Category Archives: FilmReview

2004, Car Chase, Crime, Detective, Police Story, Suspense, Violent

Cellular (2004)

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From NetFlix:

Ryan (Chris Evans) is driving in his car when his cell phone rings. But when he answers, there’s a stranger (Kim Basinger) on the other end of the line who’s desperate to get someone to help her, her husband and her son escape from the madman (Jason Statham) who’s abducted them. If Ryan fails to act quickly, innocent people will be killed. But his cell phone battery is low — and he has no idea where the helpless family is.

With the bent LAPD cop Jason Statham as your enemy you probably want to be really careful. (NetFlix is wrong, his character is NOT a madman). Kim Basinger (“Nine 1/2 Weeks””) we all know. Chris Evans (Jimmy in “The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond”) at the time of filming was 30 years old and still looked like a kid. He also plays in the 2009 movie “Push”. William Macy as the good cop adds his usual brand of offbeat humor.

Some lesser actors are worth mentioning. Rick Hoffman you have seen a lot but probably don’t know his name. In this film he adds comic relief as a really arrogant lawyer whose Porche figures in the plot. He played Chase Chapman in “Samantha Who ?

It never fails to amaze me how often Richard Burgi pops up. He played the husband Craig Martin in the film. You may have seen him as Philip Collier in 18 episodes of “Days of our Lives”. He played a wife abuser in an episode of “Law and Order: SVU”.

Intense energy, clever and original action scenes and plots, and some comic relief made this film for me a fun experience. Somehow Ryan (Chris Evans) kept coming up with novel ways to foil the bad guys.

2006, Based on true facts, Nudity, Revenge, Suspense, True Story, Violent

End of the Spear (2006)

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From NetFlix:

Many years after his missionary father was speared to death at the hands of Waodani tribesmen, a young man (Chad Allen) returns to the Ecuadorian jungle to meet the native (Louie Leonardo) who murdered his father and learn the truth about his family’s legacy. The result, in this film based on a true story, is a life-altering experience that brings him closer to the kin of his father’s killer and impacts both of their lives forever.

When I was in Catholic parochial school (grades 1-8) we used to donate money to the Society for the Propagation of the Faith in order to convert pagan babies. Although I now have mixed feelings about missionaries in general, I have to admit that this film shows that the efforts of this particular set of missionaries led to a practical result: the tribe of Waodani still exists. Because the Waodani culture was so violent and based on a code of lethal revenge, the tribe was headed for extinction.

There is a book “Through Gates of Splendor” that tells the true story.

Towards the end of the film there is a bit of supernatural flim-flam that turned me off. However, just watching the film and taking the story as it comes was for me a pleasurable experience. You can just ignore the religious bias, the story in itself is interesting. For whatever motivation, those missionaries were brave and devoted people that did their best to help the Waodani. But you must be prepared for much violence (lots of spearing to death).

Stick around after the film seems to have ended. There is an epilogue in which you get to see two of the real living characters, including a tribesman.

2004, Complicated, Could be boring, Love Story, Nudity, Vampire

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

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From NetFlix:

After learning that his mercurial ex-girlfriend, Clementine Kruczynski (Kate Winslet), has undergone an experimental medical process to purge all memories of him, mild-mannered Joel Barish (Jim Carrey) opts for the same procedure. But during the operation, he decides he doesn’t want to lose what’s left of their relationship and tries to conceal her image in his memory cells. This quirky romantic comedy won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.

Once again a film that probably only Jim Carrey could, or even would want to, carry out. Belonging to the tradition of “figure this out if you are able”, most of the film features Carrey and Winslet wandering frantically from memory to memory while he tries to preserve his memory of her even while he lies asleep with his head in a helmet that is erasing such memories.

Don’t say I did not warn you!

2008, Acceptable for children, Mediocre, Plot Twist, Psychic Phenomena, Sci-Fi, Suspense

Knowing (2008)

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From NetFlix:

Fifty years after a time capsule was buried at a local school, teacher John Koestler (Nicolas Cage) examines its contents and discovers that it holds many shockingly true predictions. Soon, John is convinced that his family will play a role in an impending apocalypse. Rose Byrne co-stars as Diane Wayland, the daughter of the woman who first buried the capsule, in this tense blockbuster thriller from ace sci-fi auteur Alex Proyas.

Give this film a B. Nonetheless, this sci-fi film tells a well-detailed story that held my attention. While not violent, you witness several fatal accidents such as subway and plan crashes, including burning live victims.

Without spoiling the story for you, you should expect the final fifth of the film to take what was for me a very unexpected turn that seemed to place the film in possibly a less worthy category. From a certain standpoint the ending was very daring and perhaps not pleasing to the general audience. More than that, the very ending was a bit too Steven Spielberg-like for my tastes. In my humble opinion we could have done without that last scene.

Comments ?

