The Plot: The story of California's first openly gay elected official, Harvey Milk, a San Francisco supervisor who was assassinated along with Mayor George Moscone by San Francisco Supervisor Dan White.
The Pros: Milk is an absolute triumph; it's easily Gus Van Sant's finest work in years, and will stand out as a serious Oscar contender if people see what I saw. Van Sant is widely known for making somewhat detached films, and this is not one of them. Sean Penn's performance is one of his greatest, standing right alongside The Assassination of Richard Nixon and I am Sam. He pours every ounce of his heart and being into this role, and it pays off tremendously. The rest of the cast was equally brilliant, notably Josh Brolin, whose work was earnest, revealing, and true. Danny Elfman's score was unusually great; certainly a surprising departure from most of his career's achievements.
The Cons: There is, at the end of the film, a montage which shows the real-life progression of the characters portrayed throughout the movie. I felt this a bit unnecessary, mainly because of the immense power of Milk. It's not a major gripe by any means, but it does slightly pull you out of the two-hour masterpiece Van Sant clearly spent so much time drawing you into.
The Bottom Line: Milk is a film that really makes life feel worth living. Watching everything about it come together to create a seamless, mind-enriching journey is the joy to be had here. Van Sant has created, with the magnificent cooperation of Sean Penn, one of his most accessible and personal motion pictures to date, and it succeeds on so many levels. It's simply a brilliant achievement, and one of this year's best films.
The Score: 9.2 / 10
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Monday, November 24, 2008
JCVD
The Plot: An intimate tale of Jean-Claude Van Damme's true feelings, portrayed through a fictional story, as an aging actor.
The Pros: This is a film worth seeing for the camerawork alone. A very young director (Mabrouk El Mechri) was brought on to the team, and his quietly personal shots are something to admire. Van Damme gives a truly stunning performance, and the personal nature of the script visibly affects him throughout the film. It's an unexpected venture for an actor so respected in a different light, and it certainly is a breath of fresh air.
The Cons: I hate to nitpick a film like this because of its willingness to push the boundaries of convention. However, if I had to identify a weakness, I would say Van Damme's personal development was not touched on nearly as much as it could have been. The most fascinating sequences were those that examined his inner workings during a specific moment, and JCVD could have benifited highly from more.
The Bottom Line: JCVD is a member of the 2008 lineup that will stand out from the rest. El Mechri and Van Damme's effort to humanize an exalted action hero is bold, and it works. Through this fascinating journey into Van Damme's mind, the film world has broken a impeding boundary. Instead of settling with Universal Soldier 2, the creators have pushed to reach an area of Van Damme's persona previously untapped. And it's a wonderful ride.
The Score: 8 / 10
The Pros: This is a film worth seeing for the camerawork alone. A very young director (Mabrouk El Mechri) was brought on to the team, and his quietly personal shots are something to admire. Van Damme gives a truly stunning performance, and the personal nature of the script visibly affects him throughout the film. It's an unexpected venture for an actor so respected in a different light, and it certainly is a breath of fresh air.
The Cons: I hate to nitpick a film like this because of its willingness to push the boundaries of convention. However, if I had to identify a weakness, I would say Van Damme's personal development was not touched on nearly as much as it could have been. The most fascinating sequences were those that examined his inner workings during a specific moment, and JCVD could have benifited highly from more.
The Bottom Line: JCVD is a member of the 2008 lineup that will stand out from the rest. El Mechri and Van Damme's effort to humanize an exalted action hero is bold, and it works. Through this fascinating journey into Van Damme's mind, the film world has broken a impeding boundary. Instead of settling with Universal Soldier 2, the creators have pushed to reach an area of Van Damme's persona previously untapped. And it's a wonderful ride.
The Score: 8 / 10
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Bolt
The Plot: The canine star of a fictional Sci-fi/Action show who believes his powers are real embarks on a journey across the country to save his co-star from a threat he believes is equally real.
