Okay and predictable. Robert Downey is his usual lovable rakish self in the big-man-comes-home role, and Robert Duvall is his usual gruff and impatient but ultimately loving and smart father. There's the girl he left behind, the mysterious daughter, and the mystery of the court case providing backdrop to the father and son repartee. Fairly typical Hollywood stuff. Not horrible, but nothing to get excited about.
October 27, 2014
October 19, 2014
Housebound (2014)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3504048/
Mystery with some horror and comedy elements. Entertaining and light.
October 18, 2014
Wolves (2014)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1403241/
Ay yi yi. Quite terrible teen werewolf story. A bit of a mix of Underworld and Twilight.
Land Ho! (2014)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3283556/
Buddy road trip story in Iceland. Some funny moments, lovely scenery and a feel good story make for a nice little film.
Young Ones (2014)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2693664/
An interesting global warming apocalypse story (with a really bad title). Excellent performances all round and an uplifting conclusion make this long film worthwhile.
October 17, 2014
November Man (2014)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2402157/
Mediocre spy story, with an okay premise but flawed execution. The title makes no sense and the relationships make no sense. Watching Pierce Brosnan makes up for the many flaws.
October 11, 2014
The Grand Seduction (2014)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2319580/
Light Newfie comedy, predictable but entertaining. I'm sure French version came together a bit better than this one, which tries a bit too hard to capitalize on the oddities of Newfoundland.
Automata (2014)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1971325/
Interesting but highly flawed story about AI as part of the human world, combined with elements of post-apocalypse from global warming. Scariest part - Melanie Griffith.
Stretch (2014)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2494280/
This is a not-bad comedy/action movie, with the superb Patrick Wilson as the ne'er-do-well actor-turned-limo-driver who has the worst night of his life. The characters are all more caricatures of crazy or typical folks that populate a Los Angeles night, but he persists and perseveres, finding safety and redemption in the end. An enjoyable light movie, much better than this year's female counterpart (Walk of Shame (2014)).
This is a not-bad comedy/action movie, with the superb Patrick Wilson as the ne'er-do-well actor-turned-limo-driver who has the worst night of his life. The characters are all more caricatures of crazy or typical folks that populate a Los Angeles night, but he persists and perseveres, finding safety and redemption in the end. An enjoyable light movie, much better than this year's female counterpart (Walk of Shame (2014)).
Deliver Us From Evil (2014)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2377322/
Strange to see two modern-day exorcism movies within a few weeks of each other - perhaps this is a new genre emerging, like zombies or haunted houses. This movie is disjointed and unbelievable on so many levels, it does a complete disservice to any true story it might be based on. None of the actors are believable in their roles - Eric Bana cannot decide on the accent he will use for this, and he is both too old to be partners with Joel McHale and too young to "retire" as he is purported to do after this story; Edgar Ramirez as the priest is ridiculous with the prodigious smoking and long wavy hair; all other police officers shown do nothing but stand around in open mouthed awe at the strange actions around them. A weak effort all around.
Strange to see two modern-day exorcism movies within a few weeks of each other - perhaps this is a new genre emerging, like zombies or haunted houses. This movie is disjointed and unbelievable on so many levels, it does a complete disservice to any true story it might be based on. None of the actors are believable in their roles - Eric Bana cannot decide on the accent he will use for this, and he is both too old to be partners with Joel McHale and too young to "retire" as he is purported to do after this story; Edgar Ramirez as the priest is ridiculous with the prodigious smoking and long wavy hair; all other police officers shown do nothing but stand around in open mouthed awe at the strange actions around them. A weak effort all around.
The Rite (2011)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1161864/
It was interesting to see a modern-day exorcist story - who knew such a thing would be based on a true story/real people? A documentary might have been more interesting, but likely unrealistic. This telling of the main character's history and calling is interesting but not very well done, with several story gaps and extraneous characters. The actual exorcisms happens relatively quickly, making them seem rather trivial, and also much more commonplace than I think any might expect or believe.
Horns (2014)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1528071/
"Sometimes there is no right thing - you just have to pick the sin you can live with."
A bit of a modern day fairy tale, it exams what what happens when a man's inner demon makes an outer appearance as two demonic horns, complete with the effect of stirring demonic thoughts and actions in others. While this conceit has great potential, it gets squandered it on too much comedy and special effects, and ultimately ends exhausted and boring back where it began. Excellent cast wasted in bad dialogue and lame scenes.
