Burn After Reading – Meh. The characters were really bland an the actors didn’t really do anything interesting with them. The plot was also kind of shitty. I guess they really blew their wad adapting No Country for Old Men.
Doomsday – Shot really well, but there was no story. Bland, not campy enough, not scary enough, which for a movie that wants to be a John Carpenter movie equals TOTAL FAILURE.
The House Bunny – Funny, but needed more irony or, and I hate to say it, gross outs to be LOL. I think because it’s about young women, the filmmakers just weren’t willing to go there even though the cast seemed very game.
Last Chance Harvey – Very good. Predictable, but it just goes to show that you don’t need to innovate to make a really good movie. Dustin Hoffman really gave something subtle and Emma Thompson was just wonderful (as usual).
The Ramen Girl - Cute & predictable, no new territory, and Brittany Murphy needs to push herself a lot harder because cute don’t cut it when you have a bad dye job and can’t cry on cue. The Japanese cast made her look like a high school theater kid. Wants to be parts Tampopo, Like Water for Chocotlate, and Lost in Translation – which should work and maybe with a stronger lead, could have. After making the theater comment, now I want to see it staged as a single-set play. Could be fun.
Slumdog Millionaire – The cast was wonderful. The story was interesting, but that “fairy tale magic” element was elusive. Still, I can see why it won Best Picture at the Oscars, it was miles better than any of the other nominees.
The Wrestler – Good character study. Not a lot of surprises here.
Next up: Defiance. I’m really looking forward to this one.
