Crunch On This!

Alice in Wonderland

Danny Minton — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:04:00 GMT

Alice in Wonderland

Starring Mia Wasakowska, Johnny Depp, and Helena Bonham Carter
Directed by Tim Burton
Rated PG for fantasy action/violence involving scary images and situations, and for a smoking caterpillar
Appropriate for ages 8+

    Set many years after the events of the first Alice tale, Alice is now twenty and on the verge of being proposed to by a boorish, snobbish Englishman at a party being held in her honor. When put on the spot, she runs off into the countryside and follows a rabbit down a hole. Upon entering the new magical dreamworld, she discovers that the inhabitants of this Underland have all been impatiently awaiting her arrival and desperately need her help in defeating the dreaded Red Queen.

    I doubt there are many movie fans out there that weren't looking forward to this new Burton/Depp teaming and the early indications all showed that it had masterpiece potential written all over it. Certainly the new Wonderland has a fresh look that is remarkable and bizarre, just as you would expect from a Burton film. But we saw that in the trailers, commercials, and in half of the magazines and papers we've been reading over the last two months. Where Burton could really win was in the script, and here he didn't. The story is straight forward, predictable, and completely disappointing. Rather than a quirky, fun, innovative Alice, we get Alice goes to Narnia.

    My question is - why didn't Burton and crew choose to just simply do a Burtonesque remake of the original material? I just don't get this new incarnation from Disney screenwriter Linda Woolverton (The Lion King). It fits the Disney mold, but frankly, I didn't want to see Burton make a Disney girl power film. I wanted to see Burton make a film that was merely bankrolled by the mouse house, who would then leave him alone. This creation is nice to look at but lacks energy, curiosity, or any kind of emotional draw.

    Where the film does impress is in the special effects, especially when viewed in 3D. They didn't push the limitations, like Avatar succeeded in doing, but there is eye candy galore to be found on screen. Also, the closing credit sequence was probably my favorite five minutes of the film, and I'm not being sarcastic. While the names are posting in the center, there is a frame of vines and flowers growing and blooming progressively off of the screen, all set to Danny Elfman's beautiful and haunting score. The look is surreal and one of the most amazing effects I've seen in a movie. C+

New on DVD

Danny Minton — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 21:58:00 GMT

New on DVD

Cold Souls
Rated R for nudity and brief strong language
Available on DVD
Paul Giamatti, playing himself, is on the verge of performing Chekov's play Uncle Vanya when he comes to the realization that his soul is too heavy and getting in the way of performing the part. In an attempt to lighten his load, he removes his soul at a soul storage facility and has it securely locked away. When he realizes that he needs his soul in order to properly continue on, he discovers it has been stolen by a Russian soul trafficker in St. Petersburg. Deeply influenced by Charlie Kaufman's Being John Malkovich, Cold Souls is a unique and bizarre experience that does more philosophical questioning than entertaining. There are some terrific comedic moments here and Giamatti is an amazing actor, but while the film is strange it is not as quirky as you would expect. It also feels like a movie with a great premise, a promising story, but then no way to end it or form resolution. It's likable and somewhat memorable, but not distinguished. B

Gentlemen Broncos
Rated PG-13 for some crude humor
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
From Napoleon Dynamite director Jared Hess comes this oddball comedy about a high school sci-fi writer whose book is plagiarized by a pseudo-famous author who has run out of ideas. With the same amateurish look and feel of Napoleon Dynamite, the artistry of the filmmaking is a step backward for Hess, but the weirdness of the picture at least keeps everything interesting enough to get you through the 90 minutes without hating it. Flight of the Conchord's Jemaine Clement is perfectly cast as the conniving writer and has some very funny moments, although the rest of the actors look a little uncomfortable with the filming style. C-

Old Dogs
Rated PG for some mild rude humor
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
John Travolta and Robin Williams are two best friends who are charged with the care of seven-year-old twins, right as they are on the verge of a huge business deal. If the rottentomatoes.com core of 6% doesn't scare you away, then just watch the trailer for this horrific waste of talent and money. Old Dogs takes a tired formula and gives two uninterested actors a paycheck to perform it. The film is not as bad as it looks in the two minute trailer - it's worse. Those were the good parts used to try to sell the film. And for those of you insisting that you just need a good clean family film - there are plenty of other decent options. Showing bad films like this to kids just because their clean ultimately leads to creating an undiscerning audience that eventually can't tell a good movie from bad. My advice - skip this one and wait for the next two weeks when Princess and the Frog and the Fantastic Mr. Fox hit video shelves. You may not care what kinds of movies your kids like - but I certainly do. F

Cop Out

Danny Minton — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 04:01:00 GMT

Cop Out

Starring Bruce Willis, Tracy Morgan, and Seann William Scott
Directed by Kevin Smith (Clerks)
Rated R for pervasive language including sexual references, violence and brief sexuality
Appropriate for ages 18+

    Bruce Willis is a cop whose prize baseball card is stolen just as he was about to sell it to pay for his daughter's wedding. Although they were both suspended, he recruits his partner, Tracy Morgan, to help track down the memorabilia-obsessed drug kingpin that possesses it.

    I am still puzzled as to what exactly this film is. There are times when it takes itself seriously, but then there are many scenes that are straight out parody, so much so that I thought it should have been called Cop Movie instead of the chosen title. Now if the film had stuck with this formula, and kept Bruce Willis in the lead, it could have been pretty decent, but when it suddenly tries to take itself seriously and make itself into a cop action comedy, it becomes too ridiculous to work. Whether it's the interrogation where Morgan pretends he is in the movie Jaws or when he is sitting in his chief's office wearing a cell phone suit, the stupidity works if you stick with it and keep making fun of films like Lethal Weapon and Beverly Hills Cop, but when the consistency drops, the whole thing doesn't make sense. Unfortunately, this movie just kept a horrendous plot with an ill-conceived storyline and the hope that the laughs would keep the seats filled.

