After.Life (2009)

Once in a while I decide to watch a horror film. To be honest I'm not much of a horror fan, mainly because horror films so rarely work for me. The film After.Life was an exception for me. This film added mystery and drama in ways that exceeded my expectations for a horror film.

Starring Laim Neeson, Christina Ricci, and Justin Long, this film is a dark story about the transition from life to death. Neeson plays an undertaker who appears to have a gift for helping people accept their deaths. His next client is a young school teacher Anna (Ricci) who can't accept her that she has died after a terrible car crash. Neeson works through the denial and rejection as he deals with Anna's grieving fiancee Paul (Long). Meanwhile Paul suspects that Anna isn't dead and drama builds as he finds more reasons to believe so. The question of who is dead and who is alive must be answered.

This isn't a blockbuster film but it has some high points. The acting is wonderful and makes up for some points in the film that seem to stray from the point. It's a thinker's film so don't expect monsters to jump out of the corner to scare you. I found the movie less predictable than most horror films of the last few years as well. In the end I'm glad I saw it and have little criticism besides the meandering points in the plot.

One point to make is that the film shows off a bit more of Christina Ricci than I expected. It doesn't add to the film but it's not excessive.

I would give this film a 3 out of 5 stars.

Film Rating: R
Time: 104 Minutes
 

The Lincoln Lawyer (2011)

From the desk of Genna DeLany, a review on The Lincoln Lawyer:

Mickey Haller is L.A.’s top criminal defense attorney – a fast living, freewheeling pro who does business out of the back seat of his classic Lincoln Town car. He knows all the ins and outs of the legal system and how to exploit them to his clients’ advantage. But after agreeing to defend a wealthy young man accused of rape and murder, Mickey suddenly finds himself embroiled in a deadly game of violence, vengeance and deception that threatens to not only end his career, but also his life.

The Good: Matthew McConaughey. He got a lot of praise for this role when this movie came and, and deservedly so. He did an excellent job of portraying emotions and inner turmoil through facial expressions and body language. He was believable throughout the entire film.

The story. It had me figuring it out as it went rather than 5 minutes in.  It’s not a story I’ve seen 10 times in other movies. It kept me interested until the end.

The Bad: Ryan Phillipe. He really wasn’t terrible, but I’ve never been a huge fan of him. He doesn’t have much stage presence. However, it does kind of work in this role. His character called for a sense of coldness, but I think there could have been a little more to him.

Recommend? Yes. There is some moderate language and the nature of the alleged crimes is very serious. So it is not for the younger crowd.

I give this film 4 out of 5 stars.

Doubt (2008)

This 2008 film earned five Academy Award nominations including three for acting. Philip Seymour Hoffman, Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, and Viola Davis all worked in perfect harmony for this drama set in a Catholic school in 1964.

The story follows the stark difference between Father Flynn (Hoffman) and Sister Beauvier (Streep) who clash on the way things should be done. The differences become a problem when Sister Beauvier brings Sister James (Adams) into an investigation of Father Flynn  and his relationship with a young man in the school. Confrontation leads to confusion and contention as story unfolds. Sister James finds herself in the middle as she seeks for the good in the people involved.

This is one of those films I just didn't get around to. The mature subject matter was handled well and it kept a PG-13 rating which works wonderfully. I am always impressed by the talents of both Seymour and Streep but it was Adams who really impressed me this time. This is a wonderfully filmed movie with an incredible soundtrack, perhaps one of the best movies of the last five years.

This is a drama that you can really sink your teeth into. I give this a 4.3 out of 5 stars.

Moneyball

With one of the most anticipated films of 2011 Brad Pitt has hit a home run. Proven talent like Philip Seymour Hoffman and Robin Wright add their talents to this incredible film. In addition Jonah Hill proves himself in a serious role with a great performance. All of the remaining cast members take on their roles with great success and put together a great movie.

The film Moneyball is the story of the 2002 Oakland Athletics and the unconventional methods used in putting together their team. Based on the book by Michael Lewis this film focuses on the loss of their star players to teams with bigger payrolls.  Billy Beane (Pitt) enlists the help of Peter Brand (Hill) to find hidden talent with unpopular statistical methods. Hill is normally known for his sarcastic tone and comedic relief but this time he plays it straight and fits right in as the young statistics nerd. Beane's clashes with the manager (Hoffman) also make for some great dialogue as they spar over the old school and new schools of talent evaluation. The writing in this film is wonderful overall.

