where ideas go to die
The Incredibles –Brad Bird –2004
Brad Bird writer
****1/2 (out of five)
Even better than I remember it being the first time. Brad Bird’s script deserves its Academy Award nomination. The thing fits together like clockwork.
A special shout-out to composer Michael Giacchino this time: the score sounds very much like a 60s-era Bond movie. And that most certainly is a good thing.
Glengarry Glen Ross –James Foley –1992
David Mamet writer
*** (out of five)
“Glengarry” succeeds largely because of its performances. There are some top-flight actors in this one and they’re all on their game. I was bothered a bit by the story however. It seemed rather abstract and stylized. I got the distinct impression that Mamet’s knowledge of the world of sales was cursory and superficial. Just a little more specificity would have raised this up a notch or two.
Five Easy Pieces –Bob Rafelson –1970
Carol Eastman and Bob Rafelson writers
**** (out of five)
“Pieces” has the sort of expressionistic narrative structure one usually finds in good short fiction. Information is doled out in a series of loose and clean vignettes adding up to a fine character study. Nicholson is terrific in the lead and the ending is both surprising and inevitable.
In the Realms of the Unreal –Jessica Yu –2004
Jessica Yu writer
**1/2 (out of five)
“Unreal” is a documentary about Henry Darger, a Chicago janitor who wrote (and lavishly illustrated) a 15,000 page fantasy novel over the course of his sad, and isolated life. I can’t really recommend the film as a film –it often feels padded and unfocused– but as a character study and a cautionary tale the movie works just fine.
Those of us who’ve seen the film now have a new touchstone for optimism: “Well, as bad as I’ve got it, at least I’m no Henry Darger.”
Elmer Gantry –Richard Brooks –1960
Richard Brooks writer
*** (out of five)
Raises some smart questions about organized religion and has the good sense not to provide any pat answers. Were it not for a few cartoonishly broad moments “Gantry” would have scored a little higher. Still, one can’t complain too much with such a fine performance from Burt Lancaster and a plot that keeps you guessing.
And who knew that the pre-Partridge Family Shirley Jones was so hot?
In Good Company –Paul Weitz –2004
Paul Weitz writer
*** (out of five)
A perfectly enjoyable little drama with good humor, good characters and some fine acting. If I were to say anything negative about it it would be that I feel Mr. Weitz digested the entire Cameron Crowe body of work and then regurgitated it in the form of “Company”. Given that I enjoy Cameron Crowe’s movies though, this isn’t exactly damning.
Mysterious Island –Cy Endfield –1961
Crane Wilbur writer
**1/2 (out of five)
Jason and the Argonauts –Don Chaffey –1963
Beverly Cross and Jan Read writers
*** (out of five)
This was a really fun double-bill at the American Cinemateque’s new Santa Monica theatre the Aero. The AC’s been doing good work at the Egyptian in Hollywood for years and it’s nice to have a satellite theatre a little closer to home.
I’ve got an enormous amount of respect for Ray Harryhausen. I loved his movies as kid and so did most of the people doing fantasy films today. His influence is gigantic. He spoke between the two films and it was nice to see he was spry and amusing even at eighty five years old (!). God bless him.
Spider-man 2 –Sam Raimi –2004
Alvin Sargent writer
*** (out of five)
Spider-man 2 is actually better than I gave it credit for during its theatrical run. Some of the same things still bother me (Doc Ock being controlled by his own tentacles and some of the lengthy speechifying) but the movie does have heart. You can’t fault it for not having any thematic content as so many of these movies don’t. And yet the action scenes are really quite spectacular. –Sure, I’ll be there in line for “Spidey 3″.
Rebel Without a Cause –Nicholas Ray –1955
Irving Schulman writer
**1/2 (out of five)
A decent enough melodrama marred by a laughable portrayal of teenagers in trouble. It’s adolescents seen through the lens of decidedly square adults. –James Dean and Sal Mineo are really terrific however.
The Aviator –Martin Scorcese –2004
John Logan writer
*** (out of five)
This one fell right in line with my expectations of a biographical drama: tell me a few things about the subject I didn’t know and entertain me for a couple of hours and you’re gold. The Aviator moves at a good clip and DiCaprio is very good in it. My life wasn’t changed, but I did have a good time.
Network –Sydney Lumet –1976
Paddy Chayefsky writer
***** (out of five)
Damn. Network is quite simply one of the best-scripted movies I’ve ever seen. It’s witty, articulate, dark and terrifyingly prescient. Though I think Lumet does a terrific job, this one rides solely on the shoulders of its screenplay. I find it thrilling that the opening credits read “Network by Paddy Chayefsky”. It really is a tour de force.
The Italian Job –F. Gary Gray –2003
Donna and Wayne Powers writers
**1/2 (out of five)
A couple of people told me this was a better than average heist film. They were wrong. A few well-directed action scenes don’t make up for the lame humor, the use of non-existent technology and Mark Wahlberg’s bad acting.
From Here to Eternity –Fred Zinneman –1953
Daniel Taradash writer
*** (out of five)
“Eternity” is really nothing more than a melodramatic potboiler. It just happens to be a very good melodramatic potboiler. The actors are all good and the Pearl Harbor attack climax pays off nicely.
The Cooler –Wayner Kramer –2003
Wayne Kramer and Frank Hannah writers
**1/2 (out of five)
I was pretty disappointed with The Cooler especially given the fact that a couple of friends had recommended it to me. Apart from Alec Baldwin’s fine (and scary) performance, there’s little here to admire. The plot is predictable and the female lead’s acting left more than a little to be desired.
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