The 11th Hour (2007)

The 11th Hour is an environmental documentary produced, written, and narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio. In between DiCaprio's inspired speeches on sweeping vistas are interviews with many politicians, environmental activists, and scientists.

They have interesting information to share - such as the estimate that it'd take $35 trillion to replace nature (although we're not sure how that'd work, we do know it's nearly twice the amount of all the world economies in 2007). They tell us that for each truckload of products made, 32 truckloads of waste are also produced. In a study, kids could recognize 1,000 corporate logos but less than 10 local plants or animals.

They have an encouraging yet practical perspective. They acknowledge that there's "no milage in telling people they're making the wrong choices" and that the consumption is not bad but rather it's the fact that it's gotten so out of balance that's the problem. They have ideas for solutions. One being biomimicry, which seems like the ultimate poetic justice - saving the earth with ideas from nature. A biomimicry idea already put into practice is adding small bumps to paint. These bumps stop dirt from settling so rain can easily run it off, making buildings self-cleaning. The idea was derived from an observation about the petals of a lotus.

Overall there's a lot of information to digest and there's where the film runs into some problems. While the editing is well done, it's still too much to take in at once and too high-level to reach and inspire the masses. Aside from the aforementioned DiCaprio vista speeches, the visuals are minimal and much of the stock footage looks dated. Not to mention several of the experts have nearly monotone speech patterns. Solutions for the environment that are already in process are flashed upon the screen but they aren't discussed, leaving the viewer feeling like they're just concepts instead of steps in the right direction.

While full of knowledge, thoughtfulness, and good intentions the 11th Hour doesn't have enough appeal to inspire the masses to rise up and save the world.

Rating: 2.5/5
Recommended for: Segmented viewing

Adventureland (2009)

While listening to a radio interview with Adventureland's director Greg Mottola, his enthusiasm about making this movie was so endearing I decided to watch.

Greg, I feel played.

It's supposed to be a comedy set in 1987 about a guy who is forced to abandon his plans of a touring Europe before heading off to college and take up a job at an amusement park for the summer instead. Unfortunately pretty much all the funny parts are in the trailer and they're provided by Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig. While highly entertaining, Hader and Wiig seem to be in a different movie than everyone else. Everyone else is in a movie about disappointment and people using other people. Hader and Wiig are in a movie about a wacky, run-down amusement park.

The other actors in it, namely Jesse Eisenberg as the lead, Kristen Stewart as the co-worker on whom he develops a crush, and Ryan Reynolds as the amusement park's handyman, all do fine. Mottola's crew did a great job with the set they made out of the real Kennywood Park. But in the end, it's just not an appealing story and it's definitely not what the poster makes you think you're going to watch.

Rating: 2/5
Recommended for: People nostalgic about working in an amusement park

Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)

If it was done in a town you passed through, it was hard to miss the quasi-guerilla marketing campaign of Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Billboards, taxi-tops, bus sides and bus stops had signs meant to look hand-written with phrases like "I'm so over you, Sarah Marshall." and "You do look fat in those jeans, Sarah Marshall." It was different enough to pique my curiosity. When I found out it was written by Jason Segel my curiosity only grew.

Segel also plays the main character of Peter Bretter in this story based on some of his own relationship experiences. Peter is the composer for a tv show called Crime Scene: Scene of the Crime - a show on which his girlfriend Sarah Marshall (Kristen Bell) just happens to be the star. Peter's considering proposing to Sarah when she suddenly dumps him.

He takes off for Hawaii to cope but it turns out Sarah is staying at the same hotel with her new boyfriend, rock star Aldous Snow (hilariously played by British comedian Russell Brand). Luckily Peter finds a sympathetic ally in front desk worker Rachel Jansen (Mila Kunis).

Antics ensue and it's hard to say much more without giving too many surprises away. Peter's a bit goofy but he's easy to root for because he obviously has a big heart. And the smattering of well-known faces (Paul Rudd, Jack McBrayer, Bill Hader, Jason Bateman, William Baldwin, Kristen Wiig...) in small roles sliding in and out of the picture definitely help keep things lively. There are plenty of silly and/or adult humor moments, but the film doesn't totally rely on them to be entertaining.

Rating: 4/5
Recommended for: Adults who need a good laugh and a cheap trip to Hawaii.

Rachel Getting Married (2008)

Jenny Lumet wrote a heartbreaking story in her first script to be filmed. While the Rachel of the title is not the main character, the film is about what old feelings are stirred up in a family by the event of Rachel's wedding. Kym, Rachel's sister, is on leave from rehab - a place she's been in and out of for the past ten years.

