3 Razors

The International (the movie, not the House of Pancakes)

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: The International
  • IMDB: link

the-international-posterThere’s much about The International that works, and almost as much that doesn’t. Still, for a mid-February release it’s much better than expected and one of the few films of the new year worth a look.

Clive Owen stars as an Interpol agent obsessed with bringing down a bank which does shady dealings with both world governments and criminal organizations. Naomi Watts stars as his deskbound partner who, as is often the case in these types of films, hits the streets with him to bring down the bad guys.

Who are these evil-doers he’s willing to risk his life and career to stop? Well, they’re bankers. Um…yeah. As movie baddies go evil bankers ranks slightly below evil party clowns and Elvis impersonators.

Thankfully we’re given Owen who raises the bar here by elevating the script and infusing the character with an obsession both palpatable and a little out of control.

…

The International (the movie, not the House of Pancakes)Read More »

The International (the movie, not the House of Pancakes) Read More »

Gran Torino

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Gran Torino
  • IMDB: link

gran-torino-posterGran Torino isn’t a bad way for Clint Eastwood the actor to go out (if this is indeed his last starring role), but Eastwood the director lets us down. Walt (Eastwood) is s a recently widowed grumpy old racist living in a neighborhood which has been taken over by the large immigrant population he refers to throughout the film as “gooks,” “chinks,” “zipperheads,” “barbarians,” and other terms of affection. Charming.

Walt is inconvenienced further when he becomes intertwined in the lives of his neighbors, a Hmong family, when the young boy (Bee Vang) is recruited by a local gang to steal Walt’s 1972 Gran Torino. Against his better judgement Walt takes the kid under his wing, finds him a job, and even helps out his sister Sue (Ahney Her) when she gets accosted on the street.

I could go into further detail about the other storylines involving a persistent priest (Christopher Carley) and Frank’s sons and grandchildren with whom he has nothing in common, but each are so predictable simply vaguely mentioning them is all that’s necessary.

…

Gran TorinoRead More »

Gran Torino Read More »

Okay, Man

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Yes Man
  • IMDB: link

Carl Allen (Jim Carey) is a selfish bastard who never wants to get involved, often ignores his friends (Bradley Cooper, Danny Masterson), and still mourns the loss of his ex-girlfriend (Molly Sims).

One day he runs into a former co-worker (John Michael Higgins) who convinces Carl to check out a Yes seminar run by a guru (Terrence Stamp) who teaches his followers to say yes to everything.  Carl agrees and finds his life suddenly awesome.  He parties with his friends, meets a new girl (Zooey Deschanel), improves his relationship with his boss (Rhys Darby), and generally gets a more positive outlook on life.

…

Okay, ManRead More »

Okay, Man Read More »

The Tale of Despereaux

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: The Tale of Despereaux
  • IMDB: link

If Dumbo were a mouse he might look like Despereaux.  Adapted from the Newberry Award winning children’s book by Kate DiCamillo our little hero, the bravest mouse in the world, takes a bit of a light-hearted and bloodless (don’t expect to see in mouse tails cut off here) jump to the big screen.  The result is a so-so movie which hints and teases at more than the animated action-adventure we receive, but never delivers.

“Reader, you must know that an interesting fate awaits almost everyone, mouse or man, who does not conform.”

There is a skill to adapting a book into a movie.  The rise and fall of action in a series of chapters often doesn’t translate directly to screen and the necessary beats of a feature film.

The Tale of Despereaux isn’t a bad film.  It’s got an all-star cast, sharp animation, and a lovable protagonist.  It also has too many characters, a convoluted plot, and a less than satisfying ending.

It’s 20+ minutes into the film before we even meet young Despereaux (Matthew Broderick), a small mouse with a big heart who takes instantly the notion of chivalry.  Despereaux doesn’t fit into a society that wants mice to cower and run; he dreams of adventure, and even doodles drawings of cats.

…

The Tale of DespereauxRead More »

The Tale of Despereaux Read More »

Cadillac Records (Official Soundtrack)

/ / Music News & Reviews
  • Title: Cadillac Records (Official Soundtrack)

The new film Cadillac Records is based on real events of the music scene in the 1950’s and 60’s involving the influential Chicago label Chess Records.  Hitting stores just days before the film, the soundtrack is available in both as single-disc and a deluxe two-disc version.

Included on both are Beyonce singing “At Last,” “Once in a Lifetime,” and “I’d Rather Go Blind” (the first of which is by far the best of the three recordings).  Jeffrey Wright belts out “I’m a Man” and “I’m Your Hoochie Coochie Man,” and Mos Def sings “Nadine” and let’s us know there’s “No Particular Place to Go.”  Rounding out the collection are “6 O’Clock Blues” sung by Solange, Columbus Short singing “My Babe,” and “The Sound” by Mary Mary.

…

Cadillac Records (Official Soundtrack)Read More »

Cadillac Records (Official Soundtrack) Read More »