Quickie Reviews 6-26-2006

"Hollow Man 2"

A movie that didn't need a sequel, like the remake of "The Fly," the first one said it all. How bad must a movie be that it makes Christian Slater unappealing? This is a disaster that should be avoided at all costs.

"Cars"

With nice voice work by Paul Newman and unbelievably Owen Wilson, this one is enjoyable but only adequately. Computer animation has come far enough that it should be the only reason to see such a movie. Yes, we're amazed by the technology - now do something really amazing - tell us a good story.

"Winter Passing"

If you asked me a week ago what I thought of Will Farrell I would have said he was a unfunny piece of crap who ruined "Saturday Night Live" and all the movies he's been in. This flick proves me wrong, he can actually act, and quite well. I applaud his performance here. Ed Harris is as always amazing. Beware the kitten scene.

Even More Quickies

"Tension" (1949)

Great little forgotten B-mystery featuring a young Barry Sullivan and even younger William Conrad (as a detective named Gonzales!). Man creates an alter ego to kill his wife's lover, until the plot thickens and someone else beats him to the punch. Possibly Audrey Totter's best performance.

"Ice Age 2: The Meltdown"

Should have been called 'the letdown.' All of the charm and humor that made the original such a hit is gone. So many great talents simply wasted their time here, a shameful flick.

"X-Men: The Last Stand"

Poor put-upon director Brett Ratner threw all the comics out the window and made a sequel to the two previous films. People live and people die, but it's never who you expect, effectively tossing out forty-plus years of comics continuity. Dark Phoenix is dismissed with a few throwaway lines of dialogue and Joss Whedon's concept on which the film is based is thoroughly raped.

"White Chicks"

You ever pass one of those car accidents where there's a million cops and paramedics and various body parts strewn across the road? You just can't look away, you just can't. That's what this movie is like. I got chills.

Academy Awards 2006

I heard a political pundit (read as idiot) say that if Brokeback Mountain won it would be a validation of gay marriage, and if it lost it would mean that we are a nation of gay bashers. Do folks really take this stuff that seriously? The Academy certainly isn't, as evidenced by another bad comedian as host. What wrong with having a film expert as a host? How about Robert Osbourne? I guess America can relate better with clowns when it comes to the serious film industry.

Enough ranting. My picks:

Actor
Should win - Philip Seymour Hoffman of Capote. They owe him.
Will win - Heath of Brokeback

Actress
Should win - Judi Dench, but been there done that
Will win - Felicity Huffman of Transamerica. Politically correct, but still good performance.

Animated
Should win - Howl's Moving Castle
Will win - Tim Burton, he's Hollywood's sweetheart.

Director
Should win - Clooney
Will win - Ang Lee for the PC folks or Spielberg for the sympathy vote

Picture
Should win - Capote or Good Night
Will win - Brokeback

My major question - where was King Kong?

And will the greatest Japanese film composer of all time (Akira Ifukube) even get a nod this year?

Must See Movies of the Moment

"Rory O'Shea Was Here"


"Eight Below"


"The Cockettes"


Highly recommended, enjoyed, and watched again. Get thee to a movie theatre, video store, cable station or Netflix queue and enjoy.

Coming soon - reviews on a more frequent basis, and before the oncoming event, a few thoughts on the 2006 Oscars. Stay tuned...

More Quickies

King Kong (2005)

Peter Jackson has made a film about the movies with a love and respect for not only the movies but one in particular, the one he's remaking, which is rare in Hollywood these last few decades. It's an understatement to say I loved this film, the best I've seen in years. Peter Jackson's Kong is as near to perfect as it gets.



Red Nightmare (1962)

A Communist scare short from "Batman" TV show alumni George Waggoner and Jack Webb that was probably shown in high schools of the time. Look for a young Robert Conrad in a small role. Also known as The Commies Are Coming, the Commies Are Coming, it's a great twenty-odd minutes of 'duck and cover' nostalgia.

Harry Potter and the Goblin of Fire (2005)

This is a Stephen King film. Not in that King made it, but in that, like most King movies, if you've read the book you enjoy the film. If you didn't, you are hopelessly lost. This installment of the HP saga is a visual extension of the book, but no means a film version. There was too much cut out. Director Mike Newell would have been better served doing two movies of this book rather than one, as was the original plan.



Soup to Nuts (1930)

A great peek at the Three Stooges before they were on their own. In this film, before getting contracts of their own with Columbia Pictures, they were the underling sidekicks of supposed funnyman Ted Healy. The stooges are the only shining moment in this unfortunately Rube Goldberg-penned dreck. No wonder today most folks will say "Ted who?"

Vulgar (2002)

Despite Kevin Smith's sideline involvement in this, this appropriately titled crap is unwatchable. It tries very hard to be artsy in an insultingly Richard Linklater-type vibe but fails miserably. Clown rape is not funny, no matter how it's portrayed.