to be a god instructs Congressman Evan Baxter to build an ark in anticipation of a flood. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Tom Shadyac (Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Nutty Professor, Liar Liar, Patch Adams, Dragonfly, Bruce Almighty)

Written by- Steve Oedekerk (High Strung, Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls, The Nutty Professor, Nothing to Lose, Patch Adams, Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, Kung Pow: Enter the Fist, Bruce Almighty, Barnyard)

Starring- Steve Carell, Morgan Freeman, Lauren Graham, Johnny Simmons, Graham Phillips, Jimmy Bennett, John Goodman, Wanda Sykes, John Michael Higgins, Jonah Hill, Molly Shannon

Movieguy’s Verdict- With a $175 million budget, this film was the most expensive comedy ever made. Aside from a decent chunk of money for on-set animal control, I have no conceivable idea where 80% of that money went. In any sense, there was nothing funny about this film. The characters and writing were among the absolute worst of the year. Steve Carell is a natural comedic genius, but no one alive could have made material this dreadful worth watching. To be honest, watching Carell labor through each excruciating scene was quite depressing. One tired, corny and clichéd scene after another left me cringing, in constant fear of a Tim Allen cameo. This was a truly awful film, which combined the horribleness of “The Shaggy Dog” and “Click.” Horrible performances, a total lack of humor and relentless corniness made one of the top five worst films of the year.

4) Surf’s Up
Plot- A behind-the-scenes look at the annual sporting event: The Penguin World Surfing Championship. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Ash Brannon (Toy Story 2), Chris Buck (Tarzan)

Written by- Lisa Addario (Lover Girl), Christian Darren, Don Rhymer (Carpool, Big Momma’s House, The Santa Clause 2, Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London, The Honeymooners, Big Momma’s House 2, Deck the Halls), Joe Syracuse (Lover Girl)

Starring- Shia LaBeouf, Jeff Bridges, Zooey Deschanel, Jon Heder, James Woods, Diedrich Bader

Movieguy’s Verdict- It’s been a while since any kid’s movies have come out, and since most of them are utterly unwatchable, it was a pleasant surprise that this film broke the mold. The film’s creativity and energy was enjoyably refreshing. I absolutely loved the documentary style of the film, as well as Ash Brannon and Chris Buck’s editing style, which enhanced the characters and the film itself. Shia LaBeouf, Jeff Bridges and others contributed great personality and talent with their vocal performances, leaving the film with a very genuine feel. Even Jon Heder was good, which isn’t something I’m able to often say. Like most children’s films, this culminated with a corny action climax that really didn’t need to be there, but in the end it succeeded as a fun summer film, not merely a children’s film.

5) Rise: Blood Hunter
Plot- After she wakes up in a morgue and discovers she’s now one of the undead, reporter Sadie Blake hunts for the people responsible for her death and rebirth. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Sebastian Gutierrez (Director of: Judas Kiss; Writer of: Gothika, The Big Bounce, Snakes on a Plane)

Starring- Lucy Liu, Michael Chiklis, Carla Gugino, James D’Arcy, Robert Forster

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film had all of the quality of a straight-to-DVD teen horror film, yet somehow it managed to include talented adult actors who were, not surprisingly, awful. It makes sense that the film was written AND directed by Sebastian Gutierrez, one of the mentally deficient losers responsible for “Snakes on a Plane,” one of the most deplorable mainstream films of the last decade. With this film, you get all of the standard teen horror qualities, like terrible writing, corny special effects and extreme predictability, but the added disappointment of watching good actors waste their time.

6) Tara Road
Plot- Two women — one American, one Irish — swap houses and alter the course of their lives. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Gillies MacKinnon (The Playboys, A Simple Twist of Fate, Small Faces, Trojan Eddie, Regeneration, Hideous Kinky, The Escapist, Pure)

Written by- Cynthia Cidre (Fires Within, The Mambo Kings), Shane Connaughton (Every Picture Tells a Story, My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown, O Mary This London, The Run of the Country)

Starring- Andie MacDowell, Olivia Williams, Stephen Rea, Iain Glen, Jean-Marc Barr, Brenda Fricker

Movieguy’s Verdict- Gillies MacKinnon has directed some odd films over the years, but this one has to be the most watered down and emotionally clichéd of his career. If you’ve seen “The Holiday,” you’ve seen this film. This was made first, so technically, “The Holiday” was an exact replica of it, but with a bigger cast. Regardless, the film really had little to offer. Andie MacDowell was a poor choice for her role, but the lovable Olivia Williams played hers wonderfully. The film was horribly predictable, clichéd and emotionally unrealistic, but most of the acting was reasonably believable. If you’ve seen “The Holiday,” you’ve already seen this film, but the truth is, you don’t need to watch either film.
——-

10-3-07

1) 1408
Plot- Robert Enslin, a debunker of paranormal occurrences, encounters genuine terror after he checks into the Dolphin Hotel’s legendary room 1408. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Mikael Håfström (Derailed)

Written by- Matt Greenberg (The Killing Box, The Prophecy II, Halloween H20: 20 Years Later, Allied Forces, Reign of Fire), Scott Alexander (Problem Child, Problem Child 2, Ed Wood, The People vs. Larry Flynt, That Darn Cat, Man on the Moon, Screwed, Agent Cody Banks), Larry Karaszewski (Problem Child, Problem Child 2, Ed Wood, The People vs. Larry Flynt, That Darn Cat, Man on the Moon, Screwed, Agent Cody Banks)

Starring- John Cusack, Samuel L. Jackson, Mary McCormack, Jasmine Jessica Anthony

Movieguy’s Verdict- A large percentage of Stephen King films have great characters and creative plots, but their endings are so horrendously poor they leave a sour taste in your mouth, all but nullifying the film’s many good qualities. As usual, this was the case here. Before King’s trademark poorly constructed, anti-climactic ending, the quickly developing story built suspense nicely, and paved the way for a strong performance from John Cusack, who fit his part wonderfully. Director Mikael Håfström created a surreal, suspenseful and often terrifying world that was as bizarre as it was deeply subliminal. He captured the minimalism and paranoia of the story very well, paving the way for a well-written, psychologically taut screenplay. Bad ending and all, it was still one crazy ride.

2) Jindabyne
Plot- Three men on a fishing trip discover an Aboriginal girl’s dead body. And when they continue their retreat as planned, only reporting their find when they return home, they have to face their shocked families and scandalized community. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Ray Lawrence (Lantana)

Written by- Beatrix Christian

Starring- Laura Linney, Gabriel Byrne, Chris Haywood, Simon Stone

Movieguy’s Verdict- “Lantana,” Ray Lawrence’s first movie, took a very small group of ideas, combined the intense psychological battles of the characters to make a beautiful, exacting and tragic film experience. His latest work clearly tried to accomplish exactly that, but failed painfully. Aside from consistent visual beauty from Lawrence, this was a film without any substance whatsoever. Obviously lacking a story of any kind, Beatrix Christian’s screenplay gave the audience no reason to care about the characters, whose personal demons should have driven the film to remarkable success. Laura Linney and Gabriel Byrne were perfectly cast, and despite giving what could technically be classified as excellent performances, were all but forgotten in the inexcusable dullness and total lack of character development that was this tremendously disappointing film.

3) Civic Duty
Plot- A downsized accountant becomes obsessed with the idea that the Muslim student next door is a terrorist. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Jeff Renfroe

Written by- Andrew Joiner

Starring- Peter Krause, Khaled Abol Naga, Richard Schiff, Kari Matchett, Ian Tracey

Movieguy’s Verdict- I suppose you could look at this film two ways. Firstly, you could describe it as a racist vigilante film which could very easily be propaganda for the Bush administration. Or, you could describe it as a common man’s reaction to the ever-present fear, and constant paranoia that is so often the result of the American news media’s incessant coverage of violence and terrorism. Honestly, I think it’s both. Jeff Renfroe’s direction captured the paranoia and steadily evolving obsessions of the main character with style, and Peter Krause provided a solid lead performance. Andrew Joiner’s writing was a bit too simplistic for a film which was supposed be a psychological thriller. However, his writing did not lack quality, though some might not be amused with its elevated levels of racism and stereotyping. I’d like to give this film an N/A rating simply for that, but it was a well-acted and generally suspenseful low budget thriller, which should, technically speaking, count for something.

4) Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer
Plot- The Fantastic Four face two severe threats: the arrival of the enigmatic Silver Surfer, who has come to Earth with a planetary destruction in mind, and the return of their main nemesis. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Tim Story (One of Us Tripped, The Firing Squad, Barbershop, Taxi, Fantastic Four)

Written by- Don Payne (My Super Ex-Girlfriend), Mark Frost (The Believers, Scared Stiff, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me, Storyville, Fantastic Four, The Greatest Game Ever Played)

Starring- Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis, Julian McMahon, Kerry Washington, Andre Braugher, Laurence Fishburne, Doug Jones, Beau Garrett, Zach Grenier

Movieguy’s Verdict- It’s interesting because my review of this film is almost identical to my review of the first installment. I guess no one learned from their mistakes. Perhaps the best feature of this film was Chris Evans, who seemed to provide the perfect amount of humor without seeming corny or forced, unlike the rest of the film. Essentially, the film turned out to be a very typical Hollywood action film with corny dialogue, cheesy action music and a strong feeling of overall cheesiness. Much like the first film, there was basically no story. The action sequences, specifically ones involving the Silver Surfer, were supposed to drive the film, but Laurence Fishburne’s putrid vocal performance all but ruined those scenes, which were clichéd enough already. On the other hand, visual effects were excellent, and acting was generally acceptable for the genre, but with no story of any kind and poor writing, little else was enjoyable here.
——-

9-26-07

1) Bug
Plot- A Gulf War vet turned drifter holes up with a woman in hiding in her seedy motel room. However, they soon discover tiny creatures living in their skin. (imdb.com)

Directed by- William Friedkin (The Birthday Party, The Night They Raided Minsky’s, The Boys in the Band, The French Connection, The Exorcist, Sorcerer, The Brink’s Job, Cruising, Deal of the Century, To Live and Die in L.A., Rampage, The Guardian, Blue Chips, Jade, Rules of Engagement, The Hunted)

Written by- Tracy Letts

Starring- Ashley Judd, Michael Shannon, Harry Connick Jr.

Movieguy’s Verdict- William Friedkin is back with a horror film that will stand the test of time. This tale of extreme paranoia was the most potent display of intensity and minimalism I have seen in quite some time. Powerhouse performances from Michael Shannon and Ashely Judd drove the film, but certainly one cannot look past Friedkin’s visceral, mysterious and contrastingly delicate direction. Friedkin developed the film and its levels of intensity very gradually, following the psychological states of the characters with precision. In his screenplay, Tracy Letts succeeded in his objective of depicting fear and paranoia at their most primal levels. The thought and detail Letts put into his characters was extraordinary, which was further accentuated by nomination-worthy performances from Shannon and Judd. This basically unknown film absolutely has to be seen.

2) Knocked Up
Plot- After a one night stand, a man and a woman who barely know each other realize they will be having a baby together.

Written and Directed by- Judd Apatow (Writer of: Celtic Pride, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Fun with Dick and Jane; Director of: The 40-Year-Old Virgin)

Starring- Seth Rogen, Katherine Heigl, Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann, Jason Segel, Jay Baruchel, Jonah Hill, Martin Starr, Charlyne Yi, Iris Apatow, Maude Apatow, Joanna Kerns, Harold Ramis

Movieguy’s Verdict- You just can’t say enough about one of the funniest films of the year, and quite possibly the pinnacle of Judd Apatow’s reign as the king of comedy. Prior to this film, Seth Rogan had not been tested in a leading role, but succeeded admirably, bringing great charisma and remarkable humor value to the film, which had no trouble being hilarious. The supporting performances were fantastic as well, which was paramount to the film’s success. I don’t know the ratio of improvisation compared to the actual screenplay, but the result was a consistently hysterical experience of many unique personalities and genuine real world relatability. What’s more, Apatow wrote so well about relationships, which is a dynamic often lost in a Hollywood comedy with so much pressure to deliver non-stop laughs. This was a wonderful achievement from all involved, and is a must-see.

3) Evening
Plot- A dying woman reflects on the time in her youth when she met the love of her life as her two daughters wrestle with their mother’s impending death, and their own issues. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Lajos Koltai (Fateless)

Written by- Susan Minot (Stealing Beauty), Michael Cunningham (A Home at the End of the World)

Starring- Claire Danes, Toni Collette, Vanessa Redgrave, Patrick Wilson, Hugh Dancy, Natasha Richardson, Mamie Gummer, Eileen Atkins, Meryl Streep, Glenn Close, Barry Bostwick

Movieguy’s Verdict- I cannot even begin to count the ways in which this film failed. Not only was it unbearably boring, totally lacking in story, substance or characters of any sort, but it managed to completely neutralize and ultimately demean the talents of an enormous cast. Because it offered no story whatsoever, but was intended to be tender and emotional, each scene was painfully forced and unnatural. The writing contained profound snippets about love, but nothing in the film evoked any sort of real emotion. Furthermore, the characters were often irrational and mostly absurd to watch. Lajos Koltai’s direction was bland and uninspired, much like the rest of the film. None of the performances were worth mentioning, which in itself is a testament to how bad the film was. The film was painfully long, droning on and on in a unending, monotonous loop. I couldn’t believe how bad this film was, but I hope no one has the misfortune of finding out for themselves.

4) Next
Plot- Cornered by the FBI after a relentless pursuit, a man with the ability to see future events and effect their outcome faces an ultimatum, as the country’s intelligence agencies scramble to prevent a devastating terrorist attack. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Lee Tamahori (Once Were Warriors, Mulholland Falls, The Edge, Along Came a Spider, Die Another Day, xXx: State of the Union)

Written by- Gary Goldman (Big Trouble in Little China, Total Recall, Navy Seals), Jonathan Hensleigh (A Far Off Place, Die Hard: With a Vengeance, Jumanji, The Saint, Armageddon, The Punisher), Paul Bernbaum (Family Plan, Hollywoodland)

Starring- Nicolas Cage, Julianne Moore, Jessica Biel, Thomas Kretschmann, Tory Kittle, José Zúñiga, Jim Beaver

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film was a disappointment for a variety of reasons, the most noticeable of which being the waste of a good Philip K. Dick story, and the waste of a talented cast. Nicolas Cage fit his character nicely, and could have succeeded, but was hung out to dry by Lee Tamahori’s unimaginative and visually pitiful direction. The film was also hurt by a screenplay that dumbed down Dick’s intelligence and wit into nothing more than a goofy Hollywood action/romance. Given Tamahori’s Hollywood background and obvious lack of talent, he was clearly the last person who should have directed the film. Julianne Moore and Thomas Kretschmann were worthless in poorly written characters, neither of whom really fit into the misguided story. In the end, the film didn’t accomplish anything and never really went anywhere. The rating is high for the potential it had, and a strong main character, but it had little else to offer.

5) Splinter
Plot- A gang member, suffering from severe memory loss, searches for his brother’s murderer. He secretly enlists the aid of the investigating Detective, while other members of his gang are mysteriously and sadistically murdered. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Michael D. Olmos

Written by- Enrique Almeida, Adrian Cruz, Michael D. Olmos

Starring- Tom Sizemore, Resmine Atis, Ivonne Coll, Enrique Almeida, Noel Gugliemi, Edward James Olmos, Dallas Page, Delilah Cotto, Emilio Rivera, Adam Rodriguez, Hector Atreyu Ruiz

Movieguy’s Verdict- Michael D. Olmos surprised me with the ruggedness and style his visual choices brought to the film. Without his contribution, this film would have been unwatchable. Tom Sizemore’s performance was over the top in most scenes, while Resmine Atis was a fish out of water, totally miscast and horribly lacking in talent. Of course, it didn’t help that their characters were horribly written. Enrique Almeida gave probably the only noteworthy performance of the film. The story started out as a basic mystery, but got worse and worse as the film evolved to its nonsensical ending. I’d like to see Michael D. Olmos direct a film in which his visual talents actually make a difference, because other than his direction, there wasn’t much to like about this film.
——-

9-19-07

1) Lucky You
Plot- Professional card player Huck Cheever tries to beat the odds (and his own demons) at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Curtis Hanson (In Her Shoes, 8 Mile, Wonder Boys, L.A. Confidential, The River Wild, The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, Bad Influence, The Bedroom Window, Losin?It, The Little Dragons, Sweet Kill)

Written by- Eric Roth (The Nickel Ride, Suspect, Memories of Me, Mr. Jones, Forrest Gump, The Postman, The Horse Whisperer, The Insider, Ali, Munich, The Good Shepard), Curtis Hanson

Starring- Eric Bana, Drew Barrymore, Robert Duvall, Debra Messing, Horatio Sanz, Jean Smart, Robert Downey Jr.

