The Aviator

Director Martin Scorsese has been making great films for over 50 years. "The Aviator" is among his best. It is not often that a bio-pic about well-known Hollywood insiders wins an Oscar. This one won 5 of the 11 nominations it earned.

While Leonardo DiCaprio (What's Eating Gilbert Grape, The Quick and the Dead, and Titanic) had the title role here, and played it brilliantly, he was not the top attraction. His work here may be his widest range thus far however. From amazing inventor, aviator, and captain of industry to the whacked-out germophobe living in the top floors of a Vegas casino, DiCaprio allows the audience forget it's acting.

Cate Blanchett (LOTR series, Babel, and the Elizabeth series) on the other hand, takes his work here to the next level and becomes Katherine Hepburn of the 1950's and beyond. For this she got to give an Oscar acceptance speech. if you have not seen this movie yet, watch it just for he performance as a lesson to all actors about having your character get into you rather than you getting into character. She is a complete Hepburn; voice, mannerisms, expressions, attitude, and moxie.

This project drew a big list of stars in support: Alan Alda, Alex Balwin, John C. Reilly, Kate Beckinsale, Gwen Stefani, and Jude Law to name just a few you might recognize, and each played a real person you might also have heard if. Everyone does a superb job of teaching real history in a real interesting way.

If you skipped this movie during the winter of 2004-2005, I highly recommend watching it now. If you have not seen it since, it is certainly worth a watch again, if for no other reason than to catch all the funny goofs which somehow made it into the final edit.

Watch this movie with a healthy dose of respect for how high it sets the bar.

Hitch

Why is this movie on my blog you ask? Good question! It was not a huge box office hit. It was not a critical favorite. It was not an artistic masterpiece. Still is was a good story well told. And, every woman I know says every man they know should watch this movie at least once, and some may need to see it additional times to get the message.

Director Andy Tennant (Ever After, Anna and the King, and Sweet Home Alabama) does a great job showing all American men in the form of either Will Smith (Independence Day, Men in Black series, and I Am Legend) or Kevin James (King of Queens series). While these 2 guys are not the extremes of American men, the do cover the vast majority of us. The message? Somewhere in the middle it what most women want.

Smith's character is a dating consultant who is super suave and a total winner. James' character is his client who has the nots for a super model type, way out of his league. But, "Hitch" takes on the challenge. Along the way, they both get what they want in a very amusing, and educational manner. Yes, it's totally predictable, but the journey is plenty fun for both genders.

This was billed as a great data movie, and I heartily endorse that concept.

Watch this movie with someone who can laugh at themself without spraying popcorn all over.

The Notebook

Maybe not the greatest love story ever told, but certainly one of the best told. If you are a fan of the before and after love story, this is one of the best.

Director Nick Cassavetes uses just the right amount of sentiment and art to spin this tale of who-they-were and who-they-are-now. You may find yourself drawn in so tight to this wonderfully played out story that you are tempted to fast forward. Don't. Take it all in like fine warm rain.

Jame Garner (Maverick series, Rockford Files series, and Murphy's Romance) plays the role of an older gentleman reading a story from a notebook to an aging Gena Rowlands (I don't even know where to start listing her great roles) who's memory comes and goes. As the story is read, it is played out by a second cast.

I know, I know, there is no first and second cast. There are however, two stories unfolding as this movie progresses. Therefore, I employ a concept of first and second cast, and assume you know what I'm talking about. Okay?

So, first cast is in a nursing home, and second cast acts out the story being told by first cast.

Bottom line, both casts do a super job, and the writer and directer did a very smart job of keeping the stories just close enough, yet just far enough apart, to keep this movie interesting. Both of the stories. And when they come together near the end, as predictable as we think it will be, it is done with class, art, and good movie magic.

Ryan Gosling (Remember the Titans, and Lars and the Girl) plays the young man in the story opposite Rachel McAdams (Mean Girls, and The Wedding Crashers). These two have more chemistry than DuPont.

Watch this movie with someone who will not hog the tissues.

Lust, Caution

This review comes with some fairly strong warnings. I call them "List, Caution".

Do not watch this movie if you have adverse reactions to any of the following items:

Subtitles - this movie is in either Mandarin or French. Subtitles are in English. The actors speak very fast and the subtitles keep up with them.