    Fortunately for the movie, there are some funny moments. Morgan is a really talented comedian and probably deserves a leading role, maybe one better than this, but he is basically a gun-toting version of the Tracy you know from 30 Rock. The real scene stealer in this film is Seann William Scott who turns in a great performance as a thief they have interactions with. He gets most of the laughs in the film and really comes across as one of the stars, although he puts out very little screen time. Also good for the comedy here is director Kevin Smith, who knows how to craft a joke better than he knows how to craft a story. While he didn't write this film, it feels like one he could have written, aside from the stronger production values. C

New on DVD

Danny Minton — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 21:42:00 GMT

New on DVD

Where the Wild Things Are
Rated PG for mild thematic elements, some adventure and brief language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Based on Maurice Sendak's classic children's book, Wild Things follows a rebellious young boy named Max as he runs away from home and finds himself on an island filled with dangerous monsters that befriend him. Director Spike Jonze (Adaptation) unleashes all of his creative prowess in this live-action fantasy that is at times weird, but always interesting. Artistically, it is one of the most intriguing films of 2009, full of imagination and eye-popping wonder. At times, though, it gets a little repetitive, but forgivably so. I'm not so sure this is a film for young kids, but rather older kids, teenagers and even college students will probably love it. A-

2012
Rated PG-13 for intense disaster sequences and some language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
The Earth as we know it is coming to an end, as predicted by the Mayan calendar, and only a few people know it. One of those people is John Cusack and he must rescue his kids and ex-wife before and bring them to safety before they are taken down with the rest of the planet. Story-wise, this isn't the greatest film ever made. The escapes are very repetitive with each successive plane take-off barely making it and way too many close calls. Also, logic issues abound which will leave you scratching your head throughout. That being said, the special effects are what folks are most interested in here and they are spectacular and plentiful, even if they don't make much sense all the time. If you really want to add some gravity to the silliness, wait till The Road comes out and watch the films back to back, pretending the latter is the sequel. C

Ponyo
Rated G
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Master animator Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away) tells the tale of a five-year-old boy that befriends a goldfish princess, who is the escaped daughter of great wizard and a sea goddess. If you've seen any of his other films, you know that his storytelling is as eccentric as his animation style. This story, inspired by The Little Mermaid, is for the most part mesmerizing, but at the same time really, really strange. Dubbed into English from it's original Japanese with a host of great voice talent such as Liam Neeson, Cate Blanchett, and Matt Damon, the film is very accessible for all ages. Kids just need their imagination. Adults might need a few drinks. B-

Shutter Island

Danny Minton — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 06:36:00 GMT

Shutter Island

Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, and Ben Kingsley
Directed by Martin Scorsese
Rated R for disturbing violent content, language and some nudity
Appropriate for ages 17+

    In 1954, U.S. Marshall Teddy Daniels travels to a hospital for the criminally insane on the very remote Shutter Island to search for a missing inmate. When he finds the staff there to be less than cooperative, he attempts to investigate without their help, until he discovers that they might have lured him there to the island for some other sinister purpose.

    There are so many things to like about this movie that it's hard to pick where to start. I think the obvious first praise has to go to DiCaprio and the rest of the magnificent cast for their performances. This film gathered some of the top talent in Hollywood, which really does make a huge difference with such challenging material.

    And then there is the craftsmanship of Scorsese who is really stretching out with this picture that looks and feels more like a modern-day Hitchcock or Kubrick picture than something he is capable of making this well. At times it gives the real sense of a horror film, but at heart it is a psychological thriller that really plays with your head. Scorsese's touch is straight forward in the real world and fantastical with the dream sequences and when the two begin to become entangled, the movie really pulls you in and doesn't release.

    Most importantly here is the story by Dennis Lehane (Mystic River), with screenplay by Laeta Kalogridis. With so many films of late trying to fool you, you kind of know when you're up against one that isn't on the level. I have been trying to figure this one out since I saw the trailer, and although I kept guessing till the end, I was blown away, so much so that I can't wait to see it again, just to see where I missed the clues. My suggestion - just enjoy the bumpy ride and don't get your brain all worked up trying to guess what it's all about. A

New on DVD

Danny Minton — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 05:45:00 GMT

New on DVD

The Informant!
Rated R for language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Matt Damon gives a highly underrated performance in this hilarious based-on-a-true-story comedy about an executive in the agriculture business that turns informant to the FBI, only to find himself getting himself into hotter and hotter water. Screenwriter Scott Burns took a semi-serious book by Kurt Eichenwald and, through a random-thought inner dialog spoken by Damon, brought out a dimension of the film that made the movie a purely enjoyable experience. Masterfully directed by Stephen Soderbergh, the film is well paced and keeps throwing you surprises left and right. And after all the dust has settled and I've seen all of the films for 2009, I am still holding tight that Damon not only deserved to be nominated for an Oscar this year for The Informant! (which he did not), but he should have won as well. A

Dead Snow
Unrated
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Norwegian with English subtitles
A group of Norwegian medical students heads to a remote cabin in the woods for a winter holiday only to find that the area is haunted by Nazi zombies. Unlike 2008's Outpost starring Rome's Ray Stevenson, Dead Snow chooses to have a little more fun with the story and creates a tale with almost as much comedy as gory violence. While this is an IFC release, this is not smart film making in the least, but it can be described as an innovative and peculiar way to represent the zombie genre, with loads of laughs and I-can't-believe-they-just-did-that moments. I can easily see this becoming a big cult classic around colleges nationwide. B-

