So yes. Fuck the 24-hour day and its fascist restrictions on those of us with numerous time-consuming hobbies. This is the gentrification of my day, leaving only enough time for work and some (but not all) bodily functions.
Anyway, I've seen a ton of movies of late, reviews of (some of) which may or may not be coming down the pipeline in the semi-near future. Yes, that was a particularly definitive sentence. In the mean time, here are some single sentence reviews of what I've seen to whet your appetite for whatever monstrosities of bad prose I concoct for the full review.
CORALINE - I loved it for being the kind of kid's movie people don't make anymore (scary, thoughtful and intense), but was often bored by its fairly dull protagonist and protracted running time. Still, the production design was gorgeous and the 3D is used better here than ever before.
NICK & NORA'S INFINITE PLAYLIST - if I was 15 and either gay or a girl, I'd have loved this movie. Not being any of those things, however, means it was a marginally enjoyable collection of teen movie cliches, an off-screen fingerbang, and another great Michael Cera performance.
ZACK & MIRI MAKE A PORNO - Kevin Smith aping Judd Apatow does nothing for me. Nor do Smith's trademark obvious Star Wars jokes or on-screen anal leakage.
W. - Not the return to form for Oliver Stone that I'd hoped for, but not the cluster fuck train wreck that I expected either. Josh Brolin is amazing as Bush in this surprisingly sympathetic look at the now-former President.
FROZEN RIVER - This movie gives the repressed filmmaker inside me hope. Made on an incredibly modest budget, this terrific drama is going to get national acclaim when Melissa Leo wins the Best Actress Oscar in a few weeks.
MIRACLE AT ST. ANNA - Aside from the black cast and sharp visuals, there's nothing about this movie that would hint that Spike Lee was involved. Dull, drawn out and uninteresting. I turned it off an hour in.
TRANSSIBERIAN - Features the rare good post-2000 Ben Kingsley performance. Also, is a terrific thriller.
LAKEVIEW TERRACE - Features the rare good Sam Jackson performance. Also, is a terrific thriller.
ROCK-N-ROLL - The British gangster movie from Guy Ritchie, which means it's just like the last British gangster movie from Guy Ritchie: clever, funny and convoluted. Also very enjoyable.
SYNECDOCHE, NEW YORK - Charlie Kaufman unfiltered. The biggest mind-fuck I've ever seen. A beautiful movie.
MILK - An efficient script, tight direction and all-around stellar cast makes this a very good Oscar baiter. Its timing makes it unforgettable.
DEFIANCE - So forgettable I had difficulty remember parts of it the day after. Bland, predictable, familiar. Daniel Craig and Liev Schrieber should be in better.
Thoughts? Preferences? Any particular review any body's dying to read? PLEASE SOMEONE USE THE COMMENTS SECTION, I'M DESPERATE FOR FEEDBACK/ATTENTION.
1 comment:
how funny! i also watched nick and norah and zach and miri this weekend. i have to agree on nick and norah...it was cute...but very cliche. Zach/Miri...i have to admit i laughed my ass off and about died because i was not expecting the "leakage" scene! lol. great reviews!
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