Filmdocs

Role Models

2009-08-23T23:53:00.000-07:00

NME: 3 stars

This is a decent movie starring (and co-written by) Paul Rudd and Seann William Scott as two guys forced to do 150 hours community service in a Big Brother like program, after Rudd's character has a meltdown at his job and destroys some public property at a high school. The movie lags a little at the end, but it is generally pretty funny and I laughed out loud at many different times. The funniest person in the movie is actually Jane Lynch, who also starred in The Forty Year Old Virgin with Rudd. I recommend this movie-- it's no masterpiece but it makes a good rental.

Che, Part I

2009-08-21T02:24:00.000-07:00

NME: 3 stars

I am recommending this movie only to people who are interested in Che Guevara and the Cuban revolution. I am no expert as to how accurate the information in the movie was, but for me it had some interesting and enlightening points. The movie is very slow and all in Spanish. As to be expected Benicio Del Toro is very good in the movie- as is the supporting cast. It's shown somewhat out of sequence and focuses on Che's life from the moment he met Fidel Castro up until almost the end of the Cuban revolution. It tries to show how he directed his troops and parts also shed light on his relationship with Castro. Don't expect a typical biopic-- and for many people the movie may be seen as boring. I liked it-- but then again, I was very interested in the topic.

Defiance

2009-08-10T02:02:00.000-07:00

NME: 3 stars

Any movie dealing with how the Jews were treated during WWII, is bound to be incredibly depressing. "Defiance" dealt with this topic, but was more of an uplifting movie, detailing the resistance efforts of Jews in Belarus who created a community in the forests, surviving against all odds.

Daniel Craig and Liev Schreiber star in the movie as brothers who are in charge of the forest survival community. Both Craig and Schreiber had to speak in Russian throughout the film (who knows what they sounded like to a native speaker) when the characters were dealing with the Soviets, but the characters spoke in English when they were speaking in either Yiddish or Polish with one another (it was not made clear). Craig had trouble maintaining the Eastern European accent and sometimes sounded like he was James Bond.

The other thing to note is that the movie kind of got off to a slow start with me, but it did grow on me. It sounds like a lot of the facts of the film were a little murky and it could have conveyed better how complex the situation in modern day Belorus was at that time. Also just as a reminder, movies about WWII are bound to be very sombering and difficult to watch- and though this one wasn't so tough to take-- it's in no way a light movie. In spite of all of this, I recommend it.

Australia: Bad and boring

2009-08-10T01:56:00.000-07:00

NME: 1.5 stars

Baz Luhrmann strikes again directing another clunker that's both bad and boring. At first I tried to be open minded since this movie has gotten so many bad reviews. It didn't seem that bad at first. I like both Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman and the cinematography was pretty. After about 30 minutes, I started to get bored. Worse yet, the tone of the movie was really weird. It was sort of dealing with the serious topic of the maltreatment of the aborigines but then the actors were directed to overact, as if they were acting in the stage version of the Music Man. This movie is not recommended. I fell asleep several times while watching it and it made no sense.

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford: Dull and Duller

2009-08-03T02:17:00.000-07:00

NME: 2 stars

This is me being generous because I tried to watch the movie twice and each time I fell asleep. It is super indulgent when directors choose to direct at such a slow pace. It's ok for a movie to be slow, but this movie is so slow it lulls you to sleep. Also, you care little about the characters in the movie, Brad Pitt is made to look less attractive and Casey Affleck's character is annoying, creepy and unlikable. The reason the movie is worth two stars is that the cinematography is very good and the acting also seemed to be good. It could have been cut down by over an hour and maybe it wouldn't have been such a bad movie. This movie is only recommended to those who suffer from insomnia.

Revolutionary Road

2009-07-13T03:01:00.000-07:00

NME: 3 stars

I had high hopes for this movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, which was directed by Winslet's husband Sam Mendes. It disappointed me somewhat, but I would still recommend it. The movie centers on a couple who are bored by suburbia and this boredom causes them to engage in raging fights that seem way overdone. The acting in the movie seemed like it was better suited for the theater. The characters were really hot and cold and explosive without much rhyme or reason as to why. Kate Winslet wasn't as bad as Leonardo DiCaprio in this regard. He would really start screaming like a maniac during their fight scenes without much build-up.

Though her American accent was weird again, Winslet looks really gorgeous in the movie. Some of her movies call her to play roles where she doesn't showcase how pretty she is. She actually was better looking than DiCaprio in this film. More importantly, they had a lot of chemistry and you could easily picture them together.

The movie reminded me a little bit of the show Mad Men, except I like watching Mad Men a lot more, since it's more subtle. This was too over the top for me. I gave it 3 stars because it kept my attention and there were a lot of good scenes in the movie. I recommend it but don't go into it expecting an uplifting movie or an Oscar worthy film.

The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada

2009-07-13T02:54:00.000-07:00

NME: 2.5 stars

This movie was directed by and stars Tommy Lee Jones. It's not a bad movie, but it was slow and the topic of the movie bored me. The movie centers on a border patrol man (played by Barry Pepper) who accidently kills vaquero Melquiades Estrada, who happens to be one of Tommy Lee Jones' (name Pete) character's good friends. When the body is unceremonially buried without notifying the family, Pete becomes determined to give him a proper burial. The movie is shot out of sequence which makes it hard to figure out what's going on. It also moves too slowly and kind of bored me. That being said, it's not a bad movie. Tommy Lee Jones spoke a lot of Spanish in the movie, and he didn't do too bad with that. If the plot of the movie sparks your interest, rent it--- otherwise don't bother.

The Wrestler

2009-07-10T03:42:00.000-07:00

NME: 3.5 stars

This was a very good movie starring Mickey Rourke in the title role as a washed up professional wrestler whose life has hit hard times. It also stars Evan Rachel Wood (who overacts a little bit) and Marisa Tomei (who is topless throughout the movie). Mickey Rourke is really good in this movie because he really seemed to embody the role. I hope his career gets resurrected because he's very talented. I don't want to give away too much of the plot but be warned that it's not exactly an uplifting movie. Also some of the wrestling scenes were very bloody. In spite of this, I recommend it.

Baby Mama

2009-07-06T03:11:00.000-07:00

NME: 3 stars

This was a cute movie starring Amy Poehler and Tina Fey as an odd couple forced to live together since Poehler's white trash character is pregnant and giving up her baby for adoption to Fey's barren/working girl character. I don't alway find Amy Poehler funny and she is slightly miscast in this role, but overall-- the movie is pleasant throughout. It's not going to make you fall over from laughing so hard- but it is amusing and fun to watch. I'm also a big Tina Fey fan- so I generally like her in TV and movies. I recommend this.

The Reader

2009-07-06T02:35:00.000-07:00

NME: 3.5

The Reader is a very good movie starring Kate Winslet in her Oscar winning role and newcomer Michael Kross. The movie is based on the book by the same name and focuses on the love story between a teenager and an older woman in post-war West Germany.

I won't go into the details of the movie (though most people probably know about it by now), but it created some controversy for how it treated one of the main character's who had a shameful past, with possibly too much sympathy. In my opinion, I didn't pity or feel for this character at all-- so I don't believe that the filmaker tried to humanize this character too much. Other criticisms about the movie were that there were too many gratuitous sex scenes that distracted from the gravity of the subject matter. I agree that the movie didn't need so much nudity. Kate Winslet is constantly naked in this movie. What's weirder is that her co-star had just turned 18 when the sex scenes were filmed.

In spite of all of this, I would recommend this movie. Kate Winslet is very good in it. Sometimes -when she has to do an American accent she sounds contrived. However in this movie, she has to age over 30 years and do a German accent and she did a good job with it.

