Rushmore (1998)

 

A nice thing about Wes Anderson films is that they seem to take place in a time all of their own, so watching this decades later, it doesn’t feel dated. The subject is misplaced love and attention. Typical quirky Anderson characters engage against a backdrop of indie and classic tunes. 

I very much enjoy the theatrical stage productions often contained in his films. Later he will direct entire films in this manner. 

Rating: B-

Troy (2004)

They should have cut a few minor characters to allow for depth from the main ones. A serviceable epic actioner.

Rating: C

The Rookie (2002)

Predictable Disney tearjerker that doesn't suck.

Rating: C

Red Eye (2005)

Appropriately enough, I watched this one flying home from Vancouver. Mediocre plane thrillers are more fun in the air. Nothing new here. Watch if you are hard up for an ok action movie.

Rating: C

Her (2013)

Quite a strange film about love and the future. I recently watched a similar premise on the fantastic series Black Mirror from the UK. It’s a great concept with almost limitless plot possibilities. I felt this film sometimes got distracted by the details, some of which were brilliant, but others seemed farfetched.

Rating: C+

The Ring (2002)

More jumpy than terrifying, this was a well made 'scary' movie. It used similar techniques to The Sixth Sense and The Blair Witch Project, in that it relied more on the fear of what wasn't there rather than throwing lots of gore and monsters in your face. Did a nice job of tying things up at the end.

Rating: C+

Trick 'r Treat (2007)

Spooky Halloween stories that interweave one another.

Rating: C

L.I.E. (2001)

A boy version of the Sundance film Thirteen. Not as sensationalized as Kids, but with acting at the same level. The real performance was from Brian Cox - tough role.

Rating: C+

The Ringer (2005)

This plot was so much funnier on South Park.

Rating: D+

Adaptation. (2002)

Charlie Kauffman is the genius behind Being John Malkovich and this film follows his odd genre of twisting reality with fiction. So nice to see Nic Cage in a non dumbass role for a change. Mix that with a great supporting cast and Spike Jonze behind the camera, and you have a must see movie.

Rating: B+

Super Troopers (2001)

This movie is absolutely ridiculous. I laughed like crazy during some parts, while other scenes fell flat. If you thought the "Police Academy" movies were lame, like me, then try Super Troopers. It takes what they were trying to do, gets it totally loaded, then puts it behind the wheel.

Rating: C+

The 25th Hour (2002)

I knew nothing about the plot going in, and enjoyed letting the story unfold before me. It's a bit dark, dramatic, and moody, but has a solid story. Well acted.

Rating: C+

Running With Scissors (2006)

I can see what the people behind this film were aiming for. High-minded indie fare that comes from behind to win Oscar gold. The big problem? Somebody forgot to polish up the script.

This pointless film attempts to be too many things, and ends up tasting like an old soda that's been sitting out on the counter for two days. No fizz. Bland. Flat. It's parts separated from each other. You'll have to force yourself to swallow one flat scene after another to make it to the credits.

Rating: F

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

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 Ring (2002)

More jumpy than terrifying, this was a well made 'scary' movie. They used similar techniques as The Sixth Sense and The Blair Witch Project, in that it relied more on a fear of what wasn't there rather than throwing lots of gore and monsters in your face. Did a nice job of tying things up at the end.

Rating: C+

Zodiac (2007)

Half of Hollywood shows up in this docu-thriller by David Fincher. I
wasn't familiar with the history behind these killings, so I didn't know what was coming. Well written screenplay based on the material
available. It's not a movie you'll run out to see again, but it's certainly worth seeing once.

Rating: C+

The Bourne Supremacy (2004)

A good, not great, sequel by Greengrass. I definitely prefer Doug Liman, the director of the original. Some fantastic action sequences, but the story got away from him. The flow was off and the occasional jerky action sequences couldn't save it.

Rating: C+

The Bourne Identity (2002)

Bourne Identity moves fast, keeping the action right in your face. Exactly what you want in an action movie. Acting and plot were solid too. The fight scenes were not only violent by PG-13 standards, but original.Doug Liman did a great job setting up this spy series.

Another plus for me was the return of "Lola" from Run Lola Run, the
German indie film sensation, to the screen. I was pleasantly surprised at how good her English was too. Fantastic? no. A really good action movie? Yes.

Rating: B

The Veteran (2011)

I got to say, there was real potential for this film to make it to a higher level. The slow buildup was solid. Not a lot of action, but you could tell the groundwork was being laid for something epic in the third act. Characters defined, plot simple, yet compelling. Great acting all around for a B level movie.

When the bullets started to fly at the end, I thought: Here we go! And then suddenly it was over—bad guys win. It’s not edgy to change-up the Hollywood ending. It’s stupid. We know it’s cliché to have the good guys win. But we don’t care. It’s SATISFYING. We watch movies to be entertained, maybe learn something, and to be satisfied. Don’t leave me with a bad taste in my mouth.

Rating: C