Reviews

2000 was a great year for Michael Douglas. He hit pay dirt with two critically acclaimed movies. The box office hit Traffic and a not-seen-by-many-gem Wonder Boys. And that's a shame because this is one terrific movie. Douglas who usually plays arrogant characters is a down on his luck professor who has been trying for seven years to write a follow up novel. But he spends much of his time smoking marijuana, that is when he's not fooling around with the dean's wife. All this comes to a head in one hellish weekend when his wife leaves him, his girlfriend (Frances McDormand) tells him she's pregnant, his zany editor Crabtree is in town (Robert Downey Jr.) from New York and wants his novel (he's nowhere near being finished), and he gets involved in a hilarious crime with his talented-but-troubled student James Leer (Tobey Maguire). This is one of those rare movies where everything works. Everything. The screenplay is brilliant. We find Douglas caught in one funny situation after another. Take note of where the movie is shot. It's set in Pittsburgh during the winter and the inclement weather is a reflection of the doom and gloom that inhabits the Professor's world. It's great to see actors who've established themselves by playing certain type of characters, flip it around and convincingly portray characters that are the exact opposite of all those established roles (Think Jim Carrey in the Truman Show or Robin Williams in One Hour Photo). Douglas absolutely shines. Gone is the vanity, the cockiness. His Professor Tripp is haggard, wears frumpy clothes, and walks with a limp (I won't explain how). Maguire is perfection as Leer. I literally forgot I was watching the future SpiderMan. I truly respect him as an actor because he never overacts. Most young actors would have tried to force emotion into the characer but he didn't. He constantly kept me on edge because he's so mysterious. I didnt know if I was to like the guy or to not trust a single word that came out of his mouth. Robert Downey Jr. steals every scene he's in. Because he's constantly in the news due to his drug problem, I actually forgot what an amazing actor he is. To round it out McDormand, Katie Holmes, and Rip Torn were all great too. This is one of those movies where it's funny because of the performances. The nuances of the characters, it's very subtle. It's an anti-Farrelly Brothers comedy. And that's a good thing. A very good thing. My only disappoinment is the fact that it's not ranked on IMDB Top 250. One of the best movies of 2000 and it's nowhere to be found and yet the latest brain dead installment of Star Wars Attack of the Clones has cracked the top 250. How bizarre!!! 10 out 10

Samuel L. Jackson and Ben Affleck light up the screen in the throughly engrossing Changing Lanes. Don't be tricked into thinking this is a "thriller". If you're looking for murder, blood, and action look elsewhere. Jackson is one of the best actors working today and when he gets mad (Pulp Fiction, A Time to Kill, Shaft) you better look out because somebody's gonna get hurt. That somebody is good ol' Affleck who leaves the scene of their accident saying the ominous words "Better Luck next time!" What makes this movie work is the supreme performances by the entire cast. Jackson, Affleck (who reminds me of a young Michael Douglas because he's great at playing cocky Wall Street types), Toni Collete, Amanda Peet and the entire cast shine. I was especially impressed with Peet (loved her in the Whole Nine Yards) who had only a small amount of screen time but was powerful nonetheless. This movie worked for me because it's a character study. It's about how everyday people react when faced with moral dilemmas. The only letdown was the ending which seemed as if it was pulled out of thin air. It didn't make sense and was an unworthy conclusion to the riveting events that took place before it. 8.5 out of 10

