BloodyHoliday on Movie

Review: Youth Without Youth

2008-06-13T08:54:00.000-07:00

In Heart of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse, a brilliant documentary about making of Apocalypse Now, Francis Ford Coppola said he was on a learning process while making that film, as he delved into mysteriousness of jungle. In the end, his on-screen works is like a reflection to his own experience. Many years later (20 years to be exact) and 10 years gap from his latest directorial effort (1997’s The Rain Maker), Coppola tried to do exact same thing like he did in the past.

Youth Without Youth is interesting, yet undeniably confusing tale of Dominic Matei (Tim Roth) who is a professor of language and philosophy in early 19th century. His goal is trying to accomplish a research that he claims to be the key of all human's language. But as it turns out, it might be impossible to finish it after all. This research changed his behavior from fascination into obsession. As he lose everything he loves including his fiancé, Veronica (Alexandra Maria Lara), he has nothing left to live on. Many years later, in a blink of World War II, 77-years-old Dominic is on the way to end his miserable life. But then, lightening suddenly stuck at him before he has a chance to do so. The lightening didn’t kill him, instead it miraculously rejuvenates his life. Now, he looks like in mid-30’s and gave him a supernatural abilities like reading book without open it, mind bending psychic or even developing his own Dr. Jerkyll and Mr. Hyde-like alter-ego.

After World War II's over, Dominic is traveling throughout the world. He began to look into his research again since now he has a plenty of times to do. But then, he accidentally met his fiancé’s dead ringer named Laura (also played by Alexandra Maria Lara). As it turned out, she also happened to be stuck by lightening and develops another supernatural ability which she can speak ancient languages while she slept. Dominic knows right away that it might be an only chance for him to accomplish his unfinished project. But it came with one sacrifice condition, if he decides to stay with her, it might be the way to ending her life.

There's an only one different thing between getting lost in the jungle of Philippines and getting lost in freezing cold city of Romania. And that is Youth Without Youth lose its audience’s commitment as we keep accompany him to his personal enlightenment (in another words, he wasn't wholeheartedly let us ride along in this time around). With his beyond comprehensible dialogs about metaphysical theory and non-linear stories that keep tangled up like a maze, Youth Without Youth seem to be a failure. No, it's magnificent failure from the master of modern cinema living today.

The cast is another story here, since they served their duty pretty well especially Tim Roth (again, one of the most unused actor living today) who would do all it take to make us believe in the protagonist. And he seemed to really understand what Francis Ford Coppola is trying to achieve. The movie also accompanied by beautiful score (if shamelessly cloying) by Osvaldo Golijov and surprisingly neat cinematography by Mihai Malaimare Jr.

Youth Without Youth require a multiple viewing, in order to understand some of its massages. Truth be told, I didn't really get it. Coppola once said in the interview that this story is very personal to him. Well, maybe this film wasn’t exactly making for us. It's sure gonna make a lot of people frustrated. For me, I'm just glad that he's back to work again.

BloodyMonday Rating:
2/4

Review: Longford

2007-09-12T22:00:00.000-07:00

Talk show Host: “But hasn't she destroyed you? She's... she's ruined your good name; she's taken all the hard work you did and thrown it back in your face.”
Lord Longford: “If people think that makes me weak... or mad... so be it. That is the path I am committed to. To love the sinner, but hate the sins. To assume the best in people, and not the worst. To believe that anyone, no matter how evil, can be redeemed... eventually.”

Well, for the past 20 or so years in my life, I haven’t seen any human being capable to do something like that. There must only be a saint or even a god thyself to achieve it. So if you ask me, I don’t exactly believe what I saw in the film. But, be that as it may, I’m pretty sure that if you have to choose someone to represent this believes, Lord Longford is your man.

Based on true story of Lord Frank Aungier Pakenham, 7th Earl of Longford (Jim Broadbent) who tirelessly delicate all his time and life to the prisoner right. The movie emphasized on his controversial, colorful, headline-making friendship with one of Britain's most notorious criminals, child murderess Myra Hindley (Samantha Morton). It was the most terrifying incident at that time which caused by her and her partner Ian Brady (Andy Serkis).

