Up in the Air

BOTTOM LINE: The character relationships and humour make this an entertaining trip, however in the end, the film goes nowhere, particularly with the handling of Clooney's character Ryan Bingham.

THE GOOD: Jason Reitman is carving a niche for himself as a mid-tier independent film director, generating some quality films, with character interaction being his strong suit. "Up In The Air" is no exception, with the characters and dialogue making an otherwise average story shine that much brighter. George Clooney is excellent as the aloof Ryan Bingham, who is surrounded by people but is also totally alone. He flies all over the country to fire people, spending over 300 days in the air. Things begin to change when upstart psychologist Natalie Keener (Anna Kendrick) introduces a video-conferencing system which would effectively end air travel for Bingham and his colleagues. Incensed, Bingham takes Keener on the road, and the pair discover a lot of things about life, love and relationships, with Bingham finally realising how alone he is without his travelling. Along the way, Bingham has an affair with another traveller Alex Goran (Vera Farmiga), which leads to an unexpected conclusion that Bingham never expected. "Up In The Air" shines in those dialogue sequences between the characters, particularly between Clooney's aloofness and Kendrick's youthful exuberance. Vera Farmiga is excellent when she pops in and out of the story as Alex, perfectly mirroring Bingham's lifestyle, which in the end, comes back to haunt Bingham when he wants to make some changes to his life. With "Up In The Air", Reitman is back doing what he does best, delivering a witty commentary on various aspects of human relationships.

THE BAD: The film loses direction in the last act, and ultimately goes nowhere. The themes of the film which stress the importance of human interaction and loneliness are not delivered upon as Bingham's character ends up back where he started in the film's climax. Did he learn anything? It seems not. Bingham goes through this journey of being a seemingly happy loner to realising how empty his life really is, and then, everything is yanked back and reset. The relationships he was building, with the possible exception of his sisters, go backwards. Bingham ultimately goes back on the road when the video conferencing system is shut down. It is as if there was no point to what we see in this film. In the end, Bingham's attempt to reach out and connect is all for nothing and he goes back to his normal lifestyle. Perhaps this is a commentary on how real life may pan out, but it is not particularly satisfying as a movie-going experience.

For the original review, follow this link: http://www.allaboutmovies.net/filmreviewupintheair.htm Todd Murphy is a staff reviewer at the film/DVD review web site, http://www.allaboutmovies.net - for all the latest reviews on the newest releases. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Todd_Murphy

Edge of Darkness

BOTTOM LINE: Mel Gibson does his best to hold this bland and slow-paced effort together, but the film barely resonates either dramatically or emotionally, and is a far cry from the revenge thriller it tried to sell itself as.

THE GOOD: After the controversy surrounding Mel Gibson's off screen antics and private life, it is a surprise to see him pop up and deliver another decent performance despite the setbacks. He plays Boston police detective Thomas Craven who watches helplessly as his daughter is gunned down at his home, and in his arms. At first believing that he was the target, he slowly learns that his daughter was the actual target, which prompts him to investigate a conspiracy surrounding a nuclear research facility and its connections to foreign nations and politicians at home. The set up for the film is a classic one, providing an opportunity to give its lead character a journey that we as an audience can go along with. Gibson does a great job of conveying a professional, yet distraught father trying to learn the truth, and he is surrounded by a solid cast, with Ray Winstone in particular working well as the mysterious, yet sympathetic character of Jedburgh whose background and connection to the story are a mystery. The film deviates from the traditional revenge flick by offering a deeper conspiracy theory story line, and as such, it becomes something of a detective hunt as Craven puts together all the clues. The film looks wonderful, with director Martin Campbell composing some of his wonderful trademark wide-angle images, along with some more stylised moments. "Edge of Darkness" starts from a good place, and Mel Gibson does a great job in carrying us along his character's journey.

THE BAD: The film was promoted as a revenge thriller, and while that is technically true, the film is riddled with problems, least of which that the requisite action is absent. This film is slow paced and dialogue driven for most of its run time which contradicts the sense of urgency it tries to impart through its revenge thriller motifs. Who wants to watch the lead character talk and ponder about when you want to see him take out the bad guys as much as possible? The decision to go this way was a bad one, and leaves a film that is about as close to boring as possible without quite getting there. When the action does come, it's usually for shock treatment; the scene where a girl connected to the conspiracy is killed literally moments after she offloads her information to Craven is an excellent example of a silly shock moment that throws you out of the film, particularly without the proper sense of build up and tension. The film also starts and ends in a negative place; Craven has nothing to hope for because his daughter is dead. If he could save her, we would have something to cheer for. The only resolution from this is to find out the truth about his daughter, but regardless, his life is still shattered. In the end, the combination of all these factors leaves you feeling seriously underwhelmed, with a film that has not taken you anywhere close to compelling.

