Reviews

First off, no, this is not a film you have to go to the back room of your local video store to get. It is my number 3 favorite from film class, Working Girl. Melanie Griffith stars as the overachieving Tess, a young woman with great ideas who always ends up with the short end of the stick when it comes to career opportunities. Her new demanding boss Katharine (Sigourney Weaver), injures herself in a ski accident, leaving Griffith the keys to her office and home. When she finds out the deceptive Katharine steals her idea to acquire media outlets for profit, Tess takes matters into her own hands along with the help of the clueless business partner Jack Trainer (Harrison Ford).

Corporate life has its ups, buy mostly consists of downs which the award winning Mike Nichols portrays through the dominated young career woman who cannot find a trustworthy friend (besides the ditzy Joan Cusack, who was nominated for an Oscar for this film). Melanie Griffith brings this character beauty and strength, which one would not expect from someone who is so often looked over. She practically has to steal her bosses identity to be heard, which can be seen today in most businesses where it's not "what you know," it's "who you know." Nichols seems to bring more laughs with this film, showing some stereotypical aspects of unfaithful boyfriends and arrogant successes. The story is perfect and the acting is superb. It is good to see that early in her career, Melanie actually made some good movies.

I am going "Old School" with my 4th favorite film from class with Mike Nichols coming of age hit The Graduate. A very young Dustin Hoffman plays Benjamin Braddock, an extremely shy and indecisive college graduate. He returns home with the pressures from his family and friends about his future goals (which he could care less about). The very attractive Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft) turns Ben's life upside down when they begin sleeping together. The situation does not get any easier for the young man as he falls for Mrs. Robinson's daughter, Elaine, despite a stern warning from the seductress.

You would not know it unless you watched this film two or three times, but Nichols is a genius with the symbolism he uses in showing the confusing journey that is Benjamin's life. Framed portraits of clowns on the wall, the water motif, and the selective focusing are just a few of the now famous traits of his film that shows the goofy mannerisms and entrapment Ben has encountered. Hoffman portrays one of the finest "airheads" I've ever seen on screen. Not in the sense of someone who is dumb, instead someone who is always unsure and careless.

This film is listed as a comedy, but probably will not provide the guffaws most would expect. The comedy comes from the relatable situations Braddock faces and the very odd ways he chooses to handle them. "Mrs. Robinson, you're trying to seduce me. Aren't you?" Even this famous quote shows his unconfident demeanor and social anxiety. Nichols also shows his psychic abilities with Ben receiving the unwanted advice to invest in "plastics." Keep in mind, this film was made in 1967.

In honor of my film class wrapping up this week, I will be counting down my top five favorite films we have watched for class. I begin with my #5 choice, Secrets and Lies, a Mike Leigh drama/comedy about the secrets and lies (shock) that tear apart a dysfunctional British family. Brenda Blethyn plays Cynthia Purley, the very dramatic and always crying single mother who is one day contacted by the daughter she gave up for adoption…who happens to be black. The look on Blethyn's face is priceless as she flashes back to a one night stand she had as a young lady.

Most would think Leigh's story would revolve around race relations, which is not the case at all (race is never an issue). Instead he revolves his story around the Purley family, a unit so torn apart from over the years that a simple family cook out turns into a soap opera. "Secrets and lies! We're all in pain! Why can't we share our pain? I've spent my entire life trying to make people happy, and the three people I love the most in the world hate each other's guts, and I'm in the middle! I can't take it anymore!" This memorable quote comes from Maurice Purley, brother to Cynthia and talented photographer. Maurice is your classic good guy, the passive patriarch who always tries to hold the family together. (The irony around his character is that he cannot conceive a child with his wife, Monica). You almost feel sorry for the successful Hortense, as if she would be better off not knowing her birth mother at all.

The actors are so talented in this film that Leigh, at times, uses no cuts during a scene. The camera stays in one spot as the actors' play out scenes that can last 10-15 minutes. After you get past the difficult British dialect (you may want to use captions while watching), you will feel as if you are that nosey neighbor who can't help but listen and enjoy the problems this family confronts…and that's no lie.

Rob Zombie once again tries to quench the American thirst for blood, gore, and mayhem with his follow up to the 2003 sleeper hit House of 1000 Corpses with The Devil's Rejects. The psychotic Firefly family is at it again, killing with no regard and using that special four letter word like it's going out of style. This time Sheriff Wydell, played by William Forsythe, is out to avenge the murder of his brother as he tracks down the three ring leaders of the family on a cross country manhunt.

