Redbelt

The latest film from writer/director David Mamet has him returning to the world he loves best...doubling dealing and the art of the con, this time set in the world of Martial Arts. I believe I read somewhere that Mr. Mamet practices Martial Arts and so it was only a matter of time, he explored that world in one of his films.

Chiwetel Ejiofor stars as Mike Terry, A Jiu-Jitsu instructor who is struggling to keep his school up and running. An accident on a rainy night puts into motion a series of events that drastically alter his life , forcing him to compete professionally for the first time.

While the background is Martial Arts, the real story is typical "Mamet". An innocent finds himself thrust into a wolf's den of con artists, double crossers, and everyone on the make for something. The supporting cast features many of Mr. Mamet's regulars including Ricky Jay, Joe Mantenga, David Paymer, J.J. Johnston, and of course his wife, Rebbeca Pidgeon. The film also stars Emily Mortimer, Tim Allen, and Alice Braga. It's a great cast doing what they do best, interpreting Mamet's rhythms and dialog.

"Despite a rather abrupt ending (that does manage to satisfy to some degree), the film didn't get it's just due for a theatrical run and will probably be out on DVD soon. If you are a Mamet fan, don't miss it.

The Fall

Director Tarsem, coming off his debut film, the visually interesting but empty, "The Cell", returns with another visual stunner. This time with a much more fulfilling story.

The film is about a young child recuperating in a Los Angeles hospital who befriends another patient, Roy, who begins to tell her a fascinating story filled with romance and adventure. He fills the story with characters taken from people in and around the hospital.

Shot practically all over the world, "The Fall" is breathtaking to watch. Apparently most of all the visuals were real and not CGI and they are amazing. This is a visual treat. The swimming elephant alone is worth the price of admission.

Tarsem paints a beautiful canvas but as a director needs to work on his pacing and action sequences. "The Fall" is a big improvement over his last effort and it's good to see him growing as a director without losing his flair for visual imagery.

OSS 117: Nest of Spies

A French comedy that has been on the Indie circuit for a while now, OSS is a very funny satire of early '60 spy films. The film takes place in 1955 Cairo but has a look and feel of Sean Connery era James Bond meets Maxwell Smart by way of Napoleon Solo. If you aren't familiar with these names, this isn't the film for you.

A suave yet bumbling secret agent, OSS 117 manages to do everything wrong but come out on top. Much of the comedy is based on the history of the times but even if you have no idea of 1955 Egyptian politics, there is still plenty to laugh at.

Jean Dujardin stars as 117 and he is terrific in the role. The cinematography and direction gets the look and feel of the film just right. I hope this is the start of a franchise. If you miss it in a theater, catch it on DVD.

Indiana Jones & The Kingdom of The Cyrstal Skull

"Indiana Jones & The Kingdom of the blah blah blah...."

After twenty years, it's fun to have Indiana Jones swing back into our lives but shortly after a rush of nostalgic adrenaline, the film quickly turns to a bloated rehash of pieces of The "Indy" trilogy with a little "Stars Wars" and "Close Encounters" thrown in.

Harrison Ford still makes a striking hero but even he looks bored in certain scenes. There is way too much exposition to explain the convoluted plot and how many times do we have to go into scary caves and wipe away cobwebs?

Shia LaBeouf was cast to attract a younger audience and possibly keep the franchise going. Cate Blanchett vamps it up as a Russian villain but keeps misplacing her accent. Karen Allen is a nice addition if only to remind fans how much fun and magical "Raiders of The Lost Ark" really was compared to this retread.

There are some exciting moments but unfortunately the magic is gone. Enough with the sequels. It's time for Mr. Spielberg and Mr. Lucas to really thrill us again with something new and original.

The Visitor

Anchored by a terrific performance by Richard Jenkins, "The Visitor" is a gem of an Indie film buried among the arriving Hollywood blockbusters. This is the second film from writer/director Tom McCarthy, who's previous film, "The Station Agent", was an Indie hit a few years back.

This is the story of Walter Vale, a character worn by Mr. Jenkins like a second skin, a college professor sleepwalking through his life. An unusual encounter with two young immigrants begins a journey of discovery for Walter, jumpstarting his life.

