Cloverfield

"Cloverfield" allows us to relive 9/11 in the safety of a movie theater using a never explained Godzilla-like monster to represent terrorism. Real subtle.

This 75 minute exercise in "Blair Witch" camera theatrics uses the shaky video camera POV to make us physically and emotional queasy as we watch downtown New York, once again, reduced to rubble.

The camera follows a small group of friends who are one minute are enjoying themselves at a farewell party, only to be thrust into the carnage as the ridiculous "monster" attacks for no reason.

There is nothing redeemable in this mess except for terrific special effects destroying Manhattan block by block. As good as the effects are, it's hard to admire them as their result is unnerving and disturbing.

There are many famous monster movies prior to 2001 featuring the destruction of New York and they're always fun to watch because you thought nothing like that would really happen. In a post 9/11 world, it's just not fun anymore.

Cassandra's Dream

Shooting "Matchpoint" in England revitalized Woody Allen. It didn't last long however, as "Snoop" was a disappointment and now comes "Cassandra's Dream" another rehash on the consequences of murder.

While we've seen the story before from Woody, he does manage to capture terrific performances by Collin Farrell and Ewan McGregor as brothers Terry and Ian. The brothers find themselves in dire straights and turn to their rich Uncle Howard (always good Tom Wilkinson) for help. The drama turns on his proposal.

Mr. Farrell plays against type as the meeker of the two brothers and it's refreshing to see him in a role like this. His chemistry with Mr. McGregor is excellent and you can easily believe they are brothers caught in tangled web of their own making.

Mr. Allen remains an excellent writer and director. Refreshed by England's change of scenery, he must now turn to a new muse for script inspiration and give us something original.

There Will Be Blood

No doubt about it, this is a magnificent performance by Daniel Day-Lewis. The film centers completely around his character, Daniel Plainview. In fact, Plainview is written as such a vivid force of nature that everyone else in the film barely exists. This is the major flaw in a powerful film about the early days of the oil business.

Paul Dano co-stars as Eli Sunday and his mysterious brother Paul Sunday (a minor character never quite fully explained). Eli is the young preacher who is at odds with Plainview throughout the film. Mr. Dano gives a terrific performance and holds his own in powerful scenes with Mr. Day-Lewis. However, aside from these two, every other character in the film is completely underwritten. Dillion Freasier plays Plainview's young son, HW but even he exists more as a plot device than a fully realized character.

The cinematography is fantastic, beautiful and raw. The first 20 minutes of the film are very unique. Kudos to writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson for such a bold move. Much has been said about the score. It too, is very unique and some will say irritating. While there may be some truth to that, it is very deliberate and fits the film perfectly.

The blood and soul of this film is Mr. Day-Lewis who breathes life to an unforgettable character. But in the end, the film is diminished by his overpowering presence, which just may have been the point.

Best & Worst of 2007

Happy New Year to all. Another film year in the books and my theatrical viewing continues to drop (67 films in theaters this year). More and more I tend to wait for DVD and should really start doing a separate list for that. Anyway, here's my best and worst of 2007.

The Best-

No Country For Old Men- Brilliant film adaptation, perfectly detailed and perfectly acted.

Atonement- Another terrific adaptation with a powerful story and great acting. Haunting.

Sweeny Todd- Still another adaptation, this time from Broadway. Perfectly executed by Tim Burton, Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter.

I'm Not There- With no coherent plot, the film still blows you away with sight, sound, and an amazing performance by Cate Blancett.

The Bourne Ultimatum- This third in a series, improves upon each of it's predecessors and sets a new standard for action films done the old fashioned way without CGI.

Eastern Promises- David Cronenberg shows us a world rarely seen and Viggo Mortensen gives a bravura performance as a Russian mobster in conflict.

3:10 To Yuma- I'm a sucker for a good western and this remake was terrific. Russell Crowe and Christian Bale shine.

Black Book- Very exciting WWII film based on a true story of a Jewish woman who falls in love with the Nazi commander she is sent to spy on.

Gone, Baby Gone- Ben Affleck gets everything right in his directorial debut. This Boston crime drama about a missing child is right on the money.

Hairspray- And yes, another adaptation. From film to Broadway and now, back to film, this version of Hairspray was fun start to finish. Singing, dancing, social message and John Travolta in drag. Just a good time at the movies.