Writer and director Rob Zombie has quite the imagination, bringing all aspects of execution, sex, and religion balled up into one huge fright fest. I'll give credit where credit is due, Zombie does his best with what he is given. Any film these days financed by Lions Gate Entertainment with have to settle for B and C list actors and actresses, which is no more apparent than Zombie casting his own wife, Sherri Moon Zombie, in the female lead as Baby Firefly.

I can understand shaky camera movements to symbolize the realism in certain scenes, but Zombie insists on shaking the camera and utilizing extreme close ups a little too much. The grainy 70's looking film stock did not make matters much better, causing blurry effects that took away from some of the detail going into the makeup effects and battle scenes. But Rob has a way of bringing out the most in a scene, whether by music or his now famous violent slow motion shots (If you've seen either movie, you'll know what I'm talking about).

Despite a lazy effort, Devil's Rejects is one of those films where you can have fun sitting with your friends on a Friday or Saturday night, hearing the screams and gasps from little teenagers who got their parents' disgruntled permission to see such a disgusting piece of work. It is not as colorful as "Corpses," but the realistic turn may have been for the best as the villains do just enough (most of what you don't see scares you the most) to send that little chill down your spine as the screams and pleas for life reign out through the theater. Since I absolutely hate clowns, Captain Spaulding (Sid Haig) takes me back to being scared out of my mind by Tim Curry's portrayal of Pennywise The Clown in Stephen King's IT. What is it about that which scares you the most makes you want to see it even more?

Released on DVD this past week, Constantine is the story of modern day exorcist John Constantine (Keanu Reeves) who teams up with local cop Angela Dodson (Rachael Weisz) to investigate the suicide of Dodson's twin sister. They end up uncovering the dark plans of hell's minions to take over the planet, unleashing a violent apocalypse. Despite his careless attitude, Constantine is forced to help in earth's darkest hour.

This kind of role for Keanu just does not work for me. Sure, we're used to seeing him strut around in black trench coats with that dazed and confused look on his face, but in a time where planet earth is set to be destroyed, I sure hope we could find a better savior than Keanu. The acting award for this film definitely goes to Weisz, despite looking nothing like a cop (especially from New York City).

The producers obviously use the great special effects to cover up the sub-par acting and pitiful story. There is nothing worse to me as a movie lover than to see a comic book film fail to seem anything like a comic strip, which Marvel has been so successful in doing the past few years (With exception of Fantastic Four and The Hulk). This is more like Gothic time for all of the pale and anorexic "outcasts" who await their dark lord (Geeeeeez, someone give those people a hug or something).

The brilliant Tim Burton impresses me once again, this time with his dark remake of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (I will be the first to admit that I was expecting a corny family film…it proved me wrong). Young and charming Charlie Bucket (Freddie Highmore) has only one wish, and that is to visit the legendary chocolate factory of Willy Wonka. Johnny Depp stars as the upbeat, yet bitter candy man (his version portrays Wonka as a wannabe crack addict…and it works very well in this "family" film). Charlie gets his wish after several attempts and finds a golden ticket, giving him and his Grandpa Joe (David Kelly) a free tour of the factory led by Wonka himself. Along with four other snot-nosed brats and their parents, the group finds mischief and adventure around every corner.

Burton's bright and colorful world for the film contradicts his usual darker style (like Batman and Edward Scissorhands), but it works as for one day the young boy goes from a life of poverty to riches in what many children would depict to be there own version of heaven…candy everywhere and very bright lights.

The choice of Depp to play Wonka could not have been any better of a fit. He's irritable, cranky, careless, and dumb. Not to say Johnny is any of those things in real life (wink wink), but if you want an actor to pull it off and still have all of America love you for it…then Johnny is your man. This is a funny good time for kids and adults (I actually saw more people my age than kids at the theater).

In one of my favorite films of 2004, Zach Braff (Televisions Scrubs) writes, directs and stars in Garden State. Braff is Andrew Largeman, an unsuccessful actor who returns home to New Jersey for his mother's funeral. A childhood accident, in which he paralyzed his mother, has his psychiatrist father (Ian Holm) keep him heavily medicated. An emotionally closed off young man, he reunites with childhood friends and family as he takes a "vacation" from the sedated and secluded life he leads in Hollywood.

Braff shows great promise as one of the up and coming storytellers in the business today. He has a great eye for symbolism which can be easily compared to legendary Mike Nichols, whose projects include The Graduate and Closer.

