It’s a mistake to think that The Kite Runner, based on the best-selling book of the same name, is yet another entry in the current trend of setting films in the middle-east in order to give then some sort of social importance. As directed by Marc Forster, The Kite Runner is instead a rumination on friendship, loyalty and redemption which uses the background of Afghanistan to illustrate rather than define those attributes. Continue reading “Review: The Kite Runner”
Author: CaptainJaq
I am a father as well as a world traveling, dog loving, scuba diving, book collecting, writer - currently residing somewhere in Eastern Europe. His words have been spoken by Capt. Jean-Luc Picard and Robin Hood, been read by David Copperfield, and criticized by his 7th grade English teacher. He'd like to thank the members of the Academy, although he doesn't know why. In his spare time, he's a university professor and a kick-ass uncle.
Review: Charlie Wilson’s War
Why? Why is it that because we get Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts, the proverbial Hollywood Prom King and Queen, in a true story written for the screen by Tinseltown’s chess club president Aaron Sorkin, do we think it must be socially important and award worthy? Add in perennial literati favorites director Mike Nichols and Philip Seymour Hoffman and the pedigree for Charlie Wilson’s War is impeccable. You might as well send the Oscars now.
Except not. Continue reading “Review: Charlie Wilson’s War”
Review: Margot at the Wedding
Look, I’m not going to sugar coat this. I hated Margot at the Wedding. From the opening, jittery, out-of-focus, poorly lit scenes which scream “I’m an independent movie” to the ending, which is so abrupt the audience is left sitting slack-jawed in their chairs long after the credits have started, this film just does not work. Now, I have nothing against indie films. I don’t mind relationship driven dramas or Nicole Kidman and I think Jennifer Jason Leigh is one of the finest actresses of her generation, but the script for this film gives them nothing to work with. Continue reading “Review: Margot at the Wedding”
Review: I Am Legend
The problem with I Am Legend is that it has no idea what kind of a film it wants to be. This isn’t to say it’s not enjoyable, just that it’s not nearly as good as it could be which is a shame because the source material, a novel by Richard Matheson and 1971’s Omega Man, are both well thought out pieces of speculative fiction. Here, though, the film never settles down into a rhythm and ends up leaving the audience unfulfilled. Continue reading “Review: I Am Legend”
Review: Juno
The cool kids in high school are never as cool in retrospect. When you think back on it, from an adult perspective, they were the odd-balls, the ones who did whatever they wanted, who didn’t conform to societal norms. Such is the case with Juno, the title character in the new film directed by Jason Reitman (Thank You For Smoking) and written by Diablo Cody. She’s cool because she isn’t a cheerleader or a bitch. She’s just this odd little girl, named after the queen of the Roman gods, with a step-mom and a half-sister and house phone that looks like a hamburger. In short, she’s cool simply because she isn’t. Continue reading “Review: Juno”
Review: Enchanted
In what seems to be a growing trend, Enchanted is the latest entry into what should soon be called “The Great Fairy Tale Revolution of 07.” Like August Rush before it, Enchanted makes no bones about its pretensions. Unlike other tales, though, this one takes its heritage directly from the source, deconstructing the Disney classic paradigm so well that if Disney hadn’t put it out, they would have to sue. Continue reading “Review: Enchanted”
Review: The Mist
Movies based on Stephen King stories are like rivers in the old west. You never know how deep they are or what’s waiting just below the surface. Often, they’re not very deep, choosing instead to try and slavishly adhere to the printed word. The results range from good (Kubrick’s The Shining) to bad (King’s version of The Shining). And then there are the Stephen King stories adapted by Frank Darabont. These are in a whole different class and they are very, very good. The Mist, the latest collaboration between these two, easily joins its siblings, The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile, as a film which out shines its source material. Continue reading “Review: The Mist”
Review: August Rush
August Rush couldn’t be more of a fairy tale if it started with “once upon a time” and ended with “happily ever after.” And it will leave you feeling just as good as all those fairy tales you remember from your youth.
