Very powerful documentary. Beautifully done by director James Toback as he makes you see the real Mike Tyson. This truly shows that money, fame, and success don't really define who a man is, but rather their actions and how they act. Fortune makes a man happy, fame makes a man feel power, and success brings confidence, right? Unfortunately, all those things were perhaps the key to "Iron" Mike Tyson's downfall not only as a champion boxer, but as a human being. From crying about his late trainer Cus D'Amato to describing in detail how he has sex with women, "Tyson" is explicit, disturbing, but altogether brilliant. James Toback let's us see how terrific this young, ferocious fighter was in the ring, but is also fearless in showing how he struggled for happiness outside the ring. You can't get any deeper into the man than this. You get a down-to-earth, practically tell-all Mike Tyson here. But probably why this documentary works well is because after seeing it, you don't like or dislike Mike Tyson any more or less. You simply get to know him better. This isn't for the lovers or the haters of Mike, but rather for those who just want to feel the heart of "Iron".
Rating: 31/2 out of 4
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Inglourious Basterds review
This isn't necessarily a war movie, or a movie about planning to end the war, but rather a movie about rewriting history. And it couldn't have been rewritten ever more gloriously than that of Quentin Tarantino, who both wrote and directed "Inglourious Basterds". Nothing in this film is possible, but who cares. You'll most likely have an amazing time watching this deliciously gory and unbelievably funny bloodbath. Let's put it this way: the Nazis finally got what they deserved. And trust me, I don't think they could've gotten it any better.
The whole cast is terrific. Everyone knows Brad Pitt, who plays the leader of the inglourious basterds, Lt. Aldo Rain. He plays him with a tough, Tennessee accent and a determined spirit to do "one thing and one thing only. Killin' Nazis". And though he's great once again, it's the supporting cast that shine. One in particular who is a definite lock to receive a supporting actor nomination is Christoph Waltz, who plays Col. Hans Landa, a Nazi, or how people refer to him, the "Jew-hunter". He's absolutely superb, and you feel his presence when he's on the screen and even when he isn't. Though not as good as Heath Ledger's Joker, their impacts are similar. Melanie Laurent as Shosanna and Eli Roth as Sgt. Donny Donowitz also give notably solid performances here.
Let's look at the story, which is simple but effective. 4 of the top dogs working for the Nazis are planning to attend a premier of the terrible Jew-killing film, "A Nation's Pride". And not to mention, one of the 4 includes Adolf Hitler himself. The amazing collectors of Nazi Scalps and the cruel Nazi Murderers, the Inglourious Basterds, are informed that if they kill all 4, the war ends, just like that. And there's also a great plus for the Basterds and the Jews: the premier was moved to a cinema owned by a Jew girl, Shosanna. The result? Well, a bloody delight is a terrible understatement.
Quentin Taratino has written and directed a truly great and fun-filled movie. And though I don't call many films the rare title of a masterpiece, I am not hesitant at all to call "Inglourious Basterds" one crazy and explicit masterpiece. And though it had a running time of 152 minutes, it actually felt too short. You know when that happens, you've seen something great. Don't be a "basterd" and go see it.
Rarting: 4 out of 4
The whole cast is terrific. Everyone knows Brad Pitt, who plays the leader of the inglourious basterds, Lt. Aldo Rain. He plays him with a tough, Tennessee accent and a determined spirit to do "one thing and one thing only. Killin' Nazis". And though he's great once again, it's the supporting cast that shine. One in particular who is a definite lock to receive a supporting actor nomination is Christoph Waltz, who plays Col. Hans Landa, a Nazi, or how people refer to him, the "Jew-hunter". He's absolutely superb, and you feel his presence when he's on the screen and even when he isn't. Though not as good as Heath Ledger's Joker, their impacts are similar. Melanie Laurent as Shosanna and Eli Roth as Sgt. Donny Donowitz also give notably solid performances here.
