Movies

Quick Movie Review – Arbitrage

September 24, 2012 — Leave a comment

Normally, summer means attending tons of movies, action, dramas, raunchy comedies.  This summer, I haven’t been able to  go as often as I like.  For me, one of the pleasures of going to the movies is reading reviews afterwards. My friend is a big movie goer and writes reviews for each one. I’ll be searching a select few until I start going to movies on a regular basis again.

 

Arbitrage is a sobering look at greed and the price of integrity. Richard Gere (Brooklyn’s Finest, Unfaithful) plays a silver-haired CEO on the brink of selling his company. Susan Sarandon plays his age-appropriate wife running their charitable foundation and holding down the family. A series of events quickly reveal that Robert Miller’s confidence and success are a mask. As Michael Bryer, Tim Roth plays the detective more than happy to tear it off. With a top-notch cast the tension in Arbitrage was believable and the audience hesitated to leave. Even though I didn’t find any real protagonists in this film, I was left wondering what comes next for them all.

7 out of 9

Guest Blogger at the movies

Quick Movie Review – Prometheus

June 20, 2012 — Leave a comment

Ridley Scott returns to the science fiction genre in fine form with Prometheus. After a dazzling opening sequence in which we see a mysterious humanoid ingest an acidic liquid and crumble into a river, we meet a team of scientist on archaeological dig.  They are searching for the answer to our origins.  Set a few years before Alien, Prometheus seeks to answer questions, that plagued humans for centuries regarding our origins, faith and science.  In 2089, 17 scientists, explorers and engineers unite to undertake a 2-year odyssey in search of our creators, who are referred to as the “engineers.” After reaching their destination, the team encounters obstacles that they never imagined.  With different motivations for being onboard, who can be counted on when the extraterrestrial hits the fan is part of the suspense.  Following in the steps of its fore bearers, Prometheus includes one of the best horror scenes that I seen in a long time.

The ensemble cast of Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron and Idia Elba hits most of the rights notes. Noomi as Dr. Elizabeth Shaw continues the tradition of kick ass resilient women that we have encountered in the various Alien incarnations. With this role, Michael Fassbender creates the standard for playing an artificial life form. This talented crew almost overcomes the weak writing in the third act.  While the film doesn’t quite answer all of its larger questions, it is gorgeous to look at. Ridley Scott and Dariusz Wolski create a breathtaking visual feast. The stunning planet and the quiet beauty of the spacecraft and the voyage to the unnamed planet, Prometheus is a showcase for a crew at the top of their game.  The special effects highlighted by a pitch perfect use of 3D raises the bar for science fiction films.  

I can’t wait for the story to continue.

For what the movie its right and wrong about science see: Blastr

For a peck at Michael Fassbender as David:

http://youtu.be/tvXKN5Fz_OE

 

Quick Movie Review – Lockout

April 27, 2012 — 1 Comment

Just months before the U.S. is about to dedicate an international prison in outer space for business, the President’s daughter (played by Maggie Grace) takes a tour on a humanitarian mission. A small lapse in the new prison’s security system results in the release of America’s most dangerous criminals – previously contained through chemically induced sleep.

Snow, some sort of secret operative, has been wrongly convicted is given the opportunity to win his freedom by rescuing the President’s daughter against a sea of 500 psychopaths.

This is a classic B movie, great special effects and terrible writing. Guy Pearce excels as Snow, with corny one liners and a hard ass persona. As typically seen in B movies, some of the strongest performances were found in the supporting cast. Lenny James is a standout as national security bureaucrat (Shaw). Vincent Regan  (Alex) lends credence to the argument, which I just made up, that all bad guys should be Scottish and Peter Stormare (Langral) always shines a person who motivations one is never sure of.

It may not be the best movie of the year but it is definitely a fun one.

Quick Movie Review – Carnage

January 20, 2012 — Leave a comment

Roman Polanski’s new movie Carnage is an adaption Yasmina Reza’s Tony award winning play God of Carnage. Penelope and Michael Longstreet invite Nancy and Alan Cowan over to discuss a fight between their sons at a public park in New York City. Jodie Foster and John C. Riley play the parents of the injured boy (Ethan) while Kate Winslet and Christoph Waltz (Inglorious Basterds) stand in for his attacker (Zachary). On its surface Carnage is a movie about a simple gathering that spins wildly out of control. Part of the hilarity stems from the character development – which is cleverly forged out of their interactions with each other and inanimate objects. The rest is based upon pure dialogue expertly executed. Shot in real time it was fascinating to see a film focused on four people transform into something so dynamic when it was shot in such a small space. With a top notch cast, somehow John C. Riley manages to steal the show.

