The Night Listener

Film Title: The Night Listener
Year: 2006
MPAA Rating: R
Length: 82 minutes (91 minutes at Sundance)
Film Genre(s): Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Director(s): Patrick Stettner
Producer(s): Terry Anderson, Michael Hogan, Armistead Maupin, et. al.
Writer(s): Armistead Maupin, Terry Anderson, Patrick Stettner
Players:
Robin Williams as Gabriel Noone
Toni Collette as Donna Logand
Rory Culkin as Pete Logand
Plot: Gabriel Noone's talk show, "Noone at Night", is plagued by his writer's block when he comes in contact with a boy dying of AIDS. A relationship is built over the phone between Gabriel, the boy and the boy's mother until suspicions build concerning Noone's elusive friends.
Acting: Williams character is one of his better portrayals, but would be better suited in another movie. "The Night Listener is mostly about Gabe, but it's not mostly about Robin Williams playing Gabe, and that's a welcome relief" (rogerebert.suntimes.com). Rory Culkin is the real star of this movie, walking tall from under the dark shadow and mottled past of his brother, Macaulay.
Cinematography: The camera work fits that of the generic mystery drama which this movie is.
Visual: Nothing special.
Audio: This film has one of the most freakish and otherworldly sounds ever recorded. What should have been left to the horror genre is included in a latter scene which takes place in a hospital. Noone is searching through the pediatric ward for the sick boy, Pete, when he walks into what he thinks is the boy's room, and instead, he is faced with another child whose vocal chords have been destroyed by cancer. The resulting scream from the child is a hollow, airy wail which gives the viewer chills and haunts the dreams of most people for days to come.
What to watch for: Tense scenes in the middle of the film.
What to watch out for: A no-surprise conclusion.
When I watched it last: A couple nights before review.
IMDB User Rating: 5.7 out of 10
Roger Ebert Rating: 3 out of 4 stars; "[T]he movie makes this twisted tale believable, moment by moment."
The Cinema Standard Overall Score: 5.2 out of 10; A poor movie which is almost saved by the quality of the cast...almost.
- - Reveiwed by JB

The Outlaw Josey Wales

Film Title: The Outlaw Josey Wales
Year: 1976
MPAA Rating: R
Length: 135 min
Film Genre: Western/Drama
Director: Clint Eastwood
Producer: Robert Daley
Writers: Forrest Carter
Players:
Clint Eastwood as Josey Wales
Sondra Locke as Laura Lee
Chief Dan George as Lone Watie
Plot: After the murder of his family, Josey Wales decides to take the fight to the men that killed them.
Acting: Clint Eastwood is simply amazing in this film, in my humble opinion this and Unforgiven are his best work. Chief Dan George is hillarious as his Cherokee companion.
Cinematography The emphasis of certain things really stands out (Wales spitting and his gun movements). Nothing really special about the directing, Eastwood is just a good director.
Visual: It's a western. No over the top camera work, no special effects just straight forward camera work.
Audio: Again it is a Western. The audio is good, the gunfire sounds good and all the dialogue is clear and clean.
When I watched it last: 1 day prior to the review
What to watch for: Eastwood and his amazing performance. The evolution of Josey Wales from man with nothing to lose to man that has everything to fight for.
What to watch out for: Brief Nudity and moments of Strong Sexual content
IMDB Rating: 7.7 out of 10
Roger Ebert Rating: 3 out 4 stars
The Cinema Standard Overall Score: 8.5 out of 10. This is an amazing western.
--Reviewed by Jason

Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby

Film Title: Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
Year: 2006
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Length: 105 minutes
Film Genre(s): Comedy, Action
Director(s): Adam McKay
Producer(s): Adam McKay, Will Ferrell, Ryan Kavanaugh, et. al.
Writer(s): Will Ferrell, Adam McKay
Players:
Will Ferrell as Ricky Bobby
John C. Reilly as Cal Naughton, Jr.
Gary Cole as Reese Bobby
Jane Lynch as Lucy Bobby
Michael Clarke Duncan as Lucius Washington
Leslie Bibb as Carly Bobby
Amy Adams as Susan
Houton Tumlin as Walker
Grayson Russell as Texas Ranger
Sacha Baron Cohen as Jean Girard
and cameos by various NASCAR stars, Elvis Costello and Mos Def
Plot: The famous stock car driver Ricky Bobby is challenged by a Frenchman from "Formula Un", but his determination is crushed after a horrible accident. Laughs around every turn.
Acting: Ferrell is funny and that's all you need to know. Even if you've had a disposition toward him in past movies, you should see this one.
Cinematography: Who cares.
Visual: See "Cinematography".
Audio: See "Visual".
What to watch for: Outrageous hilarity. Grayson Russell's performance near the end will have you peeing-your-pants, doubling-over-on-the-floor, snorting-milk-from-your-nose laughing...and he's under 10 years old.
What to watch out for: Crude humor and some language.
When I watched it last: A few nights prior to review.
IMDB User Rating: 6.8 out of 10
Roger Ebert Rating: 3.5 out of 4 stars;
The Cinema Standard Overall Score: 7.9 out of 10 stars; Funny and entertaining! A must see, especially if you're a NASCAR fan.
- - Reveiwed by JB

