DVD Rental Day (2004 - 2010)

[Team Canada]

The Weather Man

 

Wow. What a heaping pile of garbage.

 

I will not let it steal any more of my life by writing any more than that.

[BrewCrewLifer]

Hostel

 

If you're a fan of the gory Saw type films, then this may intrigue you. The first 20-30 min are basically a soft core porno...which isn't bad in and of itself. Afterwards the gore starts. If you are squeamish, stay away. I enjoyed it though.

[DSFastball55]

I saw Lord of War recently and thought it was very entertaining. I admit I don't pay a lot of attention to the acting, I watch just to be entertained and this film did not disappoint.

[Dough73]

Thanks for the info on The Weatherman. I'm gonna take it off of my que on netflix. The last two movies I watched were Match Point and Good Night and Good Luck. I fell asleep watching both of them, but I'm a person who just cares about getting entertained and not movie buff stuff.

[RobertR]

Capote

 

Actually, I rented this for my wife who skipped it in the theater. This is a very well acted movie telling the behind the scenes story of the writing of In Cold Blood focussing on Capote making himself part of the story and his relationship with the killers. Phillip Seymour Hoffman has the mannerisms and voice down cold and integrates them into a performance instead of being merely mimickry. Katherine Keener is very good as Harper Lee and the whole cast is above average.

 

This is a fairly bleak movie, visually and in theme. It's very serious in nature with the Capote / Harper Lee relationship providing the only real moments of levity. I don't quite buy the premise that Capote was so broken up with guilt over his role that he never completed another book. That seems too simplistic to me. Still, technically it's a well done movie, it's thoughtful and it makes me want to read Capote's book, so it does it's job.

 

King Kong

 

This is excessive in a way only a director who truly loves the original could make it. Some of the special effects, particularly the dinosaur stampede, are dodgy. And I'll join those who say that the first hour could be trimmed. It's not that it's bad, it's that there's no payoff to the character building moments. I think it's particularly silly to try to draw parallels between Heart of Darkness and the journey in this film. King Kong is merely an adventure story.

 

But for all that's wrong with the film, I was vastly entertained once they got to the island. Peter Jackson indulges his horror film roots to good effect, the attack by the island natives and the bug pit sequences are particularly effective in that matter. Kong's battles are spectacular, particularly the T-Rex sequence. The relationship between Kong and Naomi Watts works. Kong is very expressive and is quite the achievement in special effects. Jack Black and his assistant have a sort of Orson Welles / John Houseman relationship going and performances to match. And there's enough fleshing out of ideas and added ideas to make the remake worthwhile.

 

If the movie was edited tighter and they had spent a bit more time perfecting the special effects, maybe you could argue whether this truly is better than the original. That said, it's a flawed but entertaining film in its own right and well worth renting.

 

March of the Penguins

 

I disagree with the central premise that this is a story about love. And I think the movie is guilty of anthropomorphising the penguins to a ridiculous degree. We've had debates about the truthfulness of documentaries before and this film appears to be a non-political example of how a documentary can distort the truth.

 

That said, the footage that has been acquired is spectacular. The achievement of that should not be overlooked. And I could listen to Morgan Freeman read the phonebook. I really have no complaints about the entertainment qualities of the film.

 

Broken Flowers

 

Jim Jarmusch films are generally hybrid road movies and indirect to their subject matter. If you want a movie with things like clarity and firm resolution, look elsewhere.

 

Broken Flowers is a character study in the guise of a road movie/mystery/comedy. Bill Murray, at his most deadpan, plays an aging bachelor who's young girlfriend has just left him. He goes into a funk and is only spurred out of it by an anonymous letter stating that he has a son from an old relationship who is looking for him. Spurred on by his neighbor, a mystery buff who sets him up with an intinerary and mapquest directions, he sets out cross-country to visit his old girlfriends in a series of uncomfortable encounters.There's a notable cast of ex-girlfriends, Sharon Stone, Frances Conroy, Jessica Lange, and Tilda Swinton, who turn in good performances.

 

This is an open ended movie and the changes in Bill Murray's character are open to debate, although I have my conclusions. Certainly this is more of an art movie than an out and out comedy and expectations should be tuned for that.