Panic Room comes from the genius that is David Fincher. He is yet to make a movie as strong as Se7en (a dark, depressing yet brilliant film). So people who think they will witness something as earth-shattering as that will be disappointed. However, Fincher once again proves he is a master of suspense with the throughly engaging, yet predictable movie Panic Room. Jodie Foster is a woman who moves into an incredible new apartment in New York with her teenage daughter. Once certain plot points are introduced (and I am careful not to reveal too much) you know certain things must happen. Foster's daughter has an illness, so we know that later on her illness is going to play a factor. When the intruders are introduced, you know who is going to turn on who and who is going to have to go from bad guy to good guy. David Koepp's script is nothing special. It's effective, it serves its purpose, but you are not going to remember this movie based on the story. I thought all the actors involved were good (Foster and Forrest Whitaker were the standouts), but the star of this movie is David Fincher. From the opening credits, Panic Room is an exercise in style. Fincher knows how to make effective use of shadows, darkness, dim lights, and ultra cool camera shots. This is what makes Panic Room fun. Hitchcock would've been proud. But he wouldn't have made this unless he had a better script. Nonetheless, the movie is a treat....a mindless, buttery popcorn treat. But hey, isn't that why we go to the movies? 7 out of 10

With the names DeNiro, Norton, Brando, and Bassett you know you are going to get one thing from this movie...great acting. Norton is especially strong as thief posing as a mentally retarded janitor. The obvious selling point is the DeNiro/Brando factor. No problem there since the two are excellent when they are sharing the screen. It just doesn't happen enough. And poor Angela Bassett. She serves zero purpose. What a waste of talent! However, director Frank Oz (the brainchild behind the Muppets for chrissakes!) crafts a smooth heist flick. The dialogue is great and so is the payoff at the end. I liked the fact that unlike say Ocean's Eleven (where you knew those guys were going to succeed-you just didn't know how), their is so much disloyalty and ulterior motives that the real suspense comes from finding out just who is setting who up? Not exactly a Barry Bonds home run, but like Ichiro it will get you safely on base. 7 out of 10

Road to Perdition is a good movie, but great it aint. Great movies aren't predictable. From the very first line in the movie I knew how the movie was going to end. While this is a very different role for America's favorite actor, a bad guy has to put fear in the audience and Tom Hanks just didn't do it. And I just didn't care for the father/son bonding between him and his son. It served a purpose, but this movie is so cold and uninviting that even throughout their "bonding" the audience is constantly reminded that Hanks' sole mission is bloody vengeance. Although they share a lot less screen time Paul Newman, Jude Law, and Daniel Craig are the best thing this movie has to offer (besides the brilliant work of cinematographer Conrad Hall...more on him later). When was the last time someone was better in a Tom Hanks movie than Tom Hanks? Some critics are comparing this mob movie with the greatest of them all The Godfather. NOT TRUE. Francis Ford Coppola allowed us to look into the world of the mafia and presented us with characters we cared about. RTP director Sam Mendes did not create ONE character in RTP that I cared about. America loves "The Sopranos" because the hit show is so well written and so inviting with characters that remind you of your own family. It isn't the fault of any of the actors in RTP. They did the best they could but everybody in this movie is expressionless and devoid of any emotion. Newman was great, Craig's blue eyes are as intense as his character, and Law steals every scene he's in. This is where RTP becomes Oscar-worthy. Law is flat out perfection as the eccentric photographer/hitman Maguire. And Hall might as well prepare his acceptance speech. It rains more in this movie than it did in Se7en and darkness is so prevalent that it becomes a terrific supporting character. There might not be a more visually stunning film released this year. There are two great scenes in this movie that I won't forget. One is the scene in the diner where Hanks and Law meet for the first time and engage in an amusing conversation before Hanks realizes Law's true intentions(I won't spoil the fun)and when Hanks and Newman meet for the last time in the basement of a church and Newman says the best line in the movie. "The only thing we can be assured of is that none of us will get to heaven." Too bad the rest of the film isn't quite as heavenly. 7 out 10

