Movie Review: ALI (2001)
Ali (2001)–*** When a man is declared “The Greatest,” it’s hard to believe a single film will do his life justice. Michael Mann’s film Ali comes close. Will Smith stars as the champ Muhammad Ali in Mann’s impressive biopic. Even if Ali doesn’t compare to the larger-than-life persona it’s derived from, the film boasts a cast that will knock you out. Ali chronicles the life of Muhammad Ali (Will Smith) from his first fight with Sonny Liston to the Rumble in the Jungle. Over the ten-year period, the champ becomes a notable face in the civil rights movement. He lives through the assassinations of friend and Islamic brother Malcolm X (Mario Van Peebles) and civil rights leader Martin Luther King. Three wives enter and leave his life, while friends like commentator Howard Cosell (Jon Voight) and trainer Drew ‘Bundini’ Brown (Jamie Foxx) remain. When...
Read More
Movie Review: BLACK HAWK DOWN (2001)
Black Hawk Down (2001)–**** The name Jerry “Hollywood” Bruckheimer is synonymous with motion picture trash. His brain-dead big budget blockbusters (Armageddon for example) are rarely entertaining let alone notable. Bruckheimer’s newest film, Black Hawk Down, teams up the infamous producer with the legendary director Ridley Scott. Even with Bruckheimer’s track record, Black Hawk Downproves to be a timely, unprecedented war film destined to become a classic. It was a mission that was only supposed to take 30 minutes. The United States Rangers and Delta Force are sent to arrest the top officials of a genocidal Somali Warlord’s cabinet in the middle of hostile territory. Supervised by Major General William Garrison (Sam Shepard), the forces engage in a raid, but the warlord’s militia has more than enough firepower to compete with the soldiers. When a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter is shot down, the...
Read More
Quickie: ATLANTIS: THE LOST EMPIRE
Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001)–** Quickie Review When it comes to an animated Diseny film, most are able to rise above the other summer movies.Atlantis barely surfaces. The movie certainly was entertaining and the premise of the film was, for the most part, above average. However, the film is drowning in boring characters with funny voices for the kids. The basic formula of a good animated movie has the hero (Milo), his love interest (Kida), the villain (Rourke) and a scene-stealer (???). The character of Mole is the obvious attempt at the scene-stealer, but beyond belching once wouldn’t get entertain anyone. I found him annoying, like most of the other bland characters. As for the animation, Disney makes an attempt at combining traditional and computer animation for most of Atlantis. The precedent was set last summer by Titan A.E. Disney couldn’t equal it....
Read More
Movie Review: BROTHERHOOD OF THE WOLF
Brotherhood of the Wolf (2002)–***1/2 All to often the portrayal of cryptozoological legends on film results in a cheesy B-movie about Bigfoot that does nothing to explore any real life enigma. In Christophe Gans film, Brotherhood of the Wolf, the French director falls for the opposite. While exploring the legend of the Beast of Gevaudan, Brotherhood of the Wolf turns out to be a better plot-heavy mystery than the action flick it proclaims itself to be. Between 1764 and 1767 nearly 100 French citizens in and around the town of Gevaudan fell prey to a mysterious wolf-like creature simply called the Beast. King Louie XV of France, whose nation has the rumbling of a revolution, sends naturalist Grégoire de Fronsac (Samuel La Bihan) and his Native American companion Mani (Mark Dacascos) to investigate the vicious monster. After a failed large-scale hunt and...
Read More
Quickie: ANNIE HALL (1977)
Annie Hall (1977)–***1/2 Quickie Review A super-cynical comedian reexamines his broken relationship with the flighty Annie Hall. This 1970’s rom-com is has Woody Allen’s most innovative twists and idiosyncrasies. Diane Keaton is charming and funny as Allen’s leading lady. Even though it sometimes feels like a stand-up routine, Allen’s first love letter to New York is clever and romantic. Five Academy Awards including Best...
Read More
Movie Review: BOUNCE (2000)
Bounce (2000)–*** Buddy Amaral (Ben Affleck) thought he had it all. He just brought a big client into his ad agency, and he could get any woman he wanted. His life seemed to be getting better every minute. While waiting for his flight in an airport bar, Buddy meets a writer named Greg (Tony Goldwyn). Greg had just learned he wasn’t going to make it home in time for one his son’s Cub Scout events. Buddy, still high on life, decides to give his ticket to Greg so he can make it home. However, the plane that Greg boards crashes. Buddy begins to drink heavily and slip into depression as he grieves over killing a man with a family. After Buddy makes it through a rehab, he decides to start the Twelve Steps. First up is receiving forgiveness from...
Read MoreGet Email Updates
