Saturday, September 27, 2008

Eagle Eye

Title: Eagle Eye
Directed by: D.J Caruso
Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Michelle Monaghan, Rosario Dawson, Billy Bob Thornton
Genres: Drama, Thriller
Running Time: 1 hour.58minutes
Release Date: September 26th, 2008
MPAA Rating:PG-13

Review:
This is a summer action movie, and it is good. It comes heavy on the usual ingredients in this genre: car chases, explosions, and edge-of-your-seat suspense. However, it was not predictable or boring. This movie just worked; the director did a really good job, the acting was great, no, actually the acting was fantastic, the movie had great suspense, and was totally unpredictable throughout, all in all: one of the best, thoroughly entertaining action movies so far this summer.

I've seen some reviews out there complaining that the plot is unrealistic at times, and to that i laugh. Out loud. This is not your evening news; it is a Hollywood Blockbuster. It does not have to pass a post-film-fact-check. If that is what you are looking for, i would suggest giving up on Hollywood all together.

Rating:
7

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Righteous Kill

Title: Righteous Kill
Directed by: Jon Avnet
Starring: Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, 50 Cent
Genres: Action/Adventure, Crime/Gangster, Thriller
Running Time: 1 hour.40minutes
Release Date: September 12th, 2008
MPAA Rating: R


Review:
This really is one of those movies that look great on paper; De Niro & Pacino, what more do you have to say? And I saw the cinematic trailer a few weeks ago, and it looked awesome, but unfortunately that does not mean much since the trailer editors can make a turd on a stick look like the next big blockbuster hit. I've been snooked by that trick before.
As expected by this crew, the acting was great, but that was basically the only thing on the "Good" list. The "Bad" list is unfortunately about a mile long: the movie was slow, predictable, and all out ridiculous in places. Even the most dim-witted of movie-goers will have the plot pegged straight off the bat. I found myself squirming in my seat, checking the time every couple of minutes, absolutely bored to tears.

Rating: 3

Saturday, September 13, 2008

Burn After Reading

Title: Burn After Reading
Directed by: Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
Starring: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Frances McDormand, John Malkovich, Tilda Swinton
Genres: Comedy, Crime
Running Time: 1 hour.35minutes
Release Date: September 12th, 2008
MPAA Rating: R

Review:
I've been looking forward to this one for a while, and for the most part, I was not disappointed. Which was nice, since more often than not, when I have high expectations for a flick it falls short. I actually even liked this one. It is funny. Sometimes very. I laughed. A lot a few times. But it is not a great movie. It is good. But not great. The main reason it falls short: the short bits of guts & gore that is intertwined with the funniness. Completely out of place. Bad decision by the Coen's. Really.
Overall: A funny, bitter, quirky collection of bafoons, which equals a pretty entertaining, random storyline.
Clooney is really blah overall, while Pitt is hilarious.

Rating: 7.5