Honorable mention-

Juno

Into The Wild

Talk To Me

Superbad

Best DVD- Ratatouille- A brilliantly animated film with intelligence, humor, warmth and charm that doesn't dumb down it's audience

The Worst-

Smokin' Aces -waste of talent

Meet The Robinsons- waste of Disney talent

Mr. Bean's Holiday-waste of time

Go Go Tales- sad waste of Abel Ferrara

Pirates of the Caribbean 3- bloated waste of time

Spiderman 3- bloated waste of what could have been

Margot At The Wedding- self indulgent waste of talent

Nancy Drew- waste unless you were a 12 year old girl.

Alpha Dog- waste of Justin Timberlake

We Own The Night- waste of real potential.

Sweeny Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

This should be sub-titled "There Will Be Blood". Director Tim Burton executes a wonderful screen version of the dark musical with rivers of blood as an extra character. But don't be put off by the excess. It is a terrific film that had me grinning ear to ear, even as Sweeny Todd sliced his victim's throats ear to ear.

Johnny Depp as Sweeny Todd and Helena Bonham Carter as Mrs. Lovett have never been better. They are simply delicious together with a deeply forged chemistry. The majority of dialog in the film is done in song and both Mr. Depp and Ms. Bonham Carter admirably hold their own along with Alan Rickman, Sacha Baron Cohen, and Timothy Spall. The rest of the cast is excellent as well, especially Ed Sanders as Toby Ragg.

The production faithfully recreates a dark, dirty England and Mr. Burton's stylized direction fits the grim tale of revenge perfectly. Despite themes of madness, murder and cannibalism, the film is really a lot of fun to watch. Strip away the violence and it really is a love story that works on many levels.

"Sweeny Todd" is a musical like no other and the film version does it's Broadway ancestors proud.

The Diving Bell And The Butterfly

Directed by Julian Schnabel, the film is based on the true story of Elle Magazine editor, Jean-Dominique Bauby, who was paralyzed by a stroke at age 43. Unable to move any part of his body except for his left eye, Bauby learns to communicate through a series of blinking the alphabet. And in doing so, "writes" the book that becomes "The Diving Bell And The Butterfly".

With the help of a translator, Henriette Roi, Bauby manages to communicate his thoughts through a very repetitive process that, while a triumph for him, begins to grate on the viewer. What saves the film, is the imaginative way Mr. Schnabel shows us what is going on in Mr. Bauby's mind. His imagination and memory are the only things that sustain him. The artistic flashbacks and dream sequences that connect all the elements of the film are very well done.

Mathieu Amalric gives an outstanding performance as Bauby. To express oneself though only one eye is remarkable. It's also his witty and emotional voiceover that guides us and allows us an intimate link to the character.

The film is in French with English subtitles.

The Orphanage

Goosebumps. You want a ghost story to give you Goosebumps. "The Orphanage" delivers them big time. In an era when "horror" movies are nothing more than torture porn or gory remakes, a film finally reminds us of how to be truly frightened at the movies.

Produced by Guillermo Del Toro, many are calling it this year's "Pan's Labyrinth". Nothing could be further from the truth. That's a marketing ploy that is unnecessary. "The Orphanage" is closer to Del Toro's film, "The Devil's Backbone" or another Spanish ghost story, "The Others". It scares you with atmosphere, implication and anticipation, rather than cheap shocks and gore. Although there is at least one "jump out of your seat" moment that was unnecessary but scary just the same.

The film stars Belen Rueda as Laura, an orphan herself who is adopted in the prologue and then returns to her orphanage 30 years later with her husband and young son, Simon. It is their intention to renovate the place and make it a home for special children.

Know that the film is in Spanish with English subtitles. To say anymore would be spoiling the experience but know that Ms. Rueda gives a tour de force performance as a woman unraveling when the past, literally, comes back to haunt her.

Atonement

You know you're watching a film of merit when it unfolds like a good book and you get lost in the story. "Atonement" is adapted from the book of the same name by Ian McEwan. I didn't read the book but I have read others by Mr. McEwan and I can only imagine that the screenplay for "Atonement" faithfully follows the book. Mr. McEwan is a gifted author who writes powerful novels. This is a powerful film.

It is a sweeping story of depth, filled with romance, and devastating drama. There is great chemistry between it's lead actors, Keira knightley and James McAvoy. Saoirse Ronan is a wonder as Ms. Knightley's 13 year old sister who sets the story in motion with one horrible lie.