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film was shot at the height of the poker craze, where it was all the rage to simply watch people play poker for hours on ESPN. That fad has died down considerably, so a film which offered little more than watching a man gamble has no appeal today, despite the accuracy with which it portrayed the vicious cycle of ups and downs gamblers endure. Eric Bana provided a strong performance, playing a character who had potential, but no support whatsoever from the wafer thin story that ultimately went nowhere. Drew Barrymore’s character was irrational at times, functioning as little more than scenery. The authenticity of Curtis Hanson’s direction shouldn’t be ignored, but neither should the film’s steadily increasing level of dullness. Topping off this poorly planned project was a cheesy and misplaced attempt at symbolism, proving that technical excellence and a solid lead performance cannot replace a non-existent story.

2) Severance
Plot- A woodsy retreat turns deadly for a group of people employed by an international weapons manufacturer, as enemies of their trade come calling. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Christopher Smith (Creep)

Written by- James Moran, Christopher Smith

Starring- Danny Dyer, Laura Harris, Tim McInnerny, Andy Nyman

Movieguy’s Verdict- The horror/comedy genre is quite possibly the worst genre in film industry. It is infested with such an overwhelming amount of corniness and pathetically immature writing, that any creativity it may feature is interpreted as nothing more than childish and disingenuous. This film’s main problem was its ridiculous and poorly written characters, who didn’t come close to bringing the slightest sense of authenticity to the film. Though there were moments of smart humor, no one could possibly refer to this as a comedy, and it obviously couldn’t function as a horror film either. James Moran and Christopher Smith managed to make the film as clichéd and predictable as a teen horror film with their awful writing. With a horribly trite story that was both predictable and corny, this is a film to avoid.

3) Brooklyn Rules
Plot- Brooklyn, 1985. With the mob world as a backdrop, three life-long friends struggle with questions of love, loss and loyalty. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Michael Corrente (A Shot at Glory, Outside Providence, American Buffalo, Federal Hill)

Written by- Terence Winter (Get Rich or Die Tryin’)

Starring- Freddie Prinze Jr., Scott Caan, Mena Suvari, Alec Baldwin, Jerry Ferrara, Monica Keena, Robert Turano

Movieguy’s Verdict- Strong performances were this film’s only redeeming quality. Freddie Prinze Jr., Scott Caan, Jerry Ferrara and Alec Baldwin should be praised for adding personality and feeling to characters who were inserted into a story so flat and uneventful that, until the last two minutes, it had no meaning or value whatsoever. Apparently, director Michael Corrente was attempting to make the film into some kind of coming-of-age story, but his rambling narrative and total lack of motivation (until the last two minutes), showed that he clearly has no concept of storytelling or character development. Other than solid acting, the film lacked merit of any kind, and should be disregarded.

4) The Condemned
Plot- As Joe Conrad awaits the death penalty in a Central American prison, he’s purchased by a TV producer and transported to a remote island where a 10-person, fight-to-the-death battle is to be staged and broadcast online. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Scott Wiper (A Better Way to Die)

Written by- Scott Wiper (A Better Way to Die), Rob Hedden (Clockstoppers)

Starring- Steve Austin, Vinnie Jones, Rick Hoffman, Robert Mammone, Tory Mussett, Christopher Baker, Sam Healy, Madeleine West, Luke Pegler, Masa Yamaguchi, Emelia Burns, Manu Bennett, Dasi Ruz, Marcus Johnson, Nathan Jones, Andy McPhee

Movieguy’s Verdict- The final star rating for this WWE Films production was a complete surprise, much like some of its good qualities. Realistic performances could be found from a few of the supporting actors, especially Robert Mammone. However, the presence of Steve Austin made it very difficult to even attempt to take the film seriously. The film had good levels of realism in its story, as well as an extremely violent and psychologically brutal underbelly. Scott Wiper’s direction wasn’t bad exactly; it just lacked creativity and featured a number of poorly choreographed fight scenes. What’s more, it became cornier and cornier down the stretch, inching to a predictable finish. Without Austin, the film had a chance at a better result, but the corniness and awful clichés associated with his ridiculous character, combined with his total lack of talent, turned a good concept into an overly macho joke.

5) We Are Marshall
Plot- When a plane crash claims the lives of the Marshall University football team athletes and some of its fans, the team’s new coach, his surviving players, and the school’s dean try to keep the program alive. (imdb.com)

Directed by- McG (Charlie’s Angels, Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle)

Written by- Jamie Linden

Starring- Matthew McConaughey, Matthew Fox, Anthony Mackie, David Strathairn, Ian McShane, Kate Mara, January Jones, Kimberly Williams

Movieguy’s Verdict- This, like this week’s “Gracie,” was a very by-the-numbers sports film. There were no surprises here, I suppose, other than the artful and poignant way director McG executed the film’s pivotal plane crash sequence and the tragedy that followed. The rest of the film was predictable and very Hollywood, combining the customary blend of motivational speeches, montages and clichés. Matthew McConaughey was a very good choice for his role, as he brought energy and charisma to the part, though given the subject matter and his personality, that wasn’t a difficult task. A solid supporting performance was given by Anthony Mackie, but all of the other talented actors were disappointingly forgettable. Though the production value was high, and it did well to capture the pain of real life tragedy, it was merely a copy of all other Hollywood sports movies.

6) Gracie
Plot- Set in the late ?0s, a New Jersey girl fights to play on the boys varsity soccer team. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Davis Guggenheim (An Inconvenient Truth)

Written by- Lisa Marie Petersen, Karen Janszen (A Walk to Remember, Duma, Digging to China, The MatchMaker, Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home)

Starring- Carly Schroeder, Andrew Shue, Elisabeth Shue, Dermot Mulroney

Movieguy’s Verdict- In the end, this was a very typical sports movie. It featured all of the usual characters, moral hurdles and clichés that make so much of this genre instantly forgettable. A strong performance from Carly Schroeder carried the film as far or possibly farther than its clichés and predictability should have allowed. She emphasized the pain and confusion of her character well, and did her best to carry the tone of the film farther than that of the usual sports movie. Dermot Mulroney’s great supporting role was also noteworthy. Davis Guggenheim’s direction highlighted the film’s somber moments well, as did Mark Isham’s wonderful score. However, long periods of embarrassingly stupid and repetitive writing swiftly countered those effects. You’ve seen this film a thousand times, so don’t waste your time.

7) Closure
Plot- After surviving a gang attack, a middle-class couple plot their revenge. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Dan Reed (Shooters)

Starring- Gillian Anderson, Danny Dyer

Movieguy’s Verdict- Gillian Anderson never made much of an effort to have a film career after “The X-Files.” Though she’s been good in small roles over the years, her exaggerated and clearly forced performance in this role showed that carrying a film is not her strong suit. This film was basically supposed to be a revenge film, but Dan Reed did nothing in his writing or direction to establish the characters or why we should care about them. Running just over 90 minutes, the film’s dullness and total lack of emotional pull made it feel like three hours. Sealing the film’s fate was its horribly written villains, who were nothing short of laughable. If you’re looking for a good independent film this week, this isn’t it.
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9-12-07

1) Away from Her
Plot- A man coping with the institutionalization of his wife because of Alzheimer’s disease faces an epiphany when she transfers her affections to another man, Aubrey, a wheel chair-bound mute who also is a patient at the nursing home. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Sarah Polley

Starring- Gordon Pinsent, Julie Christie, Olympia Dukakis, Alberta Watson, Grace Lynn Kung

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film accomplished so many wonderful things that it was almost easy to forget the guaranteed Oscar nomination coming to the film’s co-star, Julie Christie. Her performance was as rich and passionate as any Oscar-nominated performance in any year. While such brilliance could easily overshadow any film, Sarah Polley’s sublime, simple and engrossing direction gave the film’s appearance the tragic beauty of Christie’s unforgettable performance. The film’s only flaw came from Gordon Pinsent, whose stoicism hampered the film’s emotional pull at certain crucial moments. What’s more, his character was under-developed in comparison to the other characters. Regardless, this is a must-see film.

