Michael Druskin
Wall-E (2008) - (9/10)
Incredible first hour. Beautiful animation and liveliness and really creates a mood and an atmosphere. Unlike all previous Pixar movies, there are less vibrant colors and no happy disney songs and it's less funny. But the movie is more adult and I am amazed by how they made this silent 45 minutes so touching and emotional. The second half is not as good, though still very strong and has beautiful sequences in space. It does get stretched out a bit too long, and hits you over the head with the message. But it's a great movie nonetheless.
Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008) - (7.5/10)
Very funny in some parts. Decent story overall.
Indiana Jones 4 (2008) - (6/10)
One of the weakest Spielberg movies ever. Somewhat funny at times, but overall not that exciting and definitely doesn't have the magic of the first 3.
Harold And Kumar 2 (2008) - (7/10)
Funny, racist, stupid, too much scat humor. As expected, though not as good as the first one.
There Will Be Blood (2007) - (8.5/10)
Very interesting character study. Amazing acting from Daniel Day Lewis and a very unique score from Johnny Greenwood that adds and significantly affects the movie.
Cassandra's Dream (2007) - (6.5/10)
An average for Woody Allen, but still very well written, and I am glad he is doing dramas.
Atonement (2007) - (8/10)
Pretty standard romance start but turns into a dark moving morality story. Excellent production values.
No Country For Old Men (2007) - (/10)
Charlie Wilson's War (2007) - (5/10)
Terribly preachy and not funny at all.
Juno (2007) - (7.5/10)
Funny and heartwarming story. Very realistic parents and the story in general. The main problem is that the main character is just too quirky and "smart", constantly reminding how smart and quirky she is.
Beowulf (2007) - (7.5/10)
This is a pretty entertaining movie with some (unintentionally) funny dialog and a pretty lame story. But this gets a 7.5 because of the incredible 3D visuals - some of the best effects I've ever seen, and all that in 3D, spectacular.
American Gangster (2007) - (8/10)
Bee Movie (2007) - (5.5/10)
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (2007) - (7.5/10)
Into The Wild (2007) - (9/10)
An excellent movie about what it takes to be happy. Beautiful visuals, strong direction from Sean Penn and a good acting job from Emile Hirsch - playing an unlikable character, but one whose complex character we have to understand.
One of the best movies this year.
One of the best movies this year.
Lust, Caution (2007) - (7/10)
The story is interesting, but the movie is needlessly long and gets boring.
Eastern Promises (2007) - (7/10)
Not too much of a Cronenberg fan. Very brutal violence, go if you are into that...
3:10 to Yuma (2007) - (8/10)
Superbad (2007) - (7/10)
Not as good as knocked up. This movie is really aimed towards high school kids, and while it's better than American Pie, I think I am getting a bit too old for this. There are still some very, very funny moments in this.
The Bourne Ultimatum (2007) - (8.5/10)
The best in the series and one of the best action movies I've ever seen. It's a 2 hour non-stop, elaborate, exciting and can't-take-your-eyes-off-screen chase.
The Simpsons (2007) - (8/10)
Very very funny all the way through. The story is weak, and some of the movie moments are not very strong. But the humor is fantastic.
Rescue Dawn (2007) - (7/10)
Sunshine (2007) - (6.5/10)
Starts out well, and visually is pretty amazing. But for some reason it turns into a pretty bad slasher movie half way through and completely ruins everything. Pointless and not very scary.
Transformers (2007) - (6/10)
Good action, but this is a movie for 5 year olds. As I watched all I could think of is how completely lame it is. The jokes, the story, even the names... Even if you used to like it when you were a kid, you are still way, way too old for this movie.
Ratatouille (2007) - (9/10)
Fantastic, probably Pixar's best movie. Incredible animation and a good story with funny jokes for adults. A little simple in the middle, but just a joy to watch overall.
1408 (2007) - (6.5/10)
Pretty scary thriller in the beginning without resorting to any gore. But as most Stephen King adaptation the second half kills the tension with silly plot and developments.
John Cusack does an excellent job - most of the time he is alone on the screen.
John Cusack does an excellent job - most of the time he is alone on the screen.
Knocked Up (2006) - (8/10)
A great romantic comedy for both guys and girls. It's consistently funny and hilarious all the way through. All the characters are real people with multiple dimensions and not walking cliches. And it's still a nice heartwarming story that doesn't make you roll your eyes. Strongly recommended.
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007) - (5/10)
Spiderman's review just below applies even more to this movie. Only Pirates is even longer, more confusing and introduces dozens of completely unnecessary characters that do absolutely nothing other than being introduced. Constant betrayals from one side to another obfuscate the character's motivation even more and by the time the finale comes along, I was so confused I didn't care who wins at all, in fact I didn't know what every character was fighting about (they were all fighting for different things, each one more honorable than the other). The incredibly lame love story doesn't help much either.
I blame the 300 million dollar budget, though obviously the producer accepting it, the director using it, and the editor refusing to cut all the junk are also at fault.
I blame the 300 million dollar budget, though obviously the producer accepting it, the director using it, and the editor refusing to cut all the junk are also at fault.
Spider-Man 3 (2007) - (6/10)
Movie is much too long, involves too many characters and stories and a pretty lame emotional core behind the whole thing. The first action scene is fantastic but besides that, the movie is actually pretty boring.
300 (2007) - (6/10)
Fights are decent, but everything in between is ridiculous and laughable. And there is quite a bit of crap in between the fights.
The Zodiac (2007) - (7/10)
Well made and well acted, but there is no dramatic arc at all. Events just happen one after the other and the movie starts to look more like a documentary. Unless you are interested in The Zodiac enough to spend almost 3 hours on a documentary about him, you should skip this one...
2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 2007 - (/10)
Factory Girl (2006) - (5/10)
Boring
The Lives Of Others (2006) - (8/10)
Very good German movie that gives one of the most convincing portrayals of the importance of freedom of speech and the problems with wiretapping. Fantastic acting from the 2 leads.