Lock n' Load with R. Lee Ermey: The Complete Season One
Unrated
Available on DVD
Gunnery Sergeant, drill instructor, Vietnam veteran, and larger-than-life actor R. Lee Ermey (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre) shows us 4 DVDs worth of weapons, from pistols to tanks to rockets, in this addictive little History Channel original program. Beginning with the origins of each weapon of discussion, he takes the audience on a journey of discovery of how the weapons evolved, the impact they have had, and through advanced high-speed photography and 3D graphics, he shows the details you've always wanted to know but were afraid to ask. B-

Everybody's Fine
Rated PG-13 for thematic elements and brief strong language
Available on DVD
Robert De Niro is a widowed father that wants to see his kids again, so he takes a trip on a bus to see his adult children, one-by-one, all over the United States, only to find that the surprise visits are challenging for the startled hosts. You'd think that with a title like this and the smiles on the DVD cover, that this might be a boring, feel-good film. Well if you did, you thought wrong. This is a tough, challenging film about a lonely man coping with family issues that you could never see coming. I really liked the direction this film took and even though you watch it not being prepared for the dark places it takes you, it gets you out just fine and rewards your patience. The cast is strong here, but De Niro is especially at his best, giving an emotionally impactful performance that is a far cry from his usual fare. A-

The Wolfman

Danny Minton — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 22:46:00 GMT

The Wolfman

Starring Benicio Del Toro, Anthony Hopkins, and Emily Blunt
Directed by Joe Johnston (Hidalgo)
Rated R for bloody horror violence and gore
Appropriate for ages 17+

    Stage actor Lawrence Talbot (Del Toro) returns to his ancestral home land upon hearing that his brother was murdered. While out looking for the murderer, he is bitten, and subsequently cursed by, a werewolf. Desperate to protect his brother's fiance (Blunt) and haunted by his family's past, Lawrence finds himself a danger to both himself and everyone around him once the full moon appears.

    Just like the duality of the Wolfman himself, there is a wild and crazy fun part to this movie and a serious, dull, lifeless partition as well. When it's scary it you are truly on edge. The attacks are fast and furious and full of realism. The special effects and sound mixing are both crazy good which makes the film even more frightening when it needs to be. Hopkins makes for an excellent wild card character, although too much of the story is given away in the trailer that should have been left for the film. Some will find the violence to be a little too much for them and I strongly advise the squeamish not to attend this one.

    But then there are the moments when he is human and those are the times when you just want to take a restroom or refreshment break. There is an attempt by the filmmakers to make it seem like the movie is moving in fast forward, but not even that is overly helpful. Maybe the boredom comes because we are so used to the goings on in a film such as this. After all, the story here is not exactly breaking new ground as we have seen it over and over and over again. It's hard to make a remake of the original Wolfman and freshen it up by just adding modern special effects and production values. Now granted, the story here is slightly slanted from the original 1941 tale, but the conventions are largely the same.

    Production-wise, the look and feel of the film are pretty terrific. The cinematography by Shelly Johnson (Hidalgo), and the score by composer Danny Elfman (Spiderman) give the movie a wonderfully eerie ambiance that the film will probably be best known for years from now. B-

New on DVD

Danny Minton — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 19:09:00 GMT

New on DVD

Black Dynamite
Rated R for sexuality/nudity, language, some violence and drug content
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
This parody of 1970 blaxploitation films stars Michael Jai White as Black Dynamite, an ex-CIA operative that seeks revenge for his brother's death when he is killed working undercover on a drug sting. Unlike other, more expensively produced parodies such as Undercover Brother and I'm Gonna Get You Sucka, Dynamite has fun reproducing the actual look and feel of the original genre with a premise that is too ridiculous to be believed. Microphones getting in the way of shots, stunts going wrong and remaining in the film, bad acting, worse writing, and all of the whacked out racial stereotypes abound in this low-budget production. This is not only one of the most clever films of the last year, but one of the funniest as well. Some of the scenes had me in absolute stitches and forced me to rewind due to laughing over some of the dialogue. While the ending is completely over the top, I still found it very enjoyable and refreshing. Also, this film allowed me to finally forgive Michael Jai White for that atrocious performance in The Dark Knight. A-

Coco Before Chanel
Rated PG-13 for sexual content and smoking
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Before she launched a fashion empire, Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel started from humble beginnings and this story follows her rise to the top, but not further. Audrey Tautou (Amelie) stars as the iconic designer whose complicated romantic affairs allowed her to do what she ended up being most famous for. The film is a little slow, but even though I'm not the most fascinated by the fashion world, I still found myself very interested. The performances were all very good, as is to be expected from a cast including one of the world's most extraordinary actresses. The production here is phenomenal with stunning cinematography and an exquisite musical score by Oscar-nominated composer Alexandre Desplat (Julie and Julia). Story-wise, the film chose fiction over fact in many facets of her life in order to tighten the script, but this is forgivable as long as you understand that movies sometimes bend the truth to shape what works best for the script. B+

Spirit Camp
Unrated but contains sexuality/nudity, graphic violence, and language
Available on DVD
Local filmmaker Kerry Beyer writes, directs, and stars in this low-budget indie horror flick filmed in Houston and just outside Cleveland, TX. This cross between cheerleader and slasher-camp genres follows a group of beautiful young cheerleaders as they head to cheerleader camp deep in the woods. The film delivers exactly what you expect: young cheerleaders, lots of violence, all with a B-movie look and feel. With any luck, Houston might have itself a budding horror film star in Kerry. Available right now only on www.spiritcampmovie.com.