Heat

Film Title: Heat
Year: 1995
MPAA Rating: R
Length: 171/188 (edited and unedited)
Film Genre: Action/Crime/Drama/Thriller
Director: Michael Mann
Producer: Pieter Jan Brugge
Writers: Michael Mann
Players:
Al Pacino as Lt. Vincent Hanna
Robert De Niro as Neil McCauley
Val Kilmer as Chris Shiherlis
Jon Voight as Nate
Tom Sizemore as Michael Cheritto
Amy Brenneman as Eady
Ashley Judd as Charlene Shiherlis
Natalie Portman as Lauren Gustafson
Dennis Haysbert as Donald Breedan
Plot: Neil McCauley heads a gang of heavily armed and highly determined theives/bank robbers who square off against Lt. Hanna in a deadly game of cat and mouse.
Acting: The acting in this film was top self. Pacino and De Niro give some mind numbing performances, makes you wonder why this is their only film together. Kilmer and Sizemore give amazing support to De Niro as members of his gang. Something to note, most of the support characters in this movie have gone on to big name success themselves (Judd, Portman, Brenneman and Haysbert.)
Cinematography Dante Spinotti does an amazing job as Cinematographer (Director of Photography), no wonder Mann has used him on three of his films (The Insider, Heat and Last of the Mohicans). Mann is an amazing director and you can truly see his unique style in this movie.
Visual: Mann shoots scenes a certain way. If you have seen the trailer for Miami Vice and his movies Collateral and Heat you will note his style. He loves night scenes intertwined with landscape shots, He loves night driving scenes with city lights reflecting on windshields and rear window, running scenes are close up and tight on the characters and a trade mark, he puts you right in the middle of the action. He puts you in the faces of the actors or over their shoulders, this adds so much to the intensity of the action. The movie is a visual masterpiece.
Audio: The sound for the movie is good for an action movie. Subtle volume changes between scenes of action and dialogue. The gun battles are amazing, a must for surround sound owners
When I watched it last: 1 hour ago
What to watch for: Amazing Performances by Pacino and De Niro as well as the supporting cast. Classic diner table scene as Cop and Criminal share a cup of coffee. Classic Michael Mann directing (vehicle tracking shots and down in the action gun battles)
What to watch out for: Excessive Language and Violence. 3 Hours Long!
IMDB Rating: 8.0 out of 10
Roger Ebert Rating: 3 1/2 out of 4 stars
The Cinema Standard Overall Score: 9.0 out of 10. Beautiful movie, Amazing Cast, Incredible directing and Gripping story. This movie is the top of what the crime/action/drama genre should be, a must own.
--Reviewed by Jason

Glory

Film Title: Glory
Year: 1989
MPAA Rating: R
Length: 122 min
Film Genre(s): Action / Drama / History / War
Director(s): Edward Zwick
Producer(s): Pieter Jan Brugge
Writer(s): Robert Gould Shaw (letters). Lincoln Kirstein (book)
Players:
Matthew Broderick as Col. Robert Gould Shaw
Denzel Washington as Pvt. Trip
Cary Elwes as Maj. Cobot Forbes
Morgan Freeman as Sgt. Maj. John Rawlins
Plot: Col. Robert Shaw leads the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer infantry, a regiment of Black solders led by white officers. The film tells the story of the regiment and their role in the Civil War.
Acting: All four of the major players of this film give incredible performances. Matthew Broderick gives a stunning performance as Col. Shaw, a solder who reluctantly at times maintains his role as the regiments commanding officer but never wavers in his devotion to his men. Cary Elwes also gives a top notch performance as Maj. Forbes. Elwes plays well against Broderick's sense of duty and brings humanity and compassion to the leadership. Both men shine as the regiments commanding officers. Morgan Freeman and Denzel Washington give knock out performances. Freeman is amazing in his role as the Sgt. Maj. and Washington really brings some emotion and power to the film. (Washington received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for this film)
Cinematography: Cinematographer Freddie Francis won the Academy Award for his work on this film and rightly so. His presentation of the battle scenes are simple yet amazing. Francis uses a lot of close up shots on the title characters, this adds to their performances, he has the uncanny ablility to capture every ounce of their emotion.
Visual: The costumes and set pieces reflect the time period. The special effects and battle scenes are on par with other movies set in this time period.
Audio: This movie also won the Academy Award for Best Sound. The score and sound effects for this film are great.
When I watched it last. During the review
What to watch for: All four of the major characters deliver jaw dropping performances. The scene where Washington is disciplined for dessertion will stir your heart.
What to watch out for: Some of the battle violence is gruesome. Exploding heads are a little shocking. Some language.
IMDB User Rating: 8.1 out of 10.
Roger Ebert Rating: 3½ out of 4 stars
The Cinema Standard Overall Score: 8.7 out of 10. An amazing war film with tons of heart. An incredibly moving film about hope, heriorism and history. If you haven't seen this movie before now punch yourself (Jason punches himself)
--Reviewed by Jason

