Spirited Away (Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi) (千と千尋の神隠し) (2001)

I heard a lot of hoopla about this one before watching. I wouldn't call it great, but it was interesting. I found myself laughing a lot at the absurdity of some of the scenes, characters, and things that were said. The plot didn't hold my interest very much, but it felt too grown up to be a kid movie. Must be a Japanese thing. I kept watching just to see what craziness would pop up next.

Rating: C-

Ninja Assassin (2009)

Bloodier than I anticipated, and I anticipated buckets. Production is very slick. I had forgotten that the Wachowskis were involved. You get much more plot and back story than usual for this type of film. For what it was, I thought they pulled it off. Fight scenes looked amazing, especially on Blu-Ray. It's astonishing they got away with an R rating. A perfect action fix.

Rating: C+

The Believer (2001)

Based on the true story of a Jewish boy who becomes a Neo-Nazi. Tough movie to watch at times. Ryan Gosling puts on an amazing performance, one he probably should have been rewarded for. A fascinating look at a troubled kid who hates himself and his people. Worth checking out.

Rating: C+

Touching The Void (2003)

This film was just starting on PBS, so I thought I'd give it a few minutes to see what it was all about. 90 minutes later, I went to the kitchen to make myself a pot of hot soup. This movie makes you feel, cold, lost, and alone. As you're watching, you keep thinking to yourself how glad you are that its not you stuck on that mountain. Interesting and gripping story of survival filmed in a way that you won't believe the crew and actors managed to survive the shoot.

Rating: B-

A Better Life (2011)

A look at the immigration issue through the story of a father and his son. It doesn’t come off preachy or try to take sides. Fairly realistic in its portrayal of an immigrant family and the daily challenges they face.

Rating: C+

Superbad (2007)

Extremely funny, but also very crude. It's like a day in the life of the dudes from Knocked Up when they were younger. If you're not easily offended and enjoy perverse, juvenile humor, then this is the film for you.

Rating: B

Tokyo Zombie (Tôkyô Zonbi) (2005)

Completely bizarre. It’s a very Japanese movie, which I can appreciate now having lived here for over a year. Many scenes won’t make a lot of sense to American viewers. They somehow get away with content that would never fly in the US. But in the end, it’s quite abysmal. I’ll keep looking for a better Japanese zombie movie.

Rating: F

Searching For Sugar Man (2012)

For most of the film, I didn’t think the content of this documentary was all that compelling, but I was made a believer by the end. The payoff is worth hanging in there.

Rating: C+

Breaking Away (1979)

Fun to see Dennis Quaid, Jackie Earle Haley, and others at the beginning of their careers. The film does a nice job of displaying a piece of Americana, as well as a difficult period in an adolescent’s life. Better than most movies I’ve seen from that time period.

Rating: C+

Smokin’ Aces 2: Assassins' Ball (2010)

Yeah, so don't sweat not seeing the previous one. The "sequel" or "prequel?" has no connection to it whatsoever, except for maybe both containing assassins. Whereas the first had some big name actors, Assassins Ball has mostly no-names. The violence was ramped up pretty high. Mostly unrewarding though. Villains are given a very thin layer of development. This will only appeal to the most desperate action junkies.

Rating: D+

The Namesake (2006)

I'm always up for a film that gives me an inside look at a culture I'm mostly unfamiliar with. The pacing is slow--but on the upside, character development is both intimate and rich. Some very touching scenes and a sweet story. A little more editing couldn't hurt though.

Rating: B-

Punch-Drunk Love (2002)

This film is incredible, and helped cement Paul Thomas Anderson as one of my favorite directors of all time. The soundtrack combined with the odd filming style and the unexpected story developments were mesmerizing and unsettling. I thought the opening sequences were amazing.

Adam Sandler has never been better, and sadly, never never will again. Emily Watson makes it look easy. This odd pairing somehow meshed perfectly onscreen. Familiar faces from PTA's other films popped up in just the right places.

I love movies that make me feel something deep down inside, and ideally leave me feeling uplifted at the end. Like Magnolia, my other favorite film from him, Punch-Drunk Love succeeds at this. Anderson has a way of producing just the right tone and mood for his movies. This is a must see.


Rating: A

Alamar (2009)

The narrative is told through a home movie/documentary style of film-making. I had flashbacks to Beasts of the Southern Wild, however that piece of crap could only hope to be half as good as Alamar was.