Frost/Nixon

2009-06-29T03:50:00.000-07:00

NME: 3.75 stars

I thought this was a great movie, directed by Ron Howard and starring Frank Langella (in his oscar nominated role) and Michael Sheen. The movie was based on a succesful play, which also starred Langella and Sheen as Richard Nixon and David Frost, respectively. The movie took some dramatic license but overall didn't pull an Oliver Stone and fabricate too much information. The movie is based on a series of interviews that took place between British TV talk show host David Frost and disgraced former President Nixon in the late 1970s. It details the lead-up to the interviews and the emotions riding on them.

Both Sheen and Langella are very good in the two main parts. Langella does a more dramatic and emotional characterization of Nixon but it doesn't go too over-the-top. The dvd extras shows real footage of the interview and by comparison, Nixon was much more subdued-- but much of the script is word for word from those interviews.

I think this movie would appeal to a lot of different people. It is defintely recommended and it was never boring.

The Last King of Scotland

2009-06-22T04:22:00.001-07:00

NME: 3.25 stars

This movie stars Forest Whitaker in his Oscar winning role as brutal dictator Idi Amin. It's a fictional account of his relationship with his personal doctor played by James McAvoy. Whitaker is very good in the role, and though for the sake of drama, the story is embellished in ways that were not necessary, the movie is worth a rental.

MIlk

2009-06-22T04:16:00.000-07:00

NME: 3.75 stars

I almost gave the movie 4 stars but changed my mind at the last minute. Milk stars Sean Penn, in an Oscar award winning role as Harvey Milk the first openly gay elected politician in the US and traces how he challenges the status quo and starts a formidable grass-roots movement in San Francisco. It also stars James Franco, Emile Hirsch and Josh Brolin. All of the actors do a great job and the movie was well-directed by Gus van Sant. Thankfully, van Sant directed the movie and not Oliver Stone, who was originally tapped to do it. Stone ruins every biopic he's ever touched by interlacing loads of his own imagination into the script, creating fiction out of stories that don't need embellishment. Milk cleverly uses a lot of real footage and follows the true story closely. I highly recommend this movie, especially in light of the bigotry surrounding prop 8.

Body of Lies

2009-06-22T04:08:00.000-07:00

NME: 3 stars

This movie got mixed reviews from critics and didn't do that great at the US box office (though it recovered and did well globally). I think it was too harshly reviewed and was a fairly decent movie considering the topic. Pretty much any movie about the War on Terror or the CIA is bound to be nauseating and preachy. It's not too bad. The movie stars Leonardo DiCaprio as an agent working in the Middle East for a clueless and culturally insensitive American boss running the operations from his cush house in Virginia, played by Russell Crowe. DiCaprio's character is moved to Amman to work with Jordanian intelligence in capturing agents, who are all living in a safe house in Amman and working for an organization that is similar to Al-Qaeda, that has been responsible for a series of terrorist attacks on Western cities.

DiCaprio and Crowe are usually credible in their roles and the movie basically hangs together, save for a final scene that's very preachy. The plot is also not that complex and laden with conspiracy theories like most movies on the CIA. Unfortunately, the movie did not hire exclusively Arab actors so there are tons of scenes of Arabs speaking to other Arabs in English. That always bugs me. We're also supposed to believe that Morocco looks like Amman. That being said, the movie is worth a rental.

Letters from Iwo Jima

2009-06-22T04:05:00.000-07:00

NME: 3 stars

This was a good movie directed by Clint Eastwood telling WWII from the Japanese point of view. I found the movie a little too slow, too repetitive and too boring. That being said, if you're a WWII fanatic, you should probably rent this movie. The movie was criticized -naturally- by some Japanese people for the portrayal of American troops in the film. It's in Japanese with subtitles.

East West

2009-06-22T03:59:00.000-07:00

NME: 3.5 stars

East-West is a great foreign film starring Sandrine Bonnaire, Oleg Menshikov and the late Sergie Bodrov Jr. The movie was marketed as if Catherine Denueve had a starring role, but she only has a bit part. The movie centers around a Russian doctor, living in France with his French wife and child, who is lured into returning to the Soviet Union in order to take part in the reconstruction process. Once they arrive, they realize their life will be horrible and the French wife wants to leave immediately. Naturally she's not allowed to and the movie centers around their life and her drive to escape. The movie is really well done, and not as depressing as it sounds. It is spoken in French and Russian so you'll have to read subtitles. It's worth a rental.

Priceless

2009-06-22T03:56:00.000-07:00

NME: 1 star

This French movie starring Audrey Tautou should be titled "Worthless." It's really bad and the only reason to rent it is because Audrey Tautou is adorable. Other than that, it centers around Tautou's character -who's a horrible gold-digger- and some guy who's in love with her but has no money. I fell asleep before it ended because it was boring and the characters had no redeeming qualities.

The House Bunny

2009-06-22T03:53:00.000-07:00

NME: 1/2 a star

Rent this movie only if you want to roll your eyes 40 times an hour. The movie which stars Anna Faris, Rumer Willis, Katherine McPhee and Emma Stone is so unbelievably bad, I almost turned it off while watching it on a Transatlantic flight. It focuses on a Playboy Bunny who is too old to live in the mansion anymore, gets kicked out and becomes a Sorority house mother for a bunch of misfits. Though the writing is horrendous, the acting is even worse. Hopefully Rumer Willis and Katherine McPhee were not paid for their services.

Oceans 13

2009-06-22T03:51:00.000-07:00

NME: 3 stars

This movie gets 3 stars purely based on the fact that it is pretty to look at. There is no other reason to watch other than that the movie is visually beautiful for a number of reasons. Everything else is soso, and at times, the movie is kind of slow. That being said, it's a decent rental.

Superbad

2009-06-22T03:49:00.000-07:00

NME: 2.5 stars

This movie would have been given at least 3 stars if it wouldn't have jumped the shark mid way through. Instead of just making a comedy, producers and writers seem to be hell bent on making a comedy caper. The caper part is not believable in any way and is way over the top. That's the problem with Superbad. It starts off with so much promise and then it becomes an action movie that's neither funny nor exciting. I still would recommend it, regardless of this problem since the first half was pretty funny.

Tenacious D: The Pick of Destiny

2009-06-22T03:44:00.000-07:00

NME: 2 stars

This movie which stars Tenacious D, Kyle Gass and Jack Black will hold your attention, but barely. It's mildly funny with a ridiculous plot and thankfully is fairly short. It's clearly meant to be watched while imbibing in something. Otherwise, it seems like you're watching a Rainbow Brite commercial.

Pineapple Express

2009-06-22T03:40:00.000-07:00

NME: 2 stars

This movie starring Seth Rogan and James Franco is a self-indulgent mess. The first part of the movie, however, is pretty funny and I loved James Franco's character. Seth Rogan co-wrote the movie and you can tell that he had a great time making it. Unfortunately, that doesn't always translate for fun for the viewer. Watch the beginning and then keep it on while you fold laundry.

Nacho Libre

2009-06-22T03:37:00.001-07:00

NME: 1 star

I love Jack Black, but this movie was awful. The funny parts revolved around the fact that he looks funny in tight clothes and he has an amusing Mexican accent that goes in and out throughout the movie. It is really bad and not recommended to anyone.

No Reservations

2009-06-22T03:33:00.000-07:00

NME: 2.5 stars

This is not a bad movie starring Catherine Zeta Jones and Aaron Eckhart. The movie centers around a tightly wound chef whose life is turned upside down after her sister dies and leaves her to care for her young daughter and a new chef is hired to work at the same restaurant with her. The arrival of the new chef leads to friction and sexual attention, but eventually she melts with the help of her niece and her new relationship. I had low expectations before watching this movie, but it wasn't bad.

Tropic Thunder

2009-06-22T03:30:00.000-07:00

NME: 2.5 stars

This is a bad movie that made me laugh several times because it was so ridiculous. It seemed like the actors (Jack Black, Ben Stiller, Robert Downey Jr.) were making things up as they went along. Tom Cruise is also funny in the movie, but the person who made me laugh the hardest was Nick Nolte. The plot is about spoiled actors making a Vietnam movie on location and actually getting stuck in a dangerous situation unbeknownst to them. Have zero expectations, and you will enjoy it.

