CinemaSeen

The Road

2009-11-26T08:24:00.014-05:00

The Road envisions a world where some sort of cataclysmic event has destroyed virtually all life on earth. We never know exactly what it was, and for the purposes of this film, it doesn't really matter. The Road is about the will to survive, and what drives people to cling to life in the midst of hopelessness. A man and his son spend most of the film traveling south to the sea, where they hope that life will be better for them than the cold desolation that greets their every waking moment. They also trek across a world without sunlight, as the ash filled sky blocks its rays, and coats the terrain. Viggo Mortensen, and relative newcomer Kodi Smit-McPhee play the man and son respectively, and their fine performances help make this film as riveting as it is. Besides the endless search for food, the pair must also avoid a roving band of cannibals; in a world where nothing grows, people are the ultimate delicacy. The man tells his frightened son that they are one of "good" guys, and he assures him that they will never resort to eating their fellow humans. He also instructs him as to the proper way to kill himself with a pistol, for the reality of their situation is never ending. I found The Road extremely interesting, and yes despite the depressing subject matter, quite entertaining. The film is based on a Cormac McCarthy novel, and also boasts an excellent script which helps create an ever present feeling of dramatic tension. Charlize Theron appears as the man's wife in an extended cameo, and Guy Pearce and a barely recognizable Robert Duvall appear in brief ones, and they all make their screen time count. One of the best films of the year, don't miss it.

Rating - 4 Stars

The Twilght Saga: New Moon

2009-11-23T17:13:00.006-05:00

I have to admit that I enjoyed the first film in this series, in spite of the fact that I'm about 40 years outside of it's target demographic. Unfortunately this one has little of what made the first one so enjoyable. I felt like I was watching an episode of Gossip Girls, which incidentally I've never actually seen, although I can imagine it's like this film without all the vampires and werewolves. By the way, if you have a film with the aforementioned supernatural creatures you're supposed to have more than a token amount of action, or at least enough to counteract some of the whiny teenage angst on display. Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner reprise their roles from the first film, and they all do a credible job; the problem is the script, not them. The film picks up towards the end with the appearance of Michael Sheen as Aro, apparently the Grand High Exalted Mystic Ruler of the vampires, but it's just not enough. This is one of those films that's review proof, and if you're a teenage girl it's likely that nothing can keep you away. Anyone else should avoid this like a vampire does a sunny day.

Rating - 1 1/2 Stars

Pirate Radio

2009-11-22T08:28:00.006-05:00

The 60's, in my humble opinion, was the golden age of rock music, and I firmly believe that this era will never be topped in that regard. The best of it came from the British Isles, so it's quite ironic that the nation's official broadcasting outlet, the BBC, refused to play it. Numerous offshore "pirate" radio stations were created to fill this cavernous void, which were viewed as a subversive annoyance by the British government. The "Radio Rock" of Pirate Radio is made up of a collection of characters straight out of "60's" central casting, including Philip Seymour Hoffman as the ship's star DJ. This is not a "star" vehicle for Mr. Hoffman, as the film is definitely an ensemble piece, and everyone involved helps make this quite an excellent and enjoyable film. Relative newcomer Tom Sturridge plays Carl, who's shipped off to the boat by his mother in order to get his life back on track after being expelled from school. Considering all the drugs, sex and debauchery going on this must be one hip mom (Emma Thompson in a cameo). Her ex-husband Kenneth Branagh, plays the government minister in charge of closing the stations down, and he's so evil and anti-fun you can almost see him twirling his moustache as he hatches his plans. His top aide is named Mr. Twatt, and yes, it's a cheap joke, and quite a good one. January Jones also has a small role as the wife and girlfriend of two different DJs. Her brief storyline was actually quite pointless and annoying, but not enough to bring down a fine film. Also, one minor script criticism: the phrase "think outside the box" was used, clearly about 30 years a head of its time, and it briefly took me "out" of the film. This should have been caught. In spite of these two minor points I think that this is one fine film, with of course, a superior soundtrack. It also has the best opening and closing credits I've seen in quite a while and I have no doubt that a splendid time is guaranteed for all.