1964, Cowboy, Old-Fashioned, Revenge, Violent, Western

A Fistful of Dollars (1964)

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From NetFlix:

The first film in director Sergio Leone and star Clint Eastwood’s “Man with No Name” trilogy finds a world-weary gunman in a town torn apart by warring gangs. He agrees to work for both sides, ultimately pitting the two factions against each other. Marianne Koch and Gian Maria Volontè co-star in this groundbreaking Western, inspired by filmmaker Akira Kurosawa’s classic Yojimbo and featuring a famous score by Ennio Morricone.

47 years ago, when Clint Eastwood was 34 years old, this historical spaghetti western made quite a splash. And to think that today Clint Eastwood is still going strong as an actor and director.

When the film begins, the lines delivered by the Mexican bell-ringer are very stilted and I was tempted to stop watching. But there is still something very watchable in this film. Could it be the violence ? At one point Clint gets beaten to a pulp by those nasty villains who laugh menacingly while they do it. Probably the fun of the film is watching both the American and Mexican gangs being wiped out slowly but surely. That Clint sure knows a lot of neat tricks!

Sex is not an issue and is, in fact, very chaste and traditional. Our Clint will surely help a beautiful damsel in distress and at the mercy of that villainous Ramón.

Call it a film history lesson or whatever, but I had fun watching!

2003, Complicated, Drama, Drugs, Grim, Medical Theme, Non-physical Violence, Not Feel Good, Nudity, Plot Twist, Prison, Redemption, Religious Theme, Revenge, Sex Scenes, Suspense, Violent, Wonderful acting

21 Grams (2003)

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From NetFlix:

A tragic car accident brings together three strangers — a teacher (Sean Penn) with a weak heart, a former drug addict (Naomi Watts) turned housewife and an ex-con (Benicio Del Toro) who’s found Christ — forcing them to face their darkest fears, reevaluate their lives and seek redemption. Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu directed this complex drama that earned Oscar nominations for lead actress Watts and supporting actor Del Toro.

Mexican directory Alejandro González Iñárritu is known for possibly disturbing films such as “Babel”, “Amores Perros”, “21 Grams”, and “Biutiful”. His “Nine Lives” did not please me very much.

“21 Grams” is a jigsaw puzzle. Scene sequences are scrambled and you eventually have to figure out what the complete story really is. Some scenes are repeated such that on a succeeding viewing you finally understand what that scene means. Not that the scrambling is random, rather the non-linear sequencing is done very well. What really keeps the film moving is the sudden changes in scene without any warning. Expect some sudden surprising plot twists.

Violence, infidelity, ill health, forgiveness, and possibly redemption are the major themes.

“Redemption” is debatable because Del Toro’s character possibly never forgives himself for what he has done (we are talking ambiguity here). He certainly was a horrible father in addition to his other shortcomings. His little son does a great job showing that he had to keep himself distant from his capricious and often violent father. His daughter accepts him unconditionally.

Sean Penn seemed to me a basically selfish man, mostly concerned with his identity (“who am I with this newly transplanted heart ?”). He finds it easy to abandon the woman who loves him.

Naomi Watts’ character asks the question: “How possible is it to forgive someone who killed your loved ones ?” Watching her life go down the drain is no fun.

Interest never flags in this intense, worthwhile, demanding film.

2002, DO NOT MISS, Drama, Feel Good For All, Love Story, Quiet, Sex Scenes, Wonderful acting

Moonlight Mile (2002)

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From NetFlix:

Susan Sarandon and Dustin Hoffman co-star as the grieving mother and father of a recently deceased girl who take in their daughter’s fiancé (Jake Gyllenhaal) because he’s the only living connection they have to their only child. Problems arise when the young man falls in love with a woman (Ellen Pompeo) whose boyfriend has gone missing, prompting his former in-laws-to-be to come to grips with the new relationship.

When this film was made in 2002, Jake Gyllenhaal was a mere 22 years old and Ellen Pompeo (Dr. Meredith Grey in “Grey’s Anatomy”) was 33 years old. She did not seem in the film to be that much older than Gyllenhaal. For me it is still shocking to watch an older film and see how young the actors look (even 9 years ago).

Here we have the perfect date movie that offers everything: love story, sad tragedies and humor (Susan Sarandon shoots off some wonderfully acerbic comments about the stupid things people say to you when someone you love dies). You might even shed a tear or two in some of the (possibly) more maudlin scenes.

Children should not be affected by the quiet, tasteful love-making.

“Acting by not acting” is an accusation I often hurl at actors who use their facial expressions (blank or otherwise) instead of saying anything. Perhaps I am harsh or just plain wrong. At any rate Gyllenhaal gets away with this technique which really seems to work for him.

“Moonlight Mile” is the name of a song in a jukebox that has meaning for Ellen Pompeo.

Oh, wait there’s more: you even get a happy ending.

