the eagle has landed

run, shia, run

Eagle Eye *** Produced by Spielberg and directed by D.J. Caruso, Eagle Eye is another attempt at re-imagining a classic Hitchcock film using Shia Leboeuf. The first attempt was Disturbia, also directed by Caruso and starring Leboeuf, an inferior stab at Rear Window. Eagle Eye is slightly better than Disturbia, but still falls short when compared to Hitchcock’s original, The Man Who Knew Too Much.

There is something missing in the first few minutes of Eagle Eye that would have made the film slightly more enjoyable from my point of view: notification of some sort that the film was set sometime in the future and was, in fact science fiction. There is large plot twist about halfway through that seemed incredibly out of place in a current day environment.

Discounting this error in judgment by the filmmakers, Eagle Eye is for most of its running time, a better than average thriller. Leboeuf continues to prove himself in one large film after another, handily carrying the film and covering for Michelle Monaghan’s mediocre performance (I never once believed she was a mother). Despite some poorly edited action sequences, and some far-fetched plot lines, this one was worth the matinee price, and will be thoughtless fun on cable in a few years.

i have motorized scooter haha!

Run Fat Boy, Run *** The first film from former Friends’ star David Schwimmer starring Simon Pegg as a loser who finds some semblence of responsibility when he decides to run a marathon.

The film is funny in spots, and Pegg is perfect as the central character, but based on positive critical response, I was expecting more from this one. It’s very by-the-numbers, and the heartfelt ending, though effective, can be seen from a mile away. Worth a rent.

i'm invisible i tell ya!

Fur **** Nicole Kidman as famed photographer Diane Arbus in this “surreal” biopic that infuses fact with fantasy. Robert Downey Jr. gives an effective turn as her neighbor with peculiarities (the main one being that he is covered with excessive hair from head to toe).

The film is a love story, but not in the traditional sense. Downey’s character is a walking metaphor for Diane’s growing desire to create art and ultimately separate from her family.  Not for the average moviegoer, Fur is an involving portrait of the birth of an artist.

is that you dear?

Wait Until Dark ****1/2 Audrey Hepburn was nominated for an Academy Award for her performance as a blind woman who is forced to deal with two theatrical crooks, and one sadistic killer (played to the hilt by a young Alan Arkin). This film has aged well and the suspense is surprisingly effective.

neighborhood still here…

…albeit a little worse for wear. First Gustav, then Ike wreaking havoc along the Gulf Coast. Being without electricity for a week was the worst of my troubles (that and the spoiled food), but compared to what others are dealing with I am blessed.

While waiting for school to reopen…

bad boys

Street Kings **1/2 I’m beginning to think that writer/director David Ayer only knows how to make gritty movies about corrupt cops with psychopathic tendencies. All three films he’s been involved in: Training Day (writer), Harsh Times (writer/director), and Street Kings (writer/director) share too many similarities. Kings is basically what could have happened if Ethan Hawke’s character from Training Day had not turned his back on Denzel’s tutelage.

Keanu is okay as the tortured protagonist who’s wife was killed while cheating on him blah, blah blah. What’s wrong with Street Kings is that while watching it you feel as if you’ve already seen it, and as a result can predict what’s coming from a mile away.

buffy and the mummy killer

The Air I Breathe ***1/2 - tells the story of several characters whose lives intertwine. It’s based on a Chinese proverb  that breaks life down into four emotional cornerstones: happiness, pleasure, sorrow and love, although most of the stories lean towards the sorrowful, despite what the characters may be feeling.

It’s notable in that Brendan Fraser plays the coolest character, Andy Garcia does villainous very well, and Sarah Michelle Gellar displays some acting chops. Definitely worth a rent.

one big happy family

Joshua **1/2 - “Spoiler Alert” I don’t usually ruin the endings of movies in my reviews, but I really disliked the ending on this one and so I’m saving you some grief.

Creepy kid makes his mom (Vera Farmiga – one of my favorite actresses and the best thing about this film)  and dad ( Sam Rockwell) go crazy so that he can live with his music-loving uncle. He does this by killing animals, relatives, and whispering “No one will ever love you” to people. The creepy kid actually breaks into song at the film’s close.

Now, the film is shot well, the actors do an admirable job, and there are some genuinely unsettling moments, but once Farmiga exited, the film seemed to drag. In a word: underwhelming.

theron and jones

In the Valley of Elah ***1/2 Great performances, but Crash director Haggis is always a bit heavy-handed with the “message” of his films. The film is definitely anti-war and the “David and Goliath” analogy works to some degree, but the ending left me a bit cold. I did like this one more than Crash. Tommy Lee Jones and Charlize Theron (who continues to succeed in de-glamorizing her acting persona) star.

why are we so uninteresting?

Smart People *1/2 The most boring film I’ve seen in awhile. Great cast, but 90 minutes of tedium with uninteresting characters is not my idea of a good time at the movies. Starring: Dennis Quaid, Thomas Haden Church, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Ellen Page.

Other films I’ve seen recently, but don’t have time to elaborate on…

The Secret *** kinda weird.

Redbelt **** another good film by David Mamet.

The Girl on the Bridge ***1/2 fun French film.

The Double Life of Veronique **** beautiful cinematography.