MOVIE REVIEW - Four Christmases (2008)

Not funny. Not Vince, not Reese. Not Duvall (who I love) as the hick dad with a heart, not Steenbergen as the stupidly cougar mom. Not Sissy, as the “enlightened” mom (who married Vince’s best friend – ugh). Not Voight – he’s never been funny. And not even Favreau, as the overly-bulked wrestle-mania brother. It’s just a mess of a Christmas film.

MOVIE REVIEW - Quantum of Solace (2008)

Good Bond movie, and Craig does a fine job. It isn't compelling or overly memorable, but still a good movie.

MOVIE REVIEW - Burn After Reading (2008)

Kudos to the Coen Brothers for following up the very dark Oscar winner No Country For Old Men (stellar, in the mood of Miller's Crossing but better) with the very darkly funny Burn (in the vein of Fargo, and nearly as good). What a whacky set of characters they have developed. At times, the all-star cast got in the way of the characters: it was almost too easy to see Brad Pitt hamming it up instead of seeing Chad the brainless and hyper personal trainer; Clooney didn't ruin the film, but his shallow CIA guy would've been in better hands with a lesser-known actor. But Frances McDormand hit it out of the park - a gym manager who desperately wants plastic surgery, and goes to great lengths - oh my word, such huge lengths - to find the money to pay for it. The writers sure didn't give any of the characters common sense. But it's a hysterical joy-ride watching all of their bad decisions intersect - no, collide - with surprising twists and violence and laughs. I think my favorite scenes were back in the CIA office with J. K. Simmons, serving as the voice of reason, expressing the audiences thoughts - "Report back to me when it makes sense" (and multiple hilarious profane comments) - it certainly does not make sense. But it sure is fun.

MOVIE REVIEW - Kabluey (2007)

A quirky indie comedy that is surprisingly funny and touching. So often, indie comedies are just weird and in no way funny. But this story of a loser finding a piece of dignity is surprisingly endearing. Lisa Kudrow co-stars as a war mom whose kids and life are out of control. She lets her deadbeat brother-in-law, who she clearly cannot endure, come live with them to care for the kids. He's clueless, and the two hellion boys gang up to kill him (literally? Maybe?). But he gets a second job as a corporate mascot - a baby blue Gumby with a huge oval faceless head, who stands on the side of the road in the middle of fields (what? But it works). And as the blue mascot, he connects with the boys, gains their (and his own) respect, and even teaches Kudrow a little about life. This has all the makings of an indie failure, but doesn't.

MOVIE REVIEW - Changeling (2008)

Changeling is a terrific film, one of the best of the year. Angelina stars in this true story from the 20's/30's as a mother whose son goes missing, and her dedicated search for him amid police corruption. Angelina is a great actress; and she does fine here, but she didn't quite earn Oscar nod status - somehow, she seemed more into her outfits and her efforts at sullenness than into bringing the appropriate depth to the role (she lost me with her multiple cries, "Where is my son??!!?? Where is my son??!!??"). But the story and direction - wow - they definitely merit Oscar consideration. The police find a lost boy who claims to be Angelina's missing kid; but upon meeting him, she knows it is not. The police (including doctors and other "experts") insist that it is her kid, and that she's shunning her motherly responsibilities. But the viewers are quickly convinced that Angelina is right, and she continues her search, while still taking care of (if not caring for) the boy. As some of the police (an excellent Michael Kelly) gets closer to the truth of her (and others') son's abductions, the story moves quickly into the horrific - a serial killer story too awful to imagine (and yes, this is a well-researched true story). Amy Ryan is incredible (as usual) as a mental patient. Jeffrey Donavan adequately moves from Burn Notice to the big screen as Angelina's primary police contact. John Malkovich is a little unsettling as a preacher after the dirty cops, but he does a good job - it's just bizarre seeing him in this role. Clint's direction is impeccable - he should get yet another nomination. I love this story, even as it is incredibly difficult and rewarding to watch.

MOVIE REVIEW - Night Falls on Manhattan (1996)

MAJOR SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW...