Rating - 3 1/2 Stars

2012

2009-11-18T17:34:00.016-05:00

Supposedly the Mayans predicted a catastrophe of global proportions in the year 2012; no, I'm not talking about the election of Sarah Palin as President of the United States. It's almost as bad though, namely, the end of the world, and most of the people in it. I'm no scientist, but here's a brief explanation: solar flares are heating up the earth's core, causing earthquakes and tsunamis, with the requisite death and destruction. In order to save the world's elite, and, anyone with a billion euros to spare, a series of huge floating ships are built to protect them until the earth is inhabitable once again. By the way, the arks are being built in China, no great surprise there. John Cusack stars as Jackson Curtis, a failed novelist reduced to driving a limo for an extremely wealthy Russian businessman who has already booked his passage on one of the ships. Curtis learns of the ships, and the whole end of the world thing on a camping trip, where he meets conspiracy theorist Charlie Frost, played by Woody Harrelson, who is by the way, the best thing in the film. Most of the action consists of Jackson trying to get himself, and his ex-wife and kids to one of the ships. This is not a film that one goes to see for masterful acting and a deep meaningful story; you go to watch stuff get destroyed, and this film has plenty of that, including the Washington Monument and the State of California. The special effects are first rate, and there's plenty of them. The characters are all one dimensional, and they all represent the usual archetypes that you would expect to see in a film of this genre. Danny Glover is the stoic President, and Oliver Platt is his cold-hearted Chief of Staff. Chiwetel Ejiofor plays the compassionate scientist who initially brings the crisis to the President's attention, and he rises above the cliched role to deliver a fine performance. The film was directed by Roland Emmerich, who also helmed Independence Day and The Day After Tomorrow, so I guess this one completes the trilogy. It's a fun film nonetheless, and it provides all the thrills and entertainment that you would expect from it. I'm a little surprised though to see it open in the so-called "serious" movie season, as it really fits in more as a summer blockbuster film, but if you see it, I think you'll enjoy it.

Rating - 3 Stars

Precious

2009-11-15T19:52:00.011-05:00

Although not a "feel good" film in the traditional sense, Precious still has moments that remind us that people have a great capacity to endure and survive. Newcomer Gabourey Sidibe has the title role, and her story is just too horrible to imagine. Her mother, played by Mo'Nique, is both physically and emotionally abusive to Precious, as she makes Joan Crawford seem like mom of the year by comparison. As if that's not enough, her dad rapes her whenever he feels like it, and is the father of her first child, with one on the way. It's no surprise then to learn that Precious has little self-esteem. Whenever her circumstances become just too much to take, she escapes to her fantasies, where she's both beautiful and adored. She also uses food as a way to numb her pain, all the way up to over 300 pounds of numb. Out of duty and compassion her principal refers her to an alternative school, where she eventually makes some friends, learns to read and write, and most importantly, gains the self confidence to make some positive changes in her life.
The film takes place in 1987 in Harlem, when the neighborhood was decidedly less pretty than it is in today's semi-gentrified state. Setting the film in that time period only helps drive home the seemingly hopelessness of Precious' life. This film, although depressing at times, tells its story quite well. This is thanks to a fine script, and, some truly riveting performances. Gabourey Sidibe has been getting a lot of Oscar buzz for her fine acting job, deservedly so, but it is Mo'Nique as her mother, who really steals the show. She plays a beast of a woman, and I only hope that she didn't have to base it on anyone in her own life. This is truly a fine film with some stellar performances: don't miss it.

Rating - 3 1/2 Stars

An Education

2009-11-11T18:45:00.009-05:00

How many teenage girls could refuse the advances of a handsome, wealthy, and ultra-sophisticated older man? Actually, quite a few I bet, but not Jenny, who longs for much more than what her provincial and overly structured life is giving her. Jenny, played by newcomer Carey Mulligan, is wonderful as the precocious teen who falls for David, an equally good Peter Sarsgaard. Carey has her heart set on studying English at Oxford until she falls under his spell, which by the way makes her money conscious dad quite happy. Soon after meeting David, Jenny is propelled into a world of nightclubs and fine restaurants, and it's no surprise that her studies begin to suffer because of it. David is so beguiling that he even charms mom and dad, as they utter nary a complaint. Hard to imagine this really happening, but David uses his charm, and some tall tales to assuage Jenny's parents. Alfred Molina plays Jenny's father, and he does a fantastic job of portraying this well meaning, but clueless character: adding some laughs to what is essentially a serious story. Along the way Jenny gets the education that the title promises, and the audience gets one as well. This is a must see.

