Reviews

Fascinating documentary focuses on Wilco recording "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot," the album that caused them to be released from their record contract, only to be picked up by a subsidiary of the same label that fired them. The album (which they were already paid for by former label Reprise) becomes their biggest seller ever. Gives you a "fly on the wall" look into the conflicts between Wilco top guns Jeff Tweedy and Jay Bennett, which resulted in Bennett leaving the band. Great studio footage, cool live band stuff, and some less compelling live Tweedy solo performances. That fact that this story unfolded LITERALLY in front of first time director Sam Jones' eyes is pretty amazing. Talk about being in the right place at the right time (for the sake of the film, that is). Maybe the band will be better off without Bennett? Who knows. I'd think this film would easily hold the interest of those not familiar with the band, but will be very special for those familiar with the unique, uncomprimising approach of these alt. country pioneers. 4 stars.

Simply put, this is a great documentary. Well, not REALLY a documentary, but certainly a fascinating, true to form expose from looney-left nutcase Michael Moore (Roger and Me, The Big One). Thought provoking, sensational, relevant, and often hilarious. I respect the hell out of anyone with the cubes to storm into the K-Mart corporate headquarters (with 2 Columbine survivors, one in a wheelchair) to demand that they cease selling handguns and ammo. Moore's interview with Charlton Heston is priceless. This gets a giant 4, and will be well worth your time.

Finally, the Bob Crane story hits the small screen. I remember reading about this project. It must have snuck out on DVD a while ago, as it was in the 5 night rental section. Directed by Paul Schrader (wrote Taxi Driver, has directed sundry films). Stars Greg Kinnear as Bob Crane, and Willem Dafoe as John Carpenter (no, not THAT John Carpenter), the guy who was eventually brought to trial for the murder, and subsequently acquitted. Great performances all around. Intelligent screenplay, interesting story. I'd recommend it, and I give it a solid 3.5.

This near miss borders between the genuinely creepy and the genuinely absurd. Director Gore Verbinski (Mouse Hunt, The Mexican, Pirates of the Caribbean) manages to give this film an eerie, ultra dark look, but it's impossible for the storyline to rise above the preposterous. Why the tape? Who makes the phone call? There are no answers to the unanswerable. And...just when you thought it would (and should) end, there's yet another failed attempt to explain what happened. The best thing I can really say is that this is a FAR better film than Darkness Falls, and has me curious to see Ringu (the Japanese film of which this is a remake of), which I'm sure is superior to this. Naomi Watts (Mullholland Drive) is pretty easy on the eyes too. I'll give 'er a 2.

The best thing I can say about this dud is that Al Pacino doesn't yell too much in it. Preposterous from the first scene, with unbelievable characters, ham-fisted dialogue, and wooden performances all around. Director Roger Donaldson has some some OK work in the past (Smash Palace, No Way Out, 13 Days), but this here is a clunker of near biblical proportions, and should only be viewed on the slowest of possible evenings, assuming you've already seen everything there is to see, and have already seen even the bad ones twice. I give a generous 2, only for it's production values. Skip it.

Interesting, multi-faceted story of the lives of folks on Florida's Plantation Island. Many compelling characters populate this film: some sad, some funny, all very real. Great cast includes Edie Falco (The Sopranos), Angela Bassett, Timothy Hutton, James McDaniel, Alan King and Mary Steenburgen. Writer/director John Sayles seems (in my view) incapable of making a bad film. As with all filmmakers, some are better than others. This one falls somewhere in the middle. Sayles has made such excellent films in the past: Eight Men Out, Matewan, Lone Star, and Limbo (to name a few), that when he simply makes a good film it can somehow seem a bit disappointing. Certainly not for all tastes, Sunshine State impressed me, and I give it a 4 (out of 5).

Hit and miss (mostly miss) programmer, which to does for the Tooth Fairy what Silent Night, Bloody Night did for Santa Claus (made a terrible film about it/them/him/her.) Loosely based on some uninteresting folklore from southern Australia, this is a by the numbers horror story, not without some (not much) atmosphere. Would have been better if "camped up" a bit. Seems to be inspired by the Wes Craven school of horror film, which puts it somewhere in the middle of the crap pile. I'll give it 1 star.

