Reviews & Ratings

[One-Way]

Re: Reviews & Ratings

3.5? Are you kidding? Is it because you didn't understand it? I thought that movie was awesome.

It hasn't been sitting well with critics or audiences. It seems like it has come down to love and hate with both groups.

[One-Way]

Re: Reviews & Ratings

Chinatown

I have to watch this film again, because believe it or not, it was my first time seeing it. I admired the cinematography and direction, as well as Jack Nicholson's performance. I will need a repeat viewing to see how I ultimately feel about the film.

Rashômon

I thought this was extremely well-made, and handled very beautifully by Akira Kurosawa. Yes, it was my first time seeing it and only my second Kurosawa film, but it's a good start for such a talented filmmaker.

Pulp Fiction (Second Viewing)
I didn't grow up on this film like others, but I still enjoy watching it. It's a great little gangster film presented in a unique approach by Quentin Tarantino. What else can I say?

Inglourious Basterds (Second Viewing)

I really enjoyed this film the first time, but fell in love with its stylistic approach during the second viewing. I had seen four films that day, (Chinatown, Rashômon, and Pulp Fiction) and this film came on around 9pm. I had about 8 hours of film in me and had woke up at 5am. I didn't want the film to end because I was having so much fun with it. It's my favorite Quentin Tarantino. Oh, and he joined us for a Q&A after the film, which ended around 11:30pm and lasted until 1am. It's going in my blog, if anyone is interested.

Pride and Glory

I think I need to see a film like this so long after it's been released to appreciate it. I thought the film was very heavy-handed and directed somewhat amateurishly. Despite that, I enjoyed some of its characters, particularly Colin Ferrell and Edward Norton.

Shutter Island

I spoke about this when it was released. I think it's a love/hate film, but I thought it was very well executed and performed, with a haunting score and some memorable scenes, particularly the dream sequences. I thought the ending was great, despite what others might think.

Contempt

I really enjoyed this film because Jean-Luc Godard is a genius filmmaker. Godard's shot selections are so beautifully framed, his characters are so well defined, and his unique approach to limting us to what we see in the film is like poetry.

Summer Hours

I love the French, and French films. I thought this film was very well directed. It had some genuine performances by realistic characters, and it made us feel like we were apart of their family. It was beautiful, visually, and very engaging. I thought the last act and the ending in particular were the best parts of the film.

Far from Heaven

I'm writing about this film right now, but my review is geared toward if melodrama is possible in 2010. In short, my answer is no. Todd Haynes has crafted a beautiful film that feele like it was made in the 1950s. I thought the cinematography and performances were extremely noteworthy. It's a beautiful experiment that can hold its own as a film in the 2000s.

[One-Way]

Re: Reviews & Ratings

Working Girl (Second Viewing)

This is a fun, throwback 1980s film, with some memorable moments. I had to watch it again for a class, but I think it's a pretty enjoyable film.

Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired (Documentary)

I had been meaning to see this documentary for a long time. I have to write about Roman Polanski in my class, and after reading the transcript of the trial and watching this film, I learned quite a lot about what actually happened. I think it was well-crafted, during certain moments, despite its rather long conclusion.

The Marriage of Maria Braun

I enjoyed this film because it had some great stylistic techniques used by R.W. Fassbinder. There was certain things I just couldn't keep up with, so I would have to watch it again.

Sideways

I had seen parts of the ending because it features an Armenian wedding and actors, but had not seen the film in its entirety. I thought it was great though, from its smart writing to the direction and performances. I really, really enjoyed this film.

The Truman Show

I enjoyed this film because we watched in my Television class, and it incorporates a lot of things we are learning about now. Its pretty much our entire semester in a film, and I can't imagine how others would feel about it, such as the general audience. I thought, because of what we are learning, it was quite brilliant. It portrays television and its powers, and uses some intelligent tools to construct the world within the world.

Avatar (IMAX 3D)

Yup, I saw it. It was closing night and I had to get it in before it was gone. I feel pretty much how I thought I would feel, except much more letdown, overall. Besides its generic story and cliche dialogue, I thought the film lacked an entertaining narrative. Its use of exposition was done so poorly, but probably because the screenplay was so bad to begin with.

I thought it was directly pretty masterfully, as James Cameron is the only person who could direct such a film. Surprisingly, I thought the 3D in this film was quite well, because it added depth; not gimmicky, but actual depth to the scenes. Obviously, it had some excellent visuals, which made you feel like you were transported to another world.

I couldn't get attached to the story and didn't feel engaged with the characters. I was thrown in and out of the film by its episodic strucutre which ended with such cheesy lines. I felt like the entire film was a showcase of its technical achievements, which it is, with a poor storyline to give audiences a reason to spend $300 million to make a film. I feel like the film also resulted in gimmicks to achieve its goals; Sully is dying because of the lack of oxygen, but is miraculously saved after passing out by Neytiri. It was a roller coaster and nothing more and a wrong direction for films to go in. If I had to give it a rating, which I hate doing, it would probably be a 7/10, and that's being generous.

[MrHyeSev]

Re: Reviews & Ratings

Game Plan

I have already seen this movie & for some reason I liked it more the 2nd time around.
For those who haven't seen it. It starts The Rock Dwayne Johnson that's a hot shot football quarteback who is living his life the way he wants to partying girls etc. Until one day a little girl knocks on his door & says the he is the father...now his life gets turned upside down.

