deborahjwood Reviews

Sub Zero (2005 Video)

K2 North Face in WINTER for a neon Rubik's cube .... really? REALLY?

[22 February 2014]

I direct you to the plethora of reviews that point out the hilarity of the script, plot lines, acting, and stunts, the absolute impossibility of the political implications, horrible technicals in climbing (gear clothing, physical fitness, NO Sherpas, the EMP, ad infinitum) ALL add up to a totally ridiculous jaunt up a mountain chasing a glow in the dark Rubik's cube upon which the fate of the world rests.

All that being said NUMEROUS times, there is some magnificent footage of the mountains, avalanches, breathtaking, sweeping vistas that will either excite you, kick your death wish sporting sense into overdrive, make you wonder how on God's 3rd rock from the sun ANYONE considers mountaineering FUN BUT will across the board make you feel small and leave you awe struck.

If you go into this with a coupla joints, a bucket of salty buttery popcorn, a Big Gulp and absolutely nothing else to do on a cold rainy day you will not feel like you've been robbed of 90 minutes of your life -- It is what it is - a piece of straight to DVD B grade fluff made to entertain, not educate you on WMDs, mountain climbing, global political relations, or American clichés (and there are 85 minutes of clichés) - if you are looking for American Oscar worthy films, BAFTA contenders or even Golden Globe potential -- MOVE ON. if you like a train wreck of a film that will, if nothing else, entertain you - it's worth a watch... and ladies, you gotta admit the guys are HOT.....

Safe Haven (I) (2013)

Unimaginably Boring for so much Potential

[3/10 · 19 February 2014]

This story line had so much potential with domestic abuse, redemption, love, family, but the screen writers TOTALLY missed the mark - Josh Duhamel does a decent job - not the vacuous role he is usually placed in and pulls off more than a pretty face here - David Lyons as the alcoholic Detective Tiernny and abusive husband of Hough shined - he seems made for bad guy roles - Julianne Hough - I think the girl has some potential as actor given a more meaty role but as stated this was painfully drawn out with idyllic lazy southern settings where IMPOSSIBLY in a town of 2000 no one questions the appearance of a newcomer and in fact embraces her without question (being from the south - that "ain't" how we operate - if you are in town for more than 48 hours we know everything about you if we have to pry it out with a velvet crowbar), impossible circumstances, clichés enough to fill a NY phone book. Oh how I wish they'd made the most of this story line.

All of this being said - the last 40 minutes was great and the ending? TOTALLY unexpected - right out of left field - loved it - knowing what I know now I would watch the first 20 minutes to get the lay of the land and characters, then skip to 108 and watch to the end. Sadly I cannot give this more than a 3 thanks to an awful job by the screen writers.

The Cold Light of Day (1996)

Well Worth a Watch

[8/10 · 19 February 2014]

First let me say that one thing I LOVED about this film was the use of sound to set the mood - not noise and music but common every day sounds - the clinking of glass, the slamming of a cell door, the creak of a windmill the squeak of a child's swing, tires on pavement on and on -- and in moments when they were magnified -- just brilliant use of the ordinary to create the extraordinary.

On the whole, I am usually not too taken with foreign made (outside the USA & Canada) films so went into this with the idea I'll give it a few minutes - it's free on Netflix so nothing ventured nothing gained. Not being familiar with any of the actors my first reaction to Swaziland born Grant was Milquetoast - however, his passion in the role and believability took me quite by surprise - effective as an obsessed investigator looking into the brutal murders of three young girls. When, in a game of political chess, the wrong man is accused and commits suicide, effectively closing the case to further investigation, he leaves the department and personally takes the investigation to surprising lengths. Soliciting the help of a psychologist and his access to computers, he narrows down a locale to ferret out the perpetrator. He meets a homeless young mother (outstanding acting by Lynsey Baxter (The French Lieutenant's Woman))and sets her up as his housekeeper secretly using the daughter (a young Perdita Weeks) as bait.

The story effectively plays his obsession with nailing the homicidal pedophile against his growing affection for both the mother and daughter and he does a fine job of drawing you in to the conflicting emotions while leaving you unsympathetic to his using a child as bait for a serial killer. The killer is really rather brilliantly (and sickeningly) portrayed by the late Simon Cadell - Nice character development and surprisingly good insight into how a pedophile sees the world - a struggling mom in a war torn region protecting the innocence of her child, a detective who cannot let go despite the potential for heartbreaking results, a brilliant serial killer, all make for an edge of your seat thriller for the most part. Hauntingly beautiful locales in he Czech Republic. Drags in a few places but well worth a watch.

