Igby Goes DownMovies2002
Igby Goes Down
I'm willing to face the wrath of all those who loved this movie. It was just boring. I left the theatre with a 'ho-hum' attitude about Igby, wishing I'd paid only half price to see it. I was ready to get into the film, especially with good, propulsive music for the first 30 minutes. Unfortunately, that music was all I could think about during the time. "Yeah, this music is moving things along." Little did I realize the music was the only thing keeping the movie interesting. I was happy to see Claire Danes on the movie screen, though. (In Attendance - Dan)
Swimming
Swimming was made a few years ago on a pretty small budget. The film has a lot going for it, especially the setting. Summertime Myrtle Beach provides the background for Frankie Wheeler (played by Lauren Ambrose) and her friends. There are a few funny moments and a good outline of a story. I just wish there had been something else to the film. It doesn't look great and there's no real focus to make a viewer care about anyone. Seeing this pushed me one step closer to writing my own film one of these days. (In Attendance - Dan)
Satin Rouge
Look! It's the Blue Crush of bellydancing movies. (In Attendance - Dan)
Blue Crush
It may not have been the late summer hit everyone wanted it to be, but I think this film will work so well five or ten years from now. Somehow Blue Crush unsuccessfully straddles the line between camp fun and crazy/beautiful seriousness. The story is totally hokey, yet the dialogue isn't hokey enough! And this movie failed to make surfing look like fun! How can a summer movie be a boon to the surfing industry when the most repeated image in the film is of the main character bashing her head against a rock in a giant wipe-out? (In Attendance - Mitch, Daniel)
Sunshine State
I think it's time MTV's "Celebrity Deathmatch" pairs up John Sayles and Robert Altman. Sunshine State is the perfect summer movie for grown-ups. John Sayles uses real estate deals to cover the lives of two different Florida families and their generational struggles. (In Attendance - Dan, Jamie)
xXx
Can anyone ask for a better birthday move? I'm wishing for a better one next year. Somehow this overblown, summer action movie failed in the excitement department. Luckily it provided enough conversation to keep everyone happy at the bar afterward. (In Attendance - Dan, Jamie, Chris L, Dave, Donovan, Amy, Anne, Mitch)
Lovely and Amazing
I'm still depressed. I guess I shouldn't have walked into the theatre thinking this was going to be a light-hearted comedy. There's a shot in the film of a young girl eating McDonald's Chicken McNuggets that's really rather sad. It must be tough to be someone's sister. (In Attendance - Dan)
Reign of Fire
I really should have gone to see that Matt Damon movie. Reign of Fire had dragons and fire - just no spark. I don't remember the trailer, but it must have been pretty good. (In Attendance - Dan)
The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys
Do you sometimes walk out of a movie and feel like skipping for the rest of the night? Altar Boys left me skipping. I found it to be the perfect coming of age flim. Fun and silly and filled with comic book images. It somehow manages to span time and region. (In Attendance - Steve)
Road to Perdition
Dan made all the good comments upon exiting the theatre so I'll leave all the good one liners to him. I liked Jude Law and the straight-ahead storytelling was well done. But that's the thing - it was all so well done. I didn't feel there was any passion behind the movie. I left not bored, but not enthralled.. (In Attendance - Dan)
Me Without You
It's now September and I'm trying to remebmber a mediocre movie I saw in mid-July. As I recall Me Without You must have left a lot on the cutting room floor. And what made it into the movie didn't particularly sway me in any way. I just remember walking out of the movie wondering if everyone disliked it as much as I. The movie and it's twenty year spanning ttale of two English female friends who grow up together made me certainly happy I was born a boy. Michelle Williams' accent was okay. And it was fun seeing Kyle MacLachlan play the same role he almost always plays. Ehh, I let this visit count as my one trip to the Angelika for the year. (In Attendance - Amy, Donovan, Jamie, Sarah)
Minority Report
The look of this film is amazing. Spielberg and the lab must have used some sort of silver retention process to cast the entire film with a bleak, shiny grey and deep black feel. Tom Cruise works admirably in the role...but the film falls short of being the all out, award-winning summer blockbuster I wanted it to be. As many have noted, the final scenes just don't work. Other than that, I was captivated by this futurized thriller. I just didn't expect it to be such the by the book, who done it sort of thriller. Is it bad I went in wanting more art and more thought-provoking material? The highlight of the film? The greenhouse filled with pachypodiums, exotic plants and made up 'only in the future' plants. (In Attendance - Dan)
Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner
With a running time of close to three hours, this film about an Inuit legend could have been such a snoozefest. I'm not going to go on record praising it like many critics seem to have done. I wasn't impressed with the video look of the film or the incredibly long set up time. I didn't fall asleep and I never felt bored, but I don't think the film's story kicked in until Atanarjuat started running. But there was too much whining and crying to really boost this movie into one worth recomending.. (In Attendance - Dan, Jamie)
About a Boy
