blahblahblah12345 Reviews

Heartbreaker (2010)

Was fairly decent until one of the WORST ENDINGS EVER.

[3/10 · 4 June 2012]

At first I was really enjoying this for what it was. The premise of being hired to get girls to break up with their fiancé's was really fun for a rom-com and there were some genuine laughs. But the film was severely lacking in character development, and I don't think I've ever seen a rom-com where the leading man was so much more unlikeable than "the other guy". I would have been okay with all this if the girl ended up with her original boyfriend, but of course they force the predicable choice on you which ends up being so unsatisfying because there was nothing throughout the movie to really justify it. It brought the film from maybe 6 or 7 stars down to 3 for me it was that bad, because it just showed the filmmakers had no idea what they were doing.

1) They oversold the girls original relationship way too much... It was flat out said they had never seen a couple more in love and that he was the perfect boyfriend and the "heartbreak team" were only breaking them up because they needed money. Not a great start, but at least at this time time there was still room to fix it by revealing actual flaws in the boyfriend or actually having her end up with him, neither of which happened unfortunately.

2) They didn't give the other guy ANY flaws. His only problem were his pretentious parents for making the girl feel like crap when they were eating, but I felt just as bad for him in that scene because he was clearly embarrassed by them and if anything he ended up having the most noble moment of the film by standing up for his fiancé to their faces. The whole "he was safe" and "the other guy is exciting" argument really wasn't established either... I mean he was willing to hop on a jet and get married in Vegas until the main guy interfered by spewing lies.

3) The only background we get of the girl is she was once a groupie that caused her to miss her mom's funeral... Umm, I think the writers were confused. This had the opposite effect of what it should have had. They should have had her say that the time was the most fun she had in her life but she ended up getting hurt or something and was too afraid to ever go back so she settled for her new boyfriend because he was "safe" or whatever... Don't tell me she was an irresponsible bitch that skipped her mom's funeral because she was too busy being a whore. That just makes me think going for the "exciting" guy will lead her back down a path of similarly poor and selfish decisions.

4) If the girl didn't seem like a bitch yet, by the runaway scene it should be clear. She doesn't say I'm sorry? She doesn't explain to her fiancé why she's going to leave him at the altar? Hell, she didn't even look at him, she gave this creepy smirk and bolted while he was left standing there alone for his cruel parents to just stare at him with judgment... I couldn't have felt sorrier for him.

5) And to add insult to injury, they try to plug in a budding relationship for this great but now abandoned guy by pairing him with the girl's best friend that has been established as a crazy nympho that will marry him for his money and cheat on him as soon as she can. What were the writers thinking? Is there some cute irony there I am missing? Was it just supposed to be funny to kick a man when he's down? Well it wasn't.

Really such an unsatisfying that exposed all of the movie's flaws and ruined what could have been a charming romantic comedy.

Whiteout (2009)

People must have been expecting too much...

[6/10 · 15 September 2009]

I actually felt this movie was fairly decent. Looking at a lot of the reviews, people seem to feel so outraged at how horrible this movie apparently was, but I don't know what they were expecting. If you're that angry about the supposed "twist" foreshadowed in the trailer, then you should have been smart enough to know that the chances of this movie coming through with some amazing and original twist were very slim.

Anyway, as for the film itself, there were definitely many flaws. That stupid shower scene in the first 10 minutes of the movie was so tactless I was almost ready to leave. The acting was mediocre at best. I think Gabriel Macht is an extremely good looking guy, but based on this film he is a horrendous actor. Kate Beckinsale was okay as the lead... She had her moments. The dialogue was so cheesy though. And the film was just also very predictable and tedious. The flashback scenes in particular got pretty annoying as pretty much the same exact scene was repeated at least 3 or 4 times throughout the movie.

But perhaps the best aspect of the film is the scenery. The outside shots were beautiful. The whole idea of being on Antarctica was fascinating and is perhaps the main reason why I was able to put up with many of its flaws. I wish they developed that aspect of the story more. I also felt some of the blood and gore were also well done. It was more tasteful than a slasher movie but still just as gut-wrenching.

The Happening (2008)

B movie? Yea right.