You will find many people here going on and on about how this is one of the all-time great movies (it's high ranking on IMDB justifies that). I don't quite share the same opinion but I do think that in a time when summer movies are getting dumber and dumber, Minority Report is a welcome and after Scooby Doo, MIIB, Mr. Deeds, and yet another uninspired Star Wars sequel a very refreshing movie. It is the most suspenseful movie I have seen this year and only Road to Perdition is a better looking film. However, as hard as I tried, I still couldn't help getting confused (just a little) by the plot. But at least I thought about the plot afterwards which is more than I can say for most of these "event" movies. Cruise and Speilberg are in top form and Colin Farrell, who seemingly came out of nowhere, is fast becoming a BIG star. The best scene in any movie I've seen this year goes a little like this. Cruise is hiding from those robotic spiders (spiders that ID you by crawling up on you and scanning your eyes)that are searching for him. He does this by holding his breath in a tub of ice (with them being able to detect body heat and all). He holds his breath for what seems like an eternity before a small breath of air causes a bubble to slowly rise to the surface. Just that small bubble is enough to draw the attention of these "spiders", that come charging into the bathroom and surrounds an unsuspecting Cruise in the tub. See, I told you it was suspenseful! 8.5 out of 10

Spider Man is not a great movie, but it is very well done. Director Sam Raimi is the true star. He recognizes that character development is just as important as Peter Parker being able to swing through Manhattan. I can count on one hand how many movies based on comic books that are more concerned about blowing things up and showing off what the superheroes can do, than in making the audience give a damn about the person behind the mask. Tim Burton gave it whirl in the original Batman but Raimi does it better because it is when Spider Man is his geeky alter ego trying to win the heart of Mary Jane is when this movie is at its best. We like Parker because he's ridiculously ordinary and we immediately identify with him and his plight. We want him to get the girl. He's down-to-earth and funny, not some macho guy with a body like a pro wrestler. He's the guy that everybody remembers from high school. He could use his gift to get anything he wants (including Mary Jane), but he doesn't. It's who he is as a person AND as a superhero that makes him and ultimately the movie, so popular. Interestingly enough, the movie is somewhat of a letdown from a special effects standpoint. However Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco (has this quiet intensity that I really admired) and Willem Dafoe do such a great job of bringing the story to life that you can forgive Raimi for the less-than-special special effects. Just make up for it one the next one! 8.5 out of 10

What happened? How in the world can a series suffer from "SEQUEL FATIGUE" after one sequel. I know, I know, it's not the first time THAT has happened. MIB was one of my favorite movies of 1997. Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones had great comedic chemistry (who knew?) that has somehow evaporated. Jones looks bored and Smith is trying his best but is ultimately let down by a very uninspired plot. MIB was not a great movie, but it made so much money because it was so much fun. Part X-Files spoof(the show's popularity was at its peak) part Ghostbusters the movie was unique because it featured a hilarious talking dog, a guy who could grow his had back after having it blown off, a woman who gave birth to a squid, heroes in the most ordinary-looking suits who never lost their cool, witty dialogue, and one of the most bizarre villans I have ever seen. Well, MIIB is a carbon copy of the first. Except for the part about the witty dialogue, the villain (Famke Jenssen has got to be happy she jumped ship), it being unique....oh what the hell. I hope everybody involved enjoys their fat paycheck. Based on the bad reviews bad word of mouth and a spectacular second week freefall at the box office, I'm guessing the studio exec who even mentions a MIIIB will be neuralized. Come to think of it, after seeing this movie being neuralized doesn't sound like a bad thing. 5 out of 10

Lethal Weapon is best buddy cop movie ever! Before the more profitable but less thrilling sequels (actually LW 2 was pretty damn good too), there was this gem. One of the best films of 1987, this is THE movie that made Mel Gibson a superstar. His Martin Riggs' character is the definition of "loose cannon". Notice how serious and darker this movie is. Like Se7en, it's a true crime drama. Notice Danny Glover's Roger Murtaugh in this movie, then compare it to the sequels and notice how by LW 4, Murtaugh goes from dead serious to cartoonish. But that's 10 years away. Here the two of them reluctantly pair up to take on drug smugglers. Gary Busey is the best villain in the series. The best exchange I have ever heard between two cops. Murtaugh: "Have you ever met anyone you didn't kill?" Riggs: "Well I haven't killed you yet!" Murtaugh: "Yeah? Well don't do me no favors!" Priceless!!!! 10 out 10!!