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Reviews
The Ladykillers (2004)
What happened?
What happened to this film? With Tom Hanks heading a what should have been a great character cast this movie never did anything for me. I guess Tom Hanks was due a really over the top egocentric role where he could something really strange. I really wish studios would figure out that simply attaching a big star to an at best average script does not guarantee a hit.
I have to say I enjoyed Hanks performance for the most part. In the end it did run a bit thin, but in a film that droned along he was the one bright spot. Although I wish this film were smarter and funnier it's worth watching for Hanks.
The Aviator (2004)
Good film that could have been great
Aviator is another Scorsese film that carries on a bit too long. Great performances turned in by Leonardo and a great supporting cast make this film thoroughly enjoyable. I just wish it could have been a little shorter as I found myself nodding off from time to time. Even if it meant cutting some of the great supporting performances, it would have helped the tempo. Creating a biographical film about such an enigmatic public figure is by no means an easy task to undertake, and the length doesn't overly detract from a very nice film.
I definitely recommend any and all to see this film if you haven't already as it is a great study of one of this country's pioneers and the disease that ultimately cut his career short.
How the Garcia Girls Spent Their Summer (2005)
Way too long film about three generations of horny women
I had a chance to catch this much over-hyped film at the Arizona International Film Festival and I have to say it really left me wanting, that is wanting less.
On the positive side, the performances are fantastic. Pena delivers a great performance, America is a real force and the grandmother stole the show.
On the negative side, the the languid pacing became too much and makes the film way too long at over two hours. I found myself checking my watch way too many times. The cinematographer must have had little direction as some of cinematography was very nice, but most of it felt as though he really wanted people to take notice of his work. I took notice, many times when I shouldn't. Many times the characters occupied the edge of the screen, even cut off the edge. This cinematographer really wanted to say something and what it said to me was "I make home movies". Many people seem to blame the editor for the length whereas I point to the Director. She is supposed to have the vision and she's ultimately responsible for the editing. Overly-long, silent sex scenes, dialog so stiff that even the actors couldn't make it work and a good half-hour of excess peripheral story really make this film drag.
The sad thing is this movie could be a really nice film with above average performances and some genuinely funny moments, but poor decisions made by the filmmaker drag this film down into the muck of overly self-important art-house schlock.
America 101 (2005)
A warm and funny film
I recently attended the Arizona International Film Festival and had a chance to catch this delightful film.
America 101 follows two brothers from Mexico and their quest to find the elusive 'American Dream'. With home life too boring for the younger brother Angel, he hatches a plan to head for America where he thinks he'll find mountains of money and he believes his accent will get him laid. The older, wiser brother hints that Angel has tried it before and failed miserably. Things change when Carlos overhears his parents talk about their business closing and decides to go with his younger brother in the hopes of helping the family. This is when the real laughs start. Their adventure brings them in contact with lots of really interesting characters and one uncomfortably warm water cooler. Though there are lots of laughs, the underlying seriousness of the dangers of border crossings is never lost. A real feat unto itself.
I almost immediately connected with the brothers, Angel and Carlos. I am sure we will see more from these two in the future. The rest of the cast made the most of their roles and many of them from the Big Chief to the twin restaurant managers, are very memorable.
If given a chance this film could do well theatrically, especially along the border country. I thoroughly recommend this film and look forward to more from this director.