Thursday, May 31, 2012

The Dictator

(2012, Larry Charles)

It is the funny from England Jew Sacha Baron Cohen back again this time making fun of America, Jews, and Muslims and lots of other things. This movie is funny but incredibly predictable. Some nice humor with goats.  I enjoyed myself. Ana Faris can do no wrong. (5/7)

Trailer

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Pickpocket on Criterion DVD

(1959, Robert Bresson)

Pickpocket is one of the most brilliant films ever made. Period.  Get this now. DVD extras are worth it.
(7/7)

Criterion Entry

Saturday, May 12, 2012

The Avengers and Cabin in the Woods

The Avengers
(2012, Joss Whedon)

Nice superhero team action finally on screen. Some great CG and some less than great CG. Solid humor and acting. Fun. (6/7)

Trailer

Cabin in the Woods
(2011, Drew Goddard)

This is a fun and funny horror movie that reveals what it is going to be about in the first few seconds of the film. I wish the Ancient Ones had been more overtly Cthuluvian but hey can't win 'em all. Good work from Joss Whedon and various actors from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the Office, Thor, and elsewhere.  Some smart, double punchyness, brief nudity and some great creatures. (7/7)

Trailer

Sunday, May 6, 2012

The Raven

(2012, James McTeigue)

John Cusack stars as Edgar Allen Poe as he works with Baltimore police as they try to stop a serial killer who is using Poe's stories and poems as inspiration for his crimes. Cusack is surprisingly convincing as Poe and he is supported by some solid character actors including Luke Evans (Immortals) and  Brendan Gleeson (Gangs of New York, Kingdom of Heaven). The movie is in essence a sort of ratiocination story for which Poe himself is know and has some nice references to Poe's contemporaries, those who would follow him (Jules Verne) and to Poe's battles with depression and perhaps comes up with an imaginative tale which explains how he eventually died.  Entertaining-- McTeigue offers decent period visuals (though clearly this film is not shot in the USA) but the soundtrack and ending/ outro is often times annoying. 5/7

Trailer

Thursday, May 3, 2012

On DVD: Ironclad (Director's Commentary)

(2011, Jonathan English)

James Purefoy (Rome), Brian Cox, Paul Giamatti, Jason Flemyng, Derek Jacobi, Mackenzie Crook (The Office, Pirates of the Caribbean) and Kate Mara star in this independently produced film about the event surrounding the 13th century siege of Rochester Castle.  King John (Giamatti) goes up against a knight Templar and the Baron Albany as they attempt to enforce the rule of Magna Carta which John signed but refuses to follow.  Styled after the Magnificent Seven or Seven Samurai this movie has some nice elements but in the end fails on a number of fronts-- mostly (it would seem) related to budget constraints.

The reason this film should be viewed is for the Director's Commentary. It is really well done and is quite detailed as it delves into the various directorial sensibilities which influenced Jonathan English as well as the various choices and techniques which informed the creation of the film in practical terms. The film gets a 5/7 the commentary gets 7/7.

Trailer