81. The Laughing Policeman (1973)
Off DVR, Shown on Fox Movie Channel (widescreen, uncut)
Walter Matthau plays a hardened San Francisco cop on the chase of a killer who took down his partner, while the synposis is an retread and been done before this is the type of rough and tumble cop movie that they don't make any more. Much better than the average cops and robbers movie they release now. Above Average compared to the norm of today but average otherwise.
03/08/2008
80. Dan in Real Life (2007)
Other Means
I was ready to hate this movie because even though I'm a big Steve Carrell fan I really don't like Dane Cook and for some reason he was cast in this movie. But this movie's dramatic angle isn't heavy handed as I thought it would be and I really ended up enjoying this movie. Dane Cook doesn't kill this movie, but it might have been a bit better without him. I don't like sappy romantic movies but I liked this movie but it isn't sappy but it is a tad romantic. Steven Carrell fans won't be disappointed.
03/07/2008
79. Run Fatboy Run (2007)
Other Means
This movie is a romantic comedy and it follows the formula of that, you can see the mile coming from a mile away and nothing is really unpredictable. But Simon Pegg brings a charm to the main role that makes the whole thing watchable and Michael Ian Black wrote the screenplay so there are some talented people involved with this one. If you have to watch a romantic comedy this one doesn't punish you and make you think your stupid. Above Average Romantic Comedy
03/06/2008
78. Southland Tales (2006)
Other Means
I've been following this movie for a few years now so the anticipation for me was pretty high for the picture. The reactions to this film has been across the board, but I really ended up enjoying the world that Richard Kelly introduces to the audience with this one. Even 90 minutes in I was wasn't sure if I was going to like this movie and wondered where it was going, but the movie wraps up nicely and I was completely happy to have taken the time to sat down and watched this one. I'm just happy that a movie this subversive got made in Hollywood and got a good budget thrown at it to fully realize the world that was created. Not for everyone but above average.
03/05/2008
76. Shutter (2004)
Other Means
This movie's American remake is just being released so I thought I would take a look at the Thai original. And I have to say that there isn't any thing to separate this from the recent batch of a j-horror movies that have been released over the last eight years. This has aspects of a watered down Hollywood version of a Japanese horror movie so I guess it's fitting that Hollywood would remake this one. There are lots of cheap thrills in this one, several times something happens that is horrible and then we cut to the actor waking up from a dream terrified, LAME. If you've seen the American or Japanese version of The Ring and The Grudge series than this has nothing new for you.
77. Paranoid Park (2007)
Other Means
It seems like over the last five years or so Gus Van Sant's style has been slowly molded into a style of filmmaking the Larry Clark previously had the lock on. This being the new Van Sant movie and being nominated for Best Picture at the Independent Spirit Awards I had expectations for this being a return to form for Van Sant. But this is another feature more towards the Larry Clark school again. Some people liked Elephant, I didn't. I felt it lacked everything and this movie falls into the same category but with more substance. Larry Clark's actor's pull off non-acting better than Van Sant's non-actors pull off acting. At least the non-linear story-line is edited together well but otherwise I can't recommend this one.
03/04/2008
74. Semi-Pro (2008)
In Theaters
This is a welcome return to form for Will Ferrell comedies after the disappointing Blades of Glory. If you've liked Will Ferrell comedies in the past than there is plenty to like in this movie also. But if you a Ferrell detractor than this isn't going to change your perception of him. But still I was glad that they didn't release a PG-13 theatrical and then go for the R rated cut on the DVD, instead the theatrical version is R rated and they make use of it profusely. Overall funny though
75. Vantage Point (2008)
In Theaters
This film uses Rashomon type of narration but dumbs it down tremendously, instead of just jumping and then letting the audience figure out what happened there is a clock that counts to noon and then the segments starts, this bun-jee cord pull back happens at least four times as we see the initial sequence from different perspectives. There was a growing resentment and chuckles were building in the audience for each time they pulled back to the beginning again, audiences today are a little more sophisticated than this and it seemed to be a condescending way of editing things. There are lots of plot holes and the action takes awhile to get into it, not really executed that well. Also this movie highlights a beef I have with the company that make the trailers for the films, in the first trailer I saw for this movie they revealed a plot point that happens over 45 minutes into the movie, LAME. Below Average
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