This is a period film set in England and war torn France in the late 1930's. The cinematography, sets and costumes are all wonderful. There is an amazing single tracking shot on the French beach that is remarkable in it's beauty and horror at the same time.

"Atonement" has already been nominated for many Golden Globe Awards and will surely garner many Oscar nominations as well. It deserves all of them. Once it ends, it will haunt you for days. It will have that kind of impact.

Charlie Wilson's War

This film is a strange mix of serious politics and light comedy. Written by Aaron Sorkin and directed by Mike Nichols, "Charlie Wilson" plays like an episode of "The West Wing". The dialog is fast and furious. Much of the political nature of the film may go over the head of the casual viewer. The story, however, is an amazing one especially when you consider it's based in truth.

Those expecting a light hearted romp with Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts will be surprised by the turn of events when Congressman Wilson visits an Afghanistan refugee camp. The sights and sounds will shock the audience just as they do Charlie. It's that turn of events, spurred on by a wealthy Texas socialite (played by Ms. Roberts) that moves Wilson to begin a covert war aiding the Afghan people against the Russians. He is aided in his mission by a unorthodox CIA agent played by Philip Seymour Hoffman, who steals every scene. Mr. Hanks exhibits both charm and gravity as Charlie Wilson. He's a terrific actor and both he and Mr. Hoffman are adept at inhabiting their roles.

The story is remarkable and will certainly hold your attention. The ending should anger you, especially if you stop and consider what has happened in Afghanistan since it's liberation from the Russians. The quote that closes the film could not be more haunting.

Juno

A sharp script and terrific performances highlight this comedy about a pregnant teenager. The film is intelligent and there is never a false note in the performances.

The film stars Ellen Page as Juno, the 16 year old learning about love and life even as a new life begins to grow inside her. Ms. Page was terrific in "Hard Candy" and and with each new film, she continues to show a maturity beyond her years. "Juno" also stars Michael Cera as "Bleeker", Juno's best friend, responsible for impregnating her. Mr. Cera owns the part of the sweet, awkward teen whether it's "Superbad" or "Arrested Development". No one does it better.

As for the adults in the film, J.K. Simmons and Allison Janey play Juno's understanding dad and caring step-mom. Jennifer Garner and Jason Batemen play a childless couple looking to adopt Juno's baby. The entire cast is just perfect and all show a new side to the type of characters they usually play.

Besides the clever writing, the film also boasts a terrific soundtrack, with original songs provided by Kimya Dawson, of the band "Moldy Peaches". "Juno" captures the language and rhythms of today's teenagers in a very honest way and the music is a perfect compliment to the story.

The Savages

Philip Seymour Hoffman and Laura Linney return to their Indy roots in this intimate film about a brother and sister dealing with their father's failing health.

The film is a cross between the 70's comedy "Where's Poppa" and the drama, "Affliction". A strong screenplay balances the serious subject matter with moments of unexpected comedy. Mr. Hoffman recently received a Golden Globe nomination for his work in this film and while he is excellent as always, the film really belongs to Ms. Linney. Wendy Savage is the more complex role and Linney gives a wonderful performance, balancing a very complicated character. Actually stealing the film out from both of them is the remarkable Phillip Bosco as their father, slipping into dementia yet revealing a hint of sanity that refuses to go.

"The Savages" is an offbeat film, not for everyone but a nice alternative to the holiday blockbusters.

I Am Legend

I am boring.... After an extremely promising start, "Legend" slows to a crawl until the big finish, which frankly, didn't really thrill me.

Will Smith is very good in the lead and almost only role. It's a different Will Smith, more serious, yet emotional and heroic. His German Shepherd companion is an extremely well trained and expressive animal.

The special effects are amazing and really give you a sense of a deserted New York City. The problem is, after the initial "wow" factor, you get used to it pretty quickly and the effect loses it's punch. The same can be said for the night creatures. They are terrifying at first and then just annoying.

There is one really terrific sequence outside Grand Central Station that was truly exciting but Will's loneliness and boredom is so realistic that it carries over to the audience.

The one truly frightening thing about the film is that many doctors believe the premise of the film will actually come to pass. It's not a question of what if, but rather, when.

Into The Wild

Based on the non-fictional bestseller, "Into The Wild" is the story of Chris McCandless, a college graduate who leaves behind a privileged life for one of self discovery and adventure. Sean Penn has adapted the screenplay and directs the film.