Deadly Whispers (1995 TV Movie)

Outstanding Acting, Okay Editing. Okay Directing

[6/10 · 28 October 2012]

Plausible storyline with OUTSTANDING performances by Reed, Danza & Rhames. I liked the narrow focus - it was not cluttered with unnecessary roles so more focus could be placed on developing the pertinent characters. Excellent dialog and very plausible "southerners" - I am a native southerner so I know what I'm talking about - surprised at the review that contends seeing a New York Italian with a southern accent is weird - that's laughable - Consider the British actors with American accents - the Australians (consider Nicole Kidman, Jude Law and Renée Zellweger in Cold Mountain. These were great southern characters and from the accents I think they were West Virginians (not Georgians as suggested by another reviewer) WV, VA & KY have different accents from AL & GA and TN is a cross between KY and GA. NC & SC also have their own dialect -- nutshell GREAT job on the accents.

Good research on MPD. They don't as normally depicted change on a dime and just jump into the alternate ID it's a gradual process that is drawn out with the dominant personality wanting to control and the others struggling to come out - it was flawed in that one personality believed Kathy to be alive - as the real, kind, loving father he KNEW she was dead - that knowledge would not have fallen with MPD to hallucinations that Kathy was still alive so bad research on MPD.

I just love Ving Rhames and keep hoping he will get an Alex Cross role - his role was minor but well played as a compassionate but determined detective - that stare of his just gives me goosies.

Intense storyline - this is much more a drama than a thriller - an avid movie fan will have figured this out by the time Rhames suspects Danza but the dialog curiosity on the return (or not) of the kids will hold you and keep you from fast forwarding. despite no sex and nominal profanity it has very adult story line - not for kids at all.

based on a) the acting b) dialog c) realistic depiction of southerners and southern poverty 6/10

The Help (2011)

Mesmerizing - Pure Oscar Material!

[17 August 2011]

Oscar Oscar Oscar – Kathryn Stockett's beautiful book is Oscar worthy in this film -- for editing, screenplay, supporting actress (several deserving) – Emma Stone just shines – at just 22 years old, this film proves she is a force to be reckoned with in Hollywood. There are so few roles written for black women and I was thrilled to see such great roles filled by Viola Davis (Abigail) and Octavia Spencer (Minnie) - both should be nominated for supporting roles although in my opinion, along with Emma Stone, all three share top billing.

The character development in this movie is really outstanding – I hate movies with flat single dimension characters and these from the lowest to those with the most screen time are just remarkably developed – even the newspaper editor, the lines they chose for him to keep gave you enough information that even he is a memorable character with only three scenes, maybe 4 in the entire movie. Same for Stuart, Skeeter's love interest – you actually like him then hate him and he only has maybe 3 minutes of air time. Great great job. Sissy Spacek with so few speaking moments is great as is Cicely Tyson who speaks volumes even in scenes with no words. Admittedly, being based on an amazing book the background story was already set out and tracks the book closely without some of the details but they have done a great job of putting it to film –

This movie sets out beautifully a terrible time in our history that unfortunately is not over – it is better, but not over by a long shot. Being a child of the south and coming up during that time, being raised by such bigoted grandparents and parents, it leaves me pause to wonder how I avoided this rabid virus of hate and takes me back to long hot lazy days in the deep south before every building was air conditioned – such attention detail right down to the Jesus fans they waved in church – awesome flick. You FEEL the heat, the tension, the pain, the injustice of the time but still you laugh with them even as you cry for them - both races - ignorance is to be wept over.

However, I think this movie does more, goes further in its exploration of the behavior of the privileged during that time. They were rabid toward blacks but were not that much better toward anyone who did not share their socio-economic status (the way the "Junior League" treated Celia) and the enormous peer pressure they put on one another (the club encouraging Skeeter's mother to make a poor decision). It visits the sins of the parents passed on to their children – the bigotry and injustice that is learned at the knee of our elders. OMG it is just an awesome, poignant, moving, NOT TO BE MISSED film.

Mesmerizing from start to finish – never once drags – just an easy easy easy 10

Quarantine 2: Terminal (2011)

Entertaining but Predcable B film Sci Fi Fare

[6/10 · 9 August 2011]

Opens with the requisite introduction of your victims/passengers – you have the mandatory kid, the mandatory old frail person, the mandatory ass, the mandatory "love connection" – then moments into the flight, one of the less likable characters erupts (literally) with an illness that is magically from 34000 feet diagnosed as a contagion warranting immediate landing dropping through a thunderstorm (yeah right) and quarantine once on the ground.

