Directed by Adam BrooksRated PG-13
2008
112 minutes
****
Thursday, April 9, 2009
(83) Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Directed by Chris ColumbusRated PG
2002
161 minutes
*** 1/2
Friday, April 3, 2009
(74) Synecdoche, New York
Directed by Charlie KaufmanRated R
2008
124 minutes
*****
I'm not really going to say anything about the film in this review, because I know most people who watch this movie will absolutely HATE it. It's NOT for everyone. However, any movie that can make me cry my first two viewings without being able to pinpoint exactly WHY I am must be nothing short of brilliant. And after four viewings, I'm pretty confident calling it that.
(73) Les Amours d'Astrée et de Céladon
Directed by Eric RohmerRated R
2007
109 minutes
*** 1/2
Rohmer claims this is his last film. And while it certainly doesn't hold a candle to his earlier masterpieces, i.e. My Night at Maud's or Claire's Knee, it is still an extremely enjoyable, extremely talky (but Rohmer-talky) two hours. And from a director just celebrating his 89th birthday, it's a testament to his love of filmmaking and a great sendoff for the master of dialogue-driven cinema.
(72) Üç Maymun
Directed by Nuri Bilge CeylanRated R
2008
109 minutes
****
Not quite as beautiful or heartwrenchingly simplistic and natural as his previous film, Climates, Nuri Bilge Ceylan's Three Monkeys still stands as a fascinating merging of two seemingly radically different genres, creating what can only be called a neo-realistic film-noir. Truly original.
(71) Reprise
Directed by Joachim TrierRated R
2006
105 minutes
****
About two friends both trying to becoming authors. One of them does but can't handle the fame and has a breakdown. Then his friend gets published. Strikingly original in its direction and style (if not in its story), this establishes Trier as a definite director to look out for in the future.
(70) Gardens of Stone
Directed by Francis Ford CoppolaRated R
1987
112 minutes
**
I seriously don't know what happened to Francis Ford Coppola between Apocalypse Now and this film, but if I hadn't known he had directed this, I would never have guessed it. A war film about soldiers NOT on active duty during a war could've been really interesting in the hands of another director, but Coppola just bumbles it completely. Add to that extremely wooden performances from Anjelica Huston and D.B. Sweeney and some of the worst, out-of-place music I've ever heard and you have yet another film whose only watchable component is James Earl Jones.
(69) Role Models
Directed by David WainRated R
2008
100 minutes
*** 1/2
Another very funny movie from David Wain (Wet Hot American Summer), but the big surprise is where the majority of the laughs come from; Superbad's Christopher "McLovin" Mintz-Plasse and American Pie's Seann "Stifler" William Scott. Paul Rudd actually didn't do it for me here, one of the rare times (actually, probably the only) I can say that. It all leads up to one of the most brilliant "final battle" scenes you will see in any movie PERIOD, let alone a comedy.
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