$0.02 Movie Reviews

Zack and Miri Make a Porno

2008-12-31T11:40:00.000-08:00

Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2008)

Roommates Zack and Miri (Seth Rogan, Elizabeth Banks) set out to make an adult movie in an attempt to escape the mounting bills and debt that have them living below the poverty line. Craig Robinson (Darryl from The Office), Jason Mewes, and porn starletts Katie Morgan and Traci Lords co-star as Kevin Smith directs his second film to take place outside of the View-Askewniverse.

My Two Cents: Seth Rogan's irritating presence oddly fits the role, and Smith once again shows his softer side, despite taking vulgarity to a new personal high. Robinson holds this one together like a Lebowski rug.

Drew's Rating: 6/10

Leatherheads

2008-11-24T16:42:00.000-08:00

Leatherheads (2008)

It's 1925 and pro football is a floundering sideshow of a profession. Dodge Connelly (George Clooney) tries to change that by recruiting Princeton standout Carter Rutherford (John Krasinski) to the league, but Rutherford's All-American aura becomes threatened by muckraking journalist Lexie Littleton (Renee Zellweger).

My Two Cents: Clooney apparently overhauled the original script (penned by smarmy ESPN columnist Rick Reilly) so I cringe at imagining how much worse this movie could have been.

Drew's Rating: 4/10

Further Thoughts:

While I don't want to insult the greatness of the Coen brothers by comparing this garbage to their work, this movie took me back to two of my favorite Coen comedies, The Hudsucker Proxy and O Brother, Where Art Thou. Zellweger's cutthroat female reporter reminded me of Jennifer Jason Leigh's Amy Archer, who so callously sought to tear down the bumbling-but-inspired Norville Barnes in the former, and Clooney's conniving misfit basically followed the character blueprint he created for Everett, the semi-modern day Odysseus, in the latter.

Leatherheads is vastly inferior to both of those films.

The Crucible

2008-11-22T16:17:00.000-08:00

The Crucible (1996)

A 17th century New England town is caught up in hysteria and corruption amid accusations of witchcraft. Arthur Miller adapted his own play for this feature film, which starts Daniel Day-Lewis, Paul Scofield and Winona Ryder.

My Two Cents: Superb acting and a gripping story fuel a solid adaptation of the literary classic.

Drew's rating: 7/10

Sydney White

2008-11-22T16:00:00.000-08:00

Sydney White (2007)

Show White gets a 21st Century spin when college freshman Sydney White (Amanda Bynes) makes friends with the campus misfits after her Kappa Phi pledge bid is sabotaged by the school's most notorious "srostitute."

My Two Cents: It's too wholesome to hate.

Drew's Rating: 4/10

Further Thoughts:

Whoever cast this gets an A+. And that makes me wonder: would it be worth what I imagine is pretty good money to make a career out of being typecast as a loser?

On, and why did I watch this? (1) I tend to like goofy high school/college comedies. (2) Sometimes I feel like I should watch movies that I assume are going to be terrible just so I can get my money's worth from my HBO subscription.

Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

2008-11-19T12:54:00.000-08:00

Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)

Sweeny Todd (Johnny Depp) re-joins society after a lengthy prison sentence, only to find his wife dead and his daughter in the custody of the evil aristocratic Judge Turpin (Alan Rickman), who sent him away for a crime he didn't commit. With the help of haggardly co-tenant Mrs. Lovett (Helena Bonham Carter), Todd turns his barbershop into a venue to enact vigilante justice upon the wicked. Tim Burton directs this adaptation of the popular Steven Sondheim musical.

My Two Cents: How many times can I describe a Burton film as "typical Burton fare"? As many times as Burton and Depp can collaborate on projects like this, I suppose. I must admit: the singing made me uncomfortable

Alternate My Two Cents: Lost at least half a point (if not a full one) because Sondheim's goofy songs nixed the need for Burton's favorite composer, Danny Elfman. A Burton film without Elfman's mesmerizing melodies? Blasphemy!

Drew's Rating: 6/10

Further Thoughts:

Depp and Burton have only collaborated five times. Does that seem surprisingly low to anyone else? And if they ever made a movie about Jack the Ripper, wouldn't Helena Bonham Carter have to play a starring role as one of his victims?

Cloverfield

2008-11-18T19:58:00.000-08:00

Cloverfield (2008)

A "going away" party turns deadly for a a group of twenty-something New Yorkers, when a seemingly indestructible behemoth lays waste to all of midtown Manhattan. One camcorder-equipped party goer documents the group's struggle to survive in this fairly inventive movie that stars no one you'll recognize.

My Two Cents: I couldn't get past the gimmick - as his friends face death at every turn in a city being laid to rubble, this numbnuts continues to use his camcorder - and this movie requires the gimmick.

Drew's Rating: 6/10

Further Thoughts:

Maybe it wasn't the gimmick so much as it was the character fueling the gimmick. These types of movies always seem to involve a goofy supporting role that fulfills two agendas: (1) annoying the piss out of you, and (2) dying a satisfying death. I won't address the latter, for those of you that wish to endure the refreshingly short running time spoiler-free, but the former holds true. This character, Hud, just sucked out the enjoyment for me every time he opened his mouth.

FYI

2008-11-18T19:56:00.000-08:00

(1) NetFlix stopped doing the "$0.02 Reviews" feature well more than a year ago. But I liked it more than I like the "Leave Note" feature they have now, so I'm keeping the status quo here.

(2) I've decided to start writing my own plot synopses. Why didn't I do that from the start? For the same reason that I went more than 18 months without posting a review - I'm incredibly lazy.

(3) Since there's no reason to distinguish between my "IMDB rating" and my "NetFlix rating," I will now offer only one rating. Please remember that this rating reflects mu initial thoughts after seeing a film, and is likely to change in time (or even the following afternoon).

2008: A Year in Review

2008-11-17T19:14:00.000-08:00

What better way to renew this blog?

Two points I'd like to make:

(1) The chick flicks are my girlfriend's fault.

(2) I used to go to the movies a lot more than I do now.

With that said, here are my categorical rankings of the movies I've seen*

Best of the Best

The Dark Knight

Bale was good, Ledger was better. Gyllenhaal was terrible, but better than Holmes (and I'm guessing it wasn't the worst perfromance of the year from that family).

Potential Oscar Buzz?

Changeling

It's Eastwood; it's glum; it's got everyone's favorite celebrity couple actress.

Just Sit Back and Enjoy

Iron Man
In Bruges
Quantum of Solace
Charlie Bartlett

A superhero, two Irish hitmen, James Bond, and Max Fischer-meets-Ferris Bueller. Movies don't always have to be "films," right?

Not as Pretentious as You Might Think

Smart People

The characters, however, define pretense.

Sequels That Mar Their Predecessors' Legacy

Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Starship Troopers: Marauders

Harold and Kumar was at least funny. Indy should have opted to kick it on a beach somewhere with a Holy Grail full of pina coladas. And I'm slightly embarrassed to admit I NetFlixed the last one.

Nothing in Common Except They Were Terrible

21
Cassandra's Dream

Granted, the latter had no chance. Woody Allen movies are predisposed to be "ho hum," and what are the odds that Colin Farrell appears in two good movies in the same year?

Because I Love my Girlfriend

Definitely, Maybe
Baby Mama
What Happens in Vegas
Sex and the City

Yeah, come take my man card, tough guy.

DEVELOPING...

*I'm using wide release dates as the qualification for "2008 Movies"

I'm Back...

2008-11-17T19:11:00.000-08:00

Blood Diamond? Really?

I've seen a few movies since then.

Blood Diamond

2007-03-29T22:05:00.000-07:00

Blood Diamond (2006)

Set during Sierra Leone's bloody civil war in 1999, this thriller stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Danny Archer, a smuggler who sells "blood" diamonds used to finance terrorists. When Archer meets a local fisherman (Djimon Hounsou) whose son has been forced into a child army, the two men's lives become intertwined, and they set off on an adventure that leads them through the world's major diamond centers. DiCaprio and Hounsou earned Oscar nods for their performances.

My Two Cents: In many respects it's a beautiful spectacle, and it overcomes the minor flaws inherent among films that allow geo-political arrogance to get in the way of things like acting, chemistry and story.

NetFlix Rank: Really Liked It
IMDB Rank: 8/10

Further thoughts:

Everything has to have a message these days, right? Look at the criticaly acclaimed films of the past few years and the subjects they've dealth with: inequality, corruption, relativism; it's almost as if filmmakers forget that their job is to entertain as much as it is to proselytize.

Blood Diamond deals with all of these themes, but its saving grace is that because the cast is so adept at conveying multiple dimensions, the film doesn't relegate its scope to simple propoganda. Instead it covers the full gamut of classic plotlines: survival, redemption, sacrifice, and a good ol' fashioned dichotomy between good and evil.

If for no other reason this film is worth watching because three of the best in the business display why they have a combined six Oscar nominations (and one win) among them.

Half Nelson

2007-03-21T20:46:00.000-07:00

Half Nelson (2006)

Ryan Fleck's feature film debut tells the story of an unlikely friendship that helps a self-destructive educator pull it together. In his struggle to balance his personal and professional lives, inner-city teacher Dan Dunne (Ryan Gosling, in an Oscar-nominated role) spends most of his time nursing hangovers. But who could've known that a life-changing lesson would come from one of his students (Shareeka Epps)? Gosling and Epps both won Independent Spirit awards for their lead roles.

My Two Cents: There's nothing subtle about its preachiness, or more importantly, the way Gosling's and Epps' powerfully complementary performances personify the film's running theme.

NetFlix Rank: Really Liked It
IMDB Rank: 8/10

The Core

2007-03-20T21:13:00.000-07:00

The Core (2003)

The Earth's inner core has stopped spinning, and scientist Josh Keyes (Aaron Eckhart) must discover the cause before the world literally falls apart. He and a group of brilliant researchers burrow deep into the Earth's center in a subterranean vessel piloted by Maj. Beck Childs (Hilary Swank) and Col. Robert Iverson (Bruce Greenwood). There, they'll detonate a device that they hope will get the world to turn again ... before it's too late.

My Two Cents: Armageddon w/o the all-star cast, and an even worse script. Why do I keep watching awful movies?

NetFlix Rank: Hated It
IMDB Rank: 3/10

100 Girls

2007-03-20T21:09:00.000-07:00

100 Girls (2000)

When a blackout knocks out an elevator in a college girls' dorm, Matthew and a mysterious girl connect carnally and emotionally. But he's left in the dark as to her identity. He's got 100 suspects and a slew of hilarious schemes to worm his way into the hearts and panty drawers of each and every one of them!

My Two Cents: No different than your run-of-the-mill teen/young adult comedy. Probably would have been better with a less-annoying guy in the lead role.

Atlernative My Two Cents: Larisa Oleynik, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Jaime Pressly, Katherine Heigl... don't blame me for giving it a try.

NetFlix Rank: Didn't Like It
IMDB Rank: 5/10

Game Six

2007-03-20T21:06:00.000-07:00

Game Six (2005)

Legendary scribe Don DeLillo wrote this fascinating film about a New York playwright, Nicky Rogan (Michael Keaton), who's immersed in failure. Unable to ride the coattails of success no matter how hard he tries, Nicky distracts himself from his endless career woes by obsessing about those of others -- namely, the perpetual underdogs of baseball, the Boston Red Sox. But Nicky can't sit out the game of life forever. Michael Hoffman directs.

My Two Cents: If you absolutely must watch one bad movie that ties in with the Boston Red Sox, I'd recommend Fever Pitch instead.

NetFlix Rank: Didn't Like It
IMDB Rank: 5/10

Easy

2007-03-20T21:01:00.000-07:00

Easy (2003)

Jamie (Marguerite Moreau) has a big problem: She's a magnet for jerky boyfriends. But things might be looking up when she becomes the object of affection of two seemingly normal guys (Brian O'Byrne and Naveen Andrews). Unfortunately, there's the immense problem of picking just the right guy -- and "eeny, meeny, miney, moe" just isn't gonna do it in this case!