The story, for me, failed as the motion picture. There is neither suspense nor plot-wise coherent (ie. the movie seems awkwardly jump from present to future). But if we look at it as if it was stage play or even documentary, it was a huge success. The writer, Peter Morgan (who had a golden year with The Queen and The Last King of Scotland) expertly kept all his lines to be sharp and witty in every-single-scene and gave to all equally expert actors to handle.

Jim Broadbent proves, once again, that he really is one of the best actors in United Kingdom. His Transformation in both appearance and gesture is uncanny with the real Lord Longford. Samantha Morton is also mesmerizing. Her ambiguity and low-key performance successfully made us completely understand who she really is, if not feel sympathized. Also, Andy Serkis is truly terrifying as her partner in crime. His screen time was limited, but he was worth every second of it.

(Last scene)
Myra Hindley: You know, we only missed it by a few weeks.
Lord Longford: What?
Myra Hindley: The death sentence. They abolished it while we were on remand. Looking back, don't you think it would have been better for everyone if they'd just hung us?
Lord Longford: Certainly not! Only God has the right to take human life.
Myra Hindley: Would He not have wanted to give the families that comfort?
Lord Longford: None of us knows the true purpose of our lives on earth... Besides, had you been hanged, I would never have had the privilege of getting to know you!
Myra Hindley: You really believe that, don't you?........Must be a rather nice place to be.
Lord Longford: Where?
Myra Hindley: Inside your head.
Lord Longford: Oh! I'm not so sure about that!
Myra Hindley: A fine pair we are, then.
(The end)

I haven’t listened to any simple yet thought provoking line for such a long time. It also used as whole fundamental story that the filmmaker wanted us to tell us. This is a movie where people are bonded, no matter how evil of some people really are; deep down, they are still hoping to reach for an ordinary life.

BloodyMonday Rating:
3/4

Review: Reign Over Me

2007-09-09T22:00:00.000-07:00

Watching "Reign Over Me" is slow but rewarding experience. There are too many flaws that prevent this one to be best film of the year. But one important thing that the director, Mike Binder did it right is he fully aware of all problems cannot be solve in its limited time (2 hours+). We completely trust that not only life within the picture is real, but also life beyond the picture is really matters.

The movie shows us two individual men. They were college roommate and after graduation, they went on separate way and never saw each other again. Alan Johnson (Don Cheadle) leads a prefect life as he has decent job (the dentist) and beautiful wife with two lovely daughters. Charlie Fineman (Adam Sandler) had the same perfect life at one point until his beautiful wife and lovely three daughters killed in 9/11. Some years later, Alan accidentally met Charlie on the street of NY, the story of sadness, agony and redemption has just begun.

It's obvious that why people are getting so emotional with 9/11 incident. This is such a delicate territory. So many people have lost their life or their family members in this heart-breaking piece of history. But I think "Reign Over Me" poorly used an incident as emotional-driven tool. 9/11 was brought up but never materialized. In fact, it would be better if the filmmaker never use that incident and turn all his focuses to emphasize on one human loss.

If we really look at the core of this film, there is greatness lies within the story especially for Adam Sandler's character. Charlie Fineman is a grief ridden man who buried his tragic past behind. He cannot talks or let other talk about his late family. He doesn't want to forget his family, but he also doesn't want to remember his family too much. I think Adam Sandler did a marvelous job as Charlie Fineman (by both acting and appearance). His scene in finale with his wife's parents got me tear up. Don Cheadle also gave an impressive (if not memorable) turn as Charlie's friend. Its shame that after a promising start, where I can see some of his trouble lie in emotion, his story was completely disappear in a second half.

The supporting casts are also a major letdown for me. Jada Pinkett Smith (as Alan's wife), Live Tyler (Alan's psychiatrist friend) and especially Saffron Burrows (psychotic woman, whom I think, shown up in a wrong movie) are all wasted. And also an unnecessary courtroom showdown which is seem manipulate and ridiculous (yet, I admit, it works).

