ScreenCrave.com » Matt Hansen

Review: Goodbye Solo

Matt Hansen — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 00:44:37 +0000

In this current state of cinema where Superheroes, remakes and mind numbing romantic comedies plot to overtake the box office every weekend; it’s refreshing to see a film that has heart and honestly cuts to the core of friendship and humanity.

Goodbye Solo is director Ramin Barhini’s genuine look into the life of two men who bring new definition to the term “unlikely friendship”. William played by Red West, is a cantankerous old timer from the south who has deeply hidden secrets and wants to be left alone. Newcomer Souleymane Sy Savane portrays Solo, a Senegalese cab driver who has transplanted to Winston Salem, North Carolina to try and make a better life for himself and his family. When William enters Solo’s cab with a no questions asked high paying proposition of taking him to a remote location in two weeks time; the good natured cabbie’s curiosity gets the best of him. What follows, is a life altering journey that neither man could have predicted.

Taking place in a small town, this film convincingly conveys both gritty realism and uncluttered social simplicity. While the two main characters take up most of the screen time, you won’t mind, because both give outstanding performances. Solo’s infectious spirit and disarming charm are something that we rarely see enough of in today’s society, and reminds us of what truly tugs at the heart of the American dream. Close to the end of the film there is a gut wrenching look shared by both William and Solo that speaks in paragraphs what words cannot say. Proving once again that great storytelling doesn’t need to be costly, just truthful.

The question that constantly hovers over the story is remarkably simple but at the same time complex. How much are you willing to help out a friend, and where do you draw the line? While the film may or may not end with some unanswered questions, its direction is clear and though provoking.

It’s truly a shame that the majority of moviegoers won’t be able to see this film at the local cineplex because of it’s small release. Take my advice, go see Crank 2 and Sate of Play another time. Answering questions that mainstream cinema often doesn’t care to ask, Goodbye Solo is easily on the best films of this year and should be an immediate front runner for Oscar contention.

Race to Witch Mountain Review

Matt Hansen — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 22:00:30 +0000

Think of watching Disney’s Race to Witch Mountain as an exercise in mental stability. Not that it’s overly complicated or hard to understand, in fact it’s quite the opposite. The difficulty here is that the film tries to get away with so many things you finally just have to break down and go along for a 98 minute mundane ride or leave the theater.

Dwayne Johnson plays Jack Bruno, an ex-felon turned Vegas cab driver whose trying to stay on the straight and narrow. Enter two young aliens, (Anna Sophia Robb and Alexander Ludwig) who crash land on earth and must recover a secret device that holds the key to the survival of their home planet. Throw in Gary Marshall as a know it all UFO expert, Carla Gugino as Johnson’s love interest, and Ciaran Hinds as the ubber baddy government agent and what we have is a Saturday morning cartoon gone awry.

As you may have already guessed by the plot synopsis, the plot really doesn’t matter. Yes this is a movie made for kids, but even young moviegoers deserve more than what director Andy Fickman has dumped into their laps.

***Spoilers ahead*** For instance, if you are aliens and have the dual ability of mental telepathy and molecular deconstruction, it’s mind boggling that a tranquilizer dart would give you the slightest problem. Also, lets say that you have the Neo like power to stop bullets, why then is an underground secret facility so difficult to escape from? Along with some catchy one liners and slightly interesting car chase/explosion scenes, Witch Mountain has all the excitement of a two day old IHOP pancake platter. Even throwing a lovable canine into the mix couldn’t save this one. Oh look! They did that too.

One can only assume that the tears shed in the films final scenes from all the actors were those of joy. Thankful to be done with such a half-hearted script, they happily went to collect their respective paychecks and went on to bigger and better things. At least, that’s the happy ending I would hope for.

If you have kids and are looking to treat them to some movie magic this weekend, have no fear. Save yourself some cash and watch Disney’s much better film Bolt, which is now on DVD. Or if your looking for some nostalgia, track down the original 1975 Escape to Witch Mountain. I haven’t seen it since I was a kid, but I’m sure it’s a better film.

Cinema Freshness: What is Still Worth Watching

Matt Hansen — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 16:00:48 +0000

As we journey into this new year of film, lets take a retrospective moment to soak up all that was seen last year and even before then. (humming Jeopardy theme song)… all finished? Good, now lets all remember why we go to the movies.