My Two Cents: Connie from the Mighty Ducks movies sheds her clothes early and often ([Borat] very nice! [/Borat]) in this brutal cautionary tale against being a ho-bag.

NetFlix Rank: Didn't Like It
IMDB Rank:

The Prestige

2007-03-20T20:39:00.000-07:00

The Prestige (2006)

At the dawn of the 20th century, rival magicians Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman) and Alfred Borden (Christian Bale) are desperate to reveal each other's secrets. Obsessed by the escalating competition, the two illusionists begin to perform increasingly risky tricks -- which soon turn deadly. Michael Caine, Scarlett Johansson and David Bowie also star in this taut psychological thriller from director Christopher Nolan.

My Two Cents: Nolan's cerebral thriller compares in quality to previous efforts like Memento and Batman Begins, and proves his versatility; Bale needs no cape and cowl to prove his flair for the dramatic.

NetFlix Rank: Really Liked It
IMDB Rank: 8/10

Further thoughts:

I came close to calling it an "all-star" cast, but after further consideration I decided that Batman, Wolverine, The West Wing's Lord John Marbury, Scarlett Johanssen (in her 4,831st role of 2006), and Caine, who yet again worked his Sherpa-like brilliance, comprise a solid ensemble, but might slightly cheapen the term "all-star."

Not that it matters. The direction is what separates The Prestige.

Nolan's officially won me over with this film. Memento's genius can be chalked up to a gimmick, and with Batman Begins, you could say that he succeeded merely in becoming the anti-Schumacher. But here he takes a period piece about rival magicians and turns it into a beguiling sleeper of a film that deserves mention alongside some just about anything 2006 had to offer.

Stranger Than Fiction

2007-03-12T20:58:00.000-07:00

Stranger Than Ficton (2006)

As a novelist (Emma Thompson) struggles with how to kill off her main character, IRS auditor Harold Crick (Will Ferrell) begins hearing her narration in his head and realizes he must prevent his own death. Crick's world turns upside down, and it's a life-or-death situation as he tries to persuade best-selling author Kay Eiffel to change the ending of her novel. Maggie Gyllenhaal, Dustin Hoffman and Queen Latifah lead the fine supporting cast.

My Two Cents: Ferrell's distracting attempt to play it straight in no way detracts from the clever premise and mostly well-written story.

NetFlix Rank: Really Liked It
IMDB Rank: 8/10

Further thoughts:

This was supposed to do for Ferrell what The Truman Show and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind did for Jim Carrey, right? Nah, not really, but it's not a disasterous performance either. It's not that he's incapable of not playing a goofball, but it seemed forced here.

The story-within-a-story, on the other hand, did not feel forced. In fact, it manages to take every perfect turn, which isn't always the case with meta-fiction. And when it gets to the ending that seems impossible to nail, it nails it.

Perhaps most refreshing is that while it scratches the surface of "determinism v. free will," Fiction doesn't bog itself down in the kind of pseudo-intellectual meanderings that could often add meaning at the expense of pretense.

Poseidon

2007-03-07T19:34:00.000-08:00

Poseidon (2006)

Battling the elements once again, Wolfgang Petersen (The Perfect Storm) re-creates Ronald Neame's 1972 action classic with help from an ensemble cast that includes Kurt Russell, Richard Dreyfuss, Josh Lucas, Emmy Rossum and Stacy Ferguson (aka "Fergie" of the Black Eyed Peas). A tidal wave spells disaster for a boatload of New Year's Eve revelers when it capsizes the mammoth vessel, pitching the passengers into a desperate battle for survival.

My Two Cents: Eh, the effects were ok, but two things would have improved it: a) A Scorcese-esque, "everyone dies" ending; b) Emmy Rossum losing her clothes.

NetFlix Rank: Didn't Like It
IMDB Rank: 6/10

One Night With the King

2007-03-07T18:27:00.000-08:00

One Knight With the King (2006)

One Night with the King chronicles the brave and historic legend of Hadassah (Tiffany Dupont), a Jewish orphan with exceptional beauty who rises to become Queen Esther of Persia and saves Persian Jews from genocide. By revealing her heritage to the king, Esther thwarts the plan by evil Prime Minister Haman to annihilate all Jews in the Persian Empire. The annual festival of Purim is inspired by Queen Esther's heroism.

My Two Cents: It's not that I think it's bad, per se; I suppose I just didn't understand the need to turn a story that can get by on its own merits into a sappy chick flick.

NetFlix Rank: Didn't Like It
IMDB Rank: 5/10

Hollywoodland

2007-03-07T18:23:00.000-08:00

Hollywoodland (2006)

When George Reeves (Ben Affleck), the actor who famously played the Man of Steel in TV's "Adventures of Superman," turns up dead, a dogged private eye (Adrien Brody) investigates and unearths a string of strange secrets. Diane Lane and Bob Hoskins also star in this gritty noir-style drama based on the true story of one of Hollywood's most infamous mysteries, a film that marks television director Allen Coulter's feature film debut.

My Two Cents: Brody does a great job playing Brody; the rest is "ho-hum." In other words, it met every expectation I had for it.

NetFlix Rank: Didn't Like It
IMDB Rank: 6/10

Running With Scissors

2007-03-07T18:20:00.000-08:00

Running With Scissors (2006)

When Deirdre Burroughs (Annette Bening) impulsively decides that her adolescent son Augusten (Joseph Cross) should be raised by her unconventional psychiatrist (Brian Cox), her choice to give him away changes the course of his life forever. An all-star ensemble cast -- including Gwyneth Paltrow, Joseph Fiennes, Evan Rachel Wood, Alec Baldwin and Jill Clayburgh -- drives this quirky adaptation of Augusten Burroughs's best-selling memoir.

My Two Cents: Dysfunctional in every sense of the word.

NetFlix Rank: Didn't Like It
IMDB Rank: 6/10

My Big Fat Independent Movie

2007-03-07T18:17:00.000-08:00

My Big Fat Independent Movie (2005)

In this parody of the independent film genre, Johnny Vince (Darren Keefe) is a hip cat who plays trombone in a swing band. Two bumbling criminals, Sam (Neil Barton) and Harvey (Eric Hoffman), mistake Johnny for a member of a crime trio put together by their mob boss in order to pull off a robbery in Las Vegas. On their way to Sin City, they take a gorgeous woman hostage, but have no idea that she's about to change their lives.

My Two Cents: Maybe the worst effort in the lowest common denominator of movie genres.

NetFlix Rank: Hated It
IMDB Rank: 1/10

The Ringer

2007-03-07T18:13:00.000-08:00

The Ringer (2006)

Desperate for dough to help a pal erase a gaming debt, lowlife Steve Barker (Johnny Knoxville) plots with his buddy to rig the Special Olympics. The plan: Steve will masquerade as a competitor in the hope of unseating the high-and-mighty reigning champ, Jimmy. Some of the other contestants recognize Steve as a fake, but because they'd also like to see Jimmy fail, they go all out to help the imposter prevail. Brian Cox and Katherine Heigl co-star.

My Two Cents: Knoxville carries a decent enough comedy.

NetFlix Rank: Liked It
IMDB: 6/10

Date Movie

2007-03-07T18:06:00.000-08:00

Date Movie (2006)

Skewering the gooey romantic comedy formula, this over-the-top spoof from the minds behind the Scary Movie franchise stars Alyson Hannigan (of American Pie fame) as a young woman in love with being in love. But after meeting the man of her dreams -- a dashing Brit (Adam Campbell) -- the hopeless romantic runs across every obstacle in the book, from disapproving parents to scheming best friends determined to put the kibosh on the couple.

My Two Cents: Off after about 25 minutes; This is almost surely the worst movie ever made that did not feature Ben Stiller or Owen Wilson, though they may have actually made it better.

NetFlix Rank: Hated It
IMDB Rank: 1/10

Scoop

2007-02-13T21:40:00.000-08:00

Scoop (2006)

A young American journalist hits the jackpot when she chances upon a major scoop and falls for an upper-crust Brit in this Woody Allen comedy. While visiting friends in London, college journalism student Jade Spence (Scarlett Johansson) beats out Britain's reporters by exposing a story involving murder and magic, and just as the story heats up, so do things between Jade and a hunky aristocrat (Hugh Jackman). Allen and Ian McShane co-star.

My Two Cents: Tolerable, if only for Scarlett's bodacious ta-ta's... In all seriousness, has Allen ever made a really good movie?

NetFlix Rank: Didn't Like It
IMDB Rank: 6/10

Note: You never actually see her ta-ta's, but her wardrobe accentuates their niceness.

Network

2007-02-13T20:05:00.000-08:00

Network (1976)

Paddy Chayefsky predicted today's rash of trash television and shock-laden news broadcasts. The writer of Marty created network news anchor Howard Beale (Peter Finch), who loses his mind on the air. Unfortunately, his outrageous rants boost the ratings and intrigue cutthroat network executives Faye Dunaway and Robert Duvall. William Holden contrasts their avarice as an old-school TV journalist hopelessly out of step.

My Two Cents: It's an engaging "dramedy" with first-rate acting, but 30 years later it can't escape feeling dated, despite its almost uncanny presience.

NetFlix Rank: Liked It
IMDB Rank: 8/10

BONUS BLOGGING

Robert's Two Cents: Deservedly in the AFI 100, a wildly unique and entertaining classic 70's film that was way ahead of it's time.

NetFlix Rank: Loved It

The Science of Sleep

2007-02-13T19:41:00.000-08:00

The Science of Sleep (2006)

A timid young man can't control the fantastical plots and images of his dream world from intruding into his waking hours in Michel Gondry's science-fiction romance. After a promising new job sours, Stephane (Gael Garcia Bernal) finds new inspiration in his neighbor Stephanie (Charlotte Gainsbourg). To connect with her, shy Stephane releases the bolder personality of his dreams, but his waking insecurities threaten to destroy the relationship.

My Two Cents: The confluence of fantasy with reality makes it easy to overlook that these eccentic characters lead profoundly normal lives, and that I found endearing. This is a film that's instantly re-watchable.

NetFlix Rank: Really Liked It
IMDB Rank: 8/10

Further thoughts:

I give up. I liked this a lot, but I can't even begin to explain why. No adjective fits. "Surreal" is too cliched, and "quirky" is too pedestrian. I suppose I'll just have to watch it again. And maybe again after that. It'll come to me eventually. Until then I'll settle for its endearing outlandishness, and Gainsbourg, who I found oddly charming.

Sherrybaby

2007-02-06T21:10:00.000-08:00

Sherrybaby (2006)

Golden Globe-nominated Maggie Gyllenhaal stars in director Laurie Collyer's feature film debut about a young woman's struggle for normalcy. After being released from prison, Sherry Swanson (Gyllenhaal) returns to the realities of life, visiting with her parole officer, finding a job and being a mother to her 5-year-old daughter. But complications arise when Swanson learns that in her absence her brother and his wife have become surrogate parents.

My Two Cents: Gyllenhaal sells it, but is it worth buying? I need to care before I can sympathize, and this just didn't make me care. Tales of redemption should try to redeem their characters along the way.

NetFlix Rank: Didn't Like It
IMDB Rank: 6/10

The Black Dahlia

2007-02-06T19:37:00.000-08:00

The Black Dahlia (2006)

In this thriller based on James Ellroy's novel, Los Angeles cops Bucky Bleichert (Josh Hartnett) and Lee Blanchard (Aaron Eckhart) uncover corruption and conspiracy within the force while searching for the killer of Tinseltown hopeful Elizabeth Short (Mia Kirshner). The film follows Bleichert and Blanchard as they venture into Hollywood's darker side to piece together Short's secret life in an effort to crack the 1947 high-profile case.

My Two Cents: It still had 10 minutes left when I couldn't take anymore. What does that tell you? It told me that 35% on the Tomatometer may have been too high. Splat.