Anyway, I can forgive all these flaws because Charlie's story was so well told. "Reign Over Me" is a simple story of friendship and loss that has its heart in the right place. In fact, it has more heart than any other picture of this year so far.

BloodyMonday Rating:
3/4

Review: Tideland

2007-09-03T05:40:00.002-07:00

You have no idea what have you got yourself into when allowing Terry Gilliam has 100% authority to control a project. This is disturbing creepy little movie that didn't have any kind of bright spot or glimpses of hope to wish for.

Well, at least this is the greatest failure of the filmmaker, if you look at his previous by-the-studio, half-baked and absolutely boring "The Brothers Grimm".

Jodelle Ferland (in a role that I won't be forget any time soon) plays Jeliza-Rose, a girl with fantasy in her head who has only disembodied Barbie doll as friends. Her father (Jeff Bridges) is drug addicted, washed out rocker and her mother (Jennifer Tilly) is chocolate compulsive lunatic. After tragic accident, Jeliza-Rose and her father headed back to his hometown where she met two more equally disturbed neighbors.

As you already knows, this is full on Gilliam-ish movie. All things are looking hopeless for our little Jeliza-Rose. But this is not a movie where we can root for our little innocent girl. Because here, she's also has an extremely unpleasant behavior like any other characters in the movie. So I'm not sure that whether Terry Gilliam wanted us to see a struggling girl who met a lot of unfortunate circumstances and, because of that, she's trying to use fantasy in her own little world as a tool to reach for any brighter way out. Or he's just wanted us to see the truth of an ugliness and cruel world that we are living in.

What made it even more unpleasant is the ending where Jeliza-Rose has met with other people (under severe circumstance) beside her neighbors. I have a faith that she will finally breakthrough her own fantasy and able to live among normals. Well, it's not going to happen, because she is, still living inside her head (maybe even more than ever). In fact, if she grows up to be a serial-killer, I wouldn't surprised.

This is, either you love it or hate it kind of movie. Well, I think I'm kind of hate myself to like it. It's far less entertaining than Brazil, Twelve Monkeys, Fisher King and any other Monty Python's stuffs that Terry Gilliam has done. But as I said before, it's an admirable failure from the most innovative filmmaker living today.

BloodyMonday Rating:
2.5/4

Review: Winter Passing

2007-09-01T02:20:00.000-07:00

Winter Passing is about lonely people who sometime looked for love at a wrong place. Reese (Deschanel) lives loneliness in New York as second grade actress/bartender. She uses drugs and sexes as a medicine for her depression. One day she is aprroached by book editor who asked her to bring 150 love letters between her late suicided mum and dad, both are notorious writer for her to publish. Because of large amount money offered, she agreed and decided to travel to her hometown Michigan.

The house that she used to live is not entirely the same when she left. There's Corbit (Farrell) who fix stuffs and look after the house in return for free room. There's also Shelly (Amelia Warner) who was Reese's dad ex-student who also got a free room in return for cooking and look after the house. For Don (Harris), Resse's alcoholic depessive and sometime going nuts father is now living in the garage instead of living in the house.

At first glance, Winter Passing is sound like any other movie-of-the-week kind of thing. In those movies, our leading character usually gets confused with his/her life in big city, so he/she decide to return home. No matter how bad is it, at the end he/she will actually found some missing answer, redemption or whatever. But for this movie, it's obviously not one of those.

This movie really worked for me because of subtlety. There are no obvious reason about why she slammed drawer on her knuckle (which is might have something to do with her repression). You're never got a scene which Don fully explain about his emotion, about his dead wife or other reasons why he've done all peculiar things. You're also never got a fully explanation about Corbit's behavior, about his passion in music, ka-ra-tay and other quirky behaviors. The great thing about subtlety is they left a room for you to thing about it. Instead of what other people (filmmaker) think what is right or what is wrong for us.

Zooey Dechanel is nothing but mavellous here. Although it's just her second starring role (first is All the real girls, which is also great by the way), she carries the whole film with deep, subtle (if somewhat low-key) performance. On the other hand, Will Farell is kind of miscasted for me. His weirdness and quirky performance is fun to watch but somehow I think it's in the wrong movie. Anyway, I think it still be a good move by him into more dramatic territory. Ed Harris was given with nothing for him to work here much. With his amazing Jackson Pollock's performance, this is like inferior version of it (adding with madness). And for Amelia Warner which I never heard of her before. She perform in her role very well especially in all scenes with Zooey which she was like the voice of reason to Reese.