What have we come to expect from all the different genres that make up this wonderful world of cinema? More importantly what types of dribble keeps getting remade? There is now over 100 years to look back on and help us decide what constitutes great film making. Unfortunately, Hollywood keeps dumping crap on us and like pigs to the slaughter we mindlessly shell out our dough. Enough is enough people! So to help you out, here’s a handy guide for determining if you’re 2009 film is fresh and ready for market, or got spoiled during filming and needs to be dumped in the garbage.

Scenes that involve objects slamming into each other and then needlessly blowing up. Taste test- Spoiled

Yes, we all know this is especially true of Summer blockbusters but it’s time to stop pretending. In case you never saw that episode of MYTHBUSTERS, or just aren’t aware of the Law of Physics, things that run into each other at high velocity just don’t blow up. Crumple yes, erupt into a giant ball or red and black gas, no. This includes cars, trains, bullets, or any combinations of these. Without the aid of an explosive device or highly charged propellant, this just doesn’t happen. The one exception to this rule is Jet airplanes. When jets crash, they do go BOOM! Let’s continue.

Well rounded female characters. Taste test- Fresh

Admittedly I find it entertaining to watch Jessica Alba prance around in a form fitting dress, or drool over the way she spills out of her bikini top when she exits a pool. However once you get past the pouty lips and ample cleavage, most of the time what you have left is a hollow cardboard female character. There are far to many talented screenwriters and actresses running around Hollywood to let this trend continue. Besides, who’s to say a woman can’t be sexy and have great depth. It’s been done before, so whats the reason why we can’t have more strong female character led movies? Seriously parents, have you seen who your daughters role models are these days? Quick, somebody hire Diablo Cody to rewrite the next Wonder Woman movie.

Zombies,Vampires, and Torture. Taste test - Spoiled

Aside from Let The Right One In, which is a fantastic little film, this entire genre which is often lumped together, is really starting to get old. Yes there was a huge cult following for Twilight, and George A. Romero will always be considered a genius in his own right; but how about some new material. Show me a new trailer for any one of these genres and I can tell you what will happen in about twelve seconds. Let’s see more films like Shaun of the Dead and less like 30 Days of Night. Any Wes Craven fans out there? How bout this for a scary fact, Universal Studios has already remade Last House On the Left. Hey Hollywood, here’s a script idea, a vampire bank manager who turns into a werewolf then tortures you until you pay back your kids college loans. Now that’s a film I’d go see.

Realistic Superhero Movies. Taste test- Fresh

Excluding thirty five year old men who live in their parents basement and collect comic book memorabilia, anyone above the age of ten should be aware of the consequences that would befall society if one person had the ability to level an entire city block. So last year when Ironman and The Dark Knight gave us great stories and characters who were responsible for their actions, people took notice. Now with a flood of superhero/villain flicks sure to be headed are way, lets not forget that the bar for this specific genre has been raised. So Producers take note, even if a character can melt people with nuclear heat vision, that doesn’t mean you can get away with over the top special effects and a half hearted plot.

So in closing, with a recession upon us and your cineplex funds likely to be scarce, be sure to check you film for signs of freshness and or the expiration date. Because if there’s one thing we all hate, it’s a rotten movie.

What else do you think is spoiled in the theaters?

Review: Taken is Everything You Need, Not Want

Matt Hansen — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 16:00:10 +0000

Albanian terrorist sex trafficking young girls through Paris, check. An incredibly capable and pissed off father, check. A fully rewarding movie with excitement and danger around every turn… not so much. TAKEN has almost everything you could want in a high suspense action flick. I say almost because as was confirmed by other critics in a special midnight screening, ” it was good, but it could have been better”.

Liam Neeson stars as Bryan Mills, a recently retired CIA agent who wants nothing more than to make up for lost time and build a relationship with his now teenage daughter Kim (Maggie Grace). With some guilt ridden coercing from his bitter ex wife played by Famke Janssen, he reluctantly agrees to let her travel to Paris for a fun summer adventure. And as you might have guessed if you’ve seen the trailer, that’s when things go terribly wrong.

Neatly packaged at 93 minutes, the film definitely has it moments of shock and adrenaline that would rival anything on TV’s 24. Mills is a one man killing machine that could give Jason Bourne a run for his money. Neeson may be getting a little long in the tooth, but he yields a genuine gravitas to the role and plays the kind of father that you hope still exists in today’s society. In fact, a better title for the film would be, Don’t F*ck with my Daughter, OR ELSE!