Almost funny in how fast the airport locks down – we ALL know we don't have this kind of security even in a post 9/11 world. And the sheer ignorance of opening a door where the original sick victim was put AFTER learning you are quarantined is laughable as is how rapidly the sick degenerate – has lots of the requisite screams and monster like rages (the result of the virus) but as these B films go you expect some chuckles from the unbelievability. Becomes even more unbelievable as the movie progresses – from the armed CDC (who turns out to be part of Homeland Security not a spoiler as this is revealed within moments after CDC enters) and despite some gory moments does have some suspenseful turns.

Cool plot twist involving the origin of the contagion evoked a bit of anger from me (LOL) as totally unbelievable as it is – but I do love these low budget sci fi doomsday flicks

Very predictable but good filming – none of the choppy poorly lit fare you expect from these films – moves at a good clip but tends to bog down and become repetitive as victims begin to manifest symptoms. The characters are 2 dimensional and poorly developed – you really don't develop any significant attachment to any of them -- but the acting is not altogether horrible and you do feel for their plight (and wonder how YOU would react in this situation).

I personally love this kind of sci fi flick – I love all the contagion, Apocalypse, jump at sudden events flicks and don't care how bad they are as long as the story engages me and this one does.

If you watch movies for talent, drama, art, this is not your cup of tea. If you have kids under 12 or 13 that want to watch this probably not a good idea. If you love cinema for the drama and creativity, don't bother. If you just like a decent suspenseful B flick for the fun of it you will probably like this.

Do not expect awards material – it's not – but it is entertaining - worth the rental but it's a one time viewing – not a cult classic

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)

Rock Solid Enjoyable Entertainment

[9 August 2011]

Since Charlton Heston washed up on the shores of a devastated NYC and a fallen Statue of Liberty, we have wrangled with the idea of evolution on film – painted from a natural evolution gone awry to an uprising against the indignities that our simian counterparts suffer at our hands in places like the Yerkes Primate Center, zoos and tiny cages in carnivals. If you are looking for a sequel, prequel, whatever name you want to call it to our beloved Beneath, Escape From, Conquest of, etc. get ready for a surprise. It is not.

I wish they had called this Revenge of the Apes or Vengeance of the Apes and not followed the confusing Planet of signatory - it would thus have avoided the prequel reboot, etc. discussion so folks could just talk about a pretty decent flick. It was okay that they "paid homage" to the earlier films by repeating names (Dodge, Cornealia, Ceasar) but could have and probably should have been avoided to keep people from comparing the two – Here we have science gone afoul with James Franco in one of his better roles Will Rodman – a scientist searching for a cure for his father's (specifically) Alzheimers using various ape species for his experiments. Upon a failed experiment affecting a female who gives birth after her death, he "adopts" the infant primate (Caesar) whose genetic makeup has been affected by the experimental drugs given his deceased mother. His intelligence grows exponentially until he ends up in a cruel animal control facility where he learns while interacting with other apes FIRST that he IS an ape and second that his true enemy is man. Not even the hand that fed and raised him appears to be exempt from his loosely controlled rage and the plight of his fellow apes.

Wonderfully conceived and written concept film on the complicated nature of the man/animal relationship and the complexity of animal rights versus human discovery and experimentation. As entertaining as this film is, it is impossible to escape the emotion, the empathy, the heartbreak and the rage we should all feel over animal abuse and neglect in any form however well-meaning and that stages the core of the plot development of pure unadulterated revenge - a nice inside look at how reactionary people can be to the unknown – the love of Will for his ape/child versus the fear of the animal displayed by the neighborhood, which further sets the stage for the stunning turn of events in the film.

The dialogue in this film and indeed the film as a whole is intelligent, provocative and flows beautifully despite a few jumps in narration that the writer assumes an intelligent audience will follow (and we do). Whether the writers or director or a collaborative effort, attention was paid to this rewrite of a classic and thought was given to the direction this film and any sequels might take. Overall exciting with a few places near the end that might be overplayed but not to the detriment of the film. The same can be said for any weak moments in the film that could have been better handled or perhaps built upon – none are to the film's true detriment.

Outstanding computer graphics treated with just the right amount of caution to keep this flick from being over the top and gimmicky. Perhaps an Oscar contender for the restraint showed in CG -- a fine example of how CG can be used to truly enhance a film and not be relied on to BE the film.