Reversal of Fortune

2009-06-22T03:25:00.000-07:00

NME: 3 stars

This is a very good movie that starred Jeremy Irons (in an Oscar winning role) and Glenn Close. It also starred the late Ron Silver who played Alan Dershowitz-- who wrote a book which the movie is based on. The movie plot is known by now. Jeremy Irons plays the real life character Claus von Bulow who was accused of murdering his wife Sunny in order to inherit her money. He hires Alan Dershowitz to defend him and the movie tries to answer whether or not he did it. The movie is still good, but runs a little slow. I still would recommend it, nevertheless.

The Hours

2009-06-19T02:50:00.000-07:00

NME: 3 stars

I have three adjectives to describe The Hours: well-made, slow and depressing. The Hours starred Meryl Streep, Julianne Moore and Nicole Kidman in her Oscar winning role. I'm not sure what made Nicole Kidman's role stand out more than the other ladies, but everyone went gaga because she put on a prosthetic nose and dared to look ugly. The nose looked ridiculous and detracted from the movie. Nevertheless, the movie was very well acted and well done but the topic of depression and suicide is not my cup of tea. If it's your idea of a good time, rent this movie.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

2009-06-15T03:04:00.000-07:00

NME: 3.5 stars

I give this movie a fairly high rating even though it suffers from some deep flaws. I wisely chose not to watch this movie on a tiny airplane screen as it would not have done it justice. It has nice cinematography and is clearly a well made film.

The problems are that it's a little slow and I wouldn't say the character development is particularly good. The biggest problem with the movie, however, was Cate Blanchett. I'm not a fan of either her work or how she looks. She doesn't look good with Brad Pitt and therefore I could have cared less about their love story. This is critical to the film since much the emotional ties to the film hinges on this love story. She was annoying to watch and was badly cast.

Brad Pitt was fine in the movie. He never really "wows" me with his acting, but he always looks beautiful on film. The rest of the supporting cast were fine.

I would recommend this movie, but I warn you that it's a little slow and you may not care about any of the characters after you've seen it.

Slumdog MIllionaire

2009-06-10T02:57:00.000-07:00

NME: 3 stars
By now everyone has seen it, so I don't need to give out the plot. I really liked the first half of this movie. The problems for me with the second half were several. First, I thought it jumped the shark once the mafia got involved. Second, I didn't care about any of the adult characters. Third, I thought the adult versions of the main male and female characters overracted.
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I had already been warned that the movie is darker and more serious than it's portrayed in the ad campaign. That part didn't bother me-- the bigger problem was that (as stated above) I cared much more about the characters as kids, than as adults.

The Pursuit of Happyness

2009-06-09T02:58:00.000-07:00

NME: 3 stars

This is a decent movie that's fairly well acted by Will Smith and his son Jaden. Every time I see Jaden in public, he comes across as the world's biggest spoiled brat-- but in the movie he does a nice job playing a sweet kid who has to deal with his dad's dumb decisions. The movie is very loosely based on Chris Gardner's ascent from semi-homeless single father to a stockbroker for Dean Witter. The real story is fairly different than what happens in the movie, but it appears to all be relatively believable. Smith's character makes about a million dumb decisions early on and spends about 50% of the movie running around like a maniac. Smith probably had to run more for this movie than any action movie he's done. There are only two problems with this movie. First, Thandie Newton (who plays the mother of Jaden's character) is the most horrible actress on the planet. She overacts as if she's in a Telenovela. Second, during the movie there is no respite from bad things happening over and over again and it gets a little old. Other than that, it's a pretty good rental.

Half Nelson

2009-06-01T02:53:00.000-07:00

NME: 3.5 stars

Half-Nelson is a good independent movie starring Ryan Gosling as a drug addicted teacher in an inner city school. It's the usual story of a drug addict who makes bad choices over and over again, but the movie was well done and I'm a big Ryan Gosling fan. I recommend this movie even though it's not super uplifting or light. It's well acted and everything holds together pretty well.

Confessions of a Shopaholic: AKA the worst movie of all time

2009-05-26T12:12:00.000-07:00

NME: 0 stars

I didn't even finish watching this movie, and I was on a 5 hour international flight with nothing else to do. It was one of the worst movies I have ever seen. The movie starred Isla Fisher who was not very funny and several supporting cast members such as John Gooden, Kristen Scott Thomas, Joan Cusack, Leslie Bibb and Hugh Dancy -- who were also not funny at all. The movie jumped the shark about 1 million times and it was hard to watch without rolling your eyes. The clothes weren't cute, the storyline was not even remotely believable, the jokes were stale and the physical humor was almost embarrassing to watch. Though there are women out there that love shopping, the main character was so unbelievable and annoying that you wanted her to get sent to jail and off the screen as soon as possible. Watch this only if you are a sado-masochist.

Hotel for Dogs

2009-05-26T12:06:00.000-07:00

NME: 2.5 stars

This movie is not as bad as it sounds. I watched in on an airplane (again) and it kept my attention. The movie stars Emma Roberts, Don Cheadle, Lisa Kudrow and Kevin Dillon and focuses on two foster kids and their quest to save dogs from going to the pound. Once the kids find an abandoned hotel they come up with a way to take care of all of the dogs that they're saving from extinction by the pound. The movie has a lot of cute dogs and the script is not that bad. Even though this wasn't a bad movie, it's a clear indication of the direction of Lisa Kudrow and Don Cheadle's careers. Emma Roberts is fine in the movie, but she wouldn't be famous if her aunt were not Julia Roberts. She's very bland. That being said, if you have kids or you love dogs, it's not a bad rental option.

Husbands and Wives

2009-05-10T12:08:00.000-07:00

Erica: 3.5
In my quest to see all Woody Allen films, I happened upon a gem, Husbands and Wives. This movie tells the story of two couples who are close friends - it shows how the splitting up of one of the couples affects the other couple's relationship. I thought this idea was great for a movie - it addresses so many issues that couples can face in a relationship. There are some humorous moments, but it isn't really a comedy. The only reason I didn't give this movie a higher rating is that sometimes the two female leads - Judy Davis and Mia Farrow - bugged me. Everyone else in this movie was very good, including a very young Juliette Lewis. Woody Allen, interestingly, also didn't play a pathetic character, as he usually does. And Liam Neeson. Damn, I had no idea he was so attractive when he was younger. Another great film from Woody Allen. I highly recommend this one.
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NME: 3.5 stars
I also loved this movie. In general, anything by Woody Allen is a crowd pleaser for me.

Rachel Getting Married

2009-05-10T12:01:00.000-07:00

Erica: 2.5
This movie was kind of annoying. It's about a girl - Anne Hathaway - who just gets out of rehab in time for her sister's wedding. The whole movie takes place over the wedding weekend and tries to highlight the pain that can be caused by drug addiction for the families of addicts. Frankly, I didn't think this movie had anything new to say. There were also a couple of emotional turnarounds that didn't make sense to me. I'm not a big fan of dramas, so for me to like one it better be good. This was OK. Worth watching, only because some people might enjoy watching movies about families overcoming drug addiction than I do. It's not super heavy or anything, but I didn't think anything new was said here. On a side note, Anne Hathaway was good in this. In the first part I thought she was basically playing a darker version of the usual character she plays. But as the movie progressed, I started to think that she was good in it. I tried to think about whether she was good enough to get an Oscar nom for this and she probably was given how lame some of the other nominees were (hello, Angelina Jolie).
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NME: 3 stars
This was not the easiest movie to watch, but I thought it was pretty good. It uses a hand-held camera, a technique I normally don't like and has very long takes with some scenes desperately in need of editing. Overall, I liked the movie, even though the main character is super self-centered and difficult to root for in any way. This is not exactly a feel-good movie, but it was well-acted and and many of the characters seemed realistic. I recommend this movie, but you've been warned that you may find it hard to take.