2) Even Money
Plot- A drama that brings together nine people whose lives are threatened by a common theme: gambling addiction. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Mark Rydell (The Fox, The Reivers, The Cowboys, Cinderella Liberty, Harry and Walter Go to New York, The Rose, On Golden Pond, The River, For the Boys, Intersection)

Written by- Robert Tannen

Starring- Kim Basinger, Danny DeVito, Kelsey Grammer, Nick Cannon, Ray Liotta, Forest Whitaker, Carla Gugino, Grant Sullivan, Jay Mohr, Cassandra Hepburn

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film can be compared in almost every way to the recently released DVD “Slow Burn.” Both tried to be slick, clever and intelligent, taking multiple characters and stories and attempting to blend them together to form a bigger mystery. The result, in both cases, was a rambling, plotless, dull mess. A huge cast was wasted in both films, each coincidentally featuring Ray Liotta in a throwaway role. Forest Whitaker was over-the-top in most scenes, though Danny DeVito, Tim Roth and Jay Mohr were good, accounting for the film’s only positive features. The film’s shockingly empty screenplay was as uninteresting as anything you could imagine. Topped off with a horribly miscast Kelsey Grammer, this vacuous waste of talent achieved nothing and should not be watched.

3) The Boys & Girls Guide to Getting Down
Plot- This film attempts to function as a comical guide which helps people who party non-stop avoid many of its legal, physical and financial pitfalls.

Written and Directed by- Paul Sapiano

Starring- Cricket Leigh, Kat Turner, Natalie Taylor, Dominque Purdy, Benny Ciaramello, Steve Monroe, Michael FitzGibbon, Leyla Razzari

Movieguy’s Verdict- If one of the worst titles of the year didn’t give it away, the blunt stupidity of this film made it absolutely impossible to watch. Interestingly enough, the film had no characters or any discernable plot, other than its intention of showing human beings behaving with as much immaturity as possible, kind of like “Jackass.” The film was intended as a comedy, and was structured like “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.” As a result, some of its observations couldn’t help but be funny. Still, the film’s stupidity, plus the nails-on-a-chalkboard sensation evoked by the incessantly uttered phrase “getting down,” makes this a failed experiment I wouldn’t wish on anyone.
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9-5-07

1) Georgia Rule
Plot- A rebellious young woman is hauled off by her mom for a summer with her grandmother. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Garry Marshall (The Flamingo Kid, Nothing in Common, Overboard, Beaches, The Lottery, Pretty Woman, Frankie and Johnny, Exit to Eden, The Other Sister, Runaway Bride, The Princess Diaries, Raising Helen, The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement)

Written by- Mark Andrus (Late for Dinner, As Good as It Gets, Life as a House, Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood)

Starring- Jane Fonda, Lindsay Lohan, Felicity Huffman, Dermot Mulroney, Cary Elwes, Garrett Hedlund, Hector Elizondo, Dylan McLaughlin, Zachary Gordon, Laurie Metcalf

Movieguy’s Verdict- With all of Lindsay Lohan’s problems unfolding in the past year, it’s no surprise that every movie fan alive wanted this film to fail miserably. As ridiculous as her antics are, they should not stop this film from being viewed as a well-written, well-acted family drama with good characters and solid performances from Lohan, Jane Fonda and Dermot Mulroney. Although, Felicity Huffman managed to outshine her co-stars with a dynamic and troubled performance. Mark Andrus did well to create a layered and psychologically intelligent screenplay. His characters were created to function as a single unit, as the film wasn’t really about one specific character. While this dynamic was excellent, the film never seemed to pack the emotional pull it needed. Also, Garry Marshall’s direction never truly matched the mood of the writing. As the film reached its conclusion, it became somewhat dull and perhaps a little too Lifetime, which was ultimately insulting to the characters and the story. Nevertheless, it was a solid, more than watchable film.

2) I’m Reed Fish
Plot- Reed Fish’s life turns into chaos when a high school crush returns to Mud Meadows on the eve of his marriage to the small town’s sweetheart. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Zackary Adler

Written by- Reed Fish

Starring- Jay Baruchel, Alexis Bledel, Schuyler Fisk, Victor Rasuk, DJ Qualls, A.J. Cook, Katey Sagal, Chris Parnell

Movieguy’s Verdict- In many ways, this film was a very typical coming-of-age story. Its themes and storylines were somewhat basic, and it really didn’t explore much beyond the surface of the characters. However, the film was structured in such a way that its ingenuity, creativity and genuinely likable personality made seem much more meaningful than it actually was. The film thrived on the performance of Jay Baruchel, whose presence and charisma made his somewhat bland character a pleasure to watch. He was aided by strong supporting performances from Alexis Bledel, Schuyler Fisk and Victor Rasuk. Perhaps a more involved screenplay would have turned this into a more meaningful film, but it succeeded in places many films of its kind weren’t able to.

3) Delta Farce
Plot- Three slacker soldiers are accidentally dropped out of their plane on their way to Iraq. They think they’re actually in Iraq when in fact they’re in Mexico.

Directed by- C.B. Harding (Blue Collar Comedy Tour: The Movie)

Written by- Bear Aderhold, Tom Sullivan

Starring- Larry The Cable Guy, Bill Engvall, DJ Qualls, Keith David, Danny Trejo

Movieguy’s Verdict- What moron decided it would be a good idea to give Larry the Cable Guy yet another movie? After “Health Inspector” I thought it couldn’t get any worse, but being subjected to this piece of garbage really makes you reexamine your value system. Not only was the acting abominable, the writing lacked even the most rudimentary humor value. The fledgling attempts at political humor were quite painful to sit through, much like the film in general, which was so infantile I could only assume it was written by first graders who were still struggling through the intricacies of phonics. This film was essentially identical to “Health Inspector,” which was rightfully one of the worst films of last year. Obviously, this will be one of the worst films of this year come December. If Larry continues to make films, he’ll end up with more titles in the bottom 100 of imdb.com than anyone alive. I think it’s good to have a goal you can achieve.

4) Wind Chill
Plot- Two college students share a ride home for the holidays. When they break down on a deserted stretch of road, they’re preyed upon by the ghosts of people who have died there. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Gregory Jacobs (Criminal)

Written by- Joe Gangemi, Steven Katz (Shadow of the Vampire)

Starring- Emily Blunt, Ashton Holmes, Martin Donovan, Ned Bellamy, Ian A. Wallace

Movieguy’s Verdict- With the talent that this film had at its disposal- Oscar-winning filmmakers George Clooney and Steven Soderbergh produced, and brilliant composer Clint Mansell scored the film- it had no right to be so moronic. Despite a remarkably high production value and a story which began with a wonderfully dark and eerie quality, a very poorly conceived screenplay turned violently corny in the blink of an eye. Though the performances of Emily Blunt and Ashton Holmes were technically solid, Blunt, whose actual age is 23, looks 30 and has no business playing a college student. In the grand scheme of this film’s failures though, I’d say that was on the bottom of the list. Director Gregory Jacobs crafted the visual side of the film very well, but his abilities, much like the rest of the film’s talent and potential, were ruined by a story that should have never been made into a movie.

5) Steel Toes
Plot- After being arrested for beating a Pakastani man to death, a neo-Nazi skinhead is defended by a Jewish lawyer who tries to show him a world beyond his hatred.