The Pros: Some of the voice work is a lot of fun to listen to, notably Mark Walton's portrayal of the goofy and overweight hamster, Rhino. The visuals also provide something to distract us from the fairly stock plot. It's ultimately apparent that some people involved in the making of Bolt were heavily invested while others were not.
The Cons: There are many lines and jokes throughout the film that just don't land. A good bit of them truly seem like the remnants of decently-successful Pixar jokes, and it can become a bit tiring. To make matters worse, a handful of the actors seem quite uninterested in the production; this feeling is surprisingly reflected through the voice work of the people involved.
The Bottom Line: Bolt is your run-of-the-mill CG family film, complete with quirky animals that talk, life lessons, and difficult moral decisions all packed into an hour and a half. It's sure to keep the kids occupied, but there are better films that accomplish this task. My personal recommendation would be a "no", but that's not going to stop people from going. Rent Toy Story instead.
The Score: 6 / 10
The Pros: Some of the voice work is a lot of fun to listen to, notably Mark Walton's portrayal of the goofy and overweight hamster, Rhino. The visuals also provide something to distract us from the fairly stock plot. It's ultimately apparent that some people involved in the making of Bolt were heavily invested while others were not.
The Cons: There are many lines and jokes throughout the film that just don't land. A good bit of them truly seem like the remnants of decently-successful Pixar jokes, and it can become a bit tiring. To make matters worse, a handful of the actors seem quite uninterested in the production; this feeling is surprisingly reflected through the voice work of the people involved.
The Bottom Line: Bolt is your run-of-the-mill CG family film, complete with quirky animals that talk, life lessons, and difficult moral decisions all packed into an hour and a half. It's sure to keep the kids occupied, but there are better films that accomplish this task. My personal recommendation would be a "no", but that's not going to stop people from going. Rent Toy Story instead.
The Score: 6 / 10
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Let the Right One In
The Plot: A story of love between Oskar, a socially ostracized child, and Eli, a twelve year-old vampire.
The Pros: This is a beautifully filmed tale. The shots are long and patient, and the scenery is quietly isolated in the winter of Sweden. As a plus, the vampire attacks are not shocking; rather they are astoundingly quick, detached, and indeed made infinitely more watchable by the actress playing Eli, Lena Leandersson. Her image of true innocence coupled with a strong sense of duty allows us to pity her existence while still having an intense adoration for her. Finally, the love between Eli and Oskar is truly unique and therefore very pleasing to watch.
The Cons: Unfortunately, the film is slightly long-winded for the story it tries to tell. It is a worthwhile story, but I found the narrative dragging on a bit unnecessarily at times.
The Bottom Line: Let the Right One In breathes new life into an exhausted genre. It's not an action film with lots and lots of blood, but that's the beautiful thing about it. Through a simple and hugely enjoyable love story, we are allowed to witness the struggle of a singular vampire; it is this that makes the film so important and worth watching.
The Score: 8.5 / 10
The Pros: This is a beautifully filmed tale. The shots are long and patient, and the scenery is quietly isolated in the winter of Sweden. As a plus, the vampire attacks are not shocking; rather they are astoundingly quick, detached, and indeed made infinitely more watchable by the actress playing Eli, Lena Leandersson. Her image of true innocence coupled with a strong sense of duty allows us to pity her existence while still having an intense adoration for her. Finally, the love between Eli and Oskar is truly unique and therefore very pleasing to watch.
The Cons: Unfortunately, the film is slightly long-winded for the story it tries to tell. It is a worthwhile story, but I found the narrative dragging on a bit unnecessarily at times.
The Bottom Line: Let the Right One In breathes new life into an exhausted genre. It's not an action film with lots and lots of blood, but that's the beautiful thing about it. Through a simple and hugely enjoyable love story, we are allowed to witness the struggle of a singular vampire; it is this that makes the film so important and worth watching.
The Score: 8.5 / 10
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
High School Musical 3
The Plot: As seniors in high school, Troy and Gabriella struggle with the idea of being separated from one another as college approaches. Along with the rest of the Wildcats, they stage a spring musical to address their experiences, hopes and fears about their future.
