Posted on September 29th, 2008 by Zettel Film Reviewer
Tweet Down In The Valley – David Jacobson Don’t miss this elusive, allusive film if it hits a screen near you. See it before it becomes a cult movie. Profoundly American, it resonates with the contradictions of a culture whose real roots have been severed and is therefore struggling to live out its own mythology […]
Filed under: 4 stars, Action, David Jacobson, Drama, General, Hollywood, Philosophical, Western | No Comments »
Posted on September 29th, 2008 by Zettel Film Reviewer
Tweet Syriana – Stephen Gaghan Pascal’s wager: we can’t know whether God exists so we should weigh the benefits of belief. If we assume He does exist and act virtuously, then even if He doesn’t we have lost nothing. However if we assume He doesn’t and act badly then eternal punishment is the penalty. For […]
Filed under: 2 star, Action, Drama, General, Hollywood, Philosophical, Political, Stephen Gaghan, War | No Comments »
Posted on September 27th, 2008 by Zettel Film Reviewer
Tweet Superman Returns – Brian Singer Billy Connolly reckons a sign of getting older is that your feet get further away – harder to reach. So we should cut Superman some slack if it now takes him two and a half hours to save the world: a little chore he used to knock off in […]
Filed under: 3 star, Action, Brian Singer, Comedy, Drama, General, Hollywood, Humorous, Sci-Fi | No Comments »
Posted on September 27th, 2008 by Zettel Film Reviewer
Tweet bit heavy on the after-shave there Jamie Miami Vice – Michael Mann Michael Mann doesn’t bore us with this movie. But it is hard to believe that the director of Manhunter, Heat, and especially The Insider did not bore himself while making it. There is so little aspiration here. The original TV series was […]
Filed under: 3 star, Action, Detective, Drama, General, Hollywood, Michael Mann | No Comments »
Posted on September 25th, 2008 by Zettel Film Reviewer
TweetLord Of War (LOW) – Director Andrew Niccol Philosophy distinguishes between the mention and use of a word. “‘Love’ is a four-letter word” is mention; “I love you deeply” is use. Roughly: mentioning a word is to make a trivial observation about language; using a word is to connect, engage with reality. This meretricious, cynical, […]
Filed under: 0 stars, Action, Andrew Niccol, Drama, General, Hollywood, Humorous, Philosophical, Political, War | No Comments »
Posted on September 24th, 2008 by Zettel Film Reviewer
Tweet The Incredibles – Brad Bird Beg or borrow a couple of kids from friends and treat yourself to this movie: or just sneak in on your own and treat yourself. Wall to wall animation on TV and some of the so-called animated blockbusters has for me made the genre very tired and predictable in […]
Filed under: 4 stars, Action, Animation, Brad Bird, Comedy, Fantasy, General, Humorous | No Comments »
Posted on September 24th, 2008 by Zettel Film Reviewer
Tweet The Inside Man – Spike Lee Elastic disbelief required. If you are willing to stretch a bit then this slightly over 2 hours piece of hokum is entertaining enough. A cross between a what-is-it? and a how-done-it? The answer to neither question challenges the little grey cells over much. There are a few stereotypical […]
Filed under: 3 star, Action, Detective, Drama, Hollywood, Humorous, Philosophical, Spike Lee | No Comments »
Posted on September 24th, 2008 by Zettel Film Reviewer
Tweet Iron Man – Jon Favreau As techno-fascist movies go, this is a good one: a well-paced narrative, above average acting for this genre, and an at times distinctive, stylish, visually witty tone. Favreau, making the most of Robert Downey Junior’s trademark insouciant, self-deprecating acting style, tongue-in-cheeks the preposterous goings-on well enough to induce you […]
Filed under: 3 star, Action, Comedy, Fantasy, General, Hollywood, Humorous, Jon Favreau, Sci-Fi, War | No Comments »
Posted on September 23rd, 2008 by Zettel Film Reviewer
TweetThe Happening – M Night Shyamalan Bad Night at the movies. M Night Shyamalan has produced a first: the only movie ever where the trailer is actually better than the movie. We are familiar with ‘comedies’ where the only funny bits are all the in the trail, but MNS has gone one better – not […]
Filed under: 0 stars, Action, Drama, Fantasy, General, Hollywood, Humorous, M Night Shyamalan, Philosophical, Political, Sci-Fi, War | No Comments »
Posted on September 21st, 2008 by Zettel Film Reviewer
Tweet Kill Bill (1) – Quentin Tarantino Kill Bill (1) is like an expensive, super-cool, shiny, intriguing executive toy. Everyone admires and is impressed by its cleverness and design. It is amusing, diverting, conversation stopping – and totally pointless. Its only function is to be what it is. It has no purpose, or value. It […]
Filed under: 3 star, Action, Drama, Fantasy, Hollywood, Humorous, Philosophical, Quentin Tarantino | No Comments »