NC-17 Ratings - this movie has a few very graphic sex scenes which I'm surprised made it as low as NC-17. Some of the scenes are rather violent and not for every one.

Rich versus poor plot lines - this movie is set in World War II Shanghai China as Japan is making moves against Asia. It is very much about haves and have-nots.

Unhappy endings - there I spoiled it, but you have NO idea what I'm talking about, nor do you see it coming (unless you have actually seen the film and then it does not matter).

Having said all that, I CAN recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys good movie-making.

Chinese Director Ang Lee (Sense and Sensibility and Brokeback Mountain) does a masterful job of telling this gripping tale of greed, pride, lust, love, and betrayal. He admits this is his tribute to past generations and a cultural reminder to coming generations of China's rich history.

Unless you are a fan of Chinese cinema and arts, you will most likely not recognize any of the main actors. So, I'll spare you that list. However, you will find the hottest pop star in Asia playing one role, and China's biggest box office "good guy" playing the role of the very very bad guy. Knowing this made the movie more interesting for me. You will also find a brand new actress in her first role, Wei Tang. She was outstanding, and her English is good enough that I will not be surprised to see her more on US screens soon. I'll be disappointed if that does not happen.

Watch this movie who with someone who understands Ma Jong. It is played symbolically throughout the movie.

De-Lovely

If you were invited to go back and watch your life as a movie, what would it look like?

In this highly stylized, very smart script, Writer Jay Cocks (The Age of Innocence and Gangs of New York) delivers a truly lovely tribute to singer Cole Porter. It begins with an aged Porter sitting in a theater while a state-play is prepared. Once he realizes the play is to be his life, the story gets more interesting.

Kevin Kline (A Fish Called Wanda, I Love You to Death, and Dave) is so perfect as Cole Porter, you forget he is acting. It is obvious how much fun he had playing this role. It earned him a Golden Globe nomination.

Ashley Judd (A Time to Kill, and Double Jeopardy) plays Porter's long-suffering, very patient, understanding wife, Linda. As for the historical accuracy of this picture, I cannot give an opinion, and critics disagree. But either way, Judd did a great job with the range of emotions her character went through.

The story moves back to the older Porter sitting in the theater with Gabe (angel Gabriel?) played with stone-cold precision by Jonathan Pryce (Evita and Pirates of the Caribbean series). This type of additional narration adds greatly to the story, and is well written and well-acted.

Even if you are not a fan of Cole Porter music, or that era of shows, this movie is worth the watch because it is so unique. On the other hand, if you do like music from this time, you will love this movie. The soundtrack is worth having on your ipod.

Watch this movie with someone who likes to dance.

Michael Clayton

How do you make a movie with 6 or 7 Oscar winners and yet eek out only 1 winner from the project? One Wonders.

Writer/Director Tony Gilroy (The Devil's Advocate, Proof of Life, and the Bourne series) has spun a masterpiece. The opening dialogue sets up the rest of the story perfectly. The script is smart and the acting is on target. No pun intended.

Tom Wilkinson (Sense and Sensibility, Shakespeare in Love, and Batman Begins) is at the top of his craft thus far in his role as a legendary attorney who has finally been had enough of defending a rotten product from a corrupt corporation. His work earned him an Oscar nomination, and well worthy it was. I can't imagine any other actor who could have pulled this part off better, if at all.

Tilda Swinton (Vanilla Sky, Adaptation, and The Chronicles of Narnia) did win Best Supporting Actress for her work here, and a more loathsome corporate General Counsel if difficult to find. Her constant rehearsing confirms many of our suspicions about attorneys.

Yes, yes, George Clooney (Three Kings, O Brother Where Art Thou?, and Ocean's Eleven) is the title character here, but he is not the star. He is the box office, but not the draw. I found his effort here less than convincing, wooden, hallow, and unconvincing. I can think of a dozen others who would have done a better job. Despite this, the movie is very very good.

This is clearly a good story, well written, well told, well acted, and well received.

Watch this movie with someone who can follow the subplot when it raises it vague head.

Shaun of the Dead

"You've got red on ya". We've all had days like this I'm sure. Nothing seems to go right, despite our best efforts. Old friends make it tough stay close to them. And everyone around us is irritatingly... dead.

