Grade: B-
| It’s Men in Black, 3 for 3D. Our two heroes are back, Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones. However in this scenario, the movie is set in the past, before the two met. Will has to go back in time to change the course of history and save his partner. Josh Brolin plays the younger version of Tommy Lee Jones and he is spot-on! Nice story, but it lacks a lot of the fun and novelty that we got with the first two. |
Grade: A-
| I’ve been waiting a long time for Memoirs of a Geisha to come out. I think a lot of people have! There’s been talk about it ever since the book got optioned, and several different directors have been attached at different points, including Steven Spielberg, who is credited as a producer. Rob Marshall, who so successfully directed “Chicago” eventually got the job, and he did it well. The look and feel of the movie is lush, rich, it’s a drama that sweeps you away in the story. The characters are well defined and each serves a specific purpose. The locations are amazing, the costumes are beautiful, the music is enchanting. I love that the women characters are strong. Even the lead character, the little slave girl who becomes the acclaimed geisha “Sayuri” takes control of her life and her destiny. In a way the movie is like a fairy tale because it’s set in a place and time that really doesn’t exist anymore. For older kids it will teach some history. There are some scenes of violence. I think this movie will get a few nominations come Oscar time – I’d guess Adapted Screenplay, Costumes, Musical Score, Make-up, Cinematography. |
Grade: C+
| Interesting premise: the same story told two ways simultaneously, as a drama and as a comedy. This is very much a Woody Allen movie, and this time Woody stays behind the camera and gives his role to the versatile Will Ferrell. All of Will’s lines are classic Woody! Radha Mitchell plays both Melindas, and she really delineates the characters. She’s one to watch, I know we’ll be seeing a lot of this actress. Amanda Peet is delightful, as always, as Will’s wife, a film director. The comedy version was superior to the drama version. I think it’s more difficult for Woody to play it straight. So many of the lines in the drama were melodramatic – it was a little over the top. |
Grade: B+
| “Meet the Fockers” has set all kinds of box office records over the holiday weekends, and with good reason. This movie is hilarious. It’s the kind of movie where you can just laugh – and don’t we all need a laugh around this time of year? Especially with the relatives in town? And it’s not so much that we’re laughing at the movie as it is that we’re laughing at ourselves. We can all relate to these characters, as exaggerated as they are. It’s just a fun time.
Ben Stiller returns in this sequel as Gaylord Focker, engaged to Teri Polo, and still trying to ingratiate himself with his future in-laws Robert DeNiro and Blythe Danner. This time the happy group goes on a road trip to meet his parents, winningly played by a charming Dustin Hoffman and the effervescent Barbra Streisand in a long-overdue return to the big screen. Streisand is a hoot! She has some of the best lines in the movie, and got some of the biggest laughs. Of course, hilarity ensues and love wins out – but this movie is definitely worth the ride! |
Grade: C
| Woody Allen wrote and directed Match Point, but this is not your typical Woody Allen movie. It’s dark and dreary and there’s not a neurotic New Yorker in sight. And everyone sleeps with people who are age-appropriate. The movie is well written, and there are a few lines which are pretty signature Woody. But overall, the whole thing plays very dismal. It comes in at 2 hours, but it feels like 3. It’s heavy, with lots of dialogue, and yet the plot is really full of holes. There is so much that just doesn’t make sense. When that happens it makes the characters look stupid. But there is a point to the whole thing, and the structure is sound, the technical aspects are solid. Scarlett Johanssen is so screen-worthy, her features are flawless and she can act circles around her costars. Definitely thought provoking, though – but better as a rental, during the day, when you’re less likely to fall asleep. |
Grade: B
| John Cusack stars as the widower who takes in a troubled child. John is a science fiction author, a little eccentric and a little sad, which makes him the perfect foster parent for Dennis, a quirky and damaged little boy in much need of acceptance and a loving home. The title comes from the fact that Dennis insists he is from Mars. And there are times when we might just believe him! Joan Cusack is John’s sister, nice casting choice – she’s wonderful and funny and very real. Amanda Peet is the love interest, his sister-in-law who really “gets” him. It’s warm and sweet, a little corny at times, but it tugs at your heart. And it has a happy ending. |
Grade: C+
| Based on the book by columnist John Grogan which is based on his own life experiences with his family and his dog, “Marley and Me” is promoted as a heart-warming comedy. Though there are funny parts to the movie, it is more accurate to use the term “dramedy.” Drama with comedic elements. You will cry more than you laugh. It’s all about the dog, Marley. We meet John (Owen Wilson) and his young wife Jenny (Jennifer Aniston) right when they get married, and start their family with a rambuctious yellow labrador puppy, Marley.
