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Movie Archives (O-Q)

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O Brother, Where Art Thou
This is a strange tale of three escaped prisoners (Gearge Clooney, John Turturro, Tim Blake Nelson) and the strange people they encounter on their journey to find their families and buried treasure. It's based on Homer's Odyssey, but it was hard for me to make the connections between the movie and certain epic characters. The dialogue is fun to listen to and the music is not too bad either, but the movie on the whole feels a bit undone. From the brothers that did Fargo (Coen), O Brother, Where Art Thou is a movie whose key elements lie in it's interesting characters. (Unfortunately, this one is an adaptation and not fully genuine.)
GRADE: B-

The Object of My Affection
Half of the movie I kept wondering where it was headed. The characters are not well-written and the plot just wandered all over the place. Would Nina (Jennifer Aniston) and her gay roommate, George, (Paul Rudd) get together or not?!? Well, for the other half I began to realize that this movie was going nowhere. And it actually ends up the same way is started out-sorta (and no offense if I spoiled the ending). Anyways, it's a not so typical romantic comedy that reminds me of last year's Chasing Amy (with Ben Affleck). Well, I didn't like that movie and it didn't end on a very satisfactory note and I have to say that much of what I didn't like about Chasing Amy can be said about The Object of My Affection: it's a tragic romance that wanders aimlessly, but ends where it started.
GRADE: C-

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Ocean's 11
Ocean's 11 is a highly entertaining movie featuring a star-studded cast of thieves (Brad Pitt, Don Cheadle, Casey Affleck, Matt Damon, etc.) lead by George Clooney who rob a 3-hotel vault owned by Andy Garcia containing over $160 million. This movie was a lot of fun to watch. The plot is simple enough to follow, yet intricate enough to believe. But whatever, it was fun and entertaining and that should be enough to go out and see it.
GRADE: A+

Old School
Great fun, wacky movie. Considering it stars Vince Vaughn as a father of two, Luke Wilson as a newly single guy, and Will Farrell as a recently wed man, this movie is one to watch with old school friends. After catching his girlfriend in an threeway, Wilson moves out of his place and into a house near a college campus. Vaughn and Farrell suddenly get the brilliant idea to turn the house into a frat house so that they can check out college chicks and get away from their married life. But the school dean (played by a panties-too-tight Jeremy Priven) tries to ruin their unofficial frat house and commits them to completing a series of tests in order to stay open. But nevermind the plot. You throw Vaughn, Farrell, and Wilson together and something stupidly hilarious is bound to ensue. (Added plus for me is seeing my alma mater blasted in the background
GRADE: C+

The Omega Code
For a movie intented to entertain an audience and earn revenue, The Omega Code is pretty weak. It's got bland and poorly acted characters, and the plot moves too quickly. The Omega Code, however, does have a pretty enticing plot: the Bible can be interpreted to predict the future, so one powerful man uses the predictions to his benefit, ultimately hoping to take over the world. It stars Michael York as the powerful man and Casper van Dien as a motivational speaker that allies with York, but then realizes the mogul's cunningness. Though not a very good movie, The Omega Code's main topic of the end of the world is enough to get you thinking of your limited existence.
GRADE: C-

One Hour Photo
Robin Williams plays a psychotic, obsessed photo guy who is so enthralled by a family's photos, he has them covering his living room wall. Then he gets fired and finds out a skeleton in the family's closet and tries to set things straight for them, but things go insanely awry. One Hour Photo is a ghastly look into obsession and privacy. Makes you think twice about getting your pictures developed. The movie is decent, but the strange problem is that Williams' is too convincing and too psychotic. I wanted to leave just to get away from him. But then again....maybe this is what Oscar-worthy performances are made of.
GRADE: B

Orange County
Stupid and lame, but Jack Black does make you laugh. Colin Hanks is the aspiring writer who wants to attend Stanford University. The only problem is that he's "supposed" to be a typical Orange County kid who isn't supposed to aspire so liberally. If you plan on watching this movie, I'd like to know why. It's not flay-out terrible, but it is a waste of 1.5 hours. I watched it cause I'm from Orange County and I feel obliged to see what has resulted from my home county's namesake.
GRADE: C+

