UNKNOWN 3.0*** (but barely)
If you go in expecting a nice ride with a couple of twists somewhat similar to, but not as good as "Taken”( the excellent thriller movie also starring Liam Neeson"), you'll get what you want. But if you go in expecting more, you’ll be disappointed. How the story ends is somewhat cliché and the movie includes the almost always mandatory never-ending car chase that we’ve all seen so many times before… although it is fairly good. The movie would have been great if "Unknown" had actually dealt more in-depth with the terror of memory loss and identity theft .
Originality definitely isn't a problem for this film because of its vast ambiguity. Therefore, that aspect will not disappoint those looking for an original film. Also, there are fine performances by Diane Kruger and Frank Langella, and a standout performance by German actor Bruno Ganz. But it is Liam Neeson, who makes the movie.. The reason Liam Neeson is an A-list actor is his ability to play very balanced roles. He always goes as far as he can with a role without overdoing it and thus making himself relevant and believable. He plays Dr Martin Harris, a researcher invited to a bio-technology congress in Berlin. After arriving at but before checking in the hotel with his lovely wife (January Jones) ,he realizes he left his briefcase at the airport and jumps in a cab to return to get it only to have the cab get involved in a near fatal accident. He suffers a bad concussion and is in a coma for 4 days. And if his week had not been bad enough, it culminates in his wife no longer recognizing him and, instead, she acknowledges another man as her husband. Talk about a major identity crisis and theft !
“Unknown" tries way too hard to be ambiguous and original when a better and clearer plot development would have helped. Too many twists and turns sometimes send the plot into nearly opposite directions. Unfortunately the film concludes leaving numerous loose ends which causes a lot of things to remain "unknown."
“Unknown” is good, but not great. It's worth a go at the theatre, but if you're expecting “Taken”, you’ll be disappointed..
Rated PG-13 for some intense sequences of violence and action, and brief sexual content.
Clark
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
BARNEY’S VERSION 4.0****
An imperfect life perfectly told. Take an amazing and fascinating ride through the life and memories of Barney Panofsky, a hard-drinking, cigar-smoking, foulmouthed 65-year old hockey fanatic and television producer, as he reflects on his life's successes (few) and failures (many) as shown through well done flash backs and flash forwards leading up to the final chapters of his life .The film is essentially a series of humorous vignettes but also has its share of moments of tenderness and high drama (showcasing Alzheimer's, for example). There's usually at least one laugh in every scene, and there's every kind of humor: sarcastic, mordant, sexual, ironical, satirical and slap stick. To put it another way: If you leave without having laughed, then you need a big dose of “sense of humor” meds.
As Barney,Paul Giamatti is absolutely stunning. . He is one of the most talented and underrated character actors around and continues to prove his worth and excellence here. Barney's life is an emotional roller-coaster, and Giamatti gives his all to make the audience really feel for this pathetic, misguided, adolescent shell of a man. No matter what emotion or word he is trying to convey, you will hang on every sound and look. He should have been nominated for Best Actor for the Oscars. The rest of the cast is solid, no matter their screen time. Rosamind Pike, as Barney's third wife is wonderful, as is Minnie Driver as the overbearing, Jewish 2nd wife. But they are all overshadowed by Dustin Hoffman in the role of Barney's father Izzy. He steals all the scenes he appears in providing more gusto and depth than he has in years. His antics and behavior at the Jewish Wedding/Reception are hilarious as is his final scene in the movie.
Give yourself a night off, forget about your problems and find out about Barney's problems and his friends problems, and his wives’ problems. It will make your life seem much, much better and you’ll laugh along the way, probably several times. For poor Barney, nothing seems to turn out the way he wanted. Even though he is successful in business, he is really miserable and doesn't know how to fix it. An unexpected turn of events, and voilà, his worst problem is solved. But in an instant, he messes up again and is suspected of murder. The answer to the murder mystery isn't revealed until the very end of the movie and even then you have to be really sharp to figure it out..
This is an Independent film that will be hard to find at the theatres.. but find it or rent it.. in other words, don’t miss it. It is a jewel of a movie.
Rated R for language and some sexual content.