The mood is very peaceful. There aren’t any dramatic moments, and I didn’t want for them. It was nice to simply see the day to day existence of these characters. Watching, it’s hard to believe this wasn't simply a film crew following around the family. Nobody appears to be acting. Everything feels completely real and natural. I’m still not convinced it wasn’t. These kinds of movies usually bore me to tears, so the fact that I enjoyed this one is a testament to its quality.

Rating: B

Doomsday (2008)

A really cool set-up, followed by some great action, at which point things take a turn for the bizarre. I can see the writer and his buddy smoking weed and playing Grand Theft Auto, when one turns to the other and says, "Hey, wouldn't it be killer if someone in a Bentley suddenly pulled up alongside Mel on his way to the Thunderdome?" Well, in this movie, you'll get to see that.

Mad Max and 28 Days Later are just two of the many movies they borrow from. Additionally, you will discover the answers to questions like "What if a hot chick played the role of Russell Crowe in Gladiator? What if Kurt Russell was escaping from Scotland instead of L.A. and New York? What if the fellows from LOTR took the shortcut through the mountain and found a $250,000 set of wheels instead of nothing but heartache?

If you'd like to find out the answers to these questions and more, this movie is for you. If all this sounds like a bunch of nonsense, move on. At best you'll get some good laughs from this amalgam of movies past.

Rating: C

The Closet (Le Placard) (Merci! Jinsei) (2001)

A French comedy about a guy who pretends to be gay in order to keep his job. Simple premise, expertly done. Really funny. I laughed the whole time.

Rating: B

X2 (2003)

Much more action, violence, and special f/x than the terrific original. Story and characters were well established. Helps to watch the first one prior to viewing, as the story continues from where it left off. Glad I saw it in the theater.

Rating: B

We Need To Talk About Kevin (2011)

The story is about an obnoxious kid slowly turning into a psychotic adolescent. I wish the movie had been called “We Need To Put Kevin Out Of His Misery”, and had only lasted 5 minutes.

The director utilizes a herky-jerky narrative style that takes some getting used to. Almost everyone is unlikeable and dreary. Add to that a love scene between Tilda Swinton and John C. Reilly. Really?? Could anything be less appealing?

I’m not sure what the point of the film was, besides leaving the audience depressed and unsatisfied. Is the moral of the story: If you have a kid still pooping his pants after the age of 5, he’s likely to become a homicidal maniac? I was on the edge of my seat at the end when the big question was finally asked. WHY did you do it? Prepare to be completely let down. Better yet, don’t watch the movie to begin with.

Rating: D-

Dan In Real Life (2007)

Wonderful. Some of the best interpersonal writing I've seen in a long time. And funny too. Really funny. Steve Carrel is fantastic in this dramatic roll. Seriously, it's amazing to see a Daily Show correspondent just kill some very difficult scenes. This movie is so well written and effortlessly acted, it's impossible not to love it.

Rating: A-

The Straight Story (1999)

Definitely the best David Lynch film I've seen since The Elephant Man back in 1980. I was only 8 or so at the time, but it had a profound effect on me that's lasted to this day.

The Straight Story is a slow moving film--about as slow moving as the tractor Richard Farnsworth drives across two states. He doesn't even reach the Mississippi River until an hour and a half in. But, if you can get past the shuffling pace, the film tells a simple story packed with emotion. Richard Farnsworth was nominated for both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for his performance. Well deserved I might add.

Rating: B-

Shrek 2 (2004)

The return of our favorite Shrek characters and some new ones to boot. While I enjoyed the originality of the first one more, Shrek 2 was still very creative and entertaining. Some good bonus stuff on the DVD, including Far Far Away American Idol.

Rating: C+

Bowling For Columbine (2002)

While I don't agree with everything Michael Moore has to say, or how he says it, I do appreciate his determination at voicing his opinion. The documentary was fun to watch. I found it both interesting and informative. Much more polished than Roger and Me. Some good bonus features on the DVD too.

Rating: C+

MacGruber (2010)

A classic example of the previews being better than the actual movie. And it's usually the previews that are to blame—once you've heard the 10 funniest lines over and over, the result is crickets chirping in the theater when you finally hear them in the context of the film.

