Review: Mamma Mia

What can I say about Mamma Mia? One must consider the source material and artistic intentions. With its plot/songs consisting of a number of "popular" Abba songs, one must also expect something so light-hearted, fluffy and sugary that it will risk giving you an overdose.

Mamma Mia is not particularly well made in a technical aspect. Many shots feel cramped or quickly set-up; despite the beautiful backdrop of Greece, it almost fails to take advantage of the spectacular landscapes. Indeed, this could be that much of the film was actually shot in a studio in London, perhaps more than was discernible. Many shots are over-saturated and washed out. The biggest problem with the film is the failure to stage the musical numbers. Some of them are very well done and are quite memorable, including the men clad in flippers and snorkels diving into the ocean off the dock. Many other times the numbers seem to lack the grandeur and fun of the sequences that work much better. While it by no means fails, it seems that a director with more comfort and skill in directing large, choreographed numbers might have made it more visually dynamic.

That being said, the movie is charming and fun. Amanda Seyfriend sings her songs well and provides an attractive, fun and amiable female lead. The rest of the cast seems to be having fun. In the end the nonsensical plot and charismatic Abba songs combine to create a fun, charming musical adventure that will no doubt leave you smiling (and if you're particularly vulnerable, singing!)

My grade: B-

Review: Hamlet 2

Hamlet 2 is a fun, zany comedy. It lacks the star-studded ensemble cast of 'Tropic Thunder' or the recognizable pedigree of 'Pineapple Express' but it does possess one secret weapon; Steve Coogan. Coogan anchors Hamlet 2 with a deliriously funny performance. He's over the top, he's pathetic, he's vulgar - he's hilarious. Hamlet 2 lacks the depth of some other great, recent comedies such as 'Knocked Up,' but it has a simple goal and it is successful at making you laugh.

When a struggling "actor" who teaches drama at a local high-school faces the closing of the drama program, he races to write a play that will save not only the drama program, but his career. Hamlet 2 is a fast-paced but short comedy that is full of laughs. Some of the jokes are low-brow but others are original and well-earned. The culmination of the film is the actual performance of "Hamlet 2" and it is fantastic, funny and memorable. I only wish I could have seen the whole thing. In the end, Hamlet 2 isn't particularly deep, but I'll always remember "Rock Me Sexy Jesus"

My Grade: B-

Review: Tropic Thunder

Tropic Thunder is one heck of comedy. It defied my expectations and took a different route than anticipated. The leading actors have great chemistry and work well on screen. Tropic Thunder is an amusing conglomeration of cliched genre bits and things we've seen before - only in Tropic Thunder, it takes all these elements and throws them in a blender. The resulting mix is both familiar but new, seeming like something you've seen only to change it up a bit. Ben Stiller is hilarious as the hilariously pathetic actor seeking a career rRenaissance after his failure to capture Oscar glory. Downey Jr. was great as the African-American soldier (due to cosmetic surgery) but his dialogue was difficult to understand at times.

Tropic Thunder might have been too scatter-brained for its own good - but it's very charming. Matthew McConaughey and Tom Cruise were also great in scene-stealing performances - I loved watching McConaughey's epic battle to save his job by delivering the Tivo, and Cruise as the foul-mouthed executive. In the end, Tropic Thunder has a charming charisma no doubt delivered by the impressive ensemble cast. Edges out Pineapple Express.

My Grade: B

Review: Pineapple Express

Pineapple Express is the latest in the Apatow comedy franchise. Basically a take on the buddy picture action flick, it asks what happens when two normal guys who have a habit for getting high get involved in something over their heads? The film succeeds best when it keeps the focus on our two leading actors, Franco and Rogen. James Franco defies expectations and plays against type, and is memorable and comical as the clueless drug dealer who is perpetually stoned. Rogen is as solid as ever and brings his classic likeable "he-could-be-your-bud" type persona.

The film never reaches the heights of 'Superbad' or other Apatow produced/directed movies, but is a solid addition. It has a few hilarious laugh out loud moments and is constantly quite diverting. The last third seems to venture into a territory you may not have expected as they come face to face with the bad guys in an epic clash. Yet just when things seem too serious, Seth Rogen emerges from the flames with a sport coat and underwear while carrying his unconscious friend. A fun comedy.