21

2009-05-05T03:24:00.000-07:00

NME: 2.75 stars
21 is about some Ivy League whiz kids who go to Vegas under the tutelage of a semi-creepy math/stats professor, played by Kevin Spacey, to win big in blackjack by counting cards and developing a fool-proof system. The movie also stars some no-name British guy with very little charisma, a couple of other wannabe dorks and Kate Bosworth as the Ivy League smarties. While promoting this movie, Kate Bosworth thought she would sound more intelligent if she spoke in a fake English accent. If you can get over the fact that Kate Bosworth is annoying, the movie is pretty good. It's loosely based on a true story and it's worth renting, but don't expect a masterpiece.

Yes Man

2009-05-04T17:49:00.000-07:00

Erica: 2
This movie is worth a rental. The reason why is that Jim Carrey is simply hilarious. He makes me laugh, almost as much as Will Farrell. You can tell there are scenes where Jim Carrey is embarrassed that he is doing a movie that is basically a replay of Liar Liar - his character is forced to say yes to everything and see what opportunities come his way. But you can also tell that he improv-ed many scenes - and these scenes are laugh out loud funny. There was enough laugh out loud funny to counter all of the lame cliches. Carrey is a little too old to play Zoey Daschenel's boyfriend and a little too old for the crowd he hangs with in the movie.

NME: 3 stars
This movie is a lot funnier than I thought it would be. As stated above, it was accused of being Liar Liar 2.0. It's better than Liar Liar and a lot funnier. I enjoyed the movie a lot and I laughed out loud several times. Don't expect a masterpiece, but it's not a bad rental. Jim Carrey is very funny in it, as our many of the supporting cast members. Zooey Deschanel plays his love interest. I agree that she looks about 10 years too young for him, but it's not that obvious. Rent it if you love Jim Carrey.

Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown

2009-05-04T17:46:00.000-07:00

Erica: 2.5
This is a Pedro Almodovar film that I have been meaning to rent for some time. Almodovar is a director who I thought was my favorite, but that spot has now been taken by Woody Allen. Almodovar has a few movies that I have absolutely adored - the top spot being taken by Talk to Her - but some that have been disappointing. Given by how much I wanted to see this movie, this was a bit disappointing. Don't get me wrong, it's a solid flick. But it is no Talk to Her. The movie is basically about a trio of women whose lives unravel in a sometimes comic way - hence, the title of the film. There's a bit of sadness too, but not as much as with some of his other films. I guess I wish the movie had more of both - more humor, more sadness, more depth overall. That being said, there's something relate-able about these women going nuts over men.
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NME: 2 stars
I first saw this movie back in 1993 and I loved it. I saw it again recently, and I fell asleep. I don't know why it didn't grab me the second time, but I didn't find it as interesting as his other movies. Almodovar is now very hit and miss in my books.

Bullets Over Broadway

2009-05-04T17:42:00.000-07:00

Erica: 3
This movie took some time to grow on me. In fact, the first half I was borderline bored. But it really grows on you and by the second half I loved it. John Cusack stars as an aspiring playwright. He has to make a deal with the mob to get the play financed - part of the deal is that he has to let the mob boss's wife, played by Jennifer Tilly, star in the play- and boy is she the worst actress of all time. All the actors are good in this. I'm not going to spoil any other details of what happens in this film. Trust me, the second half makes the kind of boring first half totally worth it. Another good film from Woody Allen.
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NME: 3 stars
I also give this movie 3 stars. It was a little slow, but it picked up and became really funny. I recommend it if you love Woody Allen.

Don't Drink the Water

2009-05-04T17:32:00.000-07:00

Erica: 2
I am on a quest to watch as many Woody Allen movies as possible, as I've had an epiphany that he's my favorite director. His movies are always, at a minimum, watch-able. This one was worse than usual, but still watch-able. It's about a loser son of a diplomat, Michael J. Fox, who is tasked with running an embassy abroad. The embassy gets put on lock down as Communists try to attack it - during the attack a family of America tourists runs inside the embassy and is stuck there for a while. The tourists are Woody Allen, the chick from Blossom, and the lady who is the Marge on the Simpsons. It's funny and harmless, but nothing to write home about. The main annoying thing is that the love story between Blossom and ---- (I won't spill it) isn't believable as she is not attractive enough for the role. Sorry, the truth hurts.

The Changeling

2009-05-04T03:10:00.000-07:00

NME: 2.75 stars

This is not a bad movie, but the movie's themes and topics did not interest me. The movie was directed by Clint Eastwood and stars Angelina Jolie in an Oscar nominated role. It's clear that she's going for the Oscar nod with all of her heart. The movie traces her anguish when her son is missing and the LAPD replaces him with an impostor claiming to be her son. The LAPD acts as if she's crazy when she claims that the new boy is not her missing son and puts her in an insane asylum where the usual movie agenda suffocates you with horrible insane asylum scenes. I felt as if I had seen these types of scenes about a million times before, except this time I could care less about the main character.

I'm not sure why I could care less about Angelina Jolie's character, Christine Collins-- but it might have had to do with the fact that her character had no nuances and was either totally boring or screaming at someone. Angelina Jolie weighed about 80 pounds in the movie which also made her look like crap. The movie wasn't bad, I just wouldn't recommend it unless you like movies about child abuction and a mother's anguish.

Brother 2

2009-05-01T03:44:00.000-07:00

NME: 3 stars

I finally got down to watching the sequel to the Russian action/gangster movie Brother and I was pleasantly surprised. I thought that it would be horrible, but along with the first Brother movie-- it was very entertaining. This movie takes place in Moscow instead of St. Petersburg and revolves around the adventures of a semi mysterious character named Danila who's basically a bad-ass, taking out anyone who crosses him. The movie involves him having to go to Chicago to take care of some business. It's very interesting to observe Russian culture and Danila's interactions and impressions while in the US. It's worth renting, but see the first movie beforehand. The first one is even more low budget than this one but both are very good.

Marley and Me

2009-04-28T03:24:00.000-07:00

NME: 2.75 stars

This was not a bad movie. It was moderately entertaining when I saw it on the plane and emotional at the end. The movie stars Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson. They are basically playing variations of the same roles they always play. The movie focuses too much on the highjinks of Marley, their terribly behaved dog-- but it kept my attention in spite of how irritating the dog was. The movie needed to spend less time focused only on the dog for my taste. If you haven't seen it already, it's not a bad rental.

Erica: 3
Full disclosure: I saw this movie on a plane and I am a major, major dog lover. Those two facts alone explain why I really enjoyed this movie. The reason I gave it such a high star is that I wouldn't mind seeing it again for all of the dog scenes, even though it is totally flawed. Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson were actually both good in this and believable in their roles. The dog was so out of control that you couldn't understand why they loved him, but I gotta tell you, after I saw this movie, all I wanted to do was rush home, tell my dog that I forgive him for all of his flaws, and tell him over and over again how much I love him. It really makes you appreciate your dog. (I know, I'm psycho obsessed with my dog.)

The Italian

2009-04-28T03:23:00.001-07:00

NME: 3 stars

The Italian is actually a little cute Russian movie about a Russian orphan who goes on a trek to find his mom. It's interesting to see a glimpse what life is like in rural Russia and the little boy who plays the orphan Vanya is adorable. I liked this movie and would recommend it. It's not too dark, but it's not a comedy in any shape or form.

Don't Mess with Zohan

2009-04-17T03:30:00.000-07:00

NME: 2 stars

Don't Mess with Zohan is not the worst movie in the world. Like most Adam Sandler movies, it's mildly entertaining. It centers around an Israeli government assassin who wants to leave his world of endless violence and become a hairdresser in NY city. While working at a salon, he meets and falls in love with the Palestinian salon owner, played by Emmanuelle Chiriqui.