 

In Her Shoes

 

Chick flick alert. That said, you can do a lot worse than a chick flick by the director of L.A. Confidential.

 

Curtis Hanson will never be recognized as an elite director because he doesn't appear to have a trademark style. There's really nothing instantly recognizable about his work. That said, he's good with actors, dialogue and characters ring true, and he has solid storytelling instincts. In this movie he gets an actual good performance out of Cameron Diaz, he uses Toni Collette (an underrated actress) to do the heavy lifting, and he knows how to use Shirley Maclaine to good effect. He also manages the sometimes difficult feat of not letting the supporting characters morph into caricatures.

 

Now, there's certainly some manipulative and cliched material in this story. It's most certainly not surprising. Still, it's a good film overall and one I certainly can recommend as a compromise on those nights when one has to compromise with your partner.

 

Match Point

 

This is basically a remake of ideas from Crimes and Misdemeanors. Still, getting out of New York really seems to have sparked something in Woody Allen as this is his most serious and focussed movie in years. It's a thriller without the bells and whistles attached. Failed touring tennis pro strikes up a friendship with a wealthy student and then is introduced to the rich sister, Chloe, who falls for him. Things are going well until he falls for his friend's girlfriend, a struggling American actress, Nola, played by Scarlett Johannsen. Soon things progress to a marriage to Chloe and an affair with Nola with everything headed towards disaster and a contemplation of murder to get out of it.

 

Woody Allen wisely has chosen not to act in this movie and I think the dialogue, without Allen's character tics, is the better off for it. It comes off as natural and yet still distinctly Allen's. Allen particularly does good work with subtlely working class conflict into the story with the pair of outsiders bonding due to an overbearing mother-in-law, the privileged children, and a well meaning but patronizing father-in-law. The fact that noone is a complete caricature and are mostly unconscious of their emotional transgressions, except for the main character, marks this as a more thoughtful movie than the typical thriller. As are the themes of "it's better to be lucky than good" visually demonstrated by the symbolism of a ball, and a later variation, bouncing straight up off a tennis net, and that the conscience is the ultimate punisher. It's no coincidence that the tennis player is shown reading Dostoevsky, who's most famous novel is Crime and Punishment.

 

Not a classic, but a superior Woody Allen film. Again, though, for people interested in a more serious minded, lower key film.

 

Robert

[Team Canada]

The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio

 

Based on a true story (something I didn't realize until the end), Julianne Moore stars as a mom in the 50s-60s who has to win contests to support their family, because the husband (Woody Harrelson) is a violent drunk who wastes all their money at the liquor store on the way home every day.

 

I thought Moore especially was fantastic as the poor housewife who always had a smile and put a positive spin on everything, yet suffered through so much. It hurt to see her continually sacrifice for her family and put up with Woody's abuse. Luckily it ends fairly happily. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[rluzinski]

Wow. 3 of the last 4 movies I've seen were Broken Flowers, Matchpoint and In Her Shoes. The other was Motorcycle Diaries. I didn't even know it was based on a true person, nor did I even know who Guevara was. I'm glad I didn't, since I could enjoy the movie for it's own sake.

 

I disagree with the central premise that this is a story about love. And I think the movie is guilty of anthropomorphising the penguins to a ridiculous degree.

 

Baahhh, love is love. At it's core the "love" a pinguin feels for it's mate is the same darn thing we feel for our spouse, whether we want to accept that or not.

[PrimetimeHater]

Try telling that to the people at the zoo.

[MessiahRp]

Match Point? Ugh....

 

 

Rp

[RobertR]

It's been awhile.

 

Munich

 

Overall I liked it. It's adult, complex, and gives Spielberg a chance to work with his Hitchock roots. It could stand a tighter edit and most of the characters besides Eric Bana are just there. And Eric Bana himself isn't that interesting as a character.

 

I do think that the political controversy surrounding the movie is overblown. The movie doesn't suggest that all problems would be solved if we just understood and talked with the terrorists. There's a scene where two characters on opposite sides talk and come to no accord at the end, although they do compromise on choice of music (i.e. trivial issues). If not letting trivial issues escalate is a big statement/solution, then I think Spielberg is on safe ground. What Spielberg suggests is that "taking the fight to the terrorists with their own methods" isn't neat, easy, cheap (in money and human life), without complication, and consequence. Or that there's no toll on the conscience of the people carrying out the acts without the color of law. Or that there won't be counter-strikes. Or that there won't be unintended consequences.