Director Pierre Morel does a good job overall, but fails to properly close the deal. Perhaps he needs a little more time in the assistant director chair before making the leap to Action movie guru. Don’t blame him completely though, because the story comes courtesy of those loopy writers Luc Besson and Mark Kamen. Please guys, don’t make this into a franchise and kill it like you did with the Transporter.

For example, there is a car chase scene that was edited with such frenetic pace, all you could tell is that three vehicles were destroyed. Here’s a tip for all you up and coming directors, when filming a chase sequence, make sure that all the vehicles aren’t the same color. To further bone up on your skills check out The French Connection, Bullit, Ronin or The Matrix Reloaded. Also the ending has that squeaky clean “everything is going to be alright” message. In reality, if you went through half the scenarios this kidnapped girl endures, your therapy bills would be through the roof.

Maybe it’s good old fashioned American bloodlust, but if asked to grade this film I would saddle it with a soild B+. It has everything you need, but not everything you want.

Review: The Curious Case of Benjamin Buttons

Matt Hansen — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 23:42:45 +0000

Didn’t get what you wanted for Christmas? Well not to worry, because Hollywood is dropping off some fantastic last minute gifts which are sure to brighten you Holiday spirits. The best of which may also be the longest in run time. The Curious Case of Benjamin Buttons clocks in at 159 minutes, but as you’ll come to find out, every moment is well worth it.

Brad Pitt plays the title role of a New Orleans man who was born old and appears to be aging backwards. Under these “unusual circumstances” the young orphan starts off life with losing most of his friends, falling in love and having a surrogate mother who is at least sixty years his junior. Starting in the early 1920′s, the film evenly progresses through seven decades of life. All of which are filled with fate, destiny, and many colorful characters who help Benjamin along his journey. When we come to the end we are left with a story that is thoroughly complete, engaging, and easily enjoyable.

Noteworthy performances come from a supremely talented cast that includes Julia Ormond, Tilda Swinton, Taraji P. Henson, and the disarmingly beautiful Cate Blanchett who portrays Benjamin’s life long love. While I’m thoroughly convinced that Pitt made a deal with the devil for good looks, he proves once again his ability to deliver a character that require a perfect balance of subtlety and awareness.

If you want to be chronologically correct, F. Scott Fitzgerald gets credit for coming up with this story in the first place. However, big kudos must go to the collaborative efforts of Director David Fincher and Writer Eric Roth for putting together such a simple yet profoundly moving tale. The incredible makeup team and special effects were so realistic that they were almost impossible to notice, but what’s even more impressive is how the key point of time is dealt with in the story. Small changes such as the characters wardrobe and a duplex TV which broadcast the Beatles first television appearance, do so much with so little. Fincher wisely the makes the film into a timeless tale rather than a tale about time. While it’s never blatant, Benjamin Buttons manages to relay something that we need reminding of at this time of year, that the most important things in life are the relationships we have with others.

While I admit to not having seen The Wrestler or Slumdog Millionaire which both seem to be generating big Oscar buzz, this is the first movie of awards season which truly caught my attention for multiple nomination locks. Already with five nods from the Golden Globes, one things for certain, Button will deservedly go home with one type of shiny accolade to sit on the mantle.

Awards: Winners of the ScreenCrave BS Awards

Matt Hansen — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 21:54:45 +0000

As we’re coming to the close of 2008 let us do what Hollywood does best, let’s give out some awards!

Without further delay, here are the winners (we didn’t bother with the whole nominee part) of the first ever ScreenCrave BS Awards. We have the categories you really care about like “Who greenlit this piece of shit“ and many more.

And the awards go to….

Category: Movie that doesn’t need a sequel but will be getting one anyway

Winner: Iron Man

Hailed by critics as “One the best summer blockbusters ever,” Tony Stark’s alter ego earned huge numbers and was an audience favorite. There is a long standing tradition in Hollywood that if a film makes money, they will keep making more of the same film until they bleed the goodness out of it. While Iron Man‘s comic book history does have many different characters and plot lines that could be explored, one has to wonder if Director Jon Favreau can catch lighting in a bottle twice. Let’s just hope the project doesn’t get rushed to a release date, or it could end up looking like… well let’s get to the next film.

