State of Play (2009)

Things are not exactly as they seem in this thrilling tale of a reporter torn between a political friendship, and his job, uncovering "the truth."

Kevin Macdonald (The Last King of Scotland) directs this compelling drama about veteran newspaper writer Cal McAffrey (Russell Crowe, Body of Lies, American Gangster) who just happens to be friends with a young hot shot politician named Stephen Collins (Ben Affleck, He's Just Not That Into You, Paycheck) who happens to br heading up a committee concerning the issue of privatized government security contracts. When an aid of his, who he's also having an affair with, ends up dead, he ends up in hot water and the only person he can turn to is his old friend Cal. Along with his blogging news sidekick Della (Rachel McAdams, The Notebook, Red Eye), he begins an investigation that will take him elbow deep into a cover up he never sees coming.

Easily in the top five movies I regrettably did not see in theaters this year. All you crime, mystery, thriller drama fans will love this. Really great, twisted story that really makes you wonder if things like this go down in real life. So much so, that I found it humorous that one of the cast members even says of the idea of a government cover-up like this as something you'd only see in a movie. The acting was really good, completely engrossing... even the supporters (Helen Mirren, Robin Wright Penn, Jason Bateman and Jeff Daniels) were on key. The only really "bad" thing I could say about the movie is that it was quite long, over two hours. But the movie is good, so you don't take notice.

7.6/10

Rated: PG-13
127 mins

Horsemen (2009)

A busy father and dedicated detective investigates a series of murders that come way to close to home. "Four victims. Four painful secrets."

Dennis Quaid (Vantage Point, The Rookie) stars in this Jonas Åkerlund directed thriller about an overworked, yet dedicated detective named Aidan Breslin whom, since his wife's' passing, has spent more time behind his desk than in his two sons' lives. Aidan and his partner "Stingray", (Clifton Collins Jr.) head up an investigation of brutally violent, masochistic murders which in turn lead them to a group who proudly proclaim that, "We Are The Nothing." All of the murders point to ritual killings in the name of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, and they are running out of time to save victim number four. A superb supporting cast of familiar faces (Ziyi Zhang, Patrick Fugit, and Eric Balfour) help guide you through the intertwined lives of the killers and victims alike as it all comes full circle back on Detective Breslin's doorstep.

You know, it's really great to read so many bad reviews, and then see a movie, and feel completely the opposite way. To be fair, the was no blockbuster, and well... Quaid is looking pretty haggard and seems to have taken a step back in the acting department, but on the whole, relatively enjoyable. I mean come on, you have the cute ninja chick from Rush Hour in it, though you would swear she stepped on set right after her English lessons. And would you believe Patrick Fugit, yeah him, the squirrely kid who got to see Kate Hudson naked in Almost Famous... he's in it, and wow, give that guy the "Suicide of The Year" award! I know in my previous review I had high praises for Clifton Collins... a shame I feel he sucked ass in this flick. If you like thrilling, crime movies that border on the grotesque (SAW, Seven), where there is a deeper meaning to it all, I think you'll enjoy this. The twist at the end is worth watching anyhow.

6.1/10

Rated: R
90 mins

Sunshine Cleaning (2008)

Between an odd behaving son, self-serving sister, and a father one step from being in a home, one woman overcomes the odds and really proves that "life's a messy business."

Rose Lorkowski (Amy Adams, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby) is the struggling mother of a son is always in trouble for "weird" behavior. Most of which seems to be instigated by her seemingly good for nothing sister Norah (Emily Blunt, Dan in Real Life, The Devil Wears Prada) who still lives at home with their quirky father and can't hold down a job. Working as a maid, Rose just can't seem to get ahead in life, and after seeing how successful all her old high school friends are, her sweetheart married off with a family, and her son misunderstood at his current school, she's had enough. Rose enlists the help of her sister and decides to dial the cleaning business up a notch by starting a fledgling crime scene clean-up company. Who knew there were so many rules and regulations for this kind of thing? A talented supporting cast lead by Steve Zahn, Alan Arkin and Clifton Collins Jr. round it all off in this Christine Jeffs directed, heartfelt drama.

