Lakeview Terrace
Samuel L. Jackson returns to the big screen after a brief performance in Ironman, (so brief that it was uncredited), and plays Able Turner, an LAPD police officer who’s problems step from the sadness he feels for the loss of his wife. Turner is an ultra conservative man who tries everything that he can to force the inter-racial couple living next door to move out. The couple (played by Patrick Wilson and Kerry Washington), try everything the can to put up with Turner, including talking to him, putting up an artificial wall made of trees, and even adding floodlights to the side of their house. Then one night, when both men are sick of each other, they meet (unintentionally) at a bar and the auidence learns of Turner’s reasons for his attitude. Apparently, three years ago to the day, Turner’s wife was supposed to be at work when she was in a car accident with her white boss. Ever since that night, Turner’s views on inter-racial couples have been skewed. The film ended the way I wanted it to, but not the way I was expecting it to, my analysis is below. Here is the thatrical one-sheet from the film:
The theatrical one-sheet for Lakeview Terrace
I went to see this movie with my girlfriend. One of the many things that I like about her is that she likes the horror/thriller genre of movies, so I always have someone to go see the scary stuff with. Lakeview Terrace is definately a thriller, and I don’t think I’d go see it again. Both my girlfriend and I thought there were a lot of plot holes. For instance, at one point Turner and Wilson’s character Chris are fighting through the fence, and Chris strikes his wife Lisa. Weather this was done with a purpose or it was an accident, I’m not sure, but nothing is every said of the hit after the fact. I also didn’t like the negative viewpoint that the movie sheds on Conservatism. Turner is an extreme conservative, and does many things with which I disagree, but at one point he’s talking to his daughter about a world without rules and how bad it is, and that little shpeel I can agree with. Two seconds later, Turner smacks his daughter to the ground, and I’m thinking, “that wasn’t neccesary.” Overall I’d only give this film a 2 out of 5 stars for the plot holes and the inconsistancies that the film fails to address.
Burn After Reading
I think my father described this film the best when he said that it was “a film that should be classified as a comedy, but also has a character get shot in the face, while another character gets killed with an axe.” I couldn’t agree more. An all-star cast that includes George Clooney, John Malkovich, Brad Pitt, and J.K. Simmons, help make Burn After Reading a successful comedy for this fall season.
When CIA employee Osbourne Cox (Malkovich) gets fired from the agency, he decides to write a memoir. His disgruntled wife, (Tilda Swinton) however, has different plans. She wants to divorce him and take all of his money, so she grabs ahold of Cox’s financials and saves them on a compact disk. The problem however, lies in the fact that, during the burning of the CD, Cox memoirs get written on the CD with the finances. When gym employees Chad (Brad Pitt) and Linda (Frances McDormand) find said CD in the locker room of their gym, Brad has the smart idea to blackmail Cox. Linda goes along with it because she needs money for some plastic surgery. The only problem is, Chad and Linda have absolutely no clue how to blackmail someone, let alone someone of Cox’s standing. What insues is a hilarious cat and mouse game where both sides think they have the upper hand, only to find out that niether side knew what was going on in the first place. My analysis of the film is below, here is the theatrical one-sheet from the film:
The Theatrical One-Sheet for Burn After Reading
This was quite honestly very funny. I would personally classify this film as a dramady, because of the two murders that take place, and I wouldn’t exactly take the kids to this one. If you’re in the mood for some laughs, however, this one really delivers. My only knock on the film is that it takes awhile to set up. About a third of the way into the film, I found myself asking “wasn’t this supposed to be a comedy?” Right about that time, however, it shifted gears, and became screamingly hilarious. I give this film 4 out of 5 stars.
New Upcoming Movie
Click on over to the “Upcoming Movies” page of this blog to see a preview of Frost/Nixon, a dramatic retelling of the post-watergate interviews between British talk-show host David Frost and former President Richard Nixon. Frost/Nixon is set to hit theaters on December 26th 2008, and looks to be a film that you won’t want to miss.
DVD Review: Edward Scissorhands
I know what all of you must be thinking. How can this guy not have seen Edward Scissorhands. I’ll admit, I’m a deprived child in that regard, so when my girlfriend bought the anniversary edition of the DVD, I was up for the show. She’s an avid fan of the flick, calling it “one of her favorite movies, if not her number one.” The story revolves around a man named Edward Scissorhands (Johnny Depp). Edward is different from everyone else in the fact that he was created by an inventor (Vincent Price). Unfortunately, Edward’s inventor dies before he is able to complete Edward, leaving Edward with scissors for hands. Edward lives much of his life in isolation, until one day an Avon representative named Peg (Dianne Wiest), pays Edward a visit, and takes him home to the family. Edward soon falls in love with Kim (Winona Ryder), but his life and his love for Kim are soon trapped behind the barrier that is his hands. My analysis of the film is below, here is the original theatrical one-sheet, as well as the anniversary edition DVD cover:
The Theatrical One-Sheet for Edward Scissorhands
The Special Edition DVD Cover for Edward Scissorhands
Overall, I thought this film really hit it out of the ballpark. Johnny Depp was brilliant as the title character, not because of his line delivery, but because of his action. Edward doesn’t say much throughout the film, but when he does, it counts, and is very important. I also thought that the sets were extremely well designed. The town is very colorful, almost to the point of looking downright gaudy, while Edward’s home is old, run down, and void of color. As a total package, I give this film 4.5 out of 5 stars. This one is definitely one to own.
Bangkok Dangerous
Nicolas Cage shines in Bangkok Dangerous, the story of a man named Joe, an assassin who’s training and precision allows him to kill his targets without leaving any evidence that might incriminate him. When Joe takes what he feels is his final job in Bangkok, he meets up with Kong (Shahkrit Yamnarm), a young pickpocket who learns Joe’s art under Joe’s tutelage. When Kong starts to miss some minor details, the drug lords in Bangkok, as well as the authorities, start to get suspicious. To make matters worse, any and all clues lead directly back to Joe. Here is the theatrical one-sheet for the film. My analysis is below:
The Theatrical One-Sheet for Bangkok Dangerous
After getting mixed reviews in the press, I saw this film for myself, and I have to say it delivered on a lot of levels. Not all levels, but a lot of them. The action was brilliant; top notch, and I very much enjoyed the back story as well. The only thing that I think this film lacked was in the development of romantic interests. As soon as any relationship seemed to go anywhere, the two main characters had to dash off and kill someone. All in all, however, this was an enjoyable guy flick that delivers some pretty awesome action. Throw in some stunts and you got yourself 3.5 out of 5 stars.