The makers of this movie claim that it equally pokes fun at Israelis and Arabs. It doesn't. If I were Arab I would have been offended. Arabs are portrayed as completely out of control, barbaric, violent idiots. In contrast, Israelis are made fun of for their deep love of hummus and their addiction to cheesy 80s attire. It got annoying after awhile. That being said, I laughed a couple of times.

Erica: 2
This movie is just BARELY worth a rental. Like NME said, it is offensive to Arabs. I also thought it was a bit long. There is the typical Adam Sandler humor, way too gross most of the time and not funny, with a couple of laugh out loud hard moments. I also enjoyed this movie because Emmanuelle Chiriqui is so pretty in it - it helps people, it helps.

Get Smart

2009-04-16T16:51:00.000-07:00

Erica: 3
I thought this movie was gonna suck hard but what a treat! In fact, I watched this movie twice I enjoyed it so much. It's pretty lame in terms of plot - Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway play CIA agents - but funny and light enough that it's a good movie to chill out and watch. Carell plays his usual "Office"-type character, which is fine because he's good at it. He makes me laugh without doing much, so if you don't find him funny you probably won't like this movie. Hathway was suprisingly believable as an athletic CIA agent - though I thought Lucy Lui might have been better. I also always enjoy the Rock in movies and he didn't disappoint in this one either (I know I'm in the minority on this). Lotsa fun, good enough flick.

The Savages

2009-04-16T16:45:00.000-07:00

Erica: 3.5
Unfortunately, this movie is really good. I say unfortunately because it's very difficult to watch. It's about how two dysfunctional siblings deal with their father getting old. Everybody knows that getting old is not easy, and this movie does not sugar coat anything, particularly how hard it is when the elderly can no longer take care of themselves. It is heart-wrenching to watch the process from both sides - from the side of the elderly father and from the side of the children. Laura Linney, who usually bugs me, is really excellent in this movie. Phillip Seymour Hoffman is too, but that should come as no surprise. I would never want to watch this movie again - it was painful for me to watch on some levels - but I'd be lying if I didn't say it was good. There are some comedic moments, and it isn't a movie that you regret you saw - like Monster or something - but it still is tough.
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NME: 3 stars
This movie is depressing. It's a good movie but it's depressing and not that funny. Don't expect a comedy. Unlike Erica, I think Laura Linney still doesn't realize that she's not a stage actress. She overacts as normal. Phillip Seymour Hoffman is good as usual. I would not recommend it unless you like movies about old people in nursing homes.

Tell No One

2009-04-16T05:27:00.000-07:00

NME: 3.5 stars

Tell No One is a good little action thriller from France. The movie centers around a man whose wife disappeared. With new evidence, the police are now re-opening the case and investigating him as a subject more than 7 years after her disappearance. The movie is very well acted and has a good pace to it. I recommend it if you're in the mood to read sub-titles.

Transamerica

2009-04-16T05:23:00.000-07:00

NME: 3.5 stars

This is not necessarily a light feel-good movie. It stars Felicity Huffman as a trans-vestite who finds out she has a son. She will not be given the go-ahead to get her sex operation to become a woman until she reconciles with her son. She and her son take a road trip across the country together to bond but drama ensues at every corner. Felicity Huffman is great in the role. I have no idea how she did not win the Oscar for this movie and Reese Witherspoon did for Walk the Line. It's ridiculous. I think the reason why is because Felicity Huffman looked horrendous in this movie while Reese looked adorable and most of the voters are men. This movie was disturbing but that shouldn't deter you from renting it if you can handle really uncomfortable situations.

Volver

2009-04-16T05:20:00.000-07:00

NME: 3.75 stars

While Bad Education was a big dud, Pedro Almodovar's other recent effort, Volver, was awesome. The movie stars Penelope Cruz as a feisty woman trying to conceal the death of her husband. Meanwhile she is also dealing with her past and her mother's reappearance as a ghost. The movie is funny and dramatic and well acted. I loved Penelope Cruz in it. She was adorable. Rent this movie!
Erica: 3.75
I agree with NME. This movie was classic Almodovar and proof to me that Penelope Cruz is a very good actress. I love how Almodovar thinks outside of the box in his scripts that anything can happen. A true delight!

The Women--- not as bad as you think

2009-04-16T05:17:00.000-07:00

NME: 2 stars

Most reviewers gave this movie 1 star. I don't think it's that bad. But then again, I saw it on a plane. The movie centers around Meg Ryan's character whose husband is having an affair with Eva Mendes' character. Annette Bening, Debra Messing and Jada Pinckett Smith provide support as Meg Ryan's life changes dramatically in the aftermath. The movie is never funny, but it wasn't really bad either. It's mildly entertaining and no one really annoyed me too much. Nevertheless, I can't imagine one man on this planet that would enjoy this film, however. Rent it and fold your laundry while you're watching it.

Sherrybaby

2009-04-16T05:12:00.000-07:00

NME: 3.75 stars

This movie is slightly disturbing and depressing, but it's really excellent and worth renting. Maggie Gyllenhaal stars in the title role as Sherry, a role in which she was nominated for an Oscar. Gyllenhaal was amazing in the movie playing a recovering drug addict who is trying to get her life back together after a stint in jail. This is complicated by the fact that she has a 4 year old daughter and a difficult family history that she has to deal with. Don't rent this movie if you like happy-go-lucky movies. Sherry puts herself in some degrading situations in her effort to assimilate back into society.

The Prestige

2009-04-16T05:10:00.000-07:00

NME: 3 stars

This is a movie by Chrisopher Nolan, who directed Batman and Memento. That basically means it's worth renting. The movie centers around two duelling magicians who are trying to outdo each other. That's enough of the plot. It didn't put me to sleep when I watched it but I wouldn't say it was riveting. Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale and Scarlett Johansson star in it.

Music and Lyrics

2009-04-16T05:05:00.000-07:00

NME: 3 stars

I'm a sucker for Hugh Grants movies. He's pretty much always charming and funny to me-- so if you are not a Hugh Grant fan, don't see this movie. The movie is about a washed out 80s pop star who is in need of a comeback and is given the chance to write a hit song for a hugely popular teen pop star. He has writer's block but enlists the help of a failed writer/plant waterer played by Drew Barrymore. Together- they make music magic. The formula is lame and Drew Barrymore's frenetic acting in the first scene made me think this film was going to be a real clunker. Fortunately, she got it together and overall I enjoyed the movie. She and Hugh Grant were cute together.
Erica: 3 stars
I agree with NME. I could watch this movie over and over and over again, which is why I gave it a 3. It's totally lame but totally enjoyable. Grant and Barrymore have surprisingly good chemistry as well.

The Good Shepherd-- good but not great

2009-04-16T05:02:00.000-07:00

NME: 3 stars

The Good Shepherd was directed by Robert DeNiro and stars Matt Damon and Angelina Jolie (in a supporting role). It's the story of how the CIA was started and it's fairly interesting although rather slow moving. Unfortunately, it's one of those movies that mixes facts with some fiction ala Oliver Stone. Another issue is that Matt Damon's role requires him to be boring and uncharismatic. That being said, the movie is worth renting in spite of how long it is.

The Science of Sleep

2009-04-11T06:56:00.000-07:00

Erica: 0 stars
This movie is so freaking bad. I actually couldn't watch the whole thing which is why it does not get any stars. Gael Garcia Bernal is so annoying in this movie - maybe it's not his fault, maybe it's the script's fault - I was actually concerned that I would never like him again in a film. This movie is trying so hard to be creative and fails hard.