Quick Movie Review – In Time

November 17, 2011 — Leave a comment

Playing out as an uncanny metaphor to the anti-Wall Street movement, In Time paints a future in which corporate greed trades longevity for currency. A scruffy Justin Timberlake plays Will Salas, a man born in the wrong zone. In this version of the future, every human being is allotted 25 years of life then drops dead. Everything is paid for with time that they wear on their arms like a neon sleeve and the prices are fixed by companies. People have to barter, work, steal or kill for more time to live. Since the aging residents in Will’s zone are struggling to stay alive minute-by-minute, the story begins when a man with enough time for 4 generations walks into Will’s neighborhood bar. 

Cillian Murphy (one of my all-time favorites) plays a Time Keeper – the future’s version of police. The tension between the officers and the people exercising their survival instincts was as tight as a rubberband about to snap. There is plenty of action to keep the heart pumping, and the acting in context to such a nightmarish future was believable. 

Guest blogger from Seattle

Quick Movie Review: Anonymous

November 4, 2011 — Leave a comment

Who was William Shakespeare and did he really write the dramas, comedies and sonnets attributed to him?  That’s the question at the heart of this movie. 

The movie begins with Derek Jacobi delivering a monologue regarding the truth behind the most famous author in the English language. Quite soon we learn this isn’t a typical period piece but a political thriller.  We fade away to Ben Johnson running from the authorities to hide in his theater.  The authorities believe that Johnson (Sebastian Armesto) knows the true identity of the playwright who has enthralled the people with a host of inflammatory plays that have been recently performed. 

We are soon jumping through time meeting a cast of flaxen gentlefolk like the Earl of Oxford (Rhys Ifans), the Earl of Southampton (Xavier Samuel) and the Earl of Essex (Sam Reid) who are concerned with the secession of Queen Elizabeth (Vanessa Redgrave as the old Queen and Joely Richardson as the Young Queen). Southampton and Oxford believe that Essex would be the perfect ruler after the Queen. They are pitted against William Cecil and later his son Robert Cecil who act as the Queen’s advisors and prefers James I of Scotland to be the next King of England.

The Earl of Oxford believes that the written word is powerful and came be a force for change and enlists an unsuccessful playwright to be the face of his work. Working as a professional writer is consider being beneath the status of an Earl.  Johnson is reluctant to associate himself with the musings of an Earl and soon an actor with the troupe sees an opportunity and jumps on it.  William Shakespeare (Rafe Spall) is more than happy to take part in the ruse. Although he Shakespeare is reluctant to give up acting, he loves the notoriety and attention he receives as a playwright.

In the beginning it is hard to keep track of all the Earls and playwrights we meet.  But the viewers’ patience and paying close attention is reward in the end. 

Some people believe that William Shakespeare a commoner could not have the education nor the knowledge to write some of the detailed dramas like Hamlet, Richard V and Julius Caesar.   

The truth regarding William Shakespeare is moot and this point.  A wondrous body of work has been left for us to enjoy.  Next summer, try to catch a bit of Shakespeare whether it is in a park, by the sea or in Stradford-upon-Avon.

Independent Shakespeare Company: http://www.iscla.org

Shakespeare By The Sea: http://www.shakespearebythesea.org

Royal Shakespeare Company: http://www.rsc.org.uk

Public Theater (NYC): http://www.publictheater.org

To learn more about the Oxfordians check out their website:  www.shakespeare-oxford.com

Quick Movie Review

October 24, 2011 — Standard — 1 Comment

One of the best movies this year. Set in the near future, Hugh Jackman plays the unlikeable Charlie Kenton, who fights robots in the underground fighting scene. Destroying robots as fast as he can purchase them, Canton is soon saddled with new responsibilities: taking care of his son for the summer The movie really gels when we meet, Canton’s son Max Kenton played by Dakota Goyo. In stereotypical fashion, the two do not get along at first due to a long estrangement. Soon they are knee deep in the world of underground fighting. We meet the heart of the movie when the hero, Atom an expressive robot, is found in a scrap yard. The movie boosts great robot bouts and you soon wishing for a real WRB association.

