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Reviews
Miami Vice (2006)
One of the best of the summer
Well, you can read about the plot elsewhere, but to summarize..
-Yes, this one will polarize audiences. You'll either love it or hate it. Those going into hoping for either a rehash of the TV show or an over-the-top action flick a la Mission: Impossible or James Bond will probably leave disappointed. The ADD moviegoers who need constant stimulation and a spelled-out plot will inevitably shift in their seats and wish they would have checked out 'Little Man' instead. Those seeking a competent, stylish, adult cop movie will get their moneys worth.
-Not as good as 'Heat', but about on par with Collateral.
-Yes, there are some plot lines/characters that go seemingly unresolved, but that is how it was on the TV show too, and how it is in real life. You don't always wrap things up in one quick swoop. I suppose that's what sequels are for.
-The cinematography is exquisite, with breathtakingly beautiful shots, be it a purple Miami skyline at night or a boat cruising effortlessly across the ocean.
-Both the leads do a admirable job. Despite getting saddled with an unfortunate mullet and a few cheesy pickup line, Farrell is pretty good.
Bottom line: A great, 'adult' cop drama for the over 25 set. Those wanting something more flashy, well go see Pirates again.
United 93 (2006)
A powerful, tasteful and important film...
I saw this at a special screening. I have not stopped thinking about it since. A emotional and powerful film that I will remember forever. I can't fault anyone who doesn't want to see this film. But please put to rest any fears that this film was made purely to turn a profit and serves no purpose.
For all those who were afraid that this film would be exploitive, propaganda filled Hollywood schlock, I'm sorry to say that could not be farther from the truth.
Though for the most part I'm still at a loss for words I'll do my best to give you a short and sweet overview.
Paul Greengrass has done the seemingly impossible by making a Hollywood film about this subject everyone is afraid to touch, but made it in such a way that it's hard to find fault, despite everyone's initial misgivings. No 'rah rah' patriotism. No veiled political stances. No cartoonish villains. No making the enemy sympathetic. Just a brilliantly executed look at what did happen and what 'might' have happened on that fateful day.
What makes it more effective is that all throughout you don't recognize any of the actors. They may as well be "real people". You're never thinking to yourself, 'oh that's Nicolas Cage', conscious of the fact that it's acting. And come to find out, many of the air traffic controllers and military personnel are playing themselves! This makes it all the more real and draws you in and takes you back to that day.
And when the passengers decide to fight back? There's no swelling of violins or slow motion shots. They don't have a rallying cry or 'lets do it for Uncle Sam' type speech to motivate everyone. No, these passengers were reacting spontaneously to the situation as it played out and were acting on their survival instinct. You can't help but think how you would react in that situation and makes it all the more compelling and powerful.
I won't say this film is for everyone. It IS hard to watch at times. But I'm so glad I did see it. Very cathartic in a way. And trust me, this film couldn't have been done in a more professional, classy way. This feels genuine; of course they are going to 'profit' off it, but you get the sense that the filmmakers and everyone involved poured their hearts into this project and did this to tell a story. A more dignified and heroic story I don't think I've ever seen.
Final Destination 3 (2006)
It is what it is...
Just got back from a preview screening. What can I say? Wow.
If you liked the first two, you'll like this one. If you didn't, why are you reading this review? Much better than the inferior second film. Good to see the original director and producer back on board. If you judge these by the gruesomeness and outrageousness of the deaths (what else would you judge them on, plot?), than this may in fact be the best of the three. And surprisingly enough, the acting is passable for a film of this ilk. Not a lot of unintentional laughter at the dialog (but plenty of laughter and screams during the death scenes)
Right on par with the first one. Tanning booths, nail guns, weight machines, oh my! And watch out for those pesky flying engines.
Junebug (2005)
Absolutely Dreadful
Let me start off by saying that I went into this movie really wanting to like it. Scartch that, love it. Little did I know I would enter a dismal abyss that nearly scorched my retinas. I never shut off movies before they are done, but I was tempted like no other. My wife's persistence that it 'had to get better' was the only thing that kept me from throwing the DVD player out of the window.
Amy Adams's character. Best Supporting Actress eh? She was like a bad Saturday Night Live stereotype gone haywire. Basically a grown up version of Amy Poehler's "Rick!!" character. I have not been more annoyed by a single character in quite a long time. Maybe ever.
No real conflict to move the story along. No background on any of the characters. No explanation, spoken or otherwise of their motives. Hell, do they even have motives? I don't know.
So so bad. PLEASE don't rent this. If it's indie splendor that you desire, go see THE SQUID AND THE WHALE instead. That is the introspective 'dramedy' that Junebug so desperately desires to be, and fails on every level.
