A funky-sweet comedy about an oddball teenager who decides her 
unborn baby should go to the nice childless couple she found in the Pennysaver.
LOVED: Michael Cera as Juno's baby-daddy, Paulie Bleeker. Alot of his roles are similar, but i see the same sort of talent in him that i saw in early Steve Carrell stuff. There is definite depth to what appear to be his fairly one-note comedic characters. J.K. Simmons and Alison Janney as Juno's dad and stepmom are spot-on. Most of all, it's Jennifer Garner's performance (i know! who knew she had it in her?) that is most interesting to watch.
DIDN'T LOVE: All the hipster dialog. Bleh. Sometimes i found myself thinking 'OKAYYYY, we get it, you're clever and hip. Could you please just let it go for two seconds?!' it was a good characterization device but gets in the way of some interchanges that could/should be more dramatic.
unborn baby should go to the nice childless couple she found in the Pennysaver.LOVED: Michael Cera as Juno's baby-daddy, Paulie Bleeker. Alot of his roles are similar, but i see the same sort of talent in him that i saw in early Steve Carrell stuff. There is definite depth to what appear to be his fairly one-note comedic characters. J.K. Simmons and Alison Janney as Juno's dad and stepmom are spot-on. Most of all, it's Jennifer Garner's performance (i know! who knew she had it in her?) that is most interesting to watch.
DIDN'T LOVE: All the hipster dialog. Bleh. Sometimes i found myself thinking 'OKAYYYY, we get it, you're clever and hip. Could you please just let it go for two seconds?!' it was a good characterization device but gets in the way of some interchanges that could/should be more dramatic.
RECOMMENDATION: Aside from that one complaint, i loved it!
TALK TO ME 
The story of Washington D.C. radio personality Ralph "Petey" Greene, an ex-con who became a popular talk show host and community activist in the 1960s.
LOVED: Each performance. Don Cheadle delivers. It was only by watching him in another movie the next day that i realized just how completely he transformed to become Petey Greene. Chiwetel Ejiofor, Martin Sheen, and Taraji P. Henson also deliver great performances.
DIDN'T LOVE: the pacing, the lack of story, the not-very-climactic climax. It was a misfire.
The story of Washington D.C. radio personality Ralph "Petey" Greene, an ex-con who became a popular talk show host and community activist in the 1960s.
LOVED: Each performance. Don Cheadle delivers. It was only by watching him in another movie the next day that i realized just how completely he transformed to become Petey Greene. Chiwetel Ejiofor, Martin Sheen, and Taraji P. Henson also deliver great performances.
DIDN'T LOVE: the pacing, the lack of story, the not-very-climactic climax. It was a misfire.
RECOMMENDATION: Only for those times where you're sitting around wondering why Don Cheadle doesn't have an Oscar and you need to prove to yourself that you're NOT crazy, he really IS that good.
ZODIAC*
Based on the Robert Graysmith books about the real life Zodiac, a serial killer who
terrorized San Francisco with a string of seemingly random murders during the 1960s and 1970s.
Based on the Robert Graysmith books about the real life Zodiac, a serial killer who
terrorized San Francisco with a string of seemingly random murders during the 1960s and 1970s.LOVED: Robert Downey, Jr.. Who doesn't? Is there any actor as fun/fascinating to watch? Even though he's not in much of the second half, still one of my favorite things about this movie. Also loved the presentation in general: camera work, costuming, San Francisco, everything. David Fincher (Fight Club, Se7en, Panic Room) makes visually captivating movies.
DIDN'T LOVE: The length and the sag toward the end. This movie is too long and covering the 4+ years when the Zodiac stops killing is pretty tedious. The film does it's best to create an ending where there wasn't one in reality (the Zodiac murders were never solved).
DIDN'T LOVE: The length and the sag toward the end. This movie is too long and covering the 4+ years when the Zodiac stops killing is pretty tedious. The film does it's best to create an ending where there wasn't one in reality (the Zodiac murders were never solved).
RECOMMENDATION: A very good movie, if you have the time and patience. When it gets slow, concentrate on the performances and the details of production design, etc.
ONCE* 
A modern-day musical about a busker and an immigrant and their eventful week, as they write, rehearse and record songs that tell their love story.
LOVED: the music, the performances, the script....um, the music. This had all the fun and character of an indie (which it was) without the forced quirk of Juno. This is a GREAT little film.
DIDN'T LOVE: ??....................i had to have the subtitles on because of the accents. That's really my only complaint, and it's not so much about the film as it is my neuroses.
RECOMMENDATION: WATCH IT!! And buy anything by The Frames.
A modern-day musical about a busker and an immigrant and their eventful week, as they write, rehearse and record songs that tell their love story.
LOVED: the music, the performances, the script....um, the music. This had all the fun and character of an indie (which it was) without the forced quirk of Juno. This is a GREAT little film.
DIDN'T LOVE: ??....................i had to have the subtitles on because of the accents. That's really my only complaint, and it's not so much about the film as it is my neuroses.
RECOMMENDATION: WATCH IT!! And buy anything by The Frames.
REIGN OVER ME
Adam Sandler is Charlie, whose post-traumatic stress caused by the loss of his wife and children on 9/11 sees him regressing to a sort of second
childhood. A chance run-in with his former college roommate, Alan (Don Cheadle) spurs Charlie’s first attempts at remembering his past.
LOVED: Don Cheadle, of course. (It was a Cheadle-fest at the Markle house) Sandler was good too, tho the psychosis of his character made it hard to differentiate between goofy-talking Sandler of his comedy films and dramatic-Sandler of Spanglish, Punch Drunk Love, etc. The soundtrack was good (title refers to 'Love Reign O'er Me by The Who) and the New York scenery was also enjoyable. Supporting work by Saffron Burrows as Donna was also great.
DIDN'T LOVE: The pace, the lack of clear direction. It seemed to meander off course then jump swiftly back on. The connection between Charlie and Donna (another oddball) was sweet, but a bit forced. It could've been alot worse though.
Adam Sandler is Charlie, whose post-traumatic stress caused by the loss of his wife and children on 9/11 sees him regressing to a sort of second
childhood. A chance run-in with his former college roommate, Alan (Don Cheadle) spurs Charlie’s first attempts at remembering his past.LOVED: Don Cheadle, of course. (It was a Cheadle-fest at the Markle house) Sandler was good too, tho the psychosis of his character made it hard to differentiate between goofy-talking Sandler of his comedy films and dramatic-Sandler of Spanglish, Punch Drunk Love, etc. The soundtrack was good (title refers to 'Love Reign O'er Me by The Who) and the New York scenery was also enjoyable. Supporting work by Saffron Burrows as Donna was also great.
DIDN'T LOVE: The pace, the lack of clear direction. It seemed to meander off course then jump swiftly back on. The connection between Charlie and Donna (another oddball) was sweet, but a bit forced. It could've been alot worse though.
RECOMMENDATION: Good rental for when you want to hang out in New York with Don Cheadle or for when you're feeling lonely (cuz it's about friendship).
*movies listed by Ebert & Roeper among the '10 Best Films of 2007'
1 comment:
Ooooh, Once sounds so good. Sucker for the musical. Note to self: look up "busker".
I agree about Reign Over Me. Good movie but weird situation with the crazy/pretty lady. Made me want a scooter...
Erin K.
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