Back to the first sentence, Winter Passing is about looking for love in the wrong place. Reese was seek for love by fleeing from her home. But she never look deep enough to see that home is the place where the love came from. It may not so obvious or coming out in words, but if she takes time to think and experiences it for a second, she will know that it's always there for her.

Bloodymonday Rating:
3/4

Review: 10 items or less

2007-09-01T02:18:00.000-07:00

I know that how hard it be to make a movie (especially a good one). But sometime you can just put actors in front of camera and tell them to be themselves. This is exactly happened in “10 items or Less” directed by Brad Silberling who also give us an amusing script to this simple, yet very entertaining tale.

The plot is actually none existed. The basic premise is “Him” (Morgan Freeman), semi-retired Hollywood actor, is doing research for his new project. He met Scarlet (very, very attractive Paz Vega) who is happening to be a cashier where “Him” decide to do his thing. Two of them meet and connect with each other. They share their thought and eventually spend a day together.

From what you’ve heard so far, this is seems to fall in a category of other movies like Linklater’s Before Sunrise and After Sunset (btw, great movies!). True, but I think the way Brad execute his movie was not the same. Where as Linklater’s movies seem to be witty and engaging, Brad’s one is seem lighter and more joy to watch. I like the way that Brad make his character “Him” and Scarlet are linked with each other in purely non-sexual way.

All praise should be given to Morgan Freeman. I think this is one of the easiest role he’s ever done (he’s just be himself, for crying out loud!). But as I’m his biggest fan, it’s so enjoy watching him just walk through the set. As her second English speaking role, Paz Vega did a decent job. Although she’s seem to struggle with her English (in some scene, it’s like she read from cue card), but her natural talent is undeniable. But, be that as it may, this is Morgan Freeman’s movie.

I don’t see anyway that will make this movie a classic. It’s too lightweight and too typical. The movie even fills their incredibly short running times (78 minutes!) with pretty unimportant scenes. But somehow I liked it. I like their thought. The dialogues are sometime worth memorized. I don’t know what other people will feel about this one. But count me in if you want to watch it again.

BloodyMonday Rating:
3/4

Review: Fay Grim

2007-09-01T02:16:00.002-07:00

Fay Grim is an unnecessary sequel to Hal Hartley’s masterpiece “Henry Fool”. But unnecessary doesn’t mean that it won’t be any good. Although I’m not exactly Hartley’s fan, but his unorthodox view on the story made up for something that missing from this movie.

Fay Grim (Parker Posey) is a single-mother whom her husband (Henry) is a fugitive and went missing for 10 years. One day she has been contacted with FBI agent (Jeff Goldblum) who told her that 6 volumes of Henry’s notebooks are, in fact, the most valuable information. And that information may ruin US. , If they’re in the wrong hand. With the help of her now-famous brother Simon Grim (Jams Urbaniak) and his publisher Angus (Chuck Montgomery), she must retrieve those books and, at the same time, find her husband.

From the sound of it, this is obviously not the plot that Hal Hartley familiar with. But surprisingly, he can make it while his usual trademarks were still all over this picture. It’s like James Bond movie with the perspective of indie filmmaker. Although there are some experiment that was not work for me like captioned action sequences or overbearing dialog that too damn hard to follow.

As I said in my recent review, Parker Posey is coming back. In the wrong hand, she might be absolutely useless. But in the hand of unique director like Hal, she can be such a brilliant actress. In fact, her performances in the picture carry this somewhat unbelievable and ridiculous story. She can be a little bit quirky at some point, but in the final scene, her expression is right on target. And for that she could have been considered in award season if the rest of movie is better than this.

