TRADE (2007)
(First Viewing)

Unfortunately this film didn't get a lot of publicity in theaters or on DVD but it is a powerful movie. While watching this I was constantly reminded of the movie TRAFFIC. This film did for human trafficking what TRAFFIC did for drugs. It stars Kevin Kline who helps a young Mexican boy find his sister who has been kidnapped in Mexico City and is being auctioned off in America.

Il Grido (1957 - Michelangelo Antonioni) *
My first Antonioni film was a bit disappointing. The film traces a man turned down by a woman. though he is good at his work, he is unable to move on in his personal life. I hated the music at first, but now I feel it was able to bring out the wandering/meandering theme. There are some interesting visuals.



Blowup (1966 - Michaelangelo Antonioni) **
Right from the beginning, one can't help noticing the heavy use of symbolism in the movie. It would be tough to describe what the movie is exactly about. In the swinging fashion scene of 60's London, a photographer stumbles upon a murder accidentally. That starts to take him away from a virtual world of fashion into the world of reality, but only so for a short while.



L' Avventura (1960 - Michelangelo Antonioni) ****
This is my third film of this director and I liked this the most. The movie shows how easily we move on in our lives without the people we call as best friends and lovers. A sympathetic depiction of selfishness. The visuals are captivating.

Brooklyn Rules (2007) (Directed by Michael Corrente; Written by Sopranos scribe Terence Winter; Starring Scott Caan, Freddie Prinze Jr, Jerry Ferrara, Alec Baldwin). Three lifelong friends flirt with the Mob during 1980's Brooklyn.

I expected more from a Sopranos writer as this seemed like a rehash of typical mob stories. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't great. But it being filmed on location was perhaps the best part. Brooklynites should love it!

I just saw this on the shelf at Blockbuster Geoff and thought about renting it. On a 4-star scale what would you rate it?

IMDb and Netflix viewers avg it about 3.3 stars out of 5 -- I gave it 4 because of the genre...

REVOLVER (2005)
(First Viewing)

Definitely Guy Ritchie's most intelligent film to date and I'm glad to see him back making good films again. A lot of the second half was over my head so I will definitely need a second viewing but Jason Statham as usual is great and Ray Liotta breaks out some of his GOODFELLAS-esque acting in his role as well.

Goes over your head = intelligent.

I'm confused.

THE HOT ROCK (1972) ***

Considering that Robert Redford was probably the biggest movie star of the time, this movie is pretty obscure. It stars Redford as a career thief just sprung from a stretch in prison and immediately contracted to steal an emerald by a small African nation (the emerald has some political history to it).

As far as comedic heist movies go, it was actually very enjoyable. The grittiness of the New York City of the early 70's was very apparent, with some great shots of the old New York Coliseum (a very forgetful building in the annals of New York architecture) and a wonderful early shot of the World Trade Center.

George Segal co-stars ar Redford's best friend and Zero Mostel was hilarious in his small role.

If you can find a copy, it's definitely worth a viewing.

4 luni, 3 saptamani si 2 zile (2007 - Cristian Mungiu) ***
A girl arranges an illegal abortion for her friend. The film balances well between tension filled narration and exploration of relationships through its characters. There are several scenes with interesting use of sound to amplify the character's emotions, like running water from a tap in the bathroom or noisy conversation at a dinner table.

- Starting with this one, my review movie title will be an IMDB link.

I'm happy to teach at least one person some minor detail. Thank you for not being lazy!

ONE EIGHT SEVEN with Samuel L. Jackson.
A good film,nice to see Jackson play a slightly more subdued role for once.

Thats not to say i don't like him as an actor cos i do!

Yeah, I did always like 187

10,000 BC just got the worst reviews I've read in years.

You saw it?

No, it comes out today, I just read horrible reviews is all.

Roland Emmerich and BAD reviews?

I'm like the French police chief in CASABLANCA:

"I'm shocked!"
"Here's your winnings, sir."
"Thank you very much!"