The movie spends the first half showing just how misbehaved Marley can be. Kathleen Turner (Kathleen, what are you doing in this part?) makes a cameo as a dog trainer who kicks Marley out of school. This doesn’t really endear us to Marley as much as make us wonder why the heck anyone would put up with a dog like this. I think it’s a little overdone. John goes through a career change, the couple has kids, and Marley adjusts to all of it by just being himself. Then as the kids grow up, Marley grows older, and the waterworks start. I cried and I don’t even like dogs all that much. |
Grade: B-
| Marigold is a Bollywood movie starring an American actress (Ali Larter from the TV show “Heroes”) about an American actress named Marigold starring in a Bollywood movie! It’s actually very cute – and as I’m a fan of Bollywood movies, very fun.
We meet Marigold in the airport, she is late for her flight to Bombay and lies her way onto the plane, yelling at her agent on her cellphone the whole way. We get the message, she’s obnoxious. It doesn’t take much to knock her down a few pegs, as she’s stranded in India with no job and no luggage. Opportunity presents itself in the form of a role in a Bollywood film, and she takes it, even knowing that she is unqualified because she can’t dance. Her handsome choreographer, Prem, rescues her and the two fall in love. There is a clash of cultures, and a few obstacles to overcome before we can have our happy ending. Meanwhile we get the requisite Bollywood dance numbers and some broad humor. The costumes are just beautiful – the whole movie looks like one big fantasy. And of course the setting is breathtaking. It’s a corny romantic comedy, but I enjoyed it thoroughly! |
Grade: B+
| Sofia Coppola directs and Kirsten Dunst stars in this fun and refreshing version of Marie Antoinette. This is a must-see for teens, it’s a great way to learn a little history. The costumes and sets, hair and make-up are absolutely spectacular – it’s worth going just for the eye candy. the dialogue is contemporary, the story is easy to follow and understand. There are scenes that reminded me of “Clueless” – teen girls gone fashion crazy. Jason Schwarzman is Louis, the reluctant teen groom. Clearly these two young people are ill-prepared to rule, and things get out of hand quickly. But what is remarkable about the movie is how we see things from the ruler’s point of view. They were so isolated, and really ignorant, about what was going on in their own country. Their priorities were the same as any young person – partying and playing. And no one encouraged them to do anything else. France was falling and they were unaware, until it was too late. The character arcs are well drawn. The only thing I didn’t like about the movie was the ending. I wanted more resolution. But then I was tempted to go on the computer and find out the rest of the story myself, and maybe that was exactly what the director intended. |
Grade: C
| Margot at the Wedding has its moments, but mostly it’s dark and depressing. It’s one of those independent films with a bunch of dysfunctional people getting on each other’s nerves. Not really entertaining. But the acting is good. Nicole Kidman is Margot, who comes to town for her sister’s (Jennifer Jason Leigh) wedding. The fiance is Jack Black, an Margot things her sister an do better. Margot is a writer, who has written about her dysfunctional family and childhood, much to the dismay of her family. But Margot has more problems than the whole bunch put together. She’s totally neurotic, and takes out her insecurities on her insecure teenage son. It’s really emotional abuse, but she doesn’t get it, obviously. |
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