The Official Review Thread of 2006

[anonymous1980]

SNAKES ON A PLANE
Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, Julianna Margulies, Nathan Phillips, Rachel Blanchard, Flex Alexander, Bobby Cannavale, Kenan Thompson, Todd Louiso, Byron Lawson.
Dir: David R. Ellis

I can't believe I'm going to say this: I really enjoyed watching those motherf*cking snakes wreck havoc on the motherf*cking plane. Yes, the premise is absolutely ridiculous and the film knows it. Yes, it could have been a lot better, campier, etc. in the hands of a better director but, motherf*cker, I enjoyed it. It's one of the better summer movies out there.

Grade: B

[Penelope]

Step Up (aka Let's Dance, at least here in the Czech Republic): **1/2

The old saw about the rich girl and the poor boy: this time, she (Jenna Dewan) is a dancer at a Baltimore performing arts high school and he (Channing Tatum)--a street kid who really knows how to bust a move--is doing community service at the school. Totally by the numbers--you just know how that final reel is going to unfold--but bouyed up a notch thanks to a script that manages provide depth even for the supporting characters, a likable cast and impressive dance numbers.

[criddic3]

Has anyone else here seen Akeelah and the Bee?

I saw this the other night, previewing the dvd that comes out next Tuesday. It is surprisingly wonderful. I had wondered why critics like Roger Ebert were gushing about it, thinking "how could a spelling bee movie be that good?" Yet there it is, a beautifully acted and emotionally satisfying drama that involves an 11 year old girl trying to win the National Spelling Bee contest.

I also had the misfortune of seeing the dvd for Poseidon, which had none of the excitement or endearing characters of the original. Richard Dreyfuss disappears at some point, only to reappear at the very end. Truly a waste of resources.

[anonymous1980]

KUBRADOR (THE BET COLLECTOR)
Cast: Gina Pareno, Soliman Cruz, Johnny Manahan.
Dir: Jeffrey Jeturian

Another terrific entry in what I can best describe as a Filipino New Wave of very good films of recent years. A kubrador is an illegal numbers game (a form of small-time gambling) patronized largely by the poor and profited off by corrupt politicians and big-time criminals. Underrated veteran Filipino character actress Gina Pareno gives an excellent performance in her first lead role in I don't know how many years as a typical collector of the wagers. This film is making its rounds in film festivals all around the world. Watch out for it.

Grade: A-

[Penelope]

Miami Vice **

I never watched the original series (it aired directly opposite Falcon Crest), so all I remember is the program's impact on the culture: the music and lots of pastel colors. And while I've liked some of Mann's films (notably, The Last of the Mohicans and The Insider), I don't worship at his shrine. So I went into this not expecting much...and was still disappointed. The best part of the film--despite some egregious platitudes passing for dialogue--is the chemistry between Colin Farrell and Gong Li. Otherwise, this movie is a dull, shallow affair, mucked up by excessive use of hand-held cameras and rapid-fire editing (I really wish Hollywood would realize that mixing these techniques simply does not work on a big screen), and compromised by what appeared to be a rather repulsive racist and sexist slant.

[criddic3]

The Lady in the Water

(somehow I feel like I should post this in the Lady in the Water thread, but ...)

I've liked some of Shyamalan's films (Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, Signs) and found some things to like in others (Wide Awake and The Village), but this movie is nothing without Paul Giamatti.

The story not only goes in fits and starts, but the characters spend most of the movie telling us what they are doing and who they are instead of doing much of anything. I felt like someone had filmed a rough draft while in rehearsal and added some special effects to make it look better. Such a disappointment. Yet I didn't feel that it was bad to see it.

The actors do try to make it interesting, even Shyamalan, but everytime I thought something was going to happen the characters talked about what they should be doing. That was annoying. Despite all the explanations, in the end it felt like there was no point to all that waiting. Maybe this is one of those times where actions would have spoken louder than words.

*1/2

[criddic3]

Don't know if this is the correct place for this link, but here's an editorial from the Washington Post about Oliver Stone's World Trade Center movie.