Creation

Danny Minton — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 03:24:00 GMT

Creation

Starring Paul Bettany, Jennifer Connelly, and Jeremy Northam
Directed by Jon Amiel (The Core)
Rated PG-13 for some intense thematic material
Opens at the Angelika Film Center on February 12
Appropriate for ages 15+

    Creation tells the story of Charles Darwin and how he came to publish The Origin of Species, the book that introduced to the world the theory of evolution. Haunted by the death of his daughter, pressured by a very religious wife that doesn't wish for him to publish, and tortured by the thought of how God might judge him should he complete his work, Darwin pushes on like a confused and tormented soul.

    The life of Charles Darwin is a very interesting one, especially told with some of these elements present here. The dilemma is that the way this picture is put together is so melodramatic, confusing, and poorly paced that it takes away from the elements of the story that work so well. I'm sure Darwin's life was was tough, but this film shows it to be nothing short of devastating and depressing. And the storytelling is so hard to follow at times, going back and forth between past, present, and scenes involving he and his dead daughter, that you leave exhausted just thinking about it. Trying to be clever or innovative certainly did not pay off in this case.

    What I did like about the story is Darwin's guilt over what kind of revolution he may set off with his book. In modern-day we often see Darwin as the father of atheism and that is simply not true. I remember arguing with my Zoology professor in college with my highlighted copy of Origins that Darwin, while not exactly a preacher, showed evidence of a belief pattern that was far from negating the existence of God. This movie represents forces in his life pushing him in that direction, but a real dread of that conviction.

    As far as Darwin as a naturalist, I much prefer to think of him as Bettany did in his role as the Galapagos visiting doctor in Master and Commander to this more historically correct figure, if it is indeed more correct. C+

New on DVD

Danny Minton — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 01:58:00 GMT

New on DVD

A Serious Man
Rated R for language, some sexuality/nudity, and brief violence
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
This low budget dark comedy by the Coen brothers (No Country For Old Men) follows a 1960's Midwestern professor whose life is falling apart around him. His wife wants to leave him and expects him to be very OK with the proposition. His money problems are mounting up on him. He has a student attempting to blackmail him when he doesn't accept a bribe. His son is a pothead who even gets stoned on the day of his Bat Mitzvah. His loser brother spends all of his time in their only bathroom, which puts a huge strain on their entire family. There are some that think that this is a retelling of the book of Job from the Bible. Others have even more detailed observances of the meanings of each of the picture's little quirks. The message boards are a blast to read with everyone having different insights and they are all correct in their own heads. All I know is that I enjoyed it thoroughly. The Coen brothers have such a unique filmmaking and storytelling style and this one is prime proof. Watching the making of documentary, it doesn't appear that the brothers had such deep thoughts as the folks in the audience, but regardless, it's a clever, funny, ridiculous adventure that is very worthy of its Oscar nom for best picture this year. I strongly advise to catch the short feature Hebrew and Yiddish for Goys which will teach you what you need to know to translate the film correctly. A

Couples Retreat
Rated PG-13 for sexual content and language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Vince Vaughn, Jon Favreau, and Jason Bateman lead an all star cast of four couples that are tricked into going to Bora Bora for what they think will be a vacation, but in reality turns out to be couples therapy. There is so much talent here that I am perplexed how this got to be such a mediocre film. These guys all know comedy well. They all have great timing. Favreau and Vaughn have proven their writing skills in the past. So maybe the beauty of Bora Bora was just too much for them? There were a few decent one-liners that got through and the pro-marriage message was admirable, but why did it have to be so absolutely stupid and overall unfunny? C-

Amelia
Rated PG for some sensuality, language, thematic elements and smoking
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Hillary Swank is Amelia Earhart, the legendary female pilot that disappeared somewhere in the Pacific Ocean as she attempted fly around the world. While it's an overly long, horribly paced, and extremely boring look at the icon, Swank plays the part well and I like the history lesson, though I wish it were a little more exciting or at least interesting. Great cinematography and a lush musical score are the highlights of the film, but can't overcome the poor directing by Mira Nair, who should have been less concerned with making an epic and more concerned with telling a decent story. C-

Dare
Rated R for sexual content, language, and alcohol use - all involving teens
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Emmy Rossum is a do-no-wrong high schooler that wants to be an actress. When an actor she respects tells her that she has to actually live more uncomfortably to be a great actress, she starts having sex, partying, and doing things that go against the way she was raised. The film takes some turns that don't really make a lot of sense, like her moving in with her gay male friend when her parents feel she is acting up too much. But that being said, I think some parents might like to watch just due to the fact that it's a pretty real look at what kinds of messes kids get into when parents aren't around. Some might find the homosexual sex scenes very uncomfortable, but I'm convinced that there's a touch of realism here pertinent to what kids are pressured with today. B-

Edge of Darkness

Danny Minton — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 06:11:00 GMT

Edge of Darkness

Starring Mel Gibson, Ray Winstone, and Danny Huston
Directed by Martin Campbell (Casino Royale)
Rated R for strong bloody violence and language
Appropriate for ages 17+

    After an eight-year hiatus, Mel Gibson returns to acting as a Boston cop whose daughter is brutally killed in front of him. While the world thinks he was the target of the deadly crime, he sets off an investigation to discover who might want his daughter dead and the answers lead him to an unimaginable conclusion.

    I have to admit, this film surprised me. I felt that the trailers sold it as an R-rated version of Taken, with Mel getting his vengeance on a plethora of baddies in heinous ways for what they did to his daughter. This film is far from that. Don't get me wrong, it has its share of Mel committing violence, but the movie is not about violence, which is how it's being sold. Mel is simply a father that wants to know the truth and he finds out too much. The theme is stated very shortly after his daughter's death as he is pouring her ashes into the ocean telling her "I'll be with you shortly honey." He's a man that now has nothing to lose and knows that the direction he is going only has one destination.