Pan's Labyrinth (2006) - (8.5/10)
The most real fairytale ever made. It's beautifully shot, with amazing make up and cinematography. The performances are great, and all the mystical scenes are breathtaking.
While I understand that all the real world scenes are needed for the story to make an emotional impact, I do wish there was more fairytale scenes and less real world. But nonetheless this is a beautiful and deeply moving film.
While I understand that all the real world scenes are needed for the story to make an emotional impact, I do wish there was more fairytale scenes and less real world. But nonetheless this is a beautiful and deeply moving film.
Children Of Men (2006) - (7.5/10)
Children of Men has mind blowing Cinematography. The movie includes 10-15 minute single shots with 100s of actors and action and beautiful elaborate set designs. It's really amazing and very unique to watch, but I don't believe there is much substance behind the movie, and the dialog is not very good, as well ass a terrible performance by Julianne Moore.
The Queen (2006) - (8.5/10)
The best performance of the year by Helen Mirren in this great docudrama. Very interesting and personal look at the relationship between The Queen and the Prime Minister in britain following the death of princess Diana.
Apocalypto (2006) - (6/10)
Sadistic and boring. At least 30 very explicit murders shown in great detail and slow motion. I don't find this enjoyable and there is absolutely no point other than the director clearly enjoying this kind of thing.
The walk from the village to the city was the most boring 30 minutes I've ever seen on screen.
A 6 for the good production values, beautiful shots and a pretty unique 45 minute chase scene through the jungle.
The walk from the village to the city was the most boring 30 minutes I've ever seen on screen.
A 6 for the good production values, beautiful shots and a pretty unique 45 minute chase scene through the jungle.
Blood Diamond (2006) - (8/10)
A very well made movie, with excellent action and fantastic acting from both leads, especially DiCaprio.
The movie also tries to tie in a message, which just like Constant Gardener feels heavy handed and basically fails. But unlike the Constant Gardener, the movie works very well as an action thriller. Very entertaining.
The movie also tries to tie in a message, which just like Constant Gardener feels heavy handed and basically fails. But unlike the Constant Gardener, the movie works very well as an action thriller. Very entertaining.
The Fountain (2006) - (8/10)
"The Fountain" is visually the most beautiful movie I have ever seen. The music is also incredible - one of the best soundtracks I've heard. As for content, it's hard for me to give the movie a very high score, because the story is just so undeveloped... I understand that this movie is more of a meditation and is not supposed to provide us with any concrete answers. But I think too much is open for interpretation and the story comes out unfocused and just way too abstract.
It's still an interesting, incredibly beautiful and a very unique experience that I have to recommend to anyone willing to really invest in a slow movie and let it sink in and think about it.
It's still an interesting, incredibly beautiful and a very unique experience that I have to recommend to anyone willing to really invest in a slow movie and let it sink in and think about it.
Little Children (2006) - (9/10)
Excellent movie from the director of "In The Bedroom". Similar themes to American Beauty but with a slightly different perspective. Superbly acted, the narration is funny, overall strongly recommended.
Casino Royale (2006) - (7.5/10)
The first scene of this movie was awesome! Kind of like District B13. Very cool scene.
After that it kind of went downhill, the movie is definitely too long and got actually quite boring towards the end - the last 45 minutes should have taken no more than 10.
Overall though, this is a vast improvement over the last Bond movie, with less focus on invisible cars and more focus on actual action. I see good things in the future of this franchise.
After that it kind of went downhill, the movie is definitely too long and got actually quite boring towards the end - the last 45 minutes should have taken no more than 10.
Overall though, this is a vast improvement over the last Bond movie, with less focus on invisible cars and more focus on actual action. I see good things in the future of this franchise.
Borat (2006) - (8/10)
I found the movie to be insanely hilarious, but if I haven't seen most of the jokes already, the movie would have been even funnier.
The only problem is that a lot of the joke were outrageous funny, not funny funny. But there are still a lot of very smart jokes, and even the stupid hotel fight scene leads up to a good joke.
Overall, 1 hour of solid non stop laughing - if that's what you are looking for, you are going to enjoy the movie immensely.
The only problem is that a lot of the joke were outrageous funny, not funny funny. But there are still a lot of very smart jokes, and even the stupid hotel fight scene leads up to a good joke.
Overall, 1 hour of solid non stop laughing - if that's what you are looking for, you are going to enjoy the movie immensely.
Babel (2006) - (7.5/10)
Rather disapointing, especially with all the talent involved. Inarritu is a very good director and I loved both his previous movies (21 Grams and Amores Perros), and it comes out in the movie. But unfortunately the story is very weak. The movie is supposed to be about how lack of communication causes bad things, but what we see is that stupidity causes bad things - most of the tragedies that happen in the movie are really not because of misunderstandings, but because of bad decisions by the characters. This also causes the movie to seem manipulative.
But visually the movie is amazing, and the acting is top notch.
But visually the movie is amazing, and the acting is top notch.
The Prestige (2006) - (6.5/10)
I am a big fan of Christopher Nolan and Christian Bale, but The Prestige suffers from a truly terrible script. The movie is boring all the way through, and some of the things that happen in the movie are completely ridiculous. Even worse, everyone is trying to pretend that it's some deep philosophical movie, when the movie is actually about magic.
The Departed (2006) - (9/10)
What a terrific movie. One of Scorcese's best movies, and definitely better than anything he did in the last 10 years. The dialog is incredible - so sharp and funny, I was smiling at almost every point of the movie. But besides the humor there are amazingly tense moments, specifically every single time Sullivan and Costigan meet. The setup for these two characters is so genius and easy to create drama out of.
The movie gets a little too long at the end and a little confusing in the beginning, but there are so many amazing scenes and the acting is spectacular.
Strongly recommended.
The movie gets a little too long at the end and a little confusing in the beginning, but there are so many amazing scenes and the acting is spectacular.
Strongly recommended.
Half Nelson (2006) - (7.5/10)
The movie very succesfully avoids the cliches of its genre (white teacher inspires poor black kids) and features great acting and has some very interesting moments, but I guess I just didn't really get the point of the movie, and there definitely was one.