One of my favorite films about justice, police corruption, ethics, family bonds, with a terrific cast led by Andy Garcia as Sean Casey - a new attorney who finds himself on a career making case and then launched into the DA's chair. The excellent supporting cast sees James Gandolfini as a cop (in standard Gandolfini mode - showing just how bad his teeth are); Ron Liebman chewing scenery as the pre-Casey DA, Morgenstern/Morgy; Paul Guilfoyle (CSI) in a small role; Colm Feore (Changeling) as a too-tight Harvard ADA; little Commie shyster Richard Dreyfus playing "little Commie shyster" defense attorney Sam Vigoda; Lena Olin as Peggy Lindstrom, assistant to Vigoda and to-be lover of Casey (she's smart and a great actress and beautiful - but wow, that is one heckuva big vein in her left temple); Bobby Cannavale in a non-speaking role, sitting third chair for Dreyfus at the trial; and the powerhouse performance by Ian Holm as Andy Garcia's Pop, playing a cop and James Gandolfini's partner.

Slow jazz sets the tone for this somber drama. The film starts as a police bust gone bad; or, as Morgy says, "A fuckup of historical proportions." When the trial for the bust begins, Morgy recruits Casey to head the trial, partly to get the sympathy vote (his pop was shot during the bust), and partly to groom him. Says Morgy, "You know the street, kid." Casey: "I know the street." Garcia adds such depth to such simple dialogue - it really makes you pull for him.
I like the pace of this film. It seems like it's gonna be a cop drama; but the bad guy turns himself in early on. Then it seems like it's gonna be a courtroom drama; but the trial is over with an hour to go. Which is when the movie really starts to grab you as it emerges as a political story, a heartbreaking family drama, and an ethics class.

Ron Lieberman had an amazing scene, when Sean went to visit Morgy at the nursing home. At the end, Sean says humorously, "I'd kiss you, but you're an ugly bastard." Sean leaves, Morgy half-cries. Heartbreaking.

Andy should've received an Oscar nomination for this role. He "nailed it" during the trial, especially with the climax: "Did any of the blood get on your tiny white sneakers?" He shone during his campaign speech: "You need to know that law applies to everyone equally... There will be only one standard - did that person break the law? If I am elected, the law will exclude no one." Ah, I'm in heaven. I love the scene where Gandolfini's Joey asks Sean to get him on the rat list with a deal; Sean flinches (with disgust) when Joey tries to touch him, and says, to his face, "You might as well be selling dope yourself!" And to his pop, "Don't tell him he's a scum bag??!!?? That he's a disgrace??!!??" Excellent - Sean has ethics and balls. And Andy owns the half-cry - watching a grown man feel something so deeply, so painfully, that the tears flow, but he fights them back, too - at his pop's hospital bed; in his dealings with Peggy; and especially when he tells Pop that Joey's dead: "It's bad news, Pop"... All so heartbreaking - I cry every time.

On the warrant issue, I've never been a big fan of the current laws, and I'm completely fine with the judge's and Sean's actions, in the preservation of justice. I know Sean feels that it was the moment he stepped into grays; but from my book, he's still on the top of the honorable chain.

And Ian should've WON the supporting Oscar for this role. "I swear to you on your mother's grave, I'm clean." Such a strong scene. After Pop confesses the warrant issue to Sean, Sean reaches to touch him, and now it's his pop's turn to flinch - but this time out of guilt. And when he's sitting in the judge's chair, after Sean tells him about Joey? Heartbreaking again! How did Ian not get nominated?

MOVIE REVIEW - Fountain, The (2006)

Starring Hugh Jackman and the elegant Rachel Weisz in 3 separate roles in different times. Hugh, the scientist married to Rachel (in one of the stories), is looking for the cure to Rachel's cancer. In the past story, Rachel and Hugh are queen and knight, in search of the tree of knowledge of good and evil (for the purpose of eternal life). In the extremely bizarre and dull future story (as though the present and past stories weren't dull and bizarre - they are), Hugh is a Buddhist-like astronaut in touch with the new-age-y Rachel. This is dreary, weird, and dull.

MOVIE REVIEW - Silver Stallion, The (1993)

This is a children's movie from Australia, with a young Russell Crowe as the "evil man" who tames wild horses. Decent acting, decent scenery, lame heavy-handed animal-rights message.

MOVIE REVIEW - Pride And Glory (2008)

Police corruption drama starring Edward Norton, Colin Farrell, and Jon Voigt. Pretty good story, well-acted, fairly intense. The battle between brother-in-laws was well-done, with Edward fighting internally and externally on the side of ethics. It holds up pretty well until the last 15 minutes, which has 2 major flaws. One, a completely unnecessary and out-of-character fist fight; and the second would give away plot points, but suffice it to say that it should've ended better.