Reviewing films in batches nowadays
Horton Hears A Who (2008) 6/10
Amusing and entertaining albeit lightweight entry. Possibly the best Dr Seuss film adaptation, which is not saying much since previous adaptations have been utter flops. Overall, a passable distraction.
True North (2007) 7/10
Yes, i watch the most obscure films. True North is a small indie film from Scotland with a cast of unknowns and a director i have never heard of. I don’t even know why i watched this, and sort of caught this on a whim. But still, the film is not too bad, even if it could do with more subtlety. A film about illegal immigrants and the moral choices we make. As a small arthouse flick, its not too bad.
The Bank Job (2008) 6/10
Heist Movie. You’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all. Moderately interesting.
Flawless (2007) 6/10
Another Heist movie. See above. Slightly better than Bank Job, but still only 6/10.
Counterfeiters (2007) 6/10
Holocaust Movie that won Best Foreign Language Film Oscar. In a year with THE ORPHANAGE, THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY, and LUST, CAUTION, this film wins best foreign language film??? Its not a bad film by any means, just unremarkable and even as a Holocaust film, it pales in comparison to THE PIANIST, SCHINDLER’S LIST or LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL. Overall, a disappointment.
Paranoid Park (2007) 6/10
A Gus Van Sant film. Note quite a fan of his works, although ELEPHANT was one hell of a movie. PARANOID PARK is a very arthouse and slow movie. The plot itself seemed to me very unremarkable and if the film was shot in a conventional, linear way the movie would have been immensely boring. But with Gus’s style, the movie is only plodding and moderately interesting. As a film, i felt the movie moved too slow, but the cinematography and the visual style kept my attention long enough to finish the movie. A film that is strictly for Gus Van Sant fans. The rest of you will be bored to tears.
Confessions of a Superhero (2007) 7/10
An interesting, almost sad look at the lives of people who dress up in superhero costumes and pose for pictures with tourists. Panhandlers? Or people providing a useful service? This documentary traces the lives of several of those characters, and it tells a tale of the broken american dream. A well crafted documentary that is worth your time.
The Children of Huang Shi (2008) 7/10
A moderately entertaining film. That’s all to it. There is nothing spectacular to rave about, nor anything egregiously bad to condemn. Just a standard, moderately entertaining movie with decent visuals and a famous cast. Watch and then forget.