Rachel is immediately upset by how much their father dotes on Kym while Kym is upset than Rachel's chosen someone else to be her maid of honor. Then there's their mother who has clearly been more concerned with her own well-being than that of her daughters for awhile.

Besides a heartfelt story, what sets this movie apart is the depths to which everyone involved went to make it. Director Jonathan Demme had more than one camera filming at all times. Camera operators and sound people would wander in and out of the groups of people, but also in and out of rooms in the house. It's so refreshing to have a character storm out of a room and have the camera not only actually follow her, but do so from behind so it's like we're there trying to chase after her. It's not just a house standing in for a set. It opens the setting up and makes it all the more real. It also opens up the characters.

Every actor and extra had to be "on" at all times because they often didn't know if they were in some way part of a scene or not when they were on set. This technique seemed to especially benefit Anne Hathaway in playing Kym. Her work here blows away everything she's done before it. She proves she can go beyond the silly comedy and Disney fare to deliver a character who has definite flaws and has done unlikeable things but somehow remains someone you could feel something for other than distaste. The Oscar nomination was well-deserved. But overall this was an outstanding ensemble success from both the cast and crew. It may not be the best movie to watch when you're already feeling down, but it has its smiles along with the tears.

Rating: 5/5
Recommended for: Anyone looking for a refreshing take on what a film can be.

Failure to Launch (2006)

It's very difficult to not start this review with the phrase "failure to make a good movie". See? I couldn't not do it.

Tripp (Matthew McConaughey) is in his mid-30s and refuses to move out of his parents' house despite having a steady job, a nice car, and plenty of friends. So his parents hire Paula (Sarah Jessica Parker) to "launch" him into his own life. Apparently Paula does this for a living. It, unsurprisingly, must not be a consistent, in-demand job since she lives in a small place with her stereotypically-odd-Zooey-Deschanel roommate character. So Paula embarks on her tested plan to seduce and manipulate Tripp.

Surprise! Things don't go according to plan!
Surprise! Paula and Tripp may actually like each other!
Surprise! People find out the truth and get upset with each other!

Oh wait. Those aren't surprises at all. They're forced, unrealistic, formulaic "comedy". There's nothing here you haven't seen before and no added value to those overplayed elements. This endeavor even has no less than three incidents of animals attacking people - an event that's become commonplace in so many romantic comedies lately. It's cheap comedy with limited appeal. Some people might laugh the first time but does a biting dolphin really add value to your comedy quotient?

This is the type of movie people think of when you say "romantic comedy". I find that unfortunate. But if you like to have seen a movie before you've actually seen it, it may be comforting.

Rating: 1/5
Recommended for: Those who hate surprises and love McConaughey.

The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)

Some people say The Royal Tenenbaums is where writer/director Wes Anderson peaked. I would be inclined to agree so far, but I still hold out hope he'll make another film as great as this one.

You could say this is a character piece with, as you can see from the poster, a whole bunch of characters. In a way it's sort of a choose-your-own-adventure. Pick the character you relate to most and ride through the movie with them. If you don't like them anymore, there are several more from which to choose and each actor pulls his or her own weight resulting in a superb ensemble.

The movie opens as a book where you're introduced to the family as they were about 15 years ago and then a quirky montage shows you them now (and also serves as opening credits). Gene Hackman is the patriarch, Royal Tenenbaum. He wasn't very supportive of the kids when they were growing up and he's been out of their lives completely for many years. Meanwhile their mother, Etheline (Angelica Huston), indulged them in their talents and they all became known as child prodigies (Hello, children who grew up being told they could be whatever they wanted.). Richie (Luke Wilson) was a tennis player. Margot (Gwyneth Paltrow) was a writer. Chas (Ben Stiller) was a financial whiz. But the past several years have been filled with disappointment and failures for all of them.

Broke and kicked out of the hotel he's been staying in, Royal decides now might be a good time to try to reconnect with his family—by lying to them and telling them he has less than two months to live. The whole family soon finds themselves back in the family home and more quirkiness ensues.

The film exists in a hyper-real world. They live in New York, but without any recognizable New York sites. The family dresses in clothing styled after the time when they were all in their heyday. Director Anderson totally ignores the rule of thirds, oftentimes sticking his character smack dab in the center of the screen. He then lets them hang there a moment in a pose before they move on.

The story he's brought us with writing partner Owen Wilson is an odd one but the dysfunctional family line has elements to which everyone can relate. Characters slide between deadpan comedy and heavy drama. And at the end, there's a trademark Anderson slow-motion shot that brings the family together and makes you feel like everyone is taking their final bow. It's a fitting tribute to the charm of a quirky film. Some movies you watch once and their done, but this one can easily stick with you and make you want to watch it again. (For me, again has meant 49 times - no exaggeration.)