Clark
An imperfect life perfectly told. Take an amazing and fascinating ride through the life and memories of Barney Panofsky, a hard-drinking, cigar-smoking, foulmouthed 65-year old hockey fanatic and television producer, as he reflects on his life's successes (few) and failures (many) as shown through well done flash backs and flash forwards leading up to the final chapters of his life .The film is essentially a series of humorous vignettes but also has its share of moments of tenderness and high drama (showcasing Alzheimer's, for example). There's usually at least one laugh in every scene, and there's every kind of humor: sarcastic, mordant, sexual, ironical, satirical and slap stick. To put it another way: If you leave without having laughed, then you need a big dose of “sense of humor” meds.
As Barney,Paul Giamatti is absolutely stunning. . He is one of the most talented and underrated character actors around and continues to prove his worth and excellence here. Barney's life is an emotional roller-coaster, and Giamatti gives his all to make the audience really feel for this pathetic, misguided, adolescent shell of a man. No matter what emotion or word he is trying to convey, you will hang on every sound and look. He should have been nominated for Best Actor for the Oscars. The rest of the cast is solid, no matter their screen time. Rosamind Pike, as Barney's third wife is wonderful, as is Minnie Driver as the overbearing, Jewish 2nd wife. But they are all overshadowed by Dustin Hoffman in the role of Barney's father Izzy. He steals all the scenes he appears in providing more gusto and depth than he has in years. His antics and behavior at the Jewish Wedding/Reception are hilarious as is his final scene in the movie.
Give yourself a night off, forget about your problems and find out about Barney's problems and his friends problems, and his wives’ problems. It will make your life seem much, much better and you’ll laugh along the way, probably several times. For poor Barney, nothing seems to turn out the way he wanted. Even though he is successful in business, he is really miserable and doesn't know how to fix it. An unexpected turn of events, and voilà, his worst problem is solved. But in an instant, he messes up again and is suspected of murder. The answer to the murder mystery isn't revealed until the very end of the movie and even then you have to be really sharp to figure it out..
This is an Independent film that will be hard to find at the theatres.. but find it or rent it.. in other words, don’t miss it. It is a jewel of a movie.
Rated R for language and some sexual content.
Clark
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
THE SOCIAL NETWORK 4.0**** out of 4.0****
“The Social Network” is not as much about the phenomena of Facebook as it is about Mark Zuckerberg and the people associated with him and the consequences that arise from the birth and evolution of Facebook. In an even broader sense, it's about friends being driven apart due to money and betrayal. Because of this, it's no surprise that some have compared it to “Citizen Kane”. And it's not just the similarities in themes, it's also the quality of the film.
What makes the movie so good is the wonderful screen writing of Aaron Sorkin ( he was the force behind and writer for the brilliant TV drama, “West Wing”). The film is filled with crisp dialog that just sucks you in. Director David Fincher also does a great job keeping the audience captivated with a consistently fast and mesmerizing pace.
Several points stand out. First the film makers have rather ingeniously used as a framing device two separate court cases dealing with who really invented Facebook. In both lawsuits Zuckerman is being sued for really big bucks. Second, Jessie Eisenberg's performance as Zuckerberg is uncanny. It may or may not be true to life but it is absolutely convincing. His Zuckerberg is a genius but an enigma, a superficial friend but also a want-to-be-friend, and yet somehow we connect with him. Third, his opponents in one of the cases are the arrogant Winklevoss twins, two of a vanishing breed – handsome, rich WASP with an unshakable belief in their entitlement to privilege. Amazingly they are played by the same actor (Armie Hammer) who puts in two seamless performances. Fourth, Zuckerberg's treatment of his good friend to him and collaborator Eduardo Saverin, who is the other one suing Zuckerman, is outrageous.
This is a film which simply shouldn't work, but it does. . A convoluted story of conflict between the originators of new type of web site, Facebook, that since 2003 has come to be valued at 25 billion dollars and have 500 million members.. The movie succeeds because it is not about the technology but about creativity and conflict and about friendship and betrayal. It succeeds because of a magical combination of accomplished direction, scintillating dialogue and superb acting.
It has been nominated for Best Picture for the Oscars along with other nominations for Best Actor, Best Screenplay, Best Director etc.
