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Reviews
Confessions of a Superhero (2007)
Overrated, decent but still overrated
I wanted to know why this had such high praise and after watching it online just now I am still wondering that. Some of the positive include a unique subject matter, sort of interesting profiles, and a good budget that showed with the quality of production.
I still couldn't help but feel like this might have been better served as a short film, as opposed to it's feature length.
The lives our "superheroes" live are sad, and while some aspects are interesting I didn't find them endearing or terribly entertaining. They were also not particularly inspiring, like the director might have intended them to be. I found myself looking at the clock waiting for it to end.
While I appreciate the effort I think this runs flat and would have enjoyed a more complex theme attached to the story.
If you enjoy documentaries and want something different keep looking. Between Amazon, Snagfilms, Hulu.com, and Netflix you will be able to find much better documentaries that profile the stranger side of life. Would have been much better served as a short film.
6 out of 10
Seven Pounds (2008)
Overlooked gem
Once again Will Smith proves his A-list status with a captivating performance. It is hard to write too much without spoiling the movie. Great story, great cast, fantastic direction. It is rare that an original movie with such a high quality comes out of Hollywood. Too bad it did not get the praise it deserved.
The only negative parts are
It is somewhat predictable.
I wanted to see more of the supporting cast at times, in particular Woody H.
More flashbacks would have been nice
Still, I give it a 9 out of 10
Traitor (2008)
Could have been so much better
The idea behind the film was great, the execution was not. Don Cheadle was outstanding as usual playing a Muslim who might possibly working under cover for the Government, or he could have turned into a rouge agent. Jeff Daniels, who I feel is a very under rated actor, handled his role just fine. Guy Pearce played a more subdued role, and I would have liked to see more of his character. The terrorists were very conviencing and were portrayed as humans with logic behind their beliefs and actions, even though I personally feel their logic is flawed it was delightful to see a movie put a real human face on the enemy of western culture as opposed to them being portrayed as crazed maniacs.
That point, to me, was very important in establishing the theme of the film. A more realistic look at the culture, anger and beliefs behind the enemy of the western world. This helped set the tone early on.
Unfortunately the pacing was too slow for my taste. The were going for a realistic feel so I understand it was more of a character / social commentary film as opposed to a Rambo type feel where the good guy goes in guns blazing ready to take out every terrorist with a bow and arrow and a .50 calabur machine gun.
With that being said I really would have liked to have seen more action, more tension.
With the pacing being such a big problem I am going to have to give it 6 out of 10 stars. I was just really hoping for more.
Jesus Camp (2006)
Sad, boring and scary all at once
This is a hard movie for me to rate for several reasons. The production was very well done. Great sound, good camera work and appropriate music. However, it was difficult for me to watch children being subjected to severe religious indoctrination at first, then my sadness turned to boredom. The filmmakers capture scenes that are powerful then choose to drag those scenes on and on until they loose their meaning.
While it was an interesting documentary nothing really happened worth mentioning. I think if the filmmakers would have cut 30 minutes out of the documentary not much would have been missed and it would have been more powerful.
Moreover, I think if the filmmakers would have followed the subjects 10 years down the road to see what they turned into they would have been able to make their subtle point much more effectively.
If it's late and you have nothing to watch then give it a shot. Other then that I don't recommend going out of your way to rent this.
I give it 6 out of 10 stars
The Last of the Mohicans (1992)
One of the great movies of the 90's that stands the test of time
This is by far my favorite Michael Mann film. The soundtrack is legendary but in my humble opinion the movie itself should be considered one of the greatest movies in the 1990's.
The cast is perfect. Daniel Day-Lewis is, well, Daniel Day Lewis. Wes Studi played Magua so well I have trouble suspending disbelief when I see him in another role. Madeleine Stowe, Russell Means and Pete Postlethwaite stand out with dynamic performances as also.
The cinematography was stunning, the acting was flawless and the movie is everything you could ever ask for.
If you have not seen this you are missing out.
I give it 10 out of 10 stars.
Impaler (2007)
Cunningly good
I saw this at the Stamp Student Union at the U.of Maryland and it was nothing that I expected it to be. The main subject is Jonathon "The Impaler" Sharkey, a self professed Satanist and Vampire running for Governor in Minnesota with his main policy being the impalement of criminals. I had never seen a documentary done in this format and style of pacing. At first it seemed like there was no clear narrative tool used and the scenes look to be a scattered collection of arbitrary clips. However, towards the last half of the movie you are sucked into the story and everything gels together and starts to make sense. Nothing about this movie is "in your face", everything is subtle. Subtle messages about America's obsession with fame pop up now and again. Subtle messages about mental illness and child abuse seem to be hidden throughout. The soundtrack is very well done and unexpected for a documentary on this subject matter. The filmmakers shot and edited in a very anti Hollywood style which indicates to me that it was a deliberate narrative tool used to humanize a fame and power hungry cartoon like subject.
I was laughing one minute, then a couple minutes later I was recoiling. I found myself routing for the subject one second, and then hating him the next. Just when I was about to get bored the director would throw in a twist to the story and before long the documentary turned into a mystery. Impaler is subtly funny, dark and, full of sardonic twists and questions left unanswered. The ending is unexpected and extremely powerful. Impaler made me think about it and talk about it with my friends through the rest of the night. For me that is a sign of a well crafted documentary.
While the production budget of Impaler seemed to be small, I found it to be much more engaging and captivating then well known and well funded documentaries with huge marketing campaigns behind them like Jesus Camp and Darkon. Sadly this little gem of a movie will probably go into DVD oblivion without ever finding the cult audience it deserves.
8 out of 10 stars from me.
Magnolia (1999)
An American Masterpiece
I went to see this as a first date movie the day it came out. She hated it, I loved it, the relationship was doomed before it even started. Yes we all know Short Cuts was a big influence. Demme and Scorsese are also big influences for Anderson as a director. That being said, P.T. Anderson has become a master director in his own right and his follow up to Boogie Nights could not have been more perfect.
The story and sub-plots are too complex to sum up. I will just say that every story line had me hooked. The character development in the writing is one to be marveled at. The entire cast was spectacular and Tom Cruise gave one of the best performances of his life, possibly the best.
It is hard to recommend this to everyone. Some people actually HATE this film, while others like me can watch it over and over and never get tired of it.
If you are looking for a film with beautiful camera work, direction and acting...AND... a story with substance then this is for you! If you want the big predictable Hollywood movies where you feel safe then I would not recommend it.
I give it a 10 out of 10 stars
Dead Man Walking (1995)
Forget the political beliefs of the cast/director
Yes, forget about the political beliefs of Sean Penn, Susan Sarandon and the director, Tim Robbins. This movie is a balanced masterpiece on one of America's most controversial subjects. We are given an objective view from both sides of the issue and if you have an open mind you are made to feel both sides of the debate on executions in America. I am not sure if it will change anyone's mind but it should make the subject more clear for anyone truly interested in expanding their view on the world around them.
The direction was spot on and the acting was fantastic. Penn plays an unlikable yet vulnerable character and Susan Sarandon owned her role. All of the other actors did exactly what they should have done... Convienced me they were NOT acting.
9 out of 10 from me.