NetFlix Rank: Didn't Like It
IMDB Rank: 5/10

Sunset Boulevard

2007-02-06T18:11:00.000-08:00

Sunset Boulevard (1950)

Billy Wilder's noir classic about Hollywood decadence remains as
razor-sharp as ever. Norma (Gloria Swanson), a faded silent film star plotting
her return, employs Joe (William Holden), a struggling screenwriter, to help
edit a script that she has penned. As the work progresses, Norma draws closer to
Joe, engulfing him in her fiery throes, but Joe wants out.

My Two Cents: Critics often favor the acting in classics compared to today's fare, yet this struggles with over-acting from both leads. I really liked Nancy Olsen's supporting role as the charming Ms. Schaefer.

NetFlix Rank: Liked It
IMDB Rank: 8/10

BONUS BLOGGING

Robert's Two Cents: A Good Movie, Strange. Dated if not pointless, void of substance. A movie about Hollywood you say ?? Please spare me.

NetFlix Rank: Didn't Like It

All the King's Men

2007-01-29T19:36:00.000-08:00

All the King's Men (2006)

Sean Penn stars as corrupt Southern politician Willie Stark in this remake of the Oscar-winning 1949 film based on Robert Penn Warren's novel. The charismatic Stark wins the populist vote, but behind closed doors, he's as underhanded as the predecessors he smeared. Ex-reporter Jack Burden (Jude Law) unwittingly helps Stark gain political power, but it's just a matter of time before the governor's crooked dealings are exposed.

My Two Cents: There came a point when I decided I'd rather read the 600-page book than continue watching this disappointing snore-fest. It was around the 45-minute mark.

Alternative Andy from The Office Two Cents: Actors: Good; Cast: "Mis"; Story: Classic; Script: Yawn; Kate Winslet: Still Love Her.

NetFlix Rank: Didn't Like It
IMDB Rank: 6/10

The Oscars: Part One of Many...

2007-01-24T20:29:00.000-08:00

I still have a lot to see before I feel comfortable making predictions or judgments on the recently announced Oscar field, but one I can now count the Best Picture category as complete.

Here's a quick look back at the Two-Cent Reviews for each nominated film from me and my friends (no predictions just yet):

Little Miss Sunshine

Drew's Two Cents: Many films explore themes like dealing with a dysfunctional family and coping with loss. Few do it in an endearing manner thats both dark and comedic, and even fewer do it as well.

Robert's Two Cents: The fact that it's not my kind of deal yet I liked it so much probably speaks to the strength of the screenplay. I kept thinking "there's no way to end this movie"... But WOW did they ever nail it.

The Departed

Drew's Two Cents: Things that lived up to the hype: Bush and Gore on Election Night 2000; Vince Young and Matt Leinart in the 2006 Rose Bowl; and Damon, DiCaprio, and everyone else in The Departed. Bravo!

Matt's Two Cents: Thrilling....Dicaprio and Nicholson are great. I thought the ending was a bit too forced and the easy way out, however.

Robert's Two Cents: A fun and very well made popcorn-thriller. The degree to which DiCaprio (who should get an Oscar here, imo) outshined Damon was really amazing.

Babel

Drew's Two Cents: Bizarre in that it stretches a shallow theme of "woe is me" unfairness into an intricately woven, engaging framework; The editing makes this film better than it really is.

Robert's Two Cents: Exhausting, as nearly all 142 minutes seem to create a constant sense of impending doom.

Kevin's Two Cents: Difficult to watch, but very well done. I'm glad I saw it, but I wouldn't want to see it again.

The Queen

Drew's Two Cents: Despite the silly hyperbole of its central plot, it's a fascinating "fly on the wall" political docudrama fueled by Mirren's Oscar-worthy performance.

Robert's Two Cents: Helen Mirren carries an interesting little movie into something much bigger..Yet I thought production was noticeably rough, and am surprised at all the praise it is receiving.

Letters From Iwo Jima

Drew's Two Cents: Touches on cameraderie, honor, duty, and sacrifice... and shows the universal nature of patriotism; Eastwood outdoes himself... or at least his previous trip to Iwo Jima.

Robert's Two Cents: I usually prefer big-picture flag waving above stories of moral equivalency between "men at war", but here a real pro does the latter in a subtle way that is just on the edge of greatness.

To be continued...

Letters From Iwo Jima

2007-01-24T20:08:00.000-08:00

Letters From Iwo Jima (2006)

As tens of thousands of Allied troops push further inland, the Japanese troops defending Iwo Jima during World War II prepare to meet their fate in this Clint Eastwood-directed Oscar nominee for Best Picture, a companion piece to his hit film Flags of Our Fathers. Japanese Gen. Tadamichi Kuribayashi (Ken Watanabe) knows his men are outnumbered and, with no hope of rescue, that most will eventually die in battle -- or end up killing themselves.

My Two Cents: Touches on cameraderie, honor, duty, and sacrifice... and shows the universal nature of patriotism; Eastwood outdoes himself... or at least his previous trip to Iwo Jima.

NetFlix Rank: Really Liked It
IMDB Rank: 8/10

BONUS BLOGGING

Robert's Two Cents: I usually prefer big-picture flag waving above stories of moral equivalency between "men at war", but here a real pro does the latter in a subtle way that is just on the edge of greatness.

NetFlix Rank: Really Liked It

Further thoughts:

War is hell, right? It certainly is for the insignificant soldier in the midst of bloody carnage. Most reviews I've read agree that Eastwood hits the proverbial nail on the head in his depiction of Joe Nobody's batlefield horrors. I won't argue that. I will, however, take it a step further.

For the grunts war isn't always about good and evil. That exists in the macrocosm that the fighting men don't have time to ponder. It's about right and wrong, but in its most individual context.

Eastwood proves that a war movie can make a statement even when it lacks the aesthetics, emotion or grandeur of its peers. And for that I have to applaud.

Little Children

2007-01-23T20:26:00.000-08:00

Little Children (2006)

In director Todd Field's titillating tale, the lives of several adult suburbanites, who have yet to surpass adolescence, intersect on the streets of their small town in unexpected ways. While on-the-go wife and mother Kathy (Jennifer Connelly) is preoccupied with her career, Sarah (Kate Winslet, in an Oscar-nominated role), a mother who does not know how to mother, is busy having an affair with stay-at-home dad Brad (Patrick Wilson) -- Kathy's husband.

My Two Cents: American Beauty w/o the pretense? What struck me was its ability to redeem tragically flawed characters without relying on cliched convenience.

NetFlix Rank: Really Liked It
IMDB Rank: 8/10

Further thoughts:

For the longest time (i.e., at least two hours into the film) I struggled with the question: Do I think Little Children is a great movie that I don't like? Or do I really like it and think that it sucks? Ultimately I ruled in its favor on both accounts.

Little Children keeps the viewer guessing. It doesn't necessarily play out the way it appears that it's going to play out. Despite downward spirals, forced metaphors and, yes, some predictability, the film sidesteps every groan-inducing story path and winds up in a (for lack of a better word) perfect spot.

In the end you witness a group of unlikeable adults earn the sympathy that you spend more than two hours trying to give them, yet do not for fear of losing your own self-rspect. Maybe that's what I found so remarkable. Little Children disappointed, surprised and fascinated me. It's the kind of movie that I can spend days ruminating... and that I probably will.

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention these final thoughts:

1. Kudos to Phyllis Somerville for what I thought was a powerful supporting role as the film's lone tragically sympathetic soul.

2. Todd Field has to be an NFL Films fan, and I wouldn't be surprised if I learned that Steve Sabol directed the flag fotball sequence near the end. Outstanding and hilarious!

Revisiting the 2006 Oscars...

2007-01-15T10:10:00.000-08:00

We're nearing time for the 2007 Oscar nominations, so since I hadn't really seen many of the contenders at the time of the 2006 ceremony, I figured why not look back at the list a year later?

Note: I went 2 for 6 in my predictions.

Best Actor

Nominees: Philip Seymour Hoffman in "Capote," Terrence
Howard in "Hustle & Flow," Heath Ledger in "Brokeback Mountain," Joaquin Phoenix in "Walk the Line," David Strathairn in "Good Night, and Good
Luck."

Won: Hoffman

Should have won?: I can't disagree. In fact I'll go so far as to say that he lapped the field. Phoenix and Howard were good, while I didn't see anything special about Ledger or Straithairn.

Best Supporting Actor

Nominees: George Clooney in "Syriana," Matt Dillon in "Crash," Paul Giamatti in "Cinderella Man," Jake Gyllenhaal in "Brokeback Mountain," William Hurt in "A History of Violence"

Won: Clooney

Should have won?: Clooney wasn't a bad choice, but I'm still partial to Giamatti. Gyllenhaal was awful. AWFUL.

Best Actress

Nominees: Judi Dench in "Mrs. Henderson Presents," Felicity Huffman in "Transamerica," Keira Knightley in "Pride & Prejudice," Charlize Theron in "North Country," Reese Witherspoon in "Walk the Line"

Won: Witherspoon

Should have won?: I'll be honest; I still never saw three of the nominees (nor may I ever). But as much as I love Kiera Knightley (and loved Pride and Prejudice), I think Witherspoon was the right choice.

Best Supporting Actor

Nominees: Amy Adams in "Junebug," Catherine Keener in "Capote," Frances McDormand in "North Country," Rachel Weisz in "The Constant Gardener," Michelle Williams in "Brokeback Mountain

Won: Adams

Should have Won?: Good field, but I agree with the pick, and I'm glad she won, or else I may never have seen the delightful Junebug.

Best Director

Nominees: "Brokeback Mountain," Ang Lee; "Capote," Bennett Miller; "Crash," Paul Haggis; "Good Night, and Good Luck," George Clooney; "Munich," Steven Spielberg

Won: Lee

Should have Won?: Tough call. I think Miller did a great job, though Lee showed flashes of brilliance in his b-grade movie. And a year later, having seen it again, I think I was unfairly critical of Spielberg's effort. It was much better than I originally gave it credit.

Best Picture

Nominees: "Brokeback Mountain," "Capote," "Crash," "Good Night, and Good Luck," "Munich"

Won: Crash

Should have won?: Capote. Period. But in retrospect I think I've elevated Munich to number two (at least from the available choices). Brokeback and Good Night have no business in the discussion.

Who Killed the Electric Car?

2007-01-15T09:45:00.000-08:00

Who Killed the Electric Car? (2006)

Amid ever-increasing gas prices, this documentary delves into the short life of the GM EV1 electric car -- once all the rage in the mid-1990s and now fallen by the roadside. How could such an efficient, green-friendly vehicle fail to transform our garages and skies? Through interviews with government officials, former GM employees and concerned celebs (such as EV1 driver Mel Gibson), Chris Paine (former EV1 owner) seeks to answer the question.

My Two Cents: Pedantic sob-story that panders to irrelavant emotional fixation with a certain car; misses its chance to make a meaningful "big picture" statement.

NetFix Rank: Didn't Like It
IMDB Rank: 6/10

Further Thoughts:

I'm on board with Global Warming, slowly but surely. I'm not Dennis Quaid in Day After Tomorrow, but unlike many of my conservative brethren I feel that there exists enough truth to continue examining the issue.

Who Killed the Electric Car? feigns interest in this issue, but it doesn't make much more than a feeble attempt to dissect how its subject matter can contribute to a long-term solution. It's schmaltzy and dishonest and annoying. Its title should be: Who Killed the EV1?, as maybe ten percent of the 90-minute running time relates the plight of these 100 or so EV1-owners to the larger concern at hand.

If you're looking for a documentary that makes a compelling argument then stick with An Inconvenient Truth.

Keeping Up With the Steins

2007-01-15T08:14:00.000-08:00

Keeping Up With the Steins (2006)

While his parents plan an over-the-top bar mitzvah on his behalf, a 13-year-old boy struggles with his own shyness and his desire to see his father and grandfather reconcile. Directed by Scott Marshall, who deftly mocks Hollywood excess, this sharp but loving satire of materialism took home the Best Feature award at the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival. Jeremy Piven, Jami Gertz, Doris Roberts and newcomer Daryl Sabara lead the standout cast.

