Friday, November 24, 2006

Casino Royale

All those other Bond movies? They're like spoofs of the spy genre, with a plastic, perfect hero at the center. This movie? A human Bond. Still egocentric, to be sure, but someone you can empathize with. And in large part because of it, one-quarter of the way through I knew it was going to be the best spy thriller I'd ever seen. For all of you who have judged that a blond Bond will have Ian Fleming rolling in his grave, I strongly urge you to reconsider. Not only is Daniel Craig as good a Bond as Sean Connery (yes, you read that right), his colleagues almost give him a run for his money: Caterina Murino can fill a dress like no one else, plus she has to temerity to be a good actress; Eva Green is a match in every way to Bond's sarcasm, wit and ego; Mads Mikkelsen is a villain who does not overplay every scene (thank the gods); and Judi Dench is the icing on the cake. Above all that, the writing deserves an Oscar. I'm completely serious. You thought the era of double entendres went out when the film code came in? Each and every spark-infused conversation between Craig and Green places this film up there with the best of the Cary Grant and Clark Gable dramatic oeuvre. You want more? An opening stunt guaranteed to elicit gasps from the most jaded film viewers. Cinematography that goes the distance-- even in the stunt scenes where most directors are content to assume the audience will only be watching the action. And an opening title sequence that finally lays to rest the ultra-non-feminist opening titles of the past. If you've read the book, I will warn you that the torture scene is re-enacted. This might give some folks pause (and with good reason, although you see nothing). If you're willing to close your eyes for that part, the rest is-- well, it's obvious it's worth it, no? The only downside is that with such a successful re-imagining of the franchise, I fear the Broccoli family has an Atlantean task ahead of them for Bond #22.

year: 2006
length: 144 min.
rating; 4.0
IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0381061/combined

Monday, April 10, 2006

The Inside Man

Bollywood music to start off with? That woke me up. Still, there is no Bollywood type in the film. There's a Sikh (who gives the best straight line) but he doesn't seem the type interested in Indian pop. Now this is Spike Lee, and he gets better and better as time goes on in waking us out of our racial stereotypes. And molding them as well. I would consider Lee our best commentator on racial problems-- what they are, how they change, what in heck we can do personally. What's unfortunate is that he can't take a film like this-- one with a bank robber heist scenario that I've never seen done before-- and not make one of the best films ever out of it. It's as if it's so ingrained in him to "lesson" us, even if subtly, that he can't build a film that has a complete thread from beginning to end. Take for instance the Jodie Foster character, supposedly a very powerful woman with very powerful friends. It's not that her character isn't needed, in fact it very much is, but he doesn't weave her tale in with the rest of the tales. It doesn't help that she is super-duper annoying in this role. That insipid smiling/laughing act she does fits like a poorly designed glove, although she shows her rare talent when she finally does get serious towards the end. I've been disappointed in her last few roles (yeah, even the surprise cameo in The Very Long Engagement). I wish she'd do something like The Accused again (that oughta take you back). And maybe she should stay off the heels, too. I thought I took the cake as least graceful in anything above an inch.

year: 2006
length: 129 min.
rating: 3.0
IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0454848/combined

Slither

OK. Nathan Fillion phase now. Not that he's done much, so I don't know how much of a phase this is going to be. Bummer-- while he's not magnetic onscreen like say, Terence Blanchard, he has a unique mix of dramatic and comedic talent that makes him nigh on perfect for many types of film. Like Slither. Oy, that title. I very nearly didn't bother with it based on that tremendously disgusting title. And movie poster. And very lame trailer. I thought-- oh, just a stupid sci-fi horror film along the lines of Tremors or Gremlins. How could that possibly rise above? Well, lemme tell ya. It's a zombie film! And you know how much I love zombie films (28 Days Later..., Shaun of the Dead, Dawn of the Dead). Well, this one's nastier, grosser and fouler. And I mean foul language-- if that kinda stuff bothers you, stop here. But I honestly have never seen foul language used to such effect-- the best lines are the crudest. I'm still giggling over them several days later. It has its sweet moments because of course there's a love interest-- how could the delectable Elizabeth Banks be anything but? I can tell you now that I'll be renting it not because I want to see the film again so soon after seeing it in the theater but because I need to see Fillion in the outtakes. The man is the funniest dramatic actor on the planet right now (Steve Carrell's moving up there though), and those Serenity outtakes are still popped in the DVD player when I need a laugh. He's ranking right up there with "top 10 folks in Hollywood I'd like to have lunch with." The other 9? More later.

year: 2006
length: 95 min.
rating: 3.5
IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0439815/combined