I cannot entirely love this film. It’s got something that I love like dead-pan humors and I’m interested to see what happen to the characters after 10 years. But somehow I feel it wasn’t necessary at all to make this movie. The plot was all too complicate and I found that it’s hard to like any of characters (except Fay Grim). I hope Hal Hartley will stop their story at this picture and make some other interesting movie.

BloodyMonday Rating:
2.5/4

Review: The Foutain

2007-09-01T02:15:00.000-07:00

The film’s core takes place in the here and now, with Hugh Jackman as a research scientist trying to find a cure for cancer. It’s personal for him – his wife, Rachel Weisz, is dying from a brain tumor. Jackman’s team brings back a sample from a unique tree in the South American jungle. And while experimenting with the bark of the tree, Jackman realizes he may have made an astonishing breakthrough. Meanwhile, Weisz is writing a novel about a conquistador (also played by Jackman) who travels to the New World to find the Biblical Tree of Life for his queen (also played by Weisz). The third strand of the story takes place in the far future, with Jackman (still playing the scientist) hurtling through space in a strange bubble, with only the South American tree to keep him company.

Many people called this movie “pretentious” and “stupid”. Because they don’t exactly have what they was expected. They said that Darren was got too much of an ambition and trying to make something overly complicated. Some people even called Darren as an arrogant based on Darren’s intention to make this picture was so full of himself.

Tell you the truth, my first reaction when I was finish watching it was kind of like the most people think. I was quite disappointed. He tried to make a love story in completely epic’s way. And with the ambition and everything, in the end, maybe it’s just too much. But, be that as it may, I said to myself that this was Darren’s admirable failure.

Something bothered me since last time I saw it (maybe I’m really curious what it feels like to revisit something that I don’t “really” understand), so I decided to watch it again. And it completely knocked me over this time. Ideas after idea after idea are kept popping up in my head. I was surprised that how one movie can develop such a multiple reasonable explanations like this one (which I really cannot spoil it for you whom are not yet watching it).

But one thing I can tell you about this picture is that the death is not the end. As the Mayans said, life wasn’t just a line which has two points at the edge of it. The death is the beginning of something awe. People like Tom didn’t understand this concept until the end of picture. For someone like Tom, it took several life spans to finally realize what Izzi was trying to tell all along. But, be that as it may, it wasn’t too late.

Hugh Jackson also gives the best performance of his career here. I think the past and present were very good, but the future “Tom” was brilliant. His acting is the core idea for making me completely understand what this story really wanted to tell. Rachel Wisez was also memorable and astonishingly beautiful as Izzi. Although she didn’t have much of a line, but her eyes alone can tell the whole story.

Also, I cannot forget the special effect and the music. They are great and absolutely worth for something like this picture. People may compare this one with the classic like 2001: Space Odyssey. For me, I found that this one is far more interesting and touching than Kubrick’s one. Whereas 2001 was meaningful and intelligence, Darren’s one also have those plus the heart which really meant something for my personal taste. Maybe you don’t agree with me now, but.....Hell, I think only times will tell.

BloodyMonday Rating:
4/4

Review: Black Snake Moan

2007-09-01T02:13:00.000-07:00

If we look at the core concept of this picture, it has a really familiar theme. It’s about two completely different characters who end up colliding with each other. And to the result of that, they somehow miraculously found their redemption. But, be that as it may, I think Craig Brewer surprised me again with his usual unique perspective and uncompromising story that remind me how he successfully did with my favorite’s “Hustle & Flow”.

The story might sound weird and ridiculous, but somehow it can goes along with the picture’s atmosphere. It’s about Rae (Christina Ricci), a troubled young little woman who has a hard time to spend times by herself. She finally broke down when her boyfriend, Ronnie (Justin Timberlake) (who equally troubled by his panic attack syndrome) is leaving to join army. She decided to sleep around and end up beaten severely by Ronnie’s friend. Enter to the scene is Raz (Samual L. Jackson), an ex-musician now a farmer, who is just recently has been dumped by his wife. He’s furious and tend to drunk himself everyday until he found young Rae unconsciously lay down on the road. He fixed her up and finally found out that she has a problem to control her sexual emotion. So he decided to tie her with 40 pounds iron chain in the house and hopes that by curing her, he will finally find something that make his life more worthwhile.