Post Apologizes for Skepticism Toward Stone

[Damien]

My Super Ex-Girlfriend (**) is an aimlessly silly comedy with a few genuine bright spots, but far too many dead parts, and it's a shameful waste of a talented cast.

And it made no money. Even in these modern tmes in which we find ourselves living, prople don't want to pay good money to see a wanton slut on the screen.

[Franz Ferdinand]

A Scanner Darkly is a very cool viewing experience thanks to its integrated rotoscope animation. However, the story overall was somewhat convoluted, and Robert Downey Jr.'s amazing performance was marred thanks to inadequate sound systems at the Uptown that caused much of his mile-a-second dialogue to blend together in mush. Probably a better bet for DVD.
Grade: B-

An Inconvenient Truth is the year's scariest movie, and should be essential viewing for anyone concerned about the status of the planet. There is no doubt Al Gore tunes the scientific talk down for the mainstream audiences, but hopefully people with enough concern for the issue will wade deeper, prompted by this movie. I must say I am a little disgusted by some cynical reviews I've seen (not on this board) who denouce this as merely a vehicle for his 2008 run for the White House: sure I could have done without the sequences of Gore tinkering with his PowerPoint and the overly melodramatic reminiscences of his youth, but the issue of global warming itself cannot be escaped. Just today here in Calgary it reached 35 degrees (Celcius), and within an hour of that peak, a torrential downpour ensued: not very typical Canadian weather. And yes, all our igloos melted! People need to see this movie as a representation of the damage done to the planet and the scary potential future, not as a Democrat trying to get into office.
Grade: A-

[Penelope]

My Super Ex-Girlfriend (**) is an aimlessly silly comedy with a few genuine bright spots, but far too many dead parts, and it's a shameful waste of a talented cast.

[Franz Ferdinand]

Saw THANK YOU FOR SMOKING at the cheapies last night and I had a blast. It is a sharp and witty movie that had me laughing out loud several times throughout. The ensemble cast was perfect - although Cameron Bright can't not creep me out, he's too much like a Child of the Corn. Very feminine eyes.... Anyway, I especially enjoyed Rob Lowe as the sleazy Hollywood huckster, a flipside to his good-guy Sam Seaborn on the West Wing. Overall, the movie had the feel of the Royal Tenenbaums: talented and spot-on ensemble working with a great storyline and dialogue. I have no doubt that repeat viewings will make the movie resonate deeper, but on the first viewing, I enjoyed the accessible humour and the "cigarettes saved your life" development.
Overall grade: A-

[anonymous1980]

LADY IN THE WATER
Cast: Paul Giamatti, Bryce Dallas Howard, Bob Balaban, Jeffrey Wright, Sarita Choudhury, Cindy Cheung, M. Night Shyamalan, Freddy Rodriguez, Bill Irwin, Mary Beth Hurt, Jared Harris, Tovah Feldshuh, Joseph D. Reitman, Noah Grey-Cabey.
Dir: M. Night Shyamalan

Promising idea but the convoluted twists and the pretentiousness of Shyamalan's script undermined any charm it could have had. Giamatti saves the film with his performance. Howard and the rest of cast were wasted.

Oscar Prospects: It isn't his best work but I hope the Academy will FINALLY recognize Christopher Doyle with this one. Original Score also possible.

Grade: C

[Franz Ferdinand]

I recently re-listened to "Daydream Nation", and I realized I still love Sonic Youth. Or at least that disc.

[flipp525]

It was anonymous who created this thread, not Sonic Youth.

This particular version, perhaps; but it was Sonic who originated the idea of a thread devoted to those films not worth a section of their own.

Honestly, I think this discussion seems much more suited to a private message, especially if anonymous is the only recent transgressor of Sonic's original rule.

[Mister Tee]

It was anonymous who created this thread, not Sonic Youth.

This particular version, perhaps; but it was Sonic who originated the idea of a thread devoted to those films not worth a section of their own.