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Movie Reviews

All movie reviews by steve:

Into the Abyss
documentary drama, PG13
steve
C
Werner Herzog explores the death penalty in the US by looking into the story of a particular crime. Herzog injects himself and his opinions (anti-death penalty) into the film in an obstructive manner, at one point verbally leading one of the victims in one direction while she tries to express her quite different opinion. He never really makes a connection with the two murderers, who the audience really can't sympathize with. One of them had a bad upbringing -- dad in jail. The other (probably the bigger culprit) had a middle class upbringing but ended up living in his car because he could not bear his parents sending him to an adventure camp, etc. Neither shows any remorse and they both say that they fell into bad company -- the other person did all of the killing. Since both prisoners are irredeemable, it's hard to be concerned about killing them. Indeed, the only really positive outcome in the movie is that one of the victims finds the execution very cathartic. The film is still sort of worth watching because it does show a trashy slice of American culture.
Rachel Getting Married
drama, R
steve
A
I've been meaning to watch this again since I liked it so much. A girl returns home from rehab for her sister's wedding, and it's all very dramatic.
Greenberg
drama, R
steve
A
Don't expect a laugh-out-loud comedy. This is a serious film, though funny, with a tight script and interesting themes (especially if you are a alienated 40-ish year old person).
Amadeus
musical music drama, PG
steve
A
One of the best movies ever. The director's cut is rated R (I don't think kids would like either one).
Racing Dreams
documentary, PG
steve
A
A very engrossing documentary about 3 kids who are top gokart racers trying to make it to the big time.
Tron: Legacy
PG
steve
C
Visually stunning, but kinda boring overall. The story is nonsense.
Dhobi Ghat (Mumbai Diaries)
foreign drama, PG
steve
A
A lovely film about Mumbai and its residents.
California Dreamin' (Endless)
foreign comedy drama romance, R
steve
A
This was the best movie that I saw at the Kolkata Film Festival this year!
Rang De Basanti
foreign drama, PG
steve
A
This film really surprised me when I saw it by accident on a plane; the script is very gutsy by any standard. The story follows a group of slackers who eventually take up a serious cause. Don't want to give it away. You have to accept the basic Bollywood cheesiness, which is here too. But overall, this is a fine film.
Son (Le Fils), The
drama, PG
steve
A
This is a subtle character study about a man who becomes a father figure to one of the students in his carpentry class. Can't say too much without giving away the story, which has a twist. The film is very intimate; the camera primarily focuses closely on the protagonist, or peers over his shoulder. So if you like that kind of thing...
Syriana
suspense drama, R
steve
A
This film is a superb political thriller and also an eloquent commentary on US foreign policy in the middle east. I found it hard to follow the first time I saw it (on a plane with mumbly speakers), but it (almost) all made sense the second time.
In the Year of the Pig
war documentary, ?
steve
A
An interesting documentary from 1968 about the US involvement in the Vietnam war, and the effect of the anti-war movement on US policy. Apparently, at the time this film was made it was viewed as a very leftist view. Now it seems like basic history.
Polyester
comedy, R
steve
D
Whatever charms made this film into the cult classic that launched John Waters' career (and presumably doomed the careers of the actors) were lost on me. But maybe the second half that I couldn't bear to watch was better.
Winged Migration
documentary, G
steve
B
This film is not a particularly good documentary about bird migration, but it has some of the most amazing cinematography on the subject that you're likely to see. It's astounding.
Machinist, The
psychological suspense drama, R
steve
B
A creepy and suspenseful movie about an insomniac machinist. Can you guess what happens when a machinist gets really sleepy? That's right folks. Quite an enjoyable film, although a shortcoming was that a couple of the characters were silly and cartoonish while the rest of the film was serious and creepy.
Motorcyle Diaries (Diarios de motocicleta), The
history drama, R
steve
B
I'm with Fritz on this one. The film is enjoyable, but the story is weak. Part of the charm of the film is knowing that the young Che will grow up to be Che the revolutionary. Apparently, this road trip had a profound effect on Che and the direction of his life. The movie makes that point in various obvious ways.
Startup.com
documentary, R
steve
A
This film documents the rise, etc., of an internet startup during the .com boom. Very interesting and at times moving. Only in America could a movie like this be rated R. Expect to hear the F-word.