The Pros: For the audience that this film is trying to reach, they do a pretty damn good job. The energy oozing from many facets of the production should appeal to young teens, as should the beautiful faces of Efron and Hudgens. The musical numbers have an inherent sweetness to them, while still addressing such important issues as decision-making and friendships. Overall, it's a pretty solid show.
The Cons: This isn't necessarily a con, but the students of East High dress in the absolute highest fashion. There is not a single student in the school that doesn't look stunningly trendy. It's nice to watch, but I wouldn't call it the most realistic of design choices. Then again, this is a teen-targeted musical, so realism is not a crucial ingredient.
The Bottom Line: Aside from a small number of cheesy bits and unrealistic design choices, HSM3 does an excellent job of summing up the excitement of leaving the safety of high school. The performances are energetic, the dance numbers are expertly choreographed, and the music will certainly appeal to the younger generation. Parents, take your kids to this one; they'll have a good time. And maybe you will, too!
The Score: 7 / 10
The Pros: For the audience that this film is trying to reach, they do a pretty damn good job. The energy oozing from many facets of the production should appeal to young teens, as should the beautiful faces of Efron and Hudgens. The musical numbers have an inherent sweetness to them, while still addressing such important issues as decision-making and friendships. Overall, it's a pretty solid show.
The Cons: This isn't necessarily a con, but the students of East High dress in the absolute highest fashion. There is not a single student in the school that doesn't look stunningly trendy. It's nice to watch, but I wouldn't call it the most realistic of design choices. Then again, this is a teen-targeted musical, so realism is not a crucial ingredient.
The Bottom Line: Aside from a small number of cheesy bits and unrealistic design choices, HSM3 does an excellent job of summing up the excitement of leaving the safety of high school. The performances are energetic, the dance numbers are expertly choreographed, and the music will certainly appeal to the younger generation. Parents, take your kids to this one; they'll have a good time. And maybe you will, too!
The Score: 7 / 10
Role Models
The Plot: Wild behavior forces a pair of energy drink reps (Paul Rudd, Sean William Scott) to enroll in a Big Brother program.
The Pros: Whenever you have people like David Wain writing, you're sure to have a few funny lines. That rule is not broken in Role Models, but it certainly is tested. Paul Rudd is his usual comedic character, a cynic stuck in a situation he'd rather not be a part of, and he performs acceptably. The surprise here is Sean William Scott, who manages to break out of his usual Stifler-esque persona and pull off some pretty good socially-awkward comedy. This was a very pleasant surprise, as I anticipated him being the weak link of the film. Christopher Mintz-Plasse also makes a slight behavioral departure from his "McLovin" character traits, but is not allowed too much leeway as his character is still a huge dork.
The Cons: There are a handful of jokes that just don't hit. If you've ever seen the short-lived show Stella, written by the group responsible for The Ten and Wet Hot American Summer, you can obtain a good approximation of the hit-to-miss joke ratio (as well as the writing style). Some sections of the writing seem contrived, the most aggregious of which is the plot. This is your standard buddy-buddy-white-guys-getting-into-trouble-only-to-have-their-lives-changed-by-undesired-circumstances charade. If this was written by any other team, the film would be a disaster.
The Bottom Line: Role Models is one of those films only worth watching because of the people involved. The story has been done a million times over, but the majority of the humor is satisfying and the acting is what it should be. Sean William Scott impressed me with his ability to perform admirably alongside Paul Rudd, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse did what he could with what he was given. All in all, if there's nothing else to do on a Saturday afternoon and you enjoy the David Wain style of comedy, check out Role Models. It won't hurt you.