The plot is simple: Eleven-year-old orphan Even (Freddie Highmore) knows his parents are out there somewhere because he can “hear” them. He is weird and bullied and determined. Meanwhile, we get the back story on his parents, a pair of star-crossed musicians, a classically trained concert cellist (Keri Russell) and the singer of an Irish bar band (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) who meet under a full, New York moon and spend one wonderful evening together, falling hopelessly, irrevocably in love. Yes, this is the kind of world where people can fall instantly in love and it will last an eternity… even if that night is the only one they have. Continue reading “Review: August Rush”
Review: Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium
Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium is a rare thing in this day and age. It’s a G-rated family film which doesn’t pander to its market. It’s the kind of film Disney should be making. As conceived by writer/director Zach Helm, Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium is a modern take on how to keep alive the wonder and magic available to each and every one of us. And while it may not be original, it is fun. Continue reading “Review: Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium”
Review: Control
Once upon a time, in a horribly depressing place called Manchester, England, there was a boy named Ian Curtis. He had a few problems but decided to channel them into his music by singing in a band he dubbed Joy Division. That wasn’t enough to keep away his demons, though, and in the end, he hung himself. The end.
Yeah, that’s the plot of Control, the new biopic of Joy Division front man Ian Curtis. And yes, it’s as depressing as it sounds. As a first time feature by music video director Anton Corbijn, the film sacrifices in-depth character study in exchange for faux performance footage and a focus on the music instead of the man. Continue reading “Review: Control”
Review: P2
Okay, I admit, I had some preconceived notions before heading in to see P2. I didn’t think it would be good. And I must say, this film exceeded my expectations in how bad it actually was. I’m gonna be fair here, too, and spread the blame around evenly.
The film is your classic holiday thriller. Pretty girl Angela (Rachel Nichols) is working late in a New York City high-rise on Christmas Eve. Do we know what she does? Nope. Does it matter? Not really. This is about as deep as her characterization goes. She’s running late to celebrate the evening with her family in Jersey, held up by work and the apology of a co-worker who got a little fresh with her at the firm’s annual holiday party. In the business, we call this foreshadowing. You can bet this little tid-bit is gonna come back and haunt someone. So Angela heads down in to the underground parking lot and wouldn’t you know it – her car won’t start. So a few false scares, some tense moments while waiting for a cab and a locked gate later, Angela gets chloroformed by the creepy parking lot attendant, Thomas (Wes Bentley). Continue reading “Review: P2”
Review: Fred Clause
Look, I’m going to start right off the bat here and say Fred Claus is not an original movie. It’s not going to set the world on fire with new ideas and deep thoughts on the meaning of Christmas or family. It probably won’t even change your mind about what kind of a performer Vince Vaughn is. What it will do is offer up 110 minutes of innocuous, family friendly fun, perfect for entertaining the kids coming to visit for the Thanksgiving weekend… if it manages to stick around for the next two weeks. Continue reading “Review: Fred Clause”
Review: American Gangster
American Gangster is proof that heritage does not indicate quality. It’s going to play havoc on genetic engineering theory. The film stars Academy Award winners Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe. It’s written by the Oscar winning writer of Schindler’s List Steven Zaillian and directed by Oscar nominee Sir Ridley Scott. It’s a gangster movie about an underdog coming out on top. So how could this film be anything but brilliant? And yet… American Gangster is anything but brilliant. Continue reading “Review: American Gangster”
Review: The Assassination of Jesse James
Director Andrew Dominik has done something rather amazing. He’s made a movie about one of the most notorious outlaws in the history of America without showing hardly any of his law-breaking ways. And the fact he’s done it in a compelling, exciting way is a credit to his skill and talent. The film, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, is an atmospheric tour de force, relying heavily on both Dominik’s skill behind the camera and the work of Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck in front of it. Both parts come together beautifully to reveal the first real awards contender of the season. Continue reading “Review: The Assassination of Jesse James”
Revoew: 30 Days of Night
What can I say? I like monster movies! I like films with evil, scary things going bump in the night. I like films that cause girls to grab me, terrified, in the darkness. So let me start by saying the new vampire film 30 Days of Night delivers those things in spades. Sure, it has some problems, but it accomplishes what it sets out to do, and today, I find that a rare thing indeed.
The plot, based on the Dark Horse graphic novel by Ben Templesmith and Steve Niles (who also co-wrote the screenplay), offers a wonderfully original concept and one which should have been thought of years ago. The vampires attack the far northern town of Barrow, Alaska, well above the Arctic Circle, where when the sun goes down for winter, it stays down for a full month. This gives the monsters plenty of time to hunt down their prey. And hunt they do. In the first few days these vampires, led by the beautifully dark-eyed Marlow (Danny Huston), take out most of the town, leaving only a handful of survivors. And, because they can, they do it in full view of God and the camera. Continue reading “Revoew: 30 Days of Night”
Getting the Hang of Thursdays 