With his masterfully directorial effort “Hustle & Flow”, Craig Brewer is once again goes down south and shows gritty images of the neighborhood. Whereas Hustle & Flow was getting into the rap music, Black Snake Moan was taking the root of blue music. But be that as it may, they’re equally effective and I found that they made me more appreciate about value of those kinds of music.

Samuel L. Jackson may let me down a lot lately (Snakes on a Plane, Freedomland, The Man, xXx…to name a few). But he changed from his usual flamboyant performance and nicely transformed into this character. Raz is nice simple old man who is broken from the inside. His music day was way passing him and his wife leaves him. In my opinion, Jackson nails this character perfectly. In the scene like he’s playing guitar alone or his interaction to people around him were handle with tender and care. And it’s even better when Raz finally decided to get back to his audiences by playing his music in front of them.

Christina Ricci is equally effective as troubled Rae. And this is a very daring role to play. Rae’s problem was more severe than Raz. She’s like a broken doll that, at one point, didn’t care anymore who is doing it with her. Until she found this old man who teach her that it’s ok to screw up your life, but the most important thing is how oneself can handle the reality and get up one their own feet to face it. In one scene, when she has to face with her mother, I was so surprised that it didn’t really end up like we was expected. But it really proves that Craig no-nonsense direction and Ricci’s great acting can produce this memorable scene. In my opinion, this is simply the best Ricci’s role to date.

It’s not that the picture itself doesn’t have any flaw. Justin Timberlake’s Ronnie was too two-dimensional. He seems to be pretty troubled young man, but the picture didn’t enough time to explore his character. There also secondary characters that weren’t really useful to the movie (like Matha’s character which obviously put into the picture for Raz). And finally, I have a crazy feeling that this film was sometime drove itself into the over-the-top kind of story. I mean I don’t mind it. But with the truthfulness of the picture tended to tell us, there was no need to make it to the edge.

Craig Brewer is starting to ensure me that he is indeed a brilliant filmmaker. There were no braking new ground in “Hustle & Flow” and this one, but with his insightful of the subject and twisted it into his own style. I think there will be more brilliant things to come in the future.

BloodyMonday Rating:
3.5/4

Review: Zodiac

2007-09-01T02:11:00.000-07:00

Zodiac is a documentary. But it's not boring as hell as other documentaries out there. In fact it's very informative and yet it's also very exciting.

Based on unsolved crime in 70's, Zodiac is name of the reknown serial killer who remain uncaught until these days. The movie was unfolded in three stories. There is journalist-cartoonist, Graysmith (Jake Gyllenhaal) who became more and more obssesive with the theory about Zodiac. Along with his co-worker Avery (Bob Downey Jr.) who live his life in destructive way. On the police side, Dave Toschi (Mark Ruffalo) and Bill Armstrong (Anthony Edwards) are the main investigator who, like Graysmith, became obssesive with catching the killer. And the last is Zodiac killer himself, about how he killed and tried to kill those victims (which are reenacted according to survivor's memoir).

This movie remind me of Oliver Stone's JFK. There are so many things they wanted to tell us. So they used every single minute tried to explain it. There are two-third of the movie that really caught my attention. When the Zodiac killer was still active and police were really enthuastic to catch him. But then there was the last act when Graysmith took over and become the main character, it slipped.

I wouldn't say that it's not a good movie. It's very good (even it ran ultra-long at 150+ minutes) . But sometime you wish it could be better. I cannot possibly buy Jake Gyllenhaal as a main character. For me, he didn't look so convicing in the role. But, be that as it may, his co-star are all amazing. Bob Downey Jr. sleep walkin' through this character. he's just nailed it. Mark Ruffalo is also very good. His columbo-like detective is so real. I think there is so much star potential inside of this guy.

This isn't look like the work that David Fincher would normally do. It's far from his fanboy's favorite "Fight Club" or moderate thriller like "Panic room" or "Se7en". Tell you the truth, I'm kind of disappointed with this un-fincher's film. There are no visual inventive scenes or hyberactive edit. But let's look at the good side, I think this picture will prove us that he's actully capable of doing in eveything, even outside his comfort-zone.

