2002 Movies
OSCARS Won/Nominated
IMDB Top 250
IMDB Top 250
40 Days and 40 Nights
Dir: Michael Lehmann Stars: Josh Hartnett, Shannyn Sossamon This is a problem. All these romantic comedies need a hook to make them stand out. This one decided that having the star submit himself to a 40-day chastity challenge was a good idea. It's stupid. Shannyn Sossamon is macking on you, in a sweet, emotional, and serious way...and you decide you can't do anything about it because of an arbitrary rule you imposed? Yeah...sure. D+ DVD |
OSCARS
KEVIN'S PICK
Best Supporting Actor
Best Adapted Screenplay |
Adaptation
Dir: Spike Jonze Stars: Nicholas Cage, Meryl Streep, Chris Cooper, Tilda Swinton 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die Try and follow this. The Orchid Thief is a novel by Susan Orlean and it is partially adapted in this film with Streep and Cooper. Charlie Kaufman (Cage), a real screenwriter, wants to adapt The Orchid Thief but is having trouble because he just wants to make a movie about flowers like the book. He wants to avoid all the sex and violence cliches. Then the film devolves into sex and violence cliches, surrounding Kaufman, Susan Orlean....you know what....it is hurting my brain. But the ways this movie bends back on itself and embraces a meta situation in a brilliant way that seems impossible. Cage is at his absolute best as Kaufman and a fictional twin brother with his absurd manic energy. This is a movie that defies description but also defies derision. A DVD |
Analyze That
Dir: Harold Ramis Stars: Robert DeNiro, Billy Crystal, Cathy Moriarty Why can't people just move on to the next thing, even when they do something remotely successful? Analyze This was a clever comedy about a tough mob boss who is in need of a bit of therapy. It provided a lot of laughs...and essentially all the laughs one could get from such a premise. Now that mob boss is put into the care of his psychiatrist? Ugh. There was no life left and there shouldn't have been a sequel. C- |
Austin Powers in Goldmember
Dir: Jay Roach Stars: Mike Meyers, Beyonce Austin Powers and Dr. Evil came on to the scene as hilarious anachronisms from the 60s transplanted into the 90s. Gone is that hilarity and now they are just manic goofballs that are doing schtick, punning, and making pop-culture references that will be lost to history. Sure, there are some funny goofs, but it all really got old. Goldmember is not nearly as funny as Mike Meyers obviously thinks he is...not even close. However, the cold open and opening credits is brilliant, C DVD |
Bad Company
Dir: Joel Schumacher Stars: Anthony Hopkins, Chris Rock, Peter Stormare There are few things worse than a movie chock-full of talent that is simply run-of-the-mill. It is almost always these action movies...because they all blend together...because they ALL involve someone thrust into a situation they are not prepared for, in one way or another. This time, Chris Rock's twin brother, who was an elite spy, has died and his agency need the loser brother to take up the mantle to continue their case. So it involves Rock going"Holy Shit" a lot because he isn't use to this life. Ugh...You've seen it a million times. C |
Blue Crush
Dir: John Stockwell Stars: Kate Bosworth, Michelle Rodriguez The stakes in this movie are pretty small...but not to the characters. Kate Bosworth is a surfer girl who is training for a big competition is starting to get distracted by a boy. Seems dull...but Bosworth and Rodriguez are very good and the camera work of the surfing is very exciting. Sometimes simplicity is done well and provides just a bit of what you expect. B |
The Bourne Identity
Dir: Doug Liman Stars: Matt Damon, Franka Potente, Chris Cooper The Bourne Identity was a paradigm shift for the already well-established career of Matt Damon. He was thrust into a high-octane espionage thriller, directed by the infinitely capable Doug Liman, based on a world famous literary character, and he knocked it out of the park. We had never seen him kick ass like this before...and he does it with such precision and authenticity that he looks like he is a career action film veteran. B+ DVD |
OSCARS
Best Documentary
KEVIN'S PICK
Best Documentary
|
Bowling For Columbine
Dir: Michael Moore 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die Michael Moore tackles very important subjects in his documentary...but the problem with almost every single one of his films is his presence in it. I have no problem with his narration, but his awkward stunts, like where he virtually ambushes an old, frail Charleton Heston and essentially blame him for gun violence, is just unpleasant. That being said, there is a lot of poignant, intriguing things to be said. The South Park boys did a small animation about the gun culture that is brilliant. Marilyn Manson has a lot of great points. And Moore himself has a lot of insight...but he has to get out of his own way. B DVD |
