Bonnie and Clyde

This didn't resonate with me. I know most everyone hails it as a "timeless masterpiece", or "modern American classic", but it mostly just seems dated. Beatty and Dunaway have undeniable presence. They are always cool and complementary. But the casting of Gene Hackman as Clyde's brother is horrendous. Equally horrendous is the performance of Estelle Parsons, who plays Clyde's sister in law. All she does onscreen is scream, whine, and act annoying. For this she somehow she received the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress! Shocking. There are enough excellent moments here to make this worthy viewing, but for the most part criticism of this film seems drenched in hyperbole.


Written 4/19/10

The French Connection

This film has a curious power. Perhaps most notably it contains an amazing car-chasing-a-train-sequence that is not to be missed. I do feel that the villains were poorly cast. But the "good guys" Gene Hackman and Roy Scheider sizzle enough to make up for their less than stellar counterparts.


Written 12/11/09

Iron Man

This is a fun ride. Robert Downey Jr. burns bright as Tony Stark, Jeff Bridges shaves his head for his role ("the Dude abides"!), Terrence Howard emits cool as a military man, and Gwyneth Paltrow gets a nice paycheck so she can feed her kids. Suspend your disbelief and be prepared to endure a fair share of hackneyed dialogue. Don't over-think this one -- it is escapist fare.


Written 11/3/08

Apocalypto

If you are unable to stomach filmed depictions of violence and brutality, you should avoid "Apocalypto". Several scenes made my toes curl. The costume and makeup artists did a tremendous job on this film. Their commendable work helps viewers feel transported to a different age within the first few minutes of watching. I felt that a couple aspects of the story were perhaps unrealistic, but this is a minor gripe. "Apocalypto" is a gripping, singular ride from start to finish.


Written 1/31/08

Catch Me If You Can

This is a film that aims for mass appeal. Thankfully, it does not disappoint. I loved the cast. Leonardo Dicaprio is brilliant as the lead, playing an impish con man with suave cool. Tom Hanks is delightful as his FBI foil. Christopher Walken brings loads of heart in a supporting role, playing Dicaprio's father. There are many strong turns from supporting actors, too. The story never lags and as a viewer I was swept up in the chase. This is the rare blockbuster film that actually achieves lofty aims.

Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid

This is a film that doesn't quite know what it wants to be. Instead of deciding, it floats by on the sheer charisma of the co-leads, Paul Newman and Robert Redford. Indeed, they are magnetic. At film's end you know little more about Cassidy & the Kid's motivations. Backstory is minimal. The default setting is "style over substance". Katharine Ross, who plays their special lady-friend, is given little to do. She should be regarded as a mere diversion, scene-dressing. So what it all hangs on, then, is Newman, Redford, and their banter. It doesn't help that the film's score is composed by Burt Bacharach. I adore Bacharach, but his lounge jazz tendencies do not jive with this project. The shoe-horning in of his hit song "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head" is a blatant cash grab and serves no purpose besides commerce. Perhaps the same ought to be said of the entire production - it was aimed at the audience's collective pocketbook. Well, they succeeded: this was the top box office movie of 1969. A fun romp, but no classic for all times.

Casino Royale

Casino Royale is a brilliant action movie. Normally, I'm not a big fan of films of this genre, but this one kept me enthralled from start to finish. Daniel Craig imbues his "Bond" with a simmering, almost humorless, intensity. Craig commits himself to this character and should impress any Bond fan who doubted his casting.


Written 5/30/07

Ben-Hur

Charlton Heston is the beating heart of this epic film. His intensity and facial expressiveness are awesome to behold. This is an actor rising to the occasion. Stephen Boyd plays his rival Massala and is equally riveting. The classic chariot race in the second half of the film remains stunning. Hard to imagine those scenes being executed any more vividly or successfully - truly, a triumph. The storytelling is dense and multi-layered. As we follow the life of Judah Ben-Hur of Nazareth, the story of Jesus Christ of Nazareth is simultaneously presented. But the spiritual aspect of the film is never heavy-handed, and at the end Christ's role in the proceedings feels absolutely essential. Though the running time is long, "Ben-Hur" is that rare epic where everything is in its right place and the end result feels measured and true.

True Grit

The Coen Brothers' re-telling of the classic Charles Portis novel is for the most part. quiet and understated. Jeff Bridges is cast as the iconic eye-patched bounty hunter Rooster Cogburn, and he does well filling the shoes of John Wayne. Wayne memorably played Cogburn - and was awarded an Academy Award for Best Actor - in the original 1969 film version of "True Grit". The Coen bros. "True Grit" always looks and feels authentic. Newcomer Haile Steinfeld shines as the young female lead. She carries long stretches of the film by virtue of her steady conviction and hypnotic gaze. Matt Damon is also a lot of fun playing a doofus Texas Ranger. Perhaps this remake isn't a classic for all-time. And many may still wonder why anyone would choose to remake the much-lauded original. But still, this version has many charms, and I imagine it will reward repeated viewings.

Spiderman 3

"Spiderman 3" is campy, but there are enough fun moments to keep it entertaining from start to finish. It is far from a masterpiece, but the production is so expensive and luxurious that if you get bored with the story and the mediocre acting there's always something pretty to look at. Two new villains are introduced in this one, giving our pal Spidey some new nemeses to face off against. Also, our hero Spiderman has to battle some demons within himself. But you already know how this one works out: our hero triumphs, gets his girl, and they live happily ever after. Unfortunately, everyone in "Spiderman 3" looks tired, all of them wanting to reach this saga's finish line so that they can move on with their lives and careers. Is anyone waiting with baited breath for "Spiderman 4"? I doubt it. It's time for this comic book hero to take an extended vacation from the big screen.

Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut

Internet fan boy prayers are answered! Here is the best approximation possible - 30 years later - of the way ousted "Superman II" director Richard Donner would have cut the film. Other than a disorienting and rough initial 10 minutes, the work hangs together very well indeed. The "Superman" movie series originated Hollywood's current obsession with comic book characters. Its influence is obvious. There are so many great scenes and also Christopher Reeve is at his chiseled best. Awesome!