[1/10 · 11 August 2009]

I have just lost all respect for M. Night Shyamalan. For him to set out and make "the greatest b movie ever" is just insulting. So you're telling me that a rich, successful writer/director/producer used their $50 million production budget to create a movie that in the 50s was a result of young, struggling, inexperienced filmmakers who were stuck with low budgets, mediocre actors, and second rate equipment? ANYONE can do that with $50 million. So rather than take in a cheap actor, you pay people big bucks to suck? A studio payed this douche millions of dollars to make a movie that is as "good" as something that was made for as little as a few hundred dollars? Really, what a load of crap. This isn't a b movie, this is a cop out from a downhill filmmaker. And for all of you who are going to point out movies like Grindhouse, that was NOT a b-movie either. It was made in homage to be movies, but isn't a b movie itself. It was a spoof. However, 'The Happening' pays no homage to b movies. It is disrespecting filmmakers everywhere. This movie is not a b movie, it is a result of an established filmmaker getting lazy and running out of good ideas.

Bubble Boy (2001)

Surprisingly good.

[7/10 · 13 May 2009]

So I was expecting for me to think this was the dumbest movie ever, but I was pleasantly surprised with how entertained I was. While incredibly ridiculous and unbelievable, it was pretty funny and interesting. Jake Gyllenhaal was slightly miscast in my opinion, but still delivered a quirky and charming performance as the "Bubble boy". Really, all the supporting characters were hilarious as well. Perhaps some of the humor is a bit too "out there" for everyone, but I think some people will appreciate the film's creativity and originality. While still following the rom-com formula, this movie is still a step above and a breath of fresh air.

Come Away Home (2005)

Nice family film.

[7/10 · 13 May 2009]

Overall this was a very enjoyable film. It has points of humor and tenderness. While it may be a bit boring for young ones, it is not at all inappropriate and something that the entire family can watch. It may be a bit of a "Hallmark moment", but it makes it more easy to relate to rather than cheesy and corny. My biggest criticism however would be with some of the acting and dialogue. For the most part, it was good enough, but there are a handful of scenes that were hard to watch. There are also several scenarios that were pretty hard to believe and seemed a bit forced. But still, that doesn't take away from the beautiful themes and overall morals of the story.

State of Play (2009)

The Ideal Thriller

[10/10 · 18 April 2009]

So I gave this movie a 10, but that's coming from a thriller fan. With most thrillers, this movie has it's faults. Some exaggeration, implausibilities, annoying twists, but the film transcends other thrillers on all other levels. Even with the overly dramatic plot and scenarios, I felt this film was a very realistic portrayal of journalism and posed an interesting argument between old fashioned print journalism and the new age of the internet. Of course, for the "thrills" they'll have to make some cliché twists, but it goes beyond the generic nonsense thriller to making a mild statement about the media today. In addition, the cast was fantastic. I couldn't be more relieved that Russell Crowe took over Brad Pitt's role, Pitt would have been a terrible choice. Russell was a much better fit for Cal. However, I kind of wish Edward Norton remained with the role of Senator Collins... Affleck and Crowe didn't have the greatest chemistry. However the many supporting players were fantastic. Rachel McAdams did a fine job. Not exactly the meatiest role but she played the revised role of Della as a young popular blogger greatly. Rachel brought that playful naivety but at the same time made Della intelligent and respectable. Helen Mirren was perfect, and perhaps a little underused. There is also a plethora of strong performances from the minor supporting players. Jason Bateman gave my favorite performance out of all of them, Harry Lennix was another who was underutilized, and Robin Wright Penn continues her reputation as one of the most consistent supporting actresses.

But as a thriller, it really was a fantastic and entertaining movie. I've never seen the BBC series and could only imagine how much better it could be with more time to develop characters and stories, but the film does the best it could and that's enough. It isn't your typical mindless thriller though, which is what I respect about it most. It is paced well but if you don't pay attention you may get lost, but seeing as the film really does keep you on your toes, it shouldn't be that hard. What makes this thriller so much better though is that it makes you think, even after leaving the theater. It isn't just some formulaic story with mindless twists and turns, it's actually saying something about the world today that is very relevant, which not only makes a great thriller, but a great film as well.

I've read some complaints about the ending, but I don't understand what the big deal was. I don't want to give anything away, but I think it's an ending that could be taken in different ways depending on the viewer.