OSCARS
Best Supporting Actor
Best Original Score |
Catch Me if You Can
Dir: Steven Spielberg Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, Christopher Walken, Amy Adams I sound like a broken record, and I'm stating the obvious, but Spielberg really is a master. The story of Frank Abagnale, Jr. and how he became such a notorious con man and fraud, is interesting but not epic. Spielberg elevates the story, through the actors, the music, and his ability to mesh everything together so well that it becomes one of the best movies of the year. DiCaprio really showed his leading man charisma for the first time in 2002, between this film and Gangs of New York. There is excitement, comedy, and sorrow...and it makes for a wonderful package. B+ DVD |
OSCARS
|
Chicago
Dir: Rob Marshall Stars: Rene Zellweger, Richard Gere, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Queen Latifah, John C. Reilly 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die A musical unlike any musical in years. Chicago blasted on to the scene with pristine professionalism and creativity that it surprises nearly every person who sees it. Each song can get stuck in your head, each character could be someone's favorite, and the juxtapostion between the real 1920s Chicago and the fantasy that Roxie imagines in her mind's eye is effective every single time it transitions. Best Picture? Meh. I don't get it. It did however earn every other Oscar it received. This is definitely something special. B+ DVD |
The Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course
Dir: John Stainton Stars: Steve Irwin, Terri Irwin This really isn't a movie. It is a 90-minute Crocodile Hunter episode with a ridiculous spy satellite subplot. I am a huge fan of the passion, bravery, and silliness of Steve Irwin, so to watch his do his thing with a weird, meta, spy agency issue nipping at his heels is charming. When a spy helicopter drops and explosive into the river and he looks right at the camera and goes "CRIKEY"...I got it. B DVD |
Death to Smoochy
Dir: Danny DeVito Stars: Robin Williams, Edward Norton, Catherine Keener This might be my favorite black comedy of all time. This movie is so depraved, with harsh profanity, sex, murder, bribery, assassination, corporate backstabbing, jokes at the expense of dumb people, and dozens of other fodder...all injected into the word of children's programming. It is one of my very favorite Robin Williams performances because he is so dangerous psychotic and pathetic...it is hilarious. Comedy is rarely blacker than this and it is gut-bustingly funny. Edward Norton as the straight man is the key. He is the milquetoast innocent who can't believe how corrupt and horrible his world has become. B+ DVD |
Die Another Day
Dir: Lee Tamahori Stars: Pierce Brosnan, Halle Berry, Rosamund Pike I still don't like Bond movies...but this is the last time it was fun. North Korean prisons, satellites that project insta-kill lasers, hot British agents, hot Halle Berry...Pierce Brosnan was a very fun Bond. This movie knew that to do Bond correctly...you can't take it seriously. James Bond has always been the secret agent every man wanted to be. He has adventures, drinks, gets a lot of women, and has fun while doing it. He doesn't get tortured and has his testicles mangled like Daniel Craig. B- DVD |
Eight Legged Freaks
Dir: Ellory Elkayem Stars: David Arquette, Scarlett Johansson See...Sharknado wasn't that much of a novelty. These Z-grade monster movies are always around...and they are rarely clever or tongue-in-cheek enough to be any good. This time around, a toxic spill is making a bunch of spiders grow to absurd sizes...and they are taking over a town. There is some fun here and there but it's stupid. C- |
The Emperor's Club
Dir: Michael Hoffman Stars: Kevin Kline, Emile Hirsch, Jesse Eisenberg, Paul Dano It is very obvious that this film is out to cash in on the Dead Poet's Society, and I actually prefer it. It hinges on my love of all things Kevin Kline, and he is beyond perfect in his portrayal of a prep school Classics teacher. There is far too much plot in the film, with flashbacks and forwards revolving around a troubled student, his betrayal in a Roman history contest, and a remach many years later. It's a bit convoluted, but the performances and just the warm, fuzzy production design makes it all so interesting and pleasant. A perfect love letter for teachers. B+ DVD |
Equilibrium
Dir: Kurt Wimmer Stars: Christian Bale, Taye Diggs, Sean Bean, Emily Watson An obvious attempt to capitalize on the success of The Matrix, with its dystopian future and kung-fu style action, this movie about a society where "feeling" is outlawed and controlled by emotion-repressing drugs is pretty fun. Bale is a decent choice for the enforcer who forgot to take his meds, and now is out to overthrow the system. If the fight sequences weren't so breathtaking, then I doubt I would have enjoyed this film as much. B |