Snakes on a Plane (2006) - (5/10)
Very mediocre. It wasn't very funny at all, because it just wasn't that bad - just an average horror movie, not very scary, not very funny, just plain boring.
World Trade Center (2006) - (7/10)
This is a solid movie, but this is no United 93. There are a lot of cliches, and there are many very stupid moments and dialog. The first half of the movie is downright boring.
But the acting from the two wives is excellent and the production is good. And there are a few emotional moments in the movie, but overall it comes off as a regular disaster movie - I sometimes even forgot I was watching a movie about 9/11 with all the constant talk about heroism and family and america it really reminded me of Apollo 13. This may be a good movie, but it's not about 9/11. I really hope that by the end of the year people will realize how much this movie is inferior to United 93. Except acting, this should not receive any academy nominations.
But the acting from the two wives is excellent and the production is good. And there are a few emotional moments in the movie, but overall it comes off as a regular disaster movie - I sometimes even forgot I was watching a movie about 9/11 with all the constant talk about heroism and family and america it really reminded me of Apollo 13. This may be a good movie, but it's not about 9/11. I really hope that by the end of the year people will realize how much this movie is inferior to United 93. Except acting, this should not receive any academy nominations.
Hard Candy (2006) - (8/10)
Excellent thriller. Very tense and suspensful. Acting by Ellen Paige is fantastic! I don't think it really makes any meaningful pedophilia comments (certainly not as strong as The Woodsman), but it works very well as a psychological thriller.
Miami Vice (2006) - (5.5/10)
What a huge disapointment. I loved Heat and Collateral but this was just bad. Where is the amazing character development from Heat? Where is the realistic dialog? This movie is nothing but style.
Little Miss Sunshine (2006) - (8.5/10)
This wonderful comedy is probably the funniest movie I've seen all year. But the biggest aspect of the movie is that it really has a heart and soul! Some of the humor is sometimes a bit awkward and the situation unrealistic, but it's a very touching movie with very real feelings. Did I mention it's hilarious?
Clerks II (2006) - (7/10)
There are many hilariously funny moments in this movie, but the love story and supposedly profound realizations just don't work that well, because they are not really that profound.
A Scanner Darkly (2006) - (8/10)
It's a bit hard to review this, I'll have to see it again. But I definitely liked the movie, at least for the amazing visuals that fit so well with story. The dialog is great as usual in a Richard Linklater movie - funny, thoughtful, just wonderful. The mood of the movie is really good too and it definitely pulls you in.
The only problem I found was with the overall story - it seems like a pretty plain "drugs are bad" on surface. Maybe I just need to give it another try.
The only problem I found was with the overall story - it seems like a pretty plain "drugs are bad" on surface. Maybe I just need to give it another try.
Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Man's Chest (2006) - (7/10)
This is a pretty solid summer blockbuster, but definitely lacks the charm of the first pirates. It's too long and relies to match on physical gags. Most people laughed when Jack Sparrow fell funny, not when someone said something funny. It's good for a little bit but for 2.5 hours it gets tiring and eventually almost boring. Also it's half a movie, even at 2.5 hours.
But it's very well made - good acting fun setting and one of the best digital characters I've ever seen.
But it's very well made - good acting fun setting and one of the best digital characters I've ever seen.
Nacho Libre (2006) - (5/10)
Not funny at all. Just like Napoleon Dynamite, plain stupidity is not funny.
Cars (2006) - (6.5/10)
I loved every Pixar movie, but this was just a little disapointing. Technically, this movie is absolutely amazing. But the story was just way too simple and predictable. They usually are predictable but this was just really really simple, almost dumbed down. And looking at the beautiful CGI was the only thing that kept me engaged. Otherwise rather boring actually.
District B13 (2006) - (7.5/10)
Amazing action and the actors/story are not bad enough to distract you. Absolutely stunning action scenes, I've never seen anything quite like it.
An Inonvenient Truth (2006) - (7/10)
This is Al Gore's global warming documentary. It was very one sided, as suspected, but it was still leaps and bounds ahead of the retarded Fahrenheit 9/11. There were some very good points made and Al Gore's speaches are really damn good.
Still, plenty of graphs without axis or source, lots of insane predictions like 5 degrees in 20 years etc... But it definitely made some valid points, especially about the US involvement in comparison to the rest of the world.
Still, plenty of graphs without axis or source, lots of insane predictions like 5 degrees in 20 years etc... But it definitely made some valid points, especially about the US involvement in comparison to the rest of the world.
Art School Confidential (2006) - (3.5/10)
What a horrible, horrible movie. The onslaught of cliches starts from the very first shot and continues throughout the entire film. It would be ok if the movie made fun of the cliches, but instead it just becomes one. An awful incredibly predicatble plot completely bogs down the movie and it just becomes really annoying and painful to watch.
3.5 for the few funny jokes in the beginning of the film.
3.5 for the few funny jokes in the beginning of the film.
X-Men: The Last Stand (2006) - (6.5/10)
This was very disapointing after the much better X-Men 2. X-Men 3 has much worse dialog, worse action and just a plethora of different x-men to please the fans. No story, lots of plot holes.
Still it's watchable and some action shots are very cool.
Still it's watchable and some action shots are very cool.
The Da Vinci Code (2006) - (6/10)
Rather mediocre. It's not as bad as many of the critics said. I wasn't bored, but I wasn't entertained much either. The story itself is pretty silly and I am amazed at how stupid the church is - they freely advertise and promote the film by asking people not to see it. Really not sure what the fuss is all about.
Poseidon (2006) - (5.5/10)
Hilariously bad. Cheesy, cliched, just overall a solid "so bad it's funny" movie.
Fifty Pills (2006) - (6.5/10)
Your usual American Pie type comedy.
Lonely Hearts (2006) - (6.5/10)
This movie from the Tribeca film festival is a decent crime drama, but there was just nothing exceptional about it. The acting was great and it had some cool shots, but overall it just felt a bit simple and even boring.