You have to be a sci fi fan to love this but not to enjoy it. A rock solid enjoyable film - An easy 8 in my book

Ominous (2009)

Super Low Budget and it shows

[9 August 2011]

I wish there were a zero rating - I don't know if I can get 10 lines unless I put 10 1 line synonyms for horrible, terrible, awful, waste of time and money, etc.

Choppy filming, terrible sound track, sound editing and "score", stilted acting, ZERO character development. Even as cheap B horror flicks go, this is just terrible - at least with the better B films you can laugh - this is just painful to watch.

You just have to feel sorry for the poor schleps who thought OMG I'm making a movie only to find they made a mess.

The only way editing could have salvaged this film would have been to recycle the film stock

Order of Chaos (2010)

Absolutely awful waste of a million bucks

[9 August 2011]

This was bad even for a low budget film!!! Why anyone reading this script would want to be in this movie is beyond me - why any investor would invest $2 in this after reading the script is beyond me. Implausible yet predictable from the minute the two men meet at work to the very last second -- a few "weeks in the life of" the office creep and office nerd. With a little work, the script and some character development COULD have salvaged this flick a little.

Easy to follow because it's so simple minded - NOT thought provoking unless you enjoy dwelling on the psychosis of others Horrible use of effects with cameras - unpredictable and very unnecessary flashes and repeats only add to the stress you feel of wanting this movie to end.

The director/producers would have fared better if they could not afford good sound editing and a decent score to go with silence or some inexpensive royalties to some retro tunes.

Super stilted performances - almost like reading lines - I've seen better acting in high school plays.

Overall do not waste your time.

The Conspirator (2010)

Seering Indictment of our Wartime Criminal Justice System

[10/10 · 7 August 2011]

Well, it seems that everyone from Southerners to Northerners to pseudo Canadian "experts" on the Civil War have reviewed this, some having only seen the trailers and as a Southern redneck I am here to tell you they are so off base. This movie was not about the guilt or innocence of the Surrats nor of Booth – it was about political snobbery, a rush to justice to placate the masses, to bury a tragedy and move on instead of standing up and doing the right thing.

The plot summary states in part: "As the trial unfolds, Aiken realizes his client may be innocent and that she is being used as bait and hostage in order to capture the only conspirator to have escaped (her son)" and that is correct but the BIGGER picture is not his belief in her innocence not once does he say "I believe she is innocent" he DOES contend the prosecution is using her to get to her son from which they will not back down because by their own admission, SOMEONE HAS TO PAY for this -- it is a vendetta, not a trial – what Aiken DOES contend is that she is "entitled to a fair trial" by a jury of her peers (not an all male military tribunal).

After trying to get out of representing her he comes to realize that much more is at stake than her guilt or innocence. It's more that any potentially innocent person in the future could face what she is facing if not given a fair trial – his role as an attorney and not just trial counsel to the Defendant becomes crystal clear.

This film was not made to address the right and wrong of slavery, racism, the rise and fall of the south, the domination of the north or even about the war itself. It was not even about the assassination of the President of the United States. It was about the miscarriage of justice plain and simple. Coming off the bloodiest period of American history TO DATE, our soldiers died not for slavery or commerce but to prevent the south from seceding from the Union.

True, you cannot have one without all the trappings whatever they may be for any given war, but as with any war there are mitigating factors and none should circumvent our basic rights as American citizens. The bottom line was our nation was founded on a set of principles stipulated in Constitution. That document alone is the glue that keeps us free, makes us accountable for our actions as a nation and as individuals.

Specifically, the Fifth Amendment was not written to protect the guilty, but to protect the innocent from being railroaded without due process. Someone once said it's better for 10 (or some arbitrary number) guilty men to go free than for one innocent to die and it is upon THAT premise that our Constitution addressed our individual rights and it was THAT premise (I believe) that Redford wanted to convey in this Oscar worthy film.

It is just astonishing to me that even after seeing the film so many people still address the guilt or innocence of Mary Surratt – unfortunately we will never know if she was innocent or guilty – because in our country, under our still flawed but to date best in the world criminal justice system, only a jury of one's peers can determine guilt or innocence.

One of the beauties in this film is the relevance to our times– we lost 3000 lives and it stirred up the same "bury the Constitution" mentality going into our current Middle East involvement – History will indeed repeat itself if we do not learn from our mistakes. A person can be accused of terrorist activity and jailed indefinitely without benefit of counsel and where the premise of innocent until proved guilty is becoming a vague suggestion and not a given right. That is the larger premise of this film.

