James Bond – Moonraker
Reply
Advertisements
Tag Archives: Movie Review
Movie Review – The Expendables 2
Advertisements
Movie Review – Nick of Time
Advertisements
Below’s the film’s synopsis and trailer, as well as a clip highlighting Christopher Walken’s stellar performance. Enjoy!
Synopsis
A stranger pulled into a deadly scheme races against time to save his daughter in this thriller. Gene Watson (Johnny Depp) is an accountant who comes to L.A. with his ten-year-old daughter Lynn (Courtney Chase) to attend a funeral. On the street, Gene and Lynn are pulled aside by Mr. Smith (Christopher Walken) and Ms. Jones (Roma Maffia), who flash what look like police badges and usher them into a van. Gene soon discovers that he’s been kidnapped, and his captors have an unusual demand — if Gene does not murder Gov. Eleanor Grant (Marsha Mason) within 75 minutes, his daughter will be killed. Gene now has just an hour and a quarter to tip off the authorities, spare Gov. Grant, and find out what Smith and Jones are trying to do, along with saving his daughter’s life. He finds a much-needed ally in one-legged shoe-shine man Huey (Charles S. Dutton).
Movie Review – Behind the Candelabra
Advertisements
Behind the Candelabra is the best film I’ve seen this year. Going into it I knew practically nothing about Liberace other than that he was a campy, closeted pianist from years gone by. The moment I saw one of my favorite actors – Scott Bakula – in the beginning of the movie, I knew I was in for something special. Behind the Candelabra is filled with shocking moments that I don’t want to spoil. But at its focal point is a love story between Liberace and Scott Thorson.
The music in the film was outstanding. While he may be remembered for his over-the-top outfits and larger-than-life personality, Liberace was a tremendous pianist. Michael Douglas, who should win an award for his role in this movie, did a fantastic job of portraying Liberace’s musicals talents and passion for the business. The songs that appear in the movie run the gamut, everything from “Begin the Beguine” to “The Impossible Dream.” It’s a musical feast for the ears.
The stellar supporting cast included Rob Lowe as a frightening doctor, Dan Aykroyd as Liberace’s manager and an unidentifiable Debbie Reynolds as Liberace’s mother, Frances. The chemistry between all of these actors and actresses helped bring this fascinating story to life in a way that kept me glued to the screen the entire time.
I can’t say enough good things about this movie. It opened my eyes to Liberace’s musical talent, as well as his infatuation with young men and himself. But despite all his flaws, I wound up caring about his fate at the end of the film. The most moving interaction involved Michael Douglas and Matt Damon in the final 15 minutes of movie; it was so good that I watched the scene a second time before finishing the film. And what made it so good was the fact that the feelings these two individuals had for each other was palpable. In a cinematic world filled with superficial dialogue and paper-thin characters, this was no small feat.
Behind the Candelabra was an excellent movie about an extremely talented man. I recommend you stop what you’re doing and watch this film right away; it’s a riveting tale that you won’t soon forget.
Below is the trailer for Behind the Candelabra and a look at how the film was made.
Movie Review – The Great Gatsby
Advertisements
What struck me when the movie started was the almost overwhelming amount of fast cutting used by the Director, Baz Luhrmann. The constant change in direction and dramatic zooms, not to mention the overdone computer-generated imagery, made the beginning of The Great Gatsby feel more like a music video than a film. It was as if Luhrmann felt the audience would lose interest without all this dramatic flair.
And let’s talk about the music. The Great Gatsby is supposed to be set in the 1920s. I understand that the producers wanted it to appeal to the younger generations, but including music by Jay-Z and Beyonce didn’t mesh well with the subject matter. The score itself was good, and the song “Young and Beautiful” by Lana Del Ray was gorgeous. But when I think about the botched soundtrack, one scene in particular comes to mind: At one point in the film Gatsby and Nick Carraway are driving over a bridge and to their right is what can be best described as a pimp and a gaggle of scantily-clad “women.” Rap music is blasting from the pimp-mobile and there are countless bottles of champagne strewn about the car. Not only did this disrupt the entire scene, it was superfluous. Great composers like Michael Giacchino understand that a soundtrack isn’t supposed to overpower a scene, it’s meant to enhance it. Unfortunately, The Great Gatsby’s soundtrack served as a jarring distraction.
The acting was very good across the board. Toby Maguire turned in a solid performance, as did the rest of the supporting cast. But the star was clearly Leonardo DiCaprio, who did a terrific job of inhabiting a mysterious man of wealth. And for those who read the book, you’ll be glad to hear that the phrase “old sport” was as overused in the movie as it was in the novel. By the last third of the film the lousy music and chaotic cinematography was cast aside and the story was the focal point. This was when The Great Gatsby was at its best. I don’t want to spoil the plot for those unfamiliar with the story, but you can rest assured that the movie’s epic conclusion will leave you satisfied.
So, should you go see The Great Gatsby? Sure, just don’t expect it to be the film of the year. It’s a slightly misguided interpretation of a classic novel that showcases one of the best leading men in the business. And if it gets you to read or re-read the book upon which its based, then that’s an even better reason to see it.