Mamma Mia

2009-04-11T06:39:00.000-07:00

Erica: 1.5
Boy is this movie bad. I love Abba music so I thought I could at least enjoy it. The only thing worth watching in this movie is the attractive cast (minus the older female actresses) and the beautiful setting. The singing is real bad, the script even worse.
The plot is not even worth going through. The acting is very annoying as Meryl Streep commits herself to this role in a way that is so obvious that in every scene it seems like she's trying too hard.

Amanda Seyfried had probably the best singing voice of the cast and she looks absolutely beautiful in the film. Her acting was a little on the annoying side. Her fiance in the film, Dominic Cooper, is one of the hottest things I've seen in a long time. This guy is HOT. No wonder the two started an illicit romance while on the set! But even the beauty of these two can't save this film. It's just so lame.

By the way, the film is set on a Greek island and you often seen Greek people appearing to sing backup for the songs, but not ONE word of Greek is spoken. It's just so very lame.

NME: 2 stars
I saw it on a plane so I have to give it more props. I understand why Erica would by annoyed by it, but I love Abba music too much. It felt like a stage musical which is good and bad. Our parents thought Meryl Streep was not well-cast. Casting issues are one of their favorite conversation topics.

Cassandra's Dream

2009-04-11T06:33:00.000-07:00

Erica: 3
Another tragedy set in London by Woody Allen. Though Cassandra's Dream is no Match Point, it is still pretty good. I actually didn't think so at first, but once I recognized that the movie is indeed a tragedy, I was able to accept some of the events that occurred.

The movie centers around the relationship between two brothers, Collin Farrell and Ewan McGregor, who are basically losers who want to strike it rich . Their rich uncle asks them for a favor - which if they fulfill, will return them all the money they need to attain their dreams. I won't say any more, but the movie basically addresses their choices and their consequences.

The acting in this movie is very good. Farrell is persuasive enough as the more troubled brother. McGregor, however, who I usually don't like, really shines in this movie. He is really, really good.

Cassandra's dream isn't as good as many Woody Allen films, but it's still worth a watch.

Bad Education

2009-04-11T06:25:00.000-07:00

Erica: 1
I had really high hopes for this movie. I absolutely love all of the other Pedro Almodovar flicks, but this one was a major disappointment. It is sometimes difficult to watch due to either the intensity of the sex scenes or the intensity of the subject matter. There was nothing light-hearted about this movie. Usually Almodovar is the master at presenting very uncomfortable or disturbing subject matter in a manner that makes it more normal. He didn't accomplish that with this movie.

Gael Garcia Bernal stars in this movie, which interweaves reality and a screenplay. The film revolves around what happened to two boys who have feelings for one another while they are in Catholic school. Mix this with pedophile priests and you get a lot of drama.

Bernal really committed himself to this role and was very good. The other actors were also very good. What was not very good was the script. The movie was way too dark and disturbing. When it ends, you wonder to yourself, what was the point?

NME: 1 star

I agree with this review completely. I was totally disappointed and I thought it was one of Almodovar's worst movies.

Little Children

2009-03-19T05:56:00.000-07:00

NME: 3.75 stars

This is a really good movie starring Kate Winslet and Patrick Wilson. Both are married stay-at home parents who are bored with suburban life. She was a Ph.D student who never finished and he was a law student who never passed the bar exam. The two meet while their children are playing and start an affair. Wilson is really attractive in this movie while they chose to make Winslet look as bad as possible. Whenever she has to use an American accent, she sounds really strange, but I liked her in the movie nonetheless. Overall, the movie was very good and intense. The only thing I didn't like was a sub-plot involving a pedophile especialll since the main plot was much more interesting.

Juno

2009-03-19T05:54:00.000-07:00

NME: 3.75 stars

If you find Ellen Page annoying you're not going to like this movie. I thought she was cute and I found her relationship with Michael Cera's character also really adorable. Everyone knows the plot by now about a precocious teen who gets pregnant in high school with her friend out of boredom. The movie is quirky and funny. If you haven't seen it, rent it.

Erica: 3.75 stars
I agree with everything NME says. The only reason I didn't give this 4 stars and that the plot is so unrealistic. It makes no sense this girl would get pregnant and it makes no sense what goes on with her and Justin Bateman. That might have been a spoiler, but I think nearly everyone has seen this movie by now.

The Holiday

2009-03-19T05:51:00.000-07:00

NME: 2 stars

This movie proves that Cameron Diaz is a really bad actress. That being said, Kate Winslet and Jack Black are cute together and Jude Law wasn't too sleazy. The movie is about two working women who switch places, one going to a small town in England and the other going to a glamourous house in LA. Both are devastated by their loves lives and feel the need to get away. While away from it all, they find love. I love romantic comedies so I'll pretty much recommend anything that has an element of romance and humor. That being said, normal people have told me it sucked.

Erica: 1.5 stars
I agree with everything NME says, except I guess I thought this movie was a little worse. I usually am a major sucker for romantic comedies, but boy did Cameron Diaz bug me in this film. Even Kate Winslet and Jack Black bugged me in this film, which is tough for them to do. And I watched this on a plane, when I was desperate for entertainment.

I Know Who Killed Me: One of the biggest duds of all time

2009-03-18T04:17:00.000-07:00

NME: 1/2 a star

This movie is so bad that Linsday Lohan must have been on one of her destructive binges when she agreed to do the part. She was probably also eager to play a stripper so she could act "seductive." Describing the plot is not an easy feat and understanding it requires you to suspend belief.

Lindsay Lohan plays a set of twins who were separated at birth. One stayed with the birth mom, who was a crackhead and the other was adopted by rich parents. Somehow the rich mother doesn't know that Lindsay Lohan's character is not hers biologically because while she was pregnant with her own baby, the baby was born stillborn-- unbeknownst to her. Her husband then stole one of the twins from the crackhead mom and presented that baby to her as if she was her own daugther.

So one Lindsay Lohan grows up rich, a virgin and a talented writer and piano player and the other Lindsay Lohan grows up to be a slutty stripper. The plot is that the virginal Lohan is kidnapped and has disappeared. The slutty Lohan is found on the side of the road and emerges in a hospital bed with some of her limbs cut off. The police and the parents think that this slutty Lohan is the virginal daughter. Meanwhile the slutty Lohan is pissed at the cops for not believing her when she yells out that she's someone different.

This goes on and on and each scene is more unbelievable and badly acted the next. For some reason, Lohan doesn't go topless but dances around like a nympho who's in heat. See this movie, if you're in the mood to laugh at things that are unintentionally funny.

I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry

2009-03-18T04:15:00.000-07:00

NME: 2.75 stars

Everyone knows the story of this movie about two fire fighters who pretend to be gay so that they can get married in Vermont and share health insurance benefits as a married couple. The movie stars Adam Sandler and Kevin James. I happen to find Kevin James really funny so I laughed out loud tons of time during this movie. It's entertaining.

Hard Candy

2009-03-18T04:12:00.000-07:00

NME: 3 stars

This movie starring Patrick Wilson and Ellen Page is very disturbing and hard to watch. It's mostly shot inside a home in the Hollywood Hills where Ellen Page's character kidnaps Patrick Wilson's character, accusing him of being a murderer and a pedophile. The movie only focuses on these two characters' battle. Ellen Page, who was really cute in Juno, is really annoying in this movie, but she still does a good job. This isn't a movie you want to rent when you want something light and entertaining.

Festen

2009-03-18T04:09:00.000-07:00

NME: 3 stars

Festen is a Danish movie and it's not bad. It's a Dogme film which means that the moviemaking had a lot of rules, including using only natural light and hand held cameras. The movie looks like it cost nothing to make. It focuses on a group of siblings reuniting for their father's birthday after the suicide of their sister. The movie gets a little crazy, but it's entertaining even if the subject matter is very dark. It's not a dark comedy in any way. It's dramatic and not uplifting at all.

