Reviews

• 
  8/26/2010 7:35:47 PM

  Repo Men

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  (Possible spoiler alert) I must say, I don't often have strong negative opinions of most movies I watch (cuz I only watch good movies, right?), but I rented this movie last night and by the end, was totally hating it. (Disclaimer - I was working while watching, so maybe I missed some details) TOP 10 reasons I hated this movie: 1.) No satisfying background of the war in Africa that took place before the story? I read more about it in the movie summary than I learned in the film. Going along with that, no real explanation of why so many people were needing transplants. If there was, I missed it. That's a flaw in itself because there should have been enough development that I wouldn't have missed it. 2.) Was not sympathetic with any character. I hate that. 3.) One of my biggest pet-peeves in movies: when junkies clean up in a matter of days, and drunk people become sober in a matter of minutes. 4.) Jude Law acting like he was into Soul/R&B music. 5.) Jude Law acting like a bad-ass. Law can sure play smarmy, but bass-ass...nnnot so sure. The movie completely lost me when he had the showdown towards the end with all the Union guys. Laughable. 6.) Scene of repo-ing their own organs: Totally implausible, cheezy, didn't even like the special effects - throw in the eroticism of it, and I wanted to puke. Don't get me wrong, I can understand erotic scenes mixed with blood and gore, but you better be sure it's done correctly, or artfully, etc. 7.) I was happy when John Leguizamo made an appearance, but it wasn't good enough to save the movie by any means. 8.) I love me some Liev Schreiber. But please stick to the art films. You spoil your talent with Hollywood one-liner roles. Hurl. 9.) The soundtrack. How could I be unhappy hearing "Feelin' Good" by Nina Simone, or Beck? I guess "Nausea" was perfect on one level at least. 10.) I was so gone by how horrible it was by the end, that I was too numb to have any reaction to the "big twist." It was just another unbelievable let down after so many others.
• 
  6/5/2010 12:02:30 AM

  Waking the Dead

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  Again, sucker for a great love story...and 2 of my favorite actors. Their characters are opposites in love; Billy Crudup is an aspiring politician, while Jennifer Connelly is a liberal activist (1970s). After she is killed in a car bombing during a trip to Chile (first scenes of the movie, so no real spoiler), he is devastated...and throughout his career is haunted by her memory. (The movie takes place both in present time, 1980's, and flashbacks of their relationship in the 70's). What clinches the movie for me is that at the climax of the movie, Peter Gabriel's Mercy Street is played, which also happens to be one of my favorite songs (hauntingly beautiful). It's perfect for the scene. It's one of those movies where you can interpret the ending in a couple different ways, which sometimes bugs me, but I think this one is brilliant. Intense, mysterious love story.
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  6/4/2010 11:49:36 PM

  The Fall

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  Cinematically beautiful, in fact, shot in a record number of locations (18 countries). Setting is an LA hospital in the 1920s, where an injured, depressed, and suicidal stunt man meets a heartbreakingly adorable little Romanian girl with a broken arm. He proceeds to attempt to trick her into getting him drugs to overdose with by intriguing her with a fantastical tale of adventure. Similar to The Cell (same director), this movie is shot in 2 different worlds, real and fantasy. Well-written, great story, and that little girl steals the movie for sure. I'm a sucker for a friendship/love story/tear-jerker, and this is it, without the Hollywood cheeziness. I absolutely loved the ending narrative. Currently my favorite movie.
• 
  6/1/2010 7:28:25 PM

  The Unbelievable Truth

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  Hal Hartley is a true indie genius. Trust is actually my fav, but I couldn't find it to post here...this is my second fav. Simple Men is my third. Some of his other films are trying too hard to be "artsy," IMO. If you like dry, witty, black comedies, watch these. Highly recommended.