Posted on October 18th, 2008 by Zettel Film Reviewer
Tweet Collateral – Michael Mann Michael Mann (Heat, The Insider) can’t make a bad movie: but with Collateral he spoils a good one. His claustrophobic, intense style is there but he’s ‘blockbustered’ it with a pounding rock score which underlines most dramatic moments into oblivion. After the absorbing, atmospheric opening it’s a hack job. Neat […]
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Posted on October 17th, 2008 by Zettel Film Reviewer
Tweet Where The Truth Lies – Director Atom Egoyan Casting? How hard can that be? I used to think in my blissful ignorance. Then you compare say Kiss Kiss Bang Bang with this not dissimilar noirish mystery movie and it hits you. Kilmer/Downey was high risk but inspired. Shouldn’t have worked but it did. Bacon/Firth […]
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Posted on October 13th, 2008 by Zettel Film Reviewer
Tweet Sideways – Director Alexander Payne Colours to the mast. I hated About Schmidt (Review in Archive). Sideways is much better, but its spirit and emotional tone make it very much a companion piece. Both pose the question: is pathos enough to drive a movie? I’d always thought of pathos as a bit like happiness: […]
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Posted on October 13th, 2008 by Zettel Film Reviewer
Tweet Vantage Point – Pete Travis Is he raw about the rugby, chagrined about the cricket; morose about Manchester United, mourning Middlesbrough or even cheesed-off about Chelsea? These are heavy blows in the masculine game of life so perk up your partner and treat him to a good night out. This one even runs a […]
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Posted on October 11th, 2008 by Zettel Film Reviewer
Tweet The Producers – Director Susan Stroman Make ’em laugh… make ’em laugh…The Producers was always a musical trying to get out. Both satirical farce and farcical satire, its broad, exuberant style and totally performance-dependent appeal is made for the immediacy of the stage and the vitality of live audience participation. Its intentionally tasteless premise […]
Filed under: 3 star, Comedy, General, Hollywood, Humorous, Musical, Susan Stroman | No Comments »
Posted on October 10th, 2008 by Zettel Film Reviewer
TweetPicture to follow The Other Boleyn Girl – Justin Chadwick Robert Bolt and Fred Zinneman set the bar high. A Man For All Seasons won 6 Oscars in 1967 – best Picture, Director, Actor (Paul Schofield) Screenplay, Cinematography, Costume Design. Although set in the same chaotic period of English History, the special angle of interest […]
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Posted on October 9th, 2008 by Zettel Film Reviewer
Tweet Munich – Director Steven Spielberg “Inspired by real events” opens this movie. And it troubles me. Do we owe the 11 Israeli athletes murdered at Munich anything less than the truth? Not the absolute truth, that may not be known to anyone. But if we are to put their story at the heart of […]
Filed under: 3 star, Action, Drama, General, Hollywood, Philosophical, Political, Steven Spielberg, War | No Comments »
Posted on October 7th, 2008 by Zettel Film Reviewer
Tweet 88 Minutes – John Avnet It isn’t hard to catch Al Pacino over-acting: but it is very hard to catch him acting. The best proof of the first is that after seven Oscar nominations for several of the best character portrayals in movies – Michael Corleone (twice), Frank Serpico, Sonny Wortzik (Dog Day Afternoon), […]
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Posted on October 6th, 2008 by Zettel Film Reviewer
Tweet Mission Impossible 3 – Director JJ Abrams It’s a toss-up – a day at Alton Towers or MI3? Both will offer you a series of white knuckle rides with no other purpose than to pump adrenaline and make your knuckles white. True Tom Cruise runs a lot; emotes a lot; and plots a little. […]
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Posted on October 5th, 2008 by Zettel Film Reviewer
Tweet Keeping Mum – Niall Johnson Not quite Ealing – but close. At times. Ealing comedies were all about tone: a kind of arch, insouciant darkness to relish not just enjoy. The logic of the English social class system followed through to its ultimate absurdity. All the fixed butts of Englishness that were affectionately ridiculed […]
Filed under: 3 star, Comedy, Europe/World cinema, General, Humorous, Niall Johnson | No Comments »
