Lola rennt (Run, Lola, Run) (1998) - 3.5/5

Lola rennt (Run, Lola, Run) (1998)

Cool concept and idea. Is there more to it than there seems? I think so.

How wd you get 100,000 Deutschmarks ($65,000) in 20 minutes?

Notice the use of the color red: her hair, the phone, ambulance the money bag, etc.

"and then..."

SPOILERS:

The first attempt is pleading (mercy) w/ her dad which fails - Manni robs and she helps out of love, but they are caught and Lola gets shot. The father doesn't love her and stops pretending he does.

The first "pause" after failure Lola asks Manni if he loves her and then questions every way possible if it's true. How can you know? Then you just feel? etc.

The second attempt start similarly, but gets forceful and she succeeds, but then Manni is hit by an ambulance.

The "pause" is then about Manni asking what she wd do if he died. She's confident she cd stop it from happening or un-do it somehow if it did happen.

The third try is faith. The means, the happenings, etc. She gets the money and meanwhile Manni "happens" to see (via the blind woman) the man who has his money. He gets it back and hands over his gun to the man.

Lola saves a man's life in the middle of it all by her touch.

Minority Report (2002) - 3/5

Minority Report (2002)

I like the 'feel' of this movie and the visual 'tone.' The story is a big forced to me: destiny, fate, etc. But the action is pretty good and they do well at setting the mood.

I really like the idea of the story and they do a decent job at it, but it's hard to mix action and philosophy. Something like "Gattaca" does a better job though I don't mean to compare them in too many ways.

Also, they need to settle on the story - what are they trying to say?

SPOILERS:

Was the story about a guy who can't escape his fate? The forced slavery of people w/ special powers? The power to change your fate when you know what it is?

Also, did they ever resolve his son's abduction? Or was that just a side-line issue?

I don't mean to be picky, but, was he a cop before his son was abducted? If so, he wasn't very good in which case he probably wdn't have been the Precrime head guy. If he wasn't a cop, he also probably wdn't have been the Precrime head guy.

The Hours (2002) - 5/5

The Hours (2002)

This movie broke my heart into a million pieces. I bawled for a while at the end.

This movie was not only clever and original, but truly powerful emotionally. I completely bought into it and went along all the way. It was painful to watch, but so good.

Mo was asking me what it was about and there's no way I cd describe it. I think it might be able 3 women who chose life over death, but only a life they cd bear - not a true life, just not death.

If nothing else, this movie tells a very sad story (or stories) and does it amazingly well which is amazingly hard to do.

SPOILERS:

Showing the son's life and his adult life simultaneously had an incredible effect. Finding out who he was later allowed me to see him for the lost child he was.

Out of Time (2003/I) - 3/5

Out of Time (2003/I)

Very good suspence w/o being "don't go in there!" kinda stuff. Intense and fairly crafty. It was a good nail-biter nearly the whole time.

SPOILERS:

I suspected what was happening pretty early on which was kind of a bummer though it was also cool to see it from that side. There were still a couple surprises, but mostly it was just fun to watch "Matt" get himself deeper and deeper and get in and out of trouble.

I know I probably sdn't do this, but it's hard not to... he was still a bad cop. He still sdn't have done he did for her no matter what.

Not only that, but I guess he really was a bad (poor) cop if he didn't see it coming somehow. The doctor visit on Saturday, her whole insurance thing: the company wdn't buy it, it had to be changed in only a couple days, etc.

The ending also was a bummer: he wasn't going to take the money that he really cd take! and his wife was coming back - why? Although it was nice to see that it wasn't all hot and passionate "hollywood" love getting them back together - real problems.

I, Robot (2004) - 3/5

I, Robot (2004)

Good action. Interesting issues. It's not great, but I didn't expect too much given what people said.

I think it falls short of what it tried to do and I'm guessing disappointed a lot of people who were fans of Asimov, the book, etc.

Alfie (2004) - 3.5/5

Alfie (2004) Rarely does a movie turn out to be more than I think it tried to be. Several "devices" used in the movie may have been out of place or just hard to nail down, but still interesting.

Good job acting and handling sensitive situations in a mature way though appearing to be immature... if that makes sense.