My grade: B

Review: In Bruges

In Bruges

Over four months into 2008, In Bruges is still the best film I've seen. It came as a surprise to me; but it's the most entertaining, engrossing and comical movie released this year. In Bruges is about two hit men (played by Colin Farrell and Brendon Gleeson) who are sent by their boss in London to spend some time in Bruges, Belgium. Farrell plays a young man who is new to the world of crime and hit men, and apparently something went wrong with their first hit. It is a sceneic town but they are divided in their approach to this little vacation; Farrell hates it and wants to get out while the older Gleeson relishes the time to sight see. What starts out as a fun comedy between two very different people slowly becomes something much more memorable. Farrell is fantastic as Ray, the hyper and ansy hitman in training. His timing is great and he plays very well of Gleeson's character. As they start to learn their ultimate purpose for being sent to Bruge, the film takes a dark and dramatic turn. There are brilliant played bits involving motifs of guilt and regret and ultimately self-forgiveness. The final third of the film is action-packed, dramatic and most of all surprising. I loved it.

My grade: A-

Review: Funny Games, The Bank Job, 21, Jumper, Vantage Point

Funny Games: I felt tense throughout the whole "experience." It built up a lot of tension and I never felt like I knew what would happen next. The whole point of the movie is explained at the end - an experiment for and on the audience. It's hard to explain, but I found it thought-provoking. A chilling movie.

My Grade: B


The Bank Job: A gritty, adult bank job movie. I found it refreshing after years of heist films that were a little too glossy (Italian Job). This one felt real; the characters (most of them) weren't overly sensational. It was funny and suspenseful, and the fact that it was based of an intriguing chapter in British history helped. Jason Staham was solid as the lead. Basically, I guess I found an old-school, adult targeted bank robbery film quite appealing. It felt like vintage 70's cinema.

My grade: B



21: It was a fun movie. It might have gone on a little too long. I don't know what changes were made to the truth, but I could tell it was changed a little too much. In fact, I didn't like the fact he didn't get to keep a dollar of the money he made and found Kevin Spacey's teacher-villain a little too extreme. The Vegas sequences were great, although the plot holes did bug me. Even after getting caught, they always returned to the same casino. Kate Bosworth was great as was the lead.

My grade: B-

Jumper: Cool concept, mediocre execution. Felt pretty bland, lot's of plot holes. We never really understand why the people chasing him are so against it. Allusions are made to an ancient back story but it's never developed. Could have been much better with a better script and better actors.

My grade: C



Vantage Point: A fun popcorn action-thriller. The Rashomon style repeats did get a little grating and repetitive, but I went with it. Predictable although it did surprise me.


My grade:B-

Review: Cloverfield

Review: Cloverfield

Cloverfield had one of the best viral marketing campaigns, ever. Does the movie live up to that hype which it inspired on Internet forums? Perhaps not. Only a truly extraordinary movie could have done that. I don't think it pretended to be the next great film; and I respect the brilliant campaign that made it such a mysterious enigma. Hand-held "found-footage" movies are not a very new concept anymore, but they are still rare. Blair Witch was the first, the biggest smash hit of all which no one even seems to like. It did inspire a trend, although most "found-footage" movies have failed spectacularly. I quite liked Cloverfield - it felt real enough for me to buy into the premise. In the end, I really liked the fact it wasn't just a movie about a monster attack, because movies like that (Godzilla) are not as good as they look on paper. Cloverfield is shot well enough to look good but in such a style that it has the hand-held digital vibe to it. The events going on are massive, and I love the glimpses the characters see of these events. The bridge falling, the army fighting, building burning, people running. The characters see these things and interact with them but the film never forgets it's not about all that. It's about a group of friends who are trying to survive a spectacular disaster. We come to like the characters (although some people dislike them), which makes their fates important to us. Cloverfield is not afraid to kill it's leads, and the ending to me is one that is surprisingly anti-Hollywood and quite bittersweet. I had fun watching it.

My Grade: B