Let's look at the story, which is simple but effective. 4 of the top dogs working for the Nazis are planning to attend a premier of the terrible Jew-killing film, "A Nation's Pride". And not to mention, one of the 4 includes Adolf Hitler himself. The amazing collectors of Nazi Scalps and the cruel Nazi Murderers, the Inglourious Basterds, are informed that if they kill all 4, the war ends, just like that. And there's also a great plus for the Basterds and the Jews: the premier was moved to a cinema owned by a Jew girl, Shosanna. The result? Well, a bloody delight is a terrible understatement.
Quentin Taratino has written and directed a truly great and fun-filled movie. And though I don't call many films the rare title of a masterpiece, I am not hesitant at all to call "Inglourious Basterds" one crazy and explicit masterpiece. And though it had a running time of 152 minutes, it actually felt too short. You know when that happens, you've seen something great. Don't be a "basterd" and go see it.
Rarting: 4 out of 4
Monday, August 10, 2009
The Last House On The Left review
A somewhat unknown cast stars in a below average remake of the 1972 movie. Yes, "The Last House On The Left" does have its share of thrills, but it doesn't quite get the job done as a solid suspense thriller. Before the suspense finally arrived, I had already lost interest in the story. The cast here is undoubtedly talented, but the script has them playing unlikeable characters. With that said, "The Last House On The Left" has its moments, but becomes forgettable as soon as the credits start rolling.
The story revolves around young, swimming champion Mari Collingwood, executed well by the talented Sara Paxton. Her and her friend, Paige, get kidnapped by a gang of 4 wrongdoers, led by a prison escapee. After murdering Paige and hurting Mari, they go, amazingly, to the so-called last house on the left, where Mari's parents obviously live. At first, they show them good hospitality, but they soon find out that they had done something to their daughter. From that point on, the film turns into a bloody affair, fighting for their damaged daughter. There is one big problem, though.
Unfortunately, I didn't care much for Mari Collingwood. I don't know who would truly care for someone that hangs out with a stupid friend and does stupid things. Going to some stranger's house who looks absolutely untrustworthy in the first place, now that's pretty darn stupid. This film is bloody, violent, and cruel. That ingredient of a horror movie is here and made well. But it just didn't have enough thrills and really wasn't terrifying at any moment. There was even a point here where the movie felt like an action thriller other than something meant to be scary. With a bad script, a lack of scares, unlikeable characters, and an unnecessary prolonged rape scene, "The Last House On The Left" is mediocre at best. If you look hard enough, there is fun to be had here, but it isn't enough to save an already forgettable movie. You can SKIP this house.
rating: 2 out of 4
The story revolves around young, swimming champion Mari Collingwood, executed well by the talented Sara Paxton. Her and her friend, Paige, get kidnapped by a gang of 4 wrongdoers, led by a prison escapee. After murdering Paige and hurting Mari, they go, amazingly, to the so-called last house on the left, where Mari's parents obviously live. At first, they show them good hospitality, but they soon find out that they had done something to their daughter. From that point on, the film turns into a bloody affair, fighting for their damaged daughter. There is one big problem, though.
Unfortunately, I didn't care much for Mari Collingwood. I don't know who would truly care for someone that hangs out with a stupid friend and does stupid things. Going to some stranger's house who looks absolutely untrustworthy in the first place, now that's pretty darn stupid. This film is bloody, violent, and cruel. That ingredient of a horror movie is here and made well. But it just didn't have enough thrills and really wasn't terrifying at any moment. There was even a point here where the movie felt like an action thriller other than something meant to be scary. With a bad script, a lack of scares, unlikeable characters, and an unnecessary prolonged rape scene, "The Last House On The Left" is mediocre at best. If you look hard enough, there is fun to be had here, but it isn't enough to save an already forgettable movie. You can SKIP this house.
rating: 2 out of 4
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
The Hurt Locker review
This is what I am talking about. "The Hurt Locker" is easily one of the best movies of the year. You talk about a thrilling, bada$$, suspenseful, realistic war movie. This is exactly it. With great direction by Kathryn Bigelow (yes, a girl), a terrific screenplay, beautiful cinematography, and Oscar-worthy performances, "The Hurt Locker" is the very definition of a great film. My eyes were glued to the screen as I was genuinely thrilled by each classic, suspenseful moment. Truly an achievement in film that must receive some recognition by the Academy.