A bit of a modern day fairy tale, it exams what what happens when a man's inner demon makes an outer appearance as two demonic horns, complete with the effect of stirring demonic thoughts and actions in others. While this conceit has great potential, it gets squandered it on too much comedy and special effects, and ultimately ends exhausted and boring back where it began. Excellent cast wasted in bad dialogue and lame scenes.
Frozen River (2008)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0978759/
This is an interesting tale of people caught in a scheme of cross-border human trafficking. The background elements of poverty and despair, as well as the difficult interface and integration of native reserve dwellers and those around them, make for interesting characters and story lines the compel you through to the end of the film. Melissa Leo is outstanding (Oscar nom well earned here), as is the depiction of grim and grimy winter on the edge of the country.
This is an interesting tale of people caught in a scheme of cross-border human trafficking. The background elements of poverty and despair, as well as the difficult interface and integration of native reserve dwellers and those around them, make for interesting characters and story lines the compel you through to the end of the film. Melissa Leo is outstanding (Oscar nom well earned here), as is the depiction of grim and grimy winter on the edge of the country.
Neighbors (2014)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2004420/
A horrible and forgettable film about a young couple of slackers with a new baby, who buy a house that turns out to be next to a notorious fraternity house. Hilarity is supposed to ensue, but instead inanity reigns, as bad and badly executed comedic scenes follow one after another, as subtle and enjoyable as blows to the head with a blunt instrument.
A horrible and forgettable film about a young couple of slackers with a new baby, who buy a house that turns out to be next to a notorious fraternity house. Hilarity is supposed to ensue, but instead inanity reigns, as bad and badly executed comedic scenes follow one after another, as subtle and enjoyable as blows to the head with a blunt instrument.
This is 40 (2014)
Bad bad bad. So very bad. I'm not even publishing the link as I don't want anyone to accidentally watch this horrible movie.
The Gatekeepers (2012)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2309788/
This is a very interesting and well-done documentary about the mysterious Shin Bet, Isreal's national security agency. Interviewing all surviving former heads of the agency, the film covers the history, controversies, and challenges of this shadowy group. With remarkable candour and incredible access, the film presents a surprising (to me) balance of the needs of a nation to defend itself and the tragic errors and missteps that a nation can make in pursing those needs. I learned about elements of this ongoing conflict that I'd never heard before, told with both humility and vehemence by the very people who can make life and death happen. It was particularly poignant to see this during a time of (yet more) conflict in that region.
This is a very interesting and well-done documentary about the mysterious Shin Bet, Isreal's national security agency. Interviewing all surviving former heads of the agency, the film covers the history, controversies, and challenges of this shadowy group. With remarkable candour and incredible access, the film presents a surprising (to me) balance of the needs of a nation to defend itself and the tragic errors and missteps that a nation can make in pursing those needs. I learned about elements of this ongoing conflict that I'd never heard before, told with both humility and vehemence by the very people who can make life and death happen. It was particularly poignant to see this during a time of (yet more) conflict in that region.
Mystery Road (2013)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2236054/
Australian Outback police story, set against the backdrop of drugs and poverty in middle-of-nowhere place. The story is confused and tangled, and ultimately unsatisfactorily resolved. The occasional note of the influence of Aboriginal culture and associated racism towards that group only add to the confusion of the story. Beautiful images of desolation, and a well-done gunfight near then end, do not rescue this movie from mediocrity. And the title makes no sense.
Australian Outback police story, set against the backdrop of drugs and poverty in middle-of-nowhere place. The story is confused and tangled, and ultimately unsatisfactorily resolved. The occasional note of the influence of Aboriginal culture and associated racism towards that group only add to the confusion of the story. Beautiful images of desolation, and a well-done gunfight near then end, do not rescue this movie from mediocrity. And the title makes no sense.
October 5, 2014
Lucy (2014)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2872732/
Interesting but flawed tale about a woman caught in a Taiwanese gang slash sci fi, where she becomes a super intellect super power with a limited life. DOA meets Old Boy. Good idea and good performances but it doesn't come together as coherent or believable. Too bad.
October 4, 2014
A Walk Among the Tombstones (2014)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0365907/
A good hard-boiled detective story, with a strange title for what actually goes on. It has a real Sam Spade feel to it. Good performances all round.
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