That was the case today. It was me and like 5-6 other single dudes sitting appropriately apart from each other, silently, for the most of this extended SNL skit. It never came together. The actors and writers obviously thought this was much funnier than it really was—like most movies based on SNL skits. I don't know why I even bother to see comedies that aren't related in some way or another to the Apatow crew. This was a big let down.

Rating: D

Fido (2006)

A fantastic addition to the zombie genre. It's not inconceivable to believe that in a world overrun by zombies, somebody is going to find a way to domesticate them. In Fido, the living have created a slave labor society, which continues to grow as new people die.

It's a brilliant concept, and perfectly executed in this dark comedy. Very funny and creative. It's right up there with Shaun of the Dead and Zombieland. A must see for any zombie fan.

Rating: B+

 

In The Loop (2009)

Foul-mouthed fun. I'm sure I only caught half the jokes, as dialogue is delivered rapid-fire; auction style. And it's the dialogue that matters here. The movie centers around US and UK politicians linguistically lambasting each other, often with four letter words—the kind your grandma doesn't use. If you have sensitive ears, insert ear plugs and leave town now.

Rating: C+

Magic Mike (2012)

A lot of unlikeable dudes acting douchey when not taking off their clothes for skanky chicks. The narrative felt amateurish. The dialogue even worse. There were a few worthwhile moments, but this was definitely Soderbergh slumming it.

Rating: D

Match Point (2005)

It’s hard to love a film whose main character is such a slime ball. Sure, Scarlett Johansson makes for one incredibly enticing mistress, but that doesn’t excuse his behavior. I certainly didn’t see things escalating to the point that they did. Disturbing.

Outside of the terrible music, it doesn’t feel much like a Woody Allen picture. It certainly wasn’t one of my favorites from him.

Rating: C-

The Artist (2011)

There’s a reason movie studios switched to “Talkies” from silent films. THEY ARE MORE FUN TO WATCH! Why go back to the dark ages for the sake of being quaint and retro? I found the lack of sound in The Artist incredibly annoying and the movie itself quite tedious.

Rating: F

Moulin Rouge! (2001)

I saw this one on a plane. I expected much better. The music was hit and mostly miss for me. Also, I like my love stories to have happy endings, not end with one of them dying. Spoiler alert.

Rating: D

Heavy Weights (1995)

This sucker is rated PG, but I wouldn't call it a family movie. In fact, I'm not sure what to call it, except a strange vehicle for Ben Stiller. I'm always up for a ride on that train. A fat camp is taken over by a sadistic new owner (Stiller) who works to slim down the kids at all costs. It's a mixed bag of comedy that shines in some parts, and fades in others.

Rating: C+

Green Zone (2010)

Paul Greengrass has a way of taking potentially sensitive or political stories and making them into great action flicks. He doesn't bog the viewer down with left wing/right wing nonsense. It's why United 93 was nominated for best picture.

Once again, Greengrass, teaming with his action muse Matt Damon, has put together a thrilling movie that happens to tackle the hot button issue of how the US government misled the people on their motives for going to war.

Unlike The Hurt Locker, Green Zone keeps the audience on the edge of their seat AND completes a story arc in the process. It's not just a bunch of short features strung loosely together. I'm not saying this is Best Picture material, but it's certainly Better Picture material.

Rating: B

Die Another Day (2002)

And to think I heard people saying this was the best James Bond in ages. XXX with Vin Diesel had more realism than this phoney bologna special f/x spectacle. Plot? Who knows. Some North Koreans want to cross the border using a sun powered phaser. I give up.

There was some talk a while back about a few rouge indie directors making their own versions of 007, but I think they got shut down by the anal bond franchise family. That's too bad, cause I would love to see a new spin on the series.

Rating: F+

Step Up (2006)

This was a bad movie on many levels. Terrible acting, run of the mill script, awkward scenes, and zero chemistry. The dancing was ok, but bordered on ridiculous at times. The only thing it had going for it was a hot female lead.

Rating: F+

Crazy Heart (2009)

Solid drama with quality performances and music. A bit slow in the middle, but I didn't mind too much.

Rating: C+

Chocolat (2000)

A delight to watch. Makes you feel good after it's over. Great performances and a cute story. Johnny Depp is at his best with Lasse H. at the directors' helm. They do good work together.