While it may be possible to get too much of a good thing, this movie is most likely not it, just yet. Spin-offs and sequels will probably hit that particular low mark.

Simon Pegg (Band of Brothers, Hott Fuzz, and soon to be the new Scotty in Star Trek) appears to be the front man for a goofy group of pun-loving film makers, who are fascinated with zombies. Why? Who knows. But at least in the case of this movie, I'm glad they got it right at least one.

According to my youngest daughter, she has never seen me laugh so hard at a movie. What does that say about me or the movie? Not sure. It could be I had a low comedy threshold that day, or maybe, just maybe this movie is very very funny. I like British pub humor, and this movie is choker block full mate.

Shaun's video game obsessed chum in this story is played by Nick Frost (Kinky Boots and Hott Fuzz). We've all had friends like this, more or less. So, we can understand how poor Shaun feels, and why he keeps him around.

The supporting cast is brilliant. The soundtrack is spot on, and the sight and timing gags a perfect. This might be a dumb story well told, but it still goes on my list of movies worth a watch again, or for the first time if you have not seen it yet.

Watch it with someone who likes puns and ironic humor.

We Own the Night

Please tell me Joaquin Phoenix (Parenthood, Gladiator, and Walk the Line) is not the new Richard Burton. Dark. Brooding. Playing primarily one type of character. I would like to see more from him.

I know Mark Wahlberg (Perfect Storm, Four Brothers, and The Departed) can play more that just tough guys. Please tell me he is not the new Kirk Douglas. Way too good-looking to play "normal" guys, way too smart to play just one type of role.

Had thus movie starred Richard Burton and Kirk Douglas way back when, it would have been very little different. Some of you may see that as a good thing, and some may say that would be a bad thing. I see it as a good thing. A good story is a good story regardless of who plays the roles. But, casting the wrong people can ruin a good story. In this case, the two big box-office names were brought in and given Producer status in order lend their names to the project (my assumptions and opinions only). But they do make a good story more watchable. But they do not make it a great story.

Robert Duvall (The Great Santini, Colors, and Falling Down) is the glue that keeps this cast together like the old pro he is. The other two play his sons. Yes, be prepared to suspend belief. Though they choose different life-styles, their father is the one constant in their lives. And it is ultimately the father that units the boys again with a single purpose.

I think the thing I liked best about this movie was that the things I expected to happen never did, and the things I did not expect, kept happening. So, either I'm getting worse at guessing, or writers are getting more clever. Hopefully for all of us it is the latter.

Watch this movie with a sibling you've always secretly admired.

Ray

Is there a role Jamie Foxx can't pull off with the style of a more seasoned pro? I think not. He does comedy. He does drama. He does action. He transforms, and takes us along for the ride. Thank you Mr. Foxx.

Dirctor Taylor Hackford (An Officer and a Gentleman, Devil's Advocate, and Proof of Life) gets a great deal of the credit for this film, no doubt. But it is all about the title character really, and Hackford was clearly smart enough to let the actors do their thing.

If you have read any of my other posts, you know I like a well-done biopic. This sets the bar very, very high. And if you know a little more, you'll know I'm a Ray Charles fan. The soundtrack to this movie should be a part of everyone's collection.

Jamie Foxx met with Ray Charles to study him and discuss how to play him at the various stages in the movie. Jamie studied at the Braille Institute to better help him portray Ray. Jamie even wore special contacts that rendered him blind during filming. What more could we ask for? Oh yes, Jamie Foxx also played the piano is all scenes. No wonder he won the Best Actor Oscar that year?

The supporting cast is wonderful, and too numerous to mention, but they too do a terrific job of not over-playing their character and letting the star's story be told.

Interestingly enough, this movie was shot as an independent film. Universal only picked it up for distribution after filming and editing were complete. I'm guessing there are now about 124 million reasons some studio suits are wishing they had more of an imagination.

There is a little something in this movie for everyone. Besides the music, which is first rate, there is comedy, drama, history, and great cinematography. There are even some great pick-up lines for you single guys, and the thing about wrists is brilliant.

Watch this movie with someone who knows how to Bogaloo.