Mission Impossible 3 (2006) - (7.5/10)
Standard action movie. Silly plot and dialog, and some excellent action scenes with great stunts.
United 93 (2006) - (9.5/10)
There is no way a better movie could have been made about this subject. There are no "Hollywood type heroes", there are no politics or patriotic bullshit, and there is no false dramatization (like Titanic or any other disaster movie). This is as close to Documentary as it gets, and while being almost a documentary, this is the most emotional rollercoaster you will see all year. From feeling hopelesness in the beginning to absolutely terrified in the end, this is one of the best movies I have ever seen.
Brick (2006) - (7/10)
I was really excited to see this noir homage after seeing the trailer, but eventually ended up being disapointed. Brick is still pretty good with excellent performances and funny dialog, but the overall story is just weak. Besides style, acting and dialog, there is nothing in it.
Duck Season (2004) - (8/10)
I just saw this little movie from Mexico. It's black and white and I would estimate the budget at around 10 grand. Not much happens during the movie as it deals with 4 people in an apartment during one Sunday. I guess the main subject is growing up... But it's a really touching and a very, very funny movie.
Inside Man(2006) - (7.5/10)
A very solid Heist movie with excellent acting and tight dialog. It's almost impossible to avoid Cliches in this genre, but Spike Lee certainly tried and it shows. The heist itself was also pretty smart though under a bit more scrutiny it doesn't hold up that well. Overall a very good movie for the genre and a good intro to big budget movie from Spike Lee.
Thank You For Smoking (2006) - (7/10)
This satirical movie about a lobbyist for the tobacco company plays more like a regular comedy. It's a pretty good comedy with a few laughs and a lot of "smiles". It stays pretty balanced on the somking issue without offending anyone, but this also causes the movie to be a bit shallow - not much satire.
Overall it's a pretty fun movie but is unlikely to spark any heated debates.
Overall it's a pretty fun movie but is unlikely to spark any heated debates.
V for Vendetta (2006) - (6.5/10)
The political message in this movie was so ridiculous and heavy handed that it really distracted from the action (which was sorely lacking by the way). The last fight was awesome, but other than that, the movie had very little action.
It feels like the movie is trying to convince us on how profound and deep it is, but it has the message that will only look deep to a 14 year old kid. I think the Wachowski brother should stick to action.
The acting was good, and the movie is well made so it gets a 6.5
It feels like the movie is trying to convince us on how profound and deep it is, but it has the message that will only look deep to a 14 year old kid. I think the Wachowski brother should stick to action.
The acting was good, and the movie is well made so it gets a 6.5
Lollilove (2006) - (7.5/10)
An excellent mokumentary. This is made as a documentary about a rich hollywood couple that decide that they have to get involved in charity. They have absolutely no altruistic intentions which makes the movie a comedy/satire. But the beauty of it is that it doesn't go too far over the top - we laugh at how naive and insensitive they are, but it's still close enough to reality. And all of that was made for $2000! Strongly recommend everyone to watch this movie.
Dave Chapelle's Block Party (2006) - (6/10)
I really wanted to like this movie, but it was simply boring. Most of it is concert footage and will depend on whether you like the songs and the performances. But outside the concert, the movie was very disapointing - not very funny, not very interesting.
Ellie Parker (2005) - (8/10)
Shot with a (shaky) handheld camera, this movie about a struggling Australian actress looks and feels like a documentary, and while I know very little about trying to make it in Hollywood, this looks real and true and honest.
The most important part of the movie is an amazing performance by Naomi Watts, possibly her best performance yet. She is so good as an actress that is almost good, but just can't quite make it in this crazy world of constant pressure and rejection. Watts is the center of every single scene and really carries the movie.
The most important part of the movie is an amazing performance by Naomi Watts, possibly her best performance yet. She is so good as an actress that is almost good, but just can't quite make it in this crazy world of constant pressure and rejection. Watts is the center of every single scene and really carries the movie.
Winter Passing (2006) - (7/10)
Winter passing is a pretty simple movie - a basic coming of age story with cliche charachters and obvious resolution. Sounds pretty bad, but it actually isn't. The mood of this movie is absolutely great - you don't even need to listen to what the people are saying, you kind of sink into it and feel it. Very good atmosphere with very good music. But the best part of the movie is the amazing performance by Zooey Deschanel. This is 100% her movie and she does wonders with the poor script.
Manderlay (2006) - (7.5/10)
This is the second part of Lars Von Trier's "USA: Land of Opportunity" trilogy (ha ha, see he is being sarcastic.. so funny), the first one being Dogville. While dogville is one of the most agonizing movies I've ever watched, Manderlay definitely improves in terms of watchability. It's still done in the same plain way - just a stage and drawings on the floor signifying houses, walls, trees. Also like Dogville, Manderlay has some very interesting ideas only this time about slavery.
The movie is generally better than Dogville, with the only problem being the all too obvious anti-american message reminding us almost every minute! While Dogville could be applicable to human nature in general, this is very specifically targeted at the U.S. and it bothered me, especially when the hatred is coming from someone who has never even been here.
Still, it's certainly a good movie with some very intriguing philosophy.
The movie is generally better than Dogville, with the only problem being the all too obvious anti-american message reminding us almost every minute! While Dogville could be applicable to human nature in general, this is very specifically targeted at the U.S. and it bothered me, especially when the hatred is coming from someone who has never even been here.
Still, it's certainly a good movie with some very intriguing philosophy.
Enron: The smartest guys in the room (2005) - (7.5/10)
Excellent documentary. Really helps you understand what happened with Enron and shows the personal, human side of the story. A little slow to start but eventually it all becomes very clear. Certainly one of the more entertaining documentaries I've seen.
Close encounters of the third kind (1977) - (9/10)
I am really surprised I missed this Spielberg movie, but watching it now after seeing almost all his other movies, I believe this is one of the best.
