McCarthyism of the 50’s is alive and well in this country. Shortsighted politicians. Modern marketing techniques. The abuse of media as a bully stick and policy management tool.

This movie is about TV newsman Edward R. Murrow who nearly singlehandedly stood up to McCarthy and contributed greatly to his downfall.

Its a good reminder movie of the things that have happened in this country. Its short and sweet. Worth watching by people who are somewhat politically aware or at least curious.

The view of the Israel and Iraq conflicts has been pretty one sided but the view of the other side is pretty poorly understood. This movie attempts to relieve some of that dichotomy and its pretty interesting for it.

Basically, its 20 hours surrounding the lives of two friends who volunteer for a suicide mission that gets botched. Certainly a riveting subject. Some insight into the people who surround these fairly believable people. The mother. The potential love interest. The people who convince those without hope that the best option is a kamikaze mission. All of them make for a very watchable movie.

I do hesitate. The movie kind of skims over the hopelessness that would drive one to such an act - but I don’t think it does it on purpose.  I kind of wanted the movie to explain that to me better - which was the draw for watching it in the first place.

Either way, a well filmed and excellently acted movie on a very complicated subject.  Worth watching.

Bill Pullman and Bill Paxton star in this low budget pseudo horror movie about a brain surgeon who enters into the madness of one of his patients.

This movie is kind of an experiment on how to confuse the movie watcher.  You watch and the nice doctor seems to slip into insanity after performing a certain surgery that aims to fix someone else’s madness.

There is constantly this hint at some sort of plot always just out of sight.  It seems like there might be a devious all encompassing behind the scenes explanation that would justify this whole somewhat bothersome experience of finding oneself in a mental institution.

And there is.  Well, its just not very interesting.  I’m going to blow the ending here so as to spare you the time.  He was in a car accident that gave him hallucinations.  Yup, that is what its all about.

If you are into photography or even not, you may of heard of Diane Arbus.  She was a pioneering photographer of the 20th century.  Well, this movie is about her. Kind of. Well, its someones completely imaginary vision of maybe what she was about.

Nicole Kidman and Robert Downey Jr star in this hbo movie about how Diane goes from a somewhat dissatisfied house wife to art icon via her upstairs neighbor.  Downey plays the neighbor who is afflicted with a disease that causes him to grow hair all over his body.  He introduces her to an underground society of people who are a bit different.

This movie is pretty different than anything you’ve seen so far. I was pleasantly surprised to find it completely unpredictable tho I did find the ending a bit less lively than desired.

Hey, if your into a fantasy view of an interesting historical figure, this is a fun view.

So far out there. Really, so very far. And I mean infinitely distant and wholly unapologetic about it. What does this movie mean? What is it really about? You might guess that it may be the directors life story but who knows. Its so impossibly odd that there is no way to tell.

Cory McAbee writes and directs and stars in a black and white movie about a space trader in what I can only assume is an alternate universe that mocks our own.

Yes, so I broke down and had to get away from it and went to a real theater. Gasp! Almost 10$ for a ticket. Almost enough to send me scurrying home.

Not so sure why I choose this movie other than a fondness for zombie movies and despite my view of the franchise as being a bit weak. Well, let me reconsider that it may be the best franchise based on a video game. What else is there? Doom? Mario Bros? I can’t even think of any examples that compete. (more…)

This movie is an American classic.  Its the same style as The 40 Year Old Virgin or Old School. Its pretty much just as good.  Nuff said.

Contemplate this thought about this Spanish movie : This is a funny movie trying to be funny. And that I think is good! I kept missing something but maybe I’m just too conditioned American comedies. You’ll sometimes be “huh”? But hey, what the hell. It’s all part of the adventure.

Anyway, this is a pretty funny movie about a salesman who lives the dream of perfect bachelorhood. Then, he accidentally kills his boss. He doesn’t know what to do but his planned cover-up is intercepted by the ugly saleslady who has a crush on him. She then black mails him into becoming her lover and then her husband. So, how does he get out of it and what does it mean about his life?

Not so much a fascinating insight into different worlds that a good foreign flick can be but its Its fun.

WTF! Some really good actors. Really good. Julie Delpi, Bill Murray, Jessica Lange, Sharon Stone etc. How could it be so boring? The plot could be made into a somewhat good movie but not in this case.

Bill Murray is somewhat watcheable but not really all that funny. He just sits there thru most of the scenes like a spectator. You might be confused into thinking he’s waiting for someone else to do something interesting.

Julie Delpi is out of the movie before you even settle down. Sharon Stone does not too much as opposed to in Alpha Dog. Did I mention that nobody does anything?

Which begs the question of what the conditions are in which case you’d want to watch this?

Its not a date flick because its not funny, there is not much feel good about it and its boring. So, guaranteed you ain’t getting any after this unless your idea is for some solid sleep.

Whats next. You have time to waste pernaps? Well, it sure is a waste but it would be more wasteful than doing nothing. You’d have more fun singing in the rain.

Wait, I know it. I just thought of two scenarios in which case you’d want to see this.

The first is the situation where you want to disgust and put everyone to sleep. So, if you want to break up a good party, just turn this flick on.

Ok, for option two. Your in jail for life and you think that maybe life outside could be more interesting. Yes! This is the movie to dispel that myth. Life with even the most interesting people is boring.

So, there you have it. Now you know if you should be seeing this movie.

This movie was a real disappointment for me. I’d read the chronicles as a kid and loved them. So much wonderful imagery and such an amazing world. I suppose the religious imagery pretty much flew over my head but it seemed the kids actually had to work for their success.

Not so in the movie. They seem to be along for the ride - almost spectators(irony!). And their acting is just so weak. The little kid has a cute smile but it seems they realized that was all they had so its played over and over again in each scene.

The religious overtones are somewhat nauseating. It did’nt help that I’d read that Lewis had conceived the books as a means of preparing kids for the somewhat gruesome imagery of Jesus on the cross.

And who is this movie for anyway? The book was written for kids. The players in the movie are somewhat dumbed down(tho I think the best kids movies aren’t dumbed down at all) but what about these gruesome battle scenes. All these beautiful animals behaving exactly like humans. Its just nauseating.

There have been so many excellent fantasy epics of late that have been so perfectly done that watching this is just annoying. Unless you are into the big cgi pitched battles, I’d skip this one.