En Garde
drama, ?
steve
A
Alice, abandonded by her teen mother, is placed in a home for girls after the death of her grandmother. In the home she befriends another outsider, takes up fencing, and slowly begins to overcome her low self esteem. Has nudity and some sexual dialogue. German.
Head On (Gegen die Wand)
drama, R
steve
A
One of the best films I've seen in quite a while. A man and a woman meet in a mental hospital where they are both recovering from suicide attempts. She manages to convince him to marry her so that she can get away from her conservative Turkish family and start living life for a change. Since he's also Turkish, she thinks her parents will agree, which they reluctantly do. So the two marry and move in together and then go about their separate lives. That's how the story begins. Rated R for sex and violence. German and Turkish.
eXistenZ
R
steve
A
In the not too distant future you can play video games that plug into your spine and immerse you fully in the game world. I was completely engrossed, although in retrospect the film is slightly gimicky. Don't want to give much away...
Traffic
drama, R
steve
A
An excellent film about drugs! Rated R for drugs.
Bug
comedy drama, ?
steve
B
The squashing of a bug has serious and mundane consequences. The moral: be generous and not too serious. A fun and heart-warming film. Probably rated PG or PG-13, but not enjoyable for the kids. Nothing very naughty that I recall.
Incredibles, The
animated kids comedy drama, PG
steve
A
Pixar amazes yet again! As usual, Pixar has created a film with nuanced characters, a fun story, beautiful visuals, and amazing technology. By most measures, this film left the older Pixar movies in the dust. In particular, I loved the action sequences which were very well planned and executed. Just see it. Rated PG for vaguely adult content and mild violence. Nothing harmful.
Winter Sleepers
foreign suspense drama, R
steve
B
By the director of Run Lola Run. This gorgeous movie takes place in the snowy mountains in winter. A mysterious deadly accident. A strange projectionist. A moody and philandering ski instructor. A blonde and a brunette. A bankrupt farmer. Rated R for sex. German.
Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam
foreign musical comedy drama romance, G
steve
A
This is the first and best Bollywood (aka Hindi musical) film that I have seen. Fitting with the genre, the dialog is cheesy and the story full of cliches. But this film stands above the rest in many ways. It features the angelic Aishwara Rai in her prime. The art direction, cinematography, and choreography are a feast. The music is catchy, yet draws on Indian classical sources and features excellent vocals. If you want to see what Bollywood films are like, check this one out. Hindi.
Morvern Callar
drama, R
steve
C
A young woman tries to come to terms with the suicide of her boyfriend. Much of the dialog in this film is very hard to understand because of the Glasgow accent. The film is visually appealing, and has a slow edgy moodiness. But the ideas are skimpy and nothing much happens.
Royal Tenenbaums, The
comedy, R
steve
A
A smart comedy about the reunion of 3 grown up child geniuses with their mother and estranged selfish father. Other than its sharp original humor and eclectic musical score, what struck me about this film was its warmth.
Million Dollar Baby
drama, PG13
steve
B
A tough melancholy old boxing trainer who runs a dumpy gym reluctantly agrees to train a motivated "girl" boxer. The film has a nice texture and moves at a comfortable slow pace as we get to know the time-worn main characters. The boxing scenes are very convincing, although there aren't a lot of them. While the movie ponders interesting themes, such as how much risk one should take in trying to fulfill one's dreams, ultimately it is not completely fulfilling. Not a lot happens in the story. Her career is mostly steady. The supporting characters are silly and unconvincing. But I did enjoy the film.
