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.