Here’s a little film that reminded me of an Alfred Hitchcock thriller, but with an erotic touch. Very suspenseful, great characters, intriguing and with artful direction, the movie Chloe burns up the screen in this unsuspecting strange love story. The acting is courageous, especially on the part of both Julianne Moore and Amanda Seyfried.
Here’s a little drama from Academy Award-nominated screenwriter/director Noah Baumbach that gets so depressing it looses the enjoyment of it’s love story that is really at the heart of the plot. Greenberg reminded me of several Woody Allen films all rolled into one. The main characters are so down in the dumps that whatever comedy there may have been gets sucked up in all the complaining.
Indie and foreign filmmakers are hitting the mark with good productions while some US producers are cranking out films that target the cash cow. Take Hot Tub Time Machine for example. This loony Three Stooges meets Back To The FutureHot Tub Time Machine movie inserts a bevy of goofy pratfalls, eye candy, adult situations, insults and sexual innuendos in a mere 100 minutes. And although rated R, it’s sure to attract the younger crowd looking for some crude and nude humor. If you want to get sucked into the whirlpool of silly than fits the bill.
It’s almost strange to see a back and white film these days, but The WhiteRibbon could not have been as entertaining in color in which it was originally shot. In B&W we are able to feel the chill exuded by the disturbing plot and envision the era wrought with tough times. Taking on a great deal of angst the storyline tends to bring one down however, so be prepared to deal with the dark mood.
Highflying fun for the whole family, How to Train Your Dragon is an adventure comedy with a lot of heart. The animation is slick, direction pinpoint and voice acting on target. If you are looking for a great fun evening with the kids or for the kid in you, then this flick should do the trick.
Although this run of the mill comedy sucks, it will probably do well at the box-office due to it’s actors popularity. The Bounty Hunter is one of those films where in order to pull off the comedy, the two main actors must have good chemistry to make the audience believe in their relationship and unfortunately it was MIA. If the trailer peaked your interest to see The Bounty Hunter, be warned that there is nothing more to be added at the cinema.
With very little at the theatres these days for the pre-teen, along comes Diary of a Wimpy Kid just in time to fill the void. The fun little film about a middle school student trying to fit in addresses many of the problems of today’s youngsters while providing enjoyable entertainment. If you are a member of the target audience Wimpy Kid is a must see.
The war drama Green Zone takes on the searing question ‘Did we go to war over a hoax?’ and comes up empty handed. Although the film is quite political, I still enjoyed the action and the acting in this non-stop thriller. If you like films about war that have a political agenda, then this one should be on top of your list. That said, action lovers who want a dose of suspense at every turn should run to see Green Zone.
The period piece The Last Station has garnered accolades by the Academy of Arts of Sciences with Oscar nominations for Helen Mirren and Christopher Plumber and rightly so. Their performances in this film make it more than worthwhile to see. If you like a good story of romance, beauty and great costumes, then run to see The Last Station.
My eagerness for the release of Shutter Island, a suspense film directed by Martin Scorsese ended with disappointment after seeing the flick the other night. What I figured from the trailer as an intriguing thriller, turned out to be a ‘Hitchcockesque’ concoction with metaphors from the likes of Spellbound, North by Northwest, Marnie and Vertigo without the twists and surprise ending. If you go to see the film, you will be served up some excellent acting and cinematography, but don’t expect a cherry on the dessert.