Not having read the book, I can offer no comparison and just take the film at its own worth. After graduating, Chris decides to drop out of society and go off on his own journey across America, ultimately to Alaska. He changes his name and ceases any communication with his family. The people he encounters and his own self discovery form the basis of the film, recreated by his journals and the memory of those who knew him.

Visually the film is breathtaking with many of the Western states and Alaska providing the natural background for the story. Songs and music by Eddie Vedder compliment the story perfectly. As Chris, Emile Hirsch does his best work to date, in a physically and emotionally demanding role. The film also stars Hal Holbrook, Vince Vaughn, and Catherine Keener as the people Chris meets and impact his life. In addition, Marcia Gay Harden and William Hurt play Chris's parents and Jenna Malone, his sister.

Mr. Penn charts Chris's journey with love and affection for the character. But in the end, "Into The Wild" is not a celebration but rather just an observation of one man's life. It is ultimately a sad story but not as haunting as it might have been.

Enchanted

Disney has found a new way to mine box office gold. "Enchanted" borrows from Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, and few of their other classics to come up with the tale of a cartoon damsel in distress banished to the reality of New York City.

Amy Adams is wonderful as Giselle, a lovely cartoon character about to marry her Prince Charming (or in this case, Edward) played by James Marsden. The film starts out animated but the characters soon find themselves come to life, in New York (due to the magic of the evil Queen, played by Susan Sarandon) where Giselle meets Patrick Dempsey, a single parent divorce lawyer.

Other animated characters end up in the real world too as the film rolls along to it's inevitable conclusion. There are many fun moments, especially in the beginning as the characters adjust to becoming "real". As I said, Amy Adams is wonderful as Giselle, lovely and bewildered at the same time. Mr. Marsden plays the vain and clueless Edward perfectly. Ms. Sarandon has a fine time camping it up as the evil Queen. Mr. Dempsey, on the other hand simply plays a lawyer version of his TV doctor, Derek Sheppard. To his defense, that's about what the role calls for. Indina Menzel is wasted as Nancy, Mr. Dempsey's fiancé. She simply isn't given much to do for someone with her talent.

Timothy Spall and Pip the chipmunk add comic relief. The film is colorful, features a few clever songs, and is simple fun. "Enchanted" is great for the kids and entertaining for adults as well.

Beowulf

Using a technique he debuted with "The Polar Express", director Robert Zemeckis takes it to another level with "Beowulf". The film is a combination of live action with animation layered over it. The resulting image looks like a very realistic video game. The best way to view this film is in IMAX 3-D. The images are stunning. The audio and video are a feast for the senses.

The cast is pedigree. Ray Winstone, Anthony Hopkins, Angelina Jolie, Brendan Gleeson, Crispin Glover, John Malkovich, and Robin Wright Penn all add their vocal talent as well as their animated images to the story. "Beowulf is an ancient tale told many times through the ages but with a script by Neil Gaiman and Roger Avery, it becomes a modern day sword and sorcery tale with liberal amounts of violence.

Visually amazing, "Beowulf" opened at #1, but overall has limited appeal. Fans of Norse mythology or the film, "300" will find much to appreciate here. Beyond that I wouldn't bother.

No Country For Old Men

This amazing crime drama joins the ranks of Joel and Ethan Coen's best work. The film works on so many levels, I don't know where to begin. A story of greed and violence with no easy answers, the film is a marvel from start to finish.

Javier Bardem plays one of the all time great screen villains. You have simply never seen anything like Anton Chigurh. He is The Terminator in flesh and blood. Josh Brolin (getting better in every film) plays Llewelyn Moss, a simple man who discovers a satchel of cash and sets in motion a series of terrible events. Tommy Lee Jones is absolutely perfect as sheriff Ed Tom Bell, a man weary of the modern world, still trying to do the right thing. Kelly MacDonald plays Moss's wife, Carla Jean who is smarter than she looks. And rounding out the principal cast is Woody Harrelson as Carson Wells, a wild card in this deck of violent cat and mouse.

The cinematography of Roger Deakins is breathtaking. The color palate of the Texas plains to the stark and seedy small town motels is remarkable. The sparse dialog rolls off the actor's tongues like poetry. Tommy Lee Jones, in particular, has so much quotable dialog, I need to see it again and take notes. Working from the novel by Cormac McCarthy, the Coen Brothers wrote the screenplay and capture the detail and soul of the novel, while bringing the violence to the forefront. Be warned, there is no shortage of blood in a Coen Brothers film.

