Films i didn’t like
Margot at the Wedding (2007) 4/10
As a big fan of Noah Baumbach’s THE SQUID AND THE WHALE, i had high hopes for his next film. However, MARGOT AT THE WEDDING lacks the finesse and the sharp biting humor of his earlier efforts and at times feels like Noah is just trying too hard. Part of the reason why this film was just plain boring to me is that the film is basically populated by annoying, obnoxious characters and you don’t really care what happens to them. Despite a cast of heavyweights, the film is plodding, uninteresting and the characters totally unlikeable.
The Water Horse (2007) 3/10
Worse than an all out bad movie, is a movie that is so unrelentingly mediocre that it is depressing. The Water Horse is such a movie, one that strives only for the most mediocre and uninspiring results. The film operates on classic cliche, and the plot moves in a perfunctory, uninspired manner. It is so painfully uninspired, so utterly predictable that it was boring and almost agonizing to watch. The characters are bland, predictable without any ounce of originality that the film feels like a lousy fantasy version of Free Willy. Overall, a film so mediocre that it is positively a torture to watch.
The Great Debaters (2007) 4/10
This film is like Rocky, only about debating and includes a message of racial equality. There, you no longer need to watch the film. Jaded film watchers can predict almost exactly what is going to happen. And it doesn’t disappoint, following every genre cliche there is and touching every predicted plot point. Not even Denzel Washington and Forest Whitaker can save a film that is dead the moment the cliched, generic script was written. This debate film came out in the same year ROCKET SCIENCE did, and whereas ROCKET SCIENCE was a breath of fresh air, with an unconventional ending, THE GREAT DEBATERS is the exact opposite: a predictable, manipulative and utterly unremarkable film.
Princess (2007) 4/10
A dark, animated film in the style of Kill Bill, only much less interesting. The film just seems like a sorry excuse for a revenge flick, without the requisite buildup of character and tension. See, a standard revenge flick usually involves a wrong, or evil done to the avenger or to innocents that prompts the avenger to act in his vigilante manner. This gives the avenger some sort of moral legitimacy to act and thus allows him to become an anti-hero. But if the avenger does not have a good reason to act, or exacts disproportionate vengeance, then he loses his heroic quality and simply becomes a villian. That is precisely the problem with Princess. The revenge is for a slight wrong. The hero comes across as maniacal and unsympathetic. And putting a child character in the middle of all this is just in poor taste and utterly unnecessary.
Yella (2007) 3/10
I predicted the ‘twist’ about 30 mins into the film. The rest of the film is just a boring, uninteresting “character” film. The film is so similar to OBRE LOS OJOS (OPEN YOUR EYES) in terms of ‘twist’ that any film buff worth his salt can predict the ending which leaves the remainder of the film to unfold painfully slowly before your eyes. Overall, yawn-inducingly boring.
Yesterday Once More (2004) 5/10
Yesterday Once more is Johnnie To slumming it. Bringing back the star pairing of Andy Lau and Sammi Cheng, this film seems like a tired effort to recreate the winning partnership of NEEDING YOU. Unfortunately, the weak script which is part heist flick part comedy and part melodrama(ending) doesn’t work. The stars have a natural chemistry but the script is a mess and largely unfocused.
The Last Mistress (2004) 4/10
No, Asia Argento is not leading lady quality and the film suffers because of it. Despite its salacious topic, the film is more a bore than anything and lacks a compelling central conflict to make it interesting.
Machine Girl (2008) 5/10
Totally over the top, unabashedly B flick is actually sometimes entertaining with its copious amounts of gushing fake blood and corny dialog. Its not the sort of film i dig, but i could certainly see B films fans making it a cult hit. I personally disliked it but if you are a fan of grindhouse sort of B films this may be up your alley.
Never Been Kissed (1999) 5/10
The only thing of note here is that a very young pre-megastar Jessica Alba has a small role in this flick. Beyond that, it is a generic rom-com that is neither particularly good nor bad, just average.
Definitely, Maybe (2008) 3/10
Scores 3 points only because of Isla Fischer, who singlehandedly saves the film from being more annoying than it already is. Maudlin, manipulative and mostly predictable, this wannabe romance mystery manages to waste a talented cast and actually manages to make Abigail Breslin’s character annoying. Even Rachel Weisz, one of my favourite actresses seem to be just rehashing her performance from MY BLUEBERRY NIGHTS, while the lead actor Ryan Reynolds is completely bland and shares absolutely no chemistry with the actresses. Isla Fisher’s performance is the only saving grace of this pretentious and unfunny comedy.
