Archive for August, 2004
Matchstick Men (2003)
A movie about a con artist, Nicolas Cage was the overwhelming obsessive compulsive in this movie, further blurring the line between his personal reality and acting. Obnoxiously quirky Cage’s conscience and obsessive personality overtakes him and he reaches out for his long lost daughter, another great performance by Alison Lohman. I was so bored that the major twist and the end of the movie was too little too late.
Extreme Home Makeover
Now, I must admit, I knew of this show but never thought I would get sucked in. Tyler Penninghamingfordinski, or whatever his name is, is this hunky, goofy guy that every post college years girl dreams about. He is obnoxious, and the whole show is so abrasive, with the gay guy, gasp, that is the interior designer, and the whole other crew that continuously say throughout the show “I don’t think we’ll get this finished”.
But the idea of the show, believing that bad things can happen to people, and that some people actually deserve a better life, and that is what they get here. A Brand new house, usually knocked down and started from scratch. I don’t know why they don’t just do that, what the having the frame of the house actually saves them. It gives people a burden free gift, unlike winning the lottery, this is an investment that is hard to screw up and to watch how happy some of the folks, granted sometimes forced, can really be a much more worthwhile hour of TV than CSI violence, or idiotic comedy of Malcolm in the middle. (I just happen to love CSI, but you know what I mean.)
Godfather Part I (1972)
When Justin Varner and I watched this for the first time in college, I knew this was a great movie. But when Sarah and I rented this from the library, I picked up on so much more and realized why this movie is such a classic. Al Pacino really is at his best in this movie, to see his character change from slightly denying what his father did for a living but war hardened to taking over the family business and tying up all loose ends. A great cast and riveting the whole through, everyone needs to see this movie.
The Village (2004)
With a totally unexpected ending and an interesting premise, this movie had me guessing at every turn. The cynics of this film seem to be down on Night Shlamayan’s perspectives on societal commentary and his pacing, where I embrace his memorable storytelling and the fact that even though it may not be the best movie ever made, you know the four movies he has made because they stand out in a body of work.
Troy (2004)
With a great ensemble cast you’d think that a great story would come secondhand and the stars could carry this movie through. I never once forgot that the movie was almost three hours long and there was not one character to root for. From spitefully revenge and a bastard of a character in Brad Pitt to the whiney twit that was Orlando Bloom, the only lovable character was Eric Bana’s Hector, who dies at the hands of Pitt. Depressing and hoping every character would just die, this move will not stand out from every other war epic. Convincing in scenery, it was a major cinematic accomplishment for Ridley Scott, but not an entertaining movie.
Bourne Supremacy (2004)
A fallible hero, a hero that chooses not to kill, and a hero that is driven by loss and wanting to life of peace makes this action packed movie something we can all relate to. It also just happens to have the best action car scene ever and with intense filmography this is a great follow-up to the Bourne-Identity.
In the Bedroom (2001)
With lesser known talent excluding Marisa Tomei and being a library freebie movie, I wasn’t holding my breath, but a slow start took a violent turn into a riveting movie about the true meaning of justice and the consequences of death in any life.
