I watch movies every week and then write down my thoughts. Read my previous reviews!
My rating is simple, Watch It, It Depends, Skip it.
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| Enemy - Running in circles. |
Enemy (2013)
Watch Enemy
Written by: José Saramago (novel), Javier Gullón
Directed by: Denis Villeneuve
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal
Rated: R
Plot:
A man sees his double in a movie and endeavors to find out more about the doppelganger.
Review:
Enemy starts with a great atmosphere and an extremely bizarre opening. It's a movie you have to watch twice just to make sense of it. What is the movie about? Why is there a yellow tint throughout? It's a movie that will generate arguments, though the last sequence helps shape how one should view the themes. It's when the two characters switch places that we see their apprehensions or lack thereof and the reactions of their partners. It's hard to recommend a film as confusing and dense as this. Unless you enjoy convoluted movies, there's no need to check it out.
Skip it.
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| Noah - It's a big boat! |
Watch Noah
Written by: Darren Aronofsky, Ari Handel
Directed by: Darren Aronofsky
Starring: Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, Anthony Hopkins, Emma Watson, Ray Winstone
Rated: PG-13
Plot:
Noah is chosen to build an ark to weather the storm that will cleanse the Earth.
Review:
Noah fills in the source material gaps with fantastical elements creating a broad story. The broad focus hampers character development as I never really care about any of the characters. They have no depth. The theme is similar to Take Shelter. The difference is, this movie doesn't develop the characters. It's too big of a spectacle.
Many of the scenes are surprisingly dark, you can't see anything, but the CGI throughout the film is rather good. The character's logic is vague at times. The story just seems a bit undeveloped.
If it's on television give it a watch.
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| Little Shop of Horrors - Yes, a giant man-eating plant. |
Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
Watch Little Shop of Horrors
Written by: Howard Ashman (screenplay), Howard Ashman (musical play "Little Shop of Horrors"), Roger Corman (based on the film by), Charles B. Griffith (1960 screenplay)
Directed by: Frank Oz
Starring: Rick Moranis, Ellen Greene
Rated: PG-13
Plot:
A florist breeds a giant man-eating plant.
Review:
The scenes are obviously acted on a set, which adds to the effect. I enjoyed the Bill Murray cameo and Steve Martin had a great role. The movie is thin on plot but tries to make up for it in sheer ridiculousness. It doesn't quite make it. Despite a number of comedians involved, you don't need to watch it.
Skip it.
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| Goodbye World - Not even worthy of a caption. |
Goodbye World (2013)
Watch Goodbye World
Written by: Denis Henry Hennelly, Sarah Adina Smith
Directed by: Denis Henry Hennelly
Starring: Adrian Grenier
Rated: --
Plot:
A group of friends take refuge in a remote cabin after a terrorist attack.
Review:
The entire movie seems forced, from the setting, to the cheesy dialog, and the situations. I can forgive the fact that despite the apocalypse we don't actually see any of it, but it never made the end of the world seem real. It felt like a movie that missed the point of a story in retelling. Even the reasons for the apocalypse were contrived. The writers don't realize how real people think or speak. Even the cinematography produced very few good looking shots.
Skip it.
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| Legend of the Fall - A captivating tale of three brothers. |
Legends of the Fall (1994)
Watch Legends of the Fall
Written by: Susan Shilliday and William D. Wittliff (screenplay), Jim Harrison (novella)
Directed by: Edward Zwick
Starring: Brad Pitt, Anthony Hopkins, Aidan Quinn
Rated: R
Plot:
The sprawling tale of three brothers raised by their father in the mid-west. When the youngest brother brings his fiance home, the bonds of brother are strained.
Review:
The movie has a lot of charm and likable characters. A sweeping and engaging story with great characters, that are fully developed, none more so than Tristan. It's a heavy movie, fully of tragedy, but a great movie. The story, acting, and production is top notch.
Watch it.
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| Dead Man Walking - Right now he's sitting, but he'll walk soon. |
Watch Dead Man Walking
Written by: Helen Prejean (book), Tim Robbins
Directed by: Tim Robbins
Starring: Susan Sarandon, Sean Penn
Rated: R
Plot:
Susan Sarandon plays a nun who befriends a death row inmate played by Sean Penn.
Review:
The movie provides insight into someone despicable, and the only person willing to listen to him. The horrible crime slowly unfolds throughout. It's impressive that it can make you empathize for a despicable person.
Watch it.
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| Last Days - Let's just stare at this image for a few minutes. |
Last Days (2005)
Watch Last Days
Written by: Gus Van Sant
Directed by: Gus Van Sant
Starring: Michael Pitt, Lukas Haas
Rated: R
Plot:
The last days of a rock and roll musician, reminiscent of Kurt Cobain.
Review:
It's a tough movie to rate as there is very little story and an even slower pace. It starts slow and never picks up. I'm tempted to rate it higher just to the illusions of fact, but it does look into the mind of a tortured individual. The final sequences are haunting. If you're undeterred after my review, go for it.
It depends.
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| Leaving Las Vegas - Cage plays a mean drunk. |
Leaving Las Vegas (1995)
Watch Leaving Las Vegas
Written by: John O'Brien (novel), Mike Figgis (screenplay)
Directed by: Mike Figgis
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Elizabeth Shue
Rated: R
Plot:
Set on drinking himself to death, Ben Sanderson befriends prostitute Sera. They both agree to accept each other for who they are.
Review:
It's a movie about two broken people who fall in love. This is what Pretty Woman would be if the mandatory Hollywood cliches were removed. It isn't a happy movie, and it takes a grim path in the last quarter. It's worth a look, either for a great job by Cage or a love story that isn't typical Hollywood tropes.
Watch it.
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