A young man from Mumbai, India named Jamal is about to win "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" and is arrested before the final question for suspicion of cheating. As the police interrogate him, trying to find out how he cheated or how he knew the answers, we see how his life experiences have led him to the answers of each progressing question on the show.
This movie is winning lots of awards and deservedly so. The story is very engaging, the acting great, and the directing is solid. It takes you on an incredible emotional ride with the characters. Very rewarding and well done. Some of the shots of the slums of India are amazing and some points I felt like I was getting almost a documentary-type, kind of inside look at what those parts of India are really like, since I've never been there. Should be getting plenty of Oscar buzz. It is Rated R for a little bit of language and violence.
**** out of 4 - Oscar Worthy
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Yes Man
Jim Carrey's character says no to everything, his life is in a rut. He attends a seminar that preaches to say "Yes" to everything, which changes his life and we follow him on the ride.
I also thought this going to be "Liar Liar 2", but it didn't turn out to be the case. It's its own movie and is pretty funny. I'm a big Jim Carrey fan. This isn't his best but it's his best in a while. As Mandy said there's plenty of laugh out loud moments, the story has some heart and the leading lady is charming as well. There is however a totally unnecessary part with an old lady and Jim Carrey having to say yes to her. I agree with Mandy that this movie isn't for kids, it's PG-13 but a few F-bombs are dropped and the old lady stuff is totally out of place.
**1/2 out of 4 - Rentable. Theater worthy if you're a Carrey fan.
I also thought this going to be "Liar Liar 2", but it didn't turn out to be the case. It's its own movie and is pretty funny. I'm a big Jim Carrey fan. This isn't his best but it's his best in a while. As Mandy said there's plenty of laugh out loud moments, the story has some heart and the leading lady is charming as well. There is however a totally unnecessary part with an old lady and Jim Carrey having to say yes to her. I agree with Mandy that this movie isn't for kids, it's PG-13 but a few F-bombs are dropped and the old lady stuff is totally out of place.
**1/2 out of 4 - Rentable. Theater worthy if you're a Carrey fan.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Last Chance Harvey
In London for his daughters wedding, Harvey, a struggling jingle-writer misses his plane to New York thus losing his job. He meets up with Kate an unhappy single Brit and the two make a connection.
Ummmm...I don't really like my synopsis. It bores me, which should tell you a lot about the movie, as it bored me too. The pacing was extremely slow, which worked well for the awkward first date scene, but unfortunately carried on through out the entire film which was somewhat painful.
Dustin Hoffman was annoying and Emma Thompson, whom I normally love, was disappointing. Eileen Atkins however, who played Thompson's mother--was really fun and the best part of the whole movie, which is sadly less than 10 minutes.
* 1/2 Rentable
Rated PG-13 (language)
Ummmm...I don't really like my synopsis. It bores me, which should tell you a lot about the movie, as it bored me too. The pacing was extremely slow, which worked well for the awkward first date scene, but unfortunately carried on through out the entire film which was somewhat painful.
Dustin Hoffman was annoying and Emma Thompson, whom I normally love, was disappointing. Eileen Atkins however, who played Thompson's mother--was really fun and the best part of the whole movie, which is sadly less than 10 minutes.
* 1/2 Rentable
Rated PG-13 (language)
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Slumdog Millionaire
An 18 year old orphan from the slums of India, is just one question away from winning $20 million Rupees on India's, "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" but he is arrested on suspicion of cheating. How could an orphan know so much?
This was my other favorite of the day. It is kind of hard to watch at times due to the graphic nature of the film, but so good. The story is sweet and sad, all the while very engaging.
Not a huge movie, or one that is getting a lot of press, but if nothing else word of mouth should get you to see this flick. Go!
**** Oscar Worthy
Rated R (violence, disturbing images and language)
This was my other favorite of the day. It is kind of hard to watch at times due to the graphic nature of the film, but so good. The story is sweet and sad, all the while very engaging.
Not a huge movie, or one that is getting a lot of press, but if nothing else word of mouth should get you to see this flick. Go!
**** Oscar Worthy
Rated R (violence, disturbing images and language)
Yes Man
Carl Allen's life is going no where. No being the key word here, until he joins a self help program all designed around the word "yes". He must now say "yes" to every opportunity that presents itself.
I went into this movie totally expecting a Liar, Liar remake. Not at all. I mean granted it has Jim Carrey in it so in that aspect they are similar, but this really did have its own story and was very funny. Take note, this is not a film for the whole family. Funny though it was--laugh out loud funny--the humor is way too crude for kids. Which is unfortunate as most people who will assume that it is like the former mentioned Liar, Liar, will be uncomfortably disappointed as it isn't really family friendly.
Still, it will make you laugh.