Most people expecting what it seemed to be were probably disappointed and people hoping for more probably stayed away. It was a bit of both, but the ending showed how the resolution to this life isn't so clean and easy.

Rob Roy (1995) - 3.5/5

Rob Roy (1995) Probably better drama than Braveheart, but I wd say a lesser performance in other areas: politics, love and action.

Still, very good.

I had a hard time "buying" Tim Roth's performance. Not sure why - he did a great job. I just cdn't help but see Tim Roth playing a part. I think I just had a hard time w/ him in a period piece???

Jessica Lange was outstanding. She stole every scene she was in.

Boys Don't Cry (1999) - 2.5/5

Boys Don't Cry (1999)

It's a "true story" though I'm not sure who the source is???

I had a hard time w/ this movie given it's subject matter and my beliefs. Not only that, but I genuinely didn't like nor respect the characters much.

I will say they handle it generally in an honest and non-glamorizing way. Also, they don't over do too much to sway the audience's opinion. On the other hand, that left me wondering what they were trying to communicate???

SPOILERS:

Given the only people in the movie were either dead or part of the murders, I'm not sure who told this story. I think one person was left, but I'm not sure there's much reason to trust her.

A truly sad story on all sides: a sexually confused girl, clearly confused two men (given they rape their friend when they find out she's a girl), confused girls in love w/ a she-male??? It's messed up.

Trying to make a sympathetic character out of someone who is running from the law and everything else (nature!), is a tough sell. Granted, some can pity her confusion, which I do, but it doesn't make me identify w/ her any more.

I'm afraid it may have simply left me thinking that ignorant people do ignorant things w/ other ignorant people in an ignorant way that only leads to ruin.

50 First Dates (2004) - 3.5/5

50 First Dates (2004)

Very sweet and funny. Great 'Sandler' comedy, but w/ a very good love story about serious sacrifice.

This is one of the few love stories that while it's unrealistic and too 'fairy tale' I have to like it.

Intolerable Cruelty (2003) - 2.5/5

Intolerable Cruelty (2003)

Clever. Not a typical "Coen Brothers" movie to me.

Two cynics each capitalizing in loveless marriages find each other and something unexpected in each other.

Good twists and changes make this movie worthwhile. The characters and acting is good.

SPOILERS:

They both see their future selves in people they know and seem to not want it. Meanwhile the seemingly true cynic changes his ways even to the point of addressing his colleagues on the topic of 'love.'

How can these two ever trust each other?

The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) - 3/5

The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)

Well told. Good twists. I think the character and environmental feel was about as good as it cd be.

It's a fairly long movie and they take full advantage of that. They take their time setting the scene.

Tom wd rather be a fake somebody, then a real nobody. He's willing to go as far as he has to to meet that.

SPOILERS:

As bad as he was, I somehow wanted him to 'get away' w/ it all. I don't know if it was b/c I felt sorry for him and maybe identified w/ him as far as wanting what other people take for granted or if it is b/c I just don't want to see the climax of the tale which I know won't be pretty.

I'm not sure why he killed Peter at the end??? I assume he was planning on killing Meredith when they met later on the boat since she was the last person that cd id him as Dickie. But why kill Peter?

Man on Fire (2004) - 3/5

Man on Fire (2004)

Powerful and intense.

A man keeping to himself as much as possible is won over by the person he is protecting - a little girl.

SPOILERS:

While remaining merciless in his vengence against her kidnappers, he maintains his value of her.

He's brutal and cold in his actions and discovers the true motives behind her kidnapping. He's able to accept in his reality the price he must pay for her life and reconciles his love for her w/in his loveless life/professional/reality.

About Schmidt (2002) - 3/5

About Schmidt (2002)

A little thin for what I think they were trying to do, but still fairly original in some aspects: Ndugu's relationship was good.

A man who realizes his life was/is fairly empty and is winding down to even less. He doesn't know how unhappy he really is until he's faced w/ it.

He has made no difference in his life and no one values him or what he's leaving behind.

He shares his life w/ an "off-screen" character and in his honesty makes the only meaningful connection in his (current) life.

It was well told and not too ambitious, but they took a long, slow road to get there.

Side note: Second movie in a row w/ Hope Davis ("American Splendor").