Sex and Lucia: A Spanish Porno

2009-03-18T04:07:00.000-07:00

NME: 2.5 stars

There's no need to describe the plot because I don't even know what the plot was. The main character played by Paz Vega is naked constantly. The other development is some ugly guy named Lorenzo that she's in love with is having sex with tons of hot women all the time. There's tons of flashbacks and artistic cinematography, but other than that there were so many sex scenes that it's hard to understand what the movie was about. You've been warned.

The Dark Knight and Batman Begins

2009-03-18T04:03:00.000-07:00

NME: both movies- 3 stars

These movies are so different than the original set of movies. The tone is much darker and much more serious. Both movies had their strengths and weaknesses, but they shared a problem in being way too long. The change from Katie Holmes to Maggie Gyllenhaal as Rachel Dawes was a good move. Katie Holmes can play Joey Potter, Tom Cruise's robotic wife-- and that's pretty much it. I love Christian Bale as Batman. He has a great sarcastic edge in the role and ofcourse, the second movie was stolen by Heath Ledger. I think he did live up to the hype. He brought a lot of craziness and depth to the character. Having recently watched Jack Nicholson play the Joker in the original Batman, there is no comparison. Nicholson's Joker was a cartoon character whereas Ledger's Joker was really scary and crazy. Both movies are recommended to the two people who haven't seen them already.

Erica: Dark Knight: 3
I can't remember what I thought of Batman Begins so this is just on the Dark Knight. I thought the Dark Knight was way too long. If it would've ended about 45 minutes earlier, I probably would've given it a 3.75. Heath Ledger was very good in it, though I think it's easier to play crazy than to play straight. But it may have been Heath's idea to play the Joker as so sinister, in which case he deserves major props. I used to love Christian Bale, but now sometimes I don't. His small mouth bugs me (this is a terrible thing to say, but this site is private) and with the Batman costume that's all you see. Maggie Gyllenhaal I thought was totally wasted in this film. She tried to bring spunk to her character, but for some reason it didn't work for me. Katie Holmes, though, really didn't work for me, so this was an improvement. I didn't mind that the movie was dark, I just minded that it was too long. The first part I loved.

Derailed

2009-03-18T03:58:00.000-07:00

NME: 2.75 stars

Derailed in the second movie where Jennifer Aniston tries to play someone other than herself or Rachel. The first attempt was in the "Good Girl", where she plays a character that is so dull, it required acting after taking a qualude. In this movie, her character is slightly more interesting, but not by much. The movie focuses on the distastrous effects of an affair between Clive Owen's character, who is married and Jennifer Aniston, who is also married. Clive Owen is pretty good in the movie-- and the movie is suspenseful. Nevertheless, though Jennifer Aniston isn't necessarily bad in the movie, she was miscast. It didn't ruin things and it's probably worth renting if there's nothing better around.

The Darjeeling Limited

2009-03-18T03:56:00.000-07:00

NME: 2 stars
I like Wes Anderson films, but I don't live and die for them. This film starring Owen Wilson, Adrian Brody and Jason Schwartzman was very slow. It focuses on three brothers who work on repairing their relationship after the death of their father and take a trip to India. The cinematography was gorgeous and the details of the movie were interesting. There was also some creative and eccentric dialogue, as usual. That being said, the movie pretty much put me to sleep.

Erica: 3
I love Wes Anderson films, so it's no surprise that I liked this one. It's beautiful, weird, quirky, etc. Not as good as his other films, but still very good. I love all of the details in his films, in this case, I loved the brothers' luggage. Jason Schwartzman bugs me, but aside from that I enjoyed this movie.

Cache

2009-03-18T03:51:00.001-07:00

NME: 3.5 stars

This French movie is super slow. It's so slow it's almost self-indulgent. That being said, the film is really riveting, nonetheless. It focuses on a famous television host who has been receiving weird messages and cryptic video tapes. The answer lies somewhere in his past as a child and in his relationsihp with a young Algerian born boy who is the son of workers hired by his rich parents. While the two boys were growing up, something happened which is revealed in the film. As said above, it's a little slow, but as long as you can take the pace---it's worth renting.

Brat

2009-03-18T03:47:00.000-07:00

NME: 3 stars

This is a Russian film set in the early 1990s in St.Petersburg, focusing on a young guy named Danila who has a mysterious past. He comes to St.Petersburg from somewhere in the middle of Russia to find his brother who is now a Russian mobster. As it turns out, Danila is no novice and in dealing with the other mobsters seems to be a total badass. The movie is pretty simple, but it is entertaining.

Babel

2009-03-18T03:43:00.000-07:00

NME: 1 star

The cinematography in this overrated movie is fantastic and the acting is ok. The problem is that this movie is so obvious in its attempt to be deep and thought provoking. The movie focuses on several overlapping stories spanning several continents where the characters have some connection to one another. Each storyline is more unbelievable than the next. The behavior of the characters is supposed to showcase the problems of miscommunication but instead showcases that people across all cultures are equally really stupid. The lesson of the film is that Americans always get a happy ending and people from 3rd world countries are always screwed. This type of story could be told in a way that was at least remotely realistic. I was exhausted after watching this movie from rolling my eyes so many times.

The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants, 2

2009-03-18T03:41:00.000-07:00

NME: 3 stars
We loved the first version, and the second version isn't bad. We're suckers for these types of movies so if you're not into movies about girls coming of age and finding themselves, this is not the movie for you. Some of the storylines were less interesting than others. For some reason, Blake Lively's character Bridget had a real dullesville storyline that involved archeology camp. The other storylines were more interesting making this movie worth renting.

The Departed

2009-03-18T03:38:00.000-07:00

NME: 3.5 stars

This is a great movie, but then again, I'm a big Scorcese fan. I also love Matt Damon, Leonardo DiCaprio and Jack Nicholson. Mark Wahlberg basically plays another variation of himself, but he at least does a good job. It focuses on an undercover cop played by DiCaprio trying to infiltrate the Irish mob and dealing with corrupt cops. It's really great-- if you haven't already seen it. Like all Scorcese movies, it's very very violent.

Erica: 3.5 stars
I agreed with NME. I didn't love this like I've loved other mob flicks, but it's still very good and enjoyable. I just wanted to add that I loved the music that was in this movie.

4 months, 3 weeks, 2 days

2009-03-18T03:36:00.000-07:00

NME: 3.5 stars

This is a very good movie, but it's not the most uplifting movie in the world unless you love abortion movies. The movie takes place in Communist Romania and focuses on a young woman who has to get an illegal abortion since abortion is not legal in Romania during that time. The movie is really slow, with very long scenes but it is so well acted and the dialogue seems really realistic. It also provides an interesting glimpse of what life was like in Communist Romania.

Comme Une Image

2009-03-18T03:32:00.000-07:00

NME: 3 stars

This French movie isn't bad. It's about a chubby woman named Lolita, whose father is a famous author and publisher and is a complete egomaniac, oblivious to her talents and dreams. She's viewed as a nusiance to everyone around her, including her singing teacher who only gets to know her once she learns who Lolita's father is. The singing teacher's husband is a struggling author who needs a break and making friends with Lolita seems like the best way to help him out. Though this plot sounds super boring, it was pretty good, believable and well-acted.

Lust, Caution: A Chinese porno

2009-03-18T03:26:00.000-07:00

NME: 3 stars

Lust, Caution is a Chinese film directed by Ang Lee. It's basically a historical porno that moves a little too slow set in occupied China in the 1940s. It focuses on a bunch students who want to overthrow the puppet Chinese Nanjing government that is being controlled by the Japanese, but much of the movie focuses on the torrid affair of a young female student/spy and an older Chinese guy who heads the Nanjing government. The main female lead is really pretty, while the older Chinese guy looks like he weighs about 100 pounds after a meal. Their sex scenes are really strange. That being said, it wasn't bad.

The Godfather II

2009-03-15T18:08:00.000-07:00

Erica: 3.5
After falling in love with the original Godfather, I immediately rented the Godfather II. I had high expectations for this film and was actually disappointed. The subtlety that was so moving about the first film was lacking in many parts of this film.