Frailty
Dir: Bill Paxton Stars: Bill Paxton, Matthew McConaughey, Powers Boothe Bill Paxton has quite an eye with this film. It is a simple film, but it oozes with tone and atmosphere. The film is about McConaughey describing how his father and brother have been killing people, and he reminisces about how his father believed he was visited by god years ago and it was his mission to kill people/demons. Paxton as a crazy is just ok (he's acted WAY better), McConaughey is pretty intense and enigmatic, and the horror of helplessness of the two young boys...one believing their father and the other frightened by him, is what really gives the whole thing poignancy. B |
OSCARS
Best Picture
Best Director Best Actor Best Original Screenplay Best Editing Best Cinematography Best Art Direction Best Costume Design Best Sound Mixing Best Original Song KEVIN'S PICK
Best Costume Design
Best Original Score Best Original Song |
Gangs of New York
Dir: Martin Scorsese Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Daniel Day Lewis, Cameron Diaz 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die Scorsese truly is a master filmmaker, but we didn't need this film to underline that fact. It is the 1860s in Manhattan and there is a clash among the "native" New Yorkers and the scores of Irish immigrants that are coming in every day. The sets, the costumes, the sound...it is all so gloriously amazing that you could almost watch this film on silent. Daniel Day Lewis is once again, amazing far beyond any other actor you can imagine as Bill "The Butcher" Cutting, bringing such gravitas to the role that you hang on every single word he utters. DiCaprio is good but a bit one-dimensional...always angry and brooding and not much else. Diaz is completely out of her league and it actually hurts the film a bit. Regardless...this is a delicious fest for the eyes and everything you would want from Scorsese. A- DVD |
Ghost Ship
Dir: Steve Beck Stars: Juliana Margulies, Gabriel Byrne The premise is simple. Ship that disappeared 40 years ago arrives abandoned, in the Bering Sea and people have to go investigate it. It is not much beyond a haunted house movie, but man-o-man, that opening scene, where we are shown WHY it is a ghost ship, it almost worth the price of admission itself. C |
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Dir: Chris Columbus Stars: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint With its second outing, Harry Potter was still in the standalone, , Wizard of Oz-level Magic stage. It transports you into the magic worlds effortlessly, where you believe that wizards and witches actually exist. The lead trio is maturing and getting better, the supporting cast of thespians is still outstanding, and the addition of Kenneth Branagh is excellent. There is a problem with these teachers being the absolute worst protectors ever, allowing people staying in school as students are being taken out one-by-one, but it is still grandiose entertainment. A- DVD |
Hollywood Ending
Dir: Woody Allen Stars: Woody Allen, Tea Leoni, Debra Messing Watching Woody Allen portray a washed up movie director, given a big break with an expensive, studio, respectable film, only to go psychosomatically blind, but refuse to give up the job...its a lot of fun. Sure...a lot of the rantings and ravings that Allen gets into is tiresome and old hat...but when all these people on set keep asking his advice...I can't stop laughing. There is no deeper stuff here...but the laughs can be found. B- DVD |
The Hot Chick
Dir: Tom Brady Stars: Rob Schneider, Rachel McAdams, Anna Faris I can't deny that Rob Schneider acting like a teenage girl can be funny, and Rachel McAdams acting like Rob Schneider is funny, but this is only one joke. This movie is really stupid, as most of the Schneider "Happy Madison" outings are. C |
OSCARS
KEVIN'S PICK
Best Supporting Actress
|
The Hours
Dir: Stephen Daldry Stars: Nicole Kidman, Meryl Streep, Julianne Moore As a middle-class, middle-aged man, with minimal amounts of tragedy and strife in my life, I found it hard to get hooked into this movie as so many people have. It follows three different generations of women and how their lives are affected by the story "Mrs. Dalloway" and how suicide has touched their lives. You can see the lead actresses trying SO HARD to win an Oscar in this movie, because their performances are through the roof but the story always felt meandering and not engrossing. There is a lot to admire with this film but it never clicked for me. B- |
OSCARS
Best Animated Film
|
Ice Age
Dir: Chris Wedge & Carlos Saldahna Voices: Ray Romano, Denis Leary, John Leguizamo Pixar this isn't. Dreamworks Animation this isn't. But it is a pretty decent adventure from rookie filmmakers at Blue Sky studios. These prehistoric animals have found a small human and head out to return it to its tribe. It is fun, adventurous, and funny....since the voice cast is on par. Scrat is the best thing to come out of it though. Watching that squirrel try incessantly to get his acorn is like the Looney Tunes cartoons of old. B |