If you haven't seen this, go rent it now, or at least put it in your Netflix queue. Really an absolute joy to watch this film. Back when it first came out I had no intention on seeing it because, I guess I never really knew what it was about. But once I read a small summary, I couldn't wait to see it. Maybe the overlying plot wasn't completely original, but the story sure was, and it was refreshing to watch something that seemed so... never done. The acting was superb, much better than I had hoped for from some of those involved. It was cool to see Clifton Collins in the film... he's like the new Steve Buscemi. Just an odd looking guy, great actor, lots of small roles. he's gonna be the guy you start to see in everything. The sisters were completely believable and you could really feel the emotion and pain in their lives. Need to smile today? Watch this.

7.5/10

Rated: R
91 mins

The Chaos Experiment (2009)

Tensions are high, and the temperature higher as a group of single and looking adults finds out that "chaos begins when the heat rises..."

The topic of Global Warming just got hotter in this Phillipe Martinez directed story or a disillusioned and discredited professor going by the fake name of Jimmy (Val Kilmer, The Saint, Willow) strolls into a news office in the middle of the night demanding his paper on global warming be published... or else. Confessing that he has six people trapped in a steam room somewhere in the city, he vows that unless he is published, these people will meet their fate by cooking to death. It's up to Detective Mancini (Armand Assante, American Gangster, Judge Dredd) to figure out if this seemingly psychotic suspect is telling the truth, if he's talking in past tense, or if this is all going on in the mans head. The supporting cast, lead by Patrick Muldoon (Stigmata, Starship Troopers) and Megan Brown, really start to feel the heat as tensions rise, and lives are lost.

Wow, the second craptacular Val Kilmer suckfest I've seen in the past 10 days. Anyone who thinks Kilmer actually did a good job in the role should be shot. Kevin Spacey would have nailed this role, but oh right, he's probably busy making movies that don't suck. Maybe that's being unfair, Spacey's character in Seven was what this genre is all about, so it's a rash comparison. But the psychological reasons and the setup of the deaths are so much like Seven and the Saw series, it's hard not to go there. You know what really killed me, how many effing slow motion fades where there? I mean damn, couldn't someone get a little more creative with the editing? The only parts worth watching were in the steam room, if you could get passed how quickly they all broke down and the terrible dialogue. One thing, Eve Mauro, such a hottie. If you're up for a quick T&A fix, watch it just for her. And lets not forget Rico from Judge Dredd (I love that movie!) is in it... or maybe you should. Just kidding, Armand does alright, can't fault him for crappy writing, that's not his job. If I can say one thing positive that's not nudity related, it's got a pretty good twist near the end.

4.2/10

Rated: R
90 mins

Race to Witch Mountain (2009)

The fun, thrilling, family adventure scf-fi flick that you never saw!

Andy Fickman (She's The Man, The Game Plan) directs this soon to be family, live action classic from Disney in which an ex wheel-man, now gone straight as a Las Vegas taxi driver named Jack Bruno (Dwayne Johnson, Get Smart, The Game Plan), inadvertently picks up a couple bizarre kids who are in a big hurry to get somewhere. Along the way, Seth (Alexander Ludwig) and Sara (AnnaSophia Robb, Bridge to Terabithia, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) reveal themselves as children from a distant planet who have come to retrieve a device that is capable of saving their world from dieing. Being tracked by not only a secret US government agency similar to the "Men In Black", the kids must fight for their lives as they try and outrun an alien assassin sent from their home planet with orders to take them out. Enlisting the help of the denounced scientist Alex Friedman (Carla Gugino, Watchmen, Sin City), they race to Witch Mountain to reclaim their ship and make it back home before it's too late.

So if you didn't know, this film is a remake... well not re"make", but re-imagining of the 1975 film Escape to Witch Mountain. So apparently it's been done. But for what's it's worth, this movie is a lot of fun, filled with plenty of action for Dad, an adult romance for Mom, and two kids who can do all sorts of cool stuff! Though the film opened at #1 in the box office when it came out, it fizzled quickly. I don't think I know a single person other than me who has seen it. But if you fall into that category, you're missing out on an hour and a half of entertaining cinema. Now sure, the acting is well... come on, it's The Rock for eff's sake, but would you have rather they stuck Vin Diesel in the role? Didn't think so, but I'm pretty sure Vinny's got another Disney movie or two on his contract, so I'm sure he was considered. Good special effects and nice work behind the lens was more than enough to keep the acting and redone script from drowning. Grab some popcorn and a drink, and spend a few with the kids... enjoy.

