Quickie: Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer
Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007)–**1/2 Quickie Review The fantastic family faces relationship issues, near mutinies and a planet eating being that is heralded by a silver-colored man on a surf board. This superhero sequel is easily the most fun a moviegoer will have in the summer of 2007 thus far, hitting all the right notes without overexerting itself. For every cliché, there’s a moment of humor to act as a counterweight. And it’s actually better than the original. Starring Jessica Alba, Michael Chiklis, Chris Evans and Ioan Gruffudd with Doug Jones and Laurence Fishburne as the Silver...
Read MoreQuickie: Shortbus
Shortbus (2006)–**** The lives of a various New Yorkers converge on an underground sex club called Shortbus. John Cameron Mitchell’s sophomore feature is a fitting follow-up to Hedwig and the Angry Inch. With the same irreverent sense of humor and slightly more complex narrative, Mitchell achieves emotional honesty so effortlessly it’s impossible not to love each of the flawed, beautiful characters. Mitchell’s concern for those characters and his lack of pretension even allows him to pull off graphic sex scenes without loosing the audience’s focus. Starring a cast of unknowns , who bare body and soul for this outstanding ensemble...
Read More
Quickie: PERFUME (2006)
Perfume (2006)–***1/2 Quickie Review A young man born with a super-sensitive olfactory sense seeks to preserve forever the scents he cherishes. His obsession leads down a very dark path. This cinematic work of art had its work cut out for it. Though almost exclusively obsessed with its own visual treatment of the sense of smell (and rightly so), the film’s conventional storytelling is maintained to its benefit. Tom Tykwer’s stunning cinematic achievement is only undercut by an odd bit of anglocentric casting. Given the film’s final masterful scene, it hardly matters. Starring Ben Whishaw, Dustin Hoffman and Alan...
Read More
Quickie Review: THE PRESTIGE (2006)
The Prestige (2006)–***1/2 Quickie Review After the wife of an up-and-coming magician is killed in a stage accident, possibly caused by another novice illusionist, a long rivalry develops leading to a spellbinding final confrontation. Christopher Nolan’s break from the Batman franchise is a perplexing period drama and a deliciously entertaining film. Though the slight-of-hand is at times transparent, the cold-hearted revenge story is superbly acted through all the twists and turns. Only with a cast this great, a screenwriting team this polished (the Nolan brothers) and a director this intriguing can The Prestige even begin to be this good. Starring Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, Scarlett Johannson and Michael...
Read More
Quickie: MARIE ANTIONETTE (2006)
Marie Antoinette (2006)–**** Quickie Review A young Austrian archduchess is selected to marry the heir to the French throne, but is unable to stand up to the constant examination of her life. Defying every convention of the period drama (from music to casting), Sophia Coppola’s film proves to be as contemporary a film as Lost in Translation. Truly sumptuous and thoroughly engaging, this look at our modern celebrity culture will only get better with age. Kirsten Dunst is astonishing with her strikingly intimate portrayal of the queen. Also starring Rip Torn, Jason Schwartzman, Molly Shannon and Judy...
Read More
Quickie: THE BLACK DAHLIA
The Black Dahlia (2006)–*1/2 Quickie Review Bucky Bleichert (Josh Hartnett) is a former boxed turned cop who befriends another boxing cop Lee Blanchard (Aaron Eckhart). The two get close after fighting for an LAPD publicity stunt. When the stunt goes in the LAPD’s favor, Bleichert gets a nice bonus check and joins Blanchard at homicide. There the headline grabbing partners take down some of L.A.’s top criminals The biggest headline, however, comes after a woman is found cut in half, disemboweled and desanguinated with her smile made to stretch from ear to ear. The case tears the pair apart and threatens Lee’s marriage with his wife Kay (Scarlett Johansson). As it destroys relationships, the case also leads to a bigger body count and an unlikely conclusion. If Brian De Palma does one thing with The Black Dahlia, it’s proving he’s...
Read MoreGet Email Updates