Rating - 3 1/2 Stars

The Men Who Stare at Goats

2009-11-06T22:05:00.007-05:00

Allegedly based on some truth, The Men Who Stare at Goats is the story of the army's attempt to create a force that uses psychological and paranormal powers, instead of guns and stuff. The unit is commanded by Colonel Django (Jeff Bridges), and if you can imagine an army officer made up of equal parts Timothy Leary and Jerry Garcia then you know what he's all about. The story is told largely in flashback years after the unit has been disbanded, with reporter Bob Wilton (EwanMcGregor), interviewing Lyn Cassady (George Clooney), who was a Sargent in the old unit. The two are traveling in Iraq, Bob looking for his "big" story, and Lyn on a mission. Kevin Spacey shows up a little later, and has a significant effect on the unit. There were a lot of laughs in the film, with most of the humor being of the very dry variety. George Clooney, as a true believer in all the new age philosophy was particularly good, and quite funny. The film also works well as an anti-war statement, with greedy contractors getting their share of the scathing. See it with your peace sign tee-shirt.

Rating - 3 Stars

Black Dynamite

2009-10-30T22:27:00.012-04:00

The Blaxploitation genre has always been ripe for parody, and Black Dynamite shows no mercy in successfully skewering this popular style of film from the 70's. Star and co-writer Michael Jai White would have made a perfect leading man of an actual film of this type, if he only he'd been born about 30 years earlier than he was. As it is, he plays it straight, and lets the cheesy, over-the-top, and quite funny script provide the laughs. The film does it right by placing the action in the 70's, as this is no fish out of water tale. Some of the films that have spoofed the genre have updated the action to the current day, with less than optimum effect. The original films were funny enough to begin with, no need to take this one out of the era to which it belongs. Here, big fat sideburns and polyester shirts with huge collars are the norm. The plot is strictly Blaxploitation 101, "whitey", or "the man", whichever you prefer, has hatched a plot to sell tainted malt liquor in the ghetto, and it's up to Black Dynamite to foil the plans. BD has all of the elements you'd expect, kung fu action with high decibel sound effects, awkward musical introductions, jive talkin' supporting players, and yes, even Richard Nixon. The audience I saw it with enjoyed it as much as I did, and whether you've seen many of the originals or like myself have not, you should definitely get a lot of fun out of this one. See it my man.

Rating - 3 Stars

Amelia

2009-10-28T19:37:00.006-04:00

Most people know of Amelia Earhart due to the great mystery of her disappearance; since no remains were ever found, it's as if she vanished into thin air. Her story is actually a lot more interesting than the mystery of her death, as this film ably demonstrates. Hilary Swank is Amelia, and she's more than just an "awe shucks" American hero. She was actually quite the liberated lady, and, a believer in open marriage, to the consternation of promoter, publisher, and husband George Putnam. Putnam, as played by Richard Gere makes her a national hero by arranging for her to be the first woman to cross the Atlantic in a plane. The fact that she was merely a passenger and did no flying didn't prevent her from becoming a national hero, and to be referred to as "Lady Lindy." She quickly made the leap to pilot, and in 1932 did fly solo across the Atlantic, becoming even more of a legend in the process. As the film demonstrates, Amelia would be very much at home in today's celebrity driven society. She doesn't hesitate to use her fame to endorse a variety of products, and obviously had no shame in "cashing in." Amelia does a fine job in adding substance to the story of this American hero, and Ms. Swank and Mr. Gere are quite believable in their roles. The film is quite entertaining, and at times even soars: see it, but not in flight of course.

Rating - 3 Stars

Law Abiding Citizen

2009-10-19T21:24:00.009-04:00

Law Abiding Citizen is a film that for me at least, can only be described as a guilty pleasure. While totally preposterous and manipulative, it still works well within the context of the world it creates. Gerard Butler is Clyde Shelton, who witnesses the murder of his wife and daughter at the film's outset. Jamie Foxx is Nick Rice, a hotshot ADA, who makes a deal with one of the two home invaders responsible, in order to guarantee a conviction and a death sentence for at least one of them. This really annoys Clyde, to say the least, especially since Nick makes the deal with the more guilty of the two, who stands to only get a few years in jail. Nick feels it's the best he can do given the evidence, but, he lets us know early on how concerned he is in preserving his 96% conviction rate. The film quickly jumps ten years ahead to the scheduled execution of the unlucky perpetrator, which is when Clyde's revenge plans move into high gear. The film tries to make a serious commentary on our nation's justice system, which gets lost somewhat in the midst of stuff blowing up "real good". Clyde quickly loses most of the sympathy he had after his "torture-porn" dispatch of his family's killer. He loses the rest when he goes after everyone else. This film works quite well as a cat-mouse type thriller, and you'll spend much of it wondering how Clyde is effectuating his plans, since he's in prison for a good portion of the film. The two leads both do a solid job in roles that are not tremendously demanding, and make for an entertaining "popcorn" flick.

