Staring @ the Ceiling

5-second movie reviews June 30, 2007

Really short reviews on some movies I’ve seen recently…

1. Casino Royale – Daniel Craig’s convincing portrayal as James Bond has quickly become a fan and personal favorite. He’s at ease as the sauve, smart, strong and sexy Bond, and Craig’s version really does justice to the long-running character. The plot is smart, the action fast and exciting, and the bad guys believable. Judy Dench is wonderful as ‘M’. (4 stars)

2. The Queen – The aftermath of Princess Diana’s death and the reaction of those wacky Windsors of Buckingham Palace is the backdrop of this film, but a look at Queen Elizabeth II was really the basis for the plot. Helen Mirren’s Oscar win for best actress was well-deserved in her role as the conflicted queen. (4 stars)

3. The Good Shepherd – I’m not sure if I really disliked this movie or had unrealistic expectations about it. Unfortunately, I was terribly disappointed. Maybe a second viewing would change my mind. Matt Damon is a very talented actor and was great in his role as a CIA agent, but I just couldn’t get into the plot. (2 stars)

4. The Pursuit of Happyness – This was one of the best films I’ve seen recently. Will Smith was incredible in his portrayal of Chris Gardner, an unemployed-yet-fiercely-determined father down on his luck. Smith’s real-life son Jaden shares the screen for the first time, adding to the warmth and chemistry of their characters. This true story is both inspiring and uplifting, and the DVD is worthy of any movie collection. Be sure to watch the DVD’s special features for an interview with the real Chris Gardner, and a history of the Rubik’s Cube. (5 stars)

5. The Last Kind of Scotland – Forest Whitaker won a well-deserved best actor Oscar for his portrayal as the brutal Ugandan dictator Idi Amin. The story centers around his relationship with Scottish physican Nicolas Garrigan (played by James McAvoy) in the early 1970s. This unfortunately true story was accurately intriguing, sad and gruesome. (4 stars)

6. World Trade Center – Any movie based on the unfortunate events of September 11th is bound to be difficult to watch. Oliver Stone went off course from his normal film-making, and this time resisted modifying historical events to convey his own political interests. This was a good film, although I thought ‘United 93′ was much better. I was impressed with some of the special effects in ‘WTC’, but so much of the movie took place in the blackness under the tower wreckage that it was a bit difficult to watch. Regardless, it’s definitely worth seeing, although I’d recommend ‘United 93′ as well. (3 stars)

7. An Inconvenient Truth – I was very impressed with this film, in spite of never being much of an Al Gore fan. Gore’s passion for the environment is abundantly obvious, and I couldn’t help but be wowed by his commitment and dedication after seeing this film. His work for the environment is truly his legacy, and this documentary should allow a much wider audience for his message. He presents a comprehensive and compelling argument for the ecological dangers we’re facing as a result of global warming. He manages to present complex (and what might otherwise be boring) data in a way that is easy to understand, interesting and (dare I say) entertaining. I highly recommend this film, but watch it with someone because you’ll want to discuss it afterwards. (5 stars)