Rating: 5/5
Recommended for: Nearly everyone, but especially those of us who grew up entrenched in extracurriculars and are afraid we really might have peaked too early.

The Reader (2008)

The situation one puts himself or herself in to watch The Reader is an interesting one. You know going in that this is not going to be a lighthearted film. Its story is connected to the Holocaust (although it is not a "Holocaust movie") and that's never a happy thing. On top of that it can be hard to connect to the characters for the first hour or so.

Just as I was considering dismissing the film, I found myself hooked and tied to the two main characters and they didn't let me go until the end.

One day on his way home in 1950s Berlin, Michael Berg (David Kross) falls ill. He is taken care of by a stranger who sees to it that he makes it home ok. Several months later he has recovered and goes to thank her. He finds her beautiful and mysterious and can't help but be drawn to her. Her name is Hanna Schmitz, she works on a tram, and that's mainly all we get to know about her for quite some time.

Even though Hanna is several years older than Michael, they embark on a romantic affair which ends up containing a routine in which she makes him read to her. One day Michael goes to her apartment and finds she's packed up and left. Several years later she's back in his life again. Now he's a law student and he's attending the trial of several female former Nazi prison guards. Hanna happens to be one of them. While Michael is dumbstruck about this revelation he makes another that could have a serious outcome on her sentencing. But the question is whether he will speak up or not.

Kate Winslet won an Oscar for her role as Hanna, a woman who suddenly becomes more human right in front of our eyes. The off-putting disposition Winslet buries into at the beginning (the same that played into my wanting to give up on the movie) is what allows her to really showcase the transition as she opens up a little and fights internal battles that play out on her face. Ralph Fiennes is also in the film as "present-day" Michael demonstrating a closed-off nature that much mirrors the one presented earlier by Winslet.

No spoiling of the ending will take place here, but I will say this: Watch it with someone you care about. You'll need a hug when it's over.

Rating: 4/5
Recommended for: Those looking for a film about human nature.

The Usual Suspects (1994)

The end of this movie is so brilliant that it makes the rest of the film worse for the wear. It also makes it pretty boring to watch more than once, which unfortunately I did in order to review it.

A waterfront explosion leaves many criminals dead. The police find two survivors: a badly burnt, most-wanted Hungarian who keeps repeating the name Keyser Soze and a crippled con-artist named Verbal Klint (Kevin Spacey). As the police question Klint on what happened, he tells the story of five career-criminals, including himself, (the usual suspects) brought in for a lineup after a crime they didn't commit. They end up banding together and eventually find themselves forced into the employment of the dangerous and mysterious Keyser Soze.

Stephan Baldwin, Gabriel Byrne, Benicio Del Toro, and Kevin Pollack play the other 4 usual suspects, all just distinct enough in their roles. Pete Postlethwaite is plenty sinister as Soze's number two, Mr. Kobayashi. Chazz Palminteri is what you'd expect as the borderline obsessive detective trying to figure out what happened on the boat that exploded. Kevin Spacey is his usual confident self as Klint, our flashback narrator.

That story Klint tells is long, violent, and often a bit confusing. The good news is if the story confuses you, it doesn't matter. I can't tell you why without ruining anything, but it is ok to be confused.

Rating: 2/5
Recommended for: People who like paying attention to a movie for only ten minutes. (I'd recommend the last ten.)

The Valet (2006)

Writer/Director Francis Veber created a sweet and highly amusing film with The Valet even with it's absurdity. Valet Francois Pignon is hired to portray the boyfriend of the highest paid model in the world, Elena, after he's caught in a paparazzi photo of Elena with billionaire Pierre Levasseur. Levasseur is trying to hide his affair with Elena from his wife, a majority stakeholder in all his businesses. Pignon has just been rejected by the woman he's loved his entire life, bookstore owner Emilie, so he's not really in the mood for pretending to have a fabulous supermodel girlfriend.

Part of the reason the absurdity works is because the characters acknowledge it themselves. Another reason is that behind it all, is a genuine portrayal of relationships which comes from a great combination of the script and the actors who all hold their own. Gad Elmaleh is incredibly sympathetic as the valet Pignon and he has great friendship chemistry with Alice Taglioni who plays the very Heidi Klum-esque (i.e. sweet and beautiful) supermodel. In fact, nearly every character is likable in some way. Kristin Scott Thomas, in beautiful fluent French, is fun to watch as the clever and strong wife of Levasseur.