Clark
“The Social Network” is not as much about the phenomena of Facebook as it is about Mark Zuckerberg and the people associated with him and the consequences that arise from the birth and evolution of Facebook. In an even broader sense, it's about friends being driven apart due to money and betrayal. Because of this, it's no surprise that some have compared it to “Citizen Kane”. And it's not just the similarities in themes, it's also the quality of the film.
What makes the movie so good is the wonderful screen writing of Aaron Sorkin ( he was the force behind and writer for the brilliant TV drama, “West Wing”). The film is filled with crisp dialog that just sucks you in. Director David Fincher also does a great job keeping the audience captivated with a consistently fast and mesmerizing pace.
Several points stand out. First the film makers have rather ingeniously used as a framing device two separate court cases dealing with who really invented Facebook. In both lawsuits Zuckerman is being sued for really big bucks. Second, Jessie Eisenberg's performance as Zuckerberg is uncanny. It may or may not be true to life but it is absolutely convincing. His Zuckerberg is a genius but an enigma, a superficial friend but also a want-to-be-friend, and yet somehow we connect with him. Third, his opponents in one of the cases are the arrogant Winklevoss twins, two of a vanishing breed – handsome, rich WASP with an unshakable belief in their entitlement to privilege. Amazingly they are played by the same actor (Armie Hammer) who puts in two seamless performances. Fourth, Zuckerberg's treatment of his good friend to him and collaborator Eduardo Saverin, who is the other one suing Zuckerman, is outrageous.
This is a film which simply shouldn't work, but it does. . A convoluted story of conflict between the originators of new type of web site, Facebook, that since 2003 has come to be valued at 25 billion dollars and have 500 million members.. The movie succeeds because it is not about the technology but about creativity and conflict and about friendship and betrayal. It succeeds because of a magical combination of accomplished direction, scintillating dialogue and superb acting.
It has been nominated for Best Picture for the Oscars along with other nominations for Best Actor, Best Screenplay, Best Director etc.
Clark
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT 3.0***
“The Kids Are All Right” is a family drama about two married women (Annette Bening and Julianne Moore) who are married to each other… yes, a lesbian marriage. They have two teenage kids. One born to one of the woman and the other child born by the other woman. The sperm donor was the same man for both. The eldest daughter (Mia Wasikowska) has just turned eighteen, and is encouraged by her younger brother to contact the sperm donor who made it possible for their mothers to conceive them. Upon meeting the man (Mark Ruffalo), the already strained dynamics of the family are stressed further, as the two mothers are going through the typical problems that any married couple faces after being married for years, and the daughter prepares to go off to college.
The fact that the central couple of the story are lesbians does somewhat set “The Kids Are All Right” apart, but at its heart it's really just a movie about family and the relationships within the family unit. There's great acting all around, and the story never delves too deeply into sentimentality or sappiness. There are no bad guys, just a bunch of flawed people who don't always do the right thing.
The performances are outstanding and is really the reason to see this film. The story is average at best. Julianne Moore and Annette Bening act as if they really were a couple married for the past two decades. Every word that they utter, every facial expression, seems so natural and genuine. When they discover horrifying secrets, when they are torn apart, we are heartbroken with them; it's pure torture to watch them for fear of ourselves ending up a crying mess. Add to that Mia Wasikowska and Josh Hutcherson as their children and Ruffalo as the sperm donor father and you've got one of the better family dramas,
Be forewarned though that this movie is rated “R” because there is a lot of graphic sex in this movie, both female to female and male to female… more than was necessary. And, yes, these scenes will be uncomfortable for many viewers to watch. But hey, as they say, this is Hollywood and that's the way they are out there …all in the name of art .
NOTE: From this movie the following Oscar nominations: Annette Bening for Best Actress; Mark Ruffalo for Best Male Supporting Role and the movie for Best Picture.
Clark
“The Kids Are All Right” is a family drama about two married women (Annette Bening and Julianne Moore) who are married to each other… yes, a lesbian marriage. They have two teenage kids. One born to one of the woman and the other child born by the other woman. The sperm donor was the same man for both. The eldest daughter (Mia Wasikowska) has just turned eighteen, and is encouraged by her younger brother to contact the sperm donor who made it possible for their mothers to conceive them. Upon meeting the man (Mark Ruffalo), the already strained dynamics of the family are stressed further, as the two mothers are going through the typical problems that any married couple faces after being married for years, and the daughter prepares to go off to college.
