Atonement
Summary:
In the early 20th century, a stuffy group of rich Europeans find a bit of trouble in their expensive mansion home, when a 13 year old girl sees innocent flirtations between her older sister and the housemaid's son and doesn't exactly understand what's going on. Because of her, the dude is sent to prison and becomes a soldier in World War II, taking him away from his life, his love, and freedom. Over the decades her actions affect not only herself, but her sister and her poor love as well.
Review:
Atonement is a pretty damn good movie for what it is. I am the first to admit I'm not a fan of the tea-sipping uppity-type movies where manners are more important than showing affection. In this movie's case, it works well when the pain of the two lovers' short meetings during the war are painfully conservative, yet bursting with the desire for more. The cinematography is nice as well, save for the showy tracking shot on the beachfront; it just didn't work well with the tone of the rest of the movie.
I hated the soundtrack. I didn't find the typewriter plunking keys in a rhythmic pattern all that appealing.
Worst of all was the final ten minutes. One has to be ignorant to what kind of conclusion would come from a movie like this, but my biggest complaint is showing the 13 year old as an old woman. I would have removed EVERY SECOND of these parts. What I also don't understand is how she promised to live her life never lying ever again. Yet, her final "gift" is the biggest lie of all. The movie tells us this lie before exposing the truth in a sad attempt at providing a final twist. This is one of those movies where the ending totally destroys most of the greatness that came before it. I still recommend it, but be prepared for a super retarded conclusion.
GRADE: C-
Michael Clayton
Summary:
A "janitor" - a cleanup attorney for high class clients that may have done wrong, or just needs a quick fix in a legal pinch - is driven to do what's best for Arthur Edens. Arthur was working on a case for several years with an agrochemical company. He stops taking his meds and goes rogue, making the company nervous with his unstable demeanor. He also might be holding some legal evidence that could take the company down. Soon, Michael Clayton finds himself in deep with trying to help Arthur, and coming to grips with his lot in life in general.
Review:
George Clooney was solid as Clayton, and Wilkinson as usual was great. So was Tilda Swinton, even though I wouldn't justify it with an Oscar. I honest to God don't think she provided much personally to convince me that she was the best choice of any other to do her role. She had very few scenes, each of those scenes were pretty short. It's nothing to blame her with. I just feel if she was to be nominated for an Oscar, they should give her more screen time. Bah. Whatever.
In terms of being nominated for the little weenie, I don't think this movie is deserving of that much recognition. It's a solid legal thriller, but it didn't bring much to the dramatic table that any number of other well made Grisham-inspired movies have given me. It's still a pretty good watch, and I recommend checking it out if this is your thing.
GRADE: B-
There Will Be Blood
Summary:
It's the early 20th century (again), and Daniel Plainview is an oil man; believe him when he tells you this. A young man who declares himself to be a prophet lures Daniel into his farmtown, which is loaded to the hilt with oil. Daniel provides false promises while doing his best to suck the land dry of it's rich black gold. Lots of greed and oil ensues.
Review:
This is a much, much, much, MUCH, MUCH better movie than Magnolia! Holy hell this was so much better rofl!
What can I say about Daniel Day-Lewis other than that he is one of the greatest actors to ever be put to film. This guy has always rocked my socks since I saw In the Name of the Father, but Gangs of New York put him into the "OMG he is beyond super-awesome" realm. It's too bad the rest of that movie couldn't keep up with him. I liked GoNY just because of Day-Lewis, but because he's in most of the movie, the movie isn't so bad. In There Will Be Blood Day-Lewis once again chews up and spits out every scene, leaving not one trace of flavor that he didn't digest. Pure class all the way. Which, of course, makes this movie completely worth watching.
There is also some solid cinematography, with wonderful lighting in dark oil wells, bright burning oil, people being soaked in oil, and dirty oiled up fingers in closeup. Pretty pretty stuff.
People talk about the pure assholery of Plainview in this movie. I found myself relating to him and his actions almost 100% of the time. I would have slapped the shit out of Paul/Eli Sunday, and gone out of my way to knock him down a few pegs. I would have treated my brother the same way he did. I just wouldn't drink as much as him, nor would I be SO greedy as to not share in my oil funds like him. However, his actions to the people he deals with are what I probably would have done. Especially when you consider the mean things he does in respect to the personal turmoil he goes through when said actions are done.
Once again, the final moments make a downward spiral. I didn't like the final scene, and that "I drink your milkshake" line which has been made so fun of - well, I don't remember hearing it because I started to kind of zone out around that time. I could feel where this was going, and even though I UNDERSTAND the point, I don't agree with it.
If there is only one reason to see this movie, it's for Daniel Day-Lewis. There are also many other great reasons to check this out, though. Thank God.
GRADE: B
Juno
Summary:
An obnoxious little "spitfire" teenage girl gets herself knocked up. She decides to give the baby to adoptive parents, and she has to learn how to become an adult. Not saying that happens, but that's basically how it goes.
Review:
I already did a review of this movie, so I'll keep it REAL short:
I hate Juno. She's unrealistic, arrogant, and needs to be taught manners. She's spoiled, spiteful, unfunny and really does not deserve having a movie made about her. Not saying there aren't bitches like this in real life. There are, but these kinds of bitches are older based on the things she loves in life. Probably the same age as... oh, I don't know... like maybe Diablo Cody. However, when an ADULT does the irresponsible things she does and behaves in such a way, everyone HATES her. So like, Juno isn't real because she's the representation of the writer's thoughts and attitudes.
Everyone else was worth caring about, more or less. Jennifer Garner kind of annoyed me though. Nice parents, decent performances all around. It's just that Juno is in every scene, and so I can't stand watching this flick.
GRADE: D+
No Country For Old Men
Summary:
In Texas in 1980, an aging sheriff is asking himself if he's really up to pace with modern crime.
Meanwhile, a Vietnam Vet finds himself a stash of cash from a drug deal gone bad. A psychopathic killer is bent on finding him to retrieve the cash while Mexican drug dealers are on his trail as well.
Review:
Already saw this movie, too. I changed the grade to an "A" instead of an "A-".
Although deliberately paced, I never got bored watching this. Another outstanding performance this year was with Javier Bardum as Anton Chigurh. I love his almost child-like fascination with the way people value life. He's heartless and seems like a freaking Terminator the way he exterminates and moves on. Hell, he even does self-surgery almost as deftly as the T-101.
I started taking notice the second time around by the parallels between Chigurh and Moss. One scene Chigurh says "Hold still", and the next scene Moss is echoing his line. Both get injured to the point they have to help themselves out two times. Then, there's a third injury. Hm....
There are tons of things I started paying attention to more closely, and it's possible that I might be looking deeper than I should. Then again, it IS a Coen Brothers movie. So, I might not be digging deep enough.
I still don't agree with Sheriff Bell's lot in the whole story, but it didn't hinder my enjoyment of the movie as a whole. Especially this second time around.
GRADE: A
... and there we go! All five Best Picture Noms reviewed! Yay!
Reviewed 2/28/08