Insomnia
Dir: Christopher Nolan Stars: Al Pacino, Robin Williams, Hilary Swank This is the only Christopher Nolan film that I am not on board with. It follows two detectives in a town where the sun doesn't set during that time of the year, investigating a murder of a local teen. It is all atmosphere though...without much plot. Nolan makes long movies, but they are FULL of stuff to hold your interest. This one felt empty and almost boring. C |
Interstate 60
Dir: Bob Gale Stars: James Marsden, Gary Oldman, Amy Smart Being teh writer of Back to the Future, I had to give Bob Gale's movie a try. It is a bit sophmoric and episodic, but there are some really interesting ideas here. A young man, unsure about the direction his life is taking, runs into a strange man who sets him off on a journey down the mythical Interstate 60. On the way, he has several encounters that are funny, philosophical, existentialist, and just plain weird. My favorite was his run in with Kurt Russel as a sherrif of a town that willingly gives drugs to its inhabitants whilst providing all the warnings and discouragement necessary. The sum of its parts is definitely better than the whole. B- DVD |
Jackass: The Movie
Dir: Jeff Tremaine Stars: Johnny Knoxville Obviously this is not a movie, but watching these idiots for 90 minutes is so entertaining. The key to all of these humiliations, pranks, stunts, and hi-jinx is the camaraderie of all the guys. The vignettes are hysterical on their own, but what puts them over the edge is the infectious joy that the non-participants have watching their friends get hurt or act the fool. You won't be able to stop laughing...even at the ones that don't quite work. B+ DVD |
K-19: The Widowmaker
Dir: Kathryn Bigelow Stars: Harrison Ford, Liam Neeson A very exciting submarine thriller, with brooding intense performances by Ford and Neeson, and the always competent direction of Bigelow...but I always had a problem with the premise. Maiden voyage of a new sub and a gung-ho captain tests it beyond its limits...and then the shit hits the fan. Hard to root for sailors in danger when they basically put themselves in the situation. Still heart-pounding. B DVD |
OSCARS
KEVIN'S PICK
Best Editing
Best Art Direction Best Makeup & Hairstyling Best Visual Effects Best Sound Editing Best Sound Mixing |
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Dir: Peter Jackson Voices: Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellan, Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Orlando Bloom 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die IMDB #15 Still one of the most incredible cinematic experiences one can have. If I had to rank the three The Lord of the Rings movies, this would be last...but it is still cinematic perfection. Every set, every costume, every performance, every effect, and every swelling piece of music just fits perfectly. The Battle of Helm's Deep is so grandiose that when I saw it...I couldn't imagine how the trilogy could possibly top its epicness. A Bluray |
Maid in Manhattan
Dir: Wayne Wang Stars: Jennifer Lopez, Ralph Fiennes Essentially Cinderella, whereby a rich "prince" falls for a lowly maid who he mistakes for a socialite because she was trying on her boss's dress. It is just very bland. J-Lo isn't charming enough and Fiennes is so much better than this nonsense. He looks so bored. These movies are a dime a dozen and the don't break the mold in any way. C |
Men in Black II
Dir: Barry Sonnenfeld Stars: Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, Rosario Dawson, Lara Flynn Boyle One of those sequels that really pales in comparison to the original. The first film worked because it was sci-fi action first, comedy second. Will Smith's inexperience and innocence provided so much fun. This time...it is obviously a comedy first and it feels goofy and gimmicky this time around. Also...Rosario Dawson is no Linda Fiorentino and Lara Flynn Boyle is no Vincent D'Onofrio. Almost every single part of this sequel is lesser than the original. C DVD |
OSCARS
Best Sound Editing
|
Minority Report
Dir: Steven Spielberg Stars: Tom Cruise, Colin Farrell, Max Von Sydow, Samantha Morton Absolutely brilliant and one of my favorite depictions of a realistic future society. Spielberg brings us a visual feast, with all saturated blues and greys to provide a techno-society that is mesmerizing but dank and dire. The implications of a justice society focused on predictive crime and arresting criminals before they commit their crimes provides a lot of issues and philosophical musings...which are all handled perfectly. Tom Cruise really shines as the cop whose number comes up and is predicted to kill someone he doesn't know. Honestly...no one does this stuff better than Sir Steven. No One. A DVD |
