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Reviews
Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
Best thus far, 2008
Story telling is the original derivative of movies and is truly an art. The best stories and some the longest lasting stories of all time use elements of truth mixed with dazzling arrays of fancy. But without truth their would be no true emotion derived from the story, and with no emotion their is no connection. And you know what no connection leaves you with (just hang up a phone or have some one hang up on you) dead. This film grabs you from the beginning and you never want it to lose it's grip. It just seems to engage every inch of your being without defrauding you in any since. And while the story tetters on edge of reality and fancy you still tend to relate and connect throughout. The start with the children is just so engaging and focused that it makes you want to commission a miniseries if not a television series on the adventures of...their lives. And flashbacks really involve you in the story and the director allows you to relive along with the characters. And even as the children age and the story digresses along with the climatical scenes you still are so enthralled that you heart and head keeps telling the director not to slow done, and at least not to let up, and you hope for an ending with an screeching halt instead of a slow grind. But nevertheless all things must come to an end. I didn't enjoy how the second half was less effective than the first, but maybe that's how life is. Remember when you were a child life seemed so engaging and the days seemed to last forever, and the older you get the faster the days and time goes and less engaging and adventurous life seems. The director might be pushing this direction or maybe he just needed a correct way to end things. Top notch writing, directing, and acting. Even though I was disappointed with the lack of emotion or true drive from the Latika's character especially the aged leads. But spot on recreations and beautiful camera work. I only expected a seemingly better ending possibly less conclusive than live happily ever after with millions while your brother rots ...but, hey hopefully the DVD has alternate endings. If it were my decision the academy would have an easy decision to make for major awards across the board, and the winner is Slumdog Millionaire, Slumdog Millionaire, Slumdog Millionaire!
Cadillac Records (2008)
A period in need of a film, this may be it
I never knew how influential and truly amazing blues music was. And living in the Chicagoland area it truly makes me proud and grateful the such history is so close by. And while the film left out certain aspects of the true struggle of the musician/singers of that day, it really brought to mind the lack of compensation for their works and acts of today. The film itself was basically what you expect from a biopic of any music group or styling. The delightful beginning exposure and find of artist, the beginning struggle, their great rise, their slow abusive fall, and their final collapse. But what wasn't so cookie cutter and norm was the content to be found in this picture. Really dynamic music, lots of sex and nudity, and even more pervasive language. This really allowed the characters to come to life, but also demonized the characters and didn't allow you to feel any compassion or loss for their troubled lives. While content allows the characters to live, I think in this case it really was extended without purpose. By showing nudity and including cursing it kind of got loss in translation how exactly you were to empathize with the as good/bad characters. But the acting was superb, the usual characters of solid and great acting of Jeffrey Wright, Adrien Brody, and Mos Def, was compacted on the fact that some unusual suspects brought their A game, even some A+ material. The most surprising to me was Columbus Short character, wow, he really brought the lil' Walter character to life, and really made you hate/love him at the same instance. Gabriel Union focused on being parental and provided exactly what that character needed. And anyone who knows the capability of Eamonn Walker knows he brought that same intensity that he did with roles such as Said in Oz. And Beyonce even surprised, but even if she is a potty mouth in real life it just didn't seem to flow coming from her. Etta James is no sweat heart and she came from a rough street upbringing, bringing some one in with that same attitude and almost same corruptness would have been the more convincing, but she definitely did solid work. I really felt the Chuck Berry character was tailor made for Mos, and he really made you smile and almost relive the events. Even the rauchiness of these musicians were live and direct, which showed the accents of Rock and Roll, and Hip Hop of today. But what limited this film and would have made typical to great would have been a more extensive and true to life form. Lots of info was left out off course due to the matter of time and money, but if you gonna attack a era instead of and individual you should allow you editor and monetary budget to be more extensive, enjoyable and solid, but not great, really brought Blues musicians back to cool...
Seven Pounds (2008)
How confusion can equal boring, dissatisfied, and more confusion
I really didn't know what to expect of this film besides, the fact that once again the Fresh Prince was dipping out of sure blockbuster films and into (hopefully) sure Oscar bait. Ali, In the pursuit of happiness, both films where Will Smith took chances to not only expand and show his acting chops, but also to put him in the realm of great actors and hopefully on day claim the prize all thespians seek. But the direction the director and writer take really takes the steam out of the film. And while the direction of the film goes the direction of giving us flashbacks and asking us to take these along with the present in order to piece the film together is somewhat daunting, and demanding. While neither Will Smith's character or Barry Pepper's character allows us a wiff of a clue, the setup does seem to force the bait, instead of taking it. The movie drags and putts along and never attacks or focuses. The acting isn't what took me away from the film, but the direction. It never allows you to focus. It never permits focus, but the acting is solid is not excellent. Rosario Dawson embraces her beauty inside and out. She really makes the story into a romance and a focus on the relationship is what draws you in. Will Smith is engaging but once again he over approaches the style of acting suited for this role. The yelling and the facial jerks that he uses in similar fashion in his action films he always brings to his dramatic roles. A with the limited time and space given Elpidia Carrillo attacks the screen with pure emotion and control (maybe Will can take her lead). But Rosario really takes the film to another level by just being beautiful and soft, and with her character's sickness, showing true vulnerability, and openness by almost forcing a relationship. I think more editing and a better flow would result in a more solid and refined film. Maybe it should play backwards and have his seven pounds waking through the power of others, hint, hint...
I Really Hate My Job (2007)
i really hate this movie!!!
The problem with art-house films is that it is a lot like abstract painting. No one has any idea of what is art and what is simply a self defined art. I can come up with a film that reflects my feelings and thoughts and call it an excellent film because i can relate to it and it is reality for me. But, to others this film maybe far from reality and can carry no weight for them. This is so true of this film, i came into it thinking that it would approach the ills of working 9-5. Boy, what a shocker!!!It talks about the ills of being lost women in a world full of lost people,not focusing on anything interesting or real.And with each unnecessary scene comes even more outrageous and unnecessary dialogue which makes for an even more outrageous unnecessary movie. This movie doesn't move, inspire, or even tickle a an arthritic bone. And even so it makes matters worse by parading a naked neve cambell(barf!), and turns into a brief musical to boot. Sorry, but this one takes the cake...no more art-house independents for me, i think i rather got to work for 12 hours than watch this drivel!