Rating - 3 Stars

A Serious Man

2009-10-18T11:27:00.006-04:00

This latest film from the Coen brothers is a black comedy re-telling of the biblical story of Job. Not the usual Hollywood high concept, but then again, the Coen brothers are not your usual producer/director team. The action takes place in Minnesota circa 1967, in a virtually all Jewish, highly insular community. Michael Stuhlbarg is Larry Gopnik, a college professor, who, early on, finds out that his wife wants a divorce, and, is planning to marry a good friend of theirs. This is only the first of Larry's many "trials" which include, a threatened lawsuit, financial stress, obnoxious kids, and a psycho neighbor. There's more, but why spoil the fun. Larry takes it all, and it's obvious that life has destroyed whatever fighting spirit he may have once had. I found myself wishing a number of times that he would stand up for himself, just once. Not that he doesn't try to get help, but the local Rabbis only offer him meaningless parables, at best. In a way, this film is the most violent of all the Coen brothers endeavors, although in this one, the damage is all emotional. The mostly unknown cast all do an excellent job, and in spite of the depressing nature of story, "black" is nicely balanced with comedy. This is a fine addition to the Coen brothers body of work.

Rating - 3 1/2 Stars

Coco Before Chanel

2009-10-14T08:25:00.008-04:00

The name Chanel has long been synonymous with simple elegance; this film tells, who she is and how she came to be, as comic origins stories like to put it. We first see little Gabrielle, or Coco, as she's being dropped off at an orphanage by her widowed father. Dad never even looks back at her, and she seems to realize at that moment that she'll never be able to truly rely on any man for emotional support. The film quickly moves forward, and before you can say Amelie, Coco has turned into Audrey Tautou. She's now singing in a cabaret at night, while working as a seamstress by day. She's introduced into upper crust society by Balsan, her wealthy lover at whose estate she stays. Here, she begins designing simple hats as a response to what she sees as the overly ostentatious and burdensome fashion of the society ladies she mingles with, but, is never a part of. Coco is a well told story of the subject and of the times. It portrays a determined and independent woman of the early twentieth century, who succeeded on her own; when she could have enjoyed a life of leisure and luxury if she so chose. See it, to learn about the woman behind the perfume.

Rating - 3 Stars

Couples Retreat

2009-10-11T10:00:00.011-04:00

Couples Retreat is a high concept Vince Vaughn vehicle that should satisfy his numerous fans. He's teamed with regular partner Jon Favreau, and if you've seen their other films together you know exactly what to expect: dialogue that's both sarcastic, neurotic, and generally amusing. The premise is thus: four couples travel to a tropical island paradise for mandatory couples counseling, and none of the other fun stuff that you would normally expect to do on such a trip. Jason Bateman is the one who organizes the adventure, and he plays the overly sincere, earnest character that he's perfected in his films of late. He, along with his wife, played by Kristen Bell are really the only ones who take the whole thing seriously, as the others just want to enjoy their tropical paradise. By the way, Kristen Bell's last big hit was Forgetting Sarah Marshall, and like this film she spent much of it in a bikini; if it's a coincidence, well, it's happy one. In short, the film is basically a forgettable diversion that I did find amusing. If you enjoy the Vince Vaughn persona, then see it.