"The Visitor" has a lot to say about second chances, friendship and even Immigration laws but is never heavy-handed about any of it. The film moves at a leisurely pace constantly surprising us with little moments of clarity.

Much like "the Station Agent", "The Visitor" is filled with memorable characters and a story that will linger with you for days.

Iron Man

It is so satisfying when they get a superhero movie right. Director Jon Favreau must be a fan as the plot and direction are very faithful to the original comic and as a fan myself, I really appreciate the effort. The best thing about Iron Man, aside from the special effects, is the brilliant decision to cast Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark aka Iron Man.

Robert Downy Jr. brings an edge to the character that other actors would have missed. He is perfectly cast as are much of his co-stars. Gwyneth Paltrow not only brings "Pepper" Potts to life but he actually resembles the way Pepper is drawn in the comics. Terrence Howard plays Tony's friend Rhodey who we should see a lot more of in the sequel. And as the villain, Jeff Bridges does a great job without being too over the top (even when he's operating a monstrous version of Iron Man ).

Since this is an origin story, there is much to fill in about how Stark becomes Iron Man but rather than boring back story, the early part of the film is rich in character and detail, only updating the location from Vietnam to Afghanistan for a more contemporary connection.

The story is fast paced, filled with humor and suspense, and some excellent CGI work, particularly when Pepper sticks her hand into Stark's chest. The recreation of Iron Man's armor should win an academy award by itself. It's a perfect rendition of the comic book brought to life.

I can't wait for Iron Man 2.

Baby Mama

Basically a 90 minute Saturday Night Live skit strung together with pieces of "Baby Boom" and "The Odd Couple". I was disappointed by the weak script which gave us all the good parts in the coming attractions. While the film was written by an ex-Saturday Night Live scribe, it wasn't Tina Fey and that's pretty clear throughout the film ( a mushy sentimental ending, oh please).

As if to overcome the script, "Baby Mama" stuffs itself full of well known co-stars. Steve Martin plays Ms. Fey's new age boss. Sigourney Weaver is the owner of the Surrogate Service that tries to help Ms. Fey and Greg Kinnear plays her love interest. Mr. Martin is amusing, Ms. Weaver is over the top and Mr. Kinnear sleepwalks through the film. And of course, anything with Tina Fey has to have cameos by some of her SNL buddies, which is distracting and makes it feel even more like a TV skit.

Amy Poehler is probably the funniest woman on the planet right now and she does her best with the flimsy material. Tina Fey plays smart funny and the two women make for a great comic duo. One day they will make a truly funny buddy movie (if Tina Fey writes it). "Baby Mama" isn't it.

The Forbidden Kingdom

Jackie Chan and Jet Li star together for the first time in this American written and directed version of an Asian Martial arts epic. The film doesn't try for any thing original except for the pairing of these two superstars. It's a combination of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" ,"The Karate Kid" , "Lord Of The Rings" with a bit of " The Wizard of Oz" thrown in for good measure.

The story itself is entertaining but suffers from anemic dialogue. The sparks do fly with every action sequence, especially an early fight between Mr. Chan and Mr. Li. The legendary fight choreographer, Woo Ping Yuen is not content to have his actors battle on the ground. There is more wire work in this film that a mouth full of braces. Even so, the action is fast and furious and fun to watch. Michael Angarano does his best Ralph Macchio impression learning to fight from the two masters while trying to find his way home.

If you enjoy this genre, you'll appreciate it more on a big screen. The locations are a visual treat, even if there is no logic to the trek between forest, desert and mountaintop. The desert sequence appears to have been written solely as a set up to a crudely humorous visual joke. Most of the humor in the film is provided by Mr. Chan and contrasting his style against the more serious Mr. Li is what makes the film fun to watch.

The Ruins

I really Enjoyed Scott Smith's "A Simple Plan", both the book and the film adaptation.
This lead me to read his second book, "The Ruins". A quick read that was disappointing after such a great debut. Having read the book though, I finally decided to check out the Hollywood version.

The film follows the book pretty faithfully with a few minor changes. The biggest difference is the lack of any character development in the film. Therefore, you couldn't care less when bad things start happening to good people. The horror here turns out to be a pretty silly thing but the film does manage some suspense along the way.