Monster
drama, R
steve
B
After reading Fritz's review and then seeing the film, I was shocked to discover that it was yet another dose of liberal propaganda shoved down our throats by the greedy Jews that run Hollywood. The protagonist of the film is a highway prostitute. But rather than condemning her sinful lifestyle (which includes prostitution, homosexuality, rash driving, and even murder), the film attempts to elicit sympathy from the audience toward this misguided woman. Rather than truthfully showing how her tribulations are the just result of her long history of sin and debauchery, the audience is guided inexorably toward the conclusion that her actions were predestined, due only to the disorienting effects of childhood trauma. Would the God who destroyed Sodom understand this kind of moral relativity? I believe not. Another thinly veiled message of the film was the endorsement of homosexuality. One might presume that the incredibly hot girl-on-girl action was included in the film to attract the coveted 12 to 95 year old male audience, as well as the female twenty-somethings who enjoy the L-word on HBO. That's standard Hollywood procedure. But if you look closer you see that everything positive in the lives of the main characters springs from their lesbian relationship. Even the enjoyment of a cold beer is drawn into a correlation with girls going out, having fun, laughing together, and inevitably smooching drunkenly. Indeed, the film is downright anti-man, while trying to show that women are as capable as men, even in the male-dominated field of serial murder. In scene after scene the female heroine overcomes the oppression of men (some of them well-armed) and stands triumphant over their dead bodies. One of the more subtle, and harmful, messages of the film is its advocacy of euthanasia. Our protagonist is suicidal at the opening of the film, narrating that she sees no more value in her life (a common refrain of euthanasia patients). The decision is thwarted by her lesbian encounter, which temporarily gives her hope that there is something more to life than giving blow jobs. But things only get worse from that point on, eventually leading to her execution. The message couldn't be more clear: sometimes death is the best option. This film is rated R, a rating that appeals especially to children, toddlers, and teens because of the excitement and mystery that accompanies prohibition. Coincidence? Not likely. The money-grubbing Hollywood execs know that even if wise and virtuous adults see through the thin veneer of legitimacy around this film, our children will get the message. In conclusion, this film should be carefully avoided by righteous people. The only folks who are not likely to be harmed by this film, and may even enjoy it in all of its decadent glory, are those who are already hopelessly mired in the liberal lifestyle. For those people, this is an excellent film: intense, probing, and well acted.
Hours, The
art drama, PG13
steve
A
This film weaves together the stories of three women, Virginia Woolf, and two women from later time periods who are reading her book "Mrs. Dalloway". All three Women suffer from considerable angst over their unfulfilling lives, and the novel helps them, in different ways, to address their frustrations. Excellent acting. Adult themes; not for kids.
Gift, The
mystery suspense, R
steve
B
For a fomulaic thriller, this film is top notch. The story involves a woman who can see the future somewhat, which increases her chances of getting caught up in scary murder scenarios. I found it very suspenseful and entertaining, but it didn't leave me with much.
Gone with the Wind
classic drama romance, G
steve
A
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this sumptuous classic. I expected the film to seem more dated than it did. The scenery is grand, the action and special effects are convincing, the storyline and themes are appealing, and the ending is not very "Hollywood". Rated G for a dearth of sex, violence, and cussing.
Barbarian Invasions, The
foreign drama, R
steve
C
This French-Canadian film looked to have all the marks of a winner: loads of accolades, and even an Academy award. The story involves a dying man and his broken family relationships. It tries to touch on many interesting themes, but unfortunately the script is cheesy and the dialog trite. French. Rating due to sexual talk and drug use, I guess.
Man on the Train (L'Homme du Train), The
foreign drama, R
steve
A
Two very different men bond, based on a longing they each feel for the life of the other. French. Rated R for use of French words, and a smidgen of violence.
Last Night
comedy drama, R
steve
A
The world is going to end tonight at midnight (a fact known for several months). The film shows how a handful of characters spend their last 6 hours.
Dogville
post-modern art drama, R
steve
A
The story explores the response of the residents of Dogville to the arrival of Grace, a generous stranger who needs their protection. The film has a unique format: there is virtually no set, just a black stage with lines drawn on it. It's also 3 hours long, so have lots of popcorn on hand.
Osama
foreign drama, PG13
steve
A
An Afghan girl with no male relatives masquerades as a boy in order to work and feed her family, under the rule of the Taliban. Pashtu.
Good Morning, Night (Buongiorno, Notte)
psychological history drama, PG13
steve
A
Based (loosely, I imagine) on the true story of the kidnapping of Aldo Moro, the prime minister of Italy. The film explores the psychological conflicts of the kidnappers. Italian.
Return (Vozvrashcheniye), The
foreign mystery drama, PG
steve
A
The father (or is he?) of two boys returns unexpectedly after being away for as long as they can remember. He immediately takes them on a mysterious road trip. Russian.
Mighty Wind, A
musical comedy, PG13
steve
A
This spoof of folk music is not laugh-out-loud funny very often, but is somehow hugely entertaining. The amazing thing is how little has to be adjusted to turn reality into total goofiness. But be warned that you may find that after watching this movie your enthusiasm for the Kingston Trio and the New Christie Minstrels has faded a tad.
Grave of the Fireflies
foreign animated war drama, PG
steve
A
An orphaned brother and sister fight for survival in the aftermath of the firebombing of their Japanese city during WW2. This is not what I'd consider a kids film.