Even though I don't believe in aliens ever coming to earth, this movie makes it so interesting, so amazing, so exciting, so exhilirating - the scenario that it can happen. There is no movie in recent memory that gave me such a great sense of wonder - it would just be SO COOL for it to happen.
Watching this movie, and going through the rather slow middle is so worth it just to share that sense of wonder with all the characters in the movie.
Even though I don't believe in aliens ever coming to earth, this movie makes it so interesting, so amazing, so exciting, so exhilirating - the scenario that it can happen. There is no movie in recent memory that gave me such a great sense of wonder - it would just be SO COOL for it to happen.
Watching this movie, and going through the rather slow middle is so worth it just to share that sense of wonder with all the characters in the movie.
Munich (2005) - (8/10)
Something personal was missing from this movie. It's a very well made movie, and for once it truly is unbiased. Very good historically and personally, and yet for some reason I didn't feel as much as the movie meant for me to feel. Can't really put my finger on it.
This is still a great accomplishment and possibly the most adult and serious Spielberg movie ever.
This is still a great accomplishment and possibly the most adult and serious Spielberg movie ever.
2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 2006 - (/10)
Match Point (2005) - (9/10)
One of the best movies of the year, this has everything - the absolute best dialog of any movie this year, great acting and a very interesting philosophical story behind it.
The cast here is amazing, with the great Scarlett Johansson actually being the weakest actress (still very good thiough). A complete return to form from Woody Allen, maybe the move to London helped.
Strongly recommended.
The cast here is amazing, with the great Scarlett Johansson actually being the weakest actress (still very good thiough). A complete return to form from Woody Allen, maybe the move to London helped.
Strongly recommended.
Fun with Dick and Jane (2005) - (6/10)
King Kong (2005) - (8/10)
This is probably the most entertaining movie of the year. I would go as far as to compare this to such adventure classics as Indiana Jones or Jurassic Park. Despite the gigantic running length and many cliches (some charachters are very standard and the constant danger becomes laughable after a while.) and even some lame dialog, this movie is just so much fun, that it deserves an 8.
Brokeback Mountain (2005) - (7/10)
Brokeback Mountain really needs to be edited. I believe the movie is too long and behind all the controversy (which unjustly elevates it as the frontrunner of the Oscar race) it's a regular, simple well acted love story. There are many like it and the "epic" feel seems false.
That said, the acting is really good, especially from Michelle Williams who gives ones of the best performances of the year in such a small role. The most emotional scenes involved her. The cinematography is very good too with very beautiful nature shots and very good 60s feel of set design. Basically, good movie but needs to be shorter - otherwise the audience loses emotional attachment to the movie, which really hurts a love story.
That said, the acting is really good, especially from Michelle Williams who gives ones of the best performances of the year in such a small role. The most emotional scenes involved her. The cinematography is very good too with very beautiful nature shots and very good 60s feel of set design. Basically, good movie but needs to be shorter - otherwise the audience loses emotional attachment to the movie, which really hurts a love story.
Syriana (2005) - (5.5/10)
Syriana is a movie trying to expose all the sides of the oil business, from global government politics to personal lives of workers on the oil fields. The movie is very similar to "Traffic", only Traffic lasts 3 hours and deals with three stories (clearly differentiated by color filters and charachters), while Syriana deals with 4 interweaving stories in just over 2 hours.
This causes it to be one of the most confusing and complex movies I have ever seen, and one viewing cannot possibly be enough to understand what was going on. Syriana might have a lot of stuff going for it, but if you can't understand anything, you can't see all that supposedly good stuff.
In short - too confusing.
This causes it to be one of the most confusing and complex movies I have ever seen, and one viewing cannot possibly be enough to understand what was going on. Syriana might have a lot of stuff going for it, but if you can't understand anything, you can't see all that supposedly good stuff.
In short - too confusing.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) - (7/10)
Just like the first 3.
Sarah Silverman: Jesus Is Magic (2005) - (7/10)
This is basically a concert movie. 80% of the movie is just a recording of her performance doing stand up comedy. The humor is similar to "The Aristocrats" - very dirty, racist and "provocative" whatever that means.
However this movie suffers from the same problem The Aristocrats did - it's too long (even at 90 minutes). The humor works best when it's shocking (thanks to the delivery - she does a great job pretending she is completely not surprised by what's coming out of her mouth) but after an hour it stops being shocking and thus stops being funny. I wish both this and aristcrats was shorter, but I still liked both.
However this movie suffers from the same problem The Aristocrats did - it's too long (even at 90 minutes). The humor works best when it's shocking (thanks to the delivery - she does a great job pretending she is completely not surprised by what's coming out of her mouth) but after an hour it stops being shocking and thus stops being funny. I wish both this and aristcrats was shorter, but I still liked both.
Jarhead (2005) - (8.5/10)
Most war movies tell us that war is hell. This one says: no war is hell too. Jarhead is an amazing movie with absolutely stunning cinematography (I think the Oscar is locked already), and excellent acting from everyone involved. This is a completely character driven script, since almost nothing happens during the entire movie, but that nothing is so damn fascinating!
So why 8.5? I believe the movie is a bit long and needed some extra editing. There are quite a few scenes which serve almost no purpose - just another episode of their lives in the desert. If a few of those scenes were cut out, this would have been the best movie of the year.
So why 8.5? I believe the movie is a bit long and needed some extra editing. There are quite a few scenes which serve almost no purpose - just another episode of their lives in the desert. If a few of those scenes were cut out, this would have been the best movie of the year.
Squid and the Whale (2005) - (7/10)
Doom (2005) - (4/10)
To come...
Serenity (2005) - (6.5/10)
Good Night and Good Luck (2005) - (7/10)
To come...
A History of Violence (2005) - (6/10)
History of Violence could have been pretty interesting, but unfrotunately it really lacks a plot that makes sense and features horrible dialog and some poor acting (from the kids). The dialog is actually so bad that I often laughed at what people said and the situations they got into. This completely kills the dark, tense mood of the movie and the last scene is not very effective because the climax is laughable. The violence in the movie is also very gory and that gives the whole thing a very uneasy feeling.