Without a doubt, one of this year's best films. And by the way, if you have been paying attention, all the questions at the end will have been answered.

Before The Devil Knows You're Dead

At 83 Sidney Lumet proves he's still got his directing chops. This is a taut little crime drama that puts ordinary people into extraordinary situations when a simple robbery goes very wrong. Philip Seymour Hoffman and Ethan Hawke play brothers, Andy and Hank, who for different reasons both are mired in money problems. Andy hatches a plan to rob their parents jewelry store and everything spirals out of control from that point on.

The film is shot in and out of sequence with a time line at the bottom of the screen keeping things in proper perspective. This allows us, via different camera angles, to view the same events from different points of view. Hoffman and Hawke are very good in their roles but not very convincing as brothers. The film co-stars Albert Finney as their father and Marisa Tomei as Hoffman's wife. Finney, in particular, is excellent.

The film is reminiscent of an earlier film (from a terrific book), "A Simple Plan", which has a similar storyline and theme. It's a stronger story of ordinary brothers who's lives unravel when a simple plan goes bad. The saving grace of this film is Finney (so strong in his quiet devastation), Hoffman (oozing desperation) and Lumet's tight direction.

American Gangster

The new film from director Ridley Scott is based on the true story of Harlem Drug lord, Frank Lucas. It is another in a long history of gangster movies with not much new to tell. A gangster rise to the top and is brought down by a relentless cop. What keeps you watching are the strong performances.

Mr. Scott captures the gritty streets of New York in the early '70's and the film has the look and feel of a "Serpico" or "Prince of The City". As Frank Lucas, Denzel Washington has never been smoother. Whether shooting someone point blank or serving Thanksgiving dinner, he inhabits his character completely but we never see much of the man behind the criminal. As Richie Roberts, the cop who eventually brings him down, Russell Crowe is just as good in the less flashy role. In many ways, we learn more about Robert's character than we do Lucas as too much screen time is devoted to a custody battle with his ex-wife and his internal struggles within the police department.

The story behind Mr. Lucas's rise to the top is actually fascinating. Thinking like a businessman and not a street thug, he devised an ingenious way to bring heroin into the US and distribute high quality drugs for low prices.

His rise and fall certainly makes for a good story but this dark film is more informative than entertaining and anyone looking for sparks between Washington and Crowe will be disappointed. They literally only have a few scenes together towards the end of the film.

Bee Movie

Animated Seinfeld is better than no Seinfeld at all in this slightly bizarre new film. It's one thing to have cute animated bees talking and acting like humans but to create an interspecies love story (even if it is chaste) takes it to another level.

The plot was reminiscent of "Antz" starring Woody Allen. A young bee isn't satisfied with life in the hive and longs for something different. This takes him out of his own environment into a new world of adventures. This is where the story takes a very strange turn. Unlike "Antz", which stayed in the insect world, "Bee Movie" takes young Barry Beeson into the human world where he is easily accepted as a "talking" bee and spends time as a lawyer and airline pilot among other things.

Rene Zellweger is the voice of his human love interest, a florist named Vanessa. Also along for the ride (literally) is Chris Rock as a cocky mosquito and Matthew Broderick, as his best bee friend. There are visual cameos from Larry King, Sting and oddly enough, Ray Liotta. Oprah Winfrey also lends her voice to the part of a judge.

Kids will like the animation and the slapstick. Adults will enjoy the Seinfeld humor but find themselves distracted by the cross-species sub-plots.

Sorry but I can't resist....I give it a B.

Michael Clayton

George Clooney tries hard to lose himself in the title character, unfortunately he just can't get past being "Clooney". He has a few strong scenes but he has reached a point in his career that makes it very difficult to lose himself in a role and that sabotages the gravitas of the film. The story is strong but complicated and forces the viewer to pay attention to fully appreciate it. The payoff at the end is strong but the film itself tries too hard to be "important".

Sydney Pollack does his one note acting as the head of Clayton's law firm. Tilda Swinton has too few scenes to really work up a sweat although she does save her best effort for the final moments. Tom Wilkinson never disappoints and does a great job as a lawyer who may be losing his mind.

Similar to the TV show, "Damages", "Michael Clayton" is a legal thriller that never sees the inside of a courtroom. It's a clever twist on the legal genre, concentrating on the characters involved in the case, rather than the case itself.