The Masked Avenger

Radio Days (1987) Perhaps one of the more underrated Woody Allen films, Radio Days is a pure and total joy. It is a rare treat as Allen seems to have allowed himself to be unabashedly nostalgic, without trying to insert any of the morality conflicts which typically weave through his work. One of the only scenes in the film that departs from the comic is an amazingly touching scene that suddenly and masterfully reiterates the love that exists in a family.

There are so many clever and quick one liners that they are nearly impossible to list. Add that to the seemingly endless parade of familiar actors that appear in cameos or bit parts, and you have a pretty fantastic way to spend 90 minutes.

Having no fun storming the castle...

Ironclad (2011) A prime example of a good premise and terrific actors stuck in a really awful film. I was relatively excited to see this, I mean Bryan Cox, Paul Giamatti, and Knights Templar... what's not to like?

Basically everything.

Outside of a few lovely shots of the English countryside, and one strikingly good speech by Giamatti (as King John), this film is like soft-core violence porn loosely tied together with a shambolic and ultimately totally inept plot. 

This movie, like King John before it, deserves to die of dysentery. 

A Tale of Two Documentaries

GasLand (2010) is a documentary by Josh Fox about the practice of Hydraulic Fracturing or "Fracking". This documentary received a lot of attention, due mostly to it's subject matter. As an aside, it is interesting to google the movie and to see the SEM (Paid Ads) in place to counter the film's point of view. The documentary itself, is good but not great. At times, it can be a bit too self referential. That said, it is a powerful message and there are some lovely visual moments.
Rating: Good
Links: IMDB, Rotten Tomatoes, Wikipedia

The Woodmans (2010) Is the story of the Woodman Family, a family of american artists. George, the patriarch is a painter and former professor. Betty, the matriarch, is a potter of quite some renown. Charlie (son) an Electronic Artist and Professor, and Francesca (daughter) a highly praised photographer. It's a beautifully shot documentary that allows you to understand and get a feel for the world that this family created for itself and the great tragedy of their lives. Francesca's work is highlighted throughout, and it is breathtaking. given the additional context from the film only makes it more so, and gives added dimension to the work of all of the family members. In a very deft way, the director, Scott Willis, shows us the dark corners of a troubled and talented family without it ever being unseemly or voyeuristic.
Rating: Very Good
Links: IMDB, Rotten Tomatoes, Wikipedia

Realities

So, here's the deal... I am not a writer.

What I do, what I love to do is to watch movies, not to write about them. I obsess over my writing and am never comfortable with even the most simple sentence. So, that said, I am going to change the format of the blog, and go with much shorter reviews, unless I feel compelled to do otherwise.

So, here we go.

The Paper (1994)

Glenn Close as Alicia Clark

Have you seen "Network"? It's an amazing film (also currently available on Netflix Streaming) about the compromise, the cynicism, and the aspirations and realities of the business of the news. That was a great film, Ron Howard's "The Paper" is not.

"The Paper" tells the story of the day in the life of the New York Sun, primarily from the viewpoint of Metro Desk Editor, Henry Hackett.  Henry is played by Michael Keaton in a very non-nuanced performance. And, that's really where the trouble begins. Nothing in this movie is nuanced, the characters are strictly caricatures of what you would expect to find in a newsroom. You've seen all of these folks before... the cast of colorful characters that here are ultimately bland and colorless. Robert Duvall phones in his role as the gruff but wise Editor, Glenn Close makes what she can of a terribly thinly veiled version of Faye Dunaway's character in "Network". There are seemingly dozens of different story lines swirling around in the film, seemingly packed to the brim in an attempt to add to the forced frenetic pacing of the script. The main story line is so self righteous and condescending as to almost be offensive.

If this is sounding harsh, it's because there was so much promise to this film, a terrifically capable cast, a great director, and potentially - a great story. Ultimately "The Paper" is far more of The Enquirer, than The New York Times.

Rating: Not Great
Parent's Notes: Language, Adult Situations, and probably just boring.
Links: IMDB, Rotten Tomatoes, Wikipedia

Croupier (1998)

Clive Owen as Jack Manfred

Jack Manfred, an aspiring writer, is a smart but disaffected man who sees the world broken into two very distinct groups, winners and losers. He knows all the angles, calculates all of the odds, and considers himself merely an observer in the world that he appears to be wholly disengaged from. In a somewhat Noir feeling story, he is slowly drawn back into a world he knows only too well. Though he tells himself it is all fodder for a novel, it is obviously much more.

Clive Owen is an excellent actor and though this film is early in his career, the "cool" factor and demeanor he exudes is readily apparent. The supporting cast in the film is adequate, but the film revolves almost entirely on Owen, and he carries it well.

I went in to this with middling expectations and was very pleasantly surprised at how the film drew me in. The intricate story, the acting, and the plot twists all made for a very good movie.

Rating: Very Good
Parents Notes: Not for kids. Some nudity, violence, and colorful language.
Links: IMDB, Rotten Tomatoes, Wikipedia

Welcome

As of April, 2012 Netflix Streaming now boasts over 26 Million Subscribers, and 60,000 titles. With odds like that, one would assume that the service would truly be a dream come true for movie lovers. But for many of us, the opposite has been the case. The service seems, at times, to be made up entirely of straight to video releases from the early 90's and Barney episodes.

I love movies, good movies, and I watch a lot of them. I hope to highlight the gems that I find, and share them so that others can make the best of their $7.99 a mo.

I don't promise that the reviews will be eloquent, I can't say that they will be any more than a few grunts with some assorted words thrown in, but I will try to get a few reviews per week posted. I'll try to mix in family friendly (but not mind numbing), with more sophisticated adult fare as well.

I look forward to your comments and suggestions.