What should I recommend? I think if you like to watch a story telling kind of movie (especially superbly crafted one), this one is definatly for you. And if you don't like David Fincher's work so far, then this one might make you to reconsider it.

BloodyMonday Raing:
3/4

Review: The Lookout

2007-09-01T02:09:00.000-07:00

There's truly great story hidden inside this little flick. However, there's absolutely no one behind this one that capable enough to fully use this promising story.

After horrid accident which he and his friends recklessly drove a car into the roadblock, Chris Platt (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is now brain injured and suffered from various cases of illness. Like short terms memory, seizure and anger management. Once up & rising star of high-school hockey team is now a midnight janitor of small bank. He lives with an interesting blind man named Lewis (Jeff Daniels) who wishes that someday he will open his own restaurant.

The world has turned when he met Gary (Matthew Goode) who claimed to be his sister ex-boyfriend. He also met Luvlee (Isla Fisher), a woman whom he entirely trusted even he's just knew her. Gary, on other hand, has a plan. And that plan is to rob the bank where Chris is working as a janitor by using people around Chris as a motivator to manipulate him.

When the movie tells story about short term memory, we can't help it but to compare with "Memento". Whereas that movie was intended to strike for something deep and disturbed, "The Lookout" was aimed for much lower goal. "The Lookout" wasn't emphasizing at this particular illness. The movie did the right thing when they went on with the story, not the illness.

One big major flaw is, of course, the heist. After an interesting two-third of the movie, third act is somewhat deeply flawed. It's predicable and boring at time. I was keep wishing that this so-so heist will finally have a crackerjack twist. No, needless to say, it didn't.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt is compelling as Chris. After his amazing performance in Brick, this is another footstep to the bigger yet interesting career. I think he's a long way from his tv-career day and a nerd from "10 things I hate about you".

Whereas the main character remains terrific, the secondaries are sadly underdeveloped, especially for Isla Fisher's Luvlee. On half way through her character just disappear from the movie and never returned. Jeff Daniels's character is also suffered from less screen times (although his role seems to be bigger that Isla).

But, be that as it may, the movie achieved one important thing and that is they made us care for our hero. He's not only physically hurt, but also emotionally. At the end, He's not recovered. But at least we know that he tried and we glad to know that he will keep on trying.

Anyway, I think it's a decent indie flick that you should check it out. The director Scott Frank (his directorial debut but already veteran writer in such films like Get Shorty, Out of Sight or Minority Report) did an impressive but flaw picture. I, for one, will eagerly wait for his next one.

BloodyMonday Rating:
2.5/4

Review: Knocked Up

2007-09-01T02:08:00.000-07:00

In Hollywood, there is some truly interesting idea that made its way to movies. But not all of them were succeed. It's not clever idea that made movie successful, but what's come after that is. Because you have to live up with people's expectation. If you can't, you're doomed. Thank god for Judd Apatow for bringing this promising premise to its home.

"Knocked Up" is about a loser who knocked a pretty girl up in one-night stand. Ben (Seth Rogen) is 20-something Canadian who lives in a house with four other losers. He has no job (he's building a nude website) and smoke pot with his friends on daily basis. Alison (Katherine Heigl), on the other hand, has just been promoted. She is now news caster in E-Channel. Two of them met in the club. They talk, drink and one thing let to another. And then....baam! She's pregnant.

As I said, what's come after is important. And Judd seems to understand it perfectly. It isn't about the situation that made this movie good and funny. But it's about human who influenced by the situation that made it what it is. Judd seems to care about characters more than any other things. It's talky (if not boring at all) and always a little bit long (this one is 128 minute). But actually, in my opinion, this one is far better than his previous debut effort "40 years old Virgin".

Seth and Katherine are perfect. Their chemistry and comic timing are impeccable. Seth is finally breakthrough his supporting role day and finally become a leading man (I heard he's doing Green Hornet). Whereas lovely Katherine is doing as good. Especially when the director let her did some of those lines (which I cannot believe my ears).