Original Sin
The narrator won't brand this story as a love story, but instead a story of love, but I dunno....It's pretty sexually-driven and foolish to say this is simply a movie about love in general. But after being engaged in this movie's meandering and twisting plot, I found that this movie really hit a soft spot and made me feel strongly toward the main characters. Angelina Jolie stars as a devilish woman who weds Antonio Banderas in a marriage of convenience. But her charms ensnare Banderas to the point where after she leaves him, he goes on a silent rampage to find her and "kill" her. When he does find her, he also realizes that he love her more than anything. He would do anything for her. Basically, he's a love struck and hapless fool, but watching the movie further, you realize that she's just as hapless and sorry as he is. For all it's sexual notoriety, Original Sin turned out to be a better movie than expected.
GRADE: B

The Others
Eerie movie set in post WWII off England. It's about a mother (Nicole Kidman) and her two children who live in this huge house and who encounter a new staff after their old one runs out on them. The children are allergic to light so all the doors must be kept closed and all the curtains drawn. The new nanny (Fionnula Flanagan)is really weird. The older child starts to hear things and talks to people her mom can't see which freaks her out. Eventually, the mom starts to go crazy and you realize the nanny knows something that she doesn't and then the movie ends with a Sixth Sense sort of twist. Very cool. Very eerie.
GRADE: B+

Out of Sight
Out of Sight is a tragic love story conceiled by a predictable plot, humorous dialogue and demeanor, and unique and novel directing. The plot was mindless, to be perfectly honest. Only a few thing kept me hooked: Jack the bank robber (George Clooney) and Karen the F.B.I. agent's (Jennifer Lopez) chemistry (their connection was heartfelt and romantic), and some other characters that make the movie comically enjoyable. Props to director Steven Soderbergh for his unique shots. However, his flashbacks were, at times, indistinguishable.
GRADE: C+

Outside Providence
Outside Providence is about a "bad" kid (Shawn Hatosy) from Pawtucket who is sent to a private school and makes new friends and also falls for a girl (Amy Smart). The movie is not typical Farrelly-humor (slapstick, perverse), but it is still pretty funny. It's more of a coming-of-age and young-love movie than anything else. I found it to be touching and sometimes sad, and overall, pretty well-done.
GRADE: B+

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Patch Adams
It's funny but it's not a comedy. It's sentimental and touching but it's not a chick flick drama. It's inspiring but not life changing. In short, Patch Adams offers a lot, but isn't strong in any particular genre. Robin Williams gives a nice performance as Patch, the passionate aspiring doctor who wants to bring humanity into the hospitals instead of take it away (as his nemesis Dean Walcott played by Bob Gunton teaches to do). However, the meaning of the movie is expressed in a sketchy way, jumping from Patch Adams to the plot as a whole. If you have no idea what I mean, that's okay. Maybe you should watch the movie, but I wouldn't put too much faith in trying to get extremely inspired by the movie. (No offense to the truth behind the story, which is a lot more inspiring.)
GRADE: B-

Pay It Forward
With an award-winning cast and a plot that is sure to bring tears to your eyes, Pay It Forward does not less than you might expect. It's about a single mother (Helen Hunt) and her seventh grade son (Haley Joel Osment), whose extra-credit assignment given by his Social Studies teacher (Kevin Spacey) involves an idea to change the world by doing good deeds to 3 people and having them "pay it [good works] forward". The movie is the ultimate do-good, be-a-better-person type movie. However, it's message becomes so prominent, it gets kinda suffocating. Other than that, there's not much to say except that it is a very good movie.
GRADE: A-

Payback
Slighty predictable, but still spontaneous and gutsy. Mel Gibson is awesome as Porter, who-to say it simply-is a crook. A really twisted crook who, thoughout the entire movie, kills just about everybody just to get $70,000 that is owed to him. It's interesting to see a movie whose only good guy is the bad guy (as the movie trailers and posters suggest). But as with most "mobster"-type bad guy movies, there's going to be a lot of random killing in random styles.
GRADE: C+

The Peacemaker
Very good structure and very good action. The Peacemaker keeps you on the edge of your seat and fills your bladder until you can't sit still! It's got an "explosive" intro that tingles your gut, and an unbelieveable car chase scene that just makes you want to drive on the highway through traffic. George Clooney (of ER fame) and Nicole Kidman are pretty good (Clooney could find himself getting more action movies; though Kidman's American-accent is slightly blemished by her native Australian one.) I won't force you to see this movie, but I think it's pretty good and you won't be too unsatisfied.
GRADE: A-

