Title: Up in the Air
Year: 2009
Starring: George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick
Genres: Drama, Comedy, Romance
MPAA: R for language and some sexual content
Kids-In-Mind.com: 6.2.7
My Rating: 9.3
Up or Down: Thumb Up
IMDb Rating: 8.3
Synopsis: Ryan Bingham (Clooney) travels around the country to fire people from their jobs as a living. He spends over two-thirds of each year away from home. He loathes the idea that one would put their life into emotional relationships and has, as such, distanced himself from his family and has no girlfriend or wife. When he meets Alex (Farmiga), who, like he, travels around the country often, he's presented with an internal conflict as to whether he wants to keep this relationship as permanent or keep their relationship casual and friendly. With the help of young co-worker Natalie Keener (Kendrick), whom he's been assigned to help learn the business, he struggles as the philosophy that has guided his life to this point begins to abandon him.
My Take: This film should win Best Picture in March. Clooney's acting is outstanding and likewise deserves Best Actor as he so well displays the emotional conflicts that have stricken Ryan Bingham. Farmiga and Kendrick are equally outstanding in their respective roles. Many film critics associations nationwide, including Utah's, have named this the best film of the year. They are absolutely correct. Up in the Air is an exceptional study of the way many have slowly distanced themselves from personal relationships. I can't adequately communicate how superb this film is. Just go see it.
Title: In the Loop
Year: 2009
Starring: Peter Capaldi, Tom Hollander, Chris Addison
Genres: Comedy, Political
MPAA: Not Rated (Likely R for language and sexuality)
Kids-In-Mind.com: N/A (Approx. 6.2.10)
My Rating: 9.2
Up or Down: Thumb Up
IMDb Rating: 7.7
Synopsis: UK Minister for International Affairs Simon Foster (Hollander) makes two media gaffs within a day of one another, advocating for two opposite policies toward a potential war in the Middle East. The UK Prime Minister and the President of the United States both advocate for a war, while Simon's true feelings are against the war. Nevertheless, he and his statements are used in a political game involving two US Assistant Secretaries of State and a US General. All this time, he's being persuaded by the PM's media relations guy, the profane Malcolm Tucker (Capaldi) and being assisted by his young new assistant Toby (Addison). Lols ensue.
My Take: My synopsis makes this movie sound like a political bore. However, it's absolutely hysterical. As each side of the issue attempts to use Foster for their own side, and the lengths to which each side goes to get their position passed as UN policy makes for incredible laughs. This was a Sundance '09 film and never got a wide theatrical release in the US; they therefore didn't need an MPAA rating. Up in the Air is my favorite film of the year; this is a close second.
Title: Adventureland
Year: 2009
Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart
Genres: Drama, Comedy, Romance
MPAA: R for language, drug use and sexual references.
Kids-In-Mind.com: 7.4.10
My Rating: 9.1
Up or Down: Thumb Up
IMDb Rating: 7.2
Synopsis: College senior James Brennan (Eisenberg) is looking forward to a graduation trip to Europe, but doesn't have the money. His parents can't help out with the funding as his dad recently got a new, lower-paying job. He's forced to take a job a the amusement park Adventureland, in Pittsburgh, PA. There he meets a number of friends, including Em Lewin (Stewart), with whom he forms a relationship. She, meanwhile, is in a secret relationship with the park mechanic, a married man and is hesitant to turn her relationship with James sexual. When James finds that she's unwilling to turn their relationship sexual, he goes on a date with the park slut, making out with her toward the end. When Em finds out, she determines to end her relationship with the park mechanic. James learns of their affair at this time and ambushes her when she's coming out of breaking up, thinking she's coming out of another session. James calls her an idiot, prompting her to quit her job. He drinks too much that night and wrecks his parents' car. He has to use his Europe money to fix the car. He heads to grad school in New York City, where he meets Em again. The movie ends with a reconciliation.