 

None of those ideas strike me as particularly farfetched or revoluntionary. He's basically suggesting that there's not some easy "Mission Accomplished" way to solve these conflicts, but that it's going to be a long, ugly struggle. Really, the final shots of the film probably sum it up best. Text notes that the Israeli's basically accomplished their mission of killing the terrorist leaders responsible for Munich. And there's a shot of New York with the Twin Towers in the background suggesting that it didn't end anything.

 

Robert

[Team Canada]

Yeah, there were a bunch that I meant to put up a little while back.

 

I thought Munich was ok, but it just didn't really grab me, and I didn't really care. I was expecting more than what it was.

 

Capote: Hoffman was superb, but the basis of the movie seemed to be "let's watch Hoffman channel Capote for a while and call it a movie." It wasn't terribly interesting.

 

The Squid and the Whale: I hated this movie. Hated it. I'm sure some people will say they liked it, but not me. Of course, if you want to peek in on a completely dysfuntional family, it's fantastic.

 

After seeing those three, the Best Picture field from last year seems pretty weak, and I can see why Crash won.

[Fatter than Joey]

"Capote: Hoffman was superb, but the basis of the movie seemed to be "let's watch Hoffman channel Capote for a while and call it a movie." It wasn't terribly interesting."

 

I couldn't agree more -- I think they really could have done a better job with the idea that Capote needed the killers to die so he could have finished his book.

[MKE alz]

After seeing those three, the Best Picture field from last year seems pretty weak, and I can see why Crash won.

I'm glad there is at least a reason, I wasn't impressed with Crash, but haven't really seen the others yet.

 

I *finally* caught Equilibrium on DVD. I was shocked how many people I recognized in it, and I was really impressed by the action sequences - they were very well choreographed...though I definitely think Christian Bale's performance makes the movie. Without him I think the movie would have come off as a lot more cheesy than it already did. So I'd say it was a really entertaining action movie.

[RobertR]

Last year's Best Picture crop was the equivalent of this year's National League. Someone had to win it, but that doesn't mean I have to be impressed.

 

This year already looks more promising.

 

Robert

[jloos19]

This year already looks more promising.

 

There's no need to even have 5 candidates for the Best Picture Oscar. There's only one movie that even deserves consideration, that of course being Snakes on a Plane. Anyone else excited for this movie? I know I am.

[diomedeh2]

The Squid and the Whale: I hated this movie. Hated it. I'm sure some people will say they liked it, but not me. Of course, if you want to peek in on a completely dysfuntional family, it's fantastic.

 

I'll be one to disagree. I really enjoyed it. There was some pretty screwy stuff with the kids and all, but Jeff Daniels was amazing. Some of his lines were incredible. I couldn't get enough of his temper tantrums while playing ping pong and tennis.

 

Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang was entertaining as well. Val Kilmer was great. And Robert Downey Jr. is a talented guy.

 

I enjoyed Match Point. The ending really caught me off guard, seemed almost like two movies, which I like. It reminded me of The Talented Mr. Ripley in some ways, while not being as good.

 

Need to see: Three Burials, the Matador

 

(no editing done, just accidentally hit edit instead of reply -TC)

[jloos19]

I agree with the sentiment on Match Point. Except I thought it was really really good. The first part of the movie was a little slow, but it had a purpose. And the last 20 minutes of the movie were great. Woody Allen hadn't made a movie this good since... well, Crime and Misdemeanors, a similar movie.

[Team Canada]

but Jeff Daniels was amazing. Some of his lines were incredible.

 

I'll give you that much.

 

Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang was entertaining as well. Val Kilmer was great. And Robert Downey Jr. is a talented guy.

 

I thought that script was absolutely terrific.

 

Need to see: Three Burials, the Matador

 

Three Burials was pretty good, great performance by TLJ, and Pepper's not too shabby either. Good little film. Matador was ok, Pierce gets to be completely different from his usual Mr. Suave (probably why he chose it), but it seemed a little hit and miss to me (although I'm recalling this after seeing it a far time back).