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A Perfect Murder
This was not a bad movie. It was suspenseful and entertaining. Starring Michael Douglas as Steven Taylor, a wealthy guy who wants his his wife (Gwyneth Paltrow) killed and killed by her lover. The movie may seem predictable and it pretty much is, but it's not the kind of movie where you're 100% sure of what will happen next. I'll admit it was pretty bland.
GRADE: C+

Picture Perfect
This movie was not romantic or comical. Jennifer Aniston makes a worthy (but unsatisfying) effort trying to be great in this movie, but it just didn't cut it for me. The jokes weren't that great and the acting and plot seemed very much full of holes. Jay Mohr did give a good performance, but that's about it. See this movie if you're bored. (Many apologies to any Aniston-lovers out there!)
GRADE: D

Pirates of the Carribean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
For a movie based on a Disneyland attraction, this is pretty good...for the first 2 hours. No doubt, the biggest drawback of the movie is it's length. Even a movie with a fun loving plot of pirates, treasure, and swordplay can be tarnished by TOO much action. Yet, the obvious thrust of the film is Johnny Depp's performance: a rousing, comical, likeable, seemingly half-drunk pirate. Depp provides the movie's anchor in an otherwise doldrumed film. And it goes to show that humor is a necessary ingredient for just about any movie. Ok, so the movie is about a cursed pirate ship called the Black Pearl, headed by the scaley-skinned Geoffrey Rush. He captures Kiera Knightly who beholds a gold medallion. Orlando Bloom is in love with Knightly and goes searching for her with the help of hoodlum pirate Depp. You realize that the cursed pirates are basically undead (as seen by their skeleton physique in the light of the full moon) and this becomes the reason for the movie's length. How do you kill someone who can't die? Too bad Gore Verbinski went on a special effects rant and shot too many action scenes. By the end of this otherwise lovely period piece, you are half asleep. So the general concensus might be: watch the movie because it's great, then leave at exactly the 2 hour mark. No no...don't do that. But really, it's a good movie. Just unnecessarily long.
GRADE: B+

Pitch Black
Vin Diesel (Broiler Room, Saving Private Ryan) is "lethal" and slick as prisoner Riddick. Pitch Black is about him and the remaining survivors from a space shuttle crash onto a planet whose year long sunshine from the planet's 3 suns is about to end because of an eclipse. What's scary as that the planet is completely desolate. Why? Well what lurks in the night is the answer, and these survivors (or soon to be dead people) are about to find out. It's a creepy and thrilling joyride of a movie. Though the dialogue and characters are weak, much should not be expected from pure sci-fi fun.
GRADE: B+

Planet of the Apes
Though I've never seen the first telling of this famous book, Planet of the Apes was a good movie in terms of the great lengths it took to make everything believable. Ignoring the fact all the apes seem to have a lisp, the visual effects and make up are extraordinary and almost disturbing. Director Tim Burton really paints an eerie notion of a planet full of talking, clothes-wearing, idol-worshipping apes. Mark Wahlberg stars as a lost spaceman who crash lands on the ape planet. With the help of Ari (Helena Bonham Carter), a compassionate ape, Wahlberg selfishly tries to find his space crew and return to Earth. I'm trying not to give the movie away, but except an eerie twist. Actually, the whole movie is pretty errie and twisted, so I dunno if you'll be that much more surprised.
GRADE: B

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Playing By Heart
I absolutely adored this movie! It's such a light and soft-moving movie. Throughout, it's a bunch of stories about a bunch of people dealing with love, life, and death (mostly love). But one story is never told long enough to lose your attention or get dull, and just when you're wondering what's happening with that story, the movie jumps right back. Plus, it has an excellent cast of Sean Connery, Gillian Anderson, Ryan Phillippe, Angelina Jolie, Gena Rowlands, Jay Mohr, etc. I just couldn't find any flaws in the movie. In fact, I didn't even find myself looking for any, because the movie was so entertaining.
GRADE: A-

Pleasantville
Someone's seen one too many Kim Anderson photos! But despite the beauty and innovative style of this movie, don't think of this movie symbolically. You will go absolutely nuts! If at all possible, try to enjoy the plot in which David (Tobey Maguire) and Jennifer (Reese Witherspoon) get stuck in the black/white show 'Pleasantville.' The world of Pleasantville is soon transformed into something different. Also starring are William H. Macy, Joan Allen, Jeff Daniels, and Don Knotts. I recommend it if you don't try to break the movie apart.
GRADE: B