The Constant Gardener (2005) - (4/10)
You would think that when a director that makes a very good intense drama, decides to make a thriller, it would at least be intense or suspenseful or thrilling. Maybe he can't succeed as he did with his first movie, but at least it would be entertaining... Unfortunately that is not the case, as the director of the great movie "City of God" makes the most boring sleep inducing "thriller" I've seen all year.
"The Constant Gardener" is a murder mystery, a love story and a moral lesson all at once, but with so much to handle it fails on every single level. The murder mystery is solved so slowly and so directly that it becomes very boring. The love story is very standard with the main characters going to bed merely a few hours after they met. Finally the moral lesson is probably the worst part with a very simple stupid message that is obvious from the beginning, and an ending that is seen from so far away you are amazed at how long it takes the movie to get there.
There are a few good aspects to this movie - most notably the beautiful cinematography and good acting. Neither can save the boring, slow, confusing script.
"The Constant Gardener" is a murder mystery, a love story and a moral lesson all at once, but with so much to handle it fails on every single level. The murder mystery is solved so slowly and so directly that it becomes very boring. The love story is very standard with the main characters going to bed merely a few hours after they met. Finally the moral lesson is probably the worst part with a very simple stupid message that is obvious from the beginning, and an ending that is seen from so far away you are amazed at how long it takes the movie to get there.
There are a few good aspects to this movie - most notably the beautiful cinematography and good acting. Neither can save the boring, slow, confusing script.
Red Eye (2005) - (6/10)
Red Eye is a solid thriller starring the very beautiful Rachel McAdams (and some other actors). Besides the eye candy, the movie has almost no plot and some silly situations, but still with only 80 minutes running time, this movie is actually effective. It's fast, it's somewhat tense and it's fun - you get what you expect.
March of the Penguins (2005) - (7.5/10)
Unlike Grizzly Man, March of the Penguins is purely a nature documentary. This hugely successful documentary is actually very entertaining and describes really well the hard life of the penguins in Antarctica. It's really amazing to see the length evolution has gone to create such intricate rituals for the penguins to have off-springs, but incredibly this intricate ritual is the only thing that allowed them to survive. The penguins are also really cute and just watching them would keep me entertained for at least 20-30 minutes.
However, the movie has a few cons:
- It's a very kid-friendly movie. The narration can sometimes be too detailed and focus a bit too much on showing "cuteness".
- Stemming from the first con, there is too much humanization of penguins. Morgan Freeman keeps talking about love and children and bonding, but in reality there is much more instinct involved and a lot less love, and the seemingly human characteristics are simply the only things that will allow penguins to reproduce and survive. With a more adult film (like Grizzly Man) there would not be that much focus on humanization and cuteness and the movie would be better.
This is still a very entertaining documentary and well worth the price, especially if you are a kid or a parent.
However, the movie has a few cons:
- It's a very kid-friendly movie. The narration can sometimes be too detailed and focus a bit too much on showing "cuteness".
- Stemming from the first con, there is too much humanization of penguins. Morgan Freeman keeps talking about love and children and bonding, but in reality there is much more instinct involved and a lot less love, and the seemingly human characteristics are simply the only things that will allow penguins to reproduce and survive. With a more adult film (like Grizzly Man) there would not be that much focus on humanization and cuteness and the movie would be better.
This is still a very entertaining documentary and well worth the price, especially if you are a kid or a parent.
Grizzly Man (2005) - (8.5/10)
The trailer for this movie might indicate that this is a nature documentary about bears. But in fact this is a biographical documentary about Timothy Treadwell - a man who lived with bears in Alaska for 13 summers.
The movie paints an excellent portrait of Timothy mostly through his amazing footage and also through interviews with friends and family. There is also quite a bit of bears footage if you are interested in the nature aspect of things. But really the most interesting part of this documentary is the close look at a crazy person and his mind.
A few cons include very few lame and useless scenes such as "Ex-Girlfriend - here is Timothy's watch. *cry* "
The movie paints an excellent portrait of Timothy mostly through his amazing footage and also through interviews with friends and family. There is also quite a bit of bears footage if you are interested in the nature aspect of things. But really the most interesting part of this documentary is the close look at a crazy person and his mind.
A few cons include very few lame and useless scenes such as "Ex-Girlfriend - here is Timothy's watch. *cry* "
2046 (2004) - (6.5/10)
Maybe I just don't get this movie, but I found 2046 from Wong Kar Wai - the director of In the Mood for Love - to be rather boring. This is sort of a sequel to the earlier movie, but it is even slower, and it jumps around even more and I am just not sure what this movie is about. There is as usual very good cinematography, and good acting and lots of beautiful women, but it just doesn't seem to have any storyline or point. AMAZING music though, I'll get the soundtrack!
The Aristocrats (2005) - (7.5/10)
The Aristocrats is a documentary about an inside joke amongst comedians. It's not really one joke, since the joke can be told in an infinite number of ways, and is basically the indication of how good of a comedian you are. Indeed the delivery and words of the joke are different with each comedian, and the level of laughter is also different, but this movie is simply all these people telling the same joke over and over for an hour and a half. What we get is some really funny moments but also a lot of boring moments. It's still worth it, so the movie is recommended, as long as you are not offended by VERY dirty humor.
Oh, and this can also be viewed as a social commentary, but I didn't find that aspect of the movie to be very good or interesting. The only interesting part of that, is that it's a view inside the minds and culture of comedians. But basically - if you want some very very funny moments and are willing to pay $8 for them, go watch this movie.
Oh, and this can also be viewed as a social commentary, but I didn't find that aspect of the movie to be very good or interesting. The only interesting part of that, is that it's a view inside the minds and culture of comedians. But basically - if you want some very very funny moments and are willing to pay $8 for them, go watch this movie.
The Island (2005) - (3.5/10)
Michael Bay really pisses me off. I was so annoyed after seeing this movie not because it was so bad, but because it had so much potential! This was such a good premise, with very good actors and a good script. But the retarded director decided to have fun and create a horrible, horrible movie.