A side note. In the bar scene, the waitress and the sheriff, they played the roles of Sara and Seth in the original 1975 film.

6.2/10

Rated: PG
98 mins

Obsessed (2009)

A tempting would-be adulterer tries to move in on a happily married man and claim the fruits of his loin as her own... because in her line of duty, "all's fair when love is war."

Derek Charles (Idris Elba, American Gangster, The Office) is a young VP of a very successful Los Angeles asset management firm. Having married and whisked away his old secretary Sharon (Beyoncé Knowles, Dreamgirls, The Pink Panther), he has it all. A beautiful wife, handsome young son, and a new house. Much to his chagrin, a charmingly beautiful temp named Lisa (Ali Larter, Final Destination, Legally Blonde) starts a job at his company, and she has her snipers cross-hair set center mass on on him. He plays the nice guy act, but her bold advances become harder and harder to ignore. Not worth risking his career, or his family, he repeatedly brushes her off, trying to keep a low profile, not only staying off his co-workers radar, but his wife's. Lisa she can only take too much as she is desperate to step in and become the new woman in his life... and she'll do whatever it takes to make it happen.

So many low reviews for this movie, and I know why. Everyone is biased towards Fatal Attraction. Really? That movie was soooo late 80's, get over it. This movie captures the same feeling that movie did, just in an updated turn of the century style that I think was done well. Having said that, it's still not that great of a movie, not bad either mind you. My big turn off was knowing Beyoncé was in it... but hey, at least she didn't play a character that sings this time. When I think of Idris Elba I think of his character in The Office, which I hate... the show not his character. I actually like his character in the show. I think he did very well in this film, because we all know trying to shoot a film where you have to repeatedly deny Ali Larter's cute, sexy self is no easy task. I would have caved. How is it I could see Megan Fox trying out for that role? Maybe it's just me. Really good camera and lighting, setting many of the dark moods perfectly. Fellas, don't watch this with your girl if you don't want to be looked at differently for a few days.

6.2/10

Rated: PG-13
108 mins

The Brothers Bloom (2009)

A refreshingly new look into the lives of those who master the art of the con as they try to obtain what is really missing from a life that seems to have it all.

Directing newcomer Rian Johnson directs this romanticized crime drama revolving around two troubled young lads, brothers Stephen (Mark Ruffalo, Blindness, Zodiac) and Bloom (Adrien Brody, King Kong, The Jacket). Twenty years of living fake lives is really starting to catch up with Bloom, the younger, and he becomes tempted by a relaxing, care free, "real" life. Lured back into one final big score, the brothers, along with their explosive sidekick Bang Bang (Rinko Kikuchi) peg a quirky shut-in named Penelope (Rachel Weisz, Fred Claus, Constantine)as their latest mark... and she just happens to be a super rich heiress. Together they go on an adventurous journey across the seas, all part of Stephens elaborate con. The only real danger is Bloom falling in love, but then, "they'd never let the truth come between them."

I don't remember this movie being marketed very heavily, and can't recall seeing a trailer. I acquired it on a whim and was more than satisfied with what it delivered. I'm a thieving, con-artist move junkie, I love them... think Thomas Crowne. This was an excellent spin on the theme and all parties acted beautifully. I was really intrigued with Rachel Weisz's character. Obviously bright, though childishly naive at the same time. She always seemed to catch the fine details in the con, but could never really see how it all came together. And the scene with her and Adrien Bordy kissing is just freakin' hilarious. The only real laugh out loud moment for me. The romantic angle to the movie was just enough to not take over as the theme of the movie. Cinematography was very pleasing as well. This might be one of those rainy day movies, but watch with a friend because it will probably leave you with plenty to chat about after.

7.5/10

Rated: PG-13
114 mins

Ghost Town (2008)

A handsomely witty film that will make you laugh out loud while gently tugging at your heart.

David Koepp (Secret Window, Stir of Echoes) bring us this hauntingly enjoyable tale of a wannabe playboy, New York smooth talker named Frank (Greg Kinnear, Baby Mama, Little Miss Sunshine) who finds himself recently deceased after an unfortunate air conditioner accident. He teams up with a frumpy, lost soul from the land of the living, a dentist by the name of Bertram Pincus (Ricky Gervais, Night at The Museum) who recently was revived from a near death experience during a routine procedure at a local hospital. Now with the ability to see the dead, and being annoyed at every turn by them, Dr. Pincus is hounded by Frank with a request to break up his widow Gwen's (Téa Leoni, Fun with Dick and Jane , bad Boys) marriage to her new beau. In doing so, Bertram finds himself stuck in a supernatural love triangle.