Lady in the Water

Film Title: Lady in the Water
Year: 2006
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Length: 110 minutes
Film Genre(s): Fantasy, Mystery, Thriller, Bedtime Story
Director(s): M. Night Shyamalan
Producer(s): Sam Mercer, M. Night Shyamalan
Writer(s): M. Night Shyamalan
Players:
Paul Giamatti as Cleveland Heep
Bryce Dallas Howard as Story
Bob Balaban as Mr. Farber
Jeffrey Wright as Mr. Dury
Sarita Choudhury as Anna Ran
Cindy Cheung as Young Soon
M. Night Shyamalan as Vick
Freddy Rodriguez as Reggie
Plot: A water nymph comes to The Cove to find a special person that will warn man of his impending future, but there are creatures out to get her. A bedtime story through and through.
Acting: Most of the acting is standard Hollywood - nothing's fancy or stand-out about the actors in the film. The comedy of the film is good, a steady crescendo of funny due to the running gags (e.g. Young Soon and Cleveland's relationship with her mother, Reggie's arm, the stoners' conversations).
Cinematography: Shyamalan's camera direction is one-of-a-kind. It's easy to recognize his films (not a bad thing).
Visual: The special effects were very Shyamalan...things in the shadows, rarely seen.
Audio: A fanciful score
What to watch for: Rodriguez's Reggie = hilarity!
What to watch out for: Too much story-telling and not enough story-happening
When I watched it last: Several days before review
IMDB User Rating: 6.3 out of 10
Roger Ebert Rating: 1.5 out of 4 stars; "[I]mprovised and protracted, nonsensically and unnecessarily, just for the sake of stringing us along. And, maybe, putting us to sleep."
The Cinema Standard Overall Score: 6.0 out of 10; A decent film worth renting, but it probably doesn't belong in an aficianado's collection. Don't forget...it's a bedtime story. Try not to take it too seriously.
- - Reveiwed by JB

Rashomon

Film Title: Rashomon
Year: 1950
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Length: 88 minutes
Film Genre(s): Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Foreign
Director(s): Akira Kurosawa
Producer(s): Minoru Jingo, Masaichi Nagata
Writer(s): Ryunosuke Akutagawa (story, from "Rashomon" and "In a Grove"); Akira Kurosawa, Shinobu Hashimoto (screenplay)
Players:
Toshiro Mifune as Tajomaru
Machiko Kyo as Masako
Masayuki Mori as Takehiro
Takashi Shimura as the Woodcutter
Minoru Chiaki as the Priest
Kichijiro Ueda as the Commoner
Plot: The account of a murder from four different perspectives.
Acting: There is a lot of overacting in the movie, but it seems to be there for a reason. The characters in the story are each telling a version of a story. These stories are not perfect reality, so in the telling many things are embellished and many things are added and deleted. Shimura shines in this movie as he does in many other films.
Cinematography: A classic, pure and simple. Several of the shots from this movie have been copied ever since. Kazuo Miyagawa was a master of the camera. An early scene with the woodcutter walking through the woods is an example of his skill. Miyagawa constructed a long rail and caught a lengthy stroll with one shot. A moment later the camera stands still as Shimura walks into view and back out on a 180 degree pan. Geometry is an easily recognized aspect. People standing in triangular formation reveals tension between characters and causes tension for the viewer.
Visual: Several of the film's visual aspects were painstankingly created by Kurosawa and Miyagawa. Shadows and lighting were particularly difficult. The shadows of leaves on faces were created by reflecting light off a mirror through tree branches.
Audio: 1950...what can you say.
What to watch for: Shimura and Mifune; a unusual story that you'll probably need to watch twice.
What to watch out for: Allusion to rape; some offscreen violence.
When I watched it last: A few nights prior to review
IMDB User Rating: 8.5 out of 10; #64 on the top 250 movies of all time as voted by users
Roger Ebert Rating: Included in his list of "Great Movies" (his top honor); "The real gift of Rashomon is in its emotions and visuals."
The Cinema Standard Overall Score: 8.0 out of 10; See what inspired so many directors, producers and writers.
- - Reveiwed by JB