Mr. Deeds
Dir: Steven Brill Stars: Adam Sandler, Winona Ryder, John Turturro I really dislike this movie. The tone is all wrong and Adam Sandler portrays Longfellow Deeds as some weird man-child who I can't believe exists for even a second. It isn't like he is a child or a burnout who doesn't know what he is doing...he is just so uber-naive that he doesn't catch on to the manipulations and lies that are going on around him. It is so unbelievable that it sucks a lot of the comedy right out of it...and Ryder is awful in this movie. It is as if she has never done comedy before. D+ DVD |
OSCARS
Best Original Screenplay
|
My Big Fat Greek Wedding
Dir: Joel Zwick Stars: Nia Vardolos, John Corbett This is such a light-hearted romp that taps into a lot of the romantic comedy tropes perfectly. On top of the meet-cutes and struggles the main couple go through, they have a cast of cartoon characters as the extended family. Most of it is charming to funny, but sometimes the goofiness gets a bit too much and it feels like slapstick. In some movies, that works...but this movie has heart and warmth to it, so some of the zaniness comes across as uneven. It is easy to like though. B- DVD |
National Lampoon's Van Wilder
Dir: Walt Becker Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Tara Reid Ryan Reynolds is right in his wheelhouse as the perpetual upperclassman who is known as the big man on campus and as the one who throws the best parties. But everything else feels lazy. The reporter doing a story and falling for her subject, Van Wilder throwing one too many parties and facing the end of his college tenure, the asshole boyfriend that Van Wilder needs to embarrass...its all so obvious. Some jokes are good...mostly due to Reynolds's quips and looks. The rest is lowest common denominator toilet and sexual humor. C DVD |
One Hour Photo
Dir: Mark Romanek Stars: Robin Williams, Connie Nielsen, Michael Vartan Effectively creepy about a mentally disturbed man who becomes obsessed with a couple as he develops their roles of film. The best idea was to cast Robin Williams in the villain role and keeping him reigned in. With the kind of manic energy we all know Williams is capable of, it makes his silent, reserved stalking of the innocent couple that much more thrilling and scary. We are just waiting for the mania to explode forth and the tension is almost unbearable. B |
Orange County
Dir: Rob Minkoff Stars: Colin Hanks, Jack Black, Catherine O'Hara, John Lithgow Colin Hanks is a former surfer dude who found a novel on the beach that turned his life around. He decided to aspire to great heights and do whatever it takes to go to Stanford University. That is until his idiot guidance counselor sends the wrong transcripts and his chance to get the hell away from his family and friends, who are a void of stupidity, is slipping away. Not a bad setup...but it never pays off. My favorite scene was when a Dean from Stanford comes to the house and meets the family. It is great stuff. Otherwise, it is all pretty stale. C |
Panic Room
Dir: David Fincher Stars: Jodie Foster, Kristen Stewart, Forest Whitaker, Jared Leto David Fincher shows how clever a filmmaker he is by creating a pretty thrilling film with such a simple premise. New divorce and her daughter move into a new brownstone that apparently has a panic room in it. Who would ever use such a monstrosity? Then the robbers arrive because they know there is a lot of cash hidden in the brownstone from the previous owner. Its riveting, fun, and never boring. Dwight Yoakam is great as one of the robbers and totally steals the show as he ups the danger ante. B DVD |
OSCARS
KEVIN'S PICK
Best Picture
Best Director Best Actor |
The Pianist
Dir: Roman Polanski Stars: Adrien Brody, Thomas Kretschmann IMDB #40 One of the most powerful, incredible movies I have ever seen. I sat alone in a theater in Feb '03 and endured this masterpiece and it echoes in my brain every time I think of the Holocaust. Roman Polanski has so much passion in the project because he pulls from both his own experiences and Szpilman's book. He has the courage to present the Warsaw Jews, not as glorified heroes, but as victims and survivors. Wladyslaw Szpilmann was a survivor. All he tried to do was make it one more day without being discovered or killed...and that horrifying simplicity of his time in hiding is desperately poignant and powerful. Amazing in ways no other has ever been able to do. It simultaneous makes he rejoice in the goodness of some and spew at the hatred of others. A+ DVD |
KEVIN'S PICK
Best Actress
Best Original Screenplay |
Punch-Drunk Love