Rating - 3 Stars (Light)

Bronson

2009-10-09T21:19:00.012-04:00

Michael Peterson is, as this film lets us know, the most famous prisoner in the United Kingdom. His fame is largely due to his propensity for unprovoked violent attacks on anyone who annoys him, or, doesn't for that matter. Since he has spent most of his adult life incarcerated, most of his violent outbursts are directed against prison guards, seemingly, for the sheer fun of it. During a brief period of freedom between prison stretches, he earns money in some underground fights: using as his professional name, Charles Bronson. This film is packed with excellent performances across the board; unfortunately though, it's not enough. The narrative is choppy and uneven, and uses the pointless and annoying device of having the lead character address a live audience in order to "explain things". This isn't rocket science, and the conceit is both unnecessary and gimmicky. The film doesn't spend any time trying to explain his violent urges, although Bronson does claim on more than one occasion that he wants to be famous. We know it's not prison that did it to him since we see him pre-prison, pummeling a classmate at school. This guy is angry and after 90 minutes we never find out why. He eventually begins to explore his artistic side, and will soon become accomplished in this field: in addition to becoming a published writer. These facts are barely touched on in the film, and I have no idea why. A number of reviews have said that Bronson is some sort of modern A Clockwork Orange. A greater disservice to that outstanding film could not have been done. If the subject matter of this film interests you, you'd be much better off watching the endless stream of cable shows on prison life. Everyone I've ever seen has been more entertaining and illuminating than this one.

Rating - 1 Star

Whip It

2009-10-05T19:25:00.008-04:00

Drew Barrymore has been a successful and appealing actress for almost thirty years. Now, with Whip It, her directorial debut, she has shown that her skills extend to behind the camera as well. Ellen Page is Bliss Cavendar, stuck in a small Texas town, and pushed into local beauty pageants by her overbearing and determined mom (an excellent Marcia Gay Harden). Bliss wants something more, and, on an outing to nearby Austin she finds it; yes, you guessed it, Roller Derby. Actually the slight, fragile Ms. Page is the last person you would ever associate with this intensely physical sport, but, due to her skill in presenting her character, it all works quite well. This film is all about following your dreams and being your own person, and although these themes are common in many films, Whip It makes it seem as fresh as right now. This is all due to an engaging script, along with fine direction and acting. I might also add that it's great to see a film where women are the main characters, and where those characters are so appealing. Also, Jimmy Fallon as the arena's announcer provides some excellent comic relief to what is basically a serious film. Could this film predicate a Roller Derby revival? Of course not, but give this fine film a fling.

Rating - 3 Stars

Zombieland

2009-10-03T10:12:00.005-04:00

Zombieland supposes a world where Mad Cow disease has mutated to the point where most of humanity has been turned into a bunch of rotting, incoherent, flesh craving creatures. If this sounds like fun, well, it is. Woody Harrelson plays a good ole' boy zombie killer, who hooks up with Jessie Eisenberg, essentially playing his same character from Adventureland, except for the zombie killer part. He packs a shotgun, and a whole series of rules that he follows in order to stay alive. One rule that's especially prescient: keep those extra pounds off, you'll need to run fast. These two mismatched killers eventually meet up with Abigail Breslin and Emma Stone, two con artists, and they decide to travel together to LA to an amusement park that they've heard is a zombie free zone. Someone here must like like the "Vacation" movies. Woody's character is also looking for what could be the last box of Twinkies, and Jesse is just looking for some familial attachment, which he never felt from his real family. Along the way there's plenty of killing and destruction: and one amazing cameo. Zombieland, although not quite as good as Shaun of the Dead, still makes for a fine spoof, with a few genuine thrills thrown in.

Rating - 3 Stars

Bright Star

2009-10-01T18:29:00.005-04:00

Bright Star, the new film directed by Jane Campion, details the brief romance between poet John Keats, and girl next door, Fanny Brawne. In spite of some good acting by all of the principals, including Abbie Cornish as Fanny and Ben Whishaw as Keats, the film simply moves along at a snails pace. Initially, Fanny is unimpressed by Keats' poetic efforts, but they eventually grow close, and Fanny asks him to teach her about poetry and literature. Things get a little hotter, but since the film is rated PG, and Mr. Keats is not well for much of the film, much of their romantic activity consists of flowery verses and long looks. Okay, I'm not much of a poetry fan, and maybe that has tinged my critique to some degree, but frankly, this film just does not engage one enough to be truly worthwhile. This film is basically just a prestige production; without enough entertainment value.

