Review: In Bruges

In Bruges

Over four months into 2008, In Bruges is still the best film I've seen. It came as a surprise to me; but it's the most entertaining, engrossing and comical movie released this year. In Bruges is about two hit men (played by Colin Farrell and Brendon Gleeson) who are sent by their boss in London to spend some time in Bruges, Belgium. Farrell plays a young man who is new to the world of crime and hit men, and apparently something went wrong with their first hit. It is a sceneic town but they are divided in their approach to this little vacation; Farrell hates it and wants to get out while the older Gleeson relishes the time to sight see. What starts out as a fun comedy between two very different people slowly becomes something much more memorable. Farrell is fantastic as Ray, the hyper and ansy hitman in training. His timing is great and he plays very well of Gleeson's character. As they start to learn their ultimate purpose for being sent to Bruge, the film takes a dark and dramatic turn. There are brilliant played bits involving motifs of guilt and regret and ultimately self-forgiveness. The final third of the film is action-packed, dramatic and most of all surprising. I loved it.

My grade: A-

Review: Funny Games, The Bank Job, 21, Jumper, Vantage Point

Funny Games: I felt tense throughout the whole "experience." It built up a lot of tension and I never felt like I knew what would happen next. The whole point of the movie is explained at the end - an experiment for and on the audience. It's hard to explain, but I found it thought-provoking. A chilling movie.

My Grade: B


The Bank Job: A gritty, adult bank job movie. I found it refreshing after years of heist films that were a little too glossy (Italian Job). This one felt real; the characters (most of them) weren't overly sensational. It was funny and suspenseful, and the fact that it was based of an intriguing chapter in British history helped. Jason Staham was solid as the lead. Basically, I guess I found an old-school, adult targeted bank robbery film quite appealing. It felt like vintage 70's cinema.

My grade: B



21: It was a fun movie. It might have gone on a little too long. I don't know what changes were made to the truth, but I could tell it was changed a little too much. In fact, I didn't like the fact he didn't get to keep a dollar of the money he made and found Kevin Spacey's teacher-villain a little too extreme. The Vegas sequences were great, although the plot holes did bug me. Even after getting caught, they always returned to the same casino. Kate Bosworth was great as was the lead.

My grade: B-

Jumper: Cool concept, mediocre execution. Felt pretty bland, lot's of plot holes. We never really understand why the people chasing him are so against it. Allusions are made to an ancient back story but it's never developed. Could have been much better with a better script and better actors.

My grade: C



Vantage Point: A fun popcorn action-thriller. The Rashomon style repeats did get a little grating and repetitive, but I went with it. Predictable although it did surprise me.


My grade:B-

Review: Cloverfield

Review: Cloverfield

Cloverfield had one of the best viral marketing campaigns, ever. Does the movie live up to that hype which it inspired on Internet forums? Perhaps not. Only a truly extraordinary movie could have done that. I don't think it pretended to be the next great film; and I respect the brilliant campaign that made it such a mysterious enigma. Hand-held "found-footage" movies are not a very new concept anymore, but they are still rare. Blair Witch was the first, the biggest smash hit of all which no one even seems to like. It did inspire a trend, although most "found-footage" movies have failed spectacularly. I quite liked Cloverfield - it felt real enough for me to buy into the premise. In the end, I really liked the fact it wasn't just a movie about a monster attack, because movies like that (Godzilla) are not as good as they look on paper. Cloverfield is shot well enough to look good but in such a style that it has the hand-held digital vibe to it. The events going on are massive, and I love the glimpses the characters see of these events. The bridge falling, the army fighting, building burning, people running. The characters see these things and interact with them but the film never forgets it's not about all that. It's about a group of friends who are trying to survive a spectacular disaster. We come to like the characters (although some people dislike them), which makes their fates important to us. Cloverfield is not afraid to kill it's leads, and the ending to me is one that is surprisingly anti-Hollywood and quite bittersweet. I had fun watching it.

My Grade: B

Review: Sweeney Todd

Sweeney Todd

This review is being posted a little late. This is based off the theatrical viewing, not the DVD release. Sweeney Todd is a gritty, dark, bloody tale. It is so grey and dreary that it can
almost seem like it's covered in ash and soot - thus making the sudden appearances of blood all the more shocking. Brilliant cinematography highlights the great set design, costumes and make up. Sweeney is a depressing, bleak film but that doesn't prevent it from having fun. The musical numbers pay proper homage to the infamous Broadway stage version, cutting down a few songs to save time but properly executing those it includes. I think Johnny Depp was excellent, bringing a brooding passion to Todd that allows us to like him just enough. He does not have a great singing voice, which worried more beforehand. However, his everyman voice works well. He hits the notes just well enough to make it all work and in the end I quite enjoyed his singing. The film moves at a fast pace, it's a visual feast full of fun and fright. I can't get the music out of my head; that's what Sweeney Todd does so well - it stays in your head.

My grade: A-