Another one of the major successes in the film is their ability to explain the different schools of baseball thought without being overly detailed. The game of baseball has a rich tradition and the film does a wonderful job showing the backlash that comes from pushing against the grain. This is done throughout the film without slowing the pace or taking away from the story. 

I would recommend this film to anyone. Despite being a sports film I believe that you don't have to be a fan to enjoy this amazing story. I also expect this film to gain some major attention when awards season begins. I give Moneyball a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Eight Men Out

This 1988 film is a great account of the eight men who put a stain on baseball. The film has an all-star cast that includes John Cusack, Christopher Lloyd, Charlie Sheen, David Strathairn, and D.B. Sweeney. Each of these men does a great job taking on the roles of baseball legends.

This film tells the story of the Chicago Black Sox who were accused of fixing the 1919 series. The story goes from the end of the regular season to the sensational trial after the series was over. The film examines the roles each of these great ballplayers had in the fix, as well as the forces outside that pressured them. The tragedy and the conflict are well played throughout.

This is a tragic story for anyone, maybe more for someone who loves baseball. I enjoyed the film in every aspect, but I especially enjoyed it because of the look at baseball history. Written in part by John Sayles, a two time Oscar nominee for his writing, this is quite an emotional film. It's rated PG so it's a film that the whole family can watch. In contrast to Cobb I think this is a film that stays more true to the history of the events.

I would rate this at 3.6 stars out of 5.

Syriana

For those of you who haven't seen this 2005 political suspense film it might be worth watching. I had been hesitant to see a film with political undertones but this one didn't seem to push one way or the other. It was simply a film about the politics of the situations each of the main characters was involved in.

The film revolves around a series of stories starring George Clooney, Matt Damon, and Jeffrey Wright. Clooney plays Bob Barnes, a CIA operative who is being pulled between the company line and his sense of duty as he sorts out a conspiracy. Damon is cast as Bryan Woodman, a financial adviser who plays his personal tragedy into working major oil deals in the middle east. Wright plays Bennett Holiday who becomes an unwitting participant in a deal with shady connections. With each of the stories playing out individually it seems that a collision is inevitable.

I truly enjoyed this film. It shared a structure very similar to Babel with it's multiple concurrent story lines. Each of the stories seemed connected but it wasn't completely clear how things were going to unite in the end. I would have to say that this film really opened my eyes to Jeffrey Wright. I had seen him in two Bond films with Daniel Craig but this was a better level of acting. This Golden Globe winner has also been featured in Cadillac Records and Source Code, two films I am more likely to see now.

I would suggest this film to anyone who loves suspense. It has great acting, a great soundtrack, and an amazing story. This film earned a 3.7 out of 5 stars from me.

The Oxford Murders (2008)

The Oxford Murders is a 2008 film starring Elijah Wood and John Hurt. The film focuses on Martin, a grad student and Professor Arthur Seldom who are brought together by their skills in mathematics. Their bond is a murderer who is using mathematical symbols as they kill. The film isn't full of chase scenes or violence but it manages to keep a feeling of suspense.

The film is well-made although it has a slow pace. Each of the scenes seems important and the end result is worth the wait. It's rare for a mystery to completely catch me off guard, this one accomplished that. Wood and Hurt both play their characters well. It's interesting to see the natural chemistry that seems to come from their on-screen interaction. Supporting these two actors are Leonor Watling and Julie Cox. Both are relatively unknown actresses as far as American audiences are concerned. This aside they manage to play their parts well and work into the film without any major flaws.

The soundtrack plays well with the theme of the film. The camera work is also well-done and keeps the suspense intact.

I would suggest this film to anyone who likes a great mystery. The film is a modern Sherlock Holmes style mystery with a very academic approach. I give it 3.3 out of 5 stars.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1

This 2010 film brings me closer to the final chapter in the Harry Potter series. The magic continues with the seventh and darkest film in the series. This time the familiar cast of characters steps out of the classroom altogether and into a world of danger as they seek out the destruction of the enemy.

Without the wisdom of their professors and classmates Harry, Ron, and Hermione are alone in a world where they've become the hunted as they seek out the Horcruxes that hold the key to Voldemort's existence. Each turn brings loyalties into question in this excellent story.

Like I've stated before, I didn't expect to enjoy these films as much as I have. This brings me to the final chapter and I'm truly interested to see how the saga ends. Without having read the books I truly have no idea what the last film will bring.