My Two Cents: Jeremy Piven's PG-rated Ari Gold does little more than tease interest in this sappy snoozer. I did really enjoy the Jeff Spicoli reset around the 0:30 point.

NetFlix Rank: Didn't Like It
IMDB Rank: 5/10

Babel

2007-01-02T22:10:00.000-08:00

Babel (2006)

When an American couple (Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett) vacationing in Morocco fall victim to a random act of violence, a series of events unfolds across four countries that demonstrates both the necessity and impossibility of human communication. Director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (21 Grams) won Best Director honors at the Cannes Film Festival for this film, which weaves together three seemingly disparate stories of strangers in strange lands.

My Two Cents: Bizarre in that it stretches a shallow theme of "woe is me" unfairness into an intricately woven, engaging framework; The editing makes this film better than it really is.

NetFlix Rank: Liked It
IMDB Rank: 8/10

Further Thoughts:

I don't know that I buy the connection here between two American tourists, a deaf-mute Japanese teen, an illegal immigrant and a goat-herding Morroccan family. It's forced, and borderline silly. And the running social commentary that life is unfair for the underpriveleged smacks of naivete.

But... there's always the "but," right? Much like in his previous work, Inarritu spins multiple stories concurrently, aligned via a central connection. Here, though, it's not so much an event as it is a need. The characters all lack that "something," and it's what makes their stories compelling, even when I didn't personally like them. Then there's the editing; the vignettes don't intertwine so much as they blend, back and forth, playing off of each other. The style accentuates each situation, even as the message trips over its own heavy handed-ness.

The Queen

2007-01-01T20:09:00.000-08:00

The Queen (2006)

After Princess Diana's shocking death, Queen Elizabeth II (Helen Mirren) and Tony Blair (Michael Sheen) engage in intimate talks as Britain demands the princess be memorialized in a manner beyond standard protocol. This drama goes behind the scenes as the queen and prime minister try to manage Diana's death on a personal level while also dealing with a public calling for royal treatment for their beloved Diana. James Cromwell co-stars.

My Two Cents: Despite the silly hyperbole of its central plot, it's a fascinating "fly on the wall" political docudrama fueled by Mirren's Oscar-worthy performance.

NetFlix Rank: Loved It
IMDB Rank: 8/10

Further Thoughts:

What struck me most about this was the way it played out. It reminded me of Thirteen Days, though that film certainly tackled a more meaningful subject. The Queen operates in the back rooms of the political process, chronicling the spin-doctors, decision-makers and story-shapers at work.

Then there's Mirren. Her performance was as good as anything I've seen the past few years -- absolutely solid in every regard, as she lends an empathetic light to Queen Elizabeth. The rest of the cast complemented her work, but she no doubt steals the show.

American Pie Presents: The Naked Mile

2007-01-01T19:43:00.000-08:00

American Pie Presents: The Naked Mile (2006)

An offshoot of the raunchy yet successful imprint, The Naked Mile stars Steve Talley as Adam Stifler, the virginal cousin and polar opposite of Matt and Steve. Adam and his girlfriend decide not to have sex until they're ready. But when Adam and his friends participate in his cousin's university's annual naked run across campus, Adam comes out of his prude shell and learns more about himself than he expects.

My Two Cents: Recycles a lot of the same shtick that made the first three funny, but it's not quite as good the second time around. The excess of boobs, though, helps.

NetFlix Rank: Liked It
IMDB Rank: 5/10

Jackass 2

2007-01-01T19:39:00.000-08:00

Jackass 2 (2006)

In the second film based on the infamous MTV series of the same name, Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Bam Margera and the rest of the gang continue to shun dignity and embrace danger in a series of idiotic feats. As always, the gross-out factor is high in stunts involving horse semen, a fake beard made out of pubic hair and more as the crew travels to India in this Jeff Tremaine-directed sequel.

My Two Cents: Don't watch this one while you're eating.

NetFlix Rank: Liked It
IMDB Rank: 6/10

The Good Shepherd

2006-12-26T17:00:00.000-08:00

The Good Shepherd (2006)

Matt Damon and Robert De Niro (who also directs) star in this partially fact-based drama that examines the early history of the CIA as seen through the eyes of a dedicated agent. An upstanding, sharp-minded Yale student, Edward Wilson (Damon) is recruited to work for the fledgling CIA during World War II. Though loyal to his country, Wilson begins to feel the job eroding his ideals, filling him with distrust and destroying his personal life.

My Two Cents: Its intricately woven web of deceit and deception is as compelling as it is long; Damon turns in yet another stellar performance under Deniro's Scorsese-esque direction.

NetFlix Rank: Really Liked It
IMDB Rank: 8/10

Further thoughts:

Aside from its running time, I can't fathom why this film earned a 56% rotten rating. Maybe it helps to know a little bit about the life and downward spiral of James Jesus Angleton, on whom Damon's character was based. I definitely recommend reading up on him for further insight into the film's events.

Shepherd plays out along converging timelines, which help to accentuate the ambiguous nature of foreign intelligence. We see the end result -- successes and failures -- before we see how they transpired. Damon's character alternates between patriotism, paranoia, skpeticism and regret, and he does so convincingly (award-worthy, even).

What we end up with is a thorough depiction of one fascinating historical era.

Accepted

2006-12-26T16:54:00.000-08:00

Accepted (2006)

After receiving rejection letters from eight colleges, Bartleby Gaines (Justin Long) and his slacker friends fool their parents into thinking they've been accepted at the South Harmon Institute of Technology, a university of their own invention. The only problem is, the boys have somehow managed to attract a freshman class of rejects just like them. Can the South Harmon coeds compete in a battle of wits with students from a neighboring college?

My Two Cents: Eh... Long delivers enough wit to salvage a pretty borderline comedy.

NetFlix Rank: Liked It
IMDB Rank: 6/10

Mission: Impossible III

2006-12-26T16:40:00.000-08:00

Mission: Impossible III (2006)

Helmed by J.J. Abrams, the third entry in the explosive espionage series finds semiretired superspy Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) forced back into action to save his protégé, Lindsey Ferris (Keri Russell). To checkmate her investigation, badass arms dealer Owen Davian (Philip Seymour Hoffman) abducts Lindsey, sending Ethan and his crack field team to Berlin on a rescue mission. Meanwhile, Ethan's agency superiors may be double-dealing their operatives.

My Two Cents: Hoffman plays a pretty good bad guy.

NetFlix Rank: Liked It
IMDB Rank: 7/10

Rocky Balboa

2006-12-26T16:12:00.000-08:00

Rocky Balboa (2006)

Though long retired from boxing, Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) returns to the ring for one last hurrah in this drama featuring the iconic action star. Now widowed, Rocky's settled into middle age running a deli. But the former champ misses the sparring life, and he's drawn back into the ring after suffering a personal tragedy. When he's offered a shot at the title, he'll have to go all out to prove he's still got what it takes.

My Two Cents: For all that can be said about Rocky Balboa, perhaps the best is that it provides the kind of fitting closure to the series that Rocky V did not.

NetFlix Rank: Really Liked It
IMDB Rank: 7/10

Further thoughts:

First off, that synopsis is off-base. He runs a restaurant, not a deli. And it's an exhibition, not a title fight.

Anyway... what struck me most about this movie is that it draws its inspiration from its predecessors. And it's not a movie about boxing; it's a movie about family and fulfillment, self-respect and self-determination.

It's probably the most complete Rocky film since the original. And at the very least it wipes away the embarrasment that was Rocky V. We see the former champion ride into the proverbial sunset with a finale that accentuates all that we loved about the diminuitive-yet-courageous hero.

Beerfest

2006-12-20T22:32:00.000-08:00

Beerfest (2006)

Two German-American brothers vow to defend their family's beer-guzzling honor in this outrageous comedy. During a trip to Germany to scatter their grandfather's ashes, Wolfhouse siblings Todd (Erik Stolhanske) and Jan (Paul Soter) discover Beerfest, the secret Olympics of downing stout, and want to enter the contest. When their Old Country cousins sneer at the Yanks' chances, they return to America to prepare for a showdown the following year.

Meine Zwei Pfennig: Inebriated jingoism run amok... No, it's not good... but it's funny as hell... and if nothing else it'll make you want to drink. I recommend a nice Hefeweizen. Alles klar! Or somesuch...

Alternate Two Cents: Frau Spurlin would be disappointed that the little I can remember from her two years of instruction is being used to describe a juvenile movie about beer.

Alternate Homer Simpson Two Cents: mmmmmmmm... Beer...

NetFlix Rank: Really Liked It
IMDB Rank: 7/10

The Polar Express

2006-12-18T22:57:00.000-08:00

The Polar Express (2004)

Chris Van Allsburg's inspiring children's book is brought to life in this warm-hearted animated tale directed by Robert Zemeckis. A young boy (voiced by both Daryl Sabara and co-executive producer Tom Hanks, who also lends his talents to the role of the conductor) with shaky faith finds it strengthened after he makes his way by train to the North Pole, where he finds reason to believe not only in others, but most importantly in himself.

My Two Cents: Falls somewhere between, and slightly below, 'heartwarming' and/or 'delightful.' Still, it means well. I feel that I missed out on the real experience by not seeing its IMAX presentation.

NetFlix Rank: Liked It
IMDB Rank: 6/10

Brokeback Mountain

2006-12-18T22:30:00.000-08:00

Brokeback Mountain (2005)

Two sheepherders -- Jack Twist and Ennis Del Mar (Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger) -- meet and fall in love while working together near Wyoming's Brokeback Mountain in 1963. Over the next 20 years, their lives take different courses: Jack becomes a rodeo cowboy while Ennis remains a ranch hand. Anne Hathaway, Randy Quaid and Michelle Williams co-star. Ang Lee directs screenwriter Larry McMurtry's adaptation of a short story by E. Annie Proulx.

My Two Cents: Why the hype? This poorly constructed B-movie dances between pastoral epic and gritty art film, while everyone but Ledger dials up the campy over-acting to beyond Lucas-esque levels.

NetFlix Rank: Didn't Like It
IMDB Rank: 6/10

Further thoughts:

I'll say this, and only this, about the controversial nature of this film: if its intent was to make some sort of social commentary about alternative lifestyles, then why did it choose to spotlight a couple of dishonorable, adultering cowboys?

Ledger earns points for his understated, brooding performance, but the rest is over-marketed mediocrity. In what alternate universe does a boring, unimaginative love story about characters as one-dimensional as these warrant Oscar buzz? It's a "Me Tarzan, you John" relationship that goes nowhere over the course of two-plus hours, which honestly feel closer to the two decades of elapsed time.

Give me a break.

The Puffy Chair

2006-12-17T19:40:00.000-08:00

The Puffy Chair

When Josh (Mark Duplass, whose brother Jay directs) finds the
perfect birthday present for his father, he decides to deliver it in person. But
with his high-maintenance girlfriend Emily (Kathryn Aselton) and granola brother
Rhett (Rhett Wilkins) along for the ride, Josh's simple road trip turns into a
much bigger journey than anyone anticipated. This indie romantic dramedy was an
audience favorite at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival.

My Two Cents: The audience at Sundance apparently had frostbite of the brain. Proof positive that "indie" does not always equal "better than mainstream."

NetFlix Rank: Hated It
IMDB Rank: 2/10

The Nativity Story

2006-12-17T17:22:00.000-08:00

The Nativity Story (2006)

Mary (Keisha Castle-Hughes) and Joseph (Oscar Isaac) make the hard journey to Bethlehem for a blessed event in this retelling of the Nativity story. From director Catherine Hardwicke (Thirteen), this meticulously researched and visually lush adaptation of the biblical tale follows the pair on their arduous path to their arrival in a small village, where they find shelter in a quiet manger and Jesus is born. Shohreh Aghdashloo co-stars.