I read the book when it was first released and managed to forget most of it. I do remember there was a good portion about Nirvana and Kurt Cobain. Luckily, I'd been prepared to expect none of that in the movie. And the movie translation of Nick Hornby's novel holds up! I think it exceeds all expectations. Hugh Grant buff and with a haircut is perfect in the lead role of older, well off single man coming to grips with not having any friends or meaningful relationships. (In Attendance - Dan)
Star Wars: Attack of the Clones
At least I had popcorn. Actually, I enjoyed seeing the movie. It was an unexpected Friday night moviegoing event. This Star Wars is best when it just kind of sneaks up on you. And, ooh, that Yoda! (In Attendance - Dan, Chris L, Mary, Donovan, Amy)
Spider-Man
I liked Spider-Man. I wanted to love it. I loved the first half. The origin story was great. It couldn't have been done better. But the material with the Green Goblin seems rather formulaic. Is it bad to say it seems too comic book like? As Jamie, Dan, Chris and I were walking down the escalator at the movie theatre we came to the conclusion that it's tough to turn a comic book into a movie. The comic book works because the story can only be told 22 pages at time. And then there's a one month waiting period. I kind of like that. I miss that, actually. When there are three or four Spidey/Goblin encounters over the course of a movie, it just feels sort of played out by the final battle at the end. I'll issue the standard complaint about the Green Goblin's mask. I wanted to see more facial features. I didn't have a problem with the special effects/digital animation type stuff. I think all that worked. I didn't mind the comic bookiness of that. I thought the swinging through New York scenes were great. I'm not sure I'll know how I really feel until I watch it again on cable. I'm old and jaded - it's tough to get too excited about Spider-Man these days. Of course, Tobey Maguire - perfect in the role.(In Attendance - Dan, Chris L., Jamie)
Girls Can't Swim
Oh, those rainy Mondays. After work I joined Dan for the second half of his double feature day. I should have gone home. But the odd thing? Dan and I couldn't quite figure out how Girls Can't Swim missed the mark. It was just slightly off - the structure was there. The acting was good (superb casting - such a realistic looking cast). The cinematography captures this bleak French summer setting amazingly well. Too bad I was slightly bored.(In Attendance - Dan)
Human Nature
A perfect middle part of my Saturday. In-between the Mets game and bowling in Brooklyn, this wacky off-the wall engaging story of humans and apes (well, ape like humans) kept the pace of the day popping. I couldn't stop laughing. Fun, silly/smart dialogue and great visuals. I saw this film two weeks ago and I have no idea why it's not a bigger hit. (In Attendance - Dan, Jamie, Mitch)
Y Tu Mama Tambien
What a great movie for encouraging discussion - and not in that "what the heck just happened Memento" kind of way. On retrospect I understand more what's got the public buzzing about this movie. The Mexican road adventure undertaken by two teenage friends and a slightly older woman sets out in the city and ends at the ocean. The resulting tourism from this film could single handedly add millions to Mexico's economy. Spoiled only by the final five minutes, I think I'll be ready to see this one again when it's released on DVD. (In Attendance - Jim, Anne, Chris, Mary, Amy, Donovan)
Panic Room
I imagine all of David Fincher's fans are fanatics. I worry that I cast myself in with their lot. But I have to. He's a spectacular movie maker. And this film is the kind of early Spring hit that makes me happy I'm in the film industry. It's filled with energy and excitement and probably a billion plot holes - but no one should care about those. I'm a complete fan of the willing suspension of disbelief. (In Attendance - Meredith)
Monsoon Wedding
Movies after work in Brooklyn are good. Dan should give me a harder time for not going to more of them. Monsoon Wedding is everything you read about; big, yet personal - chaotic, yet friendly - modern, yet traditional. I guess. Maybe I'm trying to get too descriptive in recalling what becomes a fantastic dance through a weekend in India. Couples falling in love, learning about themselves and experiencing all the trials and joys of being part of a family. The film is filled with some great cute moments involving the eating of flowers and the taking of one's tea with sugar (or sweet 'n low). And the end credits aren't over black, allowing you to leave the theatre in an especially peppy mood. (In Attendance - Jamie, Jim)
Storytelling
Word is the story with James Van Der Beek was cut. That's too bad. The exciting news? James Van Der Beek is going to be in The Rules of Attraction - with SHANNYN SOSSAMON (my new favorite actress)! The escalator ride back to street level included the following bits of conversation: What'd you think? Fine. You? Fine. You? It was okay. It seems so lame to sum up a movie by saying it was better than it could have been. And Mike Schank from American Movie is in it! That was the best thing, I think. (In Attendance - Dan, Sarah, Mitch)
Orange County
Such a fun cast! And Ben Stiller making an appearance as a fireman! I did too much mental trickery to get myself ready for this movie - thinking it was going to be bad. Hoping it wouldn't be. It worked, of course. I laughed obnoxiously a little too much. And cheered a little too much. Lisa Schwartzbaum summed things up pretty well in her Entertainment Weekly review when she suggested that this January comedy isn't as bad as other January comedies of the past few years. Oh, by the way, we were all there because the film was written by Mike White. Sarah can tell you the episodes of Freaks and Geeks he wrote. I deleted the email she sent suggested we see the movie. (In Attendance - Dan, Sarah, Jim)