Rating - 1 1/2 Stars

Surrogates

2009-09-28T15:14:00.009-04:00

In a world where many people use Facebook, email and Twitter to relate to their fellow earth inhabitants, it's not so much of a leap to assume that one day we would have little use for our own physical bodies. In Surrogates, such a world exists, where people go about their daily lives via their android selves, which they control safely from home via an electronic hook-up. These remote stations resemble high-tech lounging chairs, that people rarely have to move from. The android selves are perfect versions of their masters, or, look nothing like them at all; in fact, they can even look like Bruce Willis with blond hair. Surrogates is an example of a great idea, with mediocre execution. Instead of seriously addressing issues that such a technology would naturally raise, the film quickly turns into nothing more than a routine police procedural with cardboard characters; there are some twists, but nothing all that surprising or exciting. Too bad, since this area has a lot of potential for some interesting film making.

Rating - 2 Stars

The September Issue

2009-09-25T23:49:00.008-04:00

This is the type of movie that I would have never expected to see, but, at the insistence of my better half, I played the "good husband" and went along for the ride. Surprisingly enough, I totally enjoyed this film. For those who don't already know, the film chronicles the inner workings of Vogue magazine, that iconic fashion bible, and the making of it's September, or showcase, issue. Coming from someone whose interest and knowledge of fashion begins with Old, and ends with Navy, I was as surprised as anyone that what I thought would be an endurance test, turned out to be quite an enjoyable hour and a half. Anna Wintour, Vogue's iconic editor is ostensibly the star of the film, but it's Grace Coddington, Vogue's creative director, who's actually the most engrossing character profiled. Grace has an interesting back story, which I won't give away: which makes her quite a sympathetic character. Not that Ms. Wintour is shown in a bad light, on the contrary, she is shown as being fair-minded, and willing to delegate, but make no mistake about it: she always gets her way. The conflict between between Anna and Grace is a major story line throughout, and makes for some excellent drama. If you love fashion this film is a must see. If not, well you just might be pleasantly surprised.

Rating - 3 Stars

The Informant!

2009-09-19T08:40:00.011-04:00

The Informant is a lighthearted take on the price fixing scandal that ended up sending a number Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) executives to prison in the 90's. Matt Damon is Mark Whitacre, an ADM executive, who is seemingly outraged by ADM's practices, and as a result, goes to the FBI, where he becomes the "informant" of the title. As the story unfolds, it becomes obvious that Whitacre is a lot more complex than the wide eyed innocent that he seems to be. The film is quite funny in parts, especially when Whitacre muses to himself on various mundane matters or when he makes official announcements into the wire that he's wearing. It also drags at times too, due to an uneven script. The film, directed by Steven Soderbergh, also employs some unique music, at times almost carnival in nature; it works well within the context of the film, and adds much to it. Maybe this film would have been better if they decided to treat a serious subject seriously, instead of going the comic route. As it is, the film is only a partial success.

Rating - 2 1/2 Stars

Gamer

2009-09-17T15:47:00.009-04:00

Gamer tries to send a message about a society that increasingly devalues face to face interaction in favor of electronic and anonymous forms of communication. Okay, the message has been sent; now if only the messenger had been better. Gerard Butler, who shot to fame in 300, again plays a sweaty super warrior, although this time he's being controlled via a brain implant by a teenage gamer. He's in prison for life, unless of course he manages to survive 30 military style battles against other lifers, in which case he'll be paroled. We all know how these films work, he'll never really be paroled because it's not in the best interests of some evil behind the scenes power: in this film, that guy is played by Michael C. Hall: in full "ham" mode. He's the guy who invented this new game technology and he's as rich as he is bad. Kyra Sedgwick plays a smarmy talk show host, and she's basically just collecting a salary. The film has a couple of minor high points; the action scenes aren't bad, and Michael C. Hall is fun to watch, but, if I were you, I'd just stick with my Wii.

Rating - 2 Stars

My One and Only

2009-09-15T17:40:00.014-04:00

Loosely based on the mid-teen years of actor George Hamilton, My One and Only tells the story of his strong willed mother (Renee Zellweger), after she walks out on her band leader husband (Kevin Bacon). You really can't blame her, since she catches him at home with another woman, and after yanking her kids immediately out of school, heads off on a road trip in search of a new husband. She's sweet, and means well, but mom of the year she's not. Along the way she reconnects with some old relationships, and regardless of what happens, always emerges the stronger for it. Ms. Zellweger, who with her blond wig looks something like Marilyn Monroe, is somewhat of an enigma; at the same time she's looking for a husband to keep her, she also rejects all financial support from her ex-husband. Considering that she has kids in tow, maybe not the smartest move, but she's proud and independent, and feels that she's doing the best for herself and her two sons. This film was both funny and poignant, and quite enjoyable from start to finish. The performances from Ms. Zellweger, Logan Lerman (George), and Mark Rendall as her older son Robbie were all excellent. Mr. Bacon also does his usual fine job in his small caddish role, and despite his dalliances, and lacking as a father, always manages to engender sympathy for himself. Who would ever think that that the early life of a lightweight actor would make such an interesting and enjoyable film? See it, and be as surprised as I was.