Watched Blade Runner on the big screen today. 1982 director's cut. I'm not convinced. Very overrated. Overstretched bullshit.

You mean 1992 Director's Cut?

Get your bullshit facts straight.

Ah.

I shoulda left an IMDb link.

A better question I have is, did you think it was "fucking boring" like a certain BB.Net colleague (you love so much) claimed it was?

No, but I did think it was great to see Harrison Ford doing what he does best in all of his films that I've seen him in thus far, though.

I got the 4-version DVD set but haven't yet watched the newest versions... But it is one of my favorite sci-fi flicks of all time, so I probably wouldn't call any version "overrated bullshit"

I find its central philosophy problematic as it's presented in the film (at least; I've not read Dick's short, but would like to).

I'm not convinced that intelligence can exist independent of emotion. Computers that lack human emotions in cinema seem gifted at sarcasm and teasingly light-hearted wit (are these not human emotions?). Result: "human emotions = the capacity to fall in love"; nothing more - everything else is fair game.

I found some of it (dialogue, slow-motion, that forced feeling of grandeur) quite risible; it looks beautiful, though, and I love the music too. Also like the surreal pace and lengthy bouts of non-action, but the narrative shifts to the droids were dull and problematic - we watched it as part of my film noir unit, and this film's shifts away from the protagonist's subjective gaze annoyed me.

I do find the existential premise fascinating in itself: what does it mean to be human? But the direct lifts from Descartes ("I think, therefore I am!"), combined with otherwise ellipsis, were far from profound. Does Dick's story lift from Descartes? I know his protagonist has a similar name.

I don't know; I'd be interested in reading a positive reply from you, JG.

As I said at FCM, BLADE RUNNER is like an Italian Wife: Either you love it or you beat it. There is no middle-ground for it. That's why you see either devoted fans or people who rather voluntarily rip their own nails out than watch it again.

You talk about the problematic emotional matrix of the movie, and I point to the silent scene after Ford shot the female replicant in the back as she was fleeing. He knows she aint a human, yet he obviously is bothered severely that he still shot a woman, real or not, in the back while running for its dear life.

I always liked the concept that all the humans are more like the replicants while the latter are being, for better or for worse, more human than the humans.

THE BANK JOB 1/2
(First Viewing)

An enjoyable heist movie that ran a little long but still was entertaining. The true story of a bank robbery in London in 1971 stars Jason Statham (the best action star working today) putting together a team of 6 to get into a certain safety deposit box that reveals photos of a royal family member in some compromising positions.

NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN
(Second Viewing)

Wow, the Coen brothers are back in a big way! Everything positive you've heard about this film is absolutely true. This is their best film ever! What I loved most about the film was the fact their isn't a lot of dialogue. The first half of the film is a great cat-and-mouse game that is so intense and the actors are providing the right emotions to strike excitement and fear in the audience without saying anything.

Josh Brolin was awesome as the southern gentleman, Llewelyn Moss, who stumbles upon this little stack of cash. However, the show belonged to Javier Bardem. He owned this film! I was so glad the Academy rewarded him for his efforts with his Oscar and that this film won Best Picture and Best Director. As much I loved THERE WILL BE BLOOD, I do think this was better and the right movie IMO won.

The Prince of Pennsylvania(1998 - Ron Nyswaner) no stars
An indie movie featuring Keanu Reeves. The movie tries to go the mainstream way and achieves it, but only not for good. Goofy plot and happy ending spoil a somewhat decent premise.

The Good German (2006 - Steven Soderbergh) ***
This a suspense thriller about post WW2 Berlin. The movie is shot in BW and has the look and feel of an old movie. Good acting performances from everyone including George Clooney and Kate Blanchett. George Clooney has a knack of picking roles where he is not a larger than life character.

For those who've seen There Will Be Blood, here's my Daniel Plainview impression.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=HSiRx2m73dc

Capo, with the dark interiors, you might be close to PTA's lighting as well