Short Review: It’s like a finely crafted yacht that is completely rudderless.


If you can manage to force yourself through the seemingly endless opening credit sequence, you may find a movie you will enjoy. The opening credits drag along over images of sloped shouldered, heavy-eyed workers shuffling to work. This is an obvious nod to Fritz Lang’s Metropolis. Except the opening sequence goes on longer than Fritz Lang’s masterpiece. Seriously, the opening sequence is so long it has its own table of contents on the DVD.

The film itself is at once very well done, but also without direction or focus. Writer/Director John Patrick Shanley has a flair for character and dialog. He particularly has crafted some brilliant minor characters to populate his world in this movie. From the luggage salesman to Joe’s limo driver Marhsall, Shanley shows that he is a gifted writer. The issue is that Shanley doesn't expend any of his talent on developing the main character Joe. It is clear that Joe is to be a hollow shell of a man. Hollow shells aren’t great leads.

Usually Tom Hanks is vibrant, but here he seems to sleepwalk through his role as Joe. Giving Hanks this role is like having a professional chef prepare toast. The other actors in the film, Meg Ryan (who manages three roles), Dan Hedaya and Lloyd Bridges (amongst others) all dig into their rich roles. Hanks appears lost.

The story itself is an existentialist yarn without any serious advice or wisdom to offer in the end. Perhaps that is why the main character is so thin. Without a clear mission or direction, there is nothing driving Joe. The opinion of the film seems to be that whatever happens, happens – give yourself to the doom that awaits you and see if you can scratch out some enjoyment on the way down. Well, if nothing really matters, then neither does this film.


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Labels: Amanda Plummer, Dan Hedaya, film, Lloyd Bridges, Meg Ryan, movie review, Ossie Davis, Robert Stack, Tom Hanks

A smart update to the classic Shop Around the Corner. Unlike the original, this film sports an attractive and talented lead female. Tom Hanks stars as Joe Fox, the owner of a corporate book store that has moved into a Seattle neighborhood, and threatens the livelihood of local bookstore owner Kathleen Kelly, portrayed by Meg Ryan. Hanks and Ryan make for a great screen couple and have fantastic chemistry. Their joint charisma combined with Nora Ephron’s fun script makes for a wonderfully enjoyable movie. One of the three great Meg Ryan chick flicks (When Harry Met Sally and Sleepless in Seattle are the others) this film displays her charms to full effect. She is perfectly cast in this film and couldn’t find a better counterpart than Hanks. This is one of those films that, even if you’re a guy who hates chick flicks, you’ll still find yourself hoping the two will get together. Coming from a bitter curmudgeon like me, that’s saying something.


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Labels: chick flick, film, Meg Ryan, movie review, Tom Hanks

It is rare that a film about filmmaking is worth seeing. Most are inside jokes littered with ironic gags about how soulless the industry is while celebrating the sins being mocked on screen. Oh yes, everyone is shallow, everyone is out for themselves, it's all so kooky.

The upbeat tone, bright colors and snappy music to be reminiscent of Get Shorty doesn't mean this is going to work. Doing this is a way for the marketers to subconsciously tell potential audiences that it's in that vein without making the direct connection.




Screenwriters: Steven Schachter (Door to Door) and William H. Macy (Door to Door)
Director: Steven Schachter
Actors: William H. Macy (Fargo), Meg Ryan (When Harry Met Sally), LL Cool J (Mindhunters), Jason Ritter (W.), and Elliott Gould (M*A*S*H)

Labels: Elliott Gould, film, Meg Ryan, movie trailer, William H Macy

I smile when I watch this trailer because I know my sister-in-law is going to make my brother-in-law see this movie.

I think that's funny.





Screenwriter: Diane English
Director: Diane English
Actors: Meg Ryan (When Harry Met Sally), Eva Mendez (Ghost Rider), Jada Pinkett Smith (The Matrix Reloaded), Candice Bergen (Sex in the City), Annette Bening (Being Julia), Carrie Fisher (Star Wars), Cloris Leachman (History of the World: Part I), Bette Midler (Beaches), Debra Messing (Open Season), Lynn Whitfield (Eve's Bayou) and Debi Mazar (Be Cool)

Labels: Annette Bening, Carrie Fisher, Eva Mendes, film, Jada Pinkett Smith, Meg Ryan, movie trailer