I am not trying to be one of the "anti-Hollywood explosions suck" kind of guy, but Michael Bay is really bad. No one would argue that he has no understanding of what makes a good movie, but in this movie, it seems like he has no understanding of what makes good action. I wasn't expecting a deep movie, but I was expecting fun action with interesting ideas, and I got interesting ideas that are killed by worthless action.
Bay keeps using very bad obvious camera tricks, like rotating around a character or quick cuts to create action out of nowhere (such as 2 people simply running). Loud music comes out of nowhere and it's just really annoying.
I am rambling here, but basically, this movie is very annoying since it's so obvious how VERY BAD DIRECTING can completely ruin an interesting movie.
I am not trying to be one of the "anti-Hollywood explosions suck" kind of guy, but Michael Bay is really bad. No one would argue that he has no understanding of what makes a good movie, but in this movie, it seems like he has no understanding of what makes good action. I wasn't expecting a deep movie, but I was expecting fun action with interesting ideas, and I got interesting ideas that are killed by worthless action.
Bay keeps using very bad obvious camera tricks, like rotating around a character or quick cuts to create action out of nowhere (such as 2 people simply running). Loud music comes out of nowhere and it's just really annoying.
I am rambling here, but basically, this movie is very annoying since it's so obvious how VERY BAD DIRECTING can completely ruin an interesting movie.
Bad News Bears (2005) - (7/10)
I only saw this movie because it was directed by Richard Linklater, and I am glad I did. This really is a comedy, and while there is the whole inspirational coach and redemption and all that stuff underneath, this is still a pure comedy, and it's a very funny comedy. So if you want some laughs that are not bogged down by the predictable story they are in (Wedding Crashers), I definitely recommend this movie.
Wedding Crashers (2005) - (5/10)
This comedy could have been good if it didn't focus on being a romantic comedy so much. After all is said and done, this is basically your standard Meg Ryan type romantic comedy, with a few good laughs sprinkled in. But when there are no laughs, this movie is very boring, predictable and basically not funny.
Dark Water (2005) - (4/10)
Yet another in the countless J-Horror remakes, this continues their tradition of being crappy. Only this one tries to be a "good" movie, by giving us good cinematography and good actors.
Another way the movie tries to be good is by being slow. I am not sure where they decided that slow is good, but it completely ruins the movie. There is a bit of tension building up in the beginning but the movie takes so long to get to the climax that I was really bored by the third act.
The music was pretty bad too, which adds even more to the boredom.
Another way the movie tries to be good is by being slow. I am not sure where they decided that slow is good, but it completely ruins the movie. There is a bit of tension building up in the beginning but the movie takes so long to get to the climax that I was really bored by the third act.
The music was pretty bad too, which adds even more to the boredom.
War of the Worlds (2005) - (7/10)
I was really excited about this movie, but I was certainly disappointed. This is a very standard action-disaster movie in the vein of "Day After Tomorrow". The whole movie is simply about Tom Cruise and Dakota Fanning running away from the aliens. The "run" begins 5 minutes after the movie starts and ends 3 minutes before the end. Yes, there is bonding and family and other stuff, but I didn't feel it was very developed. This movie is about aliens destroying stuff, nothing more. The effects are very solid and it looks cool, but I am just disappointed the movie did nothing besides showing destruction. It is also surprisingly violent and intense.
Batman Begins (2005) - (8/10)
While I often enjoy super hero movies such as Spiderman or X-Men, I never found them to be very good movies. But now finally, after so many tries (I include the Tim Burton Batman too) of only getting good entertaining movies, we actually get a very good one. Batman Begins has great action and is very entertaining and above all that it is actually a very good movie, with developed characters, decent dialog and an interesting, dark story. A very enjoyable movie and is very recommended even to people who don't like action movies.
Cinderella Man (2005) - (7/10)
Cinderella Man is a well made movie with great production values, very good acting and interesting realistic fights. However, the movie feels like it is trying too hard to get an Oscar (just like Ron Howard's previous movie - "Beautiful Mind") and this really hurts it. The movie is trying to make us cry and the movie is trying to make us worry about the fights, and while I did feel for the main character, I wasn't scared for him. It is too obvious where the movie is going, due to the nature and themes of the story. In conclusion - too melodramatic for me.
StarWars Episode III: The Revenge of the Sith (2005) - (6.5/10)
There is really not much I can say about this movie. It's fairly obvious - great special effects, laughable dialog and B level acting - just like the other 5. This one has a lot more action though, which puts it in second place out of all 6, just behind the only one not directed by Lucas - Empire Strikes Back.
Crash (2005) - (9/10)
This is just wow... By far the best movie of the year so far, and I will be surprised if I see something better until December. "Crash" is finally a movie about racism the way racism is - there are no people in this movie who just hate another race and want to kill them. Most of the characters in this movie are simple people, and it's the little things they say and want, that really show their racism. Very, very emotional movie amazingly written by Paul Haggis and a great ensemble cast. It feels a bit manipulative though which reduces the score to 9. Still a must see!
Kingdom of Heaven (2005) - (7.5/10)
Edit: Increasing this from 6 to 7.5 after seeing the director's cut. The additional 40 minutes of backstory really improve the movie and provide needed motivation and character to many of the heroes, especially Edward Norton and Orlando Bloom.
This movie suffers from lack of story and purpose, something Gladiator certainly had. Even worse, this movie doesn't really feel like an action movie but more like a historical movie - simply describing what happened (which of course explains why there is little drama and not that much action). But then the movie is almost complete fiction and not historically accurate! So we don't get history, but we also don't get action and drama. The story is undeveloped and feels rushed (even for the 2.5 hours length of the movie) and the characters are amazingly black and white. The guy who wants to kill Muslims incidentally is also ugly and a real jerk. The guy who wants Christians and Muslims to live together in peace (certainly fiction in the 13th century) is also a really nice and good looking guy. 6 for the siege scene and good cinematography.