Prime (2005)
Way Better Than It Has Any Right to Be
A great, great movie, especially when one considers the stinkers that usually litter the romantic comedy landscape.
This movie was smart, funny and most importantly, REAL. The cheese is held to a minimum and characters do and say things that real people say. No monologues that sound like they were cribbed from 'Chicken Soup for the Soul', just real people reacting to each other and their circumstances.
Meryl Streep is great in this (and this is coming from a straight, twenty-something male) and Uma Thurman and Brian Greenberg have a real chemistry together. There are some real classic lines in this and it's a million times funnier and smarter than say, 'Monster in Law' or 'Just Like Heaven'.
As one who usually cringes my way through 9 out of 10 'chick flicks' this is the rare one out the ten that passes muster, and does so in a big way. I fear that this movie will be overshadowed by a bunch of other new releases when it comes out, but this one really deserves an audience.
Very underrated. One of the better films I've seen all year.
War of the Worlds (2005)
Over-hyped and Terrible...
Just got back from a packed advance screening. This movie is so bad, the crowd laughed, that's right laughed at what were supposed to be scary, sad, and certainly NOT funny.
The ending is so cheesy and such a cop out, people could audibly be heard saying, 'What the hell?'. Most screenings have applause at the end. This one you could hear crickets.
Special effects, yeah they're good. Aliens look kind of cool for the 2 minutes you actually see them. But it's basically two hours of hide and seek and things going boom. Dialouge makes up maybe a total of about 10 minutes, and it's much to dark and "scary" for kids.
But if you want a good 'popcorn' flick you can do so much better. Batman Begins, Star Wars, even Mr. & Mrs. Smith. But please save your money.
This movie will probably do huge opening weekend numbers, but I fully expect a catastrophic dropoff once word gets out how bad it is. It's gonna be a bloodbath with critics as well.
For Spielberg completest only.
Wedding Crashers (2005)
Witty, raunchy and sure to become a 'classic'
Saw a advance screening of this on Friday night. Hilarious doesn't do the film justice. You know how in most films you remember the funniest parts and bring them up as you leave the theater? This one, it's hard to remember the best parts because there's so many of them.
Unlike his previous films, where Vince Vaughn is usually reduced to the role of 'scene stealer', here we get a full dose of Babaganush, and he's in his finest form since 'Swingers'. If you liked him in his Swingers/Made persona, you'll love him here. Some of the riffs that he has literally will have you holding your sides with laughter.
Owen Wilson is Owen Wilson. You either like him or you don't. He's more of the straight man in this film, although he does have some pretty good lines too, and he has great chemistry with Vaughn, especially in the scenes where they're fighting. He's the ying to Vaughn's yang.
The movie certainly 'earns' it's R rating. There's a healthy dose of nudity, sex related hijinks, and f-bombs. But it's not 'gross out' humor a la American Pie. It pushes boundaries, but not just in a 'shock value' way. It's genuinely funny.
I saw the movie with a bunch of critics, who usually the jaded type, were laughing their asses of as well. Guys will love this movie and will be quoting it for the rest of the year. Girls will love it too though, and there is a romantic subplot (cheesy at times, but forgivable given how funny the movie is), with Rachael McAdams doing a great job as Owen Wilson's love interest. Isla Fischer plays the role of 'scene stealer' in this one, serving as Vince Vaughn's psycho love interest. And Chris Walken is Chris Walken.
So overall..inappropriate, hilarious and glorious. Better than Oldschool. Way better than Anchorman. Best comedy of the year, maybe the last couple of years.
Hitch (2005)
Pleasantly surprised...
I saw this movie screened last night, and you know what? I liked it. For the most part, it's a by the numbers 'chick flick', but makes no pretensions to be more than that, and in fact, is very good for what it is.
The easy thing to do would be to take potshots at this film; throw out things like 'Fresh Prince', 'getting jiggy with it', and even throw around the whole 'black dude making a white dude cool' angle; but that's too easy isn't it? Like shooting fish in a barrel.
No, this isn't a Wes Anderson film. The humor is rather broad, though much it very funny. Of course you won't see it up for an Oscar (what a tired joke that is); nor does it contain Quientin Tarantion-esquire dialogue or groundbreaking visuals.
But taken for what it is, a romantic comedy, it really is very good. Great chemistry between all the leads. Eve Mendes is gorgeous. And Kevin James steals nearly every scene he's in. It gets a bit sappy towards the end (don't all mainstream romantic comedies though?), but if you're looking for a above average date movie with more than a few belly laughs, this is your film.
A solid B+.