For the original review, follow this link: http://www.allaboutmovies.net/filmreviewedgeofdarkness.htm Todd Murphy is a staff reviewer at the film/DVD review web site, http://www.allaboutmovies.net - for all the latest reviews on the newest releases. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Todd_Murphy

Green Zone

BOTTOM LINE: "Green Zone" may not be a Bourne film as suggested in the previews, but it proves to be a great thriller, with an honesty and authenticity that questions the purpose of the Iraq War and the mis-handling of it by the Americans to get a victorious headline and to achieve their objective of removing Saddam Hussein.

THE GOOD: Matt Damon plays Chief Roy Miller of the US Army, who is searching Iraq with his team for Weapons of Mass Destruction in the weeks following the initial invasion in 2003. Miller is frustrated because every site they inspect based on the intelligence comes up empty, and he begins to question what is happening. This does not go down well with his superiors, although he has CIA station chief Martin Brown (Brendan Gleeson) on his side who knows that the "intel" is faulty. Following his instincts, Miller goes out on his own to find out what is happening and discovers a scandal that goes right to the heart of the reasons why America invaded Iraq. "Green Zone" is an excellent thriller, largely due to its honesty and authenticity, both in setting the scene and in its performances. Damon in particular does not just act like a soldier, he IS a soldier and he makes you believe it. The rest of the cast is also perfectly on song. The staging of the sequences and the attention to detail is meticulous and engaging. Despite not being filmed in Iraq, director Paul Greengrass creates images that really make you believe you are seeing the real thing, and the use of computer generated images to fill in the blanks is barely noticeable. The integration of the invasion bombing at the beginning of the film is virtually identical to the real footage we saw on television. Greengrass steadies his camera a lot more than in his previous films, and despite so much of it being handheld, the images are always clear and we always know exactly where we are. Another great aspect to watch is that this film gives you as good an insight as any film in to how life is like for soldiers on the ground in Iraq; it will make you feel angry about why they were sent there in the first place, which goes to the film's central point that officials in Washington used WMDs as an excuse to invade the country and get rid of Saddam. Even the way the American media was sucked in to the lie is covered, with a subplot involving a journalist who reported on WMDs based on the faulty intelligence. Miller asks her at one point: "did you ever bother to check the validity of your source?" to which she replies, "he was a high ranking official in DC? He had the data!". "Green Zone" is a winner, and is engaging from start to finish.

THE BAD: The only issue with the film that robs it of an overall dramatic punch is that we all know what happened in Iraq. We know there were no WMDs, so we know that Miller's journey can only end either with his death or not finding the WMDs. Despite Greengrass' best efforts to enhance the drama and thrills of the story, the film is handicapped by us knowing that Miller's search is futile. The only dramatic climax we get is Miller telling Pentagon Chief Clark Poundstone "I know what you did", punching him in the mouth, and Miller sending what he knows to every news outlet in America. Aside from this, "Green Zone" is absolutely worth watching on the big screen.

For the original review, follow this link: http://www.allaboutmovies.net/filmreviewgreenzone.htm Todd Murphy is a staff reviewer at the film/DVD review web site, http://www.allaboutmovies.net - for all the latest reviews on the newest releases. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Todd_Murphy

The Wolfman

BOTTOM LINE: Misguided, uneven and poorly executed, this re-telling of "The Wolfman" is by and large a waste of time, despite some excellent production design and visuals.

THE GOOD: Starting from good source material, "The Wolfman" seeks to tell the classic tale of the man cursed to turn in to a werewolf whenever the moon is full. Benicio Del Toro plays Lawrence Talbot, the prodigal son who returns to the family estate of his father Sir John Talbot (Anthony Hopkins) upon hearing the news of the death of his brother Ben at the hands of a wild animal. Wanting to find answers, Lawrence eventually becomes cursed himself when he is attacked by the werewolf. Condemned to damnation and life as a werewolf when the moon turns full, Lawrence eventually discovers the truth about his father, and his mother's death, which leads to a violent confrontation and resolution between them.