My Take: This film has nothing going for it on the surface. It was marketed as another Superbad, with slapstick humor and superficial guys looking for sex. This is as inaccurate as it gets. This is a romantic drama with a few comedic moments, plain and simple. The thing about it, though, that really got me, was the uncanniness in the way they were able to project the feelings and sexuality of being a teenager. Stewart in particular was outstanding in the film. Her performance played a large part in turning this would-be just-another-stupid-teen-comedy into a superb teen dramedy. I'm not afraid to say that this is my favorite teen film of all time, even beating out such films as "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" and "Zombieland", both of which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Comment below or e-mail me at richard@movienightreviews.net.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Friday, October 30, 2009
Review: Inside Man (2006)
Title: Inside Man
Year: 2006
Starring: Clive Owen, Denzel Washington, Jodie Foster, Christopher Plummer
Genres: Action, Crime, Thriller
MPAA: R for language and some violent images
Kids-In-Mind.com: 4.6.10
My Rating: 6.4
Up or Down: Thumb Down
IMDb Rating: 7.7
Synopsis: Four conspirators, led by Dalton Russell (Owen) rob a large bank. They use clever tactics to keep the police away. The lead negotiator is Keith Frazier (Washington). The owner of the bank, Arthur Case (Plummer), who has some secret, unnamed item kept in this branch, hires Madeleine White (Foster), who for a living keeps the wealthy's interests, to retrieve the item. She fails after discovering that taking this item was Russell's main objective the robbery.
My Take: I can't figure out why this film was so well-received. The premise was really cool; the bank robbery was a lot of fun to watch. But probably 20% of this movie B.S. dialogue between cops or redundant interviews with hostages. They took a good forty-five seconds to show an exchange between the cops and an interviewee, the whole content of which was the cops' comment on her large breast size and her cracking a lame joke "Oh, so I violated section 34DD?" Gimme a break... Focus on the movie; you have a cool story and you're making jokes like that? Despite its 86% approval on Rotten Tomatoes, one negative review listed for this film from Peter Bradshaw from The Guardian newspaper in the UK sums my thoughts up exactly. "Supremely annoying and nonsensical."
Concerning the rating: This film's 6.4 puts it in a tie for 146th of 162 films rated. It is tied with the 2004 family comedy "Shrek 2".
Have a film you'd like me to see and review? E-mail me at richard@movienightreviews.net.
Year: 2006
Starring: Clive Owen, Denzel Washington, Jodie Foster, Christopher Plummer
Genres: Action, Crime, Thriller
MPAA: R for language and some violent images
Kids-In-Mind.com: 4.6.10
My Rating: 6.4
Up or Down: Thumb Down
IMDb Rating: 7.7
Synopsis: Four conspirators, led by Dalton Russell (Owen) rob a large bank. They use clever tactics to keep the police away. The lead negotiator is Keith Frazier (Washington). The owner of the bank, Arthur Case (Plummer), who has some secret, unnamed item kept in this branch, hires Madeleine White (Foster), who for a living keeps the wealthy's interests, to retrieve the item. She fails after discovering that taking this item was Russell's main objective the robbery.
My Take: I can't figure out why this film was so well-received. The premise was really cool; the bank robbery was a lot of fun to watch. But probably 20% of this movie B.S. dialogue between cops or redundant interviews with hostages. They took a good forty-five seconds to show an exchange between the cops and an interviewee, the whole content of which was the cops' comment on her large breast size and her cracking a lame joke "Oh, so I violated section 34DD?" Gimme a break... Focus on the movie; you have a cool story and you're making jokes like that? Despite its 86% approval on Rotten Tomatoes, one negative review listed for this film from Peter Bradshaw from The Guardian newspaper in the UK sums my thoughts up exactly. "Supremely annoying and nonsensical."
Concerning the rating: This film's 6.4 puts it in a tie for 146th of 162 films rated. It is tied with the 2004 family comedy "Shrek 2".
Have a film you'd like me to see and review? E-mail me at richard@movienightreviews.net.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Review: The Crucible (1996)
Title: The Crucible
Year: 1996
Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Winona Ryder, Paul Scofield, Joan Allen
Genres: Drama, Historical
MPAA: PG-13 for intense depiction of the Salem witch trials
Kids-In-Mind.com: 4.3.2
My Rating: 6.0
Up or Down: Thumb Down
IMDb Rating: 6.9
Synopsis: In 1692, after being dismissed from the service of John (Day-Lewis) and Elizabeth (Allen) Proctor for having an affair with the former, Abigail Williams (Ryder) begins accusing women in the small town of Salem, Massachusetts of witchcraft. Eventually accusing Elizabeth so John could be hers, a witchcraft frenzy spreads through the town, leading to the execution of dozens, as ordered by the Royal Governor, Thomas Danforth (Scofield).