The fact that the central couple of the story are lesbians does somewhat set “The Kids Are All Right” apart, but at its heart it's really just a movie about family and the relationships within the family unit. There's great acting all around, and the story never delves too deeply into sentimentality or sappiness. There are no bad guys, just a bunch of flawed people who don't always do the right thing.
The performances are outstanding and is really the reason to see this film. The story is average at best. Julianne Moore and Annette Bening act as if they really were a couple married for the past two decades. Every word that they utter, every facial expression, seems so natural and genuine. When they discover horrifying secrets, when they are torn apart, we are heartbroken with them; it's pure torture to watch them for fear of ourselves ending up a crying mess. Add to that Mia Wasikowska and Josh Hutcherson as their children and Ruffalo as the sperm donor father and you've got one of the better family dramas,
Be forewarned though that this movie is rated “R” because there is a lot of graphic sex in this movie, both female to female and male to female… more than was necessary. And, yes, these scenes will be uncomfortable for many viewers to watch. But hey, as they say, this is Hollywood and that's the way they are out there …all in the name of art .
NOTE: From this movie the following Oscar nominations: Annette Bening for Best Actress; Mark Ruffalo for Best Male Supporting Role and the movie for Best Picture.
Clark
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
“Country Strong", surprisingly a good film even if you don't happen to like country music. Starring Gwyneth Paltrow (Iron Man), Tim McGraw (The Blind Side), Garrett Hedlund (TRON: Legacy) and Leighton Meester (Gossip Girl), "Country Strong" succeeds in doing exactly what it sets out to do; that is make a good dramatic film about country music that is also entertaining. And, oh yeah, Gwyneth Paltrow can sing.. This is a story that follows fallen country music superstar Kelly Canter (Paltrow) after she is released from rehab and attempts a comeback concert tour. There is also another, and all around better, storyline that follows the rise of two up and coming country music artists Beau Hutton and Chiles Stanton (Hedlund and Meester), as they try to find out what path to take through the harsh and unforgiving world of the country music industry.
Yes, "Country Strong" is somewhat predictable and yes, it does lag a bit in the middle of the film, but it does redeem itself with a vengeance in the final 30 minutes of the film. The storyline is confusing at times but acceptable, the character development is okay and the acting (including the singing), for the most part, is excellent. Paltrow delivers, not only vocally, but also as the fragile, disillusioned singer. Kelly is a woman who was strong once upon a time, but the constant pressure and relentless lifestyle have taken their toll. Now she’s a woman with a troubled marriage who has become lost in a sea of booze and bad breaks. But, unequivocally the actor to take note of in this film is Hedlund, who steals the show with his performance of as an up-and-coming young country singer and songwriter. His chemistry on screen with just about everyone including the microphone is so authentic, that whenever he is on-screen he literally makes the movie better.
Final Thought: "Country Strong" is currently getting raked through the coals by the critics for its simplistic storyline, but let me tell you this: anyone who is a fan of Country music will love this film if for no other reason, the music and the soundtrack.. And even if the Country twang is not your bang, this is a strong enough drama to keep you in your seat. This is no "Crazy Heart”, but "Country Strong" is still entertaining enough for me to recommend it.
Yes, "Country Strong" is somewhat predictable and yes, it does lag a bit in the middle of the film, but it does redeem itself with a vengeance in the final 30 minutes of the film. The storyline is confusing at times but acceptable, the character development is okay and the acting (including the singing), for the most part, is excellent. Paltrow delivers, not only vocally, but also as the fragile, disillusioned singer. Kelly is a woman who was strong once upon a time, but the constant pressure and relentless lifestyle have taken their toll. Now she’s a woman with a troubled marriage who has become lost in a sea of booze and bad breaks. But, unequivocally the actor to take note of in this film is Hedlund, who steals the show with his performance of as an up-and-coming young country singer and songwriter. His chemistry on screen with just about everyone including the microphone is so authentic, that whenever he is on-screen he literally makes the movie better.
