Haywire
(2011, Steven Soderbergh)
The short of it is: Gina Carano works as an action star but this film was too contemplative and the story a bit contrived. Decent lensing. Nice triangle choke. A sequel might work. Michael Fassbender can do no wrong. I hoped for more and better and nudity. 4/7
Trailer
Warhorse
(2011, Steven Spielberg)
A tear jerker. Animal movies are sad. A decent film with competent acting. Some nice locations and war action. Tom Hiddleston and Benedict Cumberbatch show that they are actors to watch. Peter Mullan has one of the best voices around. Hopefully young Jeremy Irvine does not go astray as an actor because he was pretty believable in Warhorse. Not a bad film from Mr. S'berg. 5/7
Trailer
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Sunday, January 15, 2012
The Grey (¡¡Advanced Screening!!)
(2012, Joe Carnahan)
Okay so I won tix to Liam Neeson's new wilderness survival pic from good old Nordling at AICN. So that was cool. . . Nordling raved about this exciting movie and seemed to think Mr. Neeson would be up for an Oscar if it were not after the selection period. I am not sure about that but the acting is good. (H-town's own) Dallas Roberts is really good as is Frank Grillo (in important supporting roles). I like to describe Frank Grillo as the handsomest man that director's manage to make look really rough. This is a fairly unremarkable story of plane crash victims versus ravening wolves. There are some nice poetic edits, some nice lensing, some decent wolf effects (KNB), and we get to hear Liam Neeson be Irish. There is good emotion here but I did not cry and there is no double-punchiness. . . think the somberness of The Road but not as bleak. I want to like Joe Carnahan-- I dug Smokin' Aces, and I found the A-team pleasantly surprising. There were some logical gaps in this film and if I say that then there are some logical gaps in this film. Stay through the credits if you want. . . . (5/7)
Official Site
Okay so I won tix to Liam Neeson's new wilderness survival pic from good old Nordling at AICN. So that was cool. . . Nordling raved about this exciting movie and seemed to think Mr. Neeson would be up for an Oscar if it were not after the selection period. I am not sure about that but the acting is good. (H-town's own) Dallas Roberts is really good as is Frank Grillo (in important supporting roles). I like to describe Frank Grillo as the handsomest man that director's manage to make look really rough. This is a fairly unremarkable story of plane crash victims versus ravening wolves. There are some nice poetic edits, some nice lensing, some decent wolf effects (KNB), and we get to hear Liam Neeson be Irish. There is good emotion here but I did not cry and there is no double-punchiness. . . think the somberness of The Road but not as bleak. I want to like Joe Carnahan-- I dug Smokin' Aces, and I found the A-team pleasantly surprising. There were some logical gaps in this film and if I say that then there are some logical gaps in this film. Stay through the credits if you want. . . . (5/7)
Official Site
Monday, January 9, 2012
The Divide (Coming Soon)
(2011, Xavier Gens)
The up coming film the Divide. Reminds me of a post-apocalyptic re-telling of a certain Bible story I was working on. . . Damn Collective Unconscious!
The Divide Official Site
Trailer
The up coming film the Divide. Reminds me of a post-apocalyptic re-telling of a certain Bible story I was working on. . . Damn Collective Unconscious!
The Divide Official Site
Trailer
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
On DVD: Freeze Frame (2004)
(2004, John Simpson)
This is a film I saw years ago and could never remember what it was called. Now I rediscovered it! I found this movie to be a rather original take on a murder mystery. Sean Veil is accused of a crime he maintains he did not commit and spends all of his time filming himself in case he is ever accused of another crime. . . which of course he is. A tale of well-placed paranoia, evidence, and opportunity. A visceral and stirring performance by Lee Evans as Sean Veil (he actually shaved his eyebrows for the role!!) (5/7)
Trailer
This is a film I saw years ago and could never remember what it was called. Now I rediscovered it! I found this movie to be a rather original take on a murder mystery. Sean Veil is accused of a crime he maintains he did not commit and spends all of his time filming himself in case he is ever accused of another crime. . . which of course he is. A tale of well-placed paranoia, evidence, and opportunity. A visceral and stirring performance by Lee Evans as Sean Veil (he actually shaved his eyebrows for the role!!) (5/7)
Trailer
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
(2011, Guy Ritchie)
Not as crisply executed as the first film, this story follows an actual Holmes tale (the Final Problem) much more closely than the initial Holmes outing. Here we get to see Holmes square off with arch-nemesis James Moriarity (played by Jared Harris). There is some good action and fun banter between Jude Law's wonderful Watson and Robert Downey, Jr.'s Holmes. Noomi Rapace (of Girl With the Dragon Tattoo fame) works well as a gypsy fortune teller caught up in revolutionary politics. Paul Anderson as the diabolical crack shot Sebastian Moran is well cast. An enjoyable romp with a good score by Hans Zimmer. This film also introduces Stephen Fry (Jeeves and Wooster) as a brilliantly, nay definitively, cast Mycroft Holmes-- Sherlock's older, smarter brother. A surprising commentary on the rise of the military industrial complex. (6/7)
Trailer
Not as crisply executed as the first film, this story follows an actual Holmes tale (the Final Problem) much more closely than the initial Holmes outing. Here we get to see Holmes square off with arch-nemesis James Moriarity (played by Jared Harris). There is some good action and fun banter between Jude Law's wonderful Watson and Robert Downey, Jr.'s Holmes. Noomi Rapace (of Girl With the Dragon Tattoo fame) works well as a gypsy fortune teller caught up in revolutionary politics. Paul Anderson as the diabolical crack shot Sebastian Moran is well cast. An enjoyable romp with a good score by Hans Zimmer. This film also introduces Stephen Fry (Jeeves and Wooster) as a brilliantly, nay definitively, cast Mycroft Holmes-- Sherlock's older, smarter brother. A surprising commentary on the rise of the military industrial complex. (6/7)
Trailer
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
On DVD: The Last Rites of Ransom Pride
(Tiller Russell, 2010)
Wow what's to say? This largely incoherent piece of crazy stars Lizzy Caplan, Dwight Yoakum,Kris Kristofferson, Scott Speedman, Jason Priestly, Peter Dinklage, Cote de Pablo, Blu Mankuma, Jon Foster, Morris Bird Yellowhead (Apocalypto) and W. Earl Brown (Deadwood). This movie is not good but the idea, the costumes (Wendy Partridge), and the effort are appreciated. A different take on a late period western. Watch this movie and listen to the director's commentary-- it is worth it. Humorous stories and a look at how such a weird mess of a film could be made. Plus boobs, etc.
Wow what's to say? This largely incoherent piece of crazy stars Lizzy Caplan, Dwight Yoakum,Kris Kristofferson, Scott Speedman, Jason Priestly, Peter Dinklage, Cote de Pablo, Blu Mankuma, Jon Foster, Morris Bird Yellowhead (Apocalypto) and W. Earl Brown (Deadwood). This movie is not good but the idea, the costumes (Wendy Partridge), and the effort are appreciated. A different take on a late period western. Watch this movie and listen to the director's commentary-- it is worth it. Humorous stories and a look at how such a weird mess of a film could be made. Plus boobs, etc.
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