The performances here by the somewhat unknown cast is one of the many strengths of this movie. Jeremy Renner gives a performance that will give him a best actor nomination (in my book, at least). Renner plays Staff Sergeant William James amazingly natural, being the cocky and confident person that James is. In short, Renner's performance is simply a tour de force. Another performance here that should (but probably won't) get an Oscar nomination is Anthony Mackie, who plays Sergeant JT Sanborn, a tough soldier who isn't afraid to tell the truth, even to William James. Mackie's ability to be so authentic makes his performance admirable. From actors like Brain Geraghty to legends like Ralph Fiennes, nobody here misses a beat.
Let me give you the story, straight up. It is the war in Iraq, and anything and everything could possibly be a bomb. This includes some wire coming from the ground, to a bomb implanted inside a human's body. An elite bomb squad of three must come together and disarm all the bombs they can, stopping the potential death of many innocent people. Led by the fearless and seemingly overconfident William James (Renner), the two others in the group, Sanborn (Mackie) and Eldridge (Geraghty), are shocked and brought into a whirlwind of trouble by James' ego and mentality of no fear. In the beginning of the film, the saying "war is a drug" pops up. James' behavior on the battlefield disarming bombs explains this statement.
What more can I say about this terrific film that is so well-made and masterly crafted. Director Kathryn Bigelow knew what she wanted to accomplish here, and she did it. She wanted to make an extremely suspenseful thriller worthy of many Oscars , and she did it. This is a different war movie than most out there. But I am going to go and put this film in the same breadth as "Saving Private Ryan". What sets these two war movies apart from the others is that they are "scary real". Both feel so authentic and realistic, that it is scary. My eyes couldn't leave the screen. As a result, "The Hurt Locker" is a monumental accomplishment that is worthy of endless praise.
Rating: 4 out of 4
The performances here by the somewhat unknown cast is one of the many strengths of this movie. Jeremy Renner gives a performance that will give him a best actor nomination (in my book, at least). Renner plays Staff Sergeant William James amazingly natural, being the cocky and confident person that James is. In short, Renner's performance is simply a tour de force. Another performance here that should (but probably won't) get an Oscar nomination is Anthony Mackie, who plays Sergeant JT Sanborn, a tough soldier who isn't afraid to tell the truth, even to William James. Mackie's ability to be so authentic makes his performance admirable. From actors like Brain Geraghty to legends like Ralph Fiennes, nobody here misses a beat.
Let me give you the story, straight up. It is the war in Iraq, and anything and everything could possibly be a bomb. This includes some wire coming from the ground, to a bomb implanted inside a human's body. An elite bomb squad of three must come together and disarm all the bombs they can, stopping the potential death of many innocent people. Led by the fearless and seemingly overconfident William James (Renner), the two others in the group, Sanborn (Mackie) and Eldridge (Geraghty), are shocked and brought into a whirlwind of trouble by James' ego and mentality of no fear. In the beginning of the film, the saying "war is a drug" pops up. James' behavior on the battlefield disarming bombs explains this statement.
What more can I say about this terrific film that is so well-made and masterly crafted. Director Kathryn Bigelow knew what she wanted to accomplish here, and she did it. She wanted to make an extremely suspenseful thriller worthy of many Oscars , and she did it. This is a different war movie than most out there. But I am going to go and put this film in the same breadth as "Saving Private Ryan". What sets these two war movies apart from the others is that they are "scary real". Both feel so authentic and realistic, that it is scary. My eyes couldn't leave the screen. As a result, "The Hurt Locker" is a monumental accomplishment that is worthy of endless praise.
Rating: 4 out of 4
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