My Two Cents: There's not a whole lot here not to like; it's a traditional, and at times beautiful, re-telling of a story we all know. (Extra points awared for its score's subtle incorporation of Christmas Carols.)

NetFlix Rank: Really Liked It
IMDB Rank: 8/10

Further Thoughts

With all of the hoopla that emerges this time of year about Christmas -- rampant commercialism, the secular "war on Christmas," the glee some people take in trying to dis-prove the widely held beliefs about the first Christmas -- it's refreshing to watch a film that at its heart simply celebrates a wonderful moment.

No matter how it transpired, the ultimate point of this story is that it transpired at all. Did it actually happen on December 25th? Were three wise men present to witness the delivery? Did they really bring gold, frankincense and myhrr?

Who cares?

The Nativity Story doesn't bog itself down in the minutiae of what's accurate and what's legend. It instead focuses on the elements of the story that matter -- namely that Jesus was born of a virgin womb to fulfill God's prophecy of a Messiah. It does that, and it does that very well.

Mini's First Time

2006-11-28T19:45:00.000-08:00

Mini's First Time (2006)

Inspired by actual news articles, this dark comedy about a dysfunctional family and its deadly consequences is writer-director Nick Guthe's impressive first-time foray into feature films. Mini (Nikki Reed) hates her materialistic mother (Carrie-Anne Moss) and uses her rich stepfather (Alec Baldwin) to teach Mom a lesson. Luke Wilson and Jeff Goldblum co-star in this film bleeding with deception, sex and scandal.

My Two Cents: It really doesn't matter if I thought this was bad or good (or somewhere in between). I watched it because Nikki Reed is hot. Very Hot. And I'd watch it again for that very reason.

NetFlix Rank: Liked It
IMDB Rank: 6/10

District B13

2006-11-28T19:42:00.000-08:00

District B13 (2006)

Produced and co-written by acclaimed filmmaker Luc Besson, this stylized action thriller is set in Paris 2010, where the government has fenced off the city's ghettos, the most dangerous of which is District B13. Teaming up to infiltrate the lawless sector, an elite-unit cop and a reformed vigilante put their lives on the line in a gutsy attempt to retrieve a stolen nuke and thwart a terrorist attack by the city's most powerful gang.

My Two Cents: Just watch it for what it is -- frenetic action, cool tough guys, and amazing stunts -- and you're unlikely to walk away disappointed at is lack of substance.

NetFlix Rank: Really Liked It
IMDB Rank: 6/10

Casino Royale

2006-11-19T20:37:00.000-08:00

Casino Royale (2006)

Martin Campbell (GoldenEye) directs this film adaptation (the 21st of the Bond franchise) of Ian Fleming's first novel. Daniel Craig (Layer Cake) debuts as the new Bond, who takes on a corrupt casino owner with ties to terrorists. You'll learn Bond's back story as the action-packed film takes you to the Bahamas, Madagascar and other exotic locales. Eva Green and Jeffrey Wright join the cast, and the sublime Judi Dench reprises her role as M.

My Two Cents: Craig's dark-yet-debonair take on 007 marks a refreshing reinvention of a series that had become little more than a product placement vehicle rife with bad one-liners.

NetFlix Rank: Really Liked It
IMDB Rank: 8/10

Flags of Our Fathers

2006-11-15T21:02:00.000-08:00

Flags of Our Fathers (2006)

From director Clint Eastwood comes this riveting World War II drama that recounts the story of six soldiers instantly immortalized when they were photographed raising the American flag atop Iwo Jima's Mount Suribachi. Based on the book of the same name, the film reconstructs the events that preceded and followed the snapshot that came to symbolize the U.S. troops' triumph and America's indestructible spirit. Ryan Phillippe and Barry Pepper star.

My Two Cents: Its "Wonder Years" finale brought a sense of closure to a scattered presentation that said much more about cameraderie than combat.

NetFlix Rank: Liked It
IMDB Rank: 7/10

Further thoughts:

I really wish I could say more about this film. Perhaps I'm judging it harshly because it's not as dramatic or (forgive me for putting it this way, as it's wholly unfair and damn near disingenuous) as, gulp, patriotic, as a Saving Private Ryan. But thankfully it's not as schmaltzy as a Pearl Harbor either.

Eastwood finds his moments, and much like he did with Mystic River, sets a somber ambience from which to work. It captures the squalor and brutality of war, yet highlights the innocence and valor of the men who stood firm in the face of unspeakable horror.

But I never felt that it built on any kind of momentum. Flags follows a non-linear perspective of a handful of soldiers from before the Battle of Iwo Jima , to the not-yet-victorious, defining moment in which the American troops raised the flag, to the events that followed years later. Yet do we really get to know these men? I felt that the audience's connection was superficial at best. Perhaps that was intended? I don't know.

Here's what I do know: when I see a film such as this I want to feel something. Pride. Bitterness. Faith. Anger. Hope. Distress. Whatever. That's not to say I want to be force-fed propaganda, but is a little pathos too much to ask? I guess subtlety is more Eastwood's style.

Art School Confidential

2006-11-14T20:46:00.000-08:00

Art School Confidential (2006)

Ambitious art school student Jerome Platz (Max Minghella) goes to extremes to conquer the art world -- and to get the girl -- in Terry Zwigoff's dark comedy. When his pure genius goes ignored and a brainless jock tempts his dream girl, Audrey (Sophia Myles), Jerome sets in motion a brazen plan to become an art world hero and win Audrey's heart. John Malkovich, Jim Broadbent, Matt Keeslar, Anjelica Huston and Ethan Suplee star.

My Two Cents: Works best when it over plays the anti-establishment stereotypes of the eccentric cast; misses the mark when it puts itself too much in the hands of the brooding lead character.

NetFlix Rank: Liked It
IMDB Rank: 6/10

Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan

2006-11-11T11:26:00.000-08:00

Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2006)

Fans of the HBO comedy series "Da Ali G Show" will be delighted to join one of their favorite characters -- the Kazakhstani reporter Borat (Sacha Baron Cohen) -- as he travels to America to report on the "greatest country in the world." Camera in tow, the boorish journalist sets off on his cross-country road trip, but his original purpose is soon subsumed by a much greater quest -- finding and marrying actress Pamela Anderson.

My Two Cents: Disgusting, Disturbing, Shocking, Insane, and yet Maddeningly Funny. When I wasn't covering my eyes I had to wipe away the tears from them, because I literally laughed hard enough to cry.

NetFlix Rank: Really Liked It
IMDB Rank: 7/10

The Departed

2006-10-12T20:37:00.000-07:00

The Departed (2006)

To take down South Boston's Irish Mafia, the police send in one of their own to infiltrate the underworld, not realizing the syndicate has done likewise in director Martin Scorsese's crime thriller. While undercover cop Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio) curries favor with mob kingpin Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson), career criminal Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon) rises through the police ranks. But both sides soon discover there's a mole among them.

My Two Cents: Things that lived up to the hype: Bush and Gore on Election Night 2000; Vince Young and Matt Leinart in the 2006 Rose Bowl; and Damon, DiCaprio, and everyone else in The Departed. Bravo!

NetFlix Rank: Loved It
IMDB Rank: 10/10

Alternate Dave Chappelle-as-Rick James Two Cents: I wish I had two more arms, so I could give The Departed four thumbs up!

Lucky Number Slevin

2006-10-12T20:29:00.000-07:00

Lucky Number Slevin (2006)

An identity mix-up places an innocent man in the middle of a mob war in this noir crime thriller. While checking out his missing friend Nick's apartment, Slevin (Josh Hartnett) is mistaken for Nick by thugs. Just how much trouble is Nick really in? Slevin finds out when he's forced to participate in a high-profile murder for a powerful crime boss. The top-notch cast includes Lucy Liu, Morgan Freeman, Ben Kingsley and Bruce Willis.

My Two Cents: Has a definite Elmore Leonard feel to it, but darker. A lot darker.

NetFlix Rank: Really Liked It
IMDB Rank: 7/10

Inside Man

2006-09-28T21:17:00.000-07:00

Inside Man (2006)

Dispatched to a crime scene where a bank robbery is in progress, police detective Keith Frazier (Denzel Washington) hopes to apprehend the cunning thief (Clive Owen) so he can make his case for a promotion. But when a savvy negotiator (Jodie Foster) with questionable motives arrives on the scene, an already unstable situation threatens to implode. Spike Lee directs this tense action-drama co-starring Willem Dafoe and Christopher Plummer.

My Two Cents: H'wood should make more movies like this -- smart and captivating w/o coming off as pretentious, light but not superficial; Denzel's best performance I've seen in quite a while.

NetFlix Rank: Really Liked It
IMDB Rank: 7/10

The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada

2006-09-14T20:50:00.000-07:00

The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (2005)

Tommy Lee Jones stars in and directs this dark comedy set on the Texas-Mexico border. After accidentally killing a man, heartless border patrol officer Mike (Barry Pepper) quickly buries the body in an unmarked grave. But ranch foreman Pete Perkins (Jones) learns of his friend's death, kidnaps Mike and drags him on a harrowing journey to Mexico to bury the man in his hometown. Julio Cesar Cedillo, January Jones and Dwight Yoakam co-star.

My Two Cents: It's slow, and longer than it needs to be, but it has a soul. Jones, Cedillo and Pepper all give great performances.

NetFlix Rank: Liked It
IMDB Rank: 8/10

Kicking and Screaming

2006-09-11T19:17:00.000-07:00

Kicking and Screaming (1995)

Declining to accompany his girlfriend (Olivia d'Abo) to Prague, Grover (Josh Hamilton) chooses instead to move in with other new college grads who can't quite break the gravitational pull of campus. Reluctant to step into adulthood yet, afraid they'll end up like bartender and professional student Chet (Eric Stoltz), the friends wrestle with leaving the past behind. Writer-director Noah Baumbach delivers a funny, honest look at postcollege angst.

My Two Cents: Though I had difficulty identifying with the characters, Baumbach captures the the "what now" uncertainty brought on by college graduation. This film resonated with me, but probably isn't for everyone.

NetFlix Rank: Liked It
IMDB Rank: 7/10

Syriana

2006-09-07T07:28:00.000-07:00

Syriana (2005)

George Clooney (who won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar and Golden Globe for his role) plays CIA operative Bob Barnes in this political thriller by Stephen Gaghan. America is at the beck and call of the Middle East when it comes to the oil industry, and all its players -- Washington, sheiks, oil companies, field workers -- intersect with each other. The star-studded cast includes Matt Damon, Amanda Peet, Chris Cooper and William Hurt.

My Two Cents: Compelling and suspenseful, if nothing else; But despite its flair, it meanders through too many scattered sub-plots to effectively act as anti-big oil propganda (which I assume was its intent).

NetFlix Rank: Liked It
IMDB Rank: 7/10

Idiocracy

2006-09-05T20:07:00.000-07:00

Idiocracy (2006)

To test its top secret Human Hibernation Project, the Pentagon picks the most average Americans it can find -- an Army private (Luke Wilson) and a prostitute (Maya Rudolph) -- and sends them 1,000 years into the future. But when the time travelers arrive, they find a civilization so dumbed-down that they're the smartest people around. Mike Judge and Etan Cohen ("Beavis and Butthead") reteamed for this futuristic farce.

My Two Cents: Brilliant and terrible; A puerile piece of semi-social commentary that I'm embarrassed to say made me roar with laughter on more than a few occasions. Judge is a lunatic and a genius.

NetFlix Rank: Really Liked It
IMDB Rank: 6/10

Walk the Line

2006-09-04T22:58:00.000-07:00

Walk the Line (2005)

Among the pantheon of great country singers, Johnny Cash (played here by Joaquin Phoenix) may just be the most enigmatic. James Mangold's film distills Cash's transformation from man to icon -- from his hardscrabble days on an Arkansas farm to Sun Records in Memphis, Tenn., where Cash finally found a way for his talent to come into its own. Reese Witherspoon plays his beloved June, alongside co-stars Robert Patrick and Shelby Lynne.

