The Plot: After a series of disastrous dates, the lonely and unhappy Nora unexpectedly meets Julien, a quirky Frenchman who opens her eyes to a lot more than love.
The Pros: Parker Posey is an incredibly interesting actress to watch, and that observation remains true in Broken English. Posey breathes life into the film, showing us a truly unhappy and disturbed woman. There are some pretty shots of Paris and the like.
The Cons: The soundtrack is very off-putting. Massive Attack's tonal contribution to the film is not much of a contribution at all; in fact, it really sucks the viewer out of the experience at times. But most importantly, this plot has already been done. It's a well-worn tale, and one that does not require another viewing.
The Bottom Line: Though Parker Posey is fantastic, she can't save the film from its own demise. This is a romance story that has already seen the light of day two or three times, and that's not a good thing at all. Even the cinematography, which features enjoyable landscape shots and intimate close-ups, doesn't change the fact that Broken English is very, very average. Put it this way: when I left the theater after the credits rolled, the only thing I could think about was Massive Attack's inappropriate soundtrack and how well Parker Posey performed; there should be more than that to a romance.
The Score: 5 / 10
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Superbad
*IN THEATERS FRIDAY, AUGUST 17th*
The Plot: Two co-dependent high school seniors (Hill and Cera) are forced to deal with separation anxiety after their plan to stage a booze-soaked party goes awry.
The Pros: There is some really funny improvisation here by Jonah Hill and Michael Cera. Seth Rogen is funny, as is Bill Hader, his companion cop. The music is also very, very groovy. I love the music.
The Cons: Much of the improvisation in Superbad is, I really hate to say it, very stale. I can see this kind of improv-based humor getting very old very fast. Michael Cera and Jonah Hill are good, but they're just not good enough to carry an entire film on their backs; it simply doesn't work.
The Bottom Line: The big problem with Superbad is that it lacks the high-quality improv that we saw in The 40 Year-Old Virgin. That's the only way I can put it; all the jokes are beginning to become more predictable by the movie. And that's the problem with this whole Judd Apatow movement. It's like the Christopher Guest mockumentaries; you can make two, even three, films that adhere to a certain formula, but it starts to wear thin after that. This, sadly, is the big problem I see with the style used in Superbad, Knocked Up, and The 40 Year-Old Virgin. Although Cera and Hill are a great duo, the jokes are 60% hit and 40% miss; I expect more than that from a film written by Seth Rogen. But, then again, you can't do the same thing over and over and expect to strike gold every time. I mean, look at Just for Your Consideration.
The Score: 6.5 / 10
The Plot: Two co-dependent high school seniors (Hill and Cera) are forced to deal with separation anxiety after their plan to stage a booze-soaked party goes awry.
The Pros: There is some really funny improvisation here by Jonah Hill and Michael Cera. Seth Rogen is funny, as is Bill Hader, his companion cop. The music is also very, very groovy. I love the music.
The Cons: Much of the improvisation in Superbad is, I really hate to say it, very stale. I can see this kind of improv-based humor getting very old very fast. Michael Cera and Jonah Hill are good, but they're just not good enough to carry an entire film on their backs; it simply doesn't work.
The Bottom Line: The big problem with Superbad is that it lacks the high-quality improv that we saw in The 40 Year-Old Virgin. That's the only way I can put it; all the jokes are beginning to become more predictable by the movie. And that's the problem with this whole Judd Apatow movement. It's like the Christopher Guest mockumentaries; you can make two, even three, films that adhere to a certain formula, but it starts to wear thin after that. This, sadly, is the big problem I see with the style used in Superbad, Knocked Up, and The 40 Year-Old Virgin. Although Cera and Hill are a great duo, the jokes are 60% hit and 40% miss; I expect more than that from a film written by Seth Rogen. But, then again, you can't do the same thing over and over and expect to strike gold every time. I mean, look at Just for Your Consideration.
The Score: 6.5 / 10
Monday, July 9, 2007
Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix
*IN THEATERS WEDNESDAY, JULY 11th*
The Plot: With their warning about Lord Voldemort's return scoffed at, Harry and Dumbledore are targeted by the Wizard authorities as an authoritarian bureaucrat slowly seizes power at Hogwarts.
The Pros: This film, especially the climax, is technically brilliant. The sound is crisp and well thought-out, the CG is necessary and executed impressively, and the...the climax scene is literally jaw-dropping. I cannot describe to you how astonishing it is. You must see it for yourself. The film itself is also highly enjoyable and provides a very satisfying experience. Acting from the adult cast is fantastic.
The Cons: The writing near the beginning of the film is a bit sluggish and rough; some jokes are milquetoast, while others hit the mark. Also, a select few scenes are very cliché, containing camera work and editing techniques that we've seen one too many times. Finally, the trio's acting has seen better days. That's not to say it's bad, because it's not. It's just not great.
The Bottom Line: Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix is the best film of the series thus far. It's mystifying, foreboding, and exciting at once, with outstanding use of sound and CG to boot. Although a few scenes reek of shopworn banality and the children's acting is not the best it's ever been, the Harry Potter series has a knack for making the most commonplace wizardry lore seem perfectly believable. And that's what I love about it. It's simply a good, enjoyable, and stimulating film that is sure to please Harry Potter fans everywhere.