    But the movie turns out to be even more than that. With a subplot involving a secret agent (Winstone) the movie turns out to deliver a sharp, resounding message about our political system, special interests, and the potential of America. It's a deeper and more thought-provoking film than I could have expected or imagined.

    The acting for the most part is pretty solid, although Mel's accent is thick Bostonian in some scenes and not so much in others. Also, the film is far from boring, but the film does lag in spots. Then again, like a rocket taking off, there are some moments that had my heart racing seconds later as well. A-

New on DVD

Danny Minton — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 05:18:00 GMT

New on DVD

Whip It
Rated PG-13 for sexual content including crude dialogue, language and drug material
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Drew Barrymore makes her directorial debut in this feel good sports comedy about a young girl, played expertly by Juno's Ellen Page, who decides to end her mother's dream of becoming a beauty queen in small town Texas, in order to make it big in Austin's roller derby scene. While completely predictable, the film is very charming, funny and extremely well-acted by the very talented cast including Barrymore, Marcia Gay Harden, Daniel Stern, and SNL's Kristen Wiig. And capturing some of the quirkiness of both small town Texas as well as Austin, the film will be pleasantly familiar to most folks reading this column. A-

The House of the Devil
Rated R for some bloody violence
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Set in the early 80's in both time and style, this indie horror pic follows a young college girl who thinks she is being hired to be a babysitter, only to find out that a Satanic cult has other plans for her. There's not a lot of jump out and scare you moments, but the suspense here is very frightening throughout as you just wait for something very bad to happen at any second. Writer/director Ti West had a little too much fun making the movie look like it was filmed 30 years ago, but had I not known in advance that the film was made this last year, I might have thought it was an authentic 80's cult pic. B

New York, I Love You
Rated R for sexual content
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
One of the current trends in independent cinema right now is to take a breathtaking city and have some of the world's greatest directors and actors tells their short stories within it in order to give a sense of the city from many directions and viewpoints. In 2006 we saw Paris, je taime, and now a few years later, New York, I Love You (Jerusalem and Rio are said to be next and who knows, maybe Houston will get one someday). This film follows many different love stories from directors such as Mira Nair (Amelia), Brett Ratner (Rush Hour), and even Natalie Portman tries her hand behind the camera. Actors include Bradley Cooper, Shia LaBeouf, Orlando Bloom, and a full assortment of other A-list actors wanting to get in on the game. It's very artsy, but the different slices of New York life come together in a fascinating way that make the film fairly entertaining. Some of the stories were a bit too weird to fit into this film, but I loved the overall feel and energy. B-

Extraordinary Measures

Danny Minton — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 06:23:00 GMT

Extraordinary Measures

Starring Brendan Fraser, Harrison Ford, and Keri Russell
Directed by Tom Vaughan (What Happens in Vegas)
Rated PG for thematic material, language and a mild suggestive moment
Appropriate for all ages

    Based on a true story, Fraser and Russell are parents to two children with an incurable disease that will most likely take their lives before they hit their teens. Fraser enlists the support of a researcher from the University of Nebraska (played by Ford) that is doing research that could be the answer to a cure for their children. Together, the two of them set off to raise enough money to start a biotech company in order develop a product that might save his children and thousands more like them that would die otherwise.

    I'll just get this out of the way since everyone has been saying it - yes this is totally 'movie of the week' material. It probably didn't deserve the big screen treatment it got and although Ford's character tries to throw in a bit of conflict to keep things interesting, it just isn't meant for 'the movies.'

    That being said - it's a darn high quality movie of the week. The acting by all is far above what you would have gotten normally in a film such as this as are the production values. If the goal is to get the story out there in grand fashion, I can't think of a better platform than what they chose and it's a gusty move putting a movie like this into theaters competing with what most folks consider to be popcorn-worthy pictures.

    One thing a lot of folks may or may not like is how manipulative it is. This film sets out to make you cry - a lot. And even I had to fight it back a couple of times. It's very difficult to watch children dying (even children acting like they are dying) and not have an emotional response. But this starts to get sappy after a while.

    Also, the story has to follow a predictable path, I fully understand that, which means it's important for the hero to lose everything at the end of the second act, but I have a feeling that most of the audience will be a little confused as well as depressed since the science-heavy talk abounds at the same time the hero is at his lowest. They tried to keep this simple, but I know a lot about the health sciences field having worked in it for much of my life, and even I had to concentrate.

    So my advice to you is if you feel like a nice and inspirational Hallmark commercial of a family movie that will have you crying yet leave you feeling good at the end, check it out. Otherwise, wait a bit and it will be the 'movie of the week' on TV in no time. C+

New on DVD

Danny Minton — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 05:33:00 GMT

New on DVD

WWII in HD
Unrated but contains some graphic violence and adult language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
We've all seen many World War II documentaries, but I can honestly say that you will be astonished at what lies in this set of 10 episodes chronicling the great war. Most footage of the war was shot in black and white, but the filmmakers spent two years on a world-wide search of any existing color film that might exist and what they found was that much of it was practically pristine since it had never been seen before. Gary Sinise narrates the story of the war, mostly told from the point of view of a dozen individuals that experienced the war first-hand. While some of the material is extremely graphic and disturbing, this series is visually the most impressive account of the war I have ever seen and one of the History Channel's crowning achievements. I started with medium expectations and was completely blown away. A