Wedding Crashers (2005) - 3/5

Wedding Crashers (2005) Funny first half. Somewhat clever story w/ two guys and equally important, to me, love stories.

Somewhat slow second half, long time w/ no real dialogue. Somewhat cliché in the end, but it had to be for what it was.

WARNING: Unnecessary nudity and F-bombs galore.

American Splendor (2003) - 3.5/5

American Splendor (2003)

Very creative and original. The movie becomes more real as time goes on.

Harvey is first presented as specifically NOT a superhero - the typical comic book basis. If anything, he's a villian - he brings everyone down. The second event in the movie is his second wife leaving.

His friends move on to better things and he refuses to let go of his collection of records. He is self-proclaimed "doom and gloom" and he's right.

It's not that he sees the negative in things, he just doesn't really care.

Paul Giamatti was spot-on as Harvey. Incredible performance.

It's like reality comic books of a life that is real and a little identifiable. Sometimes a regular life is quite interesting. Actually, the tag line says it "Ordinary life is pretty complex stuff."

Ali (2001) - 3.5/5

Ali (2001) Powerful and well done. Not a "boxing movie."

I was surprised to find that this movie glorifies nothing and no one: not Ali, not boxing, not Islam, not really anything. It all looks pretty bad.

The opening scene sets the tone of Ali working out w/ flashes to his background in confusion of identity and Sam Cooke's performance w/ all the ladies.

Ali starts w/a relationship w/ him and soon turns strongly to Malcolm X and Islam. W/ all these relationships and more including the U.S. government, his wives, Don King, etc. he "fights" his own fight in his own way. And usually he loses.

I saw a man who despite all his claims of who he is, he has no idea who he is. He only sees himself as the Champ and is fighting to make it true.

Shi mian mai fu (2004) - House of Flying Daggers - 4/5

Shi mian mai fu (2004): "Shi mian mai fu (2004)" - House of Flying Daggers

Very artistic w/o being artsy. Powerful story that gains over time. Great fighting w/ intention and precision and meaning.

Nice use of colors and contrasts in the environments.

SPOILERS:

She starts as flower not in the wilderness. She's taken away by the wind and soon finds more of her kind in the wild. She is blind, but he is the one who we find out wasn't seeing correctly.

She needs to know all along if he's true, but he's not and in a sense tells her that. Unfortunately for him, he's right.

However, he has a change of heart toward her and keeps coming back when it matters.

Ultimately the flower dies under the harshness of winter only to come back and save him finally.

Million Dollar Baby (2004) - 3/5

Million Dollar Baby (2004): Powerful all around. Motivating for the most part. Her family was played perfectly by the others - I cdn't have hated them more.

At times it was hard to believe how (seemingly) quickly these boxers rose up thru the ranks.

It was interesting to see the contrasts in the marriage-like relationship btwn Clint and Morgan: arguing about the bleach and Morgan's "sleeping socks." Clints b/w view of things "bleach is bleach" was challenged by Hilary's characters ability to see "what cd be." Things are not always what they seem nor must they stay how they seem.

SPOILERS BELOW:


Depressing ending. Also, morally difficult w/ what Frankie did and her perspective. Which is a more supportable fight: to die or to live w/ adversity?

Also, IMO, she won her fight given her opponent was given the warning that one more thing and she wd be disqualified.

The true triumph wdn't be that the doesn't make the same mistake twice in "throwing in the towel", but to realize that forgiveness is available and not giving up have their value. Also, giving that to someone else is a great gift.

Hoop Dreams (1994) - 4/5

Hoop Dreams (1994) Powerful and somewhat sad. I suppose they did better than most in some ways. Sad for the kids and families. Rob sent me these numbers...

SPORT / #players (as of 5 years ago) PER (1) High School, (2) College and make it to (3) Pro

Football 952k, 48k, => 1,300
Basketball 515k, 12k, => 324
Baseball 413k, 20k, => 650
Tennis 267k, 15k, => 500
Golf 175k, 8k, => 350

Bubba Ho-tep (2002) - 3.5/5

Bubba Ho-tep (2002): Funny, interesting, original. Bruce!

It gets a high rating for not trying to be more than it's trying to be.