Below is an interview with Leonardo DiCaprio about the film from 60 Minutes and the music video for “Young and Beautiful” by Lana Del Ray.
Movie Review – Phil Spector
Advertisements
Synopsis
Written and directed by David Mamet, Phil Spector is his exploration of the client-attorney relationship between legendary music producer Phil Spector (Al Pacino) and defense attorney Linda Kenney Baden (Helen Mirren), who represented Spector during his first trial for murder. Mamet serves as executive producer with Barry Levinson. The cast also includes Rebecca Pidgeon, Jeffrey Tambor and Chiwetel Ejiofor.
Movie Review – California Solo
Advertisements
Synopsis
Lachlan MacAldonich is former Britpop rocker who has settled into a comfortably numb existence in farm country just outside Los Angeles. By day, he works on an organic farm and travels regularly to the city’s farmers’ markets to sell produce. By night, he retreats to his crummy apartment to record “Flame-Outs,” his podcast that recounts the tragic deaths of great musicians. The only spark in his humdrum existence is Beau, a lovely struggling actress and amateur chef who frequents the Silver Lake farmers’ market.
One night, Lachlan gets pulled over for a DUI, a charge that dredges up his past drug offense and threatens him with deportation. Lachlan’s only hope of staying in the U.S. is proving that his removal would cause “extreme hardship” to a U.S. citizen spouse or relative. Lachlan contacts his estranged ex-wife and daughter, raising past demons that he must finally confront.
California Solo is a human story about post-fame life and personal redemption.
Movie Review – The Cabin in the Woods
Advertisements
Being a horror-movie buff, I assumed that a film about a bunch of kids in the woods would be a straight-up slasher in the style of Friday the 13th. Thankfully, I was wrong. While there was plenty of blood and guts spilled in and around the cabin, the plot was deeper than that. Similar to The Hunger Games, it involved an organization controlling the action. What is this organization? And what is its purpose? These questions were answered towards the end of the film.
To me, the greatest horror film of all time was Wes Craven’s New Nightmare. This film doesn’t even come close to that. As a matter of fact, I don’t even think it’s more compelling or clever than the original Saw. But it is entertaining and it tried to do something different. The acting was a mixed bag, but some terrific thespians made up the supporting cast, one of which blew my mind when she appeared on the screen at the end.
If you like horror films, check this out. Just don’t expect it to be the next Halloween – no, not Rob Zombie’s Halloween – or Hellraiser.
Official Synopsis
Five friends go to a remote cabin in the woods. Bad things happen. If you think you know this story, think again. From fan favorites Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard comes The Cabin in the Woods, a mind blowing horror film that turns the genre inside out.
Movie Review: The Pursuit of Happyness
Advertisements
Official Movie Synopsis
Will Smith stars in this moving tale inspired by the true story of Chris Gardner, a San Francisco salesman struggling to build a future for himself and his 5-year-old son Christopher (Jaden Smith). When his girlfriend Linda (Thandie Newton) walks out, Chris is left to raise Christopher (Jaden Smith) on his own. Chris’ determination finally pays off when he lands an unpaid internship in a brutally competitive stockbroker-training program, where only one in twenty interns will make the cut. But without a salary, Chris and his son are evicted from their apartment and are forced to sleep on the streets, in homeless shelters and even behind the locked doors of a metro station bathroom. With self-confidence and the love and trust of his son, Chris Gardner rises above his obstacles to become a Wall Street legend.
The Da Vinci Code: 10 Years Later
Advertisements
The Novel
Now that 10 years have passed, I decided to revisit Dan Brown’s most popular book, which went on to sell more than 80 million copies. During these past 10 years, I’ve read hundreds of books, so I was afraid I would think even less of The Da Vinci Code. To my surprise, I enjoyed the book even more than I did the first time. To be fair, I listened to the audiobook version instead of reading the free e-book I downloaded. I opted for the audiobook for two reasons: I love audiobooks and it’s a much faster way to consume books – especially when you work two jobs and go to school, like I do. As an added bonus, the audiobook featured an interview with the screenwriter, Akiva Goldsman, who was tasked with adapting the novel to film, as well as a 2005 Dan Brown speech at the University of New Hampshire. Both special features were interesting and insightful.
All in all, it was an excellent book that magnificently blended fact and fiction. If you’re not one of the millions who has already read it, I highly recommend you check it out right away. It’ll keep you turning pages late into the night wondering what’s going to happen next.
The Film
I also decided to revisit the film, which came out in 2006, and I’m glad I did. I watched the extended version and it was beautifully done. While it wasn’t a line-for-line or scene-for-scene reenactment of the book, Ron Howard did a wonderful job of bringing the novel to life through film. The cast was excellent across the board, especially Sir Ian McKellan as Leigh Teabing. The score by Hanz Zimmer was well done and suited the movie perfectly. Overall, it was a thrilling experience that kept my attention from start to finish.
If you’ve read the book, you’ll notice that certain changes were made in the film, but, in my opinion, some of them helped move the plot along at a faster pace while staying true to the story in the novel. But don’t take my word for it, check out the film, for free, below.
