DIRECTOR: Floria Sigismondi
STUDIO: Apparition
STARRING: Kristen Stewart, Dakota Fanning, Michael Shannon
RATING: R
GENRE: Biography, Drama
GRADE: C
To be quite honest, I'd only heard of Joan Jett before I saw this movie. I didn't even realize there was a band called the Runaways. Honestly, what blew me away with this film was Kristen Stewart. She actually can do more than just one expression and tone. She had raw emotion, and many times I forgot it was that life-less actress who "portrays" Bella Swan.
The film is interesting enough, but Dakota Fanning's character, Cherie Currie, felt so underwritten and sloppy that I didn't understand her motivations. It must have been a problem with both the director and writers, because I felt lost in most scenes were she had any sort of break-down or lash out. Also, the film seems to end on an awkward note. There was no resolution of any deep sort. I don't want to spoil anything, but the last scene felt like it could have been more of an ending, then just a falling action. I understand that it's a film based on true events, but it's still a film that needs to follow the regular formula for story-telling.
Something to compliment this movie on is that it acurately portrayed everything during that time: women were hated for being anything but housewives, drugs were still a problem at that time. And the lighting of each scene felt like it was very well thought-out for each emotion of the characters.
A decent film, that you may like to watch if you feel the need to see Kristen Stewart or Dakota Fanning act fairly well.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Unknown (2011)
DIRECTOR: Jaume Collet-Serra
STUDIO: Warner Bros. Pictures
STARRING: Liam Neeson, Diane Kruger, January Jones
RATING: PG-13
GENRE: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
GRADE: B
I feel that this is the film that has all those actors and actresses that you've seen before, but never knew their name and wraps them up into one! The best part of this film is definitely the acting and directing, and how well they melded together. Liam Neeson was fantastic, as always and Diane Kruger - I didn't even recognize her!
There were many action sequences and only one did I have any trouble following. Most were the best I've seen in a long time, so I was very pleased. The score went well with this movie, too, because it wasn't so loud you couldn't think, but it wasn't so faint you couldn't hear it.
Something about this film keeps you guessing, because you really don't figure it out until the last 20 minutes, or so, and the twist isn't a hard one to believe. It's something that you almost want to slap yourself in your face for not realizing it!
VERY well put-together film, and I'm not even a fan of action movies in the first place.
STUDIO: Warner Bros. Pictures
STARRING: Liam Neeson, Diane Kruger, January Jones
RATING: PG-13
GENRE: Drama, Mystery, Thriller
GRADE: B
I feel that this is the film that has all those actors and actresses that you've seen before, but never knew their name and wraps them up into one! The best part of this film is definitely the acting and directing, and how well they melded together. Liam Neeson was fantastic, as always and Diane Kruger - I didn't even recognize her!
There were many action sequences and only one did I have any trouble following. Most were the best I've seen in a long time, so I was very pleased. The score went well with this movie, too, because it wasn't so loud you couldn't think, but it wasn't so faint you couldn't hear it.
Something about this film keeps you guessing, because you really don't figure it out until the last 20 minutes, or so, and the twist isn't a hard one to believe. It's something that you almost want to slap yourself in your face for not realizing it!
VERY well put-together film, and I'm not even a fan of action movies in the first place.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Modigliani (2004)
DIRECTOR: Mick Davis
STUDIO: Bauer Martinez Studios
STARRING: Andy Garcia, Elsa Zylberstein, Omid Djalili
RATING: R
GENRE: Biography, Drama
GRADE: C+
Going into this, I literally knew nothing about Modigliani as a person, except he was a painter who never painted anyone's eyes. Whether or not this story is acturate, it's a very interesting portrayl of this man's life.
It's a very tragic story, centred around Modigliani's relationship with his wife, his relationship with Picasso and his relationship with his art and career. It's the old-days story of a modern rock star. They're famous, they both wanna do their own work and won't settle, and they're addicted to drugs and alcohol.
The most interesting part of the film is trying to decide if he and Picasso are friends or just bitter enemies. If the film is accurate, then I'm sure it was hard for the men, themselves to decide.
If you're a huge contemporary art fan, or love biographical films, then this you'll love this movie. And, even if you're not, like me, it's still a decent film, that you could rent to entertain yourself with for a few hours.
STUDIO: Bauer Martinez Studios
STARRING: Andy Garcia, Elsa Zylberstein, Omid Djalili
RATING: R
GENRE: Biography, Drama
GRADE: C+
Going into this, I literally knew nothing about Modigliani as a person, except he was a painter who never painted anyone's eyes. Whether or not this story is acturate, it's a very interesting portrayl of this man's life.