My Two Cents: A great soundtrack and wonderful chemistry between its two lead stars masks the fact that this is an average movie about a guy whose life story isn't nearly as fascinating as his musical catalouge

NetFlix Rank: Liked It
IMDB Rank: 6/10

Little Miss Sunshine

2006-09-04T14:20:00.000-07:00

Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

Convinced their little Olive (Abigail Breslin) is beauty queen material, parents Richard (Greg Kinnear) and Sheryl (Toni Collette) and the rest of the family embark on a life-altering road trip to a pageant in this madcap comedy. Struggling motivational speaker Richard pushes Olive to win, while her silent brother (Paul Dano), depressed uncle (Steve Carell) and nursing-home reject grandpa (Alan Arkin) add their own quirks to the mix.

My Two Cents: Many films explore themes like dealing with a dysfunctional family and coping with loss. Few do it in an endearing manner thats both dark and comedic, and even fewer do it as well

NetFlix Rank: Really Liked It
IMDB Rank: 9/10

My Summer of Love

2006-08-30T20:01:00.000-07:00

My Summer of Love (2005)

Director Pawel Pawlikowski's BAFTA award-winning film juxtaposes the secret longings of two very different young women: the smart Mona (Natalie Press), who's deeply bored and tired of the poverty of her everyday life, and the rich Tamsin (Emily Blunt), who's long ceased to be impressed with her well-heeled life. When their worlds collide unexpectedly, they sense an immediate attraction, but can their unusual friendship survive their differences?

My Two Cents: Slow but steady; Blunt's performance as the manipulative rich girl was nothing short of enchanting.

NetFlix Rank: Liked It
IMDB Rank: 7/10

Two For the Money

2006-08-28T07:14:00.000-07:00

Two For the Money (2005)

Collegiate football star Brandon Lang (Matthew McConaughey) spins his uncanny prognostication skills into a new vocation when a devastating injury sidelines his promising career. Hooking up with renowned "sports consultant" Walter Abrams (Al Pacino), Brandon becomes a crafty front man for the operation -- until his Midas touch starts to evaporate. Co-star Rene Russo plays Pacino's wife in this high-stakes drama from director D.J. Caruso.

My Two Cents: A pointless story with two lead actors that evidently just decided to caricature themselves for two way-too-long hours.

NetFlix Rank: Didn't Like It
IMDB Rank: 4/10

BONUS BLOGGING

Matt's Two Cents: No plot, bad writing, Coppola should edit Pacino out of The Godfather after seeing Pacino reduce himself to this.

NetFlix Rank: Hated It

Robert's Two Cents: Almost bad enough to laugh at, the writing here is as bad as it gets.

NetFlix Rank: Didn't Like It

Winter Passing

2006-08-28T06:50:00.000-07:00

Winter Passing (2006)

Upon learning that a publisher will pay dearly for the love letters her novelist father (Ed Harris) wrote to her late mother, Reese Holden (Zooey Deschanel) returns to Michigan after seven years away from home. But instead of the reclusive man she expected to find, she discovers her dad has formed a deep connection with the struggling musician (Will Ferrell) and ex-grad student (Amelia Warner) who now live under his roof. Amy Madigan co-stars.

My Two Cents: I couldnt tell if it tried too hard or didnt try hard enough. Despite a likeable cast there's nothing particularly likeable about this dull, flat film.

NetFlix Rank: Didn't Like It
IMDB Rank: 5/10

One Last Thing

2006-08-16T20:06:00.000-07:00

One Last Thing (2005)

Diagnosed with terminal cancer, otherwise typical teen Dylan Jamieson (Michael Angarano) makes an unusual last request: a date with hot supermodel Nikki Slater (Sunny Mabrey). But this may be a case of be careful what you wish for: Dylan's dream babe turns out to be a self-absorbed shrew who'll do anything to crush her competition. Gina Gershon and Cynthia Nixon lend solid support in director Alex Steyermark's bittersweet comedy.

My Two Cents: If you look past its American Pie/Can't Hardly Wait elements, you'll find a touching film that has a lot to say about life and death and things we all think about.

NetFlix Rank: Really Liked It
IMDB Rank: 7/10

For a Day I'll Never Forget...

2006-08-12T08:46:00.000-07:00

...I'm not sure that Oliver Stone's World Trade Center is a film that I'll always remember.

Unlike the no-frills United 93 that came out earlier this year, Stone's smaller-scale epic fails in many ways to engage the viewer in terms of the overall impact from that dark day. And if I thought that was his main intention then I'd be more disappointed in his effort. But I don't.

I don't think WTC set out to be the definitive movie about 9/11. Its mission was to tell an incredible story of survival from the viewpoint of a small group directly affected by the tragedy. And to be perfectly honest it does just that. In fact, I was impressed with the way Stone handled it.

Here's a guy that has taught an entire generation of people to believe a revised, "junk history" version of the JFK assassination. He's known more for his pedantic agenda than anything else, and yet here he is directing a movie about the most sensitive of topics, on the eve of its five-year anniversary. I'd say the smart money would have been on Stone creating a politically divisive trainwreck, and WTC is the complete opposite of that. So like I said, color me impressed.

There were certainly aspects of it that I didn't much like (much of the comic relief seemed ill-timed and incongruous within its context), but for the most part it resonated with me. It treated the subject matter and the characters (both main and ancillary) with respect, and it avoided editorializing.

So why only a 7/10 and "Liked It," instead of 9/10 and "Loved It"? I suppose it's because even though I understand, and even appreciate, what Stone did, I think he could have done more. The story of 9/11 is in the people that played the vital roles. They were heroes, and they should be treated as such. Yes, it's important to see how John McLoughlin (Nic Cage) and Will Jimeno (Michael Pena) -- heroes in their own right -- persevered through sheer will until their rescuers dug them out of the rubble. Sure we in the audience want to see the devastating impact on their families. But I would have liked to see more of the rescuers themselves. That's the story of 9/11 -- the manner in which America came together, with everyone playing whatever part they could play. WTC glosses over much of that. Of the dozens of people that risked their lives to save the trapped officers only one saw any significant character development? Why was that? Their stories were important, too.

Maybe I'm just being too critical. As I said, it's still a memorable film, and one that rekindles the melancholy, hope, and pride of that terrible time. But fair or not, World Trade Center will naturally be compared with United 93, a film that also captures all of those emotions, and ultimately WTC doesn't quite match up.

World Trade Center

2006-08-10T20:49:00.000-07:00

World Trade Center

From director Oliver Stone comes this gripping docudrama set amid the rubble of Sept. 11, 2001. Working under treacherous conditions, an army of dedicated rescuers desperately hopes to find anyone who survived the World Trade Center's tragic collapse. Their efforts pay off when they unearth Port Authority police officers John McLoughlin (Nicolas Cage) and William J. Jimeno (Michael Pena) trapped near an elevator shaft.

My Two Cents: Tackles a microcosmic view of 9/11 in a respectful manner, but its limited scope diminishes some of its impact; not powerful, but memorable.

NetFlix Rank: Liked It
IMDB Rank: 7/10

BONUS BLOGGING

Robert's Two Cents: A small, shameless, claustrophobic, and perverted underachiement

NetFlix Rank: Hated It

Talledega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby

2006-08-10T20:48:00.000-07:00

Talledega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby

Lifelong friends and national idols Ricky Bobby (Will Ferrell) and Cal Naughton Jr. (John C. Reilly) have earned their NASCAR stripes with their uncanny knack of finishing races in the first and second slots, respectively. But when rival French driver Jean Girard (Sacha Baron Cohen) coasts onto the track to challenge the duo, they'll have to floor it to retain their status as top dogs.

My Two Cents: 'Ricky Bobby' isn't as dumb-witted as it appears, and surprisingly (or not?) Reilly, Baron and Cole really steal the show.

NetFlix Rank: Really Liked It
IMDB Rank: 7/10

Why We Fight

2006-08-01T18:46:00.000-07:00

Why We Fight (2005)

Filmed during the Iraq War, this documentary dissects America's military machine with a keen eye to answering the question: Why does America engage in war? Through personal stories of soldiers, government officials, scholars, journalists and innocent victims, the film examines the political and economic interests and ideological factors, past and present, behind American militarism. Winner of the 2005 Sundance Grand Jury Award.

My Two Cents: I knew I wouldn't agree with it going in, but I expected more than I got.

NetFlix Rank: Didn't Like It
IMDB Rank: 5/10

A Scanner Darkly

2006-07-30T18:12:00.000-07:00

A Scanner Darkly (2006)

Keanu Reeves shoulders another futuristic role in director Richard Linklater's sci-fi thriller based on Philip K. Dick's novel. Working as an undercover cop in a world where almost everyone is addicted to Substance D -- which produces split personalities in its users -- Fred Arctor (Reeves) sets up an elaborate sting to nab a notorious drug runner named Bob. But little does Fred know that "Bob" is … his alter ego.

My Two Cents: Undeniably Linklater, though darker than his usual fare, and shrouded in a perpetual haze.

NetFlix Rank: Liked It
IMDB Rank: 7/10

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest

2006-07-30T18:04:00.000-07:00

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)

Director Gore Verbinksi takes to the high seas to helm the continuing adventures
of swashbuckling Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp), young Will Turner (Orlando
Bloom) and headstrong beauty Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley). Once again, the
trio returns to the realm of the supernatural as Jack tries to weasel his way
out of a blood debt with the ghostly Davey Jones (Bill Nighy), who threatens the
wily skipper with eternal damnation if he welshes.

My Two Cents: Pretty much a carbon copy of the first -- not that that's necessarily a bad thing. Ends on a great note.

NetFlix Rank: Liked It
IMDB Rank: 7/10

Clerks 2

2006-07-30T17:58:00.000-07:00

Clerks 2 (2006)

Seasoned slackers Dante (Brian O'Halloran) and Randal (Jeff Anderson) sadly find themselves working behind the fast-food counter of Mooby's after a catastrophe drives them away from their previous dead-end jobs. Picking up 10 years after their original misfit misadventures, director Kevin Smith revisits the doldrums and daily routines of New Jersey's minimum-wage employees in the sequel to his career-defining first film, Clerks.

My Two Cents: Smith goes back to the well, but doesn't just re-hash the same old story; An endearing quality exists buried below its juvenile veneer.

NetFlix Rank: Really Liked It
IMDB Rank: 8/10

Pride and Prejudice

2006-07-30T17:51:00.000-07:00

Pride and Prejudice (2005)

In this retelling of Jane Austen's novel set in 19th century England, Mrs. Bennet (Brenda Blethyn) is all atwitter in hopes of marrying her daughters to prosperous gentlemen callers, especially when a wealthy bachelor moves nearby. Headstrong daughter Elizabeth (Keira Knightley) meets her match in Mr. Darcy, but misinterprets Darcy's honorable intentions and jeopardizes her chance at love. Donald Sutherland, Judi Dench and Jena Malone co-star.

My Two Cents: Charming in almost every way, and it manages to tell a love story without relying on schmaltz.

NetFlix Rank: Really Liked It
IMDB Rank: 9/10

As Promised... My Look Back at 2005

2006-07-25T22:14:00.000-07:00

Not sure if I promised it here or over at my MySpace Blog, but no matter, I've wanted to revisit my 2005 rankings for a while now.

