This adaptation of Tom Stoppard's classic stage play, directed by Stoppard himself, has some moments of promise and genuine humor. For the most part, the pacing is lethargic which seriously cuts into the film's ability to gain steam. Overall, Stoppard gives a stuttering and distant production.

If you have no idea who Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are, the film will be even more useless. For those familiar with Hamlet, the film will make sense, but will probably only mildly entertain.

The troubles with the production are not the fault of the cast however. Gary Oldman (Rosencrantz) and Tim Roth (Guildenstern) mix well on screen. Oldman is particularly fun as the bumbling doofus against Roth's straight man. Even Richard Dreyfuss gives a notable performance as the snarling, devilish Player - the lead of a traveling theater troupe.

The bottom line is that if you're familiar with the play or this seems like it may be up your alley, it is probably worth tracking down. If you've gotten this far in my review and have no idea what the heck I'm blathering about, you can skip it.


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Labels: film, Gary Oldman, Iain Glen, movie review, Richard Dreyfus, Tim Roth

Short Review: I’ve had more fun cleaning my television than watching this film on it.


Yet another attempt at remaking Japanese horror. Taken from the same well* as The Ring and The Grudge (the film work of Japanese horror filmmakers Takashige Ichise and Hideo Nakata (Ringu, Yogen and Ju-on), this remake of the movie Honogurai mizu no soko kara (or something like that) is horrible misfire. I think I speak for many people when I say: OKAY, ENOUGH WITH THE JAPANESE HORROR WITH THE CREEPY GHOST GIRLS ALREADY! POINT TAKEN!

I understand that American horror movies are crap. Producers are remaking every horror movie from the 70’s or rehashing these Japanese pieces instead of bothering to come up with original content. Can't we put some effort into finding original horror scripts? They’re out there. I’ve read them.

It is surprising that this film is so miserable. Jennifer Connelly, Tim Roth, John C. Reilly and Pete Postlethwaite being directed by Walter Salles (The Motorcycle Diaries) how can you go wrong? The answer to that question is that you burden them with a drifting and uninteresting script and film in dim plodding scenes. I know better than to think that a cast list packed with gifted actors is a promise of quality. That said, seeing this cast in this film is like going to see Tiger Woods play only to find that he’s spending his days on a miniature golf course. Sure, technically it’s the same game but perhaps they should set their sights a little higher.

Usually, I try to find something redeeming about a film when reviewing it. I probably could find some elements of this film to hold up as positive. I’ll be honest, the amount of sincerely great talent that is sacrificed to make this droll heap of a movie irks me too much to want to bother. This movie is long in the tooth and self-conscious. Salles tries for suspense but instead delivers hollow revelations. His surprises offer no intrgue, no real shock. A film that acts suspenseful when its not is like an old woman who still thinks she’s young and pretty. The film gets all dressed up and presents itself with confidence. It taunts and teases thinking it is luring the audience in. All its doing is embarrassing itself and creeping everyone out. Sad.

Don’t bother with this film. It wants to be The Ring, but it would settle for being The Grudge. This is a boring movie who’s only interesting moments are when it stumbles over its own plot holes. It’s not worth your time, it’s not worth your attention. Just keep moving, there’s nothing to see here.

* - pun intended

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Labels: film, Jennifer Connelly, John C Reilly, movie review, Tim Roth

Tarantino makes amoral, flashy but hollow flicks but they sure do make for great trailers. This ad gives the full vibe of the movie and certainly promises what it delivers - a stylized, sharp-edge movie. Too bad the actual product is critically flawed. It is the epitome of style over substance and is best viewed within the confines of a few minutes like we have below.

Labels: Bruce Willis, Christopher Walkin, film, Harvey Keitel, John Travolta, movie trailer, Quentin Tarantino, Samuel L Jackson, Tim Roth, Uma Thurman

As cruel as this film is and as hard as it is to watch it should be noted that Haneke, unlike the over-rated Oliver Stone and his Natural Born Killers (which takes on the same topics), avoids showing violence whenever possible. He has a remarkable low amount of onscreen violence and there's little gore. Heneke turns his camera away from the "money shots" at the last moment to avoid the salacious film making he's criticizing. He plays on the threat of violence and the reaction to those threats. Of course, it is in many ways harder to watch someone suffer their fear than to see them delivered from it via a beating, stabbing, shooting, etc. This is particularly true of the mortified adolescent son.

I see what Haneke is doing here, and I strongly agree with his overall point. The problem with delivering the message in this way is that it ends up feeding the beast. The film doesn't elevate itself above it's content and this being the case, it will only serve to harm those watching it. Those who would get the message don't need to see it delivered in such a blunt fashion. Those who are not inclined to see the message will only get a rush from seeing all the cruelty.