Seven Samurai / Shichinin no Samurai

Film Title: Seven Samurai; Shichinin no Samurai
Year: 1954
MPAA Rating: unrated (Canada and UK: PG)
Length: 206 minutes
Film Genre(s): Action, Drama, Foreign, Martial Arts, elements of Comedy
Director(s): Akira Kurosawa
Producer(s): Sojiro Motoki
Writer(s): Akira Kurosawa, Shinobu Hashimoto, Hideo Oguni
Players:
Takashi Shimura as Kambei Shimada
Toshiro Mifune as Kikuchiyo
Yoshio Inaba as Gorobei Katayama
Seiji Miyaguchi as Kyuzo
Minoru Chiaki as Heihachi Hayshida
Diasuke Kato as Shichiroji
Isao Kimura as Katsushiro Okamoto
Keiko Tsushima as Shino
Kamatari Fujiwara as Manzo
Kokuten Kodo as Gisaku, "Grandad"
Plot: Each year, bandits attack a small village and pillage the farmers' crops and burn houses. The farmers decide to hire samurai to protect the village. Two worlds come together for a striking action drama for the ages.
Acting: Classic foreign films have always been hard to watch. Subtitles, poor dubbing and cultural differences have often ruined perfectly good classic foreign films (and even some newer foreign movies). This movie is a grand exception to that stereotype. With Shimura and Mifune - by now a seasoned duo - Seven Samurai is pure magic, not to mention the other five samurai who each bring another necessary role to the screen.
Cinematography: Kurosawa was a groundbreaking director as far as the camera is concerned. This was probably his most progressive area of direction. Seven Samurai is yet another example of his dramatic vision. The camera stays still when it should and moves at the perfect time. At times, the viewer feels as though he is watching a documentary of life in feudal Japan, experiencing the joys and trials, victories and defeats and the mudane and exciting lives of the people onscreen. You quickly become empathetic towards them, hurting and hoping with them.
Visual: So many times in Kurosawa films, the camera purposefully peers through set pieces and props. It gives you the feeling of being in the action, a bystander hiding in the background. Mifune's outrageous sword mirrors his confidence and contrasts his naivete.
Audio: The audio is often nothing more than dialogue, which is not strange for the time period. Sound effects were not used often. If you can get past this, you should enjoy the film.
What to watch for: Everything - incredible acting, unforgetable characters, a wonderful plot, perfectly placed humor, forbidden romance, great cinematography and the list goes on and on...
What to watch out for: Language (in subtitles, unless you can understand Japanese)
When I watched it last: One night prior to review
IMDB User Rating: 8.8 out of 10; #7 of the top 250 movies of all time as rated by users.
Roger Ebert Rating: Included in his list of "Great Movies" (his highest honor). "[N]ot only a great film in its own right, but the source of a genre that would flow through the rest of the century. The critic Michael Jeck suggests that this was the first film in which a team is assembled to carry out a mission..."
The Cinema Standard Overall Score: 8.9 out of 10; One of the best...ever. Quit your job and buy this movie.
- - Reveiwed by JB
Jason's Review of Seven Samurai