This "dramedy" has so many scenes that can either bring a smile to your face or a tear to your eye. With the aid of an all-star cast, which includes Natalie Portman and Peter Sarsgaard, Braff pulls off a low budget success that will bring back memories of Benjamin Braddock from The Graduate. Putting so much on line, primarily his name, Braff shows great versatility which pays off in this funny drama.

Adam Sandler leads an all-star cast to pull together a very funny remake of The Longest Yard, originally created in 1974 starring Burt Reynolds. Sandler plays Paul "Wrecking" Crewe, a former quarterback of the professional football league. Crewe finds himself behind bars as he leads police on a high speed drunken chase. All bets are off as Sandler is forced to pull together a group of lawless inmates to face the guards in what Warden Hazen (James Cromwell) calls a "tune-up" game.

Sandler once again snags a hit with a sports film, with other successes being Happy Gilmore and The Waterboy. Fellow SNL alum Chris Rock takes on the role of Caretaker, the lovable team manager, whose wise cracks and racial dialogue keep you laughing from first to last shot. The biggest acting surprise of all comes in the form of Michael Irvin, who has no films to his credit, plays the very talented wide receiver (shock) Deacon Moss. I suppose all the time in front of the camera on ESPN Sunday mornings has paid off.

I would sum up The Longest Yard as a "pick me up" summer laugh riot to make up for a season of "not so funny" films. This is one of those classic underdog stories that climaxes with one of the finest theatrical football games I've ever seen.

Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith concludes George Lucas's space opera which first took flight back in the 1970's. The sixth installment (technically number 3 in the series, but who really cares) focuses on Anakin Skywalker's (Hayden Christensen) transformation from Jedi Knight to the Dark Side apprentice, Darth Vader. Every little detail that leads up to the already released Star Wars: A New Hope is the focal point of this final act.

Thank goodness George Lucas can wow us with his special effects, because his choice of actors, mainly Christensen, is obviously to keep payroll at a minimum. Ewen McGregor and Natalie Portman are the only highlights of the cast.

All and all it is the same two and a half hour space geek adventure for those who have nothing to do on a Friday or Saturday night (I saw it on a Friday night, so what does that say about me?). But since you have already invested much time and money to see the first five films, you might as well finish it off. I will admit that the transformation from Anakin to Darth is very interesting to watch, as the usual glowing young Jedi knight becomes the dark menace, so infuriated with the state of the world he lives in (Kind of like a space model of Michael Moore, without all the protesting, facial hair, and fat rolls). I'm sure if Lucas runs out of his millions, he will shell out another three to six of these movies.

Holy crap….I mean High Tension is the graphic French psycho killer film where two friends travel to a secluded family farm house for a holiday only to be terrorized by a crazed lunatic (who enjoys the dismantling of human flesh). Cecile De France, Marie in the film, is forced to set up a rescue mission as her best friend Alexia (Maiwenn Le Besco) is taken captive by "The Killer," who has murdered every member of her family (What a rough way to start your vacation).

Too much blood and guts make this film unbearable to watch, yet you can't look away (You're sick….you're all sick!!!!! Haha, just kidding). I still have no idea what could have been cut from the film to give it an R rating instead of the original NC-17 version. I enjoyed the overall hunt and chase, but in the end, I was left with more questions than answers.

Not since Michael Bay's production of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre have I been so grossed out by a single motion picture. If you're in the mood for blood, gore and confusion (the actors are sometimes dubbed in English and other times have subtitles), then High Tension is the movie you need to check out. I think the French do contradict themselves as a non-violent nation with the production of this movie (They're sick….they're all sick!!!!! Haha, I'm NOT kidding).

After four attempts from two different directors, the third, Christopher Nolan (Memento), gets it right. Batman Begins picks up in the beginning (hence the title), as Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) is in what looks to be a Japanese prison camp. Flashbacks work well for this film, as Wayne's childhood is revealed with much more depth than the original four films depicted. As Wayne is tracked down and trained by Ducard (Liam Neeson) more and more is revealed about his parents' death and his awful fear of bats.

The cast is full of Oscar worthy talent. Michael Caine plays the loyal Wayne butler, Alfred with Morgan Freeman as the weapons specialist, Luscious Fox. But it is the young talent of this cast that steals the show (Except for Katie Holmes….sorry sweetheart). Christian Bale is the best Batman to date and Cillian Murphy masters the villain role as the brash psychologist, Dr. Jonathan Crane, aka Scarecrow.

I am most impressed with the realism brought to the film by Nolan. Don't expect any comic book colors and set designs. This film is a true masterpiece of darkness and vengeance. The new Batman costume itself is even darker, showing the anger that fuels our heroes every action.