I guess the big question would be: why would I even RENT this? Well, luckilly (unluckilly?), I borrowed from a friend's DVD library, in an attemt to see some stuff I haven't seen, and to avoid the $3 fees from my local video store.

OK, you won't care. I didn't (and don't). But... this time Piccard's foe is a clone, made years ago by the Romulans to eventually take over the Enterprise. The idea was scrapped, and the clone was sent to a mining planet. but...he's back! And somehow he assembled an Army, has warships, and...*yawn* (excuse me)...aw fuck it. Then again, he's skinny, and bears an uncanny resemblence to Max Sheck's Nosferatu. The proceedings are predictable, and boring. Oh, HERE's a new plot twist. Data dies...or DOES he? Thank GOD, before the affable little robot died, he downloaded all his memories into a conveniently placed prototype robot, which the crew found on a baron planet in the film's opening sequence. This get's 2 stars. No wait...1 star. It is a good looking film, with some pretty good effects...however that's a GIVEN. It's a SCIENCE FICTION FILM. Let her sit on the shelves, or go ahead and give the clerk $1.50 and leave it in the return bin. This way you save yourself a couple bucks, and don't have to make the return trip.

Heartfelt Aussie drama (based on a true story) depicting the treatment of Aboriginal children in the 1930s. Harrowing in it's way, also rather a triumph of the human spirit. Great acting from the trio of young girls, and solid directing from Aussie born Philip Noyce (Dead Calm, Clear and Present Danger). Have to give her a solid 4, but must add that it's a tear-jerker, and not for all tastes.

Director Tom Tykwer (Run Lola Run) resurrects a previously unfilmed script by the late Krzysztof Kieslowski (writer/director of the three films "White," "Blue," and "Red," known as the Colors Trilogy), with fair results. Cate Blanchett plays a bomber, doing the wrong thing for the right reason, and Giovanni Ribisi plays a sympathetic Italian cop who sees the good in her during the interrogation process. He helps her bust out, they go on the run. Run Ribisi Run. Yawn Viewer Yawn. As with Kieslowski's other works, this becomes rather haughty and metaphorical, so unless you have a taste for such things, leave her on the shelf. Personally, I give 'er a 3.

This 1998 Japanese film's American release was delayed due to plans for an english version remake, which showed up (as we know) earlier this year.Ringu is the most successfull Japanese horror film EVER, and has already spawned a prequel (Ringu 0: Baasudei), and a sequel (Ringu 2). Both, of course, are said to be vastly inferior to this fine, eerie gem from director Hideo Nakata (The Sleeping Bride, Chaos). Unlike the Americanized remake, this one actually makes some sense, and with about 1/3 the "explaining" used in the Seattle lensed clone. Great photography, solid performances, and some truly scary scenes earn this tight little shocker 3.5 stars from this humble reviewer.

Iron Monkey (Siunin Wong Fei-hung tsi titmalau). Made in 1993, but released in America last year by Quentin Tarantino's Rolling Thunder Productions. Most of the idiots on IMDB consider this to be a rip-off of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. But, of course, it's an inspiration for that vastly inferior film. Directed by Woo-ping Yeun (choreographer for Crouching Tiger, The Matrix, as well as director of numerous Hong Kong lensed kung fu classics), Iron Monkey is ridiculously entertaining, fast paced, comical, and at a mere 80 minutes it's almost as if it ends before it starts. The fight atop the bamboo poles at the end is worth the price of the rental. I give it a solid 4.

Writer/Director John Sayles' 1992 outing tells the tale of a soap opera star (Mary McDonell), who's been in a car accident, and is now wheelchair bound, and her unlikely friendship with her live-in nurse (Alfre Woodard). Excellent supporting roles from the great David Strathairn (A Sayles fave, star of Limbo), Vondie Curtis-Hall (who went on to direct Gridlock'd), and Angela Bassett. I gotta say this. Sayles always writes believable characters, and his dialogue is amongst the best in filmdom. I knew my wife would like this, which was my main motivation for renting it. I'd seen it before, but had forgotten just how good it is. McDonell garnered a well-deserved Oscar nomination for her role in this largely overlooked gem. 4 (of 5) stars on this one.