2010, Could Be Sad, Drama, Play Adaptation, Wonderful acting

Rabbit Hole (2010)

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From NetFlix:

In this raw drama based on David Lindsay-Abaire’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same name, Becca (Nicole Kidman) and Howie (Aaron Eckhart) grapple with the realities of life eight months after the death of their 4-year-old son, Danny. Even with Becca’s well-meaning mother (Dianne Wiest) offering comfort and weekly group therapy always available, the couple go about their own secret ways of coping. John Cameron Mitchell directs.

For a long time I resisted seeing this film because the underlying theme, the loss of a young child in an automobile mishap, is very difficult. Who knows how each of us would react in such a situation ? In fact, it took me a while to commiserate with Becca (Nicole Kidman) because she seemed to resist the healing process whereas her husband Howie (Aaron Eckhart) was desperate to work together for their life ahead without their son Danny.

All the acting was splendid. But hats off to all the wonderful supporting actors, each of whom did a great job:

  • Dianne Wiest (Becca’s mother) occupies a special place in my heart. We have seen her warm loving smile not only as a DA on “Law and Order” but also as the psychiatrist’s psychiatrist in “In Treatment”.
  • Sandra Oh (a mourning mother in the support group) we have seen as Patti in “Under the Tuscan Sun” and as Stephanie in “Sideways”.
  • Miles Teller is a young newcomer who delivers a pitch perfect performance as the teenager who accidentally killed Danny.
  • Jon Tenney is agent Rick Howard in “The Closer”. His part in this film is minimal but I was glad to see him as something besides the Closer’s FBI husband. He actually has a long list of credits beginning with 1986.

Congratulations to Eckhart (age 43) and Tenney (age 50) for staying in good physical shape while so many actors and actresses allow themselves to put on weight. But after all, folks, shouldn’t your acting profession require a lot of maintenance ?

If you have ever experienced such a dreadful loss, I can only believe that this marvelous film might be a very helpful view into the lives of a couple who have suffered similarly.

2010, Comedy, Corny, Feel Good For All, Flirting, Love Story, Mediocre, Slapstick

Morning Glory (2010)

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From NetFlix:

Whiz-kid producer Becky Fuller (Rachel McAdams) finds her abilities put to the test when she’s charged with bringing a network morning show back from ratings purgatory. Her first job: getting the show’s feuding, acid-tongued co-hosts (Harrison Ford and Diane Keaton) under control. Jeff Goldblum co-stars as Fuller’s network-exec boss and Patrick Wilson is Becky’s put-upon boyfriend in this comedy from the writer of The Devil Wears Prada.

“Why don’t we formerly successful actors get together and make some money by making a B-film?” Perhaps I am overly critical, but with a cast consisting of Harrison Ford, Diane Keaton, and Jeff Goldblum would you expect more ? Rachel McAdams seems to carry every film in which she appears. And of course there is the requisite handsome boy friend, this time barely played by Patrick Wilson.

Since playing Ira Buchman (alongside Helen Hunt) in “Mad About You”, John Pankow has had a few lean years.

You have seen Matt Malloy just about everywhere and I bet you do not know his name. As a secondary character actor he has been incredibly successful. In this film he plays Ernie Appleby and provides the best belly laughs of all. If for no other part of the film, it is worth waiting for his scenes late into the film. Hint: “amusement”.

Don’t get me wrong: I enjoyed this fun feel-good that is probably OK for kids (ignore the F-word). Don’t let me scare you off from this easy to watch film.

1997, Bullying, Drama, Nudity, Sex Scenes, Unusual

Lawn Dogs (1997)

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From NetFlix:

In the affluent, gated community of Camelot Gardens, bored wives indiscriminately sleep around while their unwitting husbands try desperately to climb the social ladder. Trent, a 21-year-old outsider who mows the neighborhood lawns, quietly observes the infidelities and hypocrisies of this overly privileged society. When Devon, a 10-year-old daughter from one family, forges a friendship with Trent, things suddenly get very complicated.

Infuriating is the first emotion that comes to mind for several reasons.

  • Sam Rockwell plays the underdog “trailer trash” Trent as an athletic, honest, but very underprivileged young man who accepts his low place and life and rarely fights back.
  • Snobs in the gated community (more real than caricatures) demean him constantlySpoiled snob children devise mean tricks that eventually rob Trent of his ability to earn a living.
  • Was that ending a cop-out ? Did the movie break down ?

Mischa Barton was only 11 when she played the young girl Devon who drives the entire film with her curiosity, wild imagination, and unrestrained behavior. Today she is a beautiful woman of 25.

Sam Rockwell seemed much younger than 29 in the film. My first reaction was “Boy, is he homely ! Where did Hollywood get him ?” But he makes a perfect foil to Devon’s escapades. As a man of 43 years he is about to appear in “Cowboys & Aliens”.

Their relation is completely innocent but for me the entire film seemed menacing in the sense that sooner or later someone will suspect something foul. And I kept waiting for him to get even with all the injustices.

Google did not help me find references to cheese infected with a fatal bacteria given to our Korean soldiers.

By the time the film ended I was really angry but at the same time I found the film to be a successful breath of fresh air. Tell me what you think of that ending. Expect some surprises.