***
Rated PG-13 (for language, crude humor, and brief nudity)
I went into this movie totally expecting a Liar, Liar remake. Not at all. I mean granted it has Jim Carrey in it so in that aspect they are similar, but this really did have its own story and was very funny. Take note, this is not a film for the whole family. Funny though it was--laugh out loud funny--the humor is way too crude for kids. Which is unfortunate as most people who will assume that it is like the former mentioned Liar, Liar, will be uncomfortably disappointed as it isn't really family friendly.
Still, it will make you laugh.
***
Rated PG-13 (for language, crude humor, and brief nudity)
Doubt
A forward thinking Priest and a disciplined Nun find themselves at odds with one another when it comes to religion, the school they teach at, and the children around them.
So this is one of my favorites of the marathon. Does Meryl Streep ever go wrong? I Doubt it. (No pun intended.) She is amazing, as is Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams. They all create this amazing dynamic that is so fun to watch. Although the plot is predictable, the questions that keep popping up through out and the dubious ending makes the movie so very likable.
Definitely a front runner in the game. Go see it!
**** Oscar Worthy
Rated PG-13 (thematic material)
So this is one of my favorites of the marathon. Does Meryl Streep ever go wrong? I Doubt it. (No pun intended.) She is amazing, as is Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams. They all create this amazing dynamic that is so fun to watch. Although the plot is predictable, the questions that keep popping up through out and the dubious ending makes the movie so very likable.
Definitely a front runner in the game. Go see it!
**** Oscar Worthy
Rated PG-13 (thematic material)
Frost/Nixon
Three years after the Watergate scandal, Richard M. Nixon agrees to do a television interview. David Frost a British talk show host is the one that nabs the interview but finds himself somewhat unprepared for the former President.
Although this is another one of those true stories that we all know the outcome to--this one worked and worked well. Frank Langella is fabulous as Nixon. Not to mention the amazing supporting cast. Sam Rockwell in particular does a fantastic job as does Kevin Bacon and Oliver Platt. A really well cast film that again, despite the known outcome, still sets up a sense of urgency and is really fun to watch.
The dialogue is really great, Ron Howard does an amazing job with the story and the whole cast will be talked about come award time.
***1/2 Oscar Worthy
Rated R (for language I guess)
Although this is another one of those true stories that we all know the outcome to--this one worked and worked well. Frank Langella is fabulous as Nixon. Not to mention the amazing supporting cast. Sam Rockwell in particular does a fantastic job as does Kevin Bacon and Oliver Platt. A really well cast film that again, despite the known outcome, still sets up a sense of urgency and is really fun to watch.
The dialogue is really great, Ron Howard does an amazing job with the story and the whole cast will be talked about come award time.
***1/2 Oscar Worthy
Rated R (for language I guess)
Valkyrie
A young German officer, loyal to his country finds himself at odds with Hitler. He along with other political leaders head up an underground attempt to assassinate the Fuhrer and start a new Germany.
This was the first film of the day in the marathon and although it wasn't horrid, it wasn't great either. Tom Cruise is mediocre in the role and somewhat distracting. The story, although interesting and supposedly true, completely and totally lacked suspense. Perhaps it is due to the fact that we are all aware that they lose in the end, they don't kill Hitler--sorry if that was a spoiler for any of you.
Still having said that, there are many films that are based on true stories that still manage to create a sense of urgency or suspense when we are still aware of the outcome. This just wasn't one of those.
** Rentable
Rated PG-13 (for violence and language)
This was the first film of the day in the marathon and although it wasn't horrid, it wasn't great either. Tom Cruise is mediocre in the role and somewhat distracting. The story, although interesting and supposedly true, completely and totally lacked suspense. Perhaps it is due to the fact that we are all aware that they lose in the end, they don't kill Hitler--sorry if that was a spoiler for any of you.
Still having said that, there are many films that are based on true stories that still manage to create a sense of urgency or suspense when we are still aware of the outcome. This just wasn't one of those.
** Rentable
Rated PG-13 (for violence and language)
Friday, January 2, 2009
MOVIE MARATHON 2009!
Ahhhh January. Perhaps my favorite month of the year.
So this years Movie Marathon was another success! I saw five movies and none of them were horrid. Some of them weren't great and others were fabulous!
This years schedule was as follows:
Valkyrie
Frost/Nixon
Doubt
Yes Man
Slumdog Millionaire
Full reviews will be posted shortly--but right now I am headed to New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl and I have a plane to catch.
GO UTES!!!
So this years Movie Marathon was another success! I saw five movies and none of them were horrid. Some of them weren't great and others were fabulous!
This years schedule was as follows:
Valkyrie
Frost/Nixon
Doubt
Yes Man
Slumdog Millionaire
Full reviews will be posted shortly--but right now I am headed to New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl and I have a plane to catch.
GO UTES!!!
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