This movie suffers from lack of story and purpose, something Gladiator certainly had. Even worse, this movie doesn't really feel like an action movie but more like a historical movie - simply describing what happened (which of course explains why there is little drama and not that much action). But then the movie is almost complete fiction and not historically accurate! So we don't get history, but we also don't get action and drama. The story is undeveloped and feels rushed (even for the 2.5 hours length of the movie) and the characters are amazingly black and white. The guy who wants to kill Muslims incidentally is also ugly and a real jerk. The guy who wants Christians and Muslims to live together in peace (certainly fiction in the 13th century) is also a really nice and good looking guy. 6 for the siege scene and good cinematography.
The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy (2005) - (6.5/10)
The most random move I've ever seen. Random is really the best way to describe it. It's funny and the dialog is great, but the story is a bit too complicated and the love story is cheesy and feels out of place. Not funny enough for a 7 though.
Sin City (2005) - (7.5/10)
The first good American movie of 2005, features the most spectacular cinematography, editing and visual effects of the year. Even after Oldboy, this movie looks so stylish and just plain cool, it keeps you interested for the entire 2 hours. Some great fun characters and top of the line acting from everyone involved, especially Clive Owen (as always), Elijah Woods, Mickey Rourke and Bruce Willis. Sin City also gets extra points for being the most faithful comic book adaptation ever made, with almost every screen looking exactly like the book. But in this comes the main weakness of the film - the stories are just not very interesting and involving and are more appropriate to a comic book than a movie.
The Interpreter (2005) - (6/10)
This is a very standard, solid, political thriller. Given then fact that the genre is simply not very interesting, I didn't find the movie exciting. Good acting from Nicole Kidman (looking better as she gets older) and Sean Penn can't save the unoriginal screenplay and standard directing.
In the Mood for Love (2000) - (8/10)
It's very hard to describe this movie. There is nothing even remotely close to that in American cinema (as far as I know). This is a beautifully shot story about two neighbors who find out that their spouses are cheating on them. The story simply shows the two great actors (one of which is the beautiful Maggie Cheung), displaying some of the best acting I've ever seen. There is not much happening in the story and there is very little dialog, but a lot happens to the two people, as they go through so much - do they allow themselves to fall in love and be like their spouses? I need to watch more Wong Kar Wai movies...
Robots (2005) - (4/10)
Good animation, but it all can be seen by the great animated short before the movie.
After that we get lame kid humor (the biggest and loudest laugh during the entire movie was a fart joke; gay jokes dominated the rest of the laughs), very simple story with an ending that pours a ton of sugar down your throat - dancing, laughing, singing, hugging, every character is 100% happy. Music is horrible from bad pop songs, to insanely cliche swelling music (the kind of swelling music you hear in parodies), to very simple "sad" music.
This is no Pixar
After that we get lame kid humor (the biggest and loudest laugh during the entire movie was a fart joke; gay jokes dominated the rest of the laughs), very simple story with an ending that pours a ton of sugar down your throat - dancing, laughing, singing, hugging, every character is 100% happy. Music is horrible from bad pop songs, to insanely cliche swelling music (the kind of swelling music you hear in parodies), to very simple "sad" music.
This is no Pixar
Oldboy (2003) - (7.5/10)
This is a really weird movie. With a sick script, very realistic bloody violence, and insane characters, this makes for a very interesting viewing and the ending will have you talking and thinking after you come out of the theater. Unfortunately the talking lasts very little, and the story is not as deep as you thought. However, the amazing style of the movie and the best fighting scenes of the year, bring the score up. See it if you don't mind violence and "questionable" morals.
Ong Bak: The Thai Warrior (2003) - (4/10)
I didn't go into this movie expecting a great story, but I need something! The great fights were separated by porn level acting and story, and the movie was more similar to an acrobatic event on TV, than to a movie. Tony Jaa will not be an amazing action star, simply because he can't act. Unless you consider Steven Seagal an action star...
Constantine (2005) - (5/10)
A really lame story with unintentionally funny moments. Some scenes had no point other than to give scares or action. 5 points for style and visuals.
Tae Guk Gi (2004) - (6.5/10)
This is probably more effective on the big screen, and I have to admit that the effects in this movie are spectacular. Very gritty, realistic combat scenes and a lot of violence. However, the movie is very melodramatic and overacted. The actors spend most of the movie either crying or yelling, and the dramatic scenes are scored with cliche music and are always slow motion, adding even more cheesiness into the movie. Tae Guk Gi is also a direct rip-off from Saving Private Ryan which gives it extra negative points for lack of originality. Unfortunate, since the movie could have been great with a good script and good actors.
Downfall (2004) - (9/10)
One of the best historic movies I have seen. Describing the last few days of Hitler, the German movie goes into detail about the man and everyone around him, as their empire crumbles above the bunker they spend their last days in. Finally a movie showing Hitler as a person - a very bad person, crazy, evil, but one who has thoughts, feelings and desires. The movie also features amazing acting from everyone involved, very good visuals and a few bombing scenes. My only gripe with the movie, is that it was a little bit too long and showed too many suicides, without focusing on some of the secondary characters. Still a well deserved 9.
The Woodsman (2004) - (8/10)
Great character study and the best acting of his career from Kevin Bacon. A thoughtful movie about a person recently out of prison trying to get back into normal life. The beauty of the movie is that it neither portraying him as a hero, nor as a villain. He is simply a person, who knows how bad he is, and is trying to battle the demons inside him.
A somewhat weak story (though not the focus of the movie) brings it down to an 8.
A somewhat weak story (though not the focus of the movie) brings it down to an 8.
Assault on Precinct 13 (2005) - (6/10)
A decent action flick with crappy story, cliche dialog and interesting action. Somewhat suspenseful and good acting as always from Ethan Hawke.
Hide and Seek (2005) - (3/10)
Wow, this movie really sucked. Gets 5 points for a not so bad start, 1 point for being unintentionally funny, and -3 for the horrible ending. Dakota Fanning is the devil.