In order, grouped by overall rating:

9: (3)
Capote
Pride & Prejudice
Cinderella Man

8: (15)
The Squid and the Whale
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
Junebug
Elizabethtown
Everything Is Illuminated
Batman Begins
Memoirs of a Geisha
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Munich
The Constant Gardener
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
King Kong
The Weather Man
Broken Flowers
Corpse Bride

7: (11)
Happy Endings
Oliver Twist
Wedding Crashers
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
Domino
Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children
Four Brothers
Get Rich or Die Tryin'
Lord of War
The War Within
The Interpreter

6: (16)
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Mr. & Mrs. Smith
Kingdom of Heaven
Match Point
Waiting...
The Island
The 40 Year Old Virgin
Hitch
London
The Upside of Anger
A History of Violence
American Pie Presents Band Camp
Bad News Bears
Fever Pitch
Red Eye
Elektra

5: (9)
Sin City
War of the Worlds
Must Love Dogs
The Dukes of Hazzard
Fantastic Four
House of 9
Just Friends
The Longest Yard
The Exorcism of Emily Rose

4: (1)
Thumbsucker

3: (1)
Stealth

So... what did I underrate? Overrate? When I have some time I may look at where my ratings coincided and conflicted with that of the IMDB consensus and the Tomatometer, respectively. And who knows? I may revisit these again at year's end, since I am still obviously missing some well-received films from last year.

Coming Soon

2006-07-24T19:56:00.000-07:00

I'm not referring to previews or movies I want to see with this post, but rather two movies I've already seen. Confused? Let me clarify.

The "Friends" section, and thusly the "$0.02 Review" function, at NetFlix has been temporarily unavailable for going on two days now, and I do not feel like waiting for its return to comment on the two films I have seen in the past 48 hours.

To recap (and explain my subject), expect Tw0-Cent reviews for the following movies sometime soon. In the meantime I offer expanded thoughts on Clerks 2 and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest.

In order of viewing I'll start with Kevin Smith's latest effort (and forgive me if I get lazy and just boil down these next few paragraphs into my subsequent $0.02 review when NetFlix finally allows for it). My first, and I'm somewhat sad to say most honest, feeling about Clerks 2 is this: Kevin Smith is a one-trick pony. By that I mean that no matter what he does he is never going to escape the View Askewniverse (i.e., the Jay and Silent Bob franchise). It's not going to happen. He has seven real films to his credit and the only one that doesn't fit the loosely (and sometimes blatantly) related series is the one I -- and many of his fans -- never even bothered to see.

Smith can do the Jay and Silent Bob thing, and he can do it well. And lest anyone think I am unfairly pigeon-holing him, I will add that even if his pony has just the one trick, it's still a pretty damn good one. Sure, Clerks 2 is a movie that probably didn't need to get made. What more could he get out of these two sometimes-loveable losers? It doesn't matter, because it's not Jay and Silent Bob that carry this movie; the two unloveable losers -- Randall and Dante -- do, and for that reason alone I'm very glad that this film did get made.

This film has a soul buried beneath its veneer of juvenile humor. It manages to capture the Kevin Smith essence while reflecting a maturity unseen in any of the previous Jersey films. Clerks 2 explores friendship and love on a level that shocked me almost as much as some of the punchlines and chatoic happenings that, despite its sincerity, repeatedly remind you that you're watching a Kevin Smith movie. While I don't particularly like either Randall's smug superiority or Dante's incessant pity-whoring, I empathized with both in the way they finally let down their guard and showed that they have grown up a little bit. It was endearing, and should Smith decide this was indeed the final chapter in his saga, he went out on a great note. If not I hope he doesn't ruin this film's legacy by going back to a two-hour assault of inside jokes, Rick Derris references, and Mark Hamill cameos in the next installment. I could like with more Alyssa Jones, however.

My thoughts on Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, are not nearly as extensive. I think, though, that the best compliment I can pay is simply: I was left wanting more. Believe me -- that's higher praise than it at first may seem. For a movie that stretched to two-and-a-half hours, it seems ludicrous to suggest that it should have lasted longer, so take note in realizing that's not what I'm suggesting. What I do mean is that for all of its ups and downs, POTC:DMC ends on a perfect note, with one of the most brilliant segues to a sequel that I've seen. It blows away the lame suggestion of another X-Men movie (see: final scene, X3: The Last Stand), and director Gore Verbinski doesn't force the viewer to sit through ten minutes of credits for a ten second tease.

Verbinski takes a while to get the ball rolling -- or the cage, or the wheel (there are a lot of things that ultimately roll in this movie) -- but when he finally does he makes it fun. Johnny Depp's Jack Sparrow picks right up where left off in the original, and both Orlando Bloom and the scrumptious Kiera Knightley reprise their roles with flair. In short if you enjoyed the first POTC odds are you'll find this one just as satisfying. And even if you begin to feel underwhelmed, and believe me if you do you're right where I was at about the 2:25 mark, Dead Man's Chest finds a way to redeem itself. Because while I'll readily admit that I could have done without a good 30% of the 150 minutes, I'm hard-pressed to cite specific examples in the wake of the ending.

Congratulations Mickey Mouse; you've -- if nothing else -- assured that I will go to see the third Pirates of the Caribbean when it comes our next Summer.

And for you, dear reader, I hope I've not disappointed you by not discussing the character development or "deeper meaning" of POTC here in the second half of this essay. But we're talking about a popcorn movie, matey. That's what it is -- that and a lot of swashbuckling, rum-running fun. Arrrrggghhhh...

The Greatest Game Ever Played

2006-07-23T07:41:00.000-07:00

The Greatest Game Ever Played (2005)

With a pint-sized caddie (Joshua Flitter) at his side, amateur golfer Francis Ouimet (Shia LaBeouf) shocked the world at the 1913 U.S. Open when he outplayed defending British champ Harry Vardon (Stephen Dillane). But Ouimet's rise to the top wasn't easy, with a hard-nosed father (Elias Koteas) and a hard-knock life to overcome. Actor Bill Paxton (in his third time out as a director) helms this inspiring true-life story based on actual events.

My Two Cents: Yet another example of Hollywood taking a captivating true event and turning it into contrived fiction.

NetFlix Rank: Didn't Like It
IMDB Rank: 5/10

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang

2006-07-17T21:32:00.000-07:00

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)

Petty thief Harry Lockart (Robert Downey Jr.) gets caught up in a murder investigation in this action-packed comedy. Posing as an actor, Harry heads to Los Angeles for an unlikely audition and finds an authentic acting coach in detective Perry Van Shrike (Val Kilmer). But the bright lights of Hollywood fade when a murder takes place and Harry, Perry and Harry's high school dream girl (Michelle Monaghan) become part of the investigation.

My Two Cents: It may not always hit the target, but then again it doesn't take itself seriously enough for that to matter.

NetFlix Rank: Really Liked It
IMD Rank: 8/10

Top Movies of 2006

2006-07-05T19:02:00.000-07:00

...a little past the year's mid-point.

A few things first:

1. I have yet to see several movies thus far that might rank highly on my list.

2. This year's crop of blockbusters has, to date, left me feeling underwhelmed.

3. If you've seen something that's not on my list then please let me know, unless: (a) it stars Adam Sandler (b) is one of those annoying parody movies (c) serves only to make a blanket statement about the evil nature of conservatives and/or President Bush (yes, I know that #2 on my list conradicts that).

On to the list:

1. United 93 10/10
2. An Inconvenient Truth 8/10
3. Thank You For Smoking 8/10
4. Brick 8/10
5. V for Vendetta 7/10
6. Superman Returns 6/10
7. The Breakup 6/10
8. The Da Vinci Code 6/10
9. X Men 3: The Last Stand 6/10
10. Underworld: Evolution 6/10
11. Grandma's Boy 5/10

Movies I missed in the theater, but that I still want to see: Inside Man, District B-13, MI: 3, Why We Fight, Art School Confidential, Lucky Number Slevin

Movies in theaters now that I want to see: The Puffy Chair, Keeping Up With the Steins

Movies in theaters now that I will never see: Click, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift

Movies opening soon that I will definitely see in the theater: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, A Scanner Darkly, Clerks II, Lady In the Water, Little Miss Sunshine, Snakes on a Plane

Grandma's Boy

2006-07-05T18:59:00.000-07:00

Grandma's Boy (2006)

Even though he's 35 years old, Alex (Allen Covert) acts more like he's 13, spending his days as the world's oldest video game tester and his evenings developing the next big Xbox game. But when his irresponsible roommate gets him kicked out of his apartment, he has no choice but to move in with his grandmother (Doris Roberts) and her elderly housemates. Linda Cardellini, Shirley Jones, David Spade, Rob Schneider and Kevin Nealon co-star.

My Two Cents: Its saving grace is that it only has Adam Sandler's friends, not Sandler himself, allowing for at least a few laughs.

NetFlix Rank: Didn't Like It
IMDB Rank: 5/10

Must Love Dogs

2006-07-05T18:55:00.000-07:00

Must Love Dogs (2005)

Divorcée Sarah Nolan (Diane Lane) isn't ready for romance. But when her sister (Elizabeth Perkins) signs her up for an online dating service, love-seeking mates come calling. While one Mr. Maybe (Dermot Mulroney) is rife with possibilities, another (John Cusack) is even more intriguing. Still, there's just one problem: While this second eligible bachelor's ad states that his dream woman "Must Love Dogs," neither he nor Sarah actually owns one.

My Two Cents: *yawn*

NetFlix Rank: Didn't Like It
IMDB Rank: 5/10

BONUS BLOGGING

Robert's Two Cents: More harmless than anything, but Diane Lane is special.

NetFlix Rank: Liked It

Why Superman Returns is the Most Disappointing Movie...

2006-06-28T20:44:00.000-07:00

...since The DaVinci Code.

WARNING: THIS POST CONTAINS SPOLIERS!!!

Okay, just so no one thinks I absolutely hated it, I'll start off with some of the things that I truly enjoyed about the latest adventures of the Man of Steel.

As my $0.02 review touches on, director Bryan Singer never makes it clear whether or not this is a sequel or a re-imagining of the previous Christopher Reeve Superman flicks. I think a case can be made for both sides. The fact that Singer does this (and you're not going to convince me it's not intentional; in fact even if he showed up on my doorstep arguing for one side I would refuse to believe the material is anything but purposefully ambiguous) makes it clear to me that he was the right man for the job.

Unfortunately whoever wrote the screenplay was clearly not. But more on that later.

This homage (because that's what it is) to its classic forefathers (not to be confused with "four" fathers, as the final two installments in the Reeve quintet, for lack of a better word, blew, and we should all erase them from our memories) combines the subtle with the blatant and manages to dazzle as often as not. Brandon Routh is Superman. I have no idea who the kid is, but if you try and tell me that he doesn't capture everything in the character that Reeve did almost three decades ago I'll tell you that you're crazy.

From the moment he zips to the rescue of a falling jetliner and quotes the original film (see, I told you it's an homage), Routh steps into the most famous shoes in comic bookdom and never lets up. Neither does Singer, who handles the "super" portion of Kal Els' heroics with a kinetic gracefulness that would normally teeter close to overkill if, say, George Lucas were at the helm.

I could go on and on about Routh and Singer, and even Kevin Spacey, Parker Posey and Kate Bosworth, as they were fantastic, too. But then you might get the idea that I really loved the movie. I didn't. But before I get to the bad I'll mention a few more things that I liked:

- Did I mention subtleties? Remember in the first Superman Luthor's manaical plan involved dumping western California into the Pacific to make a real estate killing. This nefarious ploy involves creating a new continent that dumps all of America into the ocean... except parts of California. Genius. Also... Luthor's one request in Superman II was for General Zod to grant him ownership of Australia. Here he tries to build his own contnent, which resembles, in both size and shape, the land down under.

- "I hope this incident hasn't put anyone off of air travel..." "You really shouldn't smoke, Miss Lane." "You're acting like you've been here before." Maybe the screenwriter did get a few things right. Love the references.

So... I've put it off long enough.

I'll start the downhill side with one triviality. The cinematography, though pretty good overall, came off redundant at times, especially about the 19th time Superman flies to the edge of space, poses, and darts back toward Terra Firma. We get it. Next...

Make it two trivialities... Is it possible to take the Harold & Kumar guy seriously as one of Luthor's henchmen? Otis was so much better than him or the other goons.