As with the films before it the acting showed great skill and improvement. I enjoyed the special effects and the scenery throughout the film. I also enjoy the soundtrack which has evolved with every film. I guess I've just got to see this through and finish the journey.

Appaloosa (2008)

This dark western epic was written and directed by Ed Harris. Harris also starred in this film alongside Viggo Mortensen, Jeremy Irons, and Renee Zellweger.

The story focuses on two friends who hire on with a local community to protect them from Randall Bragg (Irons) and his band of outlaw cowboys. Cole (Harris) and Hitch (Mortensen) make it clear that they're not in town to arrest anyone as they blast away at anyone who crosses the line. Things become more complicated as Harris falls for a flighty young widow named Allison French (Zellweger). She becomes a weakness for Harris as he continues to do battle with Bragg and his men. The film has a clear villain but a flawed hero making it a darker film than many westerns.

The films has a good story but falls short in execution. I would place a large amount of the blame on Zellweger who might have given the weakest performance of her career in this movie. She leaves me frustrated by her poor speech throughout the film. Harris also seemed a bit out of his element, although he managed to play his role well. The highlights of this film come from Irons who delivers an excellent performance as the twisted and deadly Randall Bragg. Mortensen is also excellent in his portrayal of the quiet sidekick.

Harris did the majority of the writing alongside Robert Knott and at times the dialogue seems as though they both wrote different scenes. In total I think that the film was a worthwhile watch that requires some patience. The pace can be slow at times but the cinematography and soundtrack are great to experience. I wouldn't rush out to watch this film, but it's worth a watch on TV or perhaps a quick rental.

I would rate this film a 3.1 out of 5 stars.

Brick - Too heavy for most viewers......

Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, this film follows a young man on a quest for answers. His girlfriend is dead and he's stuck in the dirty world of drug trade. As he digs deeper he has one friend and an ever-growing list of enemies. It's the ultimate game of chess as he plays all sides in his search for a resolution.

On the surface this sounds like a great film. In execution I would say it falls far short. The story is interesting but the dialogue is pretentious and overdone. At times I'm not sure I understood what they were saying, sometimes that adds to a film, this time I think marked it as a writer trying too hard.

There are shining moments in the film as the dialogue did succeed in small doses. The action and acting also had some nice scenes as well. The camera work was definitely an exercise in art house film.

In the end this was a collage of efforts that fell short or felt forced when they didn't need to be. With all the small successes the film didn't work as a whole. It was a film that tried to push some boundaries but wasn't believable. Despite  all of this I did watch all the way through and was pleased to see that the ending did tie up the story in a way I could at least understand.

I couldn't give this film more than 1.7 stars out of 5. I'm sure some critics in the film world loved it but I'm not sure that the everyday film viewer would enjoy it.

Sleepers

Once again I find myself writing about a film with a powerful message but no redeeming values to expound upon. The film is Sleepers which was released in 1996 and includes talents such as Brad Pitt, Robert DeNiro, Kevin Bacon, and Dustin Hoffman.

The film focuses on the friendship of four boys from Hell's Kitchen who find themselves in a home for boys after a prank goes wrong. Their experience inside this institution becomes the changing point for them as they each cope with the abuse in different ways. Their only relief coming from the visits of their priest, Father Bobby, played by Robert DeNiro.

The film goes from the abusive experience the boys had in the institution to the revenge they each sought as adults. Despite leading different lives they were all tied together in their experiences. This bond would be tested as two of them find a way to gain revenge on the men who had harmed them as boys. What would follow was a courtroom drama well played out by the actors involved.

This is a powerful movie that defies description since it is emotionally charged and requires watching to really capture the experience as a whole. Like some of the other films I've reviewed, this is not for children. This film addresses some very serious issues with some graphic scenes of violence and abuse. I can't say that I enjoy this film, but I can say that it's a well-made film and I appreciate point it makes.

I would rate this at a 3.7 out of 5 stars.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

The saga continues for me as I have now seen six of the films in the Harry Potter series. This film was another great experience although considerably darker than those before it. As I've watched each of these films I've grown to look forward to the next. Not only is the story intriguing, but the growth of each character is exciting.

This film took some steps I feel were needed to solidify the need for future films. Being unaware of the books I can say that the films had allowed enough tension between characters and the love story was primed and ready. This side of the story was not dominant in the film but made sense all the same. I was glad to see the obvious and less obvious love connections that mixed into the film.

