9-24-03 - Glenn's Thoughts
9-22-03 - Austin City Limits
9-17-03 - Jeremy's Guest Column
9-16-03 - Hicktoria, Part 2
9-15-03 - Tuesday Night Television
8-28-03 - Hari's Guest Column
8-19-03 - NBA Western Conference Preview
8-18-03 - NBA Eastern Conference Preview
8-17-03 - Friend Thoughts
8-15-03 - Reader Mail
Archive
I have been meaning to write a movie review column for about a month now, but like everything else in my life, I procrastinated. But since I am procrastinating some law school stuff instead right now, it seems like the perfect time to finally get this column up and moving. Sorry if it is a little outdated. Anyways, these are the ten movies that I have seen lately, and I have ranked them from worst to best.
10)Duplex
Ahh, a comedy starring Ben Stiller and Drew Barrymore. So why haven't I heard of it, you might be asking? Because it sucks donkey dong. It looks like the movie execs recognized that this one was a stinker and decided not to waste their money or reputations by promoting it. This is the type of movie that was so bad that I'm sure whoever green lighted lost their jobs over it.
9) Once Upon a Time in Mexico
This movie was very strange. For example: William Dafoe painted his skin and played a Mexican drug lord. Two actors (Cheech Marin and Danny Trejo ) who were killled off in the previous movie, Desperado,came back to life in different roles. What, are there a shortage of Mexican actors in Hollywood? Johnny Depp is entertaining as always, the first forty minutes were fun, but then it regresses and turns in to your average over-the-top action movie. Rent it, maybe.
8)S.W.A.T.
Do you like explosions, cliches, and predictable plot twists? Do you like your characters underdeveloped and your actors to phone in
1) "Are You Gonna Be My Girl" - Jet
2) "Oliver's Army" - Elvis Costello
3) "12:51 AM"- The Strokes
4) "Brown Sugar" - Ryan Adams & Beth Orton
5) "Big Booty Woman'" - Skunkweed
6) "Girl Inform Me" - The Shins
7) "Llama School" - Sifl and Olly
8) "Wellington's Wednesdays" - The Weakerthans
9) "2nd Ave.,11 AM" - Ted Leo & the Pharmacists
10) "Back in the Mud"- Bubba Sparxxx
7) The Secret Lives of Dentists
I respect and admire this movie a lot more than I actually enjoyed watching it. It is very well acted and feels very real...maybe too real. Sure, I have yet to be middle-aged, married, and wondering what's become of my life, but I imagine it feels a lot like this. I recommend this movie if you are looking to see something intelligent, but not if you want to escape.
6)Pirates of the Carribean
A fun and entertaining movie. Doesn't take itself too seriously. Johnny Depp steals scene after scene. Plus, it gives me an excuse to put up a picture of my love, Keira Knightley. Should I feel guilty since she is only eighteen?
5) Thirteen
This movie is a pedophile's wet dream! Hot thirteen year old girls showing thongs and midriffs complete with a lesbian kissing scene? Insert your cheap R. Kelly joke here. Beneath its "shocking" material lies an intense,strongly acted story with well developed characters. I expected this movie to be a bit of fluff in the missle of a lot of hype, but it turned out to be much better than I anticipated.
4) Buffalo Soldiers
When I saw this movie 2 months ago, it was my favorite of the year. This movie is definitely not for everyone...it is a very black comedy that hits my morbid sense of humor perfectly, but could easily offend someone with thinner skin. I do highly recommend that everyone should try to see this film, but if you don't enjoy the first half-hour, turn it off. The ending is a little weak, but overall this film is very
3) Dirty Pretty Things
This one isn't exactly a feel good film. The movie is original...it does not feel like anything I remember seeing before. The performances are outstanding, though I didn't know any of the actors goin in (outside of the girl from Amelie). I don't want to give away too much of the plot, but I'll just say that it is a thriller dealing with immigrants in the U.K.. A unsparing, intelligent film that is worth seeing.
2) Matchstick Men
Whenever you watch a movie about con men, you know you better keep your eyes open. With that in mind, I was fully prepared when I saw Matchstick Men. Unfortunately, I was too prepared. I caught the "A-Ha!" twist early in the movie, so the ending lacked the punch it could have. But at least I got to feel smart. Overall, though, this movie was a whole lot of fun. I generally hate Nicholas Cage, but he was stellar here. Sam Rockwell was great as always. And Allison Lohman is going to be a big time star. Take out the ridiculously sappy final 5 minutes, and this movie could have been one of the best of the genre, on par with the cinema classic The Sting. This movie is worth seeing.
1) Lost in Translation
I have given this movie a lot of thought since I saw it a week ago. It is generally plotless, it is undoubtedly slow, and it revolves around two characters who spend much of their screen time in silence. The movie's appeal is hard to describe, but it pseudo May-December friendship/relationship is enchanting. Sometimes the best performances can get lost in an understated film like this. Bill Murray is great here, and is earning some much-deserved early Oscar buzz. But that is not who I'm talking about. Scarlett Johansson is at her sarcastic best playing the Harold to Murray's Maude, and she holds her own with Murray's more celebrated performance. Her intelligence shines through on screen. Johansson is enchanting as a thinking man's sex symbol, and I think that I might even choose her over Miss Knightley.