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Reviews
Trick 'r Treat (2007)
10 lines about "Trick 'r Treat"
1. Terribly over-hyped mess. Nerd-con geeks may like it because you didn't see it, but now that you can, the trick is on you.
2. Common thread throughout is weak. Gaping holes in the plot leave room for boredom and tired silence.
3. Acting was fine, but really, what acting was there? As an anthology piece, there was no room for character development resulting in flat performances form otherwise talented actors.
4. Porn stars make notoriously terrible "scary" faces. The credit to Vivid Video during the credits only proved this point.
5. The music was right for a comic book blockbuster, but not for a horror flick. Bad choice.
6. Lollipops are not scary. Nor can they be used to kill anyone, unless from diabetes.
7. The editing was a messy affair, jumping back in forth through time and stripping away any hope of suspense.
8. Did I mention the gaping plot holes? Well, they deserve another line.
9. The film looked great. Very sleek camera-work/lighting and well crafted set pieces.
10. Some moments of "Oooh, that was cool" surrounded by an eternity of lame. Honestly, you can watch a better film than this. I'd rather see Susperia for the eightieth time than have watched this.
Windcroft (2007)
10 lines about "Windcroft"
Build and release thriller that caught me off guard.
Strong acting from cast of unknowns, at least the leads - supporting characters weak.
Photography of beautiful landscapes was risky for thriller, but it worked - like "The Shining" but more scenery.
Script was overwritten at moments but the story was strong.
It claims to be low-budget, but there were aerial shots and coyotes and a polished look.
Slow pace, especially in beginning, but it all builds evenly to a frantic ending.
The music was eerie - acoustic with digital effects that worked for many scenes.
The subject matter was unsettling at times, my lady-friend squirmed at some points, but was not over the top.
For a "thriller" it wasn't really very scary - it was more creepy and disturbing, reminding me of a 1960s suspense film but with real violence.
Recommended for cold, depressing nights or rainy afternoons.
Gran Torino (2008)
10 lines about "Gran Torino"
This film is just too much all around:
Too much bad acting - serious bad acting.
Too much redemption - I was repeated beaten over the head with this theme... I GET IT ALREADY!!!
Too much racism every other line. It made those not laughing uncomfortable.
Too much of Clint grimacing into camera.
Too much of Clint singing (!!!!!)
Too much WASHING of the Gran Torino and not enough DRIVING of the Gran Torino
Too much of the "God is dead" nonsense. Once or twice is enough to get your point across.
Too much of everything. Is it a comedy? A drama? A zombie flick? Too much hype. "Gran Torino" is bad news.
The Insider (1999)
10 lines about "The Insider"
Like it, love it or hate it, this is what Michael Mann does best.
Yes, there is mostly talking and not much action, but somehow the director can even make a gag order suspenseful.
The performances are rock solid, and even Gina Gershon isn't completely terrible.
Russell Crowe successfully created a believable character that made the suspense work.
Al Pacino, (who I sometime find to be a parody of himself), gives his most dynamic performance in years.
Mann created a film where every relationship and character has ample room to breathe, providing a complex and ultimately engrossing piece of work.
It doesn't get 10 stars because the score was so awful.
Spinotti's cinematography and lighting design shows why he is one of the best in his field.
As with other Mann films, the moods are set with lighting and set design to perfectly enhance the scene.
There was so much detail and care in the craftsmanship of this film that makes it stand out amongst the standard Hollywood fodder. No wonder it sank at the Box Office.
Apocalypto (2006)
10 lines about "Apocalypto"
Some of the most beautiful costumes and makeup ever committed to celluloid cannot cover up the empty shell of storytelling.
A flat, soulless endeavor that left me wishing Werner Herzog had $50M to make a film.
There was something unexplainable and wrong with this picture... Something that left me kept me in an unsettled mood throughout.
The violence was so over the top, it became humorous by film's end.
I am unsure of the historical accuracy, but the interaction between the characters felt modern and forced.
The heavy handed statement on human nature and colonialism was, though entirely relevant, a pollution cloud hanging low in the jungle.
Needless to say, for all of the negatives, it sure was a nonstop action packed movie with flashy fight choreography and lots and lots of swooping crane shots (for those of you who rate a movie based on that sort of thing).
Some of the imagery was stunning: The set design and casting made for a wonderfully authentic atmosphere, yet the Hollywood style over-lighting that Gibson is famous for added a level of cheapness and obviousness that ripped me straight out of the jungle and onto my couch.
I would rather watch "Aguirre: The Wrath of God" and be soaked in the authenticity: It was obvious that "Apocalypto" was trying too hard to achieve such a standard.
When all is said and done, I consider this film an action movie along the lines of "True Lies" or any "Bourne" film, and I appreciated it on that level only.
Stephanie Daley (2006)
10 lines about "Stephanie Daley"
I had no idea what to expect from this film, and by the 10 minute mark it won me over.
Tilda Swinton and Amber Tamblyn both gave stellar performances.
The script was tight, and the back and forth between the Swinton and Tamblyn was spot-on perfect.
Tamblyn's big bathroom scene was gripping and intense - a great use of the absence of sound to really hammer a point home.
The cinematography left a little to be desired - the HD format still looks like video at times.
I can see why Swinton Exec. Produced this: It was a great vehicle for her and I now have a new found respect for her as an artist.
I am looking forward to Brougher's next film - hopefully she will get a wider release this time.
The editing of the film was eerily effective - I was never once lost or confused, yet I was constantly being moved around time and space.
The ending was very satisfying - I don't need to be spoon fed every little thing.
Concise, daring script + great performances = "Stephanie Daley"
There Will Be Blood (2007)
10 lines about "There Will Be Blood"
Easily the best film of 2007 - This film was flawless in every way.
Daniel Day-Lewis gives the performance of a lifetime. He created a character inside and out.
No detail was spared.
P.T. Anderson showed mature restraint and crystal clear vision.
Day-Lewis was so good, he was almost too good, and tended to overshadow everyone else on screen.
It may have been a bit long, but it could have been no other way. Any shorter and the whole would've been compromised.
The music was staggeringly powerful.
15 minutes of silence... Brilliant! More film makers should take such risks.
Pure storytelling at its finest.