Hero; Ying Xiong

Film Title: Hero; Ying Xiong
Year: 2004 (USA release)
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Length: 99 minutes
Film Genre(s): Foreign, Martial Arts, Action, Drama, Adventure, Fantasy, History, Art
Director(s): Yimou Zhang
Producer(s): Yimou Zhang, Weiping Zhang, Shoufang Dou
Writer(s): Feng Li, Bin Wang, Yimou Zhang
Players:
Jet Li as Nameless
Tony Leung Chiu Wai as Broken Sword
Maggie Cheung as Flying Snow
Ziyi Zhang as Moon
Daoming Chen as King of Qin
Donnie Yen as Sky
Plot: A town prefect claims to have killed the three most dangerous assassins in the land of Qin. As a reward for his courage and bravery, the king of Qin allows the man to come close to the throne and drink with the king to tell the stories, but the king suspects that the prefect is a liar. It’s the tale of an unsung warrior becoming a national hero…in true Chinese mythical style.
Acting: The cast of this film is a veritable walk of fame as far - as Chinese actors are concerned. One could not ask for better performances of the players. Even if the story does not suit a person’s taste, the cast deserves lauds. Emotive and stirring performances pull one right into the action.
Cinematography: One would be hard-pressed to find a more awe-inspiring vision of China, or any part of the world for that matter. Rivaling New Zealand in The Lord of the Rings, the landscapes of the film are incredibly beautiful.
Visual: A-ma-zing! Few films can compare chromatically to the oversaturated palette of this movie. Color permeates the film making it seem surreal and dream-like, above and beyond reality, much like the choreography. “[T]he sets, costumes and special effects are of astonishing beauty” (rogerebert.suntimes.com). As with other Chinese fantasy-fables, physics is not even considered. Fight scenes make use of cables and digital effects. The characters whimsically float about, hang upside down and move with speed and fluidity that blurs time.
Audio: This movie is an audiophile’s dream. The music is wonderful. The best example of the film’s sound quality is in a fight scene between Nameless and Sky. Raindrops falling from eaves can be heard all around. The sounds of the fight envelope you in the action, making it seem as though you are right in the middle of the swordplay. An old man sits and plays a Guzheng (a popular, ancient Chinese, stringed musical instrument which is still played today). The music parodies the fight and at the climax of the scene the old man is playing so violently fast that he breaks all of the strings. That cacophony is the perfect peak point to the scene.
What to watch for: Jet Li’s best; Awesome choreography; Vivid color and imagery.
What to watch out for: A couple of places where the wire work was not fluid.
When I watched it last: One night prior to review
IMDB User Rating: 8.1 out of 10 stars; #153 on the top 250 movies of all time as voted by users.
Roger Ebert Rating: 3.5 out of 4 stars; "[B]eautiful and beguiling, a martial arts extravaganza..." "[A] visual poem of extraordinary beauty."
The Cinema Standard Overall Score: 8.2 out of 10; A must-see! One of the great Chinese martial arts movies.
- - Reveiwed by JB

Gangs of New York

Film Title: Gangs of New York
Year: 2002
MPAA Rating: R
Length: 167 minutes
Film Genre(s): Crime, Drama, Historical
Director(s): Martin Scorsese
Producer(s): Maurizio Grimaldi, Michael Hausman, Michael Ovitz, et. al.
Writer(s): Jay Cocks (story and screenplay); Steven Zaillian, Kenneth Lonergan (screenplay)
Players:
Leonardo DiCaprio as Amsterdam Vallon
Daniel Day-Lewis as Bill "The Butcher" Cutting
Cameron Diaz as Jenny Everdeane
Jim Broadbent as Boss Tweed
and Liam Neeson as "Priest" Vallon
Plot: A young boy watches as his father, a supposed priest, is murdered. Years later, he looks for revenge. There's only one problem though, the man who murdered his father is the most powerful man in Manhatten.
Acting: For the most part I liked the characters in the film. Leo Di plays the retribution-driven Amsterdam. "He is the eyes through which we see the others but is not the most colorful person on the canvas" (rogerebert.suntimes.com). Day-Lewis and Diaz add that color, along with characters such as the historical "Boss" Tweed and Happy Jack.
Cinematography: The film is somewhat generic in its use of the camera. There are not as many iconic shots as one would expect, especially from a Scorsese flick.
Visual: Many of the effects made up for the lack of cinematographical mediocrity. A smoke-filled fight between Bill and Amsterdam creates incredible tension about who will be victorious. The final scene is a foreground shot of a cemetary where two main characters are buried with the background being a skyline shot of Manhatten. Four time-progressions occur with the New York skyline growing taller and taller and the cemetary becoming more and more overgrown - the symbolism of a tempestual but forgotten past.
Audio: Music was an important part of this film. U2 performed the opening song The Hands that Built America and Peter Gebriel contributed a song as well. Some 6 performers total contributed original music.
What to watch for: Stunning sets, whether digital or real. Surprisingly good performances by Daniel Day-Lewis and Leonardo DiCaprio.
What to watch out for: Extreme senquences of Violence; Blood; Language; Wanton Sexual Content
When I watched it last: Three nights prior to review
IMDB User Rating: 7.2 out of 10
Roger Ebert Rating: 3.5 out of 4 stars; "It is very good but not great."
The Cinema Standard Overall Score: 7.1 out of 10; Skip a scene or two or three; A decent Scorsese movie, but yet another reason why he hasn't won an Oscar.
- - Reveiwed by JB