It's a very tragic story, centred around Modigliani's relationship with his wife, his relationship with Picasso and his relationship with his art and career. It's the old-days story of a modern rock star. They're famous, they both wanna do their own work and won't settle, and they're addicted to drugs and alcohol.
The most interesting part of the film is trying to decide if he and Picasso are friends or just bitter enemies. If the film is accurate, then I'm sure it was hard for the men, themselves to decide.
If you're a huge contemporary art fan, or love biographical films, then this you'll love this movie. And, even if you're not, like me, it's still a decent film, that you could rent to entertain yourself with for a few hours.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Zombieland (2009)
DIRECTOR: Ruben Fleischer
STUDIO: Columbia Pictures
STARRING: Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone
RATING: R
GENRE: Action, Comedy, Adventure
GRADE: B
I have NEVER had an actor that was so confused with Micheal Cera. I know in "Social Network" everyone kept mistaking Jesse Eisenberg for him, but I could've sworn up and down that everyone that mentioned this movie said it was Cera. I guess Jesse Eisenberg will just have to fight harder to break that mold.
Anyways...I have to say upfront that I've never been a fan of Zombie films, purely because they just don't entertain me, but this film did a decent job. Not the most creative plot, but it gets the audience's attention.
The acting and directing was very well done, but what really surprised me was how well this film was edited. Except for one scene, everything was clear and the cinematography guided your eyes to what they were supposed to see and where.
I give this film a "B" because it was above sub-par, but overall nothing really surprised me through it. The actors were very likable and it wasn't too long, which is a problem with most films these days. I'd see it as a date film: for the action-loving one, and the comedy-loving significant other.
STUDIO: Columbia Pictures
STARRING: Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Emma Stone
RATING: R
GENRE: Action, Comedy, Adventure
GRADE: B
I have NEVER had an actor that was so confused with Micheal Cera. I know in "Social Network" everyone kept mistaking Jesse Eisenberg for him, but I could've sworn up and down that everyone that mentioned this movie said it was Cera. I guess Jesse Eisenberg will just have to fight harder to break that mold.
Anyways...I have to say upfront that I've never been a fan of Zombie films, purely because they just don't entertain me, but this film did a decent job. Not the most creative plot, but it gets the audience's attention.
The acting and directing was very well done, but what really surprised me was how well this film was edited. Except for one scene, everything was clear and the cinematography guided your eyes to what they were supposed to see and where.
I give this film a "B" because it was above sub-par, but overall nothing really surprised me through it. The actors were very likable and it wasn't too long, which is a problem with most films these days. I'd see it as a date film: for the action-loving one, and the comedy-loving significant other.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Hair (1979)
DIRECTOR: Milos Forman
STUDIO: United Artists
STARRING: John Savage, Treat Williams, Beverly D'Angelo
RATING: PG
GENRE: Musical, Comedy, Drama
GRADE: B+
I've heard so much about this film, that I was very excited to see what it was actually about and what it meant. However, the plot line was barely there, but it held together just enough to make the audience have emotional attachment to the characters. I see other films TRY to make the characters so lovable, but not quite like this movie.
The music was very "hippie"-ish and fits the life and beliefs of the time period of the Vietnam War. Choreography was amazing! Whoever choreographed this piece had a very good mind-set of what the music stood for, and how to portray that through dance.
Acting was very great, as was direction, and even those you don't necessarily like have some sort of charm about them. But, I have to warn you: get ready for a sad ending. But, if it wasn't for that, I wouldn't have realized how attached I had gotten to the characters, and therefore how well this movie really was put together.
For all those hippies and radicals out there, for all the conformists and non-believers, for all who have ever just wanted to live life for the sake of living, this film calls your name and lets the sun shine.
STUDIO: United Artists
STARRING: John Savage, Treat Williams, Beverly D'Angelo
RATING: PG
GENRE: Musical, Comedy, Drama
GRADE: B+
I've heard so much about this film, that I was very excited to see what it was actually about and what it meant. However, the plot line was barely there, but it held together just enough to make the audience have emotional attachment to the characters. I see other films TRY to make the characters so lovable, but not quite like this movie.
The music was very "hippie"-ish and fits the life and beliefs of the time period of the Vietnam War. Choreography was amazing! Whoever choreographed this piece had a very good mind-set of what the music stood for, and how to portray that through dance.
Acting was very great, as was direction, and even those you don't necessarily like have some sort of charm about them. But, I have to warn you: get ready for a sad ending. But, if it wasn't for that, I wouldn't have realized how attached I had gotten to the characters, and therefore how well this movie really was put together.
For all those hippies and radicals out there, for all the conformists and non-believers, for all who have ever just wanted to live life for the sake of living, this film calls your name and lets the sun shine.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)