I don't think the film was a perfect movie – but I do think it was EXCELLENT entertainment hence my vote of 9 -- The editing was choppy but easily followed. I would have preferred less of the crowd scenes and the silly parlor banter regarding Surratt wearing soldier's bones – that all appeared out of place – especially when it was a given that the public was angry and blinded by rumor–I thought more emphasis should have been spent on dialogue among counsel than an already given public sentiment and filling out the characters. A better job of editing and writing could have made this an Oscar winner and not just a contender.

The characters lacked depth – I would have loved to see more dimension to them and less attention paid to the frivolities mentioned above, however, the costume and set design was dead on– if nothing else, this film deserves the Oscar in those two categories – it was all in the details – very well researched.

If you love justice, if you love courtroom drama, if you love the late 1800s period of our history this is a must see but please DO REMEMBER this is NOT a civil war film – it is an indictment of our justice system on how it treats civilians in a time of war and where it can lead –This film is about justice, checks and balances, knowing and doing right in times when it is MOST trying -- not when it is easy to do the right thing.

Brilliant movie, kudos to Redford and crew

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

Rah Rah Rah Red White and Blue

[8/10 · 7 August 2011]

First, and perhaps most importantly, remember -- it's a comic book character – bigger than life, written at a time when America needed heroes in every size, color, shape and gender – and this is one of the most likable heroes of all time. He's the skinny weakling, brunt of the playground jokes, Mr. Nobody makes big. He has just one dream, to kick Hitler's ass, to serve his country, to be a part of the war effort like the playground buddies he is losing to the war – but he can't get into the military, and is a 3 time 4F failure at enlisting until a scientist (Stanley Tucci) Abraham Erskine recognizes his greatest asset, his heart. Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) has the heart and soul of a hero and is recruited into the super-soldier experiment to become Captain America – a muscular and cellular enhanced super fighting machine.

However, to his chagrin, his first assignment is to "wear tights" in a silly super hero costume and be a walking talking breathing ad campaign for war bonds – the money used to fund the war is as needed as soldiers according to higher ups but upon learning that his childhood friend is trapped behind enemy lines that all changes and Captain Rogers comes into his own as a warrior – fighting for truth justice and the American way – cliché and the movie is cliché but that does not detract from its broader appeal. Everyone needs a hero –

The strength of this film is the hero – local boy with a great heroes heart makes good on promise to kick butt in Germany or some such – he doesn't even need the fancy equipment the magic vibranium shield or the super motorcycles to win our hearts – he did than when he threw himself on a dummy grenade in training and showed everyone what a real hero is made of. I wish they'd had more character development between Rogers and Hayley Atwell (his main squeeze) because she did an outstanding job as a 40s bombshell in uniform – and they could have used less fighting – after all, and again, we were already won over to him in the first 15 minutes – he had nothing to prove to us – fall in love, kill Hydra –the creation of a failed experiment by the same doctor that created Captain America - (the great and gruesome antagonist played by a heavily made up and unrecognizable Hugo Weaving) and come home to live happily ever after but and no buzz kill here, the ending leaves a perfect prequel set up (what a shock) perhaps for next year's Avengers? Always yummy Tommy Lee Jones plays the gritty General who is expected to make the scrawny kid into a soldier and as always he plays his role with believability, wit and his fabulous southern drawl – again I wish we could have had more interaction between Rogers and Jones. Nevertheless, Jones role helps the whole thing gel and he is no matter his age, raw masculine eye candy.

The storyline is good – not great – but not a wet comic book – very retro and very rah rah rah red white and blue but it's a comic book – if you see it with that in mind you'll enjoy it - it's worth the $10 bucks for an afternoon of escape at the local mall

The directors and writers do an excellent job of tying the beginning to the end and following a story line – flows very well and does not leave you wondering what just happened – the writers did a good job – not great – this is not an award winner but is good solid enjoyable film making and perfect summer entertainment for the kids and the kid in you.

Up (2009)

A triumph not to be missed and to be savored over and over

[6 August 2011]

I'd hate to have small kids and try explaining the first 15 minutes of this to them – but for me it was wonderful, touching, sweet and almost wordless a plethora of emotion was conveyed with few words – Pixar's handling of the main and a very necessary component of the story – the loss of a loved one in your elder years – was just astonishingly beautiful, gentle, kind and respectful -

Pixar is simply miraculous in what they can do with animation in developing and following a story line –from touching, it goes to hilarious even to exciting – we have been where Russell is at some time in our life – seeking approval, verifying who we are as we grow – and if we are not there we will all one day be where Frederickson is when he makes his fateful decision to go UP and AWAY and we have all faced bullies like Muntz at some point in our life Every moment is real, touching, thought provoking, funny, sad, even frightening – when you fear for them in their adventures -- just a roller coaster of emotions you'd expect from a top studio drama.