My Take: Daniel Day-Lewis is a superb actor. Winona Ryder's performance was, too, very good. However, this film's downfall is its awful screenplay. The play is a good read; Arthur Miller's allegory of the McCarthy hearings is a good read. However, the poor screenplay makes for some really odd filming and weird dialogue. The acting, once again, is certainly above average, but I have to give this a negative rating due to the absolute atrocity that is the screenplay.
Concerning the rating: The 6.0 puts "The Crucible" in a tie for 150th of 162 films rated. It is tied with the 1987 comedy "Spaceballs" as well as the 2008 teen comedy "Drillbit Taylor".
Have a film you'd like me to see and review? E-mail me at richard@movienightreviews.net.
Year: 1996
Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Winona Ryder, Paul Scofield, Joan Allen
Genres: Drama, Historical
MPAA: PG-13 for intense depiction of the Salem witch trials
Kids-In-Mind.com: 4.3.2
My Rating: 6.0
Up or Down: Thumb Down
IMDb Rating: 6.9
Synopsis: In 1692, after being dismissed from the service of John (Day-Lewis) and Elizabeth (Allen) Proctor for having an affair with the former, Abigail Williams (Ryder) begins accusing women in the small town of Salem, Massachusetts of witchcraft. Eventually accusing Elizabeth so John could be hers, a witchcraft frenzy spreads through the town, leading to the execution of dozens, as ordered by the Royal Governor, Thomas Danforth (Scofield).
My Take: Daniel Day-Lewis is a superb actor. Winona Ryder's performance was, too, very good. However, this film's downfall is its awful screenplay. The play is a good read; Arthur Miller's allegory of the McCarthy hearings is a good read. However, the poor screenplay makes for some really odd filming and weird dialogue. The acting, once again, is certainly above average, but I have to give this a negative rating due to the absolute atrocity that is the screenplay.
Concerning the rating: The 6.0 puts "The Crucible" in a tie for 150th of 162 films rated. It is tied with the 1987 comedy "Spaceballs" as well as the 2008 teen comedy "Drillbit Taylor".
Have a film you'd like me to see and review? E-mail me at richard@movienightreviews.net.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Review: The Blair Witch Project (1999)
Title: The Blair Witch Project
Year: 1999
Starring: Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard, Michael Williams
Genres: Suspense, Horror, Mystery, Mockumentary
MPAA: R for language
Kids-In-Mind.com: 1.3.10
My Rating: 8.3
Up or Down: Thumb Up
IMDb Rating: 6.2
Synopsis: Three aspiring young adults, Heather (Donahue), Josh (Leonard), and Mike (Williams) go into the woods in Maryland to create a documentary about the legendary Blair Witch. Originally planning to stay for just two days, they get lost and are forced to stay in the woods longer. Strange things happen around their tent and Josh eventually goes missing. Heather and Mike look for him; the movie ends with an ending I'm not going to spoil.
My Take: I was moved to watch this film by the popularity of the new show "Paranormal Activity", the making of which was very similar to "Blair Witch". The way this film was made was awesome. It was marketed as if these three had disappeared in the woods and this was the film they'd taken during their stay in the woods and that the film had been found a year later. The movie was shot by the actors themselves. The thing that made this movie a little bit lower in my book was something that was actually completely necessary for its genre: fluff. They had to sell the reality of this footage by putting in shots that weren't remotely related to anything, including Heather and Mike picking up Josh before leaving for the woods. It made the movie better but simultaneously detracted from it. Still a great show worth watching. I have no idea how it got to be a 6.2 on IMDb; this was a great watch.
Concerning the rating: The 8.3 puts "The Blair Witch Project" in a tie for 33rd with thirteen other movies of 160 watched.
Have a film you'd like me to see and review? E-mail me at movienightreviews@gmail.com.