Dir: Paul Thomas Anderson Stars: Adam Sandler, Emily Watson, Philip Seymour Hoffman It took a genius like Paul Thomas Anderson to figure out how to use Adam Sandler's personna properly and effectively in a drama...creating what it definitely the best performance of his career. Barry Egan is a strange introvert, who is falling for a British girl, being extorted by a phone-sex line, and trying to cash in on a frequent-flyer pudding cup scam. Bubbling beneath the surface of Barry is a maniac who may just burst out if pushed too far...and it is great. The romance is super sweet and the tension is serious...all balanced in such a unique way that only PTA can handle. A- DVD |
Red Dragon
Dir: Brett Ratner Stars: Edward Norton, Anthony Hopkins, Ralph Fiennes, Emily Watson, Philip Seymour Hoffman Manhunter was a phenomenal movie back in 1986 with Brian Cox bringing Hannibal Lecter to the big screen for the first time. But we have all come accustomed to Hopkins's Lecter...and he is one great part of a very solid thriller remake of that 1986 film. Edward Norton can almost do no wring and Ralph Fiennes is nearly as terrifying as Hopkins. There is a lot of spookiness and depravity to really satisfy. Probably the best thing Brett Ratner has ever done...but I think the fantastic cast took the project from him and hit the ground running. B+ DVD |
Reign of Fire
Dir: Rob Bowman Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Christian Bale, Gerard Butler Look at the three stars they got in this movie!! I don't know how they pulled that off...but those three really bring some legitimacy to this actioner. Dragons show up, decimate the Earth, and now they are the dominant species. There are also a bunch of humans, reverted to the Bronze Age, who are fighting back. At some points...it is exhilarating bad-assery. At others, it is extraordinarily stupid. The effects and action are pretty solid though. C+ |
Resident Evil
Dir: Paul W. S. Anderson Stars: Milla Jovovich, Michelle Rodriguez This ignited a rather successful franchise, but the movies are only moderately watchable. The key is Milla Jovovich, who is as perfect as an action heroine as Jason Statham is. She has charisma, looks, and can believably kick ass. That does go a long way (and Michelle Rodriguez is no slouch either) in making this nonsense palatable...but Anderson is a shitty director and the effects are pretty terrible. Lovers of the video game will be a bit disappointed since this is more about the action and less about the hauting and scares. C+ |
The Ring
Dir: Gore Verbinski Stars: Naomi Watts, Brian Cox The Ring never grabbed me like it did for countless others. The cold open its great and whenever we are shown "the tape", it is nightmarishly abstract. I even liked the mystery that Watts is out to solve...but scares is the most important thing in a movie like this...and I was left needing more. Only a very few times was I moderately creeped out...but too often, the scares came across as silly and strange. Japanese horror is very specific and strange and I have yet to see it properly adapted for the American audience. C+ DVD |
OSCARS
KEVIN'S PICK
Best Cinematography
|
Road to Perdition
Dir: Sam Mendes Voices: Tom Hanks, Paul Newman, Jude Law, Daniel Craig First, I have to mention how gorgeous this movie is. It is one of those films that you could watch on mute and just revel in how perfectly composed the visual style is...almost like a masterpiece oil painting. Second, Tom hanks plays against type and pulls it off as a dangerous Irish mobster. Hanks is never the first person you think of as a mob hitman...but you believe it in this movie. His Homeric journey for vengeance and justice is just enthralling and the supporting cast just punches up every scene. This is great stuff. A- DVD |
The Rules of Attraction
Dir: Roger Avary Stars: James Van Der Beek, Shannyn Sossamon, Jessica Biel, Kate Bosworth Any movie advertising itself as corrupt, shocking, or depraved is hardly ever good. Those monikers shouuld come naturally from the critics and the audience. This film is just trying so hard all the time to be fucked up. Awful people doing awful things awfully. It never really gives us any reason to enjoy ourself since it is obvious that the filmmakers are only out to bother and disturb. C |
Scotland, PA
Dir: Billy Morrissette Stars: Maura Tierny, Christopher Walken It is the 1970s at a burger stand. A very strange place to set a MacBeth adaptation...but it works. We have all the players, MacBeth, Lady MacBeth, MacDuff, Duncan...and they are all given a great 70s flair. "Mac" is played as a bit of a doofus instead of a man without the drive for success and inability to act, but the ambition of his wife is done quite well. I always like these odd adaptations of the Shakespeare classics, and this one is certainly unique. B |
Signs
Dir: M. Night Shyamalan Stars: Mel Gibson, Joaquin Phoenix Even by his third movie, Shyamalan's star was still fading. This film was all atmosphere and build up...with a terribly absurd climax and payoff. If you don't have a good enough payoff at the end of your film, all that nonsense earlier in your movie won't be forgiven. I don't forgive it. Sure...there are a few jump scares and creepiness, but it is all for naught. It is a shame because this film is well acted and Shyamalan has a good eye for directing. C+ DVD |