Much of "The Wolfman" succeeds in its production design, visuals and creature design. The werewolves in particular look particularly frightening and real, as do the gothic images that create the viewing experience. Del Toro does an effective job of portraying the tragedy of his character, and Emily Blunt is decent as the woman who is trying to save him. "The Wolfman" looks good, and in some sense is a noble effort in trying to make this a serious monster movie that stands apart from other films like "The Mummy" which induced comedy along with the scares.

THE BAD: Mis-directed and poorly executed, "The Wolfman" sabotages itself at every turn thanks to muddled plotting, inconsistent character actions and a poor meld of traditional make up and computer generated effects. The first half of the film does not make clear the character relations or the set up of what type of film it is trying to be. As a result, the other wise good cast look confused some of the time, with Anthony Hopkins in particular putting in an uneven performance, thanks largely to a poorly written script. The relationships between Lawrence and Gwen (Emily Blunt) is badly handled; in some ways trying to create a romantic link but in others showing that it is inappropriate given that Gwen is Lawrence's dead brother's fiancee.

The use of traditional make up techniques works well in the film, but when computer generated effects take over, the otherwise gritty gothic film makes way for a more cartoon element in the computer effects which makes the whole thing silly and unbelievable. "The Wolfman" was reported to be plagued by production problems and this is certainly evident by what you see on screen; a film that is directionless, uninspired and something of a mess.

For the original review, follow this link: http://www.allaboutmovies.net/filmreviewthewolfman.htm Todd Murphy is a staff reviewer at the film/DVD review web site, http://www.allaboutmovies.net - for all the latest reviews on the newest releases. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Todd_Murphy

Clash of the Titans

BOTTOM LINE: Buried underneath the mechanical and arbitrary special effects sequences lies some resemblance to a good story, but not even a valiant attempt by an excellent cast can rescue this film from the utter bore that it is.

THE GOOD: The original "Clash Of The Titans" is considered an 80s classic and featured some of the great work of special effects maestro Ray Harryhausen. This modern update of the film seeks to use the latest in digital technology to recreate the Greek myths and in many respects, the visuals are quite stunning, particularly Mount Olympus, the haven of the Gods. Sam Worthington plays Perseus, the son of God Zeus (Liam Neeson), who finds himself on a journey to save the city of Argos from the monster the Kraken before the gods unleash it on humans for their failure to worship the gods. With this somewhat simple setup, director Louis Leterrier cuts loose with the computer work to create some visually impressive scenes. In many respects, these visuals at least transport you to this mythical time. The cast Leterrier has assembled is first rate, with Sam Worthington lending some much needed depth to his character, as does Liam Neeson in the role of Zeus. Ralph Fiennes looks predictably creepy throughout as the lord of the underworld, and ex-James Bond villain Mads Mikkelsen plays a very good soldier supporting Perseus. "Clash Of The Titans" is visually engaging, and has some interesting points to it.

THE BAD: Strip away the visuals and you have all the usual problems of a barely thought out Hollywood blockbuster. The script and subsequent direction do not give you a dramatic point of entry in to this story. Everything seems arbitrary. We have to accept that the humans have good reason to defy the gods. We have to accept that Perseus is hell bent on avenging his family's death, despite the clunky and all to brief setup with his family. Despite all the impossible dangers the characters face, you never get the feeling they are in any real danger, and are far from surprised when Perseus in particular always comes out on top in any given situation. The amazing cast is dramatically under-utilised; it is quite amazing that they got so many good actors together and did nothing with them. Liam Neeson looks good in his shining robes, but is not given anything to do. Ralph Fiennes looks like he is repeating his performance from the Harry Potter films, and Sam Worthington really looks like he is trying hard to give dimension to his one-dimensionally written character. All of this combined makes the experience of watching this film rather dull and boring; a go-through-the-motions experience that barely registers a heart-beat. One other thing: do not go to see this film in 3D. The last minute decision by the producers to convert it from its original 2D has yielded some shoddy, and sometimes barely noticeable results, and is definitely not worth the inflated ticket price.

For the original review, follow this link: http://www.allaboutmovies.net/filmreviewclashofthetitans.htm Todd Murphy is a staff reviewer at the film/DVD review web site, http://www.allaboutmovies.net - for all the latest reviews on the newest releases. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Todd_Murphy

Alice in Wonderland

BOTTOM LINE: Visually stunning, but flat in its narrative and story, "Alice In Wonderland" demonstrates director Tim Burton's flair for images if not any sense of narrative depth or character.

