Unstoppable (2010)

To say this movie is about generations getting along might be a bit of a stretch. There is also a little train action too. But that is a major theme. Old school methods clashing with young gun mentality.

Denzel Washington, who used to be one of the young gun guys now settles in nicely in the old school role. Chris Pine, who has not yet been type-cast as the new Capt. Kirk, plays the rookie fresh out of training. Their two worlds collide and in the process a train smashes a bunch of stuff too. The third person in the new dynamic trio is played convincingly by Rosario Dawson.

On the movie gets rolling, he action does not stop (pun intended) until the end. Along the way there is a little humor and a bunch of drama. Since we pretty much know how things end I can't really spoil anything for you. As usual in this case you just can't be sure of the how.

Watch this movie with someone who likes trains.

The Book of Eli

This is either a good movie or a bad one. Two stars or four? How can I decide? What do you say about a movie with things you like and things you don't like?

Let's make a list.

The Good - Denzel Washington and Mila Kunis - good performances
The Bad - Sepia tone movies
The Ugly - Sight impaired Ninjas

This movie is a little bit Road Warrior and a little bit Ten Commandments, and a little bit Kung Fu.

It is quite violent but the sepia tone saves us from the gore and does add to the whole post-apocalyptic feel. Otherwise I found it annoying.

Personally I found it hard buy it all at the end. Let me know what you think?

Watch this movie with someone who is not a huge fan of cats.

Inside Man

This is a very smart movie. I love the formula. A great script. Big names clearly having a good time doing their jobs. Set with classic New York characters. All on top of a good story that keeps the audience guessing until the end. Oh and the end - I love an end that "winks" at the audience. This one has a realistic, smart ending.

Denzel Washington plays a jaded New York Detective called in to work an unusual bank robbery. Clive Owen plays an uncommon thief. Jodie Foster plays one of her more interesting characters as a "fixer" for the rich and famous of New York. Christopher Plummer plays the banker who calls in Foster's character to help make things go away.

The supporting cast is equally impressive. Willem Dafoe and Chiwetel Ejiofor are also detectives working with Washington. Kim Director is among the gang of robbers, interestingly all named Steve.

Can there be a bank robbery if nothing is claimed stolen? If the bank robbers stay in the bank with all the hostages and nobody knows who is a good guy or a bad guy, who can the cops chase? This movie reinforces the idea that success is not based so much on 'what you know' or 'who you know', but more on 'what you know about who you know'.

Watch this movie with someone who thinks a good guessing game is delicious.

The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3

The original was better, but this is a worthy entry. Superstars make it watchable. I can't help it, I like John Travolta better as a bad guy that as a good guy. There is much about this character we can't really understand or appreciate, but you have to enjoy the performance.

Denzel Washington is part victim part suspect here, and he plays it well. As usual Denzel represents us all. "Everyman" is neither a saint nor a total scoundrel. It is the constant wavering between the two that allows us to relate to his characters. There are several obvious nods to Walter Matthew who played his character in the original.

John Turturro and James Gandolfini are great in their supporting roles here. For Gandolfini it must have felt like his Tony Soprano character had been elected Mayor of New York. Not too much difference. I found it a little hard to believe Turturro in the hostage negotiator role given some of his other work, but that is my problem, not his.

Now to the movie itself, this is best if you don't watch with too much of a critical eye on plot and continuity. Like the NY subway itself - it's easier to enjoy the ride if you don't focus too much on the details.

Watch this movie with a big pastrami sandwich like they serve at the Stage Door Deli, it might feel more real that way.

Deja Vu (2006)

Time travel is solid fantasy and sci-fi stock, but it is used brilliantly here in a crime drama. In fact, it is done so well, you almost don't realize its being done. There are no flashy time machine scenes, and few, if any, special effects. This is as much psycho-thriller as anything else. And it is very well done.

Denzel Washington does a great job playing the smart, funny, caring cop he plays so well in other movies. He is surrounded by a great supporting cast as well. Almost too many to mention, but here are a few you will surely recognize: Val Kilmer, James Caviezel, Adam Goldberg, and others.

If you have not seen this movie yet, I recommend it. The story keeps you thinking.

Watch this one with someone who will talk about it with you while the story is unfolding.

American Ganster

If you have not seen this movie yet, please see it. If you lived in the 1970's, and remember it, you must seen this movie for a great flashback. If you saw this movie in the theater, you should rent it and watch the extended version on DVD. If you did not live in the 1970's you should see this movie to see what all the fuss was about.

Director Sir Ridley Scott add this masterful tale to his long list of creations and historical recreations (Blade Runner, Gladiator, and Black Hawk Down). He has a true gift to teaching a little bit of history while telling a good story. In fact, you will find none of his films on Yahoo's list of least historically correct movies.

Denzel Washington is perhaps the best of his generation. He can do it all, and make it look easy. The cool/smart character he played in "Inside Man" was on one side of the law, and the role he plays here is the same, but on the other side of the law. Denzel can play good guys, bad guys, smart guys, dumb guys, guys we love and guys we love to hate. THAT makes him a good actor. He has 2 Oscars to show for it, and nominations in 3 different decades. How many other working actors can claim that?

Russell Crowe recreates his LA Confidential role here, and there are no complaints from me. I have no problems with Australians playing American characters. For the record, I do have a problem with it going the other way around however. Crowe does a fantastic job here playing the "Boy Scout" cop, needle in the haystack of the 1970's NYPD.

The movie really is about these two totally different characters who's lives become entwined over the course of the journey. If it were not based on a true story, I would say a sequel were in order. I pride myself on being able to guess the ending of a good movie, and this one surprised me. If you can predict how it ends, and you didn't live it, see it already, or read the book, you should seriously consider writing screenplays.

Watch this movie with someone who remembers the 70's; right on?

Man on Fire

Director Tony Scott (Top Gun, The Last Boy Scout, and Crimson Tide) has a gift. First, he attracts great talent to work for him. Second, he tells a story in a way that pulls you in and makes you feel very much a part of it. Most his work is the kind of stuff where you may actually stand up and cheer at certain key moments. Man on Fire is no exception.

A significant chunk of Central America's economy is based in the ransoming of people from wealthy families. Some of these families are native, but most are from other countries. This is not news. But every year, this growth industry gets bigger. While this movie is told in that environment, it is not so much about that environment.

Denzel Washington (too many great ones to list here) has worked with Director Scott before, and always with brilliant success. I hesitate to say this is another of the redemption movies I like so well, but there is an element of that. Washington's character is depressed and at a self-esteem low water mark. He is offered and takes a second chance.

Dakota Fanning (War of the Worlds - 2005, and Charlotte's Web - 2006) plays the only daughter of a wealthy family in Mexico. The family hires Washington's character to protect her. See the plot? Yup, the bad guys get her, and he has to get her back.

While the story is really all about Washington's character evolution, there are some wonderful surprise appearances from the likes of Mickey Rourke (Diner, 9 1/2 Weeks, and Angel Heart), and equally oddball Christopher Walken (Deer Hunter, Milagro Beanfield War, and Catch Me if You Can). I always enjoy it when someone I don't expect pops in to spice up a story.

This is a great popcorn movie. Watch it with someone who who needs to reignite their life's mission.