Just Visiting (movie review)

Just Visiting is a vile remake of a popular French comedy about a medieval knight who is projected into the future by a wizard and encounters his great-great-great-great granddaughter in modern-day Chicago. Jean Reno is the French star, re-creating his role in this English-language version of the film. Christina Applegate, of "Married with Children" fame, plays his descendant. Obviously the film seemed like a good idea to someone, but it is woefully executed, poorly scripted, and worst of all not funny. Grade: D

Touching the Void (movie review)

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Touching the Void, to its credit, is about true events. Two mountain-climbers get into serious trouble while climbing a high peak: on the way down, one of them breaks his leg. The injury is almost a sure death sentence for him, and perhaps his climbing partner, but miraculously both survive. There is little real suspense, because the two climbers narrate the movie. While the events are harrowing, and the cinematography is remarkable, the story lacks narrative drive. Grade: B-

Spartan (movie review)

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Spartan is a recent film that for some reason didn't get wide distribution. Starring Val Kilmer and written and directed by David Mamet, it's a political thriller about the abduction of the president's daughter and one man's mission to save her from Arab slave traders. It is tightly written and features the double-switchback plotting that is characteristic of Mamet movies. Grade: B+
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Shrek 2 (movie review)

Shrek 2 largely sticks to the formula that made the first installment of Shrek so successful. This is both a weakness and a strength. I must confess that there were several gags that had me laughing out loud; but just as often, I found myself on the verge of yawning, with the seen-that-before feeling that is unavoidable in a sequel. On the plus side, the kids in the audience seemed to love it. Grade: B-

The Dive from Clausen's Pier (book review)

The Dive from Clausen's Pier, by Ann Packer, is a minor masterpiece. It is also what some might call a "women's book," or even chick-lit. The first-person protagonist, Carrie Bell, is a young woman facing a dilemma. Her fiance, whom she is having doubts about, is critically injured when he dives into a shallow area of a lake and breaks his neck. Her journey to discover where her true feelings lie is the heart of the book. To distract herself when things get too intense, she sews. All in all, it held my interest and the resolution felt real, if not totally satisfying. Grade: B

City of God (movie review)

City of God is the "Godfather" of Brazilian cinema. Set in the slums of Rio de Janeiro during the '60s and '70s, it tells a story of street children who become gangsters because of lack of alternatives. While at times brilliant, it will be too violent for some tastes. Grade: B

The Station Agent (movie review)

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The Station Agent is a nearly perfect, small-budget film with on offbeat theme. Peter Dinklage stars as a 40-ish man who happens to be a dwarf named Fin. His plight in life seems to be loneliness, and he seems to adopt it willingly to avoid the company of "normal" people. But Fin, after inheriting an ancient railroad station, finds himself drawn into the lives of his neighbors and learns that friendship is not impossible. The lead actors deliver superb performances. Grade: B+
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Mystic River (movie review)

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I read the book by Dennis Lehane, and I was curious to see what the filmmakers would do with it. I'm pleased to report that, in my opinion, the movie is actually better than the book -- a very rare occurrence. The book has been streamlined and clarified, and the movie works very well with some powerful performances (including Academy Award winner Sean Penn). The only flaw in the movie is the ending, where it seems to kind of droop and adds new material that is unresolved. All in all though, a riveting movie experience. Grade: B-
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"The Poet" by Michael Connelly

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This is a rather routine thriller by the author of "Blood Work" and "The Concrete Blonde." The ending is supposed to be a double-twist shocker, but instead it stretches credibility to the breaking point. I can't write more without giving away the plot, but I do advise you not to waste your time on this book. comments? ciao@juno.com
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Big Fish (movie)

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Movie Review ** (out of ****)

I thought this movie had a lot of promise -- good actors, great cinematography, a magical feel. But lacking was a compelling story and a satisfying resolution. Particularly weak was the lead role played by Billy Crudup as the son of the "Big Fish" of the title. Whether the role was weakly written or just poorly acted I can't quite say, but I think it set the tone for the whole movie, and it didn't quite work for me. Parts of the movie are wonderful and fascinating, but as in most Tim Burton-directed movies the whole was less than the sum of the parts.
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Gone South by Robert McCammon

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Book Review *** (out of ****)
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Interesting Southern gothic/freak show tale about ordinary man who ends up on the run from the law and finds all kinds of deep south (Louisiana) strangeness on the way. It's a good read with a satisfying ending.

In America (movie review)

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*** (out of ****) "In America" is a worthwhile movie about an Irish immigrant family in the 1980s in New York, not only the problems they have surviving in this new land, but a deep hurt that they bring with them and have to come to terms with. Although the script is a little rough around the edges, the core of the movie is solid and a series of vignettes about the family and the people they encounter knits together nicely into a coherent whole.
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Photo by Jim

"Broken Angels"

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Book Review. "Broken Angels" by Richard K. Morgan.

This is a science fiction book set several hundred years in the future, a time when humans have traveled to several nearby stars thanks to the discovery of artifacts and technology from an ancient civilization that once occupied Mars.

That much said, I can't recommend this book to everyone because it is a difficult read, and chock full of violence. There is much that is fascinating in Morgan's vision of the future, but also much that is obscure. It might help to read the first book by this author, "Altered Carbon," before reading this one. I have not.

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Elephant

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Movie review (DVD) ** (out of ****)

This movie was quite a disappointment. I rented it because the critics were so divided on it -- some giving it an A, some giving it an F. My curiosity is now satisfied, but otherwise I feel like I wasted my time.

The story follows a day in the life of a school which is clearly supposed to be a stand-in for Columbine. Although the subject is compelling, the movie is just boring. The ending was not particularly shocking, because we know how it ends.

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The Cooler

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Movie Review ***.5 (out of ****)

Excellent drama starring William H. Macy as the poor schlub whose "talent" is to bring bad luck to gamblers who are winning too much at a Las Vegas casino. His performance is nicely balanced by Alec Baldwin as the evil boss of the casino, who still likes to do things the old-fashioned way, including breaking the legs of gamblers who cheat and take too much of the casino's money. A fascinating look at Las Vegas and some of the characters who might inhabit the landscape there.

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Peter Pan

Movie Review *** (out of ****)

This 2003 live-action version of the Pan tale is a charming fantasy, mostly for children, but still amusing for adults and with lots of action and some good performances from the cast.

Girl With a Pearl Earring

Movie Review *** 1/2 (out of ****)

This movie, just out on DVD, is most notable for the nuanced performance of Scarlett Johansson in the role of Griet, the servant girl who is chosen to be painted by her master, Vermeer.

The film makes excellent use of period settings and costumes to re-create the feeling of what it might have been like to live in Holland in 1665.

It also elicits in the viewer an appreciation for the fine art of painting, particularly as practiced by Jan Vermeer.

There is little dialog, and here Johansson shines with her ability to express a range of emotions with just facial expressions.

This is not an action film or romantic comedy, nor does it have a "happy" ending. But it is highly recommended for the discerning movie-goer, or in this case video viewer.

First Post

This is my first post, and this is my first blog. I'll be feeling my way at first, but i hope to make frequent entries and find my way into the blogger community.