Final Thought: "Country Strong" is currently getting raked through the coals by the critics for its simplistic storyline, but let me tell you this: anyone who is a fan of Country music will love this film if for no other reason, the music and the soundtrack.. And even if the Country twang is not your bang, this is a strong enough drama to keep you in your seat. This is no "Crazy Heart”, but "Country Strong" is still entertaining enough for me to recommend it.
“Country Strong", surprisingly a good film even if you don't happen to like country music. Starring Gwyneth Paltrow (Iron Man), Tim McGraw (The Blind Side), Garrett Hedlund (TRON: Legacy) and Leighton Meester (Gossip Girl), "Country Strong" succeeds in doing exactly what it sets out to do; that is make a good dramatic film about country music that is also entertaining. And, oh yeah, Gwyneth Paltrow can sing.. This is a story that follows fallen country music superstar Kelly Canter (Paltrow) after she is released from rehab and attempts a comeback concert tour. There is also another, and all around better, storyline that follows the rise of two up and coming country music artists Beau Hutton and Chiles Stanton (Hedlund and Meester), as they try to find out what path to take through the harsh and unforgiving world of the country music industry.
Yes, "Country Strong" is somewhat predictable and yes, it does lag a bit in the middle of the film, but it does redeem itself with a vengeance in the final 30 minutes of the film. The storyline is confusing at times but acceptable, the character development is okay and the acting (including the singing), for the most part, is excellent. Paltrow delivers, not only vocally, but also as the fragile, disillusioned singer. Kelly is a woman who was strong once upon a time, but the constant pressure and relentless lifestyle have taken their toll. Now she’s a woman with a troubled marriage who has become lost in a sea of booze and bad breaks. But, unequivocally the actor to take note of in this film is Hedlund, who steals the show with his performance of as an up-and-coming young country singer and songwriter. His chemistry on screen with just about everyone including the microphone is so authentic, that whenever he is on-screen he literally makes the movie better.
Final Thought: "Country Strong" is currently getting raked through the coals by the critics for its simplistic storyline, but let me tell you this: anyone who is a fan of Country music will love this film if for no other reason, the music and the soundtrack.. And even if the Country twang is not your bang, this is a strong enough drama to keep you in your seat. This is no "Crazy Heart”, but "Country Strong" is still entertaining enough for me to recommend it.
Yes, "Country Strong" is somewhat predictable and yes, it does lag a bit in the middle of the film, but it does redeem itself with a vengeance in the final 30 minutes of the film. The storyline is confusing at times but acceptable, the character development is okay and the acting (including the singing), for the most part, is excellent. Paltrow delivers, not only vocally, but also as the fragile, disillusioned singer. Kelly is a woman who was strong once upon a time, but the constant pressure and relentless lifestyle have taken their toll. Now she’s a woman with a troubled marriage who has become lost in a sea of booze and bad breaks. But, unequivocally the actor to take note of in this film is Hedlund, who steals the show with his performance of as an up-and-coming young country singer and songwriter. His chemistry on screen with just about everyone including the microphone is so authentic, that whenever he is on-screen he literally makes the movie better.
Final Thought: "Country Strong" is currently getting raked through the coals by the critics for its simplistic storyline, but let me tell you this: anyone who is a fan of Country music will love this film if for no other reason, the music and the soundtrack.. And even if the Country twang is not your bang, this is a strong enough drama to keep you in your seat. This is no "Crazy Heart”, but "Country Strong" is still entertaining enough for me to recommend it.
Monday, January 24, 2011
THE FIGHTER 4.0 ****
The Fighter is the story of the fall and the rise of Mickey and Dickie Ward, two brothers who are both boxers from Lowell Massachusetts. The spotlight should be on Mickey, the up and comer, but instead, all the family and even media attention is on Dickie, the star who once knocked down Sugar Ray Leonard and is claiming to make a comeback, when in reality he's way down the path of drugs, danger and destruction. Dickie is a crack addict and a meth head. Mickey, however, is intent on keeping him around to help him train.