Now my real issues, and if you ignored the spoiler warning before, you'd best turn back now if you don't want me to ruin the movie for you (in more ways than one): Superman's son? What the f-udge??? That's HORRIBLE! First off the kid looked like the 34th in the line of Culkin kids. I was waiting for him to give the Kevin McAllister "yes!" when Superman flew out his window at the end. But side from that how do you turn back now? You not only ruin this movie with Lucas-esque drivel, you ruin any sequels, too, unless Singer goes Aaron Sorkin and sends McAll-El to "Mandyville."

Then there's the Kryptonite continent, which doesn't quite kill Superman (yet), but weakens him enough that after he's flown it all the way to the edge of space, the evil toxins kick in, making the Man of Steel the world's largest flesh-and-blood meteroite (speaking of which, NASA may want to get Bruce Willis and Ben Affleck on standby in case that Texas-sized block of alien crust someday comes hurtling back toward Earth).

Finally, as if the first brush with death weren't enough we're subjected to an anti-climactic coma/flat-line episode. Come on! If you're going to kill Superman don't half-ass it; go all the way! And wait more than 12 seconds before he comes back to life. Lex Luthor could have fought a few Polar Bears or something in the meantime.

Again I didn't hate Superman Returns. I really didn't even dislike it (not liking something and disliking it are not necessarily the same thing). I just think that it had enough elements present to make an outstaning comic book popcorn flick, and yet it fell apart, despite its promise.

I hope there's a sequel. I hope all of the main characters return. I hope Singer decides to direct again. But more than anything else I hope that whoever writes the next script doesn't screw it up. Better yet maybe Superman can just do that reverse-the-Earth's-orbit trick again and let someone have a crack at editing this one.

Superman Returns

2006-06-28T20:41:00.000-07:00

Superman Returns (2006)

After a multiyear hiatus from Metropolis, Superman (played by Brandon Routh and Stephan Bender) returns to find a city that's managed to survive without him, an old flame (Kate Bosworth) who's moved on and an old enemy (Kevin Spacey) who wants him destroyed. Parker Posey, Eva Marie Saint, Peta Wilson and Marlon Brando (through the magic of archival footage) co-star in this long-awaited installment of the superhero saga.

My Two Cents: Sequel? Re-imagining? Homage? I'm more intersted in: Can Superman Return with a better story next time?

NetFlix Rank: Didn't LIke It
IMDB Rank: 6/10

An Evening With Kevin Smith (2002)

2006-06-27T21:03:00.000-07:00

An Evening With Kevin Smith (2002)

Silent Bob finally breaks his silence in this no-hold-barred interview with brash and gifted filmmaker Kevin Smith (Clerks, Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Dogma). Witty and wisecracking, Smith discusses everything under the sun from religion to romance, his movies and his secrets of success in independent filmmaking.

My Two Cents: Could have been pared down, but enjoyable for fans of Smith's films.

NetFlix Rank: Really Liked It
IMDB Rank: N/A

Match Point

2006-06-27T20:55:00.000-07:00

Match Point (2005)

Tennis pro Chris (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers) gets mixed up with the darker side of high society in this suspenseful drama with a Hitchcockian flair. Chris is befriended by a wealthy family and falls for femme fatale Nola (Scarlett Johansson). But a clandestine affair involving another woman leaves Chris wondering if murder is the only way out of the tight spot he's in. Matthew Goode and Emily Mortimer co-star in director Woody Allen's thriller.

My Two Cents: A solidly adequate film somewhere beween 'intriguing' and 'pointless' with a slew of pitiless characters.

NetFlix Rank: Liked It
IMDB Rank: 7/10

God is Great, I'm Not

2006-06-20T06:53:00.000-07:00

God is Great, I'm Not (2001)

Michele (Audrey Tautou), a 20-year-old French model, has just broken up with her boyfriend and aborted their baby. Full of existential angst, she's looking for something to believe in. That's when she meets François, a veterinarian who is a non-practicing Jew and several years her senior. She falls in love and is inspired to try to convert to Judaism -- much to François's chagrin.

My Two Cents: Incoherent and hard to follow; Comes off as superficial as its leading lady.

NetFlix Rank: Didn't Like It
IMDB Rank: 6/10

In the Company of Men

2006-06-20T06:50:00.000-07:00

In the Company of Men (1997)

Two corporate middle-managers (Aaron Eckhart and Matt Malloy), exiled to a branch office for 6 weeks, come up with a way to kill time: Find an insecure woman, independently romance her and then simultaneously dump her. Director Neil LaBute's powerful, amoral look at office politics and sexual gamesmanship is guaranteed to push buttons with its searing, cruel candor.

My Two Cents: Adequately describing this depraved mess of a film requires only a simple two-word phrase: f---ed up!

NetFlix Rank: Didn't Like It
IMDB Rank: 5/10

Lollilove

2006-06-14T07:33:00.000-07:00

LolliLove (2004)

A pretentious, well-heeled couple (played by James Gunn and Jenna Fischer, who also directed) is bound and determined to make a difference in the lives of the homeless, but not by giving them scads of money or by treating them to a hot meal. Instead, the twosome hands out lollipops with an uplifting slogan on the wrappers. Oh yeah, that'll do the trick. Linda Cardellini co-stars in this hilarious mockumentary.

My Two Cents: Laugh-out-loud funny, but in the same tense, superficial manner ala Larry David; Gunn's character irritated me.

NetFlix Rank: Liked It
IMDB Rank: 7/10

The Breakup

2006-06-12T07:54:00.000-07:00

The Breakup (2006)

Breaking up is hard to do -- especially when you're living under the same roof. Soon after lovebirds Gary (Vince Vaughn) and Brooke (Jennifer Aniston) buy a condo together, their relationship self-destructs. The only problem is, neither can afford to pay the mortgage without the other's help … so they're forced to cohabitate until better prospects arise. The supporting cast includes Joey Lauren Adams, Jason Bateman and Jon Favreau.

My Two Cents: As funny as a sometimes sappy chick flick can be, which w/ VV is awfully funny. Bonus: Cool cameo from the Old 97s!

NetFlix Rank: Really Liked It
IMDB Rank: 6/10

An Inconvenient Truth

2006-06-08T07:15:00.000-07:00

An Inconvenient Truth (2006)

Director-producer Davis Guggenheim (HBO's "Deadwood") captures former Vice President Al Gore in the midst of waging a passionate campaign -- not for the White House, but for the environment. Laying out the facts of global warming without getting political, Gore makes a sobering impression on the audiences who hear his message, urging them to act "boldly, quickly and wisely" … before it's too late to act at all.

My Two Cents: Looking past the irrelevant and disingenuous speckles, the subject matter is awfully convincing, if not alarming.

NetFlix Rank: Liked It
IMDB Rank: 8/10

BONUS BLOGGING

Robert's Two Cents: Shockingly and Inconveniently convincing and thought provoking, despite misdirected conclusion and off-purpose sequences

NetFlix Rank: Really Liked It

The Boondock Saints

2006-06-08T07:10:00.000-07:00

The Boondock Saints (1999)

Twin brothers Conner (Sean Patrick Flanery) and Murphy (Norman Reedus), feeling that their God-given mission is to cleanse the Earth of all human evil, set out to rid Boston of crime. But instead of joining the police force, these Irish Americans decide to kick criminal butt their own way -- à la Charles Bronson. Willem Dafoe is the openly gay FBI special agent assigned to investigate.

My Two Cents: It certainly has its moments, even they're beyond ridiculous; I don't even know what to say about Dafoe in this one.

NetFlix Rank: Liked It
IMDB Rank: 7/10

The Fountainhead

2006-06-06T06:25:00.000-07:00

The Fountainhead (1949)

Based on the Ayn Rand book of the same name. Individualistic and idealistic architect Howard Roark is expelled from college because his designs fail to fit with existing architectural thinking. He seems unemployable but finally lands a job with like-minded Henry Cameron, however within a few years Cameron drinks himself to death, warning Roark that the same fate awaits unless he compromises his ideals. Roark is determined to retain his artistic integrity at all costs.

My Two Cents: Miscast and too stuffy, but "cliffs notes" movie adequately boils 700 pages into two hours.

NetFlix Rank: n/a
IMDB Rank: 7/10

(note: this movie is not available via NetFlix)

Memoirs of a Geisha

2006-06-02T06:45:00.000-07:00

Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)

Based on Arthur Golden's novel and set in 1929, this tale follows 9-year-old Chiyo, who is sold to a Kyoto geisha house. Chiyo endures harsh treatment from the owners and head geisha Hatsumomo, who's envious of Chiyo's stunning beauty. Rescued by Hatsumomo's rival, Chiyo blooms in her role as a geisha, but World War II threatens to change her privileged life forever. Ziyi Zhang, Ken Watanabe, Michelle Yeoh and Li Gong star.

My Two Cents: Beautiful all around, from its artistry to its music to its female lead.

NetFlix Rank: Really Liked It
IMDB Rank: 8/10

X-Men 3: The Last Stand

2006-06-01T07:14:00.000-07:00

X-Men 3: The Last Stand (2006)

When scientists develop a miracle drug to treat unwanted mutations, Professor Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart) and his heroic band of X-Men must battle a group of mutants known as the Brotherhood, led by Xavier's former ally (Ian McKellen). Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry, Famke Janssen, Anna Paquin, Rebecca Romijn and James Marsden reprise their roles from the first two films, with the addition of new recruits Kelsey Grammer and Ben Foster.

My Two Cents: About as outlandish and repetitive as a comic book sequel should be, I guess. Decent action, but you expect that.

NetFlix Rank: Liked It
IMDB Rank: 6/10

Just Friends

2006-06-01T07:11:00.000-07:00

Just Friends (2005)

An ex-dork reconnects with the girl who broke his heart in this romantic comedy. After being turned down by his high school crush, a nice guy moves to Los Angeles, where he's transformed into a womanizing music executive. But when he's stranded in his New Jersey hometown, he runs into his former puppy love -- and is completely floored by her once again. Ryan Reynolds, Amy Smart, Anna Faris, Christopher Marquette and Chris Klein star

My Two Cents: Sure it's not very good but (a) Amy Smart is enchanting, and (b) Ryan Reynolds could make reading the phone book funny.

NetFlix Rank: Liked It
IMDB Rank: 5/10

BONUS BLOGGING

Matt's Two Cents: Gets one star only because you can't give it 0 stars.

NetFlix Rank: Hated It

London

2006-05-31T05:49:00.000-07:00

London (2005)

After jilted Syd (Chris Evans) learns that his ex-girlfriend, London (Jessica Biel), is moving away from New York City without telling him, he can't resist the urge to crash her farewell party looking for one last chance to talk. But instead of confronting her, Syd spends most of his time in the upstairs bathroom with an enigmatic Brit he barely knows (Jason Statham) -- snorting lines of cocaine and debating the meaning of life.

My Two Cents: Similar to Before Sunrise, but much more vulgar, w/ darker content, lots of drugs, and an even whinier leading man.

Alternate My Two Cents: [Director] Hunter Richards may very well be an alias for Richard Linklater, after Linklater's snorted an eight ball or six.

Bonus Alternate Rick James-esque My Two Cents: Cocaine's a helluva drug!

NetFlix Rank: Liked It
IMDB Rank: 6/10

The Ice Harvest

2006-05-25T06:14:00.000-07:00

The Ice Harvest (2005)

At the top of Santa's "naughty" list, unethical dim-bulb attorney Charlie Arglist (John Cusack) and his shifty associate (Billy Bob Thornton) embezzle $2 million from a local mobster. Not content with the cash, the sleazy lawyer dreams of skipping the icebound town with club owner Renata (Connie Nielsen), but the cops and townsfolk grow increasingly suspicious. Randy Quaid and Oliver Platt co-star in Harold Ramis's outlandish holiday thriller.

My Two Cents: Does a lot of little things well, and doesn't take itself too seriously, which is refreshing in these types of movies.

NetFlix Rank: Liked It
IMDB Rank: 7/10