Year: 1999
Starring: Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard, Michael Williams
Genres: Suspense, Horror, Mystery, Mockumentary
MPAA: R for language
Kids-In-Mind.com: 1.3.10
My Rating: 8.3
Up or Down: Thumb Up
IMDb Rating: 6.2
Synopsis: Three aspiring young adults, Heather (Donahue), Josh (Leonard), and Mike (Williams) go into the woods in Maryland to create a documentary about the legendary Blair Witch. Originally planning to stay for just two days, they get lost and are forced to stay in the woods longer. Strange things happen around their tent and Josh eventually goes missing. Heather and Mike look for him; the movie ends with an ending I'm not going to spoil.
My Take: I was moved to watch this film by the popularity of the new show "Paranormal Activity", the making of which was very similar to "Blair Witch". The way this film was made was awesome. It was marketed as if these three had disappeared in the woods and this was the film they'd taken during their stay in the woods and that the film had been found a year later. The movie was shot by the actors themselves. The thing that made this movie a little bit lower in my book was something that was actually completely necessary for its genre: fluff. They had to sell the reality of this footage by putting in shots that weren't remotely related to anything, including Heather and Mike picking up Josh before leaving for the woods. It made the movie better but simultaneously detracted from it. Still a great show worth watching. I have no idea how it got to be a 6.2 on IMDb; this was a great watch.
Concerning the rating: The 8.3 puts "The Blair Witch Project" in a tie for 33rd with thirteen other movies of 160 watched.
Have a film you'd like me to see and review? E-mail me at movienightreviews@gmail.com.
Review: The Invention of Lying (2009)
Apologies... School has prevented me from doing nearly anything these past two months. I hope to be more active in my rating in the near future.
Title: The Invention of Lying
Year: 2009
Starring: Ricky Gervais, Jennifer Garner, Rob Lowe
Genres: Comedy
MPAA: PG-13 for language including some sexual material and a drug reference
Kids-In-Mind.com: 5.3.5
My Rating: 7.4
Up or Down: Thumb Up
IMDb Rating: 6.9
Synopsis: In a world where people cannot lie and have no concept of lying, Mark Bellison (Gervais) gains the ability to lie. He uses this to his advantage until after he lies to his dying mother of the existence of an afterlife, when the whole world flocks to him to hear what happens after death. Through all this, he tries to gain the affection of Anna McDoogles (Garner), who likes Bellison but dislikes his looks, opting for Bellison's arch nemesis, Brad Kessler (Lowe).
My Take: Honestly, the plot of this movie was absolutely stupid. They could've done so much better with such a cool premise. But, I have to say I enjoyed it just because of the cleverness of the jokes. I laughed heartily, but more because of the premise and the subtle references they inserted than the actual plot. With a better plot, this could be one of my favorite comedies ever.
Concerning the rating: The 7.4 places "The Invention of Lying" in a tie for 99th with "Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle" and "Happy Gilmore" of 160 films rated.
Have a film you'd like me to see and review? E-mail me at movienightreviews@gmail.com
Title: The Invention of Lying
Year: 2009
Starring: Ricky Gervais, Jennifer Garner, Rob Lowe
Genres: Comedy
MPAA: PG-13 for language including some sexual material and a drug reference
Kids-In-Mind.com: 5.3.5
My Rating: 7.4
Up or Down: Thumb Up
IMDb Rating: 6.9
Synopsis: In a world where people cannot lie and have no concept of lying, Mark Bellison (Gervais) gains the ability to lie. He uses this to his advantage until after he lies to his dying mother of the existence of an afterlife, when the whole world flocks to him to hear what happens after death. Through all this, he tries to gain the affection of Anna McDoogles (Garner), who likes Bellison but dislikes his looks, opting for Bellison's arch nemesis, Brad Kessler (Lowe).
My Take: Honestly, the plot of this movie was absolutely stupid. They could've done so much better with such a cool premise. But, I have to say I enjoyed it just because of the cleverness of the jokes. I laughed heartily, but more because of the premise and the subtle references they inserted than the actual plot. With a better plot, this could be one of my favorite comedies ever.
Concerning the rating: The 7.4 places "The Invention of Lying" in a tie for 99th with "Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle" and "Happy Gilmore" of 160 films rated.