Directed by- Mark Adam, David Gow

Written by- David Gow

Starring- David Strathairn, Andrew W. Walker, Ivan Smith, Marina Orsini

Movieguy’s Verdict- It’s easy to tell that this film was basically a copy of “American History X,” but its intelligent and profound messages were often overshadowed by an inconsistent performance from Andrew W. Walker. Walker looked the part, but his abilities appeared to be lacking at the most crucial moments. The film was well-written and nicely paced, though one subplot in particular should have been eliminated. David Strathairn’s performance was outstanding, as he was ultimately forced to carry the film when Walker’s performance broke down. The film’s minimalism and strong emotional pull went a long way in making it memorable, but it still felt too much like a rough draft for its own good.

6) Bobby Z
Plot- Tim Kearney, an incarcerated former Marine, is offered freedom by a DEA agent in exchange for impersonating a recently-deceased drug lord. Things don’t go as planned, however, and Kearney ends up on the run with the drug lord’s 6-year-old son.

Directed by- John Herzfeld (Two of a Kind, 2 Days in the Valley, 15 Minutes)

Written by- Bob Krakower, Allen Lawrence

Starring- Paul Walker, Laurence Fishburne, Jason Flemyng, Joaquim de Almeida, Olivia Wilde

Movieguy’s Verdict- Paul Walker’s goofiness was supposed to be the energy and core of this ridiculous film, but actually it turned out to be the main reason it was so absurd. The story itself wasn’t bad- just unoriginal. In its execution however, nothing about the film held up against the most basic analysis or criticism. John Herzfeld tried his hardest to make the film into some kind of Hollywood action/comedy, but the harder he tried to be comical or exciting, the more moronic and corny the film became. Walker and the rest of the cast were impossible to take seriously in their exaggerated roles. Laurence Fishburne was actually on the cusp of a good performance, but the corniness of the writing ruined this. Just remember, this film went straight to DVD for a reason.
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8-29-07

1) Year of the Dog
Plot- A secretary’s life changes in unexpected ways after her dog dies. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Mike White (Dead Man on Campus, Chuck & Buck, Orange County, The Good Girl, The School of Rock, Nacho Libre)

Starring- Molly Shannon, Laura Dern, Regina King, Thomas McCarthy, Josh Pais, John C. Reilly, Peter Sarsgaard

Movieguy’s Verdict- If you take an overview of this film and its ultimate message, it really was an emotionally profound and truly unique experience. However, watching the film unfold piece by piece was a different story all together. Molly Shannon played her part beautifully, incorporating her character’s self-consciousness and lifetime of insecurities with precision and delicacy. Mike White should be commended on the wonderful characters he created, but criticized with equal measure for his utter lack of follow through in the film’s often stagnant and wandering plot. Though the last five minutes powerfully captured everything White wished to say, a substantial amount of the film was frittered away on characters and random plot developments that went nowhere. Additionally, plenty of quality supporting performances were wasted in what was ultimately a very disappointing film.

2) Blades of Glory
Plot- In 2002, two rival Olympic ice skaters were stripped of their gold medals and permanently banned from men’s single competition. Fast forward to the present day, where the duo has found a loophole that will allow them to qualify as a pairs team. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Josh Gordon, Will Speck

Written by- Jeff Cox, Craig Cox

Starring- Will Ferrell, Jon Heder, Will Arnett, Amy Poehler, Jenna Fischer, William Fichtner, Craig T. Nelson, Romany Malco, Nick Swardson and various cameos

Movieguy’s Verdict- While the trailers for this film almost guaranteed ample amounts of stupidity and flat humor, the result was surprising at times, but still painful to endure. A cast of big names, great comedic talents, and Jon Heder were given plenty of opportunities, but the blatant stupidity of the plot stifled their talent to some degree. Will Arnett and Amy Poehler were startlingly dysfunctional together, and Nick Swardson was hilarious as always. Randomly funny dialogue delivered by Will Ferrell in that special way he delivers random dialogue was really the extent of the film’s humor value. Jon Heder, in all his dullness, once again delivered a horribly weak performance. Lastly, watching Heder and Ferrell pretend to pretend to not know how to skate was truly a punishing experience that no one should have to sit through. Be sure to avoid this dud.

3) Kickin’ it Old Skool
Plot- In 1986, a young breakdancer hits his head during a talent show, sending him into a coma for twenty years. When he awakens, with the mindset of a 12-year-old, he looks to rally his old dance teammates and revive their short-lived careers. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Harvey Glazer

Written by- Trace Slobotkin (Serial Killing 4 Dummys and many reality TV shows), Josh Siegal, Dylan Morgan

Starring- Jamie Kennedy, Maria Menounos, Miguel A. Núñez Jr., Michael Rosenbaum, Christopher McDonald, Debra Jo Rupp, Bobby Lee, Aris Alvarado, Alan Ruck, Jesse Brown, Stuart Stone, Vivica A. Fox, David Hasselhoff

Movieguy’s Verdict- This could be one of the worst concepts in the history of cinema. There’s a reason that parachute pants and M.C. Hammer went out of style and only reappear as the punch-line of a joke involving a farm animal walking into a bar. What’s more, it stars Jamie Kennedy, the man who carries failure everywhere on his pasty little shoulders. As brutal as the writing and acting really were, the infantile nature of the “characters” themselves were even more insulting. The film somehow achieved a level of stupidity no other film has achieved- not even “Snakes on a Plane.” Not surprisingly, in this alleged dancing movie, none of the “characters” actually danced. I really had to pinch myself while watching, because it was simply too hard to believe the film was real.
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8-22-07

1) Perfect Stranger
Plot- A journalist goes undercover to prove that businessman Harrison Hill is her best friend’s killer. Posing as one of his temps, she enters into a dangerous game of deception. (imdb.com)

Directed by- James Foley (Reckless, At Close Range, Who’s That Girl?, After Dark, My Sweet, Glengarry Glen Ross, Two Bits, Fear, The Chamber, The Corruptor, Confidence)

Written by- Todd Komarnicki

Starring- Halle Berry, Bruce Willis, Giovanni Ribisi, Richard Portnow, Gary Dourdan, Florencia Lozano, Nicki Aycox, Paula Miranda

Movieguy’s Verdict- It was a treat to watch the way James Foley crafted this film. His old fashioned mystery/thriller style was perfectly suited for the film’s plot, and enhanced many of its darker qualities. The film was intriguing and moved well through its many twists and turns. While some were predictable, there were plenty of surprises as well. Halle Berry certainly won’t be nominated for any Oscars for her work here, but her performance was her best since “Monster’s Ball,” though that’s really not saying much. She brought good intensity to the role, and her chemistry with Bruce Willis and Giovanni Ribisi was key in the film’s success. Similarly, Willis and Ribisi never disappoint, and this film was no exception. The trailers for this film made it out to be a one-dimensional, by-the-numbers Hollywood fluff piece. Thankfully there was much more to it than that, which made for a very pleasant surprise.

2) Broken English
Plot- Nora Wilder is freaking out. Everyone around her is in a relationship, is married, or has children. Nora is in her thirties, alone with job she’s outgrown and a mother who constantly reminds her of it all. Not to mention her best friend Audrey’s “perfect marriage.” But after a series of disastrous dates, Nora unexpectedly meets Julien, a quirky Frenchman who opens her eyes to a lot more than love. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Zoe R. Cassavetes

Starring- Parker Posey, Drea de Matteo, Melvil Poupaud, Gena Rowlands, Peter Bogdanovich, Roy Thinnes, Michael Panes, Justin Theroux

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was a highly underrated film which provided an intelligent and passionate view of relationships and love. I’ve seen Parker Posey’s talent go to waste in a great many mediocre projects, but this was one of her best performances. Zoe R. Cassavetes directed beautifully with elegance and considerable grace, creating an emotional sincerity with every one of the film’s characters. Her screenplay was equally excellent. It was nicely structured and developed well, as the audience was given the opportunity to grow with Posey’s character. Drea de Matteo and Melvil Poupaud performed wonderfully in their supporting roles, and Justin Theroux made maximum impact with his small part. Of the great many films about relationships released each year, this was certainly among this year’s best.