Solaris
Dir: Steven Soderbergh Stars: George Clooney, Natasha McElhone, Viola Davis I didn't like Tarkovsky's 1972 original and I didn't enjoy this one. The production design is great and it is actually well acted, but this story about an astronaut psychologist visiting a space station that is orbiting a strange planet, only to provide him with visions of his wife, is such an incredible bore. It goes slow, and then it goes slower, and then it slows down to a point where watching the movie becomes borderline excruciating. D+ |
OSCARS
Best Sound Mixing
Best Visual Effects |
Spider-Man
Dir: Sam Raimi Stars: Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, Willem DaFoe It had been a long time since there was a respectable superhero movie when this Spider-man came around. And it is just that...respectable. The effects and direction are top notch, so the whimsical presentation of Spider-Man swinging in between the buildings of Manhattan is totally believable. Also...Willem Dafoe is great as the manic Norman Osborne. But I always had an issue with Maguire being cast. Spider-Man has to be a young kid, in high school, timid, and his transformation always was analogous to puberty. Maguire doesn't pull that off at all. B- DVD |
OSCARS
Best Animated Film
KEVIN'S PICK
Best Animated Film
|
Spirited Away
Dir: Hayao Miyazaki 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die IMDB #27 This is my first foray into the world of Miyazaki and Ghibli Films, and it was a magical experience. I now understand why this man is cherished as one of the greatest animators of all time. He has a vision and style that looks nothing like anything you have seen before. This story is kind of an Alice in Wonderland story, where a young girl is magically transported into a spirit world full of creatures, witches, monsters, dragons, and many other whimsical characters. Miyazaki's imagination rivals anyone, but my closest comparison is Guillermo del Toro. His creations are beautiful, otherworldly, and sometimes grotesque. The strongest part of the movie? The way the young girl, Chihiro, is written. She has the full character arc...from frightened, lonely child to brave, loyal friend...and it really works. This is a wonderful film and I am excited to go further down the Miyazaki rabbit-hole. A- |
OSCARS
Best Visual Effects
|
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
Dir: George Lucas Stars: Ewan MacGregor, Hayden Christiansen, Natalie Portman, Christopher Lee I'll will start by saying that this is certainly the worst movie among the Star Wars universe. This is mostly do tho the horrific romance between Anakin and Padme. That being said...there is plenty of stuff to keep the Star Wars fan happy. MacGregor continues being the best part of the prequel trilogy. Christopher Lee and his spooky baritone are great as Count Dooku. The moment we realize Yoda is about to fight is exhilarating. The gladiatorial arena and subsequent Jedi onslaught is a feast for the fan boy eyes. Like I said...it isn't great....but it is enough. B- Bluray |
The Sum of All Fears
Dir: Phil Alden Robinson Stars: Ben Affleck, Morgan Freeman, James Cromwell, Ciaran Hinds I didn't expect this to be as entertaining as it was. It was another Jack Ryan outing, which I hadn't really enjoyed since The Hunt For Red October, but Affleck actually does Ryan well and this is a pulse-pounding thriller. My favorite part of the film is that it has the courage, especially so soon after 9/11, to exhibit mass destruction from a terror attack...and it is frightening and disturbing. And when things with Russia start ramping up to Nuclear War levels...there was a lot of tension. Just solid stuff. B DVD |
Super Troopers
Dir: Jay Chandrasekhar Stars: Broken Lizard, Brian Cox Is this a good movie? Not really. No one who likes this movie is interested or even remembers what the plot is. Is it funny? Absolutely. This is a series of vignettes with highway cops pulling all sorts of pranks and hi-jinx, and almost all of them are funny...to the point of classic. It is all very juvenile but I promise you that you will find yourself laughing in spite of yourself. B DVD |
The Sweetest Thing
Dir: Roger Kumble Stars: Cameron Diaz, Christina Applegate, Selma Blair, Thomas Jane, Jason Bateman Movies like this really irritate me. There are a lot of gross-out, sexualized comedies with men in the lead role. But they are not funny because they star men...they are funny because they are written well. Here comes this monstrosity, starring talented comediennes, that seems to be forcing the fact the women can make these comedies too right down our throat. No one acts like real people...they just act outrageously in ways that you can almost feel the elbow nudge trying to make sure you are laughing. ugh. It insists upon itself so much. D+ DVD |
