Change Your Image
P51Jay
Reviews
American Dreamz (2006)
Oddly Entertaining...but
Remember that saying "The sum of the parts is greater than the whole"? Well, here is a perfect example. Hugh Grant and Mandy Moore are perfect in there characters as unlikeable people who appreciate each other's unlikable-ness. Willem Dafoe as the Presidential adviser and Seth Meyers(Sally's Agent)excel as scruple-less people who have jobs requiring such. Seth's time on camera was very enjoyable...maybe a series? Tony Yalda (Omar's Americanized cousin) carried every actor he was paired with and watch your impression of him change very quickly in his opening scene, for the better. Sam Golzari delivers as a "likable" terrorist and makes the part believable although such an oxymoron does not exist. Dennis Quade does the work as the President, but is failed by the writers. Their interest is making the President of the United States a bigger fool than any other character in the whole movie, and they accomplish that very well, which says more about them than the office of the President. The story was there, well developed, into the characters, all going well. Then it turns weird and departs from a controlled belief to "oh now wait a minute". Hugh Grant talks about "projectile vomiting" in his best "Simon" veneer and as the story turns weird, give the person behind you a quick look to see how they are stomaching the ending!
The Matador (2005)
Interesting view
It was good to see Pierce Brosnan play something other than the "top of the cake", however the character sinks below the line of endearment sought by an audience. The writers try to buoy this lesser human by giving him cutting-edge humorous lines in the misplaced belief that this will be the vehicle to endearment. But the comic angle (which has worked for other "low life" movie characters) doesn't get through here because the writers are too mean with his humor.
Greg Kinnear is always good...no matter where he is placed in a script. He did well with a "not quite fully formed" character. The writers could not structure him, in my mind, to place him as the friend of a for-hire killer. Thus, the interaction between them and their further actions together did't make logical sense. There is one scene that is brilliant! At the bull fight. This is believable and you ride with Greg Kinnear as his innocent curiosity is spun out of control and he is suddenly over his head with no way out. This was a great "ride" that the writers took us on.
Overall, there could have been more done to get us on more "rides" throughout the movie, but the writers needed to establish a better reason for Greg's character to embrace the "killer"...and I know how they could have done it.
Jarhead (2005)
Crude, Rude and Real
How do men behave when completely isolated from women. The U.S. Marine Corps is one of those places which displays this perfectly. I saw a mother who had brought her 10 year old son to this movie. I wonder what his thoughts were upon leaving. At the very best it must have complicated what his views on life are. This movie did portray the atmosphere of a Marine on duty...boring, uncomfortable and not at all where you want to be. The only way to keep discipline is to continually call on one's manhood. Thus, women become an objective of purpose, not partners in life.
Being a Marine changes your life...being a Marine in war changes who you are.
With some creativeness from Hollywood, which stretches the reality to ram home these points, this movie addresses what military and war do to a person like you.
Good Night, and Good Luck. (2005)
It is as it was...
If you want to see the reality of the early 50's in the dirty little scenes behind the prim and proper presentment of a U.S. Senator, this will tell the story quite accurately. Note that all the scenes of Joe McCarthy are actual film of his speaking. The truthful story is built around those actual films.
David Strathairn gives an accurate portrayal of Mr. Murrow, at least from the films I have seen of him. The foundation of Edward R. Murrow's truth comes into conflict with about every avenue of American society. Makes one wonder about whom the government serves if not that truth, even today.
Just Like Heaven (2005)
It Works
I was skeptical of another "ghost" film because the same old story line keeps resurfacing. How do you tell a story about the spirit of a person and have the audience buy into it, if just for the 2 hours in a darkened theater. Well, they did it. This story IS different and entertaining. The writing was a bit stiff in spots as they try to address David Abbott's history and work that into a meaningful part of the the story. They chose a tragic mark to put him into a two year funk. I thought it would have been better to have him dumped by his perception of the perfect woman and make his funk self-imposed and obviously unnecessary. Then as the story develops he would gain strength of character in a rediscovery process as he interacts with the Reese Witherspoon character. I notice these things and maybe am "the only person in the audience who would" (quote from my wife). There are two or three of these story 'stiff spots', but they do not detract from the movie as it is or the entertainment value. Also noticed the "Spirit" of Elizabeth Masterson passes through all walls, tables and car doors, but is able to stand on the surface of a floor and sit on the surface of a car seat or park bench. Paraticallity in filming necessitates this but it is interesting to think further about what the encounter with a "spirit" would really look like.
The Great Raid (2005)
Reialble Story of What Happened.
