Review: Night At The Museum 2

Night At The Museum: Battle Of The Smithsonian (2009)
starring Ben Stiller, Amy Adams, Hank Azaria, Robin Williams, Bill Hader, Owen Wilson, Steve Coogan, Christopher Guest, Ricky Gervais
dir. Shawn Levy

Yawn. I wasn't a big fan of the first film, but there was something in the trailers that made me interested in checking this out. Well, I was suckerd. Good job marketing guys, you did a great job.

The saddest part about this movie is the waste of talent. Just look at that comedic roster up top. Coogan, Williams, Guest, Gervais, Azaria, Hader! It's a treasure trove of talent and all of it was tossed in the toilet. For most of the movie you're stuck following Stiller and Adams as they run through mass chaos in the hopes of entertaining. Don't even get me started on the fact that Jonah Hill is used in most of the trailers and only has that scene in the film! I figured Stiller and Hill would be able to vamp off of one another enough to give it some fun moments. Nope, just one scene, just one joke.

The whole thing is a mess and if you're a parent, shame on you or not trying to find better stuff for yor kids to watch. This is just big budget junk food and stale junk food at that. Please stop supporting this type of movie and take the kids twice to see Up! (2009). At least then you're supporting something with artistic merrit and not a movie by committee that is made for business purposes alone.

6 out of 10

Review: Terminator Salvation

Terminator Salvation (2009)

starring: Christian Bale, Sam Worthington, Bryce Dallas Howard, Anton Yelchin, Moon Bloodgood

dir. McG

There are a lot of things wrong with this movie. A lackluster script, really poor direction, uneven acting and very little terminating. The biggest crime is that there is quite a bit of wasted potential.

The exploration of the "What is it to be human?" theme isn't a new one, but it's a good one and another log thrown onto that fire is always welcome when properly explored. In this film it is simply an afterthought. Afterthought is actually quite tame. It's barely a fart in a heavy wind. The writers and McG felt they could nail it with a single sentence at the end of the film and ends up sounding like a bad greeting card.

There are a few nice visual twists, including a great shot near the beginning of a helicopter cash, but most of it is desaturated grays with nothing exciting to look at. It's a dull palette with little originality in execution or design.

As for the acting, it's all over the map. Christian Bale is way too serious and monotone. I can see why he got angry. I'd yell at people too if given this type of character to play. Howard is wasted and Bloodgood (supposedly her real name), is downright hideous. The only standout is Sam Worthington who has a lot of potential, but his Australian accent kept slipping though and I find it had to believe that they didn't have him come in for some ADR work.

It's a so-so entry in a franchise that has lost its way since creator James Cameron gave up the helm. It is a great improvement from T3 (2003), but that's not hard to improve on.

7 out of 10

Review: Angels & Demons

Angels & Demons (2009)
starring: Tom Hanks, Ewan McGregor, Ayelet Zurer, Stellan Skarsgård, Armin Mueller-Stahl
dir. Ron Howard

Sorry, but I want to keep this simple so I don't feel as if I'm wasting much time on this.

The Dan Brown book this is based on was stupid, but had enough set pieces to make a film version a little more appetizing. Unlike The Da Vinci Code, this plot had deadlines before people die, thereby increasing tension. Still stupid, but tension filled stupidity.

The film though, has no tension, because director Ron Howard has no idea how to build it. The thriller genre is not his game. it didn't work in his film Ransom (1996) and it works even less here. At least with Ransom, we were given characters. In Angels & Demons we are given an expositional device in the shape of Tom Hanks. he doesn't look happy to be there and we aren't happy to see him looking so unhappy. No one looks happy to be there as a matter of fact. Unhappy people on screen. Unhappy people in audience. Unhappy experience all around.

The CGI is close to intolerable as we get a computers version of the Vatican and other parts of the city. Weak, weak, weak and never feels like more than a money grab by all involved.

I'll give Ewan McGregor a thumbs up for attempting to bring something to his role, but it is crushed under an avalanche of mediocrity and dull execution on every other front.

As a summer film it fails completely, but it's still better than The Da Vinci Code (2006).

6.5 out of 10

Review: The Brothers Bloom

The Brothers Bloom (2009)
starring: Adrien Brody, Rachel Weisz, Mark Ruffalo, Rinko Kikuchi, Robbie Coltraine, Maximilian Schell
dir. Rian Johnson

Rian Johnson gave us an impressive debut with his film noir/highschool mash up Brick (2005). That film's ability to play with genre, create it's own verbal shorthand and relate the archetypes of noir with the archetypes of teen drama melded so well, it was a revelation. Since it's debut, it has become a cult sensation and a staple for any film geek.

