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Reviews
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
Much to like, but much to gripe
There's much to like in "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal", but considering the series' pedigree, many fans will probably come away disappointed.
The first 40 minutes of "Skull" are on par with the best moments of the series, but the story gets severely bogged down once the action moves to Peru, and the finale feels tired and by-the-numbers. The minor characters (Ray Winstone, John Hurt) seem silly and too broadly defined, and much of the action pushes the limits of believability -- even by "Indy" standards! Karen Allen's return as Marion Ravenwood was a wasted opportunity -- a far cry from the strong-willed, Howard Hawksian heroine who held her own in the original Raiders. Her relationship with Indy could have been the heart and soul of Crystal Skull (at least it was in the Frank Darabont draft), but instead it's criminally reduced to little more than a mere plot point. Instead the focus is on Indy's relationship with young biker/rebel "Mutt", played by Shia LaBeouf -- and this presents a significant problem. LaBeouf, for his part, acquits himself well in the role (those dismissing him as the Jar Jar Binks of the Indy series won't be justified), but the problem is that Mutt as a character is neither all that original, nor particularly interesting.
On its own terms, Crystal Skull is a fun, entertaining movie to watch, but it never really captures the magic, awe, or grand sense of adventure that Raiders had -- and in spades.
Brick (2005)
Highly original and very inventive
Make no mistake, BRICK is not a spoof, but an all-out film noir that just happens to be set against a contemporary high school. And while there are some moments of intentional humor in the delivery, the film -- like the best of the genre -- permeates with dramatic intensity, as well as a profound sense of sadness.
Everything about this movie is exceptional -- the fast-paced, clipped dialog, the ethereal music, and especially the cast. Joseph Gordon Levitt (formerly "that kid from THIRD ROCK") is an actor who has taken a lot of risks in the roles he plays -- from troubled teen in MANIC, to the gay hustler in MYSTERIOUS SKIN) -- and yet he's made all the right choices. I'm continually impressed by this young actor, and feel that his talent is Oscar worthy.
But the supporting players are all top-notch as well. Lucas Haas, once so angelic in WITNESS, is genuinely creepy here as a local drug mastermind.
Kudos to the writer-director for making such a highly original work that kept me in suspense throughout. The finale, in which all the plot devices are unraveled and our hero learns a painful secret, was absolutely heartbreaking.
Fever (1999)
Atmospheric, but predictable
Extremely atmospheric thriller starts out great, as young artist (Thomas) living in hellish urban apartment grows more and more paranoid as other tenants end up dead. The high production value and Thomas' performance maintain the interest, but the script -- reminiscent of other, better pictures -- goes nowhere fast, with a been there, done that "surprize" ending you can predict 20 minutes into the film. Seriously ruined by a slapped on, cop-out finale that leaves you furious and unsatisfied.