Star Trek of Gods and Men on the Big Screen

September 22, 2011 — 1 Comment

The penultimate night of the Burbank film festival was a night of Sci Fi and Horror with a special tribute to Roger Corman.

The highlight of the night was what has been billed as the final screening of Star Trek of Gods and Men. The first independent Star Trek movie began as a labor of love for its cast and crew.  Written by Ethan Calk, Sky Conway and Jack Trevino and directed by Tim Russ, Star Trek of Gods Men is set 12 years after Star Trek Generations.  Set in the year 2305, Captain Uhura attends the dedication of a new USS Enterprise, a replica of the original 1701. It is designed as a museum ship and a tribute to all who served on the original Enterprise. At the dedication, Uhura meets up with Pavel Chekov and John Harriman, captain of the Enterprise-B. During the ceremony the crew receives a distress call from a nearby planet housing the Guardian of Forever. Charlie X (from ST:TOS Charlie X) seeks revenge on Capitan James T. Kirk for not having saved him 40 years earlier from the Thasians.  Upon learning of Kirk’s death, Charlie decides to travel through the Gurdian (from ST:TOS City of the Edge of Forever) to enact his revenge.  This act has lasting implications on the universe.

As an independent film, Star Trek: OG&M, accomplished a great deal on a small budget.  The movie benefited from a great set – a replica of the enterprise and locations like Vasquez Rocks which was used a lot in the original series Although the screenplay was uneven, the plot was wholly original.  The cast committed to the part and everyone was delighted by appearances by actors from all five series: Nichelle Nichols, Walter Koenig, Tim Russ, JG Hertzler, Chase Masterson, Grace Lee Whitney, Gray Graham, Cirroc Lofton, Ethan Phillips and from Battlestar Galactica Herb Jefferson.  I was especially impressed by the score and special effects. The movie features a top notch battle at the end.

A Q&A with the actors, writer and director was scheduled, but had to be cancelled because of the night running long.  Everyone was introduced before the film and everybody spoke briefly about their experiences making STOG&M. The

 The night ended with an after party at TDJ Studios in North Hollywood. Revelers were treated to walking down the red carpet and were able to mingle with some of the stars of the movie.  Music was provided by a local DJ and the Tim Russ band.

The movie can still be viewed online at:  http://startrekofgodsandmen.com

Movie Review – Apollo 18

September 21, 2011 — Leave a comment

The only thing I love more than being scared senseless is a high quality sci-fi film. I regret to inform you that Apollo 18 is NASA’s interplanetary rip off of The Blair Witch Project. In 1974 three American astronauts were sent on a secret mission to the moon. Decades later footage of their mission has mysteriously resurfaces to document their discoveries. Three relative unknowns to the big screen, Warren Christie, Lloyd Owens and Ryan Robbins play the bright-eyed, bushy-tailed astronauts. With very little time spent getting the audience acquainted with who these men are on Earth, Apollo 18 works harder at establishing the characters’ patriotism, inner circle camaraderie and sense of duty. With scene after scene of the astronauts maneuvering through the shuttle’s cramped quarters, a movie hasn’t made me feel this claustrophic since Buried. But if I’m going to gasp for air for over an hour, I demand something in return. After the men reach the moon some of the things they were told about why they were sent there are not adding up. This film had every chance to be suspenseful, terrifying and innovative. After all, movies about outer space, man’s undiscovered territory, have no creative limitations. Unfortunately, Apollo 18 chose to mimic the cinematic styles of four “scary” movies that came before it (The Blair Witch Project, Cloverfield, Rec, TrollHunter) and the original which was done ten times better!

Guest blooger in Seattle

Attack the Block. Allow It.

September 6, 2011 — Leave a comment

Billed as a Sci Fi film, Attach the Block is one of the best action films of the year.

On Guy Fawkes Night, the night commemorating King James I surviving an attempt on his life, a gang of teenagers mug a young nurse on her way home. During the robbery, a strange object falls from the sky.  Believing the object is some sort of firework, the teens continue their attack.  Upon being attacked by an unknown creature, the teens lead by Moses (John Boyega) set out to kill the creature. Believing the strange being could be profitable, the teens look to hold it in a secure location.  This decision sets off an chain reaction that is both funny and thrilling.

As the invasion continues, we get to know the young teens and the people who inhabit their block in South London.   Because of the circumstances Sam the nurse (Jodie Whittaker) teams up with the teens in order to survive the night.  She is eventually won over by them as the audience is.

A must see.