Million Dollar Baby

Film Title: Million Dollar Baby
Year: 2004
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Length: 132 minutes
Film Genre(s): Drama, elements of Comedy
Director(s): Clint Eastwood
Producer(s): Clint Eastwood, Paul Haggis, Robert Lorenz, Gary Lucchesi
Writer(s): F.X. Toole (story); Paul Haggis (screenplay)
Players:
Clint Eastwood as Frankie Dunn
Hillary Swank as Maggie Fitzgerald
Morgan Freeman as Eddie "Scrap-Iron" Dupris
Plot: A too-cautious trainer who doesn't train girls, picks up an aged boxer-wanna-be Maggie as his student. A story of cowardice and courage, winning and losing, triumph and tragedy...and some of the action happens in a boxing ring too.
Acting: WOW! The three main players are amazing. Clint Eastwood delivers one of his best performances ever - and that's saying a lot. Hillary Swank's dramatization of the epitomous trailer-park-trash, waitress-in-a-small-diner, wishing-to-be-something-more character is spot on. Morgan Freeman's role is secondary to the plot, but it brings so much to the film. This movie only strengthens my belief that he is one of the greatest actors alive.
Cinematography: A true joy to watch because of great camera work. There are several scenes that are absolutely driven by the camera. It's those moments without dialogue that define a well-shot movie. After Dunn (Eastwood) accepts Fitzgerald (Swank) as his protege, the camera goes to a side shot of the two centered around the speed bag.
Visual: It's sometimes difficult to actually pick out the actors bacause it's so dark. At first, I thought this was a poor job, but then I noticed the content of those scenes. Light bulb! (pun intended) These techs are incredible, weaving characters in and out of view using only light strafing, which helps the conversations and mood of the film. The illumination of the entire movie is wonderfully done. Near the end (without spoiling the story), the use of lighting to create an almost black and white effect really mirrors the mood of the movie. All the other visual effects - from costume and make-up, to sets and props was on par with any other Clint Eastwood produced movie.
Audio: Clint Eastwood did most of the movies musical score (all but threee songs). Music is not empahsized very much in the film, but is tastefully complimentary to the action. The score "always does what is required and never distracts" (rogerebert.suntimes.com). The end of the film is nearly devoid of music.
What to watch for: Clint Eastwood - director, producer, music and acting for the film...and he does a great job with all of his roles. He's got the Midas touch. "Million Dollar Baby is Eastwood's 25th film as a director, and his best" (rogerebert.suntimes.com).
What to watch out for: A little language.
When I watched it last: One night prior to review.
IMDB User Rating: 8.4 out of 10
Roger Ebert Rating: 4 out of 4 stars;
"[A] masterpiece, pure and simple, deep and true."
"This is the best film of the year (2004)."
"Movies are so often made of effects and sensation these days. This one is made of three people and how their actions grow out of who they are and why."
The Cinema Standard Overall Score: 8.6 out of 10; Buy it, Watch it, Discuss it; This belongs in your movie collection.
- - Reveiwed by JB