[brewerjamie15]

BrewerMary and I rented a couple of movies last weekend. We picked and watched two movies on total opposites of the scale.

First we watched Hostel and then Broke Back Mountain.

wow.

[dadofandrew]

I actually sent a movie back to Netflix without finishing it, never watched part of a rental or walked out of the theater.

 

Punch Drunk Love...I'm still wondering what the plot was, other than show me some guy has an incredibly annoying family. The pudding subplot that was always mentioned in reviews...was like 15 seconds of nothing.

[Team Canada]

First we watched Hostel and then Broke Back Mountain.

 

Wow, you weren't kidding!

[Fatter than Joey]

"Anyone else excited for this movie? I know I am."

 

Yeah --- I am so stoked to see SOAP that I will like it no matter what happens.

[pogokat]

it's too bad that snakes on a plane has seemed to peak a few months before actually being released..

 

how come everyone is so excited about this movie, but no one is begging the studio to make a third escape from... movie...kurt russell>sam jackson in stupid movies unless you count the way slj died in deep blue sea

[RobertR]

It's been awhile, so...

 

The Constant Gardener

 

I never would have associated the director of City of God as a John le Carre' fan. It's a very unlikely pairing, but it works surprisingly well and really brings out the modern day paranoia of le Carre's work. The editing is such that you have to pay attention, and that works well with this story. It also doesn't hurt that the editors know when to back off the quick cutting style as in one scene where Ralph Fiennes receives some very bad news.

 

The cast is first rate. Rachel Weisz and Ralph Fiennes especially.Although there's not a bad performance in the film. This film stands up well against the best picture nominees of last year.

 

I suppose I should mention that there's some political commentary in the film about big pharmaceutical corporations and exploitation in Africa. It doesn't bother me since a thriller needs a bad guy, and it's certainly not like there's never been exploitation in Africa and we all live in a utopia. Still, I just look at this as a specific story with a specific villain, and not a general indictment of everyone.

 

Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang

 

I love Raymond Chandler style mysteries. Apparently Shane Black does too as he mixes a Chandler-style mystery, complete with chapter titles referencing Chandler's books, with his 1980s action/buddy movie roots with a bit of meta-plot of Adaptation stirred in. It's light and very funny, with a funny variation of Shane Black's trademarked "hero gets tortured sequence", clever references, puns, and visual gags.

 

And it's good evidence of why Robert Downey Jr. kept getting second (and third) chances to resurrect his career. He's very good in this movie. Val Kilmer, who has been known to steal a scene or two, really can't keep up with him.

 

Brick

 

It's worth repeating, but I really love Raymond Chandler (and Dashiell Hammett) style mysteries. Smart talking detectives, byzantine plots, femme fatales, women from the hero's past, tough thugs, eccentric crime bosses, the hero getting the snot beat out of him every other scene, etc. Take all of that (including the dialogue) and transport that to a 21st century high school and you have Brick. Needless to say, I'm the target audience for this type of film.

 

In many ways, this is like a modern dress adaptation of Shakespeare. For some, the fact that it relentlessly refuses to budge from the dialogue and style of a 1940s detective movie is just going to be frustrating. But that's the whole point, to take an old story and style and show what makes it vital in a different setting.

 

As far as I can tell, this is the first feature that Rian Johnson has written and directed. I certainly think the he has a long future in the industry. What's really impressive is that he gives the film a distinct look, with deep shadows and silhouettes echoing noir, obviously without a lot of money. And he gets good performances out of the whole cast, although I'd never had suspected that Joseph Gordon-Levitt (from Third Rock From the Sun) could carry a movie and do it well.

 

Robert

[brettac1]

I just watched Bertolucci's "The Dreamers" a couple weeks ago. I liked it. I know there were some reviews that hated it, and it's an NC-17, but it was quite good. It was very "Last Tango"-ish, obviously not as good as that or "The Conformist", but I liked it better than "Besieged" (a good movie) or "Stealing Beauty" (not so much a good movie) and some others.

 

If you're a Bertolucci fan, I'd say check it out. A classic by no means, but certainly an attention grabber.