Category: Biggest dump on my childhood memories

Winner: Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of The Crystal Skull

“Indy, I don’t love you!” Although Indy brought in a hefty chunk of change, the word of mouth and critics alike have deemed this latest installment the worst of the four films in the series and quite possibly this year. With two of perhaps the greatest minds in cinema Spielberg and Lucas, one would think that they could sneeze on the camera and make something better than this. Instead of pure genius, we got Shia LaBeouf swinging on vines with monkeys, translucent alien skulls, and CGI killer insects. Do yourself a favor, if you haven’t seen it yet, don’t. When the DVD box set comes out, buy the previous three instead. That way your belief in the great “Indiana Jones” can still remain intact.

Watch the Indiana Jones Rape video.

Category: Best Marketing Campaign

Winner: The Dark Knight

Aside from making more money than the gross national products of most countries; Christopher Nolan’s follow up to Batman Begins was altogether a worldwide smash hit, arguably the best film of the year, and the most talked about movie since who knows when. After the untimely and tragic death of Heath Ledger the marketing for this film could have taken a serious turn for the worst. Instead, the executives at Warner Brothers took the high road and decided to keep it simple and vague. Instead of throwing Ledger’s face around and exploiting his death, they focused on the film’s characters. With a little help from Internet chatter, Myspace, mobile phone companies, and even Domino’s Pizza; this was one of those rare advertising moments where everything came together and the end result was better than anyone could have anticipated.

Category: Movie poster that best proves the Hollywood actresses have gotten way too skinny

Winner: Wanted

Let me start off by saying this is not an attack on Angelina Jolie, I think she is a very talented thespian who has more than proven herself through various roles. Now, can we please get this girl some food! In case you haven’t seen the poster which shows Jolie’s arm clutching a gun (featured above), this was the primary billboard that was put up all over to promote the film. I’m sorry, but It’s hard to look menacing when the arm holding a powerful handgun is the size of a pencil. (True story) When I saw this billboard I had to stop a do a triple take to make sure that somebody hadn’t messed with the poster. Nope, that’s her real arm.

Category: Most shameless paycheck

Winner: Righteous Kill

When Al Pacino and Robert Deniro teamed up in 1995, there time together onscreen was limited but powerful and memorable. So when this movie’s trailer featuring these highly respected cinema icons came out, fans everywhere had great expectations. What they got was less than lackluster performances from both veterans who once again played (GASP) cops. A film that was rental worthy at best, Righteous Kill was slow paced, boring, and the ending was easily figured out halfway through the film. The only thing that could have redeemed this film is if right before the end credits started to roll both actors could have turned to the screen and said, “Well, you’ll always have HEAT.”

Category: Best movie that was a Box office flop

Winner: Speed Racer

It’s hard to say exactly why Speed Racer didn’t perform as well as it was expected to. Was it the marketing, new visual style, or cast of characters? In any case, word from the inside is that more than a few people lost their jobs because of the low sales receipts from the theaters. Maybe, beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder. While the film was widely panned by critics, there was something truly spectacular about the way the Wachowski’s brought the Mach 5 to the big screen. Although their were enough brightly colored race scenes and mesmerizing special effects that might have sent some people into seizures, the end result was an adrenaline filled ride straight to the finish line. While the acting wasn’t anything to write home about, the way in which the movie was put together was. Unfortunately, that in itself could have been the main problem. Speed Racer was so fast and frenetic, it may take us a while to catch up with him. So while Trixie, Racer X and Chim Chim may have all been created more than forty years ago, for now they get signaled into pit row along with all the other films that were ahead of their time.

Category: Who greenlit this piece of shit?

Winner: Meet The Spartans

Every year there’s always a movie that comes out which causes you to wonder who’s running things at the Studio. Meet The Spartans was not only a complete and utter waste of time, but you would have to be no older than 11 to enjoy it (no offense fifth graders). Complete with toilet humor, Carmen Electra, and countless movie spoofs, this one should have have been left on the cutting room floor never to have seen the light of day. There’s more to say, but the Doctor said my blood pressure was to high already.

(Notice how small I made the poster because you really shouldn’t have to see it)

Category: Best New Dark Comedy

Winner: In Bruges

Released in January, In Bruges didn’t really stand much of a chance with all the Oscar contenders still in theaters. This one I wholeheartedly endorse. If you enjoy dark humor, this a sure bet to keep you in stitches. Everyone in the film gives a fantastic comedic performances and when it ends you just know it’s bound to become a cult classic. Most surprising of all is Colin Farrell, who convincingly proves that he can do much more than look good and smoke on camera.