The animation is superlative as one has come to expect from the marriage between Disney and Pixar but they have outdone themselves with the facial expressions and character articulation. nobody could have played this lovable old grump better than Asner did – the same for little Jordan Nagal –and the interaction between them is just delightful pure magic. Throw in Plummer as the explorer turned evil villain Muntz. Kevin, the dogs (especially Dug), are all just such wonderful believable characters – having a dozen dogs of my own I can tell you they are SPOT ON on canine behavior in this film – from the tennis balls to the jumping to express affection to the squirrel fixation to the magic transition to alpha dog in a pack – great great work.

A.J. Riebli's animators and Deirdre Warin and Tom Sonocki's character modeling and articulation teams did a Phenomenal job here – wonderful animation

I cannot imagine anyone not just LOVING this film --

A delightful triumph of filmmaking – a masterpiece of the heart –an ode to the human spirit and the loyalty of our companion animals

Up is not to be missed. One of my 50 favorite films of all time

Children of Men (2006)

Disjointed, Bogs Down too much and does not Rise above average

[6 August 2011]

If you can get through the first 22 minutes the story line and action pick up however, this does not compensate for a very implausible but interesting story line in a world that we know is dying from over population and where all the animals seem to still propagate quite well Solid acting by Clive Owen in the lead role and very touching believable acting by an unfortunately unbilled Clare Hope Ashitey in the role of Kee and some great believable supporting acting and all too brief appearances of Sir Michael Caine This was my second time watching this film and it was so bad the first time I didn't even remember seeing it til 35 minutes into the film – still, all in all it's not a total waste of a rainy afternoon to pop it in the DVD and fast forward to 20 minutes – you don't miss much if any important back ground. The depths of depravity desperate people will sink to is portrayed well in this film but I don't think enough time was devoted to the causation to make it believable and to connect the beginning, middle and end of the film – too disjointed – perhaps better directing would have helped – perhaps fewer screenwriters being involved – 5 is just overkill -- I don't know but it cannot rise above a low average film to me Surprising plot twist in the first battle for the unborn Baby Doe and mother Kee helps move the film along – despite some good, very interesting scenes, Children of Men just bogs down way too much.

The elementary school scene is good but could be better – and when she says what is world without children's voices (even though I'm not wild about kids) it made me stop and think and this film also has what I think is one of the most moving scenes ever where soldiers stop fighting – gunfire ceases and total reverent silence ensues at the cry of an infant STILL it does not save this movie from an overall rating of a 5 – it's a very average action/drama

V for Vendetta (2005)

Steady entertainment -- keeps moving -- brilliant film

[6 August 2011]

Such deep characters, so beautifully written, so much symbolism, we have typical beauty and the beast heroes set in a film so relevant to our times that it's almost painful to watch. Some beautiful turns of phrase – so much so that it's worth watching over and over again – that the hero is masked lets us both not identify with him on a personal level and yet totally identify with him on a much larger symbolic level and at one point his turn of phrase implies I am more than a face - at another, he states that beneath the mask is more than face there are ideas (which is why he can't die - symbolically) – the masks again, later in the film disguise individuals acting in concert for one idea – a really great use of a dramatic symbol -- watch for the falling dominoes and remember "they will fall one domino at a time" --- this is almost always true of chaotic fundamentalist groups, politicians and nations.

Watch for the references to a recent presidential administration (that impliedly led to the situation at hand in the film) – watch for the symbolism in Creedy's closing statement to V you have nothing … we have guns – even without the intense play on symbolism the storyline Is beautiful Wonderfully filmed at angles that best portray the feelings the writers want to evoke – a lot of ground level filming lots of intense close ups – watch for amazing slow mo of the knives near the end (beware not for small kids) but the filming, the cinematography is wonderful.

Beautifully acted – so much power behind a voice and mask that you don't even need facial expressions from Weaving and a fabulous portrayal of Evey by Natalie Portman – Stephen Frye shines as always – what a lovable character he comes off with (ditto for his psychiatrist role in NCIS) just a super good guy always characterizing an amazing sense of humor- This is now an "old" film but so worth watching if we can take something from it – there is power in numbers - we CAN change the world and what we are currently doing has us on a path for certain destruction – this was Parliament but could so have been the Whitehouse, Congress, a representation of oppressive political power in the world.