Have a film you'd like me to see and review? E-mail me at movienightreviews@gmail.com
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Rating Adjustment: Fight Club (1999)
Previous Rating: 7.3
New Rating: 8.0
Reason: It's been a week or so since I saw "Fight Club". You can find the review here. After contemplating the plot and seeing "Pulp Fiction" (1994), which is in a similar genre, I think this film was better than I previously felt. I was a bit harsh based on the fact that I have many friends who've raved to me about how wonderful this show was. I didn't find it to be quite to my taste, but there's no doubt in my mind now that this was a top-notch film.
Concerning the new rating: The 8.0 puts "Fight Club" in a tie for 68th with eight other films out of 158 rated.
Have a film you'd like me to see and review? E-mail me at movienightreviews@gmail.com.
New Rating: 8.0
Reason: It's been a week or so since I saw "Fight Club". You can find the review here. After contemplating the plot and seeing "Pulp Fiction" (1994), which is in a similar genre, I think this film was better than I previously felt. I was a bit harsh based on the fact that I have many friends who've raved to me about how wonderful this show was. I didn't find it to be quite to my taste, but there's no doubt in my mind now that this was a top-notch film.
Concerning the new rating: The 8.0 puts "Fight Club" in a tie for 68th with eight other films out of 158 rated.
Have a film you'd like me to see and review? E-mail me at movienightreviews@gmail.com.
Review: Pulp Fiction (1994)
Title: Pulp Fiction
Year: 1994
Starring: John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Bruce Willis, Ving Rhames, Uma Thurman
Genres: Drama, Action, Thriller
MPAA: R for strong graphic violence and drug use, pervasive strong language and some sexuality
Kids-In-Mind.com: 9.10.10
My Rating: 8.4
Up or Down: Thumb Up
IMDb Rating: 8.9 (Top 250: #5)
Synopsis: Too lengthy to state here. See the Wikipedia entry on this film for the synopsis.
My Take: I came away from this film thinking, "That was weird." I wasn't sure if I liked it. It's been 16 hours now, and I determined while the plot wasn't what I wanted it to be, it was still a captivating show. Entertaining, maybe. Captivating, absolutely. This is not your average film. As you can see above, the plot is too lengthy and involved to state here. I can see how others would like this more than me; this genre doesn't play to my tastes terribly well. But yeah, I liked this show. As for the Kids-In-Mind.com rating, I would say a 9.10.10 is over the top. This is more like a 7.9.10. Granted, this was rated by them while the site was in its infancy, but I think their estimate is a tad high. However, the drug usage in this movie, something not rated by KIM, is extensive, especially within the first forty minutes or so. Anyway, see this film. I'd say this is more like "Fight Club" than anything else.
Concerning the rating: The 8.4 puts it in a tie for 25th with eight other films out of 158 rated.
Have a film you'd like me to see and review? E-mail me at movienightreviews@gmail.com.
Year: 1994
Starring: John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Bruce Willis, Ving Rhames, Uma Thurman
Genres: Drama, Action, Thriller
MPAA: R for strong graphic violence and drug use, pervasive strong language and some sexuality
Kids-In-Mind.com: 9.10.10
My Rating: 8.4
Up or Down: Thumb Up
IMDb Rating: 8.9 (Top 250: #5)
Synopsis: Too lengthy to state here. See the Wikipedia entry on this film for the synopsis.
My Take: I came away from this film thinking, "That was weird." I wasn't sure if I liked it. It's been 16 hours now, and I determined while the plot wasn't what I wanted it to be, it was still a captivating show. Entertaining, maybe. Captivating, absolutely. This is not your average film. As you can see above, the plot is too lengthy and involved to state here. I can see how others would like this more than me; this genre doesn't play to my tastes terribly well. But yeah, I liked this show. As for the Kids-In-Mind.com rating, I would say a 9.10.10 is over the top. This is more like a 7.9.10. Granted, this was rated by them while the site was in its infancy, but I think their estimate is a tad high. However, the drug usage in this movie, something not rated by KIM, is extensive, especially within the first forty minutes or so. Anyway, see this film. I'd say this is more like "Fight Club" than anything else.
Concerning the rating: The 8.4 puts it in a tie for 25th with eight other films out of 158 rated.
Have a film you'd like me to see and review? E-mail me at movienightreviews@gmail.com.
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