Second was the decision to allow a main character to die. Some series cling to the main characters and leave things seeming unrealistic. In the dangerous world of Harry Potter it seemed necessary that someone would die at some point. To avoid being a spoiler I'll leave it at that. I'm sure it was a hard decision for the author and for the filmmakers who knew their audience loved these characters.

Finally, they've continued to take the story out of the classroom. I'm glad to see that the world of Harry Potter is ever expanding. This has lent some realism to a fantastic story since it doesn't confine everything into the grounds of Hogwarts.

I'll also say that the villains are exceptional once again. Being a darker film requires that you have villains that you can really hate. Once again there were the obvious and not so obvious villains. The film also allowed for the villains to have a human side. The idea that fear motivates some people to be bad is one of my favorite in films.

Once again I'm excited to see what happens next. I'm getting close to the end and glad that I'm not seeing any falling off in the making of these films. I would give this film a 4.1 out of 5 stars and recommend it to anyone.

The Basketball Diaries

The IMDB website describes this 1995 film as "Jim Carroll's epistle about his kaleidoscopic free fall into the harrowing world of drug addiction." This film tells the story of a young man with star potential on his school basketball team who falls apart due to his own weaknesses and the influence of his friends.

Starring Leonardo DiCaprio this film carries the weight of a film like Precious. The themes are dark and the acting is gritty. DiCaprio solidified himself as a great actor as he portrays the stages of addiction and the climb out. The raw emotion is moving at times and kept me interested as the film got darker and harder to watch at moments. 

The cast around him was also impressive. Although DiCaprio carried the majority of the film he worked with rising stars like Lorraine Bracco, James Madio, and Mark Wahlberg. The characters surrounding Jim were all unique and never seemed like filler. Together, the four boys weave a story of youth gone wild and the consequences of their actions.

Despite being a tough film to watch, the film is very well-made. Having been written as an autobiographical piece makes it a bit slow. The narrative is good though and keeps interest going as you follow the descent into addiction.

I give this 3.7 out of 5 stars.

The Virgin Suicides

Sofia Coppola hit one out of the park when she made this film in 1999. The story of the implosion of a family is remarkable and well-told. Starting with tragedy and ending with tragedy, this is the story of parents who are unable to control the destiny of their children. Told from the perspective of the young men around the five girls, this is a story that kept me interested through to the end.

From the eerie soundtrack to the well-written narrative this film is a success. Having seen it for the first time I'm surprised that it has every bit of value it likely had when it came out. I was also sceptical of the acting when I saw that two teen stars, Josh Hartnett and Kirsten Dunst were in the film. In 1999 I wouldn't have considered either of them for a serious drama like this one. I would've been wrong.

This isn't a film for everyone. The title is likely to prove that. I am impressed with the examination of the family and their roles in the lives of one another, as well as the role that the outside world had on the outcome. It's definitely a major indictment on society and also parental control. I think this is worth watching if you're a fan of serious film.

I would rate this a 3.8 out of 5 stars.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

 

In the fifth installment of the Harry Potter saga I can honestly say that I was excited and anxious to see what would happen next. I wasn't disappointed with the results despite being incredibly surprised. As with the other films, this is an improvement over those that came before it. I think that this might have been the strongest story and also the darkest by far. 

This time around the school ceased to be the center of all activities and the world of magic opened up. The dark plot lent itself to a more scary film style and set design. This film also dealt with some of the obvious questions about the effects of all the danger on Harry Potter. The story also allowed HArry to step out of line and be a bit of a rebel.

One of the great things about these films is the ability to have the same villain and still see an evolution in the story. This wasn't Lex Luthor riding off into the night with vague promises to return. This villain is a truly dark being with means to continue in his pursuit of Harry Potter. In this film he continued his efforts with a new cast of sidekicks. I am ready for number six thanks to the quality of this film. 

Finally, I was glad to see all the same faces, having the cast along for all the films so far has been great. I don't know if that continues but I sure hope so.  

I would say that this is as good as those before it. The films have all been fun to watch and as the actors mature the stories do as well. I give this 4 out of 5 stars.

An American in Paris

In 1952 An American in Paris won six Academy Awards. Seeing the film in 2011 has allowed me to see what a masterpiece this film really is. Starring Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron in her film debut, the film tells the story of a former G.I. who has settled in Paris to work as a painter. He finds himself in the company of a struggling musician whose friend is a famous singer. The story focuses on Jerry, played by Gene Kelly, who meets a young woman and falls in love. It's a classic story of the Romeo and Juliet variety that focuses on her relationship with another man and Jerry's commitment to a wealthy benfactor.