Rating - 3 1/2 Stars

Beyond a Reasonable Doubt

2009-09-11T20:37:00.012-04:00

Beyond a Reasonable Doubt is a remake of a 1956 film noir; it's a film I haven't seen, although I'm sure that it's better than this incarnation. Not that this film doesn't have some entertainment value, although you'll have to put your suspension of disbelief skills in fifth gear in order to really enjoy it. Michael Douglas, in an extended cameo, plays a corrupt Louisiana DA who seems to be planting DNA evidence to gain convictions. His goal is the Governor's mansion, and based on his record as DA, he's the favorite. Jesse Metcalfe plays an investigative reporter for a local TV station who suspects what he's doing, and he sets out to prove it by framing himself for murder. Yes, you read that right, anything for a story. Amber Tamblyn plays a young assistant DA who's involved with Mr. Metcalfe's character, and since love is obviously more important to her than job security, she eventually decides to help him. Mr. Douglas does his usual professional job in his small role, and actually isn't onscreen enough to make a real impact. The rest of of the actors do a serviceable job, and honestly, I did "get into" the story as it moved on. In any event it's no surprise that this film was released in the "dumping ground" that usually follows close after Labor Day.

Rating - 2 Stars

The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard

2009-09-08T19:04:00.011-04:00

In The Goods, Jeremy Piven leads a group of gonzo mercenary car salesmen who traipse around the country rescuing floundering dealerships. His current stop is in the small town of Temecula, where he hopes to save Ben Selleck's (James Brolin) dealership from bankruptcy with a three day July 4th sales blow-out. As Don Ready, he's all confidence and swagger as he doesn't hesitate to use any method he can think of to sell cars; this includes, but is not limited to, lying about Ben having cancer in order to generate sympathy. He's assisted by his most able, as well as morally compromised team, consisting of Ving Rhames, David Koechner and Kathryn Hahn. This film is as funny as it is politically incorrect; racial and ethnic epithets are liberally sprinkled throughout, and Ms. Hahn even makes a play for Ben's ten year old son. Okay, the ten year old (Rob Riggle) has a pituitary problem so he's actually a ten year old in the body of a grown man so I guess that makes it just fine; it's certainly hysterical though to watch her put the moves on this man-child who's more interested in his action figures than in actually getting some. Mr. Piven and the cast all do well with some solid material, and Will Ferrell, who produced also has a great cameo.

Rating - 3 Stars

Extract

2009-09-04T21:45:00.010-04:00

Mike Judge, the writer/director of the cult classic Office Space has created another highly entertaining workplace comedy in Extract. Jason Bateman stars as Joel, the owner of a food flavoring factory who has the unenviable task of dealing with some of the most unmotivated and dullest workers imaginable. If they're truly representative of the American labor force then it's no wonder that this country produces very little anymore. To add to his troubles, his best worker lost one of his testicles in an industrial accident, and as a result has a big lawsuit looming over his head. His home life is not much better. His wife Suzie ( a perfect Kristen Wiig) is bored and has seemingly no interest in having sex with him, and he's constantly being annoyed by his clinging neighbor (David Koechner). He wants to have an an affair, but in order to assuage his guilt he arranges for a gigolo to approach Suzie: if she takes the bait he'll make his move on Cindy (Mila Kunis), a hot temp at the factory, who also steals and cons whenever she gets the chance.
Although not quite as outright hilarious as Office Space, this film is quite funny. Jason Bateman has made a nice career for himself playing "dry", and in Extract, he's in excellent form as the put upon good guy. Ben Affleck also does well in a supporting role as Joel's best friend Dean, a stoner and ad hoc pimp. Dustin Milligan is hysterical as Brad the gigolo, and he's as thick as he is handsome, and almost steals the film. In spite of all the cynicism on display, the film still has an optimism about it that belies the actions of the individual characters: yes, this is a feel-good film in spite of itself.

Rating - 3 Stars