With his sophomore effort, Johnson is again tackling a well worn genre and giving it his own spin. The Brothers Bloom attempts to tackle the very tricky con man game. It is tricky because the filmmaker is not only trying to play the con within the film, but finds ways to keep an audience on its toes who know they themselves are being conned. His answer to this is quite interesting and simple. He never cons us. The film is very straightforward and the issues of the con volley between the two brothers played by Ruffalo and Brody.

After a strong beginning, the second act begins to wear thin with some pacing problems. There were more than a few times that I had to wonder how much longer this could drag on. The pacing is stifled even more by Brody who overplays every moment, demanding that we watch him and understand that he is an actor. This is a problem that has followed him since his Oscar win. He no longer inhabits characters, he portrays an actor acting.

Rachel Weisz is a blast to watch though. She brings an energy and bounce to the screen that makes even some of the slower parts easier to digest. Every moment she is on screen shines as she balances comedy and drama with the ease of a professional tightrope walker. Ruffalo delivers another strong performance, but doesn't have to stray too far from his wheelhouse. Rinko Kikuchi is adorable, but not given much to do and it's great to see Maximilian Schell on screen again even though it's only a few minutes.

The largest flaws of the film are neither in the direction or the acting as much as it is in the writing. Ideas and character traits are introduced that are dropped or forgotten completely and have nothing to do with the end result. They seem to be there for a quick quirky joke and nothing more. One could argue that it is part of the trick so we don't know which direction the con is going, but if so it's a cheat and if not it's just poor handling of character.

This is a movie with several moments that shine but in the end is a bit of a disappointment. There is no reason to write Johnson off yet, he still shows a lot of skill, but when it comes to handling the fine tuning and many spinning plates that are needed to make a great con movie, he falls a little short.

7 out of 10

Posters: Cannes Film Market

For those of you who think the Cannes is all about high brow films, let me put your mind at ease. One of the great things about the festival is the film market. This is where people from all over the world try to sell their latest genre film.

Her are a few examples that will probably end up on a video shelf near you.

From the Producer of Shaolin Girl. See a pattern?

Why so serious?

From the Director of Black Sheep, which is interesting.

Love the tag line:

A Killer Body And A Gun...What's Not To Like

You can check out more of these at The Guardian, which includes two projects starring Danny Devito. What kind of Country do we live in when Devito can' get a film released?

POV: Cannes 2009

I'm a big fan of the Cannes Film Festival. It just feels like the heart of cinema to me. It never seems pretentious in the way of what it shows. The same festival that awarded A Taste Of Cherry (1997) the Palm d'Or, gave the same prize to Pulp Fiction (1994). It's a passionate festival. People boo at screenings! That's awesome isn't it? A place where love for film runs so high you'll actually get into arguments in the theater with other people.

This is a different year for me unfortunately and fortunately. Usually I get to see the opening ceremony and closing night on television, but not this year. Instead I have to settle for the internet. But this is also a bonus because they are covering all sorts of events and putting them up on the official site.

THE CANNES FILM FESTIVAL

It started yesterday and runs through the 24th. Check it out. They update videos daily and odds are at some point you'll run across a film that piques your interest.

The Eclectic Choice: Exterminating Angel

Exterminating Angel (1962)
dir. Luis Buñuel

I recently saw this film after hearing about it for a very long time. Back in college I had a friend who loved it, but his wife didn't understand why the people just didn't leave the house. They're now divorced. Perhaps this movie is a telling sign if a relationship will make it. Then again maybe not.

A group of Bourgeois get together at a mansion for the evening and for some reason can't leave. There is no physical explanation and a reason is never given. But symbolically it all makes sense. This is real magic from the maestro of surrealism Luis Buñuel and well worth watching more then once.

Laced with social satire and religious symbolism, there is a good reason why Buñuel is considered one of the best and this film proves it. Filled with humor and a clausterphobic atmosphere, you may be running for fresh air by the time it's over. When you toss open the window and feel the breeze against your face, the world may look a little different thanks to this film. Not wrong, just different.

Add it to the collection today.You won't be dissapointed, unless your a certain ex-wife.

Review: Star Trek

Star Trek (2009)

starring: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban, Simon Pegg, Zoe Saldana, John Cho, Anton Yelchin, Bruce Greenwood, Eric Bana, Leonard Nimoy

dir. J.J. Abrams

Summer is here and so is the first summer movie (I refuse to count the debacle that is Wolverine). Overall, it's a fun romp and does no harm to anyone accept fro those who dislike the negation of any Trek that came before it.

The script itself is ridiculously poor and tends to fall back on inside jokes for Trekkers or sight-gags for newbies. As a matter of fact, there is too much wacky humor that interferes with the plot. Gone is the moralizing and themes of the originals in order to bring us a glossy piece of cotton candy. But these quibbles can be overlooked when the energy of the film is so high.

