Valkyrie

Title: Valkyrie
Directed by: Bryan Singer
Starring: Tom Cruise, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson
Genres: Action/Adventure, Drama, Biopic, Thriller and War
Running Time: 2 hour.0 minutes
Release Date: December 25th, 2008
MPAA Rating: PG-13


Review: I saw this movie in a drive-in theater which, although really fun, it was somewhat distracting (the cars in front of us which smuggled people into the movie in their trunks comes to mind) and it takes something away from the whole movie experience, and, perhaps from the movie itself. There is therefore a possibility that this movie would have received a better review/grade if watched in a regular movie theater.

The biggest problem with Valkyrie is that you know how it is going to end. That is, however, not an excuse (Titanic suffered from the same condition, but it was still a huge success). The difference is that, in Titanic, the storyline goes on from the beginning like it has no clue as to what is going to happen in the end, whereas Valkyrie has a dreary sense of impending failure throughout the whole film. The film has no hope. I found this surprising since I would expect, when you are plotting to kill Hitler, you would be hopeful; hopeful to succeed, hopeful to make a better world, hopeful for a better tomorrow.
But the film is not all bad. It is meticulously created with an eye for every detail, and it looks authentic. I would not waste a theater ticket on this one. If you want to see it, just Netflix it sometime later this year.

Grade: 5

Gran Torino

Title: Gran Torino
Directed by: Clint Eastwood
Starring: Clint Eastwood, Cory Hardrict, Bee Want, Ahney Her, Brian Haley
Genres: Action/Adventure, Drama
Running Time: 1 hour.56 minutes
Release Date: December 12th, 2008 (limited), January 16th (wide)
MPAA Rating: R


Review: I love, love, LOVE Clint Eastwood. Nobody does grumpy as well as Clint! He's a fantastic, iconic actor and a brilliant movie maker. So, obviously, I had some expectations for this one. And, I have to say, I was positively surprised. Clint is grumpy, unhappy, rude, and borderline-hateful as widower Walt Kowalski, but even through his familiar squinting growl & frequent racial slurs he obviously cares, and it [surprisingly] turn out to be a really heartwarming film. I laughed, I smiled, and I even shed a few tears... Freaking Brilliant! Easily one of the best damn movies of 2008! Definitely a must see!!

Grade: 9.5 - highest grade so far of the movies of 2008

Wendy & Lucy

Title: Wendy & Lucy
Directed by: Kelly Reichardt
Starring: Michelle Williams, Will Patton, John Robinson, Will Oldham, Walter Dalton
Genres: Drama and Adaptation
Running Time: 1 hour.20 minutes
Release Date: December 10th, 2008 (limited)
MPAA Rating: R


Review: While running the risk of drowning you in movies, I'm adding another film review to this very lazy day. Wendy & Lucy have had the critics talking for quite some time now, and I've been curious to see it now for a while. Even though, I must admit, I knew nothing about it besides its rave reviews. However, I found the movie to be incredibly beige, mundane, slow, bland, depressive and dull to the point of making me drool out of boredom. The only thing that peaked my interested ever so minutely was the beautiful dog. Without giving away any part of the riveting storyline, I can tell you that there is a turn of events involving the dog that really had me on the edge of my couch cushion. And, due singlehandedly to this dog-related sub plot, I found myself taken hostage by a film that I otherwise would be too bored with to finish. I just had to see the dog part of the story to the end. However, I cannot recommend this film. Especially not on a lazy day like this; lazy day + Wendy & Lucy had me teeter toting on the verge of comatose just now, and I am lucky that I got away with my mental capacity intact.

This also means that I have watched 2 sub-par movies in the same day. Total freak occurrence.

Grade: 3

Defiance

Title: Defiance
Directed by: Edward Zwick
Starring: Daniel Craig, Liev Schreibe, Jamie Bell, Alexa Davalos, Tomas Arana
Genres: Action/Adventure, Drama, Adaptation and War
Running Time: 2 hour.17 minutes
Release Date: December 31st, 2008 (limited)
MPAA Rating: R

Review: This is one of the those movies with a really interesting story and tons of potential; a film which could have been fantastic, but if fell short (by [at least] a mile). Some of the acting is fantastic (Liev Schreiber's portrayal of one of the Bielski brothers comes to mind) and this based-on-a-true-story flick really is gut wrenching at times, but unfortunately, a few details make the whole film Fail (oh, yes, I really do mean Fail with a capital F).
1. Daniel Craig - I know, I know, he's everybody's favorite, but about 5 minutes into the film I wanted to slap him. His flailing between accents (from bad Russian, to British, to American, to a few lines of Scottish, back again to bad Russian) had me groaning every time he spoke, and honestly, I do not know why he was not fired a few days into filming for that kind of actor faux pas? My tip to Craig: Speaking coach. And perhaps, a few acting classes while you're at it.
2. Edward Zwick - I really liked Blood Diamond; that film was absolutly brilliant. This one though, not so much. My first obvious point of complaint is that he did not remedy point number 1 (above). Secondly, this movie really could have been fantastic, if not even brilliant. But Mr. Zwick stumbles when he could have soared, and instead of a great film, we get tired cliches. Bummer. I would say skip this one.