THE GOOD: Going in to a Tim Burton movie you will know that at least visually he will create something unique, rich and off-beat; "Alice In Wonderland" is no exception to this rule. The fantastic combination of computer animation, live action actors and presentation in 3-D makes the world of Wonderland come to life in a way that has not been seen before. The interaction between computer generated and live action characters is seamless, and the impression you get is of one image after another that resemble graphic art rather than film. Being based on a popular and strong story, the film does well in presenting Alice's journey from a going from Point A to Point B perspective. The film really shines in the visuals, production design, costume and make-up. As light-hearted fare, "Alice In Wonderland" makes for a somewhat entertaining film.

THE BAD: The film is flat from a narrative and character perspective. There is no sense of drama or rhythm, as each sequence flows from one point to the next with mechanical precision. It almost seems as if Tim Burton has taken for granted that you know this story already and instead plunges you straight in without much of a dramatic introduction. He does change the story so Alice is now a late teen, but this hardly matters as her story is essential still the same, despite the fact that elements of both of the original novels have been combined in to this story. In some ways it feels like a sequel, but it is not, which adds to the lack of interesting drama. You feel as if you have missed out on something in the story, something to hook you in Alice's original journey. As a result, the film is enjoyable enough to watch, particularly from a visual perspective, but there is no emotional or dramatic connection to be made with it.

For the original review, follow this link:http://www.allaboutmovies.net/filmreviewaliceinwonderland.htm. Todd Murphy is a staff reviewer at the film/DVD review web site, http://www.allaboutmovies.net - for all the latest reviews on the newest releases. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Todd_Murphy

Shutter Island Review

BOTTOM LINE: Although smart and atmospheric for a psychological thriller, "Shutter Island" disappoints in its drawn-out length and dialogue, a soundtrack that irritates and an ending that relegates the whole exercise to a cheap trick.

THE GOOD: Famed director Martin Scorsese steps in to thematic territory that he does not usually cover and in many respects, he brings his intelligence to material that would have been handled more farcically by a lesser director. Exploring the psychology of main character US Marshal Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio), the film becomes more than just his search for an escaped mental patient from the Shutter Island facility and becomes a delusory experience where the imaginary and the real world weave in between each other, creating some very atmospheric and tense moments, combined with some glorious and highly stylised visuals.

The film explores the mind of a man haunted by his own inner demons, but what those demons are lead to some surprise twists and turns, and by the end, what we thought was happening was not what was going on at all. DiCaprio is excellent as Teddy Daniels, conveying the paranoia and toughness that allows you to sympathise with his character. He is supported by a strong cast including Mark Ruffalo as his partner Chuck, Ben Kinglsey as the seemingly nefarious Dr Cawley, Max von Sydow as the German doctor Dr Naehring who may have been a Nazi, and Michelle Williams as Teddy's dead wife Dolores who he keeps seeing in his dreams and hallucinations. Visually, Scorsese has created a feast for the eyes, and with real world rules not applying in certain sequences, there are many opportunities he takes to create some highly stylised images that are quite memorable. "Shutter Island" is actually smarter and more demanding than the usual thriller, a quality that some may like, but the usual demographic may not.

THE BAD: The main issue with the film is the ending. As the whole film is based on Teddy's state of mind, when it is finally revealed that he is actually a mental patient in the facility (sorry if I spoiled the ending for you) and that everything we watched is an elaborate role playing experiment put on by Dr Crawley to try and get Teddy to snap out of his delusion, it feels cheap and lessens an otherwise creepy, intelligent and atmospheric experience. In the end, Teddy never snaps out of his delusion so they lobotomise him. So what was the point of going through all of this? It gives the film a feeling that it was less than the sum of its parts.

The choice of classical music is problematic; on the one hand it makes the film feel like a Kubrick film (which is not necessarily bad, but then it's not a Kubrick film is it?), and on the other, it becomes so overbearing in parts as to be annoying without matching what is happening on screen. Another issue is Scorsese's penchant for excessive dialogue, which in a psychological thriller, proves to denigrate the creepy atmosphere, particularly with the ending where every single detail is explained so those who are too dumb to understand what has been happening can catch up. "Shutter Island" is decent enough to watch on the big screen, but you may walk away disappointed.

For the original review, follow this link: http://www.allaboutmovies.net/filmreviewshutterisland.htm Todd Murphy is a staff reviewer at the film/DVD review web site, http://www.allaboutmovies.net - for all the latest reviews on the newest releases. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Todd_Murphy