Event Horizon

Film Title: Event Horizon
Year: 1997
MPAA Rating: R
Length: 96 minutes
Film Genre(s): Sci-Fi, Horror/Thriller
Director(s): Paul W.S. Anderson
Producer(s): Nick Gillott, Jeremy Bolt
Writer(s): Philip Eisner
Players:
Laurence Fishburne as Captain Miller
Sam Neill as Dr. William Weir
Kathleen Quinlan as Peters
Joely Richardson as Lt. Starck
Richard T. Jones as Cooper
Jack Noseworthy as Justin
Jason Isaacs as D.J.
Sean Pertwee as Smith
Plot: A state-of-the-art ship, built to travel faster than the speed of light, disappeared seven years earlier and has just reappeared in the orbit of Neptune sending out a distress beacon. A rescue mission is sent out to recover the ship and crew but is met with a terror unlike anything anyone has seen before.
Acting: For the most part, the acting in the movie was good. Laurence Fishburne was already a seasoned actor and was well on his way to his best performance in the upcoming Sci-Fi mega movie The Matrix. Richard T. Jones is the necessary comic relief in the movie. His self-confidence and unearned machismo are the only alleviation from the absolute tension of the film. With a full cast of 15 people, a lot of stagecraft is demanded of only a few people. I’m not convinced that Sam Neill is a worthy portrayer of the antagonist/absolute evil. It’s hard to watch Jurassic Park’s hero become a carved-up Devil personification.
Cinematography: This movie demanded much of the camera crew. Uneven floor plans for the sets meant a lot of rigging and movement. In one scene, the camera rotates around the crew as they talk about what should be done. The camera goes back and forth several times making for a nice alternative to several camera switches.
Visual: Visual effects in the movie were both stunning and haunting. The vividly lit green tunnels near the core have been copied to an extent in many movies. Spacecraft design and settings were expansively and visually awesome. Roger Ebert points out a design goof. The Event Horizon is floating in the turbulent atmosphere of Neptune, yet after the initial approach by the rescue vessel, all the scenes seem to take place in calm space.
Audio: Orbital was called in by Paul Anderson to work with Michael Kamen on the film’s music. Dark beats are layered on top of Kamen’s symphonic melodies, which gives many of the scenes an edgy heart-pounding effect.
What to watch for: Awesome visual effects…and that’s about it.
What to watch out for: “Orgiastic” (as quoted by the Paul Anderson and Jeremy Bolt) scenes of sado-masochistic mutilation, torture, blood (lots and lots of blood) and intense gore; language.
When I watched it last: Two nights before review
IMDB User Rating: 5.8 out of 10
Roger Ebert Rating: 2 out of 4 stars; “It's all style, climax and special effects.”
The Cinema Standard Overall Score: 5.0 out of 10 stars; Sorry, but I’m not a horror movie fan.
- - Reveiwed by JB

The Terminal

Film Title: The Terminal
Year: 2004
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Length: 128 minutes
Film Genre(s): Drama, elements of comedy and romance
Director(s): Steven Spielberg
Producer(s): Jason Hoffs, Andrew Niccol, Patricia Whitcher
Writer(s): Andrew Niccol and Sacha Gervasi (story); Sacha Gervasi and Jeff Nathanson (screenplay)
Players:
Tom Hanks as Viktor Navorski
Catherine Zeta Jones as Amelia Warren
Stanley Tucci as Frank Dixom
Chi McBride as Mulroy
Diego Luna as Enrique Cruz
Barry Shabaka Henley as Thurman
Kumar Pallana as Gupta Rajan
Zoe Saldana as Officer Torres
and cameo by Richard Gere
Plot: When war breaks out in his country of Krakozhia, Viktor Navorski is forced to live in an airport terminal at JFK as his visa and passport are "unnacceptable". It's the story of a promise kept, a compassionate heart and a fight for love...in an airport.
Acting: Strangely enough Tom hanks does a phenomenal job as an Eastern European. Cold-hearted Frank Dixon is portrayed by the perfect actor, Stanley Tucci - it seems he was born for this role. Dixon is determined to live by the rules of the airport and no amount of pathos will win him over to a cause. Laughable (in a positive light) performances include Chi McBride, Enrique Luna and most definetely Kumar Pallana. Henley's portrayal of the kind-hearted Thurman is the necessary foil to the almost (but not quite) emotionless Airport Manager Frank Dixon.
Cinematography: The camera is used well as an instrument of mood. The terminal is often filed in chaos, with quick movements and wide pans. The hustle and bustle are brought to seeming stillness when needed by perfect character framing. My favorite camera shot has a giant 747 rolling down the runway framing one side of the shot and tiny Gupta running toward it (to get the plane to stop) framing the other side. Brilliant! In one of the last scenes, Viktor rides off in a cab beside the terminal with the reflection of the New York skyline in the window.
Visual: "Not one viewer in 100 will guess this is not a real airline terminal." Hard to believe, I know. "Here the terminal with all of its levels, with its escalators and retail shops and food courts and security lines and passenger gates, actually exists" (rogerebert.suntimes.com). The sets are done well with several instances of both wonderful and very poor lighting. There is a reflection off of a fountain at one point which makes the scene difficult to watch.
Audio: The score is almost completely "airport music", if and when there is any music. Almost all of the movie dialogue is recorded over background talking, so it is a tribute to the techs who made those sound effects secondary but evident.
What to watch for: The peanut can. Gupta's character is quite funny in the defense of "his floor" and the wet floor hijinks. A very good performance by Tom Hanks. Two of the most beautiful actresses in all of Hollywood grace this film: Catherine Zeta Jones and Zoe Saldana.
What to watch out for: Allusions to Napoleon between Viktor and Amelia become almost silly after the third or fourth reference (I realize that the writers & producers are attempting to mirror the story of Viktor and Amelia, but I think it's just too much).
When I watched it last: One night prior to review
IMDB User Rating: 7.1 out of 10
Roger Ebert Rating: 3 and a half stars out of 4 - "The Terminal doesn't have a plot; it tells a story. We want to know what will happen next, and we care."
The Cinema Standard Overall Score: 7.0 out of 10 - definitely worth a rental, maybe worth a buy
- - Reveiwed by JB