3) The Ex
Plot- Slacker Tom Reilly is forced to work for his father-in-law after his wife steps away from her high-paying job in order to care for their new baby. The pressures at work and at home are bridged when Tom discovers his new co-worker has a history with his wife. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Jesse Peretz (First Love, Last Rites)

Written by- David Guion, Michael Handelman

Starring- Zach Braff, Amanda Peet, Jason Bateman, Charles Grodin, Mia Farrow, Lucian Maisel, Donal Logue, Amy Poehler, Fred Armisen, Bob Stephenson, Paul Rudd, Romany Malco, Amy Adams, John Benjamin Hickey

Movieguy’s Verdict- Zach Braff has made amazing strides in the indie film universe as an actor, writer and director, and he’s never experienced failure of any kind in his career- until now. I don’t know who actually thought this film would be funny, but that person was clearly working with limited intelligence. Braff, Amanda Peet and others were good fits for their parts, though dull characters and unimaginative writing resulted in forgettable performances from almost everyone. However, Jason Bateman provided the sole source of entertainment, carrying the film twice as far as it possibly could have gone without him. His offbeat sense of humor and impeccable comedic timing were the film’s saving grace, as well as its only noteworthy quality. Overall, the film was a breeding ground for wasted talent and a very corny, highly problematic story.

4) The Ultimate Gift
Plot- A privileged young man learns to rethink his life, thanks to a series of tasks his recently deceased grandfather has him accomplish as part of his inheritance. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Michael O. Sajbel (One Night with the King, The Ride, Power Play, Come the Morning)

Written by- Cheryl McKay

Starring- Drew Fuller, James Garner, Ali Hillis, Abigail Breslin, Lee Meriwether, Brian Dennehy, Mircea Monroe, Donna Cherry, D. David Morin

Movieguy’s Verdict- This fluff piece was distributed by a horrifically corny company called FoxFaith, which deals exclusively in straight-to-DVD caliber motivational and/or religious films. The problem with most of these films is that their unflinching desire to be heartwarming and inspirational creates quite the opposite effect, leaving them so insultingly disingenuous that they are practically unwatchable. This film is a prime example. You don’t even need to watch the first five minutes of the film to know exactly what happens- you can read the back of the DVD box for that. Performances were above average for a film of this kind, but its blatant predictability, clichéd characters and unimaginative writing made for a very painful experience which lasted two long hours.
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8-15-07

1) The Lookout
Plot- A once-promising high school athlete finds his life altered following a tragic accident. As he tries to maintain a normal life, he takes a job as a janitor at a bank, where he’s targeted by a crew of locals who are looking to pull off a heist. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Scott Frank (writer of: Dead Again, alice, Get Shorty, Out of Sight, Minority Report, Flight of the Phoenix, The Interpreter)

Starring- Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Jeff Daniels, Matthew Goode, Isla Fisher, Carla Gugino, Bruce McGill, Alberta Watson, Alex Borstein, Sergio Di Zio, David Huband, Laura Vandervoort

Movieguy’s Verdict- Though formulaic at times, this was a taut suspense / mystery film with fantastic psychological overtones and a small cast of excellent performances. Joseph Gordon-Levitt was wonderful, but this is no surprise if you’ve seen any of his other films. He thoroughly captured the many moods and gradual transformation of his character with a precise combination of delicacy and brute force. Jeff Daniels, Matthew Goode and Isla Fisher were excellent in their supporting roles as well. Scott Frank’s direction was perfect for the film’s somber and gradually intensifying mood. Additionally, his screenplay was engrossing and very well structured. While the ending was a tad predictable, this film should not be missed.

2) Fracture
Plot- A young assistant district attorney matches wits with a man who tried to kill his wife and evade sentencing via a series of technicalities. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Gregory Hoblit (Primal Fear, Fallen, Frequency, Hart’s War)

Written by- Daniel Pyne (Pacific Heights, The Hard Way, Doc Hollywood, White Sands, Where’s Marlowe?, Any Given Sunday, The Sum of All Fears, The Manchurian Candidate), Glenn Gers (The Accountant)

Starring- Ryan Gosling, Anthony Hopkins, David Strathairn, Rosamund Pike, Embeth Davidtz, Billy Burke, Cliff Curtis, Fiona Shaw, Bob Gunton, Josh Stamberg, Xander Berkeley

Movieguy’s Verdict- From the first scene, this film had a very Hollywood, overly polished feel that managed to detract from its wit and, over time, eroded its cleverness ever-so-slightly. It’s not often one of the best actors in the history of cinema and one of film’s best young actors go head-to-head, so watching Anthony Hopkins and Ryan Gosling trying to outsmart one another was a true delight. The film’s conversational dialogue was fantastically written and surprisingly hilarious at times. The film would have been much better without the useless romance between Gosling’s character and Rosamund Pike’s character. Her character was was very poorly conceived as well. The mystery of the intriguing plot sustained very nicely until its Hollywood ending. A more imaginative director than Gregory Hoblit would have helped take away the Hollywood gloss, but this was a smart, well-acted mystery that everyone can enjoy.

3) Vacancy
Plot- While stranded at a remote motel, a couple discover hidden cameras in their room and learn they are to be the stars of a snuff film. (fandango.com)

Directed by- Nimród Antal

Written by- Mark L. Smith

Starring- Kate Beckinsale, Luke Wilson, Frank Whaley, Ethan Embry, Scott G. Anderson

Movieguy’s Verdict- I honestly didn’t know what to expect from this film. On the one hand, we could have seen blatant predictability (as evident from the trailers) and a high level of MTV-style teen horror clichés. On the other hand, the film’s minimalistic concept and potential for high-impact thrills could result in horror gold. Luckily it was the latter. Nimród Antal’s camerawork was fantastic. His creepy lighting and claustrophobic, intense visuals made it easy to be engrossed by the film. I was surprised by Mark L. Smith’s attention to character development, rather than just focusing on the film’s superficial qualities. Developing the characters gave the film a definite edge and set the mood straight away. Kate Beckinsale and Luke Wilson gave solid performances, as did Frank Whaley, whose perverse character was one of the film’s best features. While the film was a bit predictable, it wasted no time and left the audience with a good ending.

4) Wild Hogs
Plot- A trio of middle-aged wannabe bikers look for adventure out on the open road, where they soon encounter a chapter of the Hell’s Angels. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Walt Becker (Van Wilder)

Written by- Brad Copeland (TV: episodes of “NewsRadio, Grounded for Life, Arrested Development, My Name is Earl)

Starring- Tim Allen, John Travolta, Martin Lawrence, William H. Macy, Ray Liotta, Marisa Tomei, Kevin Durand, M.C. Gainey, Jill Hennessy, Dominic Janes, Tichina Arnold, Stephen Tobolowsky, John C. McGinley, Peter Fonda

Movieguy’s Verdict- First of all, seeing Tim Allen’s name on the credits of any film should be a dead giveaway to its quality, or lack thereof. What we have here is a film built around characters who are incredibly corny and exaggerated to a massive degree. This was a poorly written collage of inane, offensively homophobic and childish attempts at humor. The immaturity of the film’s antics was quite ironic considering its fledgling attempt to develop the psychology behind the midlife crises of the main characters. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but Tim Allen gave the best overall performance, which is a testament to how poor the acting truly was. With such great actors in this ensemble piece, not a single one really did anything worth mentioning. Monstrous levels of corniness and moronic writing really killed this film, along with thoughtlessly unoriginal storylines and a mountain of clichés. Still, the four main actors looked like they were having fun throughout the film, which made it a little less painful to endure.

5) Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film…
Plot- An action epic that explores the origins of the Aqua Teen Hunger Force (better known as Master Shake, Frylock, and Meatwad,) who somehow become pitted in a battle over an immortal piece of exercise equipment. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Matt Maiellaro, Dave Willis

Voices of- Dana Snyder, Dave Willis, Carey Means, Andy Merrill, Mike Schatz, Matt Maiellaro, Fred Armisen, Bruce Campbell, C. Martin Croker, George Lowe, Chris Ward, Chris Kattan, Neil Peart

Movieguy’s Verdict- Wait… did I just watch a movie starring a package of French fries, a milkshake and a meatball? Were they talking to a cartoon Abe Lincoln? Never mind. Anyway, I really don’t have any idea how to review a film like this, mainly because there aren’t any other films like it. Somehow, the spastic, random, nonsensical and obviously drug-induced humor hit home in an oddly natural way. It almost felt like I was watching an 80 minute collage of two minute sketches which were put together in no order whatsoever, but somehow I could not look away, or stop laughing. Clearly the film isn’t for everyone, but I have a feeling it’ll appeal to those who least expect it.
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8-8-07

1) Life Support
Plot- The true-life story of a mother who overcame an addiction to crack and became a positive role model and a AIDS activist in the black community. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Nelson George

Written by- Nelson George (Strictly Business, CB4), Jim McKay (Girls Town, Our Song, Everyday People), Hannah Weyer (Arresting Gena)

Starring- Queen Latifah, Anna Deavere Smith, Wendell Pierce, Rachel Nicks, Evan Ross, Gloria Reuben, Tony Rock

Movieguy’s Verdict- Though some of this film would function nicely as a cautionary tale to be played for high school students during health class, there was plenty to appreciate in this heartfelt and well-meaning film. The film relied on the strength of its ensemble cast, which was fortunate because I’m not sure Queen Latifah could survive in a leading role. Her performance was a bit forced at times, though she did bring passion and believability to her character. Good performances throughout and realistic characters helped this film succeed in spite of a plot that was on the thin side. It’s a bit more intelligent than your typical motivational story, and its realism and honesty should be admired. Give this one a try; it might surprise you.

2) Are We Done Yet?
Plot- Nick, his new wife and her two kids leave New York City for a fixer-upper in the suburbs — an investment which quickly turns from a dream into a nightmare for Nick, as the contractor working on the house bonds with everyone in the family … except Nick. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Steve Carr (Next Friday, Dr. Dolittle 2, Daddy Day Care, Rebound)

Written by- Hank Nelken (Saving Silverman, Killer Bud)

Starring- Ice Cube, Nia Long, John C. McGinley, Aleisha Allen, Philip Bolden, Jonathan Katz, Linda Kash

Movieguy’s Verdict- This was one of the year’s worst, most ill-advised films, and it achieved this designation in style. You absolutely must respect Ice Cube for failing at action and comedy with such enthusiasm and style. Mr. Cube is no more an actor than I am the rightful heir to the Microsoft fortune. What the film lacked in comedy it eagerly made up for in corniness, horrid acting, juvenile writing and a perverse joy in being as bad as a film can be. I’d like to know why John C. McGinley agreed to do such a horrible project, but that question pales in comparison to the main question of why the film was made at all.

3) TMNT
Plot- An animated adaptation of the famous children’s comic books.

Written and Directed by- Kevin Munroe

Voices of- Chris Evans, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Mako, Kevin Smith, Patrick Stewart, Laurence Fishburne, Ziyi Zhang

Movieguy’s Verdict- The intense Ninja Turtle craze that flowed through the lifeblood of my childhood is long over. Every possible marketing avenue has been perused time and time again, so I guess making a CGI film with new technology is really the only thing left to do. Although, I must say I found it odd that the CGI looked so aged that one could argue it was made in 1992 and not released until now. Unbelievably, it actually made the film better. As a kid’s film, this did well to dial down the corniness associated with the numerous Turtles cartoons, but mangled attempts at jokes and plenty of cheesy lines were still present. Predictability was possibly the film’s biggest flaw, as its plot was among the most transparent I have ever seen. Most of the voice parts were good, though after a while, the voices of a few of the Turtles really began to get on my nerves. It was entertaining at times for its nostalgia-inducing visual quality, but it also served as a reminder of why Ninja Turtles mania is over.

4) Disturbia
Plot- A teen living under house arrest becomes convinced his neighbor is a serial killer. (imdb.com)

Directed by- D.J. Caruso (The Salton Sea, Taking Lives, Two for the Money)

Written by- Christopher B. Landon (Another Day in Paradise), Carl Ellsworth (Red Eye)

Starring- Shia LaBeouf, Sarah Roemer, Carrie-Anne Moss, David Morse, Aaron Yoo, Jose Pablo Cantillo, Matt Craven, Viola Davis

Movieguy’s Verdict- To make a teen horror movie out of Alfred Hitchcock’s “Rear Window” is kind of an abomination, but you can’t argue against it being a compelling concept. Shia LaBeouf is an intriguing young talent with personality, and a great deal of charisma and energy. He fit this part very well, and his energy did wonders for the character, not to mention the film as a whole. While the characters and the story were believable, the film took an inordinate amount of time to develop and never abandoned a damaging level of immaturity. The only poorly created character was David Morse’s, who was essentially just some guy who killed people for no reason. This hurt the film considerably. Even so, Morse played the part well. Still, the film turned out to be exactly what any reasonable person would expect- a by-the-numbers teen horror movie.

5) I Think I Love My Wife
Plot- A man who’s married to the ultimate career woman finds his will and morals tested when he meets a free-spirited younger lady. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Chris Rock

Written by- Chris Rock, Louis C.K.

Starring- Chris Rock, Kerry Washington, Gina Torres, Steve Buscemi, Edward Herrmann, Welker White, Samantha Ivers

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film did well to show a refreshing, realistic and mature view of relationships, but its shortcomings were ultimately too much to overcome. Chris Rock’s performance was consistent and humorous. He seemed to carry a strong sense of empathy with his character, which resulted in a slightly more involved performance than one might expect from him. Though the film allowed you to care about a number of well-written characters, Kerry Washington’s character was poorly written and turned out to the weak point around which the film began to crumble. When the film reached its halfway point, it seemed to lose its purpose along with the psychological depth of the first half. By the end, good performances from Rock, Steve Buscemi and Gina Torres, and good characters were abandoned without a plot. Disappointingly, the film that managed to take a promising story and achieve nothing in the end.

6) Unaccompanied Minors
Plot- A group of kids create their own makeshift holiday while snowed in at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Paul Feig (TV: The Office, Arrested Development)

Written by- Jacob Meszaros, Mya Stark

Starring- Lewis Black, Wilmer Valderrama, Tyler James Williams, Dyllan Christopher, Brett Kelly, Gina Mantegna, Quinn Shephard, Paget Brewster, Rob Corddry, Dominique Saldana, Jessica Walter, David Koechner, B.J. Novakm, Tony Hale, Cedric Yarbrough

Movieguy’s Verdict- I don’t like math, but I’ll give this a shot.

{“Home Alone” ripoff on 6 quarts of Mountain Dew [Lewis Black being Lewis Black without anything funny to say + a cast of child actors who apparently couldn’t get that Korean toothpaste commercial + Christmas]} / Writing which could only come from an inbred family of intoxicated schizophrenic hamsters = Zero Stars

{“Home Alone” ripoff on 6 quarts of Mountain Dew)
X
[Lewis Black being Lewis Black without anything funny to say + a cast of child actors who apparently couldn’t get that Korean toothpaste commercial + Christmas]
÷
(Writing which could only come from an inbred family of intoxicated schizophrenic hamsters)
=
Zero Stars
——-

8-1-07

1) Lonely Hearts
Plot- Two homicide detectives track two people duo who lure their victims through newspaper personals. (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Todd Robinson (Amargosa)

Starring- John Travolta, James Gandolfini, Jared Leto, Salma Hayek, Scott Caan, Laura Dern, Michael Gaston, Bruce MacVittie, Dan Byrd, Andrew Wheeler

Movieguy’s Verdict- If there was ever a week with a greater number of disappointing films, I cannot recall it. The apparent theme in this week’s releases is bad or inconsistent writing, and this film is yet another example. Todd Robinson managed to write certain characters wonderfully while making predictable clichés out of others. It was clear that the film could have succeeded without the presence of John Travolta’s character, who coincidentally gave the weakest performance. Jared Leto, Salma Hayek and James Gandolfini were outstanding, and their performances carried the film through its worst moments. Robinson’s visual handling of the film was perfect for both its period and content, but a very poorly structured script somehow managed to downplay the most captivating depravities of the story while accentuating several dull and useless subplots.