The supporting role is not the supporting role in Judd's movie. They're existed. Leslie Mann is Katherine's big sister and Paul Rudd is her husband. Their own story line is visible and fully conceived. Paul Rudd is especially good in the role. I am wondering that when he will has a leading role that finally worth his skill.

As usual, Judd's movie is always vulgar (and it's hilarious). There're some nudity and many, many f-words. It make me wonder that why we cannot make movie like this. Ok, it's rude and dirty, but at the same time, when those characters speak their minds, it's feel real. I think the majority (if not the whole) of our movie are just plain rude and dirty. They're cartoonish and downright embarrassing to look at. That’s just making me sad.

Someone say a love story isn’t about what gets a couple together, but what keeps them apart (actually this is not by someone; it's directly from truly master of comedy Billy Wider). I think "Knocked Up" did another way around. Judd and company is not finding ways to keep Seth Rogen and Katharine Heigl apart but rather find reasons to keep them together. I think they accomplished that.

BloodyMonday Rating:
3.5/4

Review: Color me Kubrick: A True...ish Story

2007-09-01T02:04:00.000-07:00

Loosely based on real life impersonator Alan Conway, who pretend to be reclusive director Stanley Kubrick despite looking nothing like him at all. "Color me Kubrick: A True...ish Story" is a black comedy that act like the story itself. To impersonate a black comedy genre.

To watch chameleon-like acting from John Malkovich is almost worth the DVD price alone. He's terrific in the role. Every accents, every gestures and every personalities made me completely believe that he is on to something (in this case, a con man). In fact, he's so damn good that everything else around him seems dull and pretty uninteresting.

I think the problem is that they didn't give any details about who really is Alan Conway. After con game after con game, the story seems repetitive and unfocused. We know that he's gay and have a son, but we never knew that what was the reason of this bizarre behavior except free sex, booze and food.

The good thing is this movie is incredibly short (running at merely 78 minute). So it was end before I start to hate this unfocused mess. I think anybody deserve to watch it once because of the main actor is so marvelous. The music is also cute and appropriate (mainly from Bryan Adams). Beside those two, nothing else to recommend.

BloodyMonday Rating:
2/4

Review: Art School Confidential

2007-09-01T01:59:00.000-07:00

There is one scene in the movie, one of student showed his drawing in front of everybody. It's a blank white sheet with red ink spattered in the middle. Even I, who know absolutely nothing about art, know that the drawing is simply awful. But that student miraculously convinced everyone including his teacher that his drawing was really meant for something.

I think Terry Zwigoff tried to do something similar to that student, to convince me. Although his movie was not so good, but he present his movie in such a way that surprised me. I think he, somehow, succeed.

When he saw a nude picture of beautiful girl on brochure, Jerome (Max Minghella, son of Anthony Minghella) a nerdy student decided to enroll in Art School. After a couple of classes with talentless Professor Sandiford (John Malkovich), he finally met Audrey (Sophia Myles), a girl that posed in that brochure (and in his drawing class). He also met alumni Jimmy (Jim Broadbent), a drunkard, pessimistic bastard, who may or may not responsible for recent art school's killing spree.

"Art School Confidential" is a black satire comedy to its very core. It's so black that you hardly laugh along with it (well, except a first half of film that remind me of "Animal House"). For me, the critical problem is the second half of the film. When Jerome lose both his dream girl and mind (and he also has been linked with murder), the movie itself lose me too. Even so-called happy ending, it's feel manipulative.

Terry Zwigoff, once again, prove that he can turn a grim tale into pretty decent movie. Although it's not as good as "Ghost World" which every single characters are all well explored. But the subject that he wanted to tell are equally worth listening to.

Like, there is one scene, an ex-student who is now famous came to give a Q&A session. After a couple of arrogant answers. One of the audience asked that why he's such an asshole. He responds that that's his true nature and he has enough fame and money that he doesn't have to hide it. Sad but true.

I don't like the movie especially the ending. I hope someday it will grow on me like "Chasing Amy" did to me. But, be that as it may, I strongly recommend to anyone who think you're pretty good at something. Maybe you're not after all.

BloodyMonday Rating:
2.5/4