Man on Wire (James Marsh, 2008) 7/10
Nice artfulness to it; compelling; middle third sagged a bit.
The Reader (Stephen Daldry, 2008) 6/10
Winslet (lead!) and Kross were great; no directorial vision or flare; rather abrupt transitions; presumed psychological complexity of the book not adequately conveyed on screen. Early scenes with Kross were the most compelling.
Last Seen Movie - The Latest Movie You Have Seen; ratings
Un Secret (Claude Miller, 2007)
5/10
The multi-nested flashbacks don't seem to add to the story- I think it could have been pretty powerful without them. Good acting is almost obscured by hurried cutting.
Sparrow (Johnnie To, 2008)
8/10
Probably rated higher on a second viewing. This is glorious, pure cinema from an always-interesting but uneven director. This time he's at the top of his game, perhaps taking a page from Bresson in his choice of subject matter: Hong Kong pickpockets. But this is more of a delightful dreamworld than a gritty look at society's underbelly.
5/10
The multi-nested flashbacks don't seem to add to the story- I think it could have been pretty powerful without them. Good acting is almost obscured by hurried cutting.
Sparrow (Johnnie To, 2008)
8/10
Probably rated higher on a second viewing. This is glorious, pure cinema from an always-interesting but uneven director. This time he's at the top of his game, perhaps taking a page from Bresson in his choice of subject matter: Hong Kong pickpockets. But this is more of a delightful dreamworld than a gritty look at society's underbelly.
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Cinemanolis
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Big Magilla
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Doubt 8/10
Much better than I expected. Shanley's long hiatus from directing since Joe vs. the Volcano helped.
Little is done to expand the play but little touches like the bleakness of Buffalo and even the boring food on the nuns' plates help to give it a good dose of realism.
I didn't care for Streep in the trailer, but the character and the performance grew on me during the course of the film and Hoffman is a good choice for the part of the priest. He doesn't look sleazy at all, phony as can be, but not sleazy. Amy Adams is an actress who always underwhelms me, but here she fit. Viola Davis is terrific in her brief role.
Much better than I expected. Shanley's long hiatus from directing since Joe vs. the Volcano helped.
Little is done to expand the play but little touches like the bleakness of Buffalo and even the boring food on the nuns' plates help to give it a good dose of realism.
I didn't care for Streep in the trailer, but the character and the performance grew on me during the course of the film and Hoffman is a good choice for the part of the priest. He doesn't look sleazy at all, phony as can be, but not sleazy. Amy Adams is an actress who always underwhelms me, but here she fit. Viola Davis is terrific in her brief role.
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Eric
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Doubt (**) ... Davis' role is a by-the-numbers scene-stealer, which she executes dutifully. Streep is fussy and interesting to watch, but (possible spoiler) I didn't end up buying her confession of doubt, and was left wondering whether I was actually supposed to doubt her doubt. Hoffman is nothing special, and Amy Adams is aggressively underwhelming.
The Long Duel (Ken Anakin, 1967) 5/10
Usual absurd hijinks in the North West Frontier Province during the Raj.....but enjoyable because of the cast...Yul Brynner, Trevor Howard, Harry Andrews and a very young Charlotte Rampling before she discovered Visconti, Cavani and Ozon. Also a pleasure to see India's distinguished stage star Zohra Segal in a bit part.
The story is set in the region from where I come....the NWFP...and I always find it amusing how Hollywood (and the West) treated ''us''. We were always the villains and we remain so to this day...going by what is happening in the north of Pakistan and in Afghanistan. Let's face it ''we'' could never be brought down by the might of the Raj then, and even today's modern technolgy and all the politics of the West are hardly making inroads in coming to terms with the people of this region. And yes the people of this region are religious but they are not fanatics as the western media so gleefully portrays them.
Usual absurd hijinks in the North West Frontier Province during the Raj.....but enjoyable because of the cast...Yul Brynner, Trevor Howard, Harry Andrews and a very young Charlotte Rampling before she discovered Visconti, Cavani and Ozon. Also a pleasure to see India's distinguished stage star Zohra Segal in a bit part.
The story is set in the region from where I come....the NWFP...and I always find it amusing how Hollywood (and the West) treated ''us''. We were always the villains and we remain so to this day...going by what is happening in the north of Pakistan and in Afghanistan. Let's face it ''we'' could never be brought down by the might of the Raj then, and even today's modern technolgy and all the politics of the West are hardly making inroads in coming to terms with the people of this region. And yes the people of this region are religious but they are not fanatics as the western media so gleefully portrays them.
Doubt (2008; John Patrick Shanley) 7.5/10
Despite Shanley's tendancy to underline all the symbolism, the movie is quite riveting, thanks particularly to the performances. This is first time in years that I've actually liked a Philip Seymour Hoffman performance, and Adams continues her run of fine performances; both Hoffman and Adams are, unquestionably, Leads alongside Streep, who is good, though I kept feeling echoes of The Devil Wears Prada in this turn. The highlight, unquestionably, is Viola Davis, who in her one scene provides a lifetime of sorrow and resignation.
Despite Shanley's tendancy to underline all the symbolism, the movie is quite riveting, thanks particularly to the performances. This is first time in years that I've actually liked a Philip Seymour Hoffman performance, and Adams continues her run of fine performances; both Hoffman and Adams are, unquestionably, Leads alongside Streep, who is good, though I kept feeling echoes of The Devil Wears Prada in this turn. The highlight, unquestionably, is Viola Davis, who in her one scene provides a lifetime of sorrow and resignation.
"...it is the weak who are cruel, and...gentleness is only to be expected from the strong." - Leo Reston
"Cruelty might be very human, and it might be cultural, but it's not acceptable." - Jodie Foster
"Cruelty might be very human, and it might be cultural, but it's not acceptable." - Jodie Foster
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Big Magilla
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Cinemanolis
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barrybrooks8
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Frost/Nixon (Ron Howard, 2008) 7/10
I must confess I'm not a fan of American politics so was not looking forward to this film. However, I was very surprised to find myself enjoying this thriller-like film and learning a little about Nixon. Langella is very good and Sheen matches him every step of the way. Although I hope Sheen gets a role soon that does not require him to play straight man as in The Queen and now here.
I must confess I'm not a fan of American politics so was not looking forward to this film. However, I was very surprised to find myself enjoying this thriller-like film and learning a little about Nixon. Langella is very good and Sheen matches him every step of the way. Although I hope Sheen gets a role soon that does not require him to play straight man as in The Queen and now here.