The Score: 8 / 10
The Plot: With their warning about Lord Voldemort's return scoffed at, Harry and Dumbledore are targeted by the Wizard authorities as an authoritarian bureaucrat slowly seizes power at Hogwarts.
The Pros: This film, especially the climax, is technically brilliant. The sound is crisp and well thought-out, the CG is necessary and executed impressively, and the...the climax scene is literally jaw-dropping. I cannot describe to you how astonishing it is. You must see it for yourself. The film itself is also highly enjoyable and provides a very satisfying experience. Acting from the adult cast is fantastic.
The Cons: The writing near the beginning of the film is a bit sluggish and rough; some jokes are milquetoast, while others hit the mark. Also, a select few scenes are very cliché, containing camera work and editing techniques that we've seen one too many times. Finally, the trio's acting has seen better days. That's not to say it's bad, because it's not. It's just not great.
The Bottom Line: Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix is the best film of the series thus far. It's mystifying, foreboding, and exciting at once, with outstanding use of sound and CG to boot. Although a few scenes reek of shopworn banality and the children's acting is not the best it's ever been, the Harry Potter series has a knack for making the most commonplace wizardry lore seem perfectly believable. And that's what I love about it. It's simply a good, enjoyable, and stimulating film that is sure to please Harry Potter fans everywhere.
The Score: 8 / 10
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Ratatouille
The Plot: A young rat living within the walls of a famous Paris bistro wishes to become a chef, but is hindered by his family's skepticism and the rat-despising staff and patrons.
The Pros: Pixar is back at the top of their game with this film. The writing is superb, the humor is warm and genuinely funny, and the characters are fleshed out. As if that weren't enough, the animation is the best it has ever been. Ratatouille is also just as rewarding for kids as it is for adults.
The Cons: The French accents were disappointingly inauthentic; for the first hour or so it was very bothersome. Secondly and finally, the one thing this film really lacks is Pixar's oh-so-famous supporting characters. I was bewildered to find that there weren't nearly as many memorable or personable supporting characters as there were in, say, Monsters Inc..
The Bottom Line: Ratatouille marks Pixar's glorious return to the very top of their field. After the slightly disappointing Cars and the action-rather-than-story oriented Incredibles, this film arrives as a fresh and delightful reminder of the genius of the Pixar animation studio. I can even comfortably say, furthermore, that Ratatouille is as good a film as the stuido's acclaimed classic, Toy Story. Through a few minor faults and slight mistakes, Ratatouille shines as one of Pixar's greatest achievements. You owe it to yourself to see this movie.
The Score: 9.5 / 10
The Pros: Pixar is back at the top of their game with this film. The writing is superb, the humor is warm and genuinely funny, and the characters are fleshed out. As if that weren't enough, the animation is the best it has ever been. Ratatouille is also just as rewarding for kids as it is for adults.
The Cons: The French accents were disappointingly inauthentic; for the first hour or so it was very bothersome. Secondly and finally, the one thing this film really lacks is Pixar's oh-so-famous supporting characters. I was bewildered to find that there weren't nearly as many memorable or personable supporting characters as there were in, say, Monsters Inc..
The Bottom Line: Ratatouille marks Pixar's glorious return to the very top of their field. After the slightly disappointing Cars and the action-rather-than-story oriented Incredibles, this film arrives as a fresh and delightful reminder of the genius of the Pixar animation studio. I can even comfortably say, furthermore, that Ratatouille is as good a film as the stuido's acclaimed classic, Toy Story. Through a few minor faults and slight mistakes, Ratatouille shines as one of Pixar's greatest achievements. You owe it to yourself to see this movie.
The Score: 9.5 / 10
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Transformers
The Plot: A war re-erupts on Earth between two robotic clans, the heroic Autobots and the evil Decepticons, leaving the fate of mankind hanging in the balance.
The Pros: Let it be known; Transformers contains some of the most exciting and exhilarating action ever captured on screen. Some of the most epic fights you will ever see are in this movie. Think about it this way: Transformers is pure testosterone released for your viewing pleasure, and it does not disappoint. The robots are magnificently realized, and the slow motion sequences literally made me get up out of my seat and yell. Also, Shia LeBeouf did a good job with what he had to work with.
The Cons: The story...I mean, come on. It's Michael Bay. The entirety of the exposition is just unnecessary, and I would have been happier with the action sequences alone.
The Bottom Line: Transformers is, without a shadow of a doubt, the blockbuster summer hit of the year. It blows away almost any other action movie you can think of, but where it does not deliver is in the story department. Nevertheless, do not miss seeing this in theaters. It is a thrill ride like you've never seen before.
The Score: 8.5 / 10
The Pros: Let it be known; Transformers contains some of the most exciting and exhilarating action ever captured on screen. Some of the most epic fights you will ever see are in this movie. Think about it this way: Transformers is pure testosterone released for your viewing pleasure, and it does not disappoint. The robots are magnificently realized, and the slow motion sequences literally made me get up out of my seat and yell. Also, Shia LeBeouf did a good job with what he had to work with.
The Cons: The story...I mean, come on. It's Michael Bay. The entirety of the exposition is just unnecessary, and I would have been happier with the action sequences alone.
The Bottom Line: Transformers is, without a shadow of a doubt, the blockbuster summer hit of the year. It blows away almost any other action movie you can think of, but where it does not deliver is in the story department. Nevertheless, do not miss seeing this in theaters. It is a thrill ride like you've never seen before.
The Score: 8.5 / 10
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