3/5

[Haykakan]

Re: Reviews & Ratings

I have seen Death at a Funeral several times and it is still funny everytime i watch it. The best known actor in the bunch is probably the midget but i think the best performer was the husband to be, the guy who took the wrong medicine. The other actors put in fine performances as well especialy the chubby hypocondriac who reminds me of some armenian guys i know.
I rate it 5/5

[One-Way]

Re: Reviews & Ratings

I just saw Chloe at an advance screening, which was followed by a Q&A with Atom Egoyan and Erin Cressida Wilson.

It's tough to begin to talk about the film because what I want to say and what everybody expects me to say will result in two completely different discussions. I'm sure anybody who is interested in this film would like to know how it generally was, how was the cast of performers, and how it all played out in the hands of Atom Egoyan, as a director and not a writer. I would much rather go into depth about what made this an Atom Egoyan film, and whether or not it is still the work of an auteur, rather than a director for hire. I'll end up doing this eventually, probably after more people have seen the film so I don't give away its ending or reveal other spoilers.

Chloe tells the story of Catherine and David, a married couple living in Toronto - and yes, Toronto is Toronto, and doesn't substitute for another major city. Catherine suspects that her husband is cheating on her, which results in her hiring an escort to test his limits. I won't go into its genre or how the film compares to other films of its kind, because truth be told, I haven't seen many of them. Chloe exists within these genre films (we will hear a lot about Fatal Attraction and such), but Egoyan explores the complexities and layers of a marriage.

I fell in love with Egoyan's work because of his writing and formal strategies when it came into exploring the narrative of a film. I didn't know quite how to feel about Chloe, because it is an unwelcoming change, especially if the screenplay isn't well written, to begin with. Chloe is exceptionally directed and I believe that's what makes the film work. Its actors fit perfectly together as part of an ensemble and the most important thing is that Egoyan doesn't treat them as stars. He doesn't make you feel like Liam Neeson is Liam Neeson or that Julianne Moore is Julianne Moore. In this film, they are all performers, with great performances and being handled by a great director.

I went into the film with the intentions of discovering what was Egoyan about it, considering the screenplay wasn't written by him. Is it the opening sequence? No, Egoyan usually gives us a long tracking shot and allows his credits to spill over. Is it the unconventional narrative? No, Chloe tells a straightforward story, in a rather conventional structure. Somehow, however, Egoyan finds a way to make us aware of his directing hand. Their are recurring visual motifs, such as hands, a comb, mirrors and glass, that all highlight certain characteristics about the characters. Egoyan introduces Chloe through a monologue, then emphasizes her entrance into Catherine's life. He does this all through visuals, and expresses their characteristics and behaviors through imagery. Catherine spends much of her life looking into the lives of other people and understanding them, and at times, controlling them. Egoyan makes us aware of her personality through the use of production design, visuals and cinematography.

In the third act of the film, there is a shift in the tone as we move into a thriller. If I reveal anything here, it will be nothing but spoilers, so I can speak on how it is handled rather than what happens. Egoyan doesn't rely on gimmicks and instead brings his own style into the film. He relies on technology throughout the entire film and allows it to develop the plot; live discussions on webcams, text messaging, etc. He allows us to break apart the characters and put them back together during the ending of the film, when a significant twist is revealed. He does this, once again, through visual motifs. I would have to kill the film to explain the ending of the film. I would like to say, however, that the ending consists of one of the most beautiful shots Egoyan has pulled off. It's breathtaking and you will know it when you see it.

Overall, I thought the film was exceptionally directed. It allows you to feel the directing hand at work, constructing the film and telling a story visually. During the Q&A, Egoyan and Wilson discussed adapting the film and their approach to the material, which was very interesting to hear. Egoyan mentioned that some of the inspirations for the film came from Persona (which I immediately felt during scenes between Catherine/Chloe), Rear Window (Catherine's need to control her family), and Let the Right One In (surprisingly, for the tone of the film). Unfortunately, everybody probably wants to know about the sex and nudity. I don't know what to say. If that's all you're hoping for, I guess you will be satisfied. There is a ton of nudity when it comes to Julianne Moore, and not much when it comes to Amanda Seyfried. There is a sex scene between the two, but what I just said applies to that scene as well. I hope people don't go into this film looking forward to that, but hopefully, if they do, it will help ticket sales.

[MrHyeSev]

Re: Reviews & Ratings

Rush Hour

I have never seen the movie in its entirely, until yesterday
3.5/5

Now I have to see Rush Hour 2 & Rush Hour 3.

[One-Way]

Re: Reviews & Ratings

No, you don't. It's the same film three times and the best of the three was the one you saw. So, save yourself the trouble.

[MrHyeSev]

Re: Reviews & Ratings

Precious

About a 16 year old girl who was pregenant with her second child got kicked out of high school & went to this alternate school so she could improve her education. Home situation is horrible where the mother is addicted to crack & the children of Precious kids is her own father.

3.5/5

[MrHyeSev]

Re: Reviews & Ratings

You Don't Mess with the Zohan
3/5

Adam Sandlar plays this Hitman, but wants to get out that lifestlye & become a hair dresser, he escapes & goes to Ny. There he finds a job & starts his unique hair stylings & also falls in love with the owner of the place.