08-08-14 Wanted (2008)

Seen: August 12th, 2008
Format: Theater
Rating: 7

There are two sorts of people in the world: those who want to see this film and those who don't. Of those who do, there is a further bifurcation; those who will admit it and those who won't.

I wanted to see this film.

The appeal is simply visceral.

Angelina Jolie: I just like looking at her. The fact she can act is a bonus. Mo like James McAvoy, so there seems to be something here if your tastes run thataway as well.

Action: lots of it. Most of it thoroughly over the top and so far removed from believability that I just don't care. There's some fantastic gags here and unlike some of the latest Bruckheimer dreck, they're actually fun. They make you shake your head, say "no way" all with a big fat grin on your face.

Yes, there's plot too. Also ridiculous and far removed from reality, but again: fun. Suspend your disbelief for a few hours, take what the expose to you as gospel and watch the sparks fly. Its not Shakespeare, or at least Richard III Shakespeare, but I'd bet he'd have had a good time as well.

You're not going to remember this film. It may take a month, it may take a few years, but eventually it'll fade from your memory. That just fine, this isn't cinema, this is a flick. Its for letting you escape for a few hours. Its for having fun and reliving with your friends. Its just a good bit of escapist fantasy.

And there's nothing wrong with that.

The Good: A no holds barred joy ride
The Bad: Morgan Freeman. Love him in this step out.
The Ugly: What goes around, come around

08-08-13 MirrorMask (2005)

Seen: August 12th, 2008
Format: DVD
Rating: 7

I once dated this girl who recommended reading Neil Gaiman. I haven't gotten around to any of his books, but saw this and figured I'd give it shot.

It was weird too.

That's not an entirely bad thing. Nothing's much worse than sitting through two hours of knowing exactly what will happen next. This is definitely not that. Sure, there are certain conventions even here, but overall it's one delirious surprise after another.

This is a Fairy Tale in the germanic sense. It is, in many ways, a morality play. The stark duality of the fantasy world, the worlds themselves and the characters reminds us constantly of the existence of choices and the very real consequences of those decisions. Everything matters in this tale.

Gaiman and McKean have woven and incredibly strange, haunting and yet very beautiful world here. It's positively creepy much of the time, but still seems coherent via its consistency. The rules are all there to be discovered, and once illuminated, are rigid. There is not as much chaos as may meet the eye.

Visually, the film is a feast. It's rampant with CGI, but this is one time that that statement is far from a condemnation. There's true artistry here. Much of it simple, more of it highly complex, subtle and layered. I'd like to say its beautiful, but it's probably more accurate to say that it's fascinating, as there is a much unsettling material here as there is simple beauty.

Performances are solid, but a bit hard to rate, given the material. The lines between actor and character are often impossible to distinguish' not due to craft, but because there little reference for this sort of film.

If you're a lover of the fantastic, or of tales of consequnce, this one might be for you. It you like the stylings of David Fincher. Chris Nolan or early Ridley Scott films, you may find a visually intriguing. Be warned however, that despite the involment of Jim Henson's shop, this one may not be for the littlest ones.

The Good: Fantastic and Brilliantly styled
The Bad: The nightmares the children will suffer
The Ugly: Vying against ourselves

08-08-02 Playing By Heart (1998)

Seen: July 6th, 2008
Format: DVD
Rating: 6

Wow. Where to start?

Let's get this out of the way: I'm a serious romantic.

And I mean with the big R. Honor, self-sacrifice, nobility, grand and all-consuming love, poetry, passion, intensity or purpose and desire., the whole nine yards. I may not show it much, as it's not so useful a trait in contemporary society, but it's all there simmering under the surface.

And this film is romantic. It's all the things that love is; big, complicated, passionate, tragic, stupid, enveloping, painful, joyous, confusing, ad infinitum.

It's a nice little tale. There's lots of folks at romantic crossroads. Each of them has decisions to make, things to learn. There are romances to kindle, some to re-kindle and some to fan furiously least they die of the suffocation of neglect.

There are good and great performances by good and great actors. There is drama and humor and tension and release.

It's all there, and it's all very nice, and if you come across this late at night while cuddling with someone you love, then go for it, you'll probably have a very nice time.

All that said, there are probably better films in the genre that you'll want to track down first.

The Good: It's about love. Love is good.
The Bad: Lost in a wave of entertwined ensemble love stories
The Ugly: The games we play

08-08-01 Harper (1966)

Seen: July 2008
Format: Broadcast (HDNMV - HDNet Movies)
Rating: 5

This little number came up one evening, had a bunch of stars, and so I thought to myself, "heck, way not?", set the DVR and went to bed.

At least going to bed was the right decision.

This film is chock-a-block with stars. It's a regular who's who of beautiful people from the period and the previous period. There is some heavy duty talent here as well as pretty faces. They are all simply marvelous in their roles; and I mean that sincerely. In most cases, the quality their performances are the only reasons the characters work at all.

This is a hip film. It's very rooted in the scene that was being laid down in the mid-sixties; baby. If you dig on that vibe, you'll be movin' to the smooth groovin'. Or something. I was two at the time, and while I can appreciate the ambiance, it doesn't make the film for me.

And this seems to be the issue.

Harper relies on star power, pop culture hipness and current Issues. At the time, that probably made a significant and possibly even interesting film. But when that's all that's offered, it won't and doesn't stand the test of time. It may be interesting from an anthropological perspective, but there's little else here.

The plot is standard, twisted, PI gets in over his head material. There are all sorts of weirdos and perverts. There's people who aren't who you think they are, and those who are exactly what they seem. The twists are mostly of two varieties; those you saw coming, and those you can't understand. There were a couple that I found surprising and valid, but for the most part they're either confusing, pointless and exist merely to introduce or further a subplot or they're obvious.

Don't get me wrong, this isn't complete loser. If you're a serious fan of any of the plethora of fine actors here, it may be worth your while to see where they were at this part of their career. If you that's not you, and you're not a hard core PI or sixties film fan, you'll probably want to pass.

The Good: Newman in his prime
The Bad: Derivative tale with uninteresting twists
The Ugly: The games people play