Watching this film is a wonderful experience. It's got the feel of the great hollywood studio films with the colorful set designs and large-scale musical numbers. The music is no less wonderful than you would expect when you have Gene Kelly working with music written by Ira Gershwin. Gershwin wrote "Our Love is Here to Stay" which is featured in this film as well as countless others over the years. (Watch Forget Paris) The set design is also impressive as the ballet sequences were filmed on sets designed to reflect some of the great painters like Van Gogh.

Without exception the acting of Gene Kelly is a pleasure to watch. In this era of filmmaking stars were expected to sing, dance, and act. Kelly did them all at a high level and this film is no exception. Additionally, Kelly assisted in the direction of the film due to the demands being placed on Vincente Minnelli through his personal life.

If any criticism could be leveled, it might be the lack of dialogue through a 17 minute dance sequence which ends the film. It slows the pace and may not work for people who don't enjoy the art of dance and music.

This is a film that's as enjoyable as Singing in the Rain yet it has it's own unique charm. There is a great repeat value in this film with it's dancing, singing, and charming love story. Like many of my favorite films An American in Paris is a movie that remains relevant more than 60 years from it's release. The dancing, the music, and the story all come together with great success and leave us with an American film masterpiece. I give this a strong 4 out of 5 stars.

Guest Blogger Kevin Abbes - Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Rise of the Planet of the Apes had so much going on that it was simply one of the most enjoyable movies in a long time.




This film is similar to the original Planet of the Apes from 1969 but has a little different story line.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011) takes place in the San Francisco Bay area in California. Will Rodman (James Franco) is a scientist that works for Gen-Sys, which is a pharmaceutical company, and is trying to find a cure for the deadly disease of Alzheimer. The previous five years Will has been testing a drug on Chimpanzees and it has great promise until the day that it is supposed to be shown to investors and something goes wrong.

Will's father Charles (John Lithgow) has a terminal case of Alzheimer's and Will takes the experimental drug home and gives it to his father after seeing how well it worked with his Chimps. A baby Chimpanzee of one of the tested Chimps, Caesar (Andy Serkis) is born with the drug already in his blood stream and it has an effect that nobody could imagine which makes him smarter than the average Chimpanzee. Caesar evolves throughout the movie and great things happen to him and his fellow primates.

I am not much of a Science Fiction fan but this movie blew me away. The acting, story line and special effects made this one of the better movies of its kind that I have seen in awhile! I would give this movie 8 out of 10 stars. The movie has things that are somewhat hard to believe but then again it is a Science Fiction film.

I hope this substitute review for Jeff's Blog lives up to Jeff's usual Blogs!

Kevin

The special effects are some of the better that I have seen in awhile. The apes look fairly human because they are human faces that are digitally altered into ape faces. In addition the usual Hollywood explosions and movie tricks are thrown into the movie but the ones mentioned previously were the best.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Finding my way to the fourth film was easy since I had enjoyed the last film enough. This time I feel like they really nailed it. This was definitely the darkest of the films so far, filled with far more intrigue and mystery. This film also continued the improvement of the three young actors.

The plot of the film was written well since it didn't have it's center around the main character to start. The championship was a good centerpiece for the action to begin. This allowed the story to develop and bring Harry into the picture. 

I also enjoyed the fact that this film expanded in it's range of villains. It was relatively easy to predict the culprit from the first three films. This one left me a bit more surprised.

Overall, it was another great film to watch. Like most films of this type I wouldn't expect award-winning stuff, just a great family film.

I would give this a rating of 4 out of 5 stars.

Cobb - The 1994 film about a baseball legend.

In 1994 Ron Shelton made an attempt to create a film based on Al Stump's book about the late Ty Cobb. This was a daunting task considering the incredible and long life of the subject. Tommy Lee Jones was chosen to play the title character and the film moved forward with a list of lesser known actors.

Sadly, the film chose to look at Cobb's life in small clips over the course of a film that focused on his paranoid last years. I feel like this was a wasted opportunity to capture the life of a man hated for his personality and loved for his skills. In truth, I feel like the film didn't ever take the leap into the past that would've truly fascinated viewers.

In the end they made a film that underperformed and left more questions than answers. I believe this is a failed experiment at making a biographical film without ever showing a man's life.

I give this 2 out of 5 stars.