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Reviews
Undiscovered (2005)
Not What I Expected
"Undiscovered" tells the story of an up and coming musician who happens to run into a model once in New York then two years later after they have both separately moved to L.A. The two have a loose relationship and the film is more detached than anything, be it bad acting or bad writing I felt I did not get to know the characters true feelings. I felt that the film had a good story but was just not portrayed the way I think it should have been. These characters should have had tons of emotions but it just never came. It seemed that they were not moving and feeling the way they should have been,especially with the reoccurring scenes where the two who,I was supposed to be convinced, where in love coming together again and again. The film was not totally what I expected it to be and I believe that it could have been better taken advantage of by use of character emotions and camera movements at the right time.
Mystic River (2003)
A Masterpiece
This Mr. Clint Eastwood film is a masterpiece. The actors have such a distinct mood about how and what is happening in the twisting plot. The pain in the face of Jimmy (Mr. Penn) is unreal and definitely deserving of his Oscar on many other levels as well. Mr. Tim Robbins has a fascinating character that he took by the horns and lead it right where it needed to go, onto the stage of the academy awards to receive an Oscar for best supporting actor. This film puts the viewer through the undeniably painful loss of a daughter and shows the true heart of a father that cares for revenge at no ones cost. Absolutely undeniably a great film that will surly last through movie history to become a classic tale of love and revenge.
Million Dollar Baby (2004)
Oscar Oscar Oscar !!!!!!!
From the trailer to the ending, "Million Dollar Baby" encompassed everything to deserve an Oscar. Every role was right on and every angle should never be changed for this film to remain PERFECT. Ms. Hillary Swank payed her dues in the ring and I believe that really put her in the mind set of a struggling yet determined older female boxer, which in turn got her her second Oscar. Mr. Morgan Freeman, what can I say but excellent, he never lets me down and always delivers. Mr. Clint Eastwood has made one of the best films of all times with "Million Dollar Baby". Everything about this film was excellent. It never let me down and should be viewed by anyone who has never seen it and it will surly change their opinion about the best movie of the new millennium.
Hide and Seek (2005)
I Thought I Saw This Before
Well, I was not impressed with the story at all, the actors did their job fine, but the writers must have really been watching their step and had been dancing on an extremely thin line. This film practically seemed ripped off from another film I have seen. I was extremely let down at the turn of this film and was on the verge of stopping the film. Ms. Dakota Fanning and Mr. Robert DiNero do an excellent job as an on screen "team". The DVD extra endings seem like the director could not make up his mind on how he wanted the film to "leave you hanging" so he made 5 endings and let someone else pick. I was not impressed at all, but will not tell how the film progresses from a little girl's mother's death.
White Noise (2005)
A Good Idea
"White Noise" had a good concept and what seemed like a good idea, but it just did not seem like the film was pushed the way it should have gone. The spooks,jumps, and LOUD noises were well planned and obliviously strategically placed, which was not bad at all, but is kind of expected from a "thriller" of this kind. The acting was not bad, Michael Keaton does a great job as an obsessed single father of his dead wife. The DVD seemed a bit over the top with the "do it yourself white noises" extra feature, which kind of seemed like a sell out. The trailer for the film does not "say it all" I was not in for what I expected and that was not a good thing in this particular case.
Red Eye (2005)
Well Done
"Red Eye" tells the tale of a hotel desk manager Lisa, played by McAdams, who finds her self in a bind on a 'red eye' flight with Jackson,played by Murphy. "Red Eye" is brilliantly put together. Mr. Wes Craven has really done it this time. Rachael McAdams plays the character Lisa, who, in my opinion, was excellent in her acting delight and fright. Cillian Murphy plays an excellent "bad guy". The two's acting is remarkable. The film moves quick,for it is less than an hour and a half long. Though the film moves quickly, it's transitions are as smooth as silk,though the action does not feel that good. The pain is subtle and definitely seems real. There is no gore and guts, but the blows were felt throughout the audience in the theater. All in all this film is definitely one to see this summer, and one of few worth seeing.
The 40 Year Old Virgin (2005)
College Kids
The 40 year old virgin is a film for college guys. This film encompassed every perverted joke that the male college mind can think of. It had sex,of course, and perverted jokes sprinkled all around. The guys in the theater had tears coming from their eyes at times. The chest wax was the only part I could laugh at without feeling like an average college guy. Every movie has its flaws and this film had plenty. I could not imagine looking at this screenplay without thinking 'what a sick mind'. BUT, it kept the audience laughing and definitely got it's purpose, butts in the seats. All in all the film was not that impressive, though tickets are being sold and people are laughing.
Say Anything... (1989)
Excellent
"Say Anything" is a Cameron Crowe masterpiece. "Say Anything" tells the story of Lloyd Dobler, played by John Cusack, who, Mr. Crowe takes no time to show, wants to ask Diane Court, played by Ione Skye, out on a date, with Lloyd's intentions of a long term relationship. "Say Anything" takes the ride of two high school graduates who both fall in and out of love. Their emotions are write on key at every point in the film. From their first kiss to their fast talking broken sentenced arguments, these actors where perfect for the role. The way Ms. Skye and Mr. Cusack seem to feed off of each other from scene to scene and seem to grow and love one another is phenomenal. It seems to me that this kind of on screen "love chemistry" is harder and harder to come by in theaters these days. The film is brilliantly written and directed as are others by Mr. Crowe, such as "Jerry Maguire","Fast Times at Ridgemont High",etc. I look forward to Mr. Crowes new film "Elizabethtown" due out in theaters soon.
Secret Window (2004)
A ten all the way
This film is one of the best in movie history. Screenplay/Director Mr. David Koepp really delivered in this film. Mr. Johnny Depp, in my eyes, has been a chameleon actor since I can remember. From camera movements to script elements this movie is a TEN. I've seen it many times and it never begins to bore me. Though in Mr. Roger Ebert's "2005 Movie Yearbook" the film is given three stars out of four his review is remarkable. I look forward to seeing more of Mr. Koepp's and Mr. Depp's films in the near future and am sure that I will not be disappointed. I won't forget the supporting roles played by Mr. Turturro and Ms. Bello. Mr. Turturro's as "John Shooter" is excellent. His characteristics of a psycho stalker are portrayed greatly which proves he is a diverse actor from his role in "Mr. Deeds". Ms. Bello plays a great "Amy" in the film, playing a concerned yet still cheating wife. She is an excellent part to the film.