Surrogates
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence, disturbing images, language, and a drug-related scene
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Bruce Willis is a cop in the future where folks don't ever have to leave their house, but instead they just live their lives through a robotic surrogate that does everything for them. When a weapon turns up that has the ability to kill humans through their surrogates, Willis must find the inventor of the weapon and stop them before they destroy every human who owns a surrogate. While Willis is way too old to play this part, it's still not a bad piece of sci-fi, even if it does get a bit silly at times. The plot gets a little convoluted in order to try to convince the audience it's a smart film, but it is overly predictable and does not play as well on a second viewing. The preachiness is also extremely annoying, especially if you've seen it once already. C

Pontypool
Not Rated but contains graphic violence
Available on DVD
This indie intellectual zombie flick follows a DJ in the small Canadian town of Pontypool where the citizens have suddenly started turning into mindless killing creatures from a virus being spread through language. For most of the film it's just he and two employees in the studio trying to figure out what's going on with a town gone mad. Eventually the zombies come but it never really gets that scary or violent. It almost plays out like an old-fashioned radio show that you would get more pleasure listening to than watching. That being said, there is a radio show version of the story on the DVD. Overall, it's pretty funny and fairly intriguing, but I never really got into it that intensely. B-

Pride & Prejudice
Rated PG for some mild thematic elements
Available on Blu-ray
I usually don't discuss catalog titles when they become newly available on Blu-ray, but this is one of my favorites so I thought I'd give it a mention. Joe Wright's multi-Oscar nominated version of the Jane Austen classic pairs Keira Knightly vs. Matthew Macfadyen as the stubborn lovers, but what makes this film so special is the lovely cinematography of Roman Osin, the spectacular vision of director Joe Wright and the sweeping score of Dario Marianelli. And if you ever want to show off your new LED or LCD home theater setup just turn to 1 hour and 19 minutes into the film and crank up the volume. I can't think of a more awe-inspiring movie sequence you could turn to. A

Crazy Heart

Danny Minton — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 06:43:00 GMT

Crazy Heart

Starring Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Colin Farrell
Rated R for language and brief sexuality
Appropriate for ages 17+

    Bad Blake (Bridges) is a broken-down, hard-drinking country singer from Houston that has had a tough life on the road and it has finally caught up to him. A light appears at the end of his tunnel though when he meets and falls for a young journalist (Gyllenhaal) that could be just what he needs to pull himself out of the mess he's allowed himself to get into.

    Story-wise, the film is very similar to last year's film The Wrestler. There's the down and out male lead with potential and the single mother he falls for that could be his salvation. That being said, the movie doesn't have nearly the quality of story or the heart of the Mickey Rourke vehicle, but what it does have is a tremendous performance by the amazing Jeff Bridges. Bridges seems so at home with this character that it almost appears he was born to play it. As an outside observer you really want this character to rise above and get the girl and you really feel the pain when he screws up over and over again.

    Just as impressive as the acting by Bridges though, is the wonderful soundtrack with an impressive assortment of music compiled by T-Bone Burnett, the same fellow that brought us Across the Universe and O Brother, Where Art Thou? It seems that whenever you hear a soundtrack that you just have to go out and buy afterward, this man's name is on the label. So far the song 'The Weary Kind' by he and Ryan Bingham has already scored a Critics' Choice Movie Award and a Golden Globe and will probably be the front runner for the Oscar.

    While the movie itself isn't as impressive as its parts, it is still a darn good film and between its country roots and the fact that part of it takes place in Houston, you'll probably feel a strong connection. A-

New on DVD

Danny Minton — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 04:50:00 GMT

New on DVD

The Invention of Lying
Rated PG-13 for language including some sexual material including and a drug reference
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
In an alternate reality where there is no such thing as a lie, Ricky Gervais is having a tough time with his life until he realizes that if he just makes stuff up, people believe whatever he says. With his new powers, he becomes amazingly wealthy, writes the greatest movie the world has ever known, and invents an all-knowing "man in the sky" who controls the destiny of everyone. The movie starts out with a clever premise, but Gervais's agenda of disproving religion becomes such a theme of the movie that it gets to be a huge distraction. If you've ever seen one of his stand-up routines you know that he is one of the most aggressively atheist actors in Hollywood and it doesn't take long for you to understand that this film is simply a love letter to his own special religion. If the film could have been funny, then at least I could have said offensive but funny, but for me it was neither. Instead it was just kind of a sad and pathetic attempt at filmmaking. D

Smokin' Aces 2: Assassins' Ball
Rated R for bloody violence and language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
What was originally pegged as a prequel to the box-office dud Smokin' Aces is now a straight-to-DVD release as a sequel, although it really bares no connection, aside from one minor character, to the first. In this film, several assassins are all given the same assignment: kill a soon-to-be-retired FBI desk jockey who know too much. The Feds put him into hiding, but these assassins, some talented and some just crazy, all converge on the hideout to try to collect on the bounty. It's an extremely violent, badly written, poorly acted, b-film that will have most women leaving the room and most men admitting they were right to do so. The good news - it's short. The bad news - it's poorly paced so it feels long. But then again, what did you expect from such a film. That might just be what you are looking for at Blockbuster on a Friday night. D-

The Simpsons: The Complete Twentieth Season
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
It's hard to believe that it's been twenty years since this show hit the air. I was in high school when we would watch The Simpsons, Married with Children, and Living Color back to back. I don't think any of would have ever thought there was a chance that the show could still be going strong and still creating high-quality comedy over twice my age later. This twentieth year is full of great political material including George W. Bush's last year in the White House as well as Obama's first, Bart trading places with his doppleganger, the family buying a pub in Ireland, and border disputes with a neighboring town. The material seems almost as fresh as day one and some of the episodes had me laughing myself sick. The biggest plus of all - this was the first season The Simpsons were made and available in hi-def. There's nothing like crappy animation in big, bold, beautiful hi-def! A

