Set in Washington D.C., an ousted CIA official, John Malcovich's, memoirs end up in the wrong hands. Namely Brad Pitt and Frances McDormand, two personal trainers at a local gym. Chaos follows as the Government gets wind of their espionage attempts.
If you are a Coen brothers fan I predict you will really enjoy this movie. Although slowly paced, the humor is sharp and blatantly poignant when it comes to our Government. Brad Pitt is hilarious and steals every scene he is in. If nothing else one should see this, just for his performance. Also note worthy, are the scenes with J.K. Simmons and David Rashce--the CIA superiors that are trying to make sense of everything--really funny.
It is a tad crass, nevertheless, the story is really clever and fun to follow--again a bit slow but worthy of your time.
*** Must See
Rated R (for language, some sexual content, and violence)
Monday, September 29, 2008
Eagle Eye
Shia LeBouf plays a man who is sucked into a weird game of cat and mouse by random phone calls giving him directions by someone or something that is watching his every move.
This movie is just plain idiotic. The first hour and a half are spent watching LeBouf and the leading lady receive phone calls with a woman's voice on the other end giving them strange instructions and somehow knowing their every move while safely ushering them through police chases, explosions, and police shootouts. After an hour and a half of this monotony, we still don't know who's making the calls, how they can see and control all or where and why the characters are running, and when all of it is finally revealed, I was saying to myself, "Seriously? This is it?" The whole story is so stupidly horrid that as I explained it to my co-workers who haven't seen it and don't intend to, they busted up in laughter, it's that ridiculous. Shia LeBouf is the only bright spot, as he continues to prove he's a great actor and is very likable in a lead roll. This isn't even worth a rental.
Not a chance, *1/2 out of 4
(Rated PG-13 for violence and language)
This movie is just plain idiotic. The first hour and a half are spent watching LeBouf and the leading lady receive phone calls with a woman's voice on the other end giving them strange instructions and somehow knowing their every move while safely ushering them through police chases, explosions, and police shootouts. After an hour and a half of this monotony, we still don't know who's making the calls, how they can see and control all or where and why the characters are running, and when all of it is finally revealed, I was saying to myself, "Seriously? This is it?" The whole story is so stupidly horrid that as I explained it to my co-workers who haven't seen it and don't intend to, they busted up in laughter, it's that ridiculous. Shia LeBouf is the only bright spot, as he continues to prove he's a great actor and is very likable in a lead roll. This isn't even worth a rental.
Not a chance, *1/2 out of 4
(Rated PG-13 for violence and language)
Monday, September 15, 2008
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Vicky and Cristina are best friends that opt to spend a summer in Barcelona, but for very different reasons. Vicky is a very straight-laced engaged young woman and plans to spend her summer doing research for her thesis and planning her wedding. Cristina is a sexual extrovert and self proclaimed free spirit that plans to spend the summer finding herself. When the girls meet Juan Antonio, a painter, and his insane ex-wife their plans get turned on end.
If you opt to see this movie, go in knowing that it is very very slow paced. In fact slow enough that you can have a conversation with those around you and not miss much of the plot--or whatever it is. This movie is not as complicated or chaotic as it might seem--just odd and random. It is in fact quite predictable, yet the voice of god narrative gives it some comedic moments.
Woody Allen has never been a favorite of mine. He tries too hard for anything to be truly comical and is just quirky enough that you can never take his stuff seriously. Nevertheless, this wasn't that bad. Not that great either, but tolerable.
** Rentable
PG-13 (for lots of sexuality and smoking)
If you opt to see this movie, go in knowing that it is very very slow paced. In fact slow enough that you can have a conversation with those around you and not miss much of the plot--or whatever it is. This movie is not as complicated or chaotic as it might seem--just odd and random. It is in fact quite predictable, yet the voice of god narrative gives it some comedic moments.
Woody Allen has never been a favorite of mine. He tries too hard for anything to be truly comical and is just quirky enough that you can never take his stuff seriously. Nevertheless, this wasn't that bad. Not that great either, but tolerable.
** Rentable
PG-13 (for lots of sexuality and smoking)
Friday, September 12, 2008
Righteous Kill
Two veteran police detectives lead an investigation to find a vigilante serial killer. Their investigation begins to hit home when all evidence suggests that the killer is a police officer.
You know when you have both Al Pacino and Robert De Niro on the same screen you end up with movies like "The Godfather Part 2" and "Heat" -- I mean it is pretty tough to go wrong....They did.
This movie was such a disappointment. Seriously bad, right from the get go. The dialogue is forced, the plot--that thinks it is full of twists, isn't, AND the characters that they play don't make any sense. I mean these men are old--not that there is anything wrong with that, nevertheless it does make it a tad uncomfortable when they are trying to portray the police officers from "Bad Boys".
You will have predicted the ending before the opening credits are over--which by the way is the only good part of the movie.
* 1/2 Not-A-Chance
Rated R (for language, violence, sexual content, and drug use)
You know when you have both Al Pacino and Robert De Niro on the same screen you end up with movies like "The Godfather Part 2" and "Heat" -- I mean it is pretty tough to go wrong....They did.
This movie was such a disappointment. Seriously bad, right from the get go. The dialogue is forced, the plot--that thinks it is full of twists, isn't, AND the characters that they play don't make any sense. I mean these men are old--not that there is anything wrong with that, nevertheless it does make it a tad uncomfortable when they are trying to portray the police officers from "Bad Boys".
You will have predicted the ending before the opening credits are over--which by the way is the only good part of the movie.
* 1/2 Not-A-Chance
Rated R (for language, violence, sexual content, and drug use)
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Traitor
A Muslim man born in the Sudan and raised in the US is arrested for dealing weapons to terrorists. While in prison in the Middle East he joins a terrorist group and the FBI begins tracking him down. I can't say much more about the plot as I may ruin something.
Mandy is completely right about the pacing. This is a very intruiging story with lots of great twists and turns, but the movie is so slow. About a third of the way through I caught myself thinking, this is kind of intense...but at the same time, very boring, nothing exciting had happened since the opening scenes. There are lots of interesting delemas brought up that make you think of where loyalties to country, religion and friends lie and which should take presidence. The acting is great, very well done. But as previously stated the pacing is totally off and the movie struggles to keep your interest. PS, I had some psychotic people in front of me at this movie who laughed, really loud and long, after very dramatic parts and after big explosions killed many people. Very weird and troubling.
** out of 4 (rentable)
Mandy is completely right about the pacing. This is a very intruiging story with lots of great twists and turns, but the movie is so slow. About a third of the way through I caught myself thinking, this is kind of intense...but at the same time, very boring, nothing exciting had happened since the opening scenes. There are lots of interesting delemas brought up that make you think of where loyalties to country, religion and friends lie and which should take presidence. The acting is great, very well done. But as previously stated the pacing is totally off and the movie struggles to keep your interest. PS, I had some psychotic people in front of me at this movie who laughed, really loud and long, after very dramatic parts and after big explosions killed many people. Very weird and troubling.
** out of 4 (rentable)
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