I love this film and if it has a cult following, I am a cult member!

The Departed (2006)

A riveting classic with a top notch cast and crew

[6 August 2011]

– will entertain today, tomorrow and 20 years from now – the dialogue believable, filming and editing, score, costumes, directing --- there is absolutely nothing about this film not to love – but when you put together a cast and crew like this you have every reason to expect a film that will endure the test of time and this absolutely does – beginning to middle to end – no sagging or losing the audience --- and God I love Wahlberg – lol -- one of my personal top 50 films of all time.

Nicholson is his normal psycho self, Baldwin shines, Wahlberg is in one of his finest hours here, Matt Damon shows his versatility - just fabulous acting and directing. Grips you from the opening monologue to the end --

Hanna (2011)

Sad waste of 30 million bucks!!!!

[4/10 · 6 August 2011]

I am still struggling with the reviews of this film compared to the actual film: "action thriller"; "top notch performances"; "beautiful cinematography"; "outstanding score"; "amazing movie" -- were they watching the same film I watched or had they just toked up a big fat doobie? And to give it a high 7 in a forum where the average GREAT film is an 8.5 and The Godfather only ranked a 9 is bewildering to me.

The acting is mediocre at best and Blanchett would not get a billing in Hollywood if this were the only film on her resume, really, how much acting skill does it take to have a blank starched scowl, speak in monotones and let off with an occasional wicked witch laugh for two edited hours? - The Morrocan crowd scenes are better acted than many of the star scenes – Ronan is not bad for a young actress but when you have the scorching talent of children like Abigail Breslin and Dakota Fanning to compare the teen with – even she is mediocre – again by comparison – all wide eyed and expressionless – maybe she's afraid of needed a face lift if she moves her face too much? Even the much talked about scene where she is introduced to the modern world with fans, television, lights, etc. it's contrived and not her acting – it's the flashing from image to image, more the camera loving her than her loving the camera.

That same scene brings me to the sheer extraordinary unbelievability of this flick. An ex CIA operative is going to raise a girl to her teens in the frozen tundra then abruptly drop her on a techno world? A) with that kind of stupidity he would never have made the CIA and B) expecting us to believe it is equally far fetched. Lots of little things from her dragging an 400 pound reindeer with her 85 pounds and clothed in 50 lbs of dead animal skins -- to her escaping a highly guarded CIA facility (deep underground in Morroco of all places) with nothing but her golden locks and a hideous orange jumpsuit – no fore knowledge of the building plans, no weapons, no backup and any assassin in training would know to lose the long hair – too much to grab onto in a fight, to that amazing homing device that works without power and on a 14 year old Energizer battery??? Oh my the list is just too long suffice it to say you will have to do a LOT of "overlooking" to get through this film.

The score is obnoxiously booming screeching and repetitive and barely passes for techno just awful in the in the context of the movie although it MIGHT be okay if not attached to a wreck of film.

The editing looks like it was done by a 5 year old clips, bits and pieces throughout the film and I know it was designed this way to give it an artsy feel, to endow its action sequences, to give the audience a feel of anxiety and excitement but it fails so miserably that you almost have to feel sorry for even the behind the scenes artists. Now I am not going to spoil this for you just in case you have absolutely nothing better to do one day and your best friend just dumps this DVD in your lap for you to watch but the movies only salvation is the plot twist involving Hannah's mother and her being raised by Bana but you gotta endure 2 hours of this grueling film - a cliché script, a God awful score, mediocre acting, atrocious almost psychotic filming to get there but the last 15 minutes IS perhaps the one piece of solid acting by Ronan in the entire film. I just find it impossible to believe this was TWICE on the list of the best unproduced screenplays in the industry in 2006 and 2009? – I'd love to read the original screenplay because those responsible for putting it to film were on some serious drugs.

I am being over generous with a 4 but I have definitely seen worse – so painful to watch

Unknown (I) (2011)

Fun surprise plot twist otherwise ...

[7/10 · 5 August 2011]

Neeson as always, gives us a good performance - supporting characters are average to good with some thugs being B film quality. The photography is pretty bad, dark places designed to give you a feeling of suffocation or claustrophobia, blurred action designed to give you a feel of movement but all combines for just poor cinematography (imo) Gets draggy and boring in the earlier stages of the film but the action picks up midway with some scenes being longer than needed to make a point. Chases and fights too long but good action otherwise.

