Reviews Galore!

As my special Christmas gift to you, my two readers, I am doing four reviews all in one post!

The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard

A somewhat-funny movie starring Jeremy Piven as a professional traveling car salesman. This movie appears to be at least somewhat-loosely based on the IFC original documentary, The Slasher. Some of the jokes were great, many fell flat.

5.5/10

IMDB Link

The Taking of Pelham 123

Not the most original of ideas, however, it still captured my interest throughout and features a great performance from Denzel Washington and a very good performance from John Travolta. Very similar to Tony Scott's other work.

7.5/10

IMDB Link

Angels & Demons

The next of the far-fetched and somewhat-boring Dan Brown novel adaptations. It's hard to believe that this movie is from the same guy (Ron Howard) who gave us movies like Frost/Nixon and A Beautiful Mind. Not that it's really Howard's fault: he didnt have much to work with, apparently.

4/10

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Inglourious Basterds

I really was expecting a lot more from this film. It seems that Tarantino has lost his touch somewhat lately. As much as I can appreciate the exploitation/grindhouse art form, movies like this also leaving me wanting to watch some of Tarantino's better work just to remind myself that he is indeed a capable director. That's not to say this was a bad movie: just that it felt fairly empty.

7/10

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Public Enemies

OK, this movie took me a while to "get", but I eventually did. You see, I came into the movie with the wrong expectations: I came into Public Enemies expecting a gangster flick on the life of John Dillinger, done a lá total-and-complete-badassery. As I was expecting such, throughout the first half of the movie I thought I was merely watching a poorly-done and boring movie about John Dillinger. Then I started noticing the very distinct camera angles, the director's up-and-close-and-personal storytelling style, and the no-nosense biographical approach of the film to John Dillinger's (really-not-so-glamorous) life.

Before I "got", this movie was going to get a 4 or 5 out of 10. But now, viewing in light of, "OK, a gangster film that does not have a Martin Scorsese feel":

7/10

IMDB Link

Candy

In the mood for that classic story of boy-meets-girl, boy-and-girl fall in love, boy-and-girl start shooting heroin together, boy-and-girl's lives start spinning out of control, boy-and-girl's lives are ruined?

Then look no further, Candy may be just the movie for you! Starring the late Heath Ledger in a stellar (and in light of his mode of departure from this world, somewhat ironic) role as the loving but drug-addicted boyfriend/husband of the beautiful and tragic Candy (Abbie Cornish), this is basically a heroin-took-my-life-away movie for anyone who can't stomach Requiem for a Dream. Great performances from the main actors, but not the greatest or most original of story lines. Still, a noble effort.

6.75/10

IMDB Link

Funny People

"Funny People" is not a comedy. "Funny People" is a drama which focuses upon the mentality of professional comics, which can also be extrapolated to be an examination of the way we all use humor as a coping mechanism. And the film, because it's about comics and coping with life through the use of humor, features some great comedy. But the film itself and its 2.5 hr. runtime let the viewer get to know George Simmons, Adam Sandler's dying character, and in doing so, because Adam Sandler plays the role so naturally in this film, you're allowed to just sit back and wait to see what unfolds. Unfortunately the trailers earlier this summer revealed the entire plot of the film, but still, it's a truly enjoyable experience to just take the film at its own pace, rather than waiting for the next big "LOL!" scene bound to come up next. Despite the criticism that Seth Rogan plays the same role in every movie, having seen most of Rogan's films before this, Rogan's character of Ira is much more understated, less confident, and hasa genuinely good heart compared to his roles in "Pineapple Express" and "40 Year Old Virgin." However, his role here is very similar to that of his loser-pothead-nerd in "Knocked Up," however because he's able to develop over the course of "Funny People" due to the film's pace, his character seems very genuine and real. The biggest criticism people have lobbed at "Funny People" for its runtime is the fact that the last 45 minutes of the film feel "tacked on" after what felt like "the end," but this criticism is unfair because the time spent in the second half of the film focused upon Simmons and his ex-girlfriends flirtations takes place over the course of just 1-2 days, all in one location, and this time to get to know more about their past relationship, her current family, and the conflict between Ira and Simmons feels necessary.

While the overall plot in the end doesn't turn out to be incredibly special or surprising, the premise itself was ambitious for "funny man" Apatow and for what turned out to be inspired casting in Adam Sandler (who, if you've seen Punch Drunk Love, then you know is capable of an amazing performance). The film overall feels full and warm and insightful, and you come away from it with a greater appreciation of the role of humor and comedy in our lives, and with the thought that humor and comedy can only take us so far when it comes to coping and dealing with life.

8/10

G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra

If you hate yourself and are looking for a way to torment yourself for two hours, I highly recommend watching this movie. Pointless, stupid, empty, hollow, idiotic, poorly-written, and cheesy, are just a few of the words that aptly describe this atrocious "movie".

Seriously, not even the fact that it's a "play" on the original campy "G.I. Joe" franchise saves this flick from being a horrible waste of time. The only way I managed to survive the entire thing was: 1. The pure curiosity (hope?) of thinking, "This HAS to get better at SOME point."

2. Large amounts of delicious Winegar's homemade ice cream.

3. Writing a paper while watching it. Yes, DOING HOMEWORK was a preferable activity to distract from the horribleness of this movie.

1/10 (1 point for successfully spending $170 million on absolutely nothing of merit... seriously even the worst films usually manage to make me like SOMETHING about them)

IMDB Link

The Men Who Stare At Goats

I think this movie's satire was just a little too much. It was an entertaining film, but that's about it! I felt like a lost little boy. "Where is this movie's premise?"

6.5/10 (for entertaining me for two hours)

IMDB Link

UPDATE: I just watched (on YouTube) the original documentary upon which this film was based. Watching the original definitely gives one a greater appreciation for the film as well as a more well-defined sense of, "Wow, this actually happened..."

I would say if you watch the original documentary AND the movie it increases the movie's score to an 8.

The Big Kahuna

This is easily one of the most cleverly-written films I've ever come across. Kevin Spacey and Danny DeVito play their roles perfectly. Really, really EXCELLENT.

9/10

IMDB Link