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Labels: film, movie review, Naomi Watts, Tim Roth

Short Review: Don’t make me act, you wouldn’t like me when I’m acting.


Back in 2004 Ang Lee created a desperately boring film based on the Incredible Hulk comic books. Bruce Banner was a grim guy and the Hulk was just a think necked green lug who hit stuff. Fast forward to 2008 and now there’s an attempt to reboot the failed project. Sometimes when the body is on the slab and the heart goes silent, its best to keep the paddles away and let then thing just be dead already.

There’s plenty wrong with this movie. The characters are flat, the conflict stale and Edward Norton just isn’t right for the role. The reason he was so perfect for Fight Club is the reason he doesn’t work well with this film. He’s at his best he’s portraying an emasculated Everyman who is educated beyond his needs. When he tries to be heroic, or portrays someone with something to offer society (Red Dragon for example) he falls short. He’s a great actor and when he’s in a role that feeds his niche there is no one better. Here, he is misplaced.

For all of the shortcomings the failure of the film can be narrowed down to one simple thing. Screenwriter Zak Penn (The Last Action Hero) chose to not include a first act. Literally, he stuffs the content of what should be an engaging first act into the title sequence. While the opening credits role we see Bruce Banner (Norton) strapped to a chair in a lab. He winks to his love Betty Ross (Liv Tyler) as an experiment begins. The experiment goes sour and Bruce turns into the Hulk. The Hulk then bashes everything and hurts Betty. Bruce is shown leaning over her hospital bed, wrought with guilt. He is then chased away by Betty’s father General Thaddeus Ross (William Hurt). The title sequence over, the story picks up with Bruce living incognito abroad. Penn and company obviously felt that it was wasted time setting up characters, conflicts and history. This is a critical error that decimates the whole production. Without establishing the relationships between the major players, there is no depth to the conflicts as they move forward. Because of this missing segment the film is forced to lurch into second act conflicts with no explanation or warning. The script leaps from one inexplicable battle to the next sans context.

With the recent spate of superhero movies, I hope the failure of this franchise sets some executives back on the heels and slows other productions down. There was a time when talented people gathered together to make works of art, or at least memorable pieces of entertainment. This continuous stream of comic heroes updated with modern angst is getting not only tiring but just plain pathetic.


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Labels: Edward Norton, film, Liv Tyler, movie review, superhero, Tim Roth, William Hurt

Tarantino, for all of his foulness and violent imagery, does have talent. Its too bad he uses his incredible writing skills to make vapid, post-modern wastelands. This, his first film, was one of the most astounding introductions of a filmmaker in the last twenty years. Yes, it is violent and it is wall to wall cursing, but in its defense, it is one of the best written films of the 90's.

I don't like what Tarantino stands promotes. I believe most of his films are a shameful waste of talent and energy and serve the lower elements of the audience. For better or for worse, he is an important figure in the industry and he's going to be around for a while.

This film showed his promise, and he's spent the remainder of his career turning on that promise. With the gifts this man was given to use them on making vile and often cheesy flicks that celebrate the worst cinema has to offer - its like Pavarotti stooping to singing rap tunes or Steinbeck taking up writing missives for the Penthouse Forum. Tarantino, considering what his talents could create, to see the pap he's made, it's shameful. Then again, he's a sort of a touchstone for a whole generation of artists. Given the unbelievable technology and the wide freedoms of expression, more than any other generation could have dreamed of having, what do we get? Corporate rehash of forgotten classics. In a way, his continued obsession with retro nonsense and filth do make him the voice of our times.

Caution, the trailer does contain expletives.







Screenwriter: Quentin Tarantino (Pulp Fiction)
Director: Quentin Tarantino (Jackie Brown)
Actors: Harvey Keitel (Be Cool), Tim Roth (Rosencrantz and Guldenstern are Dead), Michael Madsen (Kill Bill Vol. 1), Chris Penn (True Romance), and Steve Buscemi (Monsters, Inc.)

Labels: film, Harvey Keitel, movie trailer, Quentin Tarantino, Steve Buscemi, Tim Roth

Ang Lee's Hulk stunk so bad Marvel was forced to refranchise the big green guy. Ed Norton has taken scripting duties. I respect Norton's acting ability but giving him the reigns on a script, when he's never been a proven talent in the craft, is beyond me. While superhero movies don't tend to be great cultural events - who knows, maybe this one will be worth it.



Screenwriters: Edward Norton, Zak Penn (Last Action Hero)
Director: Louis Leterrier (The Transporter)
Actors: Edward Norton (Fight Club), Liv Tyler (Armageddon), Tim Roth (Reservoir Dogs), Robert Downey Jr. (Zodiac), and William Hurt (Mr. Brooks)

Labels: Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, movie trailer, superhero, Tim Roth