Much of “The Fighter” revolves around the Ward family drama, and what a drama it is.. A family with 2 adult brothers and 7 adult sisters, 2 fathers, a money grubbing, domineering mother who doubles as a mess of a manager. And it is older brother Dickie who consistently brings the family down. Everything comes to a head when Dickie gets himself arrested and brings Mickey into the situation that nearly ends his boxing career.
The film is strong from start to finish thanks to brilliant acting and remarkable direction by David O. Russell. What performance to start with is difficult so we’ll start with the leading man, Mark Whalberg who delivers a strong performance as a gritty Boston native who is the underdog boxer… it’ll remind you of Rocky. He plays Mickey as the sometimes timid and sometimes confident boxer who is, unfortunately, often overwhelmed by his family who are looking out for themselves and not him. Whalberg's love interest in the film, Amy Adams, delivers a sterling performance as Mickey’s tough yet loving girlfriend. Melissa Leo is outstanding as Ward's mother doing an in-your-face performance of the ultra-controlling mother/manager to perfection. NOW, for the man who steals the movie from everyone. Christian Bale. Bale will absolutely blow you away with this incredible, and very Oscar worthy performance. Bale does to Whalberg what Ledger did to Bale in the Batman movie,” Dark Knight”; that is, steal the main character’s film right out from under him. His mental and physical preparation alone is the definition of true method acting from an unbelievably talented actor. This is one of the best supporting actor performances in years and he should definitely walk away with the awards at this year's Golden Globes and Oscars.
The screenplay in this film is nothing short of spectacular. The dialogue really makes the movie believable and allows it to come alive on the screen in a big way. The fighting scenes are incredibly well done and keep you at the edge of your seat, and will have you cheering by the end of the movie. This is one of the best sports films to hit screens in the past couple of years. It has everything you want in a “feel good” sports film.
Rated R for strong language throughout, drug content, some violence and sexuality
Clark
The Fighter is the story of the fall and the rise of Mickey and Dickie Ward, two brothers who are both boxers from Lowell Massachusetts. The spotlight should be on Mickey, the up and comer, but instead, all the family and even media attention is on Dickie, the star who once knocked down Sugar Ray Leonard and is claiming to make a comeback, when in reality he's way down the path of drugs, danger and destruction. Dickie is a crack addict and a meth head. Mickey, however, is intent on keeping him around to help him train.
Much of “The Fighter” revolves around the Ward family drama, and what a drama it is.. A family with 2 adult brothers and 7 adult sisters, 2 fathers, a money grubbing, domineering mother who doubles as a mess of a manager. And it is older brother Dickie who consistently brings the family down. Everything comes to a head when Dickie gets himself arrested and brings Mickey into the situation that nearly ends his boxing career.
The film is strong from start to finish thanks to brilliant acting and remarkable direction by David O. Russell. What performance to start with is difficult so we’ll start with the leading man, Mark Whalberg who delivers a strong performance as a gritty Boston native who is the underdog boxer… it’ll remind you of Rocky. He plays Mickey as the sometimes timid and sometimes confident boxer who is, unfortunately, often overwhelmed by his family who are looking out for themselves and not him. Whalberg's love interest in the film, Amy Adams, delivers a sterling performance as Mickey’s tough yet loving girlfriend. Melissa Leo is outstanding as Ward's mother doing an in-your-face performance of the ultra-controlling mother/manager to perfection. NOW, for the man who steals the movie from everyone. Christian Bale. Bale will absolutely blow you away with this incredible, and very Oscar worthy performance. Bale does to Whalberg what Ledger did to Bale in the Batman movie,” Dark Knight”; that is, steal the main character’s film right out from under him. His mental and physical preparation alone is the definition of true method acting from an unbelievably talented actor. This is one of the best supporting actor performances in years and he should definitely walk away with the awards at this year's Golden Globes and Oscars.
The screenplay in this film is nothing short of spectacular. The dialogue really makes the movie believable and allows it to come alive on the screen in a big way. The fighting scenes are incredibly well done and keep you at the edge of your seat, and will have you cheering by the end of the movie. This is one of the best sports films to hit screens in the past couple of years. It has everything you want in a “feel good” sports film.
Rated R for strong language throughout, drug content, some violence and sexuality
Clark
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