13 Going on 30

OK, so it's a re-make of Big with a female lead, but it is one of the few films I've seen recently that's completely worth the re-make. It doesn't coast on the strength of the main actors, Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo. They build every brick of its success. Garner is eye-opening as a comedienne with some serious dramatic chops. I was really, really surprised (especially since I detested Daredevil and have never seen her in Alias). Ever since You Can Count on Me, I can't say enough good things about Ruffalo. He pops up in interesting places (Collateral?!), and is the perfect sexy schlub (as opposed to real schlubs like Paul Giamatti and John C. Reilly). I adored nearly every moment of this fun, sparkly, sweet movie. It's not the comedic masterpiece that Big is, but it's not meant to be. And it has a better moral ending, too. Grab a big bowl of popcorn, rent this movie, snuggle up with your loved one, and don't forget to watch the special feature "I Was a Teenage Geek." The perfect complement to the film.

year: 2004
length: 98 min.
rating: 3.5
IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0337563/combined

24 Hour Party People

Is it a documentary? Is it a mockumentary? Is it a biography? Yes. The story of Tony Wilson's efforts to bring punk rock to the world, beginning in Manchester, England, with all the obvious roadblocks included (e.g., punk? ew!, packed rave hall but no funds, insane musician-producer contracts). Could have been interesting as a straight-up documentary, but instead is played as a comedy with Wilson's role filled by comedian Steve Coogan. And mostly it is funny, with all the missteps and faux- violent attitudes of punk rockers, except when it's deadly serious (as when the lead singer of a seminal band dies). It's also got some unique hallucinogenic film "enhancements," such as a UFO segment that needs to be seen to be believed. The filmmakers are doing their best to mimic the feel of the punk rock movement and if nothing else it is interesting. But if punk wasn't or isn't your life, the impact of the film is less than intended. I would recommend it as slice-of-culture entertainment, and to see Coogan in a role perfect for his cynical talents.

year: 2002
length: 117 min.
rating: 2.5
IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0274309/combined

28 Days Later...

I was kinda afraid to watch this film. I mean, it's ostensibly billed as a horror film, and I only just realized I can watch horror films without having nightmares three nights running (probably an effect of that horrible Space:1999 episode from when I was a child). But my favorite critic was using phrases like "this is a punk rock zombie movie" and trying to prove that it really was a horror film, as opposed to what other critics might be saying, so I knew I had to give it a go. It is definitely a punk- rock flick. A bicycle messenger wakes up from a coma in London and discovers, well, no one. Everyone seems to be gone (and how they filmed London with no people in it proves that those in charge in London are cooler than, say, those in New York). And then the mad zombies start to attack. It's got its funny and poignant bits, no doubt, but I was yelping in some scenes. I was also too interested in the final outcome to look away for too long. Acted well by a cast of what I considered unknowns, it doesn't make me want to rent Dawn of the Dead or, for goodness sake, Friday the 13th, but it gave me an appreciation of horror films and it was entertaining, in the end.

year: 2002
length: 113 min.
rating: 3.0
IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0289043/combined

21 Grams

Oof. Caveat: I don't think people with small kids should see this film, if only for the raw emotions you'll feel once the main intent of the film is revealed. There's not much I can say about the plot of the film, since it's important that you figure that out for yourself over the course of it, but for those of you who haven't seen Alejandro González Iñárritu's previous film, Amores Perros, you may wish to know that his narrative structure can be likened to Christopher Nolan's Memento or David Lynch's Mulholland Dr. In other words, it isn't linear. However (and it's a big however) I didn't find following what was happening at all difficult. You may be confused for the first 5 minutes, but you'll catch on very quickly. I found myself comparing the style of this film with Clint Eastwood's recent Mystic River (maybe because Sean Penn is in both of them?). While in Eastwood's films what you see is what you get, in Iñárritu's films there is something extra, perhaps what I would call the "cool" factor, or the "hey, I graduated from film school, see?" factor. I didn't find it particularly disturbing since the film itself is so involving and well structured, but I could see how others might have a quibble with it. I'm happy to learn that Benicio Del Toro, Sean Penn and Naomi Watts have all be nominated for end-of-the-year awards by various film associations, but I am surprised to see that they're nowhere to be found in the Golden Globe nominations. I could just be clueless and not understand the cut-off for GG nominations, but in particular Watts' performance needs to be recognized as a tour de force. She is fearless in what she delivers on screen, so much so that at times you need to look away because what she's showing you is so naked. Here's to more roles for this fantastic actress.