Whiteout
Rated R for violence, grisly images, brief strong language and some nudity
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
This will be the last time I discuss this Kate Beckinsale stinker in my column, I swear. But in case you missed my last mention, this pic follows Kate as a U.S. Marshall in Antarctica hot on the trails of a murderer. It's just bad from start to finish and aside from the laughable opening shower sequence, there is not a redeeming quality to be found. Most comical of all is that while only about 100 minutes, the film seems to last forever due to horrible pacing and the fact that the cold slows the chase and fight scenes down to a freezing crawl. F

Pandorum
Rated R for strong horror violence and language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
When Ben Foster wakes up in his cryo chamber in deep space, he discovers that something is wrong with his ship and that there is an evil on board killing what's left of the thousands of survivors. His co-captain, Dennis Quaid, attempts to guide him through the ship by radio to get things going in the right direction again so that they all can survive. This movie died a quick death in theaters, in large part I think to the fact that they went to market without letting any press in to screen it, but it's really not a bad film if you are a hard core sci-fi junkie. It begs the question "what would happen if you put the film The Descent in space?" Granted, that was already kind of done with the Alien series, but at least here the creatures are somewhat humanoid. The film is by no means as good or scary as The Descent (you must see if you haven't already), but it had me going and I liked the twist at the end. Some of the writing didn't make a whole lot of sense, but maybe it would in multiple viewings. B-

Fame
Rated PG for thematic material including teen drinking, a sexual situation and language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
This update of the original 1980 film follows the lives of a group of students at the New York City High School of Performing Arts as they go through their Freshmen through Senior years. Some of it is motivational and inspirational, just like the original movie, and some of it is as cheesy and silly as High School Musical. Personally, I couldn't stand the inconsistency of the tone. The film didn't really know what it wanted to be. Had it chosen to be more like the French film The Class, it could have been truly great. Instead it toyed with that but strayed. Perhaps it went the other direction for box office purposes. If so, that was a big mistake because the film was a dud and teens weren't buying. C

The Lovely Bones

Danny Minton — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 07:07:00 GMT

The Lovely Bones

Starring Saoirse Ronan, Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz, Susan Sarandon, and Stanley Tucci
Directed by Peter Jackson (Lord of the Rings)
Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material involving disturbing violent content and images, and some language
Appropriate for ages 15+

    Based on the best-selling book by Alice Sebold, Bones follows a young girl as she tells her story after she has been brutally murdered by one of her neighbors. She finds herself not in Heaven, but rather in the 'In Between' place until she can fully let go of her life on Earth. But she has work to do such as spy on the boy she loves but never got to experience love with, and more importantly - help her family find her murderer.

    I found myself very torn by this film. It's not that the material was too tough considering the talent of the filmmaker, but rather how Jackson handled it. Some things he did I thought were absolutely brilliant, and others I thought were horrible mistakes that were almost laughable.

    I'm not so concerned that he varied from the book and toned down the murder quite a bit. After all, had he included the girl being raped and murdered, the tone would have been much darker, and much more difficult to watch. As it stands, the murder is not shown and rape is not even implied and that was probably a good decision. That being said, I'm not sure if the tone was dark enough the way it was made. A PG-13 movie about a girl who was slain just doesn't sit right with me. It feels too light at times when it should be much heavier.

    So where he went right was in his handling of the ethereal quality of the 'In Between'. It's a beautiful, eerie place and everything from the spectacular visuals to the enveloping sounds create a world for the audience that is a truly unique theatrical experience. The only film I've ever seen that comes close to matching this unique look is the Oscar-winning What Dreams May Come, a spectacular vision of the afterlife.

    Acting-wise, Ronan and Tucci both turn in terrific performances as the hunted and the hunter. Before this film I thought Tucci would get his Oscar nod for Julie and Julia, but this role solidifies a nomination, although a win is unlikely with Christoph Waltz in the running. He is the ultimate creepy neighbor and Ronan is the perfect naive girl that falls into the trap. Wahlberg on the other hand was horribly miscast as the dad and his overacting is hard to stomach at times. Weisz delivers a less than desirable performance as well.

    There were also a few huge logic flaws of which I can't get into detail without spoiling the film. Let's just say that common sense tells you that if you are going to throw something very, very heavy into a pit, you pull the truck up to the pit. You don't push it end over end over end for thirty feet just so there is time to add an important scene in between. This is moronic and Jackson could have easily come up with another story device to give him what he needed here. As for the other flaws - you'll see them as they come and you'll snicker. They are annoying and get in the way of the storytelling.

    What really lacks here is the emotional punch you would expect from a movie about a dead girl. Perhaps it's because she is telling her own story so matter-of-factly, but whatever the reason, I found it hard to get emotionally involved with any of the characters. To go back to the What Dreams May Come example, that film had me crying from start to finish, while this film failed to get me to shed a single tear.