So there you have it. The 2008 ScreenCrave BS Awards have come to a close. Join us next year when we’ll once again give out silly awards and ask the tough and important questions like: “How many more Comic book character movies will they make?”, “Why is Hayden Christensen still allowed to act in film?”, and “How long do you have to wait before you can remake a film like Robocop?”

Review: Gran Torino

Matt Hansen — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 17:52:16 +0000

It used to be that there was only one man who could get away with calling a person of Asian decent both a “pussy” and a “gook,” and still make you laugh about it and respect him; that being Don Rickles. With his new movie Gran Torino, in which he both stars and directs, we can now add Clint Eastwood to the list.

Eastwood plays Walt Kowalski, a recently widowed Korean War veteran who in his words “just wants to be left alone.” But when his Hmong teenage neighbor tries to steal his prized muscle car on a gang initiation dare, Walt takes action. Action that sets in motion a chain of events which will bring him both new friends, and unavoidable circumstances with consequences even his tough guy persona may not be able to handle.

With his last offering Changeling not quite living up to it’s potential, Clint gets back to doing what he does best. That being crafting a powerful story, and expertly playing old and cranky. While we may have seen him in different versions of this character before, there’s something unique about the way he plays it. Kawolski spouts prejudice slang, ignorant retorts and has an old no nonsense way of doing things. However, Eastwood is smart and creates a character so realistically genuine that you can’t help laughing at all his grunts, sighs, and unapologetic blasphemy. I’ll have to go back and watch Unforgiven to be sure, but I’ll go out on a limb and say that this is his best performance to date.

Though hard to say where this film will sit in the pantheon of Eastwood cinema, it’s definitely worth its salt. While not quite as powerful as Mystic River, I found it as equally moving as Million Dollar Baby. The story which was written for the screen by Nick Schenk, tackles a lot of serious issues including Gang violence, human relations, and racial boundaries, but does so without ever seeming heavy handed. Not until the films final moments will the audience really know what to expect from the characters or just how much they are willing to sacrifice.

While I’m uncertain if we’ll will see it at the Oscars, it tough not to respect a story that pulls no punches and gives you an honest look at how decent morals and honest values still have a place in society. In that respect, Gran Torino is already a winner.

DVD REVIEW: High Fidelity ‘The Guarneri String Quartet’

Matt Hansen — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 15:30:11 +0000

Do you ever find yourself asking, where are all the documentaries that feature string quartets? To be honest, I don’t either. However, the folks over at First Run Features were kind enough to send one over for my viewing pleasure and thus began a journey into High Fidelity.

The Guarneri String Quartet is by all accounts the worlds longest running quartet of it’s kind. Made up of musicians Michael Tree, John Dalley Arnold Steindhart and David Soyer, this mix of viola, violins, and cello has been performing classical music together ever since their humble beginnings in 1964.

Taking place in the late 1980′s, we follow the quartet from each individuals home setting, to life on the road as they travel and perform for worldwide audiences. Even after so many years together there is still no distinct leader of the pack, and with each member having very strong opinions about the pieces they choose to play, no one is guaranteed anything.

While the film itself isn’t particularly riveting in any way, it does give you a very clear sense of how serious musicians take their craft and why the attention from a live audience is the most rewarding thing any performer could wish for. The centerpiece for the film is of course the music and it comes across stunningly beautiful. If you happen to be a fan of classical pieces or have never had the experience of listening to instruments that when expertly played have the ability to transport you to a higher level of consciousness, then High Fidelity is a must hear/see.

On a bit of a sad note, the Guarneri String Quartet’s performing days are coming to a close in 2009. Performing now for almost 44 years, there legacy and legend will safely live on through various recordings. But as you may well know, there’s nothing like seeing a live show. For more information on where the final tour dates are located, visit their schedule.

watch?v=vaSAdCvzPgU

DVD REVIEW: A Hole in a Fence (1)

REVIEW: Bolt

Matt Hansen — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 00:25:26 +0000

Just when you think Disney couldn’t possible impress you with another PG animated film, they somehow manage to pull a rabbit out of their hat. While not as cosmically mesmerizing as this summer’s WALL.E, Bolt definitely has the goods to make for a fun outing at the movies for both kids and adults.

