Five Down (Many More To Go)
During the few breaks we did have during the past two months, Karen and I got a chance to see some flicks and here’s how they broke down for me:
Finding Neverland
An excellent movie with superb acting from Depp, Winslet, Dustin Hoffman, and the supporting cast (especially the kids). It was really interesting to see the back story and foundation to how Peter Pan was created come to life and to see how the family that inspired him to write it was more than inspiration but rather what he really wanted in his life. Excellent piece.
Ocean’s Twelve
A beautiful to look at movie, a fun movie (but not as fun as its predecessor), cool plot twists, but just not as cool as the first one. Everyone seemed to enjoy making this movie and it shows (except for Brad Pitt, who in certain scenes just looked sooooo out of character). Locations were just gorgeous and makes me want to visit Europe that much more. I’ll pick it up when it hits the under $10.00 range which the first one is now. My recomendation: See (or buy) Ocean’s Eleven then rent this one when it comes out.
National Treasure
Indiana Jones it ain’t. Fun at times, but coulda been so much more. Absolutely some of the worst dialog in recent years.
The Life Aquatic (with Steve Zissou)
Wes Anderson is my boy. This may not be as good as some of his other flicks, but I really enjoyed the heck outta this one. Bill Murray is turning out some great stuff in last… hmm… okay 25 years, but this kinda serious dramedy that he’s been doing recently is just great, including Rushmore (another Wes Anderson film), Lost in Translation, etc. Cate Blanchett and Willem DaFoe are just brilliant in this movie and the rest of the cast are awesome. If you ever watched Jacques Cousteau when you were a little tike then I think this is a good pick for you. Or, if you like odd, quirky movies with really good dialog then go for this one.
Meet the Fockers
Not as good as the “…Parents” but will make you chuckle at times. Hoffman plays some kooky characters. When Ben Stiller is on then it’s pretty good and the choice of Barbara Streisand and Dustin Hoffman for the parents is so dead on it’s spooky.
I did a lot of DVD viewing too, so I’ll get to those DVD reviews soon. Happy New Year everyone! Hope you all had a wonderful holiday season!
January 3rd, 2005 at 12:40 pm
This is the first time I’ve ever seen the word “dramedy”–I think I might come to like it, even though it offends me in the same way that “blog” did when I first heard it. I still don’t like “blog” . . .
January 13th, 2005 at 8:28 pm
How about a Michael Moore book review . . . something spicy! These movies are great and all, but I can’t get worked up over them. Make me angry already!!!
Peace!
January 13th, 2005 at 10:11 pm
I’m not reading a Michael Moore book right now, just a Noam Chomsky book and Jon Stewart’s “America!” I’ll write a review for both of these once I’m finished.
January 14th, 2005 at 8:33 am
Please . . . Noam Chomsky eats MM for breakfast! Read faster! No, wait–read slowly so you see how wack the Chomster really is. I admit that my bias against him is second-hand, since I haven’t read his stuff myself. Just heard people talk about him.
January 25th, 2005 at 5:18 pm
Hey, your boy Mike didn’t get any Academy Award nominations. Is the world crazy or something?
January 26th, 2005 at 8:45 am
He may have been dissed at the Oscars but it’s good to see Bush and his cronies rack up the awards at the Razzies!!! Worst actor of the year: George W. Bush for Farenheit 9/11! I feel sorry for his competition because I have a feeling he’s going to win by a landslide.
January 29th, 2005 at 3:23 pm
Is that Chomsky book “Manufacturing Consent/Content”? I saw it today at Barnes & Noble and thought of you.