(2011, Kevin MacDonald)
First I want to openly condemn Netflix for being the slaves of the media cartels. Renting "rental" movies (sans special features) is against American freedom! Having said that I watched the Eagle with Channing Tatum as Roman Centurion Marcus Aquila and Jamie Bell as his Briton slave Eska as they journey north of Hadrian's Wall to restore honor to the Aquila name by recovering a gold eagle standard lost by Aquila's father. This film has some nice epic backdrops, good use of dialects (wrong dialects of course but dialects at least!), and some good music. Appearances by Mark Strong and Donald Sutherland don't hurt either. Tahar Rahim is good as the bad guy. This is a fairly decent representation of 1st Century A.D. Roman life in the hinterlands, although as with all things Hollywood, a scholar will find plenty to cry about. Not bad. Apparently loosely based on some novel or other.(5/7)
Trailer
Monday, September 19, 2011
Friday, September 16, 2011
The Adjustment Bureau (DVD)
(2011, George Nolfi)
Matt Damon and Emily Blunt star in this tale inspired (one supposes) by Phillip K. Dick's "Adjustment Team." In reality it has virtually nothing to do with the story except for the idea that human fates are sometimes affected and guided by a bureaucracy of human-like entities which work behind the scenes and whose existence is revealed to the main character. Despite the fact that this is yet another Dick story that is horribly maimed for Hollywood, this movie works. Matt Damon is believable as a New York political up and comer and Emily Blunt is incredibly charming as his modern dancer love interest. This is a story of loving "against the plan," of fighting for love and belief against all odds, and taking a stand for the self. Anthony Mackie is vastly under noticed and he is great as the angelic Harry Mitchell who is an Adjuster with a conscience. Terrance Stamp is always good, and the producers and director managed to get some heavy hitters (John Stewart, Michael Bloomberg) to whore for Hollywood and make this movie reasonably realistic. John Slattery always looks good in a period suit and hat. Double Punchy notes and Emily Blunt make this film a win on DVD. (6/7)
Trailer
Matt Damon and Emily Blunt star in this tale inspired (one supposes) by Phillip K. Dick's "Adjustment Team." In reality it has virtually nothing to do with the story except for the idea that human fates are sometimes affected and guided by a bureaucracy of human-like entities which work behind the scenes and whose existence is revealed to the main character. Despite the fact that this is yet another Dick story that is horribly maimed for Hollywood, this movie works. Matt Damon is believable as a New York political up and comer and Emily Blunt is incredibly charming as his modern dancer love interest. This is a story of loving "against the plan," of fighting for love and belief against all odds, and taking a stand for the self. Anthony Mackie is vastly under noticed and he is great as the angelic Harry Mitchell who is an Adjuster with a conscience. Terrance Stamp is always good, and the producers and director managed to get some heavy hitters (John Stewart, Michael Bloomberg) to whore for Hollywood and make this movie reasonably realistic. John Slattery always looks good in a period suit and hat. Double Punchy notes and Emily Blunt make this film a win on DVD. (6/7)
Trailer
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