2) Hot Fuzz
Plot- Jealous colleagues conspire to get top London cop Nicholas Angel transferred to a small town. With his new partner in tow, Angel soon realizes that a series of local accidents might be something a bit more sinister. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead)

Written by- Simon Pegg (Shaun of the Dead), Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead)

Starring- Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Jim Broadbent, Timothy Dalton, Paddy Considine, Stuart Wilson, Bill Nighy, Martin Freeman, Anne Reid, Patricia Franklin, Julia Deakin, Joe Cornish, Olivia Colman, Edward Woodward and cameos from Cate Blanchett, Steve Coogan and Peter Jackson

Movieguy’s Verdict- After the brilliant success of “Shaun of the Dead,” I was eagerly awaiting Simon Pegg and Nick Frost’s next film. Sadly, this was a bad movie; there is no other way to state it. Pegg should be commended for his strong performance in a generally well-acted film. A few moments of off-beat humor were found at the film’s opening, but comedy didn’t return until about 40 minutes in, when a very strong 15 minutes of intelligent humor and plot developments briefly revived a stagnating, dull and clichéd story. After this, the film made no effort to be comedic, but rather tried to be a serious action film. As the film was allegedly a parody of action films, it fell into the same bad writing, predictability and corniness that a bad Hollywood action film has to offer. The film really lost its motivations and appeared to lack a sense of purpose. Unfortunately, it amounted to nothing at all.

3) Starter for 10
Plot- Set in 1985, working-class student Brian Jackson navigates his first year at Bristol University. His desire to prove his intelligence, coupled with his attraction to a fellow student, finds him desperate to be a member of Bristol’s “University Challenge” team — competitors part of the long-running quiz show that pits institutions of higher education against another. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Tom Vaughan

Written by- David Nicholls (Simpatico)

Starring- James McAvoy, Alice Eve, Rebecca Hall, Dominic Cooper, James Corden, Charles Dance

Movieguy’s Verdict- If you like the 80′s, you’ll love this movie purely on the basis of its quality as a time capsule. David Nicholls’ screenplay was nicely crafted as it created a strong attachment to the main character, who was played very well by James McAvoy. The audience was able to follow the character on his journey and relate to him completely, though the same could not be said for nearly all of the supporting characters. While the acting was consistently good, Nicholls did not really create a story that had any emotional pull. Predictability was also a major problem for the film. The film was a well-meaning, somewhat wandering and inconsistent story about friendship, and the quest for love and knowledge, but it truly lacked in execution.

4) 300
Plot- In 480 B.C., Spartan king Leonidas leads 300 of his warriors into battle with the Persian army, who are bent on conquering Greece. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Zack Snyder (Dawn of the Dead)

Written by- Zack Snyder, Kurt Johnstad, Michael Gordon

Starring- Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, Dominic West, David Wenham, Vincent Regan, Michael Fassbender, Tom Wisdom, Andrew Pleavin, Andrew Tiernan, Rodrigo Santoro

Movieguy’s Verdict- If even 10% of the effort, passion and money spent on this film’s visual effects had been allocated to writing or acting, the film could have been quite good. I’m sure Gerard Butler loved his overly macho role, but his performance was excruciatingly bad, much like most of the forced and oafishly exaggerated acting the film had to offer. Aside from the visuals, the film really had no original ideas, and attempted to achieve something meaningful by plagiarizing a substantial portion of “Gladiator.” The screenplay’s immaturity and utter lack of intelligence was appropriately complimented by its tendency to try too hard to achieve a level of beauty it could not reach. Much of this film’s two star rating goes to Zack Snyder for his impressive visual skills, but it just isn’t enough to make the film watchable.

5) Pathfinder
Plot- A Viking boy is left behind after his clan battles a Native American tribe. Raised within the tribe, he ultimately becomes their savoir in a fight against the Norsemen. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Marcus Nispel (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre)

Written by- Laeta Kalogridis (Alexander)

Starring- Karl Urban, Russell Means, Moon Bloodgood, Jay Tavare, Clancy Brown, Nathaniel Arcand, Ralf Moeller, Kevin Loring

Movieguy’s Verdict- Marcus Nispel impressed me with his handling of “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” remake, but his epic failure with this film is almost impossible to describe. His camerawork was incoherent and absolutely nonsensical, much like the horrible screenplay and supposed “story.” Karl Urban and company were so horrifyingly poor that I’m not certain what they did on camera can technically be classified as acting. But that was just the first half hour. After that it really goes downhill.

6) The Darwin Awards
Plot- A forensic detective and an insurance claims investigator trek to investigate a potential Darwin Award winner. From www.darwinawards.com: “The Darwin Awards salute the improvement of the human genome by honoring those who accidentally kill themselves in really stupid ways.” (imdb.com)

Written and Directed by- Finn Taylor (Dream with the Fishes, Cherish)

Starring- Joseph Fiennes, Winona Ryder, David Arquette, Ty Burrell, Kevin Dunn, Nora Dunn, Judah Friedlander, Lukas Haas, Tom Hollander, Brad Hunt, Juliette Lewis, Julianna Margulies, Tim Blake Nelson, Alessandro Nivola, Chris Penn, Max Perlich, D.B. Sweeney, Robin Tunney, Wilmer Valderrama

Movieguy’s Verdict- The ingeniousness of the plot and the sheer volume of acting talent this film presented should have been enough to propel the project into instant cult status. Aside from periods of creative, biting, dark and satirical writing, and a plethora of interesting characters, the film coasted slowly on the fumes of a story which never developed into much of anything. Many of the characters were abandoned, and I’m not sure a single one reached his/her full potential. Joseph Fiennes was a good choice for his leading role, but writer/director Finn Taylor’s lack of storytelling foresight seemed to neutralize his talent, as well as the majority of the actors. This film was a waste of a brilliant idea, which, if written properly, should have been pure genius.

7) Yellow
Plot- Distraught by the death of her father and the state of her home life, a young Puerto Rican woman goes to New York to follow her dream of becoming a classical dancer. Unable to get work anywhere else, she winds up at a strip club where she fights with the morality of her job and the person she is becoming.

Directed by- Alfredo De Villa (Washington Heights)

Written by- Nacoma Whobrey

Starring- Roselyn Sanchez, Bill Duke, D.B. Sweeney, Richard Petrocelli, Sammi Rotibi, Erika Michels

Movieguy’s Verdict- This film currently has a 3.1 rating on imdb.com, and I’m not sure why. By no means was the film a work of genius, but it wasn’t awful either. While the story was weak and the writing fair, Roselyn Sanchez’s passionate and highly skilled lead performance made this film everything it could possibly be. Though it had no impact on the plot, Bill Duke gave an intricate, tightly wrapped supporting performance that had the energy and depth to sustain an entire film. Alfredo De Villa’s direction did manage to capture a bit of beauty, but the majority of it was superficial and the result of Sanchez’s supurb performance. Ultimately, the story was so thin and unrealistic that the messages the film tried to convey were contradicted in the end by a script that never achieved what it set out to achieve.

8) Played
Plot- An examination of the malevolent London underworld with its despicable criminal underground. Ray just finished an eight year prison sentence after getting set up. Now he is back on the streets to settle the score. (imdb.com)

Directed by- Sean Stanek

Written by- Mick Rossi, Sean Stanek

Starring- Mick Rossi, Vinnie Jones, Gabriel Byrne, Val Kilmer, Anthony LaPaglia, Patrick Bergin, Joanne Whalley, Patsy Kensit

Movieguy’s Verdict- As far as crime/revenge films go (or movies in general), this film found plenty of ways to scrape the bottom of the barrel. The film was dead in the water before it was even shot because writers Mick Rossi and Sean Stanek created a story which not only lacked originality, but was cloaked in a thick veneer of unimaginative dullness. This was truly fitting because Rossi’s unbearably dull leading performance ruined any chance the film had to reach mediocrity on the basis of acting alone. Aside from Rossi, the film