Grade: 4

Slumdog Millionaire

Title: Slumdog Millionaire
Directed by: Danny Boyle, Loveleen Tandan
Starring: Dev Patel, Anil Kapoor, Irrfan Khan, Madhur Mittal, Freida Pinto
Genres: Crime, Drama, Foreign
Running Time: 2 hour.0 minutes
Release Date: November 12th, 2008
MPAA Rating: R

Review: This is one of the films receiving a lot of buzz for this year's award season, and when you watch it is not hard to see why. It is an amazing film. The look and feel is fresh, very real, and it has a great energy throughout. The music is great, and the child actors are absolutely stunning. This is a picture of the real India, a picture that is easily recognized if you have ever traveled this amazing country the cheap, down & dirty way. A must see film that stands out as one of the best of this year.

Grade: 9

Religulous

Title: Religulous
Directed by: Larry Charles
Starring: Bill Maher, Tal Backman, Larry Charles
Genres: Documentary, Religion
Running Time: 1 hour.41 minutes
Release Date: October 1st, 2008
MPAA Rating: R

Review: Bill Maher is snarky, funny and on his own doubt-spreading soap box in this documentary about religion. Having some serious doubts myself I found the movie interesting, and it brough up quite a few points I have been soap-boxing about myself. but less neutral and with more of a slant than is documentary-appropriate. Definitely a discussion-inducing film worth a watching with an open mind, no matter what prechings you prescribe to.

Grade: 7

Pineapple Express

Title: Pineapple Express
Directed by: David Gordon Green
Starring: James Franco, Seth Rogen, Craig Robinson, James Remar, Joe Lo Truglio
Genres: Action/Adventure, Comedy, Crime
Running Time: 1 hour.45 minutes
Release Date: August 6th, 2008
MPAA Rating: R

Review: Another James Franco film, that i absolutely adore! Before Pineapple's release I had several severe laugh-attacks after catching the trailer in the theater, while waiting to see another film. Those laugh attacks came with some pretty high expectations for the funniness of this film. And, when i finally saw this film back in August, I was not disappointed. In fact, it had me laughing so hard, I almost peed my pant! Everything from James France's charming pot dealer, Seth Rogen's hilarious state of panic, the entire casts collective potty mouth, and the I-learned-how-to-fight-through-playing-video-games-fight scenes, to the ridiculously over-the-top violent action had me in constant state of laughing delirium throughout the whole film. I just saw this movie again last night, and I loved it just as much as I did the first time I saw it. It is, hands down, the funnies movie I have seen since Knocked Up. And it is a very strong contender for this year's Funniest Movie. However, I have yet to see a few of the other, rumored to be funny, movies out this year, so don't count your chickens or whatever... No matter how you slice it, this is a fantastic film, that i highly recommend.

Grade: 9.5

Milk

Title: Milk
Directed by: Gus Van Sant
Starring: Sean Penn, James Franco, Josh Brolin, Allison Pill, Emile Hirsch
Genres: Drama, Biopic, Politics
Running Time: 2 hour.8 minutes
Release Date: November 26th, 2008 (limited), December 5th, 2008 (expands)
MPAA Rating: R

Review: I love this film! Sean Penn is charming, and perfect in the role as courageous human rights activist Harvey Milk, who fought so hard (& never gave up) to [finally] become the first openly gay man to be voted into public office in America. And, James Franco (love him!) is gorgeous throughout the whole film. Their love story is smile-inducing, and absolutely beautiful, and to see it portrayed like any other love is amazing. This film will make your heart swell in your chest as you watch it, leaving a sweet taste of hope after it is done. The film is a tad long, but not enough to bring the grade down. This is a fantastic film, that i would highly recommend.

Grade: 8.5

Cadillac Records

Title: Cadillac Records
Directed by: Darnell Martin
Starring: Adrien Brody, Jeffrey Wright, Beyonce Knowles, Gabrielle Union, Columbus Short
Genres: Drama, Biopic, Musical
Running Time: 1 hour.48 minutes
Release Date: December 5th, 2008
MPAA Rating: R

Review: Since having studied American music history, and having been really intrigued by the music legends from that time, I was looking forward to seeing this movie. The music really carries the film, which would be expected, but perhaps not to this extreme extent. It is a hell of a story, but here it is told with murky historic details (where the hell is Phil?). The cast pour their hearts out in the music with electrifying results, and Beyonce kills "At last". All in all, the movie lands on a middle-of-the-road 5, but without the music (a 7) the film itself would end up with a failing 3.

Grade: 5 (just FYI, hubby gave it a 4)

Frost/Nixon

Title: Frost/Nixon
Directed by: Ron Howard
Starring: Frank Langella, Michael Sheen, Sam Rockwell, Toby Jones, Matthew MacFayden
Genres: Drama, Adaptation, Politics
Running Time: 2 hour.2 minutes
Release Date: December 5th, 2008 (limited)
MPAA Rating: R

Review: I've been looking forward to seeing Frost/Nixton for months and it did not disappoint. If you are, like me, interested in American politics, and American history it is a really interesting, fact-based movie from a fascinating time in this country. The movie is a duel between the recently ousted President Nixon, and David Frost, and it is beautifully executed. The movie belongs to Frank Langella, as Nixon, who is a perfect Tricky Dick. It is not hard to see where all the buzz is coming from, and i am definately recomending this one.

Rating: 8