Lawrence Bender Productions did quite well with this film. It portrays the heroics of the Phillipino People as well as the Americans, and reflects on a time when America was looked upon as the hope of the world. Americans came through and made good on that hope with the death of hundreds of thousands of young American men. Many people alive today question why we are in Iraq. I think they should see this movie to gain an understanding that this is what happens if we don't go in harm's way. I'm sure all of those American soldiers in the Second World War would have rather stayed at home with their families safe and sound, instead of dying on fogging soil. Where would we be today if they had stayed home. Would we have had the good lives that we enjoyed. See the movie and think!
Bewitched (2005)
Not bad for picking up on an old show.
Re-makes are always, always so bad. They never have the writing to support the original, because the original used all the good material on the subject. See "Cheaper by the Dozen" original vs. remake. Original shows the inter reaction between a dozen kids and their parents focusing in on each personality and their day to day events. Re-make wants me to believe the great crisis in the family is the father getting a better job with more pay. WOW, how that tears a family apart!
With this "Bewitched", the story line takes a logical yet fanciful direction. It leaves the original story intact and actually uses it in flattering reverence. The story line starts strong and Will Ferrell works as the ego driven lead actor and carries the story. It is entertaining for most of the movie, then slows down as the writers search for an suitable ending. I was left with the fact that they never really found one, but a good effort none the less.
Edie & Pen (1996)
Weak story line.
I lived in Reno for 18 years and was there when this movie was filmed. I had no idea it was being filmed and believe me Reno is the Biggest Little City in the World, and if a movie is being filmed there it's almost impossible to not know. Yet, I had no idea this was going on. The concept of the story is reasonable, but the concept is all that is delivered. All the fluff story propped up around the concept just is not good. Scott Glen seems to be just about the level of a leering drunk and how Pen "falls" for him is just not apparent. Jennifer Tilly is lovely and carries her part very well, but Scott Glen and Stockard Channing's characters require more script quality before they could be held responsible for the out come. (Bad writing can not be overcome by the best of them.) As I watched I saw them drive from the Hilton to the Airport through downtown and rolled my eyes at the director's ploy to present Reno's bright lights as window dressing. If you don't know Reno, all is OK and the director's trick is well received.
Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous (2005)
Horrible!
Just horrible! No thought what-so-ever went into the script for this disaster. The writers were to capitalize on the success of M.C.1, only they thought they could just throw a series of disconnected events together with some whippy dialog and they would have a movie...(See Caddy Shack II). It is as disjointed as a train wreck! Skinny plot, never establishes the characters, weak motives, lame "brilliant deductions" (i.e. "She called them Pirates so they must have them at Treasure Island" or "You'll have to lean over me to shoot her, so..." sorry, I never understood what "brilliant deduction" this was supposed to evoke. It wasn't even funny. Sandra and Regina fighting? I'd rather watch Pee Wee Herman by himself!
The Upside of Anger (2005)
I don't get it!
Have you ever been in a room where you didn't know anyone, but they all knew each other? You know they have a secret because you can see the smirks and the condescending chuckles, but no one volunteers to share it with you. You get the idea that the "secret" is of no consequence, but the fact that they can keep you excluded is the whole point. That's the way this movie made me feel.
The writer(s) has either had a completely different social upbringing than I had, or is simply not able to make character's communicate how they feel. Terry Wolfmeyer spends the movie in either an alcoholic blank stare, or vicious assaults on every other character. The story alludes to the fact that she changes, but I never saw any difference.
Logic is also a short coming. Denny Davies enters Terry's life at a time when she is the most angry and unforgiving she has ever been. Yet this neighbor with no redeeming qualities and with the only apparent endearing feature being that he keeps showing up and imposing, becomes the superior male figure that we are supposed to embrace. Sorry, but you are going to have to do better than that. The character up on the screen is going to have to "earn" my embrace (See movie "RAY").
The Aviator (2004)
Life from the 1930's brought to 2004.
Characters were very reminiscent of the real life personalities. The character of Katherine Hepburn was play to near perfection. I can't help but think Howard Hughes in real life was a bit of a cad, and hard to deal with. He pursued women on a constant basis with a single mindedness for sex. How women put up with him could only be attributed to his wealth. Little else was attractive from him. His wealth and his preoccupation with cleanliness isolated him in a world of his own making which had little to do with ordinary life patterns. This was part of his genius and his devastating spiral into a lonely worthless existence.
Million Dollar Baby (2004)
Hillary Swank can really box.
Hillary Swank was very athletic in this film. She was as skilled as a professional boxer. Especially her left jab. A lot of men don't understand how to box. Fighting scenes were over done with grand ko punches. Real boxing does not have the "Hollywood" round-house that knocks the opponent flying.
Boxing aside, Morgan Freeman's contribution to this film is excellent. His work in film always makes me embrace his character immediately. I am so glad he won the Oscar for this performance. He was worthy of the Oscar on other occasions.
Clint Eastwood plays the same character he always plays. Good thing I enjoy that character. Not intended to criticize, John Wayne played the same character each time too.