    So while it's a beautiful, artistic, and aesthetically pleasing film with a couple of good performances, overall it wasn't handled correctly by someone who should have been able to do a much better job with this challenging material. C+

New on DVD

Danny Minton — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 05:34:00 GMT

New on DVD

The Hurt Locker
Rated R for war violence and language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Set during the war in Iraq, The Hurt Locker follows a young hot-shot bomb tech as he endangers not only his own life, but all of those around him all for the thrill of disposing of enemy explosive devices, breaking every rule and protocol along the way. If this film don't get your heart pumping and take you off the nail chewing wagon, then nothing will. It is one of the most intense films I can recall and a very well made movie in every regard. It is also an awards juggernaut, winning more critics' groups best picture awards so far this season than any other film, including the Houston Film Critics Society (shameless plug). If director Kathryn Bigelow wins the Oscar, she will be the first female director to do so, and her biggest competitor will be her ex-husband James Cameron. A

Passing Strange
Not Rated
Available on DVD
Spike Lee directs this final performance of the hit Broadway play about a young black man's life story, from his failure to find meaning in church, to his discovery of sex, drugs, and punk rock, to his move to Europe where he discovers himself in Amsterdam and Berlin. It's a fascinating tale filled with wisdom and wonderful music. I was a little hesitant at first, but after thirty minutes I was hooked and by the end I was truly moved. Scorsese was widely praised for his Rolling Stones concert movie Shine a Light, but in my opinion, it doesn't hold a candle to Lee's lesser known, but more emotionally impactful concert event. A

Amreeka
Rated PG-13 for brief drug use involving teens and some language
Available on DVD
Amreeka is the Arab word for America and the story revolves around a Palestinian woman and her teenage son that move to there shortly after the events of September 11, only to find it not to be the land of promise they thought it was going to be. Moving in with her sister in a suburb in Chicago, the college-educated mother takes a job at a White Castle and tries to help her son deal with an America scared of any person of Middle Eastern descent. It's a very good drama, but a decent enough comedy as well, and leaves you with a good taste in your mouth. It's one of the better feel-good movies I've seen this year. B+

In The Loop
Unrated but contains adult language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
Set in post 911 London, the British Minister of International Development gets in trouble when he declares that a war will be unforeseeable. The more he tries to recant his statement, the more trouble he causes, but the firestorm has already begun as the U.S. and U.K. prepare to pick a fight with Iraq. This is a very funny, but very complicated movie that moves so fast that you almost need to see it twice to catch everything. Filled with more uncomfortable situations than a season of The Office, the humor will be a real pleasure for some and a big turnoff for others. B

Big Love: Season Three
Unrated but contains adult content
Available on DVD
HBO's hit show about polygamist family in Utah not only saw a lot more drama this season, but also achieved a lot more relevance due to the recent real-life compound bust. Bill Paxton and crew were very busy in season three trying to start a Mormon-friendly casino, possibly adding a fourth wife, unearthing a letter that could end the Mormon Church's persecution of polygamists and basically trying to keep the family alive, healthy, and unexposed. While it's not the most savory material on TV, it is some of the best acting and writing, and watching on DVD makes it so much easier not to become frustrated that you have to wait till next week to see what will happen. B+

It's Complicated

Danny Minton — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 06:06:00 GMT

It's Complicated

Starring Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, and Steve Martin
Directed by Nancy Meyers (Something's Gotta Give)
Rated R for some drug content and some sexuality
Appropriate for ages 17+

    During her son's college graduation, Jane (Streep) inadvertently hooks up with her ex-husband Jake (Baldwin), the man that left her for a much younger woman years ago. To make matters worse, Jane finds herself also attracted to her architect Adam (Martin) who is clueless that there is anything going on between her and her ex.

    The first thing that attracts most people to this film is the excellent cast, and a great ensemble it is. Streep and Baldwin have wonderful chemistry together and Martin turns in a much more subtle performance than he is used to in a comedy and it works like a charm. This really has me excited to see Baldwin and Martin co-hosting the Oscars this year.

    What attracted me most to the film, though, is the clever premise. This is a very creative story with an overall good screenplay. It helps to have actors such as these that can knock it out of the park, but this material is smart, thoughtful, and at times insanely funny. I'll admit that I really didn't want to see that much of Baldwin's butt on screen, but the set piece in front of the computer cams is a gem and is sure to be copied for years to come.

    What didn't work were the many scenes with rest of the family that seemed to stagnate. Maybe it's that the kids didn't put on great performances (even John Krasinski falls a little flat) or maybe there just wasn't enough genuine conflict to make things interesting, but I was bored whenever two of the three main stars weren't on screen together. Luckily that wasn't often. B

New on DVD

Danny Minton — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 05:25:00 GMT

New on DVD

Paranormal Activity
Rated R for language
Available on DVD and Blu-ray
After seeing what I consider to be the scariest movie ever made in theaters, I figured that it couldn't be too bad on a TV. I figured wrong. This movie about a young couple in San Diego haunted by a Demon still sent horrible shivers up my spine and made me want to turn my head throughout. I still feel that there is a huge rational thinking sinkhole since anyone with this kind of situation occurring would not just walk, but run to the nearest church for protection, but the plethora of frights make this dilemma forgivable. I'm not sure if it needed the Blu-ray treatment as it is not an especially good-looking film and there are no special features aside from an alternate ending that I'm glad Spielberg suggested that they change. I do wish they could have thrown in a documentary on the making of, after all this is officially the most profitable film of all time considering it only cost a few thousand to make and it grossed $108 million at the U.S. box office. B+

Glee, Volume 1: Road to Sectionals
Unrated
Available on DVD
I really shouldn't like this show about a group of high-schoolers that form a glee club and perform professional-level Broadway numbers week after week while diving from one dramatic situation to another. There's the pregnant cheerleader and the football player who knocked her up, except he really didn't because the real father, who is also in the glee club is a loser. There's the glee club director whose wife is faking her own pregnancy while one of the other prim and proper school teachers tries her hardest to horn in. There's the cheerleader coach, played by the brilliant Jane Lynch, who wants nothing more than to bring the glee club down for no conceivable reason beside the fact that she's bored. Being such a big fan of edgy shows like True Blood, Breaking Bad, and Man Men, I really shouldn't like this. And yet I found myself glued to it to the point where I didn't even want to wait to watch it on my DVR. This is a true, unadulterated guilty pleasure. A-