I started off the night watching Management, but the audio was eff'd on my copy, so I reluctantly picked up this film... and glad I did. This was definitely one of those heart warming, feel good movies where you really connected with the main characters and really hoped for the best. I'm not even a Ricky Gervais fan, I actually hate the office, but in this film, his timing and delivery were just, a bit of perfection. The scene where he is being wheeled down the hall in the hospital, and the conversation with the surgeon (Kristen Wiig, SNL, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story) had me cracking up long after the scene had passed. With all the laughs it delivers, it's bound to draw a tear or two from the romantic types. It's a really good mash-up, really earning the title of "Romantic Comedy." I definitely recommend this for your next date night.

7.0/10

Rated: PG-13
102 mins

Seventh Moon (2008)

"According to Chinese myth, the dead are freed to walk among the living during the seventh full moon." Creepy enough for you?

From the director of The Blair Witch Project and Altered, comes yet another romp in the woods as American newlyweds Melissa (Amy Smart, Mirrors, Crank) and Yul (Tim Chiou) are in China to visit Yul's family. It just so happens to be at the time of the traditional Hungry Ghost Festival. After spending a day in the city, they fall asleep as their tour guide Ping (Dennis Chan, Kickboxer) leaves them stranded just outside a remote village. From here on out they learn that many Chinese who leave offerings, seemingly silly in fact, believe all too well in the horrors that awaits those who don't.

You know, except for a few things, this movie really appealed to me. It wasn't your typical Japanese horror type flick, and though I love those, I still liked this one. They used the supernatural myth idea seen in many of the genre, but it seemed to be more suited for a Western audience if you know what I'm saying. Acting was okay, "baddies" were extremely creepy and real, music helped tone and pace the film... but camera work, it could have used a freakin' steady cam or something sheesh. The movie overall got the blood pumping with the intensity of some of the scenes where you were sure they would be caught, excellent suspense. For a bargain bin horror movie, you can't go wrong here.

A little side note regarding the basis of the story. The Chinese Ghost Festival, which very much is celebrated in the same way as Mexico's Dia de Los Muertos (Day of The Dead) and in a way comparable to our Halloween here in the US, is generally held on the 14th day of the 7th lunar month (of the Chinese Calendar). It's a day where the living leave offerings and pay respects to their ancestors. The offerings are usually burned, and the smoke carries the gifts to the deceased in the heavens. Other traditions involve leaving paper lanterns out at night to guide lost spirits to their resting place.

6.5/10

Rated: R
87 mins

Dark Country (2009)

A stylized thriller in the story telling vain of The Twilight Zone, this film serves you up a value meal, but regrettably forgot your fries.

In his directorial debut, Thomas Jane (Hung, The Mist) also stars as Dick, a man who wakes up a newly wed in Las Vegas and can't remember how or why. Accepting his nuptial fate, and along with his new bride Gina (Lauren German, Hostel: Part II), they head out across the desert at night to start their new life together. A few wrong turns later, they come across a one car wreck where they pull a bloodied, disfigured man into their car and race to save his life. "But their decision to save the man becomes increasingly regrettable when he turns on them, forcing the newlyweds to do the unthinkable. In a blur of paranormal chaos, the couple must take drastic measures to cover up their actions from the local police (Ron Perlman, Sons of Anarchy, Hellboy), ultimately leading each character to an inescapable fate."

I'm not sure I've really fully digested this movie or not, but here goes. I like Thomas Jane, really I do, but seriously? Perhaps throwing some others into the two leads may have made a difference, or maybe because of the style of the movie, it was supposed to be like that... but the acting, I just didn't feel it. Though I must confess that was an excellent way to make an ice cube disappear ;) I really loved the style of the movie, very Sin City like, however... it was also extremely distracting. Too many angles of the same shot with different lighting and whatnot, it completely disconnected me. For the first 15 minutes it was interesting, after that, too much. The story was pretty cool, but definitely something you could have watched in an hour episode of The Twilight Zone or The Outer Limits, with commercials.

5.1/10

Rated: R
88 mins