Rating: B+

America's Sweethearts (2001)

Despite a fun concept that is topical, considering the high profile breakups in the media lately, I felt they didn't deliver on the film depicted in the previews. There are some fun scenes, but a lot of distracting subplots. Crude gags took away from what could have been a simpler, more family friendly movie.

Rating: C-

Food, Inc. (2008)

Food, Inc. strikes the perfect balance between education and entertainment. It holds your attention and keeps the audience captivated. I didn't feel preached to, which is huge.

Food Inc. is fascinating and horrifying at the same time. If it doesn't cause you to reevaluate and alter your eating habits, you probably deserve the type 2 diabetes and kidney failure coming your way.

Rating: B+

Brick (2005)

An oddly filmed teen indie drama about misguided youth, dealing drugs, lost love, and friendship. I felt like I was always on the verge of liking the movie, but nothing ever really pushed me over the fence. The story was a bit disjointed sometimes, even if the mood was right on. I think there's promise in this new director.

Rating: 

The Runaways (2010)

Pretty dark stuff for a movie about teens. Reminded me of Thirteen mixed with Ladies and Gentleman, The Fabulous Stains—both better films in my opinion. That's not to say that Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning didn't embody the rock legends they were portraying. It's certainly a departure from Stewart's Bella role. For music fans, especially those with an affinity for riot grrls, it's worth a viewing.

Rating: C

The Interview (1998)

Acting is top notch. The directing, music, cinematography, and mood of the film are also excellent. However the ending felt unsatisfying.The alternate ending on the DVD was much better.

Rating: C+

Last Stop For Paul (2006)

A true guerrilla road trip movie that seamlessly blends documentary and fiction styles. As an avid traveler, I appreciated the realistic feel of the film. After all, most of it was real. They went to all those places and experienced all those things; they just happened to create some mini stories along the way.

Local people and actors are used interchangeably. It was a very cool production. Surprisingly good editing and structure for a project like this. I was truly impressed.

Rating: B

Splice (2009)

Weird, with strangely unlikeable characters. Did the pitch go something like: "Ok, it's Species for the indie crowd". Not Brody's best work. Sarah looks terrible in this film.

Rating: C-

The Man Who Knew Too Little (1997)

Bill Murray plays this role perfect. A great all around comedy for all ages.

Rating: B

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 (2012)

Something was off from the very start. The word cartoony comes to mind. The bizarre choice to go with a CGI baby didn’t help matters. What were they thinking? The entire thing felt like the cheesy third X-Men film. Sure, there were a lot of beheadings, but they looked ridiculously fake. Definitely the worst of the series.

Rating: D+

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

More like A Snooze Odyssey! I think I wore out the FF button on my remote trying to make it through endless footage of spaceships twirling against boring classical music. Did they accidentally piece together all the crap from the editing room floor? SUCKED!!!!

Rating: F

The Girl Who Played With Fire (Flickan Som Lekte Med Elden) (2009)

Caught this 2nd film in the trilogy on a business trip in Minneapolis at the Uptown Theater. It wasn't playing ANYWHERE in my home state of Utah. Frustrating. I caught the first one on a business trip in Baltimore. Thank goodness for a job with travel.

This was a really solid sequel with even more action and violence, however I liked the first one a little more. I appreciated the time given to back-story, allowing us to get to know the main character even better. These Swedish films are outstanding. Fincher has his work cut our for him.

Rating: B+

I Sell The Dead (2008)

I fell victim, yet again, to a slick trailer. It wasn't a terrible film, but it wasn't anything special either. More like an elaborate stage play. Not really a horror movie, a zombie movie, dark comedy, or a mystery. It didn't know what it was, and in the end, you won't care.

Rating: D

Cowboy Del Amor (2005)

Documentary film about an old New Mexican cowboy who makes a living setting up truck drivers and the like with Mexican ladies from across the border. The style is very sincere and enjoyable to watch.

Rating: C+

Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010)

A worthy follow-up to the original. I like how it incorporated many real life financial scenarios into the plot. I guess that's the big reason Stone felt compelled to do a sequel. Solid performances and storytelling, but nothing that got me overly excited while watching.

Rating: C+

Benchwarmers (2006)

Not much that's redeemable from this train-wreck of a movie. Not even Napoleon Dynamite can save it.

Rating: F+