The acting is actually quite solid, even though most of the new cast are only given brief moments and the rest of the film gives time to Spock (both of them) and Kirk. Both are well portrayed by Quinto and Pine, but the real standouts ended up being Karl Urban as McCoy and Zoe Saldana as Uhura. Saldana is a revelation and the one character who gets a real overhaul. She's smart, sexy and tough. All of those things that the character should be, but was never given in the TV series or original movies.

On a side note, I'm curious to see how many young people it gets into Star Trek. The kids sitting next to me were totally confused at first when Nimoy appears as Old Spock. Until it was explained they kept making questioning grunts. So the odds of a bunch of 13 year old boys going out to buy the original series or films seems slight.

For what it is and what it is trying to achieve, success. It's fun and not much more, but as the days are heating up it's a great diversion and you get more for your 10 bucks than just two hours of air conditioning. Is it the best Trek movie? No, but it's an interesting start and Abrams and company have avoided the one thing that most people were afraid of. Falling flat on their faces.

8 out of 10

Review: The Soloist

The Soloist (2009)
starring: Robert Downey Jr., Jamie Foxx, Catherine Keener
dir. Joe Wright

I watched this movie last week and had totally forgotten that I saw it. I just remembered this afternoon and then spent the next half hour trying to remember what happens in it.

Downey is good, but that isn't saying much. The guy is a pro and I can't think of the last time he delivered a bad performance. Jamie Foxx was way too mannered and I found him more irritating than anything else.

The script was as blah as scripts can get if you can't tell from the way my mind remembers it so vividly. The film commits the biggest crime that any film can commit, it leaves no emotional residue. I didn't walk out hating it, I didn't walk out liking or loving it. I just walked out.

No wait! I do remember one thing that I found laughable. At one pint we get to see what Foxx sees when he hears music. It's flashes and pools of color that look like a popular screen saver from 1997. Just stupid.

I've got nothing left to say, it left that much of an imprint on me.

5 out of 10 (I think)

R.I.P. Dom DeLuise

Dom DeLuise (1933-2009)


I grew up with Dom Deluise. He seemed to be a comedy staple in most of the movies I saw as a kid. Even today my household discuss the merits of the Jerry Reed, DeLuise classic Hot Stuff (1979). It's not a good movie, but we still remember it and sing the theme song on a regular basis. Yes, it's a troubled home.

But to me DeLuise will always be remembered as Burt Reynolds sidekick. They were only in a few movies together, but they seemed like an inseparable pair. The best part about the movies they were in were always the closing credits. They'd show outtakes and the centerpiece was Dom being abused by Burt. Dom would crack up and couldn't stop. Burt would continue to slap him. It was a little creepy, but apparently quite humorous too. Or we were glad to know more than just the audience was abused after sitting through Cannonball Run 2 (1984).

My favorite appearance of his was in the beginning of The Muppet Movie (1979). Kermit just finishes singing Rainbow Connection and the next thing you get is a scene of Kermit and DeLuise playing one liners off each other in the swamp. It's a good bit.

He was always a big guy and never apologized for it. He loved food and even has a few gourmet cookbooks. It seems like it was a good life, full of laughter, friendship and fancy food. You can't ask for much more than that.

Farewell Captain Chaos, you will be missed.

The Eclectic Choice: Le Magnifique

Le Magnifique (1973)
dir. Philippe de Broca


This is a lot of fun and has Jacqueline Bisset who is just drop dead sexy. The plot revolves around Jean-Paul Belmondo as a writer of bad spy novels. He incorporates everyone around him into the stories and sees himself as the lead character Bob Saint-Clair.

It's a crazy romp that moves between the reality of Belmondo's lack luster existence and struggle just to get his typewriter fixed to the over the top world of espionage where he's the perfect spy and lover.

If you haven't seen it and you are a fan of the french farce, see it. If you're a fan of Belmondo and want to see him ham it up, see it. If you enjoy Bisset playing the sex kitten, see it. If you want to kick back, relax and enjoy a funny piece of fluff that does no damage and has it's heart in the right place... well you get the picture.

Clip Art: Zoolander

Zoolander (2001)
dir. Ben Stiller



It's a really funny movie and this is a really funny bit. This movie has more eye acting than anything since the era of silent film or a Sergio Leone closeup.

This is a film with a lot of style. Some great mise-en-scène, with exquisite work in the costume department. The padding on Stiller's outfit that gives him abs is just a riot. all of the colors work, creating a rich palate and a world you don't see that often. It just pops and is funny ta boot.

The only distraction for me is Owen Wilson's nose, as if that can be helped. It is its own piece of abstract art in a way. The lines and curves drawing you in and it stops looking like a nose and more like an odd Rorschach test.

The best bit is the Billy Zane gag. Zane is an underrated actor who always plays to the hilt and never seemed to break out of the b-list. He also seems to have one hell of a sense of humor since he plays himself in this scene.

This is a movie that is hysterical in all sorts of ways. Between this and Tropic Thunder (2008), Ben Stiller proves that he is one of the better comic directors today.