Stand By Me

Film Title: Stand By Me
Year: 1986
MPAA Rating: R
Length: 89 minutes
Film Genre(s): Adventure, Drama, elements of Comedy
Director(s): Rob Reiner
Producer(s): Raynold Gideon, Bruce A. Evans, Andrew Scheinman
Writer(s): Adapted from Stephen King's novella The Body; Raynold Gideon & Bruce A. Evans (screenplay)
Players:
Wil Wheaton as Gordie Lachance
River Pheonix as Chris Chambers
Corey Feldman as Teddy Duchamp
Jerry O'Connell as Vern Tessio
Keifer Sutherland as Ace Merrill
Richard Dreyfuss as The Writer
and cameo by John Cusack as Denny Lachance
Plot: Four preteen boys set out on an adventurous journey to see a dead body. It's a coming-of-age story of friendship, courage, mourning and the question "What is Goofy?"
Acting: For the most part, the acting was done well. On rare occasions the age of the four boys shows through in their portrayal of true emotion. Credit is due to Rob Reiner for illiciting great performances from the four boys. Breakout performances for Keifer Sutherland, Wil Wheaton, River Pheonix, Corey Feldman, and Jerry O'Connell (though this was not the first movie appearance for most of them, it was their first great performance).
Cinematography: There are two scenes set at bridges. In the first, the camera stares down the long straight tracks and the bridge acts as the threshhold of the journey which they are about to embark upon. In the second, the boys stop at the edge of a long, tall, bridge over the Royal River. The camera makes the bridge look a mile long as this is an initial test of the boys' courage.
Visual: The movie is set in 1959. Costume and setting is done well. Some of the effects look faked, like the train behind the boys and the drop-off of the swamp water from a few inches to several feet deep. The film's story is pretty simple, though, so there aren't a lot of effects needed.
Audio: Mostly jocular music is incorporated into the movie which counteracts the storyline. Songs like "Rockin' Robin" and "Lollipop" are heard playing on Ace Merill's car radio and the handheld radio that Gordie brings on the trip. The title song "Stand By Me" acts as bookends to the movie and is interspersed other times throughout.
What to watch for: Gordie's encounter with a deer; Top-notch performances by Keifer Sutherland, Wil Wheaton and River Pheonix; Hilarious moments such as the campfire story and conversations, the leech, Chopper, and many others.
What to watch out for: Language; Jerry O'Connell's character Vern can become quite annoying after a while.
When I watched it last: One night prior to review
IMDB User Rating: 8.1 out of 10; #157 on the top 250 movies of all time as voted by users.
Roger Ebert Rating: Roger Ebert has not reviewed this movie on the Sun Times website.
The Cinema Standard Overall Score: 8.5 out of 10
- - Reveiwed by JB

The Cinema Standard Review Rubric
Film Title: [The Name of the Movie]
Year: [Year the film was released]
MPAA Rating: [G, PG, PG-13, R]
Length: [Runtime of movie]
Film Genre(s): [The styles that the film expresses - e.g. Drama, Comedy, Action, Sci-Fi, etc.]
Director(s): [Executive Directors]
Producer(s): [Executive Producers]
Writer(s): [Screenplay/story]
Players: [Main Cast]
Plot: [Very Basic Synopsis]
Acting: [How did the actors/actresses portray the characters?]
Cinetography: [Use of the camera]
Visual: [Art direction, make-up/costume and special effects]
Audio: [Sound FX and Musical Score]
What to watch for: [Memorable scenes, lines, actors/actresses]
What to watch out for: [Things the movie could have done without - e.g. extreme vulgarity, excessive sexuality, bad acting, etc.]
IMDB User Rating: [1 - 10 with 10 being the highest - imdb.com]
Roger Ebert Rating: [1 - 4 with 4 being the highest - rogerebert.suntimes.com]
The Cinema Standard Overall Score: [1 - 10 with 10 being the highest]

My name is Jon Brady. My affiliate is Jason Williams. We are avid movie lovers and thought it would be entertaining to write movie reviews. So this blog is our first attempt. Each movie will be reviewed by both parties in like manner. Thanks for stopping by.