The acting is minimal and the biggest name in the cast is Jenna Malone, who usually does a great job in Indie films. The story starts out with a decent premise but what eventually happens is never explained. Hollywood also tinkers with the ending.

Be warned, there are some gruesome scenes. One character has their legs amputated under less than ideal conditions and another character goes mad and mutilates their own body.

A good idea...ruined.

Leatherheads

George Clooney goes for a touchdown but comes up short and settles for a field goal in this period piece about the early days of football. Co-starring Rene Zellweger, John Krasinski, and Jonathan Pryce, the film is well cast but it's fault lies in it's director, Mr. Clooney.

Trying to recreate a "screwball" comedy of the period, the banter between Mr. Clooney and Ms. Zellweger seems forced and both actors try to hard to compete with the great comic battle of the sexes that have come before them. As a director, Mr. Clooney's comic timing is way off and there are stretches of film that border on dull and unnecessary. The football sequences are fun but in short supply.

Peter Gerety adds some real spark late in the film as the new commissioner of Pro Football. It's a shame he has only a few scenes.

"Leatherheads" is worth a look if you're a football fan otherwise better saved for a DVD rental.

The Countefeiters

Winner of the Academy Award for best foreign film, "The Counterfeiters" tells the little known true story of Jewish prisoners forced to counterfeit money for the Nazi's.

The film is seen through the eyes of Salomon "Sally" Sorowitsch, the "King of the Counterfeiters". Sally is living the good life in Berlin until he is arrested and sent to a concentration camp. When the Nazis learn of his skill, he is transferred to Sachsenhausen where along with other prisoners of similar skills, he is put to work forging English pounds and American dollars in order to weaken the allied economy.

The film is grim and utterly realistic. It recreates a horrible period when people would do anything to survive. The acting is amazing, especially Karl Markovics, who plays "Sally". His gaunt frame and dark demeanor suit the character perfectly. Mr. Markovics is so convincing in the role, you'll think you're watching an actual documentary, rather than a scripted story.

This is a remarkable story of survival that should not be missed.

The Bank Job

Sorry for the lag time between reviews, dear readers, but there just isn't a lot of quality out there right now worth my time or money (or yours for that matter). However, "The Bank Job" is definitely worth a look.

Based on a true story about a very infamous British crime, the film stars Jason Statham and Saffron Burrows. The rest of the cast is made up of British acting regulars mostly unknown in the US. Fans of Mr. Statham's action films may be a bit disappointed by the lack of the car chases and fights he is known for but he still has a great screen presence and carries the weight of the film solidly on his back.

There is a good bit of humor sprinkled throughout and lots of suspense as things get even more complicated after the robbery. Director Roger Donaldson does such of great job of creating a 70's retro feel, you'd think the film was actually made in 1971. The acting and script are solid although the dialog is very distinctively British.

If you miss it in the theaters, definitely rent it on DVD. You won't feel robbed.

In Bruges

In the February wasteland of new films, there is usually one that breaks out and stays with you for a while. This year, that film is "In Bruges". It opened the Sundance Film Festival and it's lots of fun if you're a fan of dark comedies.

Written and directed by playwright Martin McDonagh, "In Bruges" stars Colin Farrell and Brenden Gleeson as Hit men hiding out in the real medieval town of Bruges, located in Belgium. Mr. Farrell is Ray, a goofy sort riddled with guilt over a botched hit. Mr. Gleeson is Ken, a seasoned professional who is taken by the old world charm of the city. There is great chemistry between them and it makes for an enjoyable buddy film with a new perspective. The film also stars Ralph Fiennes as Harry, the hit men's boss and while he doesn't have much screen time, he is a commanding presence and crucial to the story.

Mr. McDonagh writes primarily for the theater and his plays are know for their dark humor and shocking flashes of violence. "In Bruges" is very funny, primarily due to Mr. Farrell and yet, there are moments of violence that are pretty graphic. Also be warned, Mr. McDonagh writes from the gut and there is a liberal amount of "foul" language in the dialog. The film also takes plenty of shots at "ugly" Americans which some in the audience may find insulting.

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.