Spanglish

If you are not ordinarily an Adam Sandler fan, and skipped this movie for that reason, I suggest you reconsider. This story is not about a goofy every-man getting away with the absurd, and accomplishing the improbable. That alone takes it out of the realm of the typical Sandler movie.

Written and Directed by James L. Brooks, who also wrote and directed Terms of Endearment, Broadcast News, and As Good as it Gets. He has written a ton of stuff, and produced tons more. But, when he directs his own writing, awards are given. He has 3 Oscars himself, and directed 9 actors who have won for their roles. His work has attracted over 46 nominations for big trophies. That gets my attention.

Paz Vega (10 Items or Less) is the real star of this story. She is smart, she is funny, she is adorable. In this specific case, she is a immigrant in LA struggling to grab the brass ring. I'm sure there are at least a few thousand who can identify with this situation.

In fact, Sandler is really down the list, in my opinion, of the features in this project. Tea Leoni (The Family Man and Fun With Dick And Jane) is outrageous in her portrayal of our typical stressed out, insecure, housewife.

But, she is outshone however, by Cloris Leachman who has played more crazy people than most actors have played roles. Brava Ms. Leachman. More. More. More.

Watch this movie with someone who pulled themselves up by their bootstraps.

Criminal

If you didn't see this movie in the theaters, I don't blame you. It was out at a time when some other very interesting things were playing. It was not a blockbuster, but that is more a critique of the average viewing public and less a comment on the film itself.

Writer and Director Gregory Jacobs score big in his first outing. He has however many impressive credits under his belt as assistant director. It is obvious he has been to school with some of the greats he has worked with. Kudos Mr. Jacobs. Keep 'em coming.

Some have said this is simply a contemporized version of my favorite movie, The Sting. If you have not seen that one either, do so soon. Don't wait for it to get a review here. There are several significant differences between The Sting, and Criminal. Star power alone sets them apart. Yes, they both let you think you know who are the good guys and who are the bad guys. But in Criminal you may not like any of the main characters. In the Sting, there are a couple of lovable characters. If I explain any more of the differences it'll spoil one movie or the other. See them both and judge for yourself.

John C. Reilly (Days of Thunder AND Talladega Nights, Hoffa AND Gangs of New York, Tenacious D AND Chicago) does it all. Drama, comedy, musical, serious, big rolls and small. He is wonderful. In this story however is the guy you'll most likely love to hate. A con's con, he helps a younger criminal pull off a bait and switch of a lifetime.

Diego Luna (Open Range, The Terminal, and Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights) is the young con who seeks out Reilly's character for mentoring. Who is teaching whom what?

Maggie Gyllenhaal (Secretary, Mona Lisa Smile, and Monster House) comes in later in the movie, but figures hugely in the story. That about all I can say. She does a fun job her and I look forward to seeing her more often in good stories.

As with most other films based in and filmed on location in LA generally, and Beverly Hills specifically, there are a wide range of odd, interesting, fun, and fantastic supporting characters. Oddly enough it was a scene from a totally different type of movie that I thought of at the end of this film.

If you remember the scene from "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest" when the group of patients is being introduced as doctor this and professor that as they prepare for a fishing expedition, then you'll have a glimpse into how this movie ends. There, I've spoiled it.

Watch this movie with someone who is a bad liar.

Finding Neverland

Don't let the 7 Academy Award nominations distract you from the fact this this is a very good movie.

Director Marc Foster (Monster's Ball, Stranger Than Fiction, and The Kite Runner) has a short resume but look at the great choices he's made. Wow. Smart scripts. Great casts. Award-winning results.

Johnny Depp (Nightmare on Elm Street, Platoon, and What's Eating Gilbert Grape) is Sir J.M. Barre, author of stage plays and stories like Peter Pan. This story-of-a-story film is about the relationship he had with a family inspired him to write - stories like Peter Pan.

Kate Winslet (Sense and Sensibility, Titanic, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) is the 'other woman' in Sir Barre's life and the mother of the children who invent Peter Pan.

Film greats like Julie Christie and Dustin Hoffman support well in this project. This is not Hoffman's only Pan work (see Hook). And, while this is the second Pan-related movie on this site, it will almost certainly not be the last. Just because Pan Syndrome has never been recognized by the American Psychiatric Association does not mean it does not mean anything. Right? We all just exhibit it in different ways.