years: 2003
length: 125 min.
rating: 4.0
IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0315733/combined

24

What torture it must have been to watch this one episode at a time separated by a week or more when it aired! Makes me very glad I don't have cable. Of course, the downside is that I stayed up until 2am until my eyes went out on me, which is pretty sickening when you think about it. The series creators do a fantastic job of reeling you in episode after episode, making it as realistic as possible, and building obstacles that are believable. A federal agent (played oh-so-convincingly by Kiefer Sutherland) has a bad day. He has to save a city, or the president's life, or...well, that's two seasons so far. All the sides to the operation are shown to you -- military, political, social, personal. And the gimmick of having it play out in real time over 24 hours is no gimmick, but a clever ploy. The acting is not uniformly stellar, but very nearly so. Sutherland is perfect for the role (which might be surprising to many). He is also mighty scary, because you're never sure what he's going to do next. Which is one of the fundamentals of the series -- never get too attached to a character. He or she might be dead by the next hour.

years: 2001-?
length: seasons 1-2 on DVD, season 3 in play
rating: 3.5
IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0285331/combined

25th Hour

I think it's fair to say that Spike Lee is one of our most honest film directors. He doesn't shirk from showing us harsh reality -- Do the Right Thing, Jungle Fever, Malcolm X -- and he makes all this palatable, uncomfortable and oh-so-righteous at the same time. Which is saying a lot. But, one thing that he seems to lack is the ability to film a comprehensive story. By comprehensive I mean "I have all the elements I need to understand the main theme." This film delivers a look into the last day of a convicted felon before he goes to prison. It is filled with incredible performances. Usually, I can choose my fave performance, but in this case Edward Norton, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Rosario Dawson and Barry Pepper are all superb. Each performance is worth every dime you spent, yet all together it lacks focus. I wondered exactly what Lee was trying to convey. I had no trouble recognizing his view on the moral differences among people which can be hidden beneath the surface, the rage we all carry because we're so individually helpless, and the 9/11 carnage (which figures prominently in the film). But what is he really trying to say about felonies, those who commit them, and the justice that gets meted out. It could very possibly be that he's trying to give us all points of view so we can make up our own minds. And, in that case, while that's instructive, it unfortunately muddies up the film.

year: 2002
length: 135 min.
rating: 3.0
IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0307901/combined

8 Women

I am certain this film is meant to be slightly ridiculous. What I wonder is whether it's meant to celebrate women or slander women. Perhaps a bit of both? François Ozon pulled many famous French actresses together for this film, most notably Isabelle Huppert, Emmanuelle Béart and Catherine Deneuve. It's a grand catfight. Eight women from all walks of life who love one man (not just romantically) but not each other. And to top it all off, it's a musical! Each woman has a chance at the spotlight, but only two of the songs are really any good. Doesn't matter -- the film was clearly made for the fun of it, a chance to showcase some incredible actresses and some incredible (tight) costumes. It does make me wonder about the actresses who didn't take part. Does this mean Jeanne Moreau, Audrey Tatou and Anne Parillaud can't sing?

original title: 8 Femmes
year: 2002
length: 103 min.
rating: 3.5
IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0283832/combined

The 10th Kingdom

My silly TV rental for the week! I gather it didn't do too well on TV, which surprises me because it's very well done for a mini-series. Perhaps the over-the-top fantasy elements stuck in some people's craws, but that's the appeal of the series. Instead of Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and Cinderella being characters in children's books, they are part of 9 kingdoms that exist in a parallel dimension to our own kingdom, which is, you guessed it, New York City. Magic exists and mirrors help you travel and communicate between the kingdoms. Two NYC denizens inadvertently travel from the 10th kingdom to the other 9, and adventures ensue. If it weren't for the talents of John Larroquette and Scott Cohen, the series would have been a dud. They are comic relief from the apparent seriousness of so silly a tale. (At one point, after having it explained that they must guess someone's name or else have their heads chopped off, Larroquette's character says "What IS it with you people? What kind of twisted upbringing did you have?") And the places they filmed! It's almost worth it for the gorgeous scenery. You really can rent all the best fantastical TV series nowadays. I have The X-Files, The Twilight Zone and Twin Peaks all on my list of to-watch TV series. Now if only Quantum Leap would come out...

year: 2000
length: 417 min. (9-part mini-series)
rating: 3.0
IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0207275/combined