Sweet Home Alabama
Dir: Andy Tennant Stars: Reese Witherspoon, Josh Lucas, Patrick Dempsey Reese Witherspoon is exceedingly charming in this movie. The story is pretty simple, a woman needs to go back home to make sure her ex-husband signs divorce papers so she can marry her new beau. Josh Lucas is the ex, and he is also great in this movie. Patrick Dempsey isn't too interesting, but he isn't as integral. The worst part about this movie is its predictability...as you know every beat of this movie before it happens...but it certainly still has its appeal. B- |
Swimfan
Dir: John Polson Stars: Jesse Bradford, Erika Christensen Why does this movie exist? Such an obvious trope in movies, and in life, is "Don't put your dick in crazy". Well...a promising high school swim star has done just that...and now she is out to destroy him. Yeah...that's it. There is some tension and some titillation...but there isn't a single original thought in this film. C- |
OSCARS
KEVIN'S PICK
Best Foreign Film
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Talk to Her
Dir: Pedro Almodovar 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die What a unique, wonderful film. The subject matter is as depressing and sorrowful as anyone can come up with, but Pedro Almodovar films it in a vibrant, almost creepy way. The film follows two men. One is in love with a champion bullfighting woman who is gored and put into a vegetative state. The other is infatuated, but hardly knows, with a ballerina who dances across from his window...and she is put it a vegetative state from a car accident. The one who loves his woman can't touch, look, or speak to her lifeless body. The one who only yearns for his woman talks to her like they are a seasoned married couple. The emotions run high, confused, and a little bit unnaturally. I love when my emotions are pulled in so many ways at one time. A- |
OSCARS
Best Makeup
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The Time Machine
Dir: Simon Wells Stars: Guy Pearce This story is one of the most iconic pieces of sci-fi fantasy ever and to properly adapt it would take a lot of vision and talent. This movie does not have it. When we get to 800,000 years in the future...we should be full of wonder, awe, and fear. We should not be snickering or laughing. The makeup is pretty impressive though...so at least it has that. C- |
The Transporter
Dir: Louis Letterier & Corey Yuen Stars: Jason Statham, Qi Shu With a premise this singular, a man is paid to transport goods and never fails, the movie could never be great. It certainly sets the stage for a bunch of good action settings and Statham quips and brooding...but that is about it. The stunts and fights are more than proficient...but no time is ever taken to even get to know a single character for a single second. C+ |
The Tuxedo
Dir: Kevin Donovan Stars: Jackie Chan, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Jason Isaacs It is such a disappointment when actors or actresses you like are obviously just doing a movie for the paycheck...which must have been to good to refuse. It is obvious that Jackie Chan knows this movie, about a chauffeur who dons a gadget-filled tuxedo, turing him into a crime-fighting machine a la Inspector Gadget, is garbage. His heart is just not in it and it makes the film almost impossible to enjoy. D |
Two Weeks Notice
Dir: Marc Lawrence Stars: Hugh Grant, Sandra Bullock Grant and Bullock have gravitas and charisma to spare, and they squeeze every drop of enjoyment they can from this cookie cutter romantic comedy. But again...predictability. Rich man uses his lawyer as essentially his nanny, she puts in her notice as she wants to quit. Can you guess where this goes? I guarantee you are right. C- |
Undercover Brother
Dir: Malcom D. Lee Stars: Eddie Griffin, Denise Richards, Chi McBride, Dave Chappelle, Neil Patrick Harris This movie is pretty terrible, but I can't pretend that it doesn't make me laugh, a lot. All this movie does is plays off of every racial stereotype imaginable. Black guys love white girls. Black guys love fried chicken. White people dress in khakis, like stupid pop music, and put mayonnaise on everything. It goes on and on...but the movie is so stupid, the jokes are so light-hearted, that none of these racial jokes are offensive. They are just hysterical. B- DVD |
We Were Soldiers
Dir: Randall Wallace Stars: Mel Gibson, Madeline Stowe, Greg Kinnear Such an exciting war film. It catalogues the first major American battle in the Vietnam War and how it affected soldiers on both sides as well as the women waiting for them at home. It is almost unbearably intense...but that comes with the territory when Wallace and Gibson get together (Braveheart & The Patriot). Pretty mush everything you want and expect from a great war film. A- DVD |