There are two threads to this movie: the thread following Al Pacino's life as the Godfather successor, and the thread following Robert DeNiro's life as a young Marlon Brando. In all truth, I wish the entire film was denoted to the latter thread. I absolutely loved every scene depicting the early days of the Godfather. DeNiro is at his best in this film. Speaking almost entirely in Italian, he played the part perfectly. It was fascinating to see how one becomes the Godfather, and I was left wanting to see more. As for Pacino's thread, it was all very over the top and depressing. Maybe that is how it had to be - in that maybe that was the lesson to be learned about "the family", but I was still slightly disappointed. This is a great movie, but it is no Godfather I.

The Godfather

2009-03-15T18:02:00.000-07:00

Erica: 4
It should come as no surprise that I gave this 4 stars. The bigger surprise may be that I just saw this film last week! I actually loved it so much that I watched it twice within a 48 hour period. I'm not going to get into the plot of this movie because nearly everyone has already seen it. I must say, though, given all the gangster movies that fall in this genre, this one demonstrates how well good writing and excellent acting can make a film exceptional without having to resort to sensationalist cinematography and violence. There are violent scenes in this movie, no doubt, but none of it is overdone. Everything serves a purpose.

The inter-mixing of Italian and English I also appreciated, as it was fairly seamless. It was fun seeing all of the mega-stars in this movie back in the days when they were young. It was particularly refreshing to see Al Pacino in a toned down role - he is very, very good in this film, as are nearly all the other actors.

I must reserve a separate paragraph for Marlon Brando, however. I get all the hype. This is without a doubt one of the best performances EVER. It is a subtle performance that is never over-stated. OUTSTANDING.

Look Both Ways

2009-03-15T17:54:00.000-07:00

Erica: 2
This is an Australian movie that I had high hopes for, but unfortunately disappointed in the end. The rating would have been a 2 if it weren't for the fact that they kept this short, around 90 minutes. Part of the problem was that the first part of the movie really lured me in - I thought I was on the verge of watching a great film. The second part of the movie did not fulfill these expectations.

The film is about an artist who constantly envisions her death - or other horrible things happening. These visions are presented to the viewer in animation. This part of the movie is really cool. Seeing the artist's characterizations of her own imagination is very innovative. This woman ends up running into - a subsequently dating - a man who really is dying. Other stories are intertwined throughout that are mildly entertaining.

The major problem with this movie is that you never get to know the characters. The director either needed to cut out some of the side stories or really delve deeper and make this a longer film. It's worth seeing as a rental, maybe, but only because it's short and the idea is good.

Vicky Christina Barcelona

2009-03-15T17:33:00.000-07:00

Erica: 4
This 2008 Woody Allen flick was superb. I just couldn't get enough of it and even watched a few perfect scenes over and over again when I rented the DVD. The film follows another top notch Allen film, Match Point, in leaving Allen out of the picture. In contrast to most Woody Allen films, Woody Allen does not appear in or narrate Vicky Christina Barcelona. Interestingly, the narration style and overall vibe of the movie reminded me a bit of Wes Anderson films, another one of my favorite directors.

Set in a never-prettier Barcelona, Vicky Christina Barcelona follows the adventures of Vicky and Christina, two American students taking a summer traveling break to Spain. Both fall in love with (or lust with) a Spanish artist, played by an impeccable Javier Bardem. The love triangle gets even more complicated with the emergence of Bardem's ex-wife, played by Penelope Cruz.

While I admit that Cruz's Oscar-winning performance was not the stand-out of the film, that is not because Cruz wasn't great in this movie, but because ALL of the performances were so top-notch. I thought Cruz was deserving of the Oscar for this flick, along with all of her co-stars. Rebecca Hall, who played Vicky, I had never heard of. She arguably had the toughest role in this film and rose to the occasion.

The film is eccentric and whimsical, beautifully shot, passionate, funny... can you tell I loved it. It was the best film I saw in 2008.
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NME: 4 stars
This was a fantastic movie that was beautifully shot in Barcelona. I loved all the actors and characters in the movie. For me, the entire movie was highly enjoyable and I recommend it to anyone who loves Woody Allen movies, as I do. Loved it!

Four Weddings and a Funeral

2009-03-15T16:53:00.000-07:00

Erica: 3.5
I watched this movie last night for the first time in ages. I enjoyed this light romantic comedy as much as I remembered. Andie McDowell and Hugh Grant have good chemistry (she's a better actress than I realized) and the film, though cheesy, doesn't over-do it on the cheese factor. It was funny to see Hugh Grant so young. Like George Clooney, he is more attractive with age.

Sex and the City--- We Likey

2008-06-04T04:28:00.000-07:00

Erica: 3.5
I don't get the bad reviews! The reviews of Sex and the City were so bad, in fact, that I didn't think it was worth full price to see it and caught a matinee. The movie is easily worth full price and I'd see it again. The beginning is a bit cheesy, but the rest of the 2-hour-plus movie is wonderful. I actually wished it was longer! It was so great to see Carrie, Samantha, Miranda, and Charlotte again. Sometimes the actresses that play these characters bug me in real life and I forget just how good they are at playing these roles. I must confess: I was a HUGE fan of the show. People who aren't fans will probably hate it. I'm not saying it's a cinematic masterpiece, but what a guilty pleasure! The (straight) guy I was with also loved it!

NME: 3.75 stars

I loved the movie. It was materialistic and the guys in the movie had no part whatsoever, but who cares! I was a diehard fan of the show, so naturally I loved the movie.

Atonement

2008-02-23T04:48:00.000-08:00

NME: 2.5 stars

Atonement has been nominated for a ton of awards. It's a beautiful movie to look at, but for us, it's overrated. The movie stars Keira Knightley and James McAvoy (a cute Scottish actor) as two star-crossed lovers during WW II. Knightey plays Cecilia a young woman from an upper class English family, who seems bored with life. She lives on a huge estate with her mother who spends most of her time in bed, and her younger and precocious sister played by Saoirse Ronan. Working for the family for the summer is Robbie played by McAvoy. His family has worked on the estate and the film indicates that Cecilia's father helped pay for his schooling. Both Cecilia and Robbie attended school together, but apparently ignored each other the whole time. Now during the summer of 1935, they are suddenly hot for one another. The entire film hinges upon this love story being compelling and believable-- and unfortunately-- it didn't do it for us.
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The first half of the film is very good. The second half doesn't hold up well because of the lack of character development. This is most notable in the case of Knightley's character. The film gives no reason to care about her. A lot of people will like this film, but don't go into it thinking it's a masterpiece.

Zwartboek

2008-02-23T04:29:00.000-08:00

NME: 2.75 stars
Dutch director Paul Verhoeven, well known for directing "Showgirls" and "Basic Instinct," has found a way to put gratuitous nudity in a World War II film. The film which came out in 2006, and was one of the highest grossing films in the Netherlands, is the story of a Jewish woman named Rachel Stein (played by Carice van Houten) who decides to work with the Dutch resistance after a terrible tragedy befalls her family. She goes undercover with the goal of seducing one of the SD officers (played by German actor Sebastian Koch) and gets offered a job to work at the Gestapo office in the Hague. The film questions how far one would go to support the resistance and what people's limits were when faced with the possibility of dying themselves. The film also looks at the paranoia and suspicion of not knowing who to trust which affected both the crumbling Nazi regime and the Dutch resistance.

The film was critically received throughout most of the world, although it was met with some criticism in the Netherlands. Some argued that there were serious problems in the accuracy of the film and its depiction of the Dutch resistance.

For me, the film did not develop the characters very well and at times the film was confusing- as there appeared to be holes missing. In spite of this, the movie moves very quickly inspite of being 145 minutes long. It was constantly entertaining and kept your attention. I would recommend this movie.