Good mystery line that I thought could have been played on much much better with better screen writing but overall, a good way to kill a few hours if you have absolutely nothing better to do - certainly not a waste of time if you've already watched everything else on your "need to see" list. I love the plot twist -

The Hurt Locker (2008)

Gritty, Gutsy Directing - Best "War" Film

[5 August 2011]

semi spoiler - but not a full blown spoiler. If you missed this or skipped it thinking it was just another statement on foreign policy - big mistake. This could be any place, any time, any nation's sanctioned fighting forces. Brilliantly filmed on a ground level - with a home movie feel with each bomb diffusion being filmed from various moving camera angles which effectively builds tension and transcends other film techniques for capturing raw emotion - fear.

Brilliantly directed moving from action to inaction, highlighting some of the reasons our warriors develop the "syndromes" they develop, the pressure they are under and beautifully tying the opening quote to the end of the film via marvelous character development particularly of Sgt. William James (Jeremy Renner) and the fabulous acting he brings to the role.

James is a hotshot bomb tech whose drug of choice is pure adrenalin - having personally and supposedly single handedly defused over 850 IEDs - on several tours of duty to the front - he makes short shrift of showing us how he gets HIS kicks - gets HIS buzz on! And once home the film quickly and touchingly via a conversation with his son - explains and sadly addresses that addiction to the adrenalin pumping fear.

It will leave you thinking about your friends, relatives, loved ones who have gone and returned and wondering just how DO you go from dodging IEDs, gunfire, ambushes, to an afternoon drive to Walmart? Where is the reality after war? and just how DO we thank those who, whether they lived or died STILL gave up, sacrificed one reality for another in duty to their country?

You will long think about Renner's square boxy swagger as he took on his own personal demon each time he confronted the antagonist in this film -- the bombs. And you will long remember his teammates in Bravo company - their struggle to understand him, to reign him in and all the while providing him with the support he needs to accomplish each mission.

Great great flick

Water for Elephants (2011)

Oscar Worthy! Stunning cinematography and directing

[10/10 · 5 August 2011]

Epic period piece beautifully directed with astonishing cinematography. If you can watch the train disappear into the foggy night without feeling deeply moved and lonely then the romantic in you needs awakening! The characters are deep, full of life, believable and evoke intense emotion. Perhaps the most poorly written character was Marlena played by an outstanding Reese Witherspoon - this may be her best performance but the writers failed to give her character the lines and the passion she needed in this role. Despite this, Witherspoon did a fine job of giving us a somewhat naive but strong female character - one who knows right from wrong but does not know quite how to reach out and grasp it.

First of all: It's amazingly beautiful. The costumes and sets are gorgeous, the cinematography is exquisite, the animals are cute (especially Rosie the elephant) and the three leads are very easy on the eyes as well.

Robert Pattinson was outstanding as Jacob - there is just something about the way he can speak volumes with his facial expressions - you can see his childlike joy and delight as he watches the circus performances, his anguish at the explosive temper of August and his feeling of betrayal at the treatment of the animals -- just an amazingly expressive face.

Christoph Waltz was the Nurse Ratchet of this flick -- you just LOVED to hate him through the entirety of the movie - from his rage, jealousy, his greed, his blind passion for his "dreams" of glory, fame, riches -- to the point of being unimaginably cruel. So believable, I personally wanted to strangle him - I found it difficult to say "he is acting" -- that is a sign of a GREAT performance.

The chemistry among the actors from the opening scene with Hal Holbrook meeting the carny guys to the end is pure magic. Outstanding casting, the best storytelling in cinema in YEARS, and cinematography so stunning you can smell the smoke in the air all combine to make this film a journey worth taking more than once.

I loved that the writers did not rely on overt sex or heavy sexual overtones to convey love in this movie - but rather let the actors convey it in looks, body language, and reaction to situations. This movie proves it can be done.

I loved that they combined the past with the present - a handful of flashback references to provide continuity of script and they paid attention to detail -- the costumes were breathtaking and accurate, the hobo camps, train jumping, the overcrowded sleeper cars, the bond of the carny family, the pain of a bust economy and the losses suffered the details are glorious and so heart-wrenching and real in this movie.

There are parts of this film that require you to have a strong stomach for suffering but the ending makes it understandable and somewhat worthwhile (as worthwhile as suffering can be) Easy easy 10/10