Overall, it's a fun movie to watch with laugh out loud moments and appeal for American audiences despite the spoken dialogue being French.

Rating: 4/5
Recommended for: Anyone 12 and up (even if you hate the French).

Whatever Works (2009)

Whatever Works features a character who keeps turning away from the people in his world and directly addressing the audience. It's something you just don't find all that often in films today—and probably for good reason. The breaking of the 4th wall provides grand opportunity for awkward corniness. Not to mention it messes with the whole suspension of disbelief thing.

But the main character of this feature, Boris Yellnikoff (Yes, he does yell.), is so disenchanted with the people around him that, even though he tries to talk to the others, he really has no one else to turn to besides the audience. Plus, I guess it wouldn't be a Woody Allen comedy/commentary without something off-kilter like that. Larry David, who is well known for playing disgruntled and bitter, easily yammers on in the role of Boris.

He's a former physicist who almost won the Nobel Prize. One day he finds former southern beauty pageant contestant Melodie sleeping outside his door. He agrees to let her stay while she tries to get on her feet in New York and meanwhile pushes his views on relationships, religion, and existence in general into her incredibly impressionable brain. Evan Rachel Wood takes a refreshing change for her usual rebel roles to play Melodie although oftentimes her performance runs along the borderline of just plain silly. Eventually, Melodie's parents come looking for her and that's when Patricia Clarkson glides in, takes charge of the film, and completely steals it right through the end.

It's definitely not Allen's best, but it's amusing enough if you forget about that suspension of disbelief thing and just listen.

Rating: 3/5
Recommended for: Anyone wondering what Woody Allen's been thinking about lately.

There Will Be Blood (2008)

There will be blood. There will also be lots of anger issues.

The story revolves around Daniel Plainview, a highly-driven and incredibly ruthless oilman, in the late 19th century American west. When he hears of oil-rich land in California, he takes his son, H.W., and sets up operation there - telling the locals exactly what they want to hear while practically stealing their land out from under them. Daniel Day-Lewis is completely entrenched in the role of Plainview, living in a world of his own despite the community around him.

The only difficult human hurdle to his takeover is Eli Sunday, a local preacher. Played with gusto equal to Day-Lewis' by Paul Dano, Sunday is after the same thing Planview is—wealth. Both are clever and both have quite the capacity for cruelty.

Overall it's about materialism and how incredibly horrible people can be to each other. You'll either be completely captivated by it or find it incredibly drawn out. Besides the meanness of it all, what makes it so hard to digest is the length. It drags you through the oil and blood for two hours and thirty-eight minutes. Still, in between the intense acting, there's plenty at which to look. Director Paul Thomas Anderson admirably undertook this project of epic proportions; now if only someone had put a heavier hand in the editing department.

Rating: 3/5
Recommended for: People who want to see a gritty Oscar-winning performance

Fanboys (2009)

First let me say that I enjoy Star Wars a lot. Then I must say that Fanboys is ridiculous - and not in a good way.

The movie centers around 4 friends from high school who, now in their early twenties, are eagerly awaiting the next installment of the Star Wars franchise, Episode 1: The Phantom Menance... or at least 3 of them are and they have to remind the other one that he's a Star Wars fan too (because apparently you can only have a career or be a Star Wars fan).

They develop a plan to drive across the US, break into Skywalker Ranch, and see the movie before it's released because one of them has cancer (although you wouldn't be able to tell by looking at him) and they're afraid he won't live long enough to see it in theaters. The movie then devolves into a low-brow road trip movie. How else would we have opportunity to run into Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, and Kevin Smith? It also allows for a random, totally unnecessary fight with Trekkies.

When the quartet lands in jail, their friend Zoe (Kristen Bell) comes to bail them out. She manages to bail the movie part way out as well by presenting a likeable, non-comedy-stereotype character. With her kicking their butts into gear, they finally make it to Skywalker Ranch where they see a lot of cool things (for Star Wars fans) before the contrived, outrageous, slap-you-in-the-face reference situations ensue.

In the end this film was a interesting idea that ultimately failed in execution. Unfortunately I'm unsure how much of this had to do with it coming out 2 years after it was supposed to and the fights that ensued over different cuts of the film. There are several funny moments and several that are just supposed to be. There's enough references to fill a Star Wars fan's half month quota, but probably not enough entertainment for a non fan to even consider watching. And to top it all off, the audience has the misfortune of knowing what these kids are after didn't live up to expectations either.

Rating: 2/5
Recommended for: People looking to fill their Star Wars reference quota

Extended Review: Apparently there are not enough actors in the world or even actors who also like Star Wars. This must be why Seth Rogen played three parts in the movie.