Ella Enchanted
kids, PG
steve
B
This is a cute movie and I can imagine kids liking it. If given the choice between watching this movie and worrying about whether the wings are going to stay on the plane, I'd watch the movie.
Legend of Suriyothai
drama, R
steve
C
Mom's right about this one. Super special effects but the (apparently historical) storyline is a bore.
Kill Bill: Vol. 1
action, R
steve
B
I liked this movie more than I thought I would. Be warned, the violence in this film is over the top, but it's also cartoony and silly, such as a fountain of blood erupting from a neck with no head. Blood and violence are art in this film. I'm looking forward to seeing the sequel.
Stitch: The Movie
animated kids, G
steve
B
Continues the adventures of Lilo and Stitch and the gang. Pretty good for a sequel, but much of the novelty has worn off. A harbinger of future trends: made in Korea!
Brother Bear
animated kids, G
steve
B
This is a pleasing Disney film, although too formulaic (Yes, Phil Collins does some of the soundtrack). Nice Alaska environs.
Elephant
drama, R
steve
B
This film, Gus Van Sant's latest, involves a Columbine-like scenario. Don't expect a probing analysis; it's more like a photograph.
Genghis Blues
musical documentary, ?
steve
A
A blind blues musician (Paul Pena) teaches himself Tuvan throat singing and is invited to go to Tuva to participate in a throat singing contest.
Divided We Fall (Musíme si Pomáhat)
foreign war history drama, PG13
steve
A
Reviewing "The Pianist" reminded me of this lovely gem. The setting is Nazi occupied Czechoslovakia. In trying to survive the occupation, a group of neighbors are forced to make difficult choices as they balance the welfare of their neighbors with the saving of their own skins.
Pianist, The
war history drama, R
steve
B
This is a very overrated movie (maybe even by me). It's beautiful but lacks anything resembling a plot (similar to the film Stalingrad). A young Jewish pianist hides out in Warsaw during WW2. One thing the film did reasonably well was give us glimpses of life in the ghetto and of the gradual methods used by the Nazis to terrorize and subdue the Jews before eventually deporting them to concentration camps to be killed.
About Schmidt
drama, R
steve
B
I thought this film was pretty original and interesting. Definitely worth seeing (but not amazing). And how can you go wrong with a penpal named Ngutu?
Nine Queens
foreign suspense drama, R
steve
B
This is an entertaining movie about at least one con artist. Spanish.
Oasis
foreign drama romance, R
steve
A
I don't know if you'll find this at the video store, but if you do, steal it for me. A physically handicapped woman and a mentally deficient man find happiness together, kinda. See for yourself, this is a very satisfying film. Korean.
Idiots, The
post-modern foreign art, R
steve
A
Banned! This film is not for everybody (perhaps closer to nobody). But it's really an amazing gutsy film. We follow a club of people who have a hobby of acting retarded in public and private. Directed by Lars von Trier (for you snobs: a Dogme 95 film I think). WARNING: I hear the original is downright pornographic. Apparently, the American version has black bars over penises. I saw a Chinese DVD with the bad bits edited out (yawn). Danish.
Lifestyle, The
adult documentary, ?
steve
A
Ever wonder what the "swinger" lifestyle is like but were afraid to try it out for yourself? Then this film about people who engage in recreational group sex is for you. The remarkable fact is that these people are otherwise quite ordinary. The film also looks at the other side: people who tried to be swingers but failed. This film is unrated but be warned it has some very graphic sex scenes.
Capturing the Friedmans
psychological documentary drama, ?
steve
A
This excellent film documents the responses of a family and community when a father is accused of child molestation. One thing that makes this a really unique film is that the family involved enjoyed making home movies, and they filmed many family interactions during the time of interest. One of the ideas the film brings out is the fuzziness of truth in a situation where the community becomes emotionally charged. The DVD has some nifty extras.
Whale Rider
drama, PG
steve
A
I also really liked this movie, although if you're suspension-of-disbelief challenged you may not be able to enjoy it. There is some very believable crying in one scene though.
Talk to Her
foreign drama, R
steve
A
A touching story about a comotose woman and the man who loves her. Full of moral ambiguity (one of my favorite ingredients). There is a cameo performance by Brazilian singer Caetano Veloso. Directed by Pedro Almodovar. Spanish. IMDB

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