With the help of his owner Penny (Miley Cyrus), Bolt (John Travolta) is a super powered canine with amazing powers trying to stop the evil Dr Calico (Malcom McDowell). Trouble is, Bolt doesn’t know he’s part of a TV show and that none of his adventures or powers are quite real. Enter the plot twist. Through a mishap at the studio where he works, our wonderdog finds himself far from Hollywood and out in the real world, where he must fend for himself without his amazing abilities. Throw in a street smart alley cat named Mittens (Susie Essman), an over the top fanboy hamster Rhino (Mark Walton), and we have the perfect scenario to help our four legged friend find his way back home and realize that you don’t need to be super to save the day.

As you may have already guessed the plot of this kiddie adventure is quite simple and predictable. What you might not be expecting is how truly enjoyable and surprisingly entertaining it all is. Aside from giving you warm fuzzies all over, Bolt’s CGI action scene’s are some of the best I’ve come across. Expertly directed by Chris Williams and Byron Howard, the story is properly paced full of laughs, life lessons, and the all important feel good ending. By the way, everybody in midwest America is fat, just accept it and move on.

While the overall look of the film deserves praise, the real stars here are the vocals. I never thought I’d say this, but Travolta does a great job with the lead and actually made me want to watch him again. Top kudos have to go to Mark Walton and Greg Germann, who steal every scene they’re in as only a fat hamster and annoying talent agent could.

So while everyone else is seeing that lame vampire movie this weekend (YAWN!) go see a movie actually worth your coin. Who knows, you may even want a puppy afterwards.

Review: Soul Men

Matt Hansen — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 01:20:57 +0000

Out of the countless movies that come out of Hollywood every year about 10 to 15% are true comedy’s. Just like any film these can be broken down into three types. A must see, not worth your time, and what has been affectionately called a “Rental.” For those of you not familiar with that term, In short this means yes it’s worth your money just not all $10. And so we come to Soul Men, which unfortunately gets added to that list.

(Samuel L. Jackson) and (Bernie Mac) play Louis Hinds and Floyd Henderson. Two singing legends who are unwillingly brought back together after the recent death of their former lead member Marcus Hooks (John Legend). In an uneasy effort to put their past grudges behind them, these two set off on what is bound to be a problematic road trip to perform one last time at a tribute concert for Marcus.

The good news is that Jackson and Mac’s comedic chemistry is perfection. A skill that is no doubt attributed to their longtime friendship off screen. The bad news is that while these are both talented performers we’ve seen this story and same gags before. Maybe not exactly the way its portrayed here, but it comes awfully close. I don’t want to blame director Malcom D. Lee because the scenarios that are suppose to be funny are, and when it’s time for those heartfelt moments they’re genuine. I also can’t forget to mention the film’s seriously fun toe tapping songs. However, the movie has several chances to really take off but instead gets pushed forward by cheap laughs and the knowledge that we know where it’s all going to end up anyway so let’s just hurry up and get there.

A warning, the audience for this one is definitely eighteen and over. As Bernie Mac famously said in The Original Kings of Comedy “muthafucka” is a noun.” It’s used in this film so many times I lost count, not to mention those good ole fashioned T/A shots which could have been used less and still retained their shock value. (Spoiler alert) hats off to Mac for making “Rim Job” funny again.

When it comes down to it, Soul Men is a mildly entertaining Friday night movie for about 75 minutes. After that, you’ll be wishing you went to see Bernie Mac live at The Apollo instead. It’s indeed a tragic shame that’s no longer possible.

Review: Changeling

Matt Hansen — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 14:21:32 +0000

If director Clint Eastwood’s movie Changeling nabs an Oscars this year, it will only be for Best Costume Design or Best Period Drama That Never Really Grabs Your Attention. Based on a true story, Changeling follows The 1928 kidnapping of Walter Collins. A case full of Police corruption and a mother’s struggle to learn the truth about her son’s disappearance.

Before becoming all preachy and giving you the movie’s inevitable shortcomings, I thought it best to start with the positive. Veteran Cinematographer Tom Stern re-teams with Eastwood to create what is arguably one the best looking period Drama’s since Road to Perdition. Everything from Cereal boxes and telephones, to authentic furniture and Ford Model T automobiles are clearly on display to do their very best at transporting us back to the late 1920′s. The film’s score (also created be Eastwood) is both simplistically beautiful and poignant, only revealing itself in moments of high drama and the end credits. While these characteristics combined with award winning actors should carry the film to triumph, sadly they don’t.

Angelina Jolie has the title role of a mother desperate to find her son, no matter what torment she must endure both privately and public. Jolie proves little more here than she can cry on cue, which is definitely a valuable skill but it doesn’t quite pull off the gravitas of her motherly role. Hard to believe, since last time I checked she had something like twenty kids.