This film is a sight for sore eyes in this summer slump of blockbuster hits. I am very much looking forward to seeing the next installment of the franchise, but please, no more Val Kilmer of George Clooney as the caped crusader. Keep Bale!!!!!!

The cell phone throwing Russell Crowe plays the underdog and lovable James J. Braddock, a boxer who is hit hard financially and emotionally by the great depression in Cinderella Man. The always brilliant Paul Giamatti (who is most deserving of a best supporting actor nod come awards season) plays Braddock's manager and friend, Joe Gould. Renee Zellweger is just as impressive as Mae Braddock, the strong-willed wife and mother. Ron Howard successfully directs this riches to rags story of the Braddock family, who once lived with luxury in a beautiful home, now scrap for food and heat as tenants of an awful "apartment." With the success of such boxing flicks as Million Dollar Baby, Cinderella Man struck me as very unique due to the underlying story of a family binding together to survive in very dangerous times. I would say only about one-third of this film is dedicated to boxing, the rest following the character's long battle with poverty (not to take away from the visually grueling boxing matches).

I've said this since its release in June of 2005, this films only mistake is not waiting until the fall and winter months for its release. It will get some love come awards season, but will do down as the greatest movie viewers will never see.

The summer was off to such a promising start of superhero movies with the release of the unbelievably good Batman Begins, so of course I was stoked to take in a sneak preview of Fantastic Four. Unfortunately, I was let down by the Stan Lee and Marvel Comic creation. Five scientists venture to deep space in order to study DNA patterns of the human body. All suffer severe changes from a space storm….4 for good, 1 for evil.

Never in my life have I seen so many people complain about having super powers. I was glad to see at least the villain Dr. Doom, played by Julian McMahon, was having a little fun with his newly found powers. Most of the film is useless "family feud" banter between the four "heroes." The only real highlight of the film is Ben "The Thing" Grimm played by Michael Chiklis (from televisions The Shield). Excellent make-up and voice work of this rock creature, who is the only one who can't morph back to human form, steal the show.

I don't think the creators were going for a comedy with this film, but that's what they got (Half the time you laugh at the poor acting). Through my disappointment overall of this film, I did find myself smiling at one crucial part of the film…Jessica Alba in her bra and panties. Hey, the Invisible Woman has to disappear somehow, right? WOO-HOO!!!

Director Paul Weitz takes us on a journey through trying times with the film In Good Company. Dennis Quaid stars as the All-American father figure, Dan Foreman, who is demoted from his executive position with a sports magazine company to pave the way for a younger, less experienced, Carter Duryea (Topher Grace). As the lonely Grace and impatient Quaid are forced to co-exist, Grace begins to fall for Quaid's daughter, Alex Foreman (Scarlett Johansson).

In this tale of personal growth and perseverance, our characters are met with internal and external conflicts in their personal and business lives. With a wife expecting their third child, Quaid is forced to conform to a new administration in his business to provide for his family. The recently divorced Topher Grace begins to fill the void in his young life with non-stop working fueled by large amounts of caffeine. When these two characters run into each other in the beginning, it is as if Weitz is showing two worlds colliding, foreshadowing the upcoming struggles. Quaid is very impressive in the sense that the viewer knows through his body language how uncomfortable he is with the clingy and chatty Grace as his boss.

I like how a medium shot is used in filming Quaid and Grace. Despite the age difference, Weitz is able to show an equality of success between the two (Quaid with advertising sales and Grace with marketing).

You could not have a better choice than Topher Grace to fulfill this role as an inexperienced corporate executive whose attempts to fit in are met with great hesitation. His adolescence becomes apparent with foolish purchases of sports cars and the constant use of slang by saying "tasty" when things are going his way. Emptiness within him does become noticeable, as he is quick to fall in love with the beautiful Scarlett Johansson. (Who wouldn't be quick to fall in love with her?) As for Quaid, his character works on both a movie and reality level. On one hand he is Dan Foreman, the man who is hesitantly stepping back to make way for the young guns that are taking over his team at the advertising agency. On the other hand, he is Dennis Quaid, the fifties something actor who is passing the torch to a younger generation of actors in Toper Grace and Scarlett Johansson. Growth in most cases, means major change.

Despite a PG-13 rating, I would recommend this as a family film simply because of the sugar sweet moments that can put things in perspective for the viewer (Despite a couple F bombs here and there). Sometimes, we all get so worried about our financial and employment status that we forget about a very important factor in life…love. As Jerry Maguire did in 1996, In Good Company shows us how people grow and feel complete through love and acceptance.