Movie Review: ALONG CAME POLLY (2003)
Along Came Polly (2003)–**1/2 Along Came Polly shouldn’t have the cast that it does have. The comedy is trite and predictable, more suited for the likes of Drew Barrymore, Adam Sandler and Rob Schneider than Alec Baldwin, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Jennifer Aniston. It’s formulaic and would be a disposable comedy were it not for the concentration of surprising comedic performances. Polly is not destined to be a classic, nor is it close to being on par with writer John Hamburg’s previous Ben Stiller vehicle Meet the Parents. The only reason this comedy almost works is its stars are so in need of a mainstream cinema boost they play their characters with exuberant jubilation. The only cast member who’s too at home is Stiller, playing the neurotic risk analyst. He’s that every man character whose uphill struggle to find love is obstructed...
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Quickie: 21 GRAMS (2003)
21 Grams (2003)–**1/2 Quickie Review A dying man receives a heart courtesy of a soccer mom’s dead husband who was killed by a hit-and-run driver. Fate brings together these three people looking for love, revenge, and redemption. Utterly intriguing for the first half, director Alejandro González Iñárritu’s sophomore film starts out like a puzzle but ends up like a paint-by-numbers drama. I suspect the film would have been tedious if it was told in a straightforward manner, but the film’s six-dimensional narrative only reveals the conclusion at the half-way point. Sean Penn, Naomi Watts and Benico Del Toro give strong performances, even if they are undercut by the disjointed...
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Movie Review: 2 FAST 2 FURIOUS (2003)
2 Fast 2 Furious – 1/2* Quickie Review After being arrested for illegal street racing, fugitive LAPD officer Brian O’Connor (Paul Walker) is blackmailed into going undercover for US Customs so they can take down the leader of a major drug cartel. Unbelievably ridiculous and infinitely stupid, this street-racing sequel makes the same mistake of creating an inconceivable plot as the first film, only this time it does it without Vin Diesel. Paul Walker and his onscreen partner Tyrese come off as too dim-witted to succeed in the task at hand, and only Eva Mendes has no problem delivering the constipated dialogue. At least the plot is so completely disposable it rarely interrupts the killer racing scenes. Directed by John Singleton at the lowest point of his post-Boyz N the Hood career....
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Quickie: THE 400 BLOWS (1959)
The 400 Blows (1959) — **** Quickie Review A young man, neglected by his selfish parents, turns to petty crime and general trouble-making in hopes of liberating himself from his tortured home life. A magnificent tale of adolescent isolation, François Truffaut’s first feature is as timeless and poignant as The Graduate in its display of a youthful viewpoint. The picturesque trip through Paris adds dramatic visual appeal to the already captivating story. Starring Jean-Pierre...
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Quickie: 42ND STREET (1933)
42nd Street (1933)–**** Quickie Review A famous, but penniless stage director has to put together one last hit before he can retire. When his leading lady can’t perform, a first time chorus girl takes her place and gets the a once in a lifetime shot at stardom. A snappy screenplay and performances as witty as they are touching make this movie musical into a top-notch screen spectacular. The “42nd Street” stage number is unforgettable, while Warner Baxter’s performance as the desperate director a showstopper. Also starring Bebe Daniels, George Brent, and Ruby...
Read MoreQuickie: 28 DAYS LATER (2002)
28 Days Later…(2002)–*** Quickie Review A bike messenger wakes up from a coma to discover a virus causing uncontrollable rage has been unleashed in Britain, and he must find a way to live as one of the few uninfected people remaining. More like Lord of the Flies than Night of the Living Dead, Danny Boyle’s art-house horror film doesn’t break new ground, but does plant a few new seeds. Shot on DV, the gritty, shadowed pictures create an eerie world that plays to the dark psychology. Anyone looking for a “scary” movie may be disappointed, but no sudden jump is scarier than the shots of a desolate London. Starring Brendan Gleason and Cillian Murphy....
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