John Malkovich takes a break from wowing us with his fantastic comedic side and returns to a more familiar dramatic role as Rev. Gustav Briegled. A powerful radio pastor who comes to Jolie’s aid as a staunch supporter of fighting corruption in the LAPD. To his credit, Malkovich does make you want to learn more about Rev. Gustav because of the way his character is incapable of speaking more than one syllable at a time.

Though for complete believabilty and a great performance, my vote goes to Geoff Peirson . He convincingly portrays high powered lawyer S S Hahn, a man determined to bring down corruption in all avenues of the city. Pierson only appears onscreen for about seven minutes, but to be honest, I wasn’t fully invested in the movie until the courtroom scenes that feature him came up. Once again proving the point, there are no small parts.

While Changeling deals with dark subject matter, the fact remains that it never quite grips you in a way that a film with such a serious issue should. The story is directed in a very straightforward fashion with not much being left to the imagination.There are a few small moments of wishful thinking, but once you figure out where the film is taking you, there’s no happy end in sight. This would have made a fascinating documentary or even PBS series, but as a feature with Oscar goals, it doesn’t stand much of a chance. Sort of like that old family station wagon that sits in front of your newly renivated house. Sure it’s there, but there’s a lot more interesting things to see.

Review: SexDrive

Matt Hansen — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 16:00:05 +0000

For all you teenagers who were worried that you wouldn’t get your virgin sex comedy this year, relax. Complete with a badass muscle car, raunchy humor, blatant boob shots, and relevant Internet references, SexDrive has arrived just in time.

The plot of this (slightly stylized) homage to 80′s teen films is at the same time, both unimportant and equally summed up in the title. After a tempting offer from a cyberspace hottie, our young virgin hero Ian, (Josh Zuckerman) decides to drive halfway across the country to get his cherry popped. Accompanied by best friend and secret crush Felicia (Amanda Crew), and an eccentrically cool wisdom spouting buddy Lance ( Clark Duke), the trio set off on a road trip that is chocked full and pranks, pitfalls, and life lessons.Even with material aimed at a 17 to 21 year old demographic audience, SexDrive is hard not to enjoy. Mainly because unlike some recent releases, this film actually accomplishes what it sets out to do.

The movie has likable characters, sticks to its story, and doesn’t go to far with the gross out humor. Some notable mention are as follows. First off to Seth Green, for if such a thing as a sarcastically intelligent Amish farmer exists, he plays it to a T. Also, Clark Duke who is mostly known for his role on TV’s Greek, pulls a complete 180 and is soon to have a lot more scripts headed his way. While I’m not sure what James Marsden is doing in this film, because I happen to know he’s 35, he convincingly chews through the scenery as Ian’s annoying and way to macho older brother. The inspiration clearly coming from Bill Paxton’s (Chet) from Weird Science.

While there’s nothing new to learn from viewing this teenage sex quest comedy, you won’t be disappointed. The gags work, the friendships seem honest, and for all you car fanatics out there, any scene that features a 1969 Pontiac GTO (The Judge) burning rubber is worth the price of admission. The film cant claim to be this generations American Pie, but there’s something relevant about a comedy that simply works; even if you have to pull it off with a guy who saves the day dressed up in a donut costume.

ScreenCrave.com » Matt Hansen

Review: Goodbye Solo

Related Posts

Race to Witch Mountain Review

Related Posts

Cinema Freshness: What is Still Worth Watching

Related Posts

Review: Taken is Everything You Need, Not Want

Related Posts

Review: The Curious Case of Benjamin Buttons

Related Posts

Awards: Winners of the ScreenCrave BS Awards

Category: Movie that doesn’t need a sequel but will be getting one anyway

Category: Biggest dump on my childhood memories

Category: Best Marketing Campaign

Category: Movie poster that best proves the Hollywood actresses have gotten way too skinny

Category: Most shameless paycheck

Category: Best movie that was a Box office flop

Category: Who greenlit this piece of shit?

Category: Best New Dark Comedy

Related Posts

Review: Gran Torino

Related Posts

DVD REVIEW: High Fidelity ‘The Guarneri String Quartet’

Related Posts

REVIEW: Bolt

Related Posts

Review: Soul Men

Related Posts

Review: Changeling

Related Posts

Review: SexDrive

Related Posts