I would be guilty of serious dereliction of duty if I failed to mention Radha Mitchell (Man on Fire, and Mozart and the Whale) is so convincing in everything she does, we forget how young she is. Pure talent.

Watch this movie with someone knows how to tell good stories.

Notting Hill

It is not often that a big budget romantic comedy exceeds expectations. Notting Hill is one such example. But it is NOT the big stars who have all the sparkle here, it is the supporting cast which is brilliant. I'm convinced this movie would have been just as good without two of the most recognizable people in the world playing lead roles. I'd love to see a movie with just the supporting cast.

I mean this of course, not as a slam against either mega-star, but as a compliment to South African Director Roger Michell (Changing Lanes and Venus). He has done outstanding work with this group of gifted funny people. His brainchild of having one main character walk from one end of the street to the other, while four seasons come and go, is great Hollywood eye candy.

Julia Roberts (Steel Magnolias, Sleeping With The Enemy, and Erin Brokovich) basically plays herself here, but does it so well, you can't help but love her. The scene with her leading man's family at a sister's birthday should ring true with all of us.

Hugh Grant (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Sense and Sensibility, and About a Boy) lives the fantasy of almost every man. A movie star walks into his little bookstore and over the course of the movie falls in love with him. We should all have such a bookstore.

Rhys Ifans (Vanity Fair and Hannibal Rising) plays Grant's doofus roommate, and make Seinfeld's Kramar seem like the perfect neighbor. He sets the stage of strange and wonderful characters all part of the bookstore owner's small world.

Despite this movie being credited with having delivering the stupidest line in movie history, the film is a smart as it is funny.

Watch it with someone who still says "Whoopsie daisy" if you can find one.

Seducing Doctor Lewis

What "Northern Exposure" was to Cicely, Alaska (Roslyn, WA), this movie is to a small French fishing town. The story is basically the same. The fishing village wants to lure a large employer to their depressed part of the coast, but the employer won't come until the town has a full-time doctor.

So, one of the local big-shots, ala Maurice Minnifield, organizes the town to help seduce a big-city doctor to set up practice.

The plot is totally predictable, but then again, so is a fun road-trip. The movie is in French, so if you hate subtitles, will be tough to enjoy. The location is beautiful and the characters are as delightful as those in "Waking Ned Devine".

You will most likely not know any of the main characters, so you'll be able to totally immerse yourself in the story and character development. I am not a big fan of French cinema, with very few exceptions. But this one if very watchable treat. Enough so that it won the Audience Award at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival in Utah.

Watch it with someone who grew up either in a big city or in a wee village.

The Brave One

My expectation was that this movie was just a remake of 1974's Death Wish. I was wrong.

Director Neil Jordan (The Crying Game, Interview With A Vampire, and The End of the Affair) is more known as a teller of creative, artsy, independent films. In a very real way, he tells this story with more creativity, and more art, than one might expect in your typical revenge genre movie. But, therein lies the catch. This movie is atypical.

Jodie Foster (Taxi Driver, Silence of the Lambs, and The Inside Man to pick just a sample) was also Executive Producer, is a complete character here. Totally believable. Totally real. It is oh so easy to put ourselves in her position. Could you?

When her fiance (Naveen Andrews - Sayid of TV's Lost) is killed and she is beaten senseless, Foster's character, a public radio show host, struggles with how to carry on her life. Does she hate what she becomes, or does she love it?

Terrance Howard (Ray, Four Brothers, Crash, and The Hunting Party) plays the cop trying to catch whomever is killing bad guys in Manhattan. This is some of his best work, and in my opinion, he has done some great stuff.

Yes, there are certainly elements of your average revenge genre movie. But there is much more to the characters here. A good person does bad things to bad guys. The difference is how she reacts and how she evolves.

Another interesting thing is the relationship between the cop and the vigilante. The diner scene is very very smart cinema.

Also of interest is how lovingly this movie portrays New York and New Yorkers. Thank you Neil Jordan, for reminding us what a great city this is.

Watch this movie with someone who loves Manhattan, the safest big city on the planet.

The Thomas Crown Affair (1999)

Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway made magic in the 1968 version of this great story, and set the bar pretty high for any remakes. There are a few significant differences between that version and the 1999 remake. Other than being in color, and having a far better soundtrack, the 1999 version is much sexier. And, the more recent version is a complex, but very funny, art heist instead of the 1968 bank robbery.

