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Erased (2012)
One of the poorest films in some time.
I needn't go into a bunch movie land mumbo jumbo about this film I will say first, Eckhart whispering ala Southerland is totally out of place. The script is filled with cliché after cliché. specifically Libertino acting the innocent teenager is quite off putting. She fills the screen with the most insipid dialog through out the movie. Even the bad guys are like copies of every other spy movie produced--heavy handed, and bound to lose the fight.
Both protagonists get shot, but amazingly recover sufficiently to work at discovering the traitor amongst the CIA who plotted with a corp CEO from Chicago. Of course he was from Chicago ending up in the streets of Antwerp. Even the sound track is not very encouraging being rather bland when compared to other more well done movie. Kill Bill comes to mind first. We have our requisite shoot out in the parking garage and a bomb which settle the movie ex machina style.
Clearly, this movie was not made for the American market. It is an export product where the dialog can be made to more effectively reflect European tastes.
Wild (2014)
A Great Outdoor Movie
Do you hike, bicycle, or camp in the great outdoors? If yes, you will appreciate and enjoy this movie. Regardless of what other reviewers have written, I understood the trials and life experiences as depicted by Reese Witherspoon. I did identify with many of the scenes in this movie, too. One must remember this trail hike took place in 1995, and not many women were into hiking or outdoor camping for that matter. Many of the movie's scenes ring so true to me. Especially, I felt the encounter with strange men with questionable intent was quite accurate as to their intent and the reaction depicted by Witherspoon.
I had tears in my eyes at the end at the empathy generated by Witherspoon and Strayer's finding herself in the World dominated by men, but not so much now.
The Grey (2011)
The Grey, so full of anomalies
I had to laugh at several scenes. Finally, while the credits were rolling, it was all i could do to not let out a wolf yell. A plane loses power and everyone's breath is visible but no one is concerned. The plane is going down and the flight attendant is still walking the isle? After the crash, is a clearly snow covered, desolate area there are several survivors. All of a sudden the first wolf scene has trees magically appearing in the barren landscape. Next one of the most outlandish scenes has the few remaining fashion a rope from whatever then ask a volunteer to jump 30' from a cliff, across a river, and land in trees without injury. These guys are not Rambo, and no way can one jump from this cliff and make it to the other side, in a tree.
Then there is the scene in the river where Liam is trying to rescue a drowning victim. There is no way one can survive the frigid river then walk out, lay down and then get up again without sever hypothermia.
And, last but not least, Liam stumbles upon the wolf den. My question is: are these new wolves who've changed color or did the pack following them manage to jump of a cliff, swim across the river and beat Liam to their den?
Public Enemies (2009)
So Boring I Fell
asleep in several places. First, Johnny Depp was excellent as Dillinger, Cotillard wasted her talent, and Bale was a total loser for his part as Purvis. My objection to this movie is several fold: over use of hand-held shots caused severe eye strain and did not advance the story line; shot in HD and it shows by lowering the production value. When coupled with the unsteady camera, the overall effect was quite annoying. Made the movie appear to be of less than professional quality. Furthermore, the simulated gun fire was totally fake--all white with jagged edges? Why the clearly fake gunfire? However, I found the sound and sound editing to be very interesting and one of this movie's only redeeming qualities. This movie is 5 out of 10.
Tropic Thunder (2008)
Tasteless, Crude, and not very funny; however, 'Vicki Christina Barcelona' is much better and much funnier.
Believing all the reviews about how funny this movie is, and how it's a parody of all previous war movies, I went to see it. Perhaps, because I'm not a Hollywood insider, I didn't find 'Tropic Thunder' to be all that funny. It appeared to me to be more stupid and moronic than hilarious. For me, it's likely to be the worst movie I've seen so far this year.
I thought Robert Downey, Jr. did a great job as a black infantryman and his performance was certainly the best in this movie. However, this aside, the movie is not worth the price of admission. On the other hand, I did see the opening of Woddy Allen's "Vicki Christina Barcelona," without a doubt one of Allen's finest works.
The X Files: I Want to Believe (2008)
X-Files: Frankenstein 08
Having never watched an X File program on TV, I didn't know what to expect of this movie. It's probably a good thing, too. Clearly, one must be an X File fan to expect much from this production.
Further, exiting the theater, I over heard several comments from obvious X File fans expressing their disappointment over the flick. Most seemed to want to go back to TV re-runs for their X File enjoyment.
Somehow one must conflate the secular with religion with religious belief winning? And how does this fit with the illegal harvesting of certain body parts? I can't figure. Also, the discovery of the bad guys by thinking 252 on a mailbox is more than a little contrived.
It's a movie, somewhat entertaining for an hour-and-a-half, and one I don't need or want to see again.
La Môme (2007)
Nomination: Academy Award Best Actress and Best Foreign Picture of 2007
This is one of the great bio-pic and deserves this recognition. The music is timed perfectly and if you know Piaf's music you know what's coming the last 30 minutes of the film. Cleary Dahan holds of on one of Piaf's greatest, most well know, and well loved songs until the very end.
Sure the alternating scenes at times get a little confusing; however, they fit well within Piaf's life.
What can be said about Cotillard? This must rank as one of the all-time finest performances of any actor. Cotillard so throughly imbues the performance that there is not doubt one is seeing Edith Piaf in real life. I've not seen a finer cinematic performance from any actor.
What a great script, too.
The Flying Scotsman (2006)
THE movie for cyclists
First, this movie is much better than "Chariots of Fire," albeit without the famous soundtrack. Second, this movie speaks to anyone who has spent hours on a stationary bike, pedaled through verdant countryside, or has challenged themselves to 100 mile day. Third, this movie will resonant with those who've been forced to deal with depression and survived.
I think the cinematography was terrific, except for some of the closeups of Obree on the oval. However, the shots of his front wheel and the tunnel vision which develop during a maximum effort are splendid.
While pushing personal limits of time and distance, there's no way a cyclist won't think about Obree's extreme effort and success.