Practical Magic
Don't be deceived by the trailer, but Practical Magic is more storyline entertainment than comical. I laughed two times, got shivers down my spine about three times, but was more or less fully entertained by the witchcraft tales than by the entire plot itself, which is basically about the Owens sisters, Jillian (Nicole Kidman) and Sally (Sandra Bullock), who have love problems, but one day have a big problem with one of Jillian's lovers. It's pretty enjoying if you like to get entertained by witch tales, but other than that, it's a pretty solid B movie.
GRADE: B-

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The Prince of Egypt
Fortunately, the majestic tale of the Hebrew Moses leading his people out of tyrannic Egypt makes a nice transition from the Bible to the silver screen. Dreamworks does its best to not allow the music and animation override such a powerful story. There are a few instances when the songs do prolong to an almost disatisfying musical a la Disney cartoons, but it is not done often enough to ruin the story or the movie. The Prince of Egypt is simply splendid.
GRADE: A

The Princess and the Warrior
About a girl (Franka Potente) who gets hit by a truck and is rescued by an ex-soldier (Benno Furmann) who actually caused the accident, The Princess and the Warrior is a beautiful, yet slow movie told in German with English subtitles. The movie is simple, yet deep. Stylistic, yet dull. Interesting, yet dragging. A bit of a love story, a bit of a story on humanity...I dunno...It was fun to watch because it was different. But let's reiterate that it leans toward the "slow" side.
GRADE: B

The Princess Diaries
Yet another Cinderella/ugly duckling/My Fair Lady/Pretty Woman remake. 15 year old Mia (Anne Hathaway) is confronted by her grandmother (Julie Andrews) that she is a princess and sole heir to the Genovian throne. Mia must decide if she will accept this duty. Along the way, she discovers inner beauty, responsiblity, etc. You'll enjoy the movie if you're a youthful female who enjoys makeovers where you end up becoming a princess. :)
GRADE: C+

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The Professional
This is one good movie! I don't love it, but I did enjoy very much. Gary Oldman has deemed himself worthy to be called the most terrifying actor in movies (according to me). Natalie Portman (though I detest her brilliant acting) is very good as Mahtilda, a girl whose family is lost to Oldman. And Jean Reno plays the good, funny, kind, witty....Professional. It's an explosive movie too. Especially in the end. :)
GRADE: A

Psycho
Interesting....and unique, Psycho is definitely one of a kind. Though I have not seen the original, I can imagine that Gus van Sant did a good job of recreating this Alfred Hitchcock masterpiece, because of the unique filming and ambience the movie cerates. It's an eery film about a missing woman named Marion Crane, whose was last seen by Norman Bates at the Bates Motel. It's a very PSYCHOlogical movie and its focus is more on mentality than blood and gore (though there is plenty of that too.) The movie left me hoping for more Hitchcock remakes.
GRADE: A-

Punch-Drunk Love
Before I begin, let me say that almost every synopsis of this movie I've read has been completely off. This movie is about a guy named Barry (Adam Sandler) who owns his own business, has seven sisters, gets in trouble with some thugs after ONE phone call to a phone-sex line, and falls for a guy named Lena (Emily Watson). This is not about phone-sex addiction or a guy who owns a phone-sex company. Actually, just skip the synopsis and watch this movie. I enjoyed the quirkiness of the movie and how it portrays the reality of someone as eccentric (or normal?) as a guy like Barry. There is a lot of psychology behind what makes him tick. You can spend most of the movie figuring it out, or you can accept the fact that despite whatever is wrong (or not wrong) with him, love and honesty seem to solve all his problems. He's a sympathetic character yet someone who you probably wouldn't want to be. Director Paul T. Anderson does a fantastic job of making a film that tests the human audience to react to Barry's depressing situations and not just watch them. Sandler is outstanding in this role, because he uses his dramatic timing and talent, not simply humor to engage the audience. I truly felt that this movie was an experience, not simply something to watch and let pass. And Barry is an extraordinary risk of a character to portray...I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Sandler's turn at an Oscar or Golden Globe.
GRADE: A

NOTE: A grade of A is a highly recommended film for everybody.
A grade of B is a moderately recommended film for anybody.
A grade of C is generally geared toward a particular fan.
A grade of D is an unrecommended film.
A grade of F is a really bad film that is recommended for your extremely bored amusement.

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