Pierce Brosnan (Mrs. Doubtfire, The Mirror Has Two Faces, and The Matador) is as good, if not better here than in any of his Bond roles. His is smug, his smirk is perfect. He is charming, and he is funny.

Rene Russo (Lethal Weapon series, In the Line of Fire, and Tin Cup) is hot hot hot. I have always like Ms. Russo and I think this is her finest hour, so far. She is both venerable and vulnerable. Her cat and mouse dance with Brosnan is the stuff Hollywood dreams are made of. Who is chasing whom and to what end?

Denis Leary (The Sandlot, The Ref, and currently in TV's Rescue Me) is a very smart but very outsmarted New York cop. Except for his voice-over work in the Ice Age series, this is the last good film work he has turned in. Rescue Me has done just that for him.

Director John McTiernan usually does big budget action pictures like the Die Hard series, Hunt For Red October, and Last Action Hero. He also dabbles well in the sci-fi/fantasy realm with Predator and 13th Warrior. So his version of The Thomas Crown Affair is a major departure, but he plays it smartly without leaning too heavily on the features of his other work.

Watch this movie with plenty of popcorn and your fantasy for living for the high life fully intact.

Riding Giants

This may be the only documentary on my list. It's here because it does not "feel' like a educational experience. Riding Giants feels much more like a thrill ride. It's smart. It's funny. It is visually stunning. And, regardless if you surf or not, you will learn something, and you will enjoy it.

Director Stacy Peralta, the genius behind Real Genius, Dogtown and Z-boys, and Made in America, also his this impressive notch on his totem. If we learn nothing else from this film, it should be that if we do what we know best, and stick to that, we will do very well. And nobody will have issues with us going beyond our reach. And isn't that what we all want?

While super sportsman, actor, and model, Laird John Hamilton is a key focus of the film, he is not the only star by any means. Household names in the world of surfing like Greg Noll, Jeff Clark, Buzzy Kerbox, Mikey Munoz, and Kelly Slater all show up to help tell the story.

The story itself takes you from Hawaii, to California, to Fiji. If you like looking at beautiful beaches and great waves, this movie is chock full of both. If you like watching guys surf, this is a great way to do it from your sofa.

One of the great lines of the movie is something like - A guy will fight you over a 2 foot wave but he won't over a 20 foot wave. The point is, that is a great reason to ride the giants.

Watch this movie with someone who loves the ocean.

Blast From The Past

Director Hugh Wilson has not told many stories, but he has some very good ones to his credit. "Blast From The Past" is among them. His first work to receive national attention was on television as the creator, writer, and executive producer of WKRP In Cincinnati. If you have seen it, you will recognize his hand in everything since. Comedy with a very sharp edge, is his tool and his gift to us.

Imagine a Cal Tech physics genius with a tilt towards the doomsday propheteers of the 1950s. So, he builds not just a bomb shelter, but a bomb fortress where he and his family can survive for 50 years if necessary. When the unimaginable happens, he and his family are prepared.

Christopher Walken (Deer Hunter, Milagro Beanfield War, and Catch Me If You Can) is perfect as the over-prepared patriarch, and shows us just what being a father in the 50's was all about.

Sissy Spacek (Carrie, Coal Miner's Daughter, and Raggedy Man) starts out as June Cleaver and ends up as Roseanne Conner. Ouch. But, along the way I totally enjoyed her transformation, and I even found myself empathising with her.

The story however, is really about the son, born to the above couple shortly after sealing themselves inside the bunker. Brendan Fraser (Encino Man, With Honors, and Crash) is allowed to go back to the surface to search for a suitable wife among whatever survivors there might be.

Who does he find among the thriving metropolis of LA, oblvious to the fact that a family is living underneath them, but Alicia Silverstone (this is the only thing she has done that I like aside from the old Aerosmith videos). Somehow these two complete opposites find each other and make it work.

Supporting these four main characters is a wonderful cast Angelenos, all of whom locals should recognize as their friends and neighbors. The night club scene alone is worth the rental. No folling, trust me.

Watch this movie with someone who remembers the 1950's.