Once again life has gotten the better of my schedule and it’s been a long time since I’ve posted anything. Believe me when I say though that it’s not for a lack of things happening in my life. I’ve got a ton of commentaries lined up regarding the auto-bailout, the larger floundering economy, CES, and other things that have really captured my interest of late. But first, I want to get some movie reviews posted. Given how long it’s been since I’ve posted I’ve seen a few movies (still not as many as I would like) so in the interest of time I’m going to give some really quick reviews in one post. I know that a few of these movies have been nominated for awards. Honestly, I don’t really need an award of any kind to validate whether I like a movie or not so I won’t go into the debate of whether or not any part of these movies warrant award.
Slumdog Millionaire
Danny Boyle is one of my favorite directors and has been for a long time. The man is a master of the intangibles that separate the good movies from the great ones. Most people know his hit movies like Trainspotting and 28 Days Later, but he keeps a pretty low profile and there are some real gems in his filmography that many people have never heard of. Millions and Sunshine are two fantastic movies that got almost no press. Both are highly recommended and especially Sunshine which ranks in the top 5 science fiction movies I’ve ever seen. In Slumdog Millionaire Boyle makes and incredibly bold move and creates a film based entirely in the dizzying world and culture of India. The basic premise of the story is about a young man from the slums of Mumbai who finds himself on (and about to win) the Indian version of Who Wants To Be a Millionaire. Sounds kind of lame right? The film was marketed domestically based on this premise, so it’s no surprise that it failed as a mainstream success. What the story really is, is an amazing tale of a boy’s survival in a chaotic world. You’ve likely never imaged what it would be like to grow up in the slums of a third-world environment, in Slumdog Millionaire you get to see one very moving version of it. It’s definitely one of the best of the year and yet another triumph of storytelling by Boyle. It’s not exactly the feel-good movie of the year but it’s still damn good. BTW, if you’re familiar with India’s Bollywood films stick around for the end credits for the cast’s fun Bollywood tribute.
4.5 out of 5
See it in the theaters
Buy it on DVD (if you’re a movie-lover)
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
I absolutely love David Fincher’s movies. More than other people, I enjoy the artistic aspect of filmaking as much as the storytelling and special F/X. Fincher’s films aren’t always blockbusters but he knows how to create a tight film. Benjamin Button is an epic movie about a man who ages in reverse. If that makes your mind do a double-take, that’s a good thing because the movie is probably best enjoyed if you know nothing about the story. Some of my favorite movies are ones that cover a litanny of themes and not just the one that the plot is about. Pleasantville is a perfect example of this. Benjamin Button casts a fascinating light on our own aging process and mortality. You might be tempted to wow over Brad Pitt’s performance given his character’s journey, but trust me it’s Fincher’s filmaking process that makes this film what it is. I could go on forever about the intricacies of what makes this movie so great but there just isn’t time. All you need to know is this one actually gets my vote for “the” movie of the year and is a must-see.
5 out of 5
See it in theaters
Buy it on DVD
Yes Man
Generally speaking I’ve grown less found of Jim Carrey’s movies over the years. Ace Ventura came out when I was in middle school as was a perfect fit for my juvinile sense of humor at the time. Now that I’m a little older I just don’t find Carrey’s brand of humor that funny any more – and yes, it is still the same kind of humor no matter how it’s packaged. Yes Man is an ever-so-slightly more mature turn for Carrey where a lot of the comedy is in the world around him rather than his character himself. It’s still good wholesome fun and at least the premise doesn’t feel recylced like so many Hollywood comedies. If you like Jim Carrey comedies, this is a pitch right down the middle. Mainstream comedy for the mainsteam masses.
3 out of 5
Worth a rental
Not worth buying on DVD
Revolutionary Road
If you can’t tell, I’m a fan of certain directors. This is because there’s a huge difference in talent between film’s top directors and all the rest. Sam Mendes is a director with amazing vision. His movies (American Beauty, Road to Perdition, Jarhead) are impeccably filmed but rarely aimed at mainstream audiences. His latest is based on the best-selling novel of the same name and once again allows Mendes to focus on the suburban American family experience. This time however, the story takes place in the mid-1950′s. My wife and I spent the first half of the movie nodding along to much of what the young couple is going through but in the second half things start to turn toward less relatable themes but the story remains absolutely gripping. DiCaprio and Winslet give unbelievable performances and while the story is good, it’s their portrayals of these two flawed people that makes this movie great. What this movie shows painfully clearly is that the “American Dream” is not always what it seems. I get the feeling that had I seen this film with my parents or grandparents it may have been very awkward. I’m sure that the premise of Revolutionary Road is more common than most adults of the past two generations would like to admit. It’s an amazingly powerful movie and one that I highly recommended seeing. That said it’s lacks the dark and overt humor of American Beauty and as such is not a movie you’re likely to watch repeatedly.
4.5 out of 5
See it in theaters
Good enough to purchase but I doubt you’ll want to