The Score: 6 / 10
The Pros: Whenever you have people like David Wain writing, you're sure to have a few funny lines. That rule is not broken in Role Models, but it certainly is tested. Paul Rudd is his usual comedic character, a cynic stuck in a situation he'd rather not be a part of, and he performs acceptably. The surprise here is Sean William Scott, who manages to break out of his usual Stifler-esque persona and pull off some pretty good socially-awkward comedy. This was a very pleasant surprise, as I anticipated him being the weak link of the film. Christopher Mintz-Plasse also makes a slight behavioral departure from his "McLovin" character traits, but is not allowed too much leeway as his character is still a huge dork.
The Cons: There are a handful of jokes that just don't hit. If you've ever seen the short-lived show Stella, written by the group responsible for The Ten and Wet Hot American Summer, you can obtain a good approximation of the hit-to-miss joke ratio (as well as the writing style). Some sections of the writing seem contrived, the most aggregious of which is the plot. This is your standard buddy-buddy-white-guys-getting-into-trouble-only-to-have-their-lives-changed-by-undesired-circumstances charade. If this was written by any other team, the film would be a disaster.
The Bottom Line: Role Models is one of those films only worth watching because of the people involved. The story has been done a million times over, but the majority of the humor is satisfying and the acting is what it should be. Sean William Scott impressed me with his ability to perform admirably alongside Paul Rudd, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse did what he could with what he was given. All in all, if there's nothing else to do on a Saturday afternoon and you enjoy the David Wain style of comedy, check out Role Models. It won't hurt you.
The Score: 6 / 10
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Synecdoche, New York
The Plot: A psychological battle takes place in the mind of Caden Cotard, an aging and sick theater director dying for something new.
The Pros: Synecdoche is one of the most massive, psychologically demanding, and emotionally challenging films I have ever seen. Its abstraction, force, and mere presence will stay with you for days, if not months (in great part due to the direction). This is Charlie Kaufman's directorial debut, and his mastery over the concept of his work keeps it from falling apart, something which would surely happen were this film in the hands of another. Phillip Seymour Hoffman's performance is, without a shadow of a doubt, his greatest to date. This is more than a "Best Actor" nod, this is one for the history books. He embodies the struggle of the film, and the multitude of conflicts present during every second is fully visible (though difficult to entirely decipher the first time around) through both his work and Kaufman's. It is a true masterpiece in every sense of the word.
The Cons: There are so few. This is an unfathomably huge concept made a reality by the genius of collaboration.
The Bottom Line: Synecdoche, New York is one of those films that cinephiles live to see. It challenges everything about our existence by removing the conventional narrative (allowing us to experience something completely new), and does it in a more ambitious, gratifying, and complete way than anything before it. It is a masterwork, and simply one of the best films I have ever seen. The performances are all out-of-this-world, and the concept is a beatifully executed breath of fresh air in a world of modern film that has gone so stale. I have been fundamentally moved by this work of art.
The Score: 10 / 10
The Pros: Synecdoche is one of the most massive, psychologically demanding, and emotionally challenging films I have ever seen. Its abstraction, force, and mere presence will stay with you for days, if not months (in great part due to the direction). This is Charlie Kaufman's directorial debut, and his mastery over the concept of his work keeps it from falling apart, something which would surely happen were this film in the hands of another. Phillip Seymour Hoffman's performance is, without a shadow of a doubt, his greatest to date. This is more than a "Best Actor" nod, this is one for the history books. He embodies the struggle of the film, and the multitude of conflicts present during every second is fully visible (though difficult to entirely decipher the first time around) through both his work and Kaufman's. It is a true masterpiece in every sense of the word.
The Cons: There are so few. This is an unfathomably huge concept made a reality by the genius of collaboration.
The Bottom Line: Synecdoche, New York is one of those films that cinephiles live to see. It challenges everything about our existence by removing the conventional narrative (allowing us to experience something completely new), and does it in a more ambitious, gratifying, and complete way than anything before it. It is a masterwork, and simply one of the best films I have ever seen. The performances are all out-of-this-world, and the concept is a beatifully executed breath of fresh air in a world of modern film that has gone so stale. I have been fundamentally moved by this work of art.
The Score: 10 / 10
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