Bowling for Columbine (2002)

Worst excuse for a documentary I've ever seen...

[1/10 · 5 April 2009]

This biased garbage is not a documentary... A real documentary needs real research and investigation, interviewing the dumbest people you can possibly find and an old actor with Alzheimer's does not provide an accurate study. Don't get me wrong, I'm in favor of gun control, but Michael Moore and all the support he gets despite his lackluster skills as a filmmaker is frightening. In addition, his treatment of certain people to make this "documentary" was cruel and I feel sorry for the innocent individuals who were used at the expense of Moore's desperate seek for attention. The whole thing was just a mess, Moore just jumps around various topics without exploring any of them in depth. There were some funny moments, but they did not belong in a documentary. It felt more like I was just looking at what was going on in Moore's twisted mind rather than what was REALLY going on. So if you want to watch this in order to learn something or to inform you, don't.

Across the Universe (2007)

Great music, bad story.

[10/10 · 30 March 2009]

The Beatles songbook is full of classics, but unfortunately I felt the value of many of those songs were greatly diminished in this simple, messy love story. Other than the music and a talented young cast, there was nothing exceptional about this film. Without the music, it would have been lucky to get 4 stars. Despite the film being over 2 hours long, several characters and plot points are left unexplored. This is most likely due to the fact that so many scenes were stuck in there for the sake of getting another song in, but added absolutely nothing to the plot. This really could have been so much better if more time were spent to develop the stories. It felt like every time there was a glimpse of real content and substance, in came a pointless scene that just confuses you more. There are touching moments, and I understand how hard it is to create a good musical with songs that weren't written to be a part of one, but if you're going to have such a simple plot, at least try and put in some depth and originality within it...

Nights in Rodanthe (2008)

Nothing special

[5/10 · 14 March 2009]

Diane Lane and Richard Gere take absolutely no risks with this film. Although it's filled with a few touching moments (mostly with Diane Lane), this film was simply boring. Your awkward moment was also thrown in there every once in a while as well (particularly in the scene before the storm when Lane and Gere were fighting, something about that just didn't work). I suppose I'm not really surprised with the film, knowing it's based on a Nicholas Sparks novel, but I guess that's the problem. I was hoping it would at have some of the emotion and romance The Notebook had, but it pretty much had nothing except beautiful scenery. I don't even know if this was a step up from A Walk to Remember.

Sunshine Cleaning (2008)

Not as good as Little Miss Sunshine

[7/10 · 14 March 2009]

Okay, so I did my best to not compare this to Little Miss Sunshine. Despite all the similarities before seeing the movie, prior to seeing the film I kept telling myself they aren't THAT similar, but they kind of are. With the titles, the companies, Alan Arkin, being "indie dramadies", the cute young kid, and driving around in a van, you can't help but think this movie was driven by the success of Little Miss Sunshine. Unfortunately, it doesn't exactly live up to it. The cast delivers great performances overall, and the quirky idea of running a crime clean up service is very interesting, but overall it just feels like a Little Miss Sunshine rip off which had more complicated but better developed characters (although Alan Arkin could easily be playing the same person in both movies). Little Miss Sunshine had a genuine rawness to it which is part of what made it so exceptional and easy to relate to. Sunshine Cleaning feels like a Hollywood film badly disguised as an independent film in an attempt to reach a different audience.

Red Eye (2005)

One of the best thrillers in recent years

[8/10 · 14 March 2009]

Red Eye is an ideal film for thriller fans. The performances are pitch perfect. Cillian Murphy has officially proved he has mastered the psychotic killer role, and Rachel McAdams delivers an emotional but realistic performance as one of my favorite movie victims. Unlike many others, Lisa is smart, independent, and cool. Although there are a few possible plot holes and the storyline is somewhat formulaic, it doesn't matter because the film just draws you in and almost makes you feel is if you are right there on the plane with them. For all you Wes Craven fans, this is definitely his best film in years, and it doesn't rely on blood to instill fear.

P2 (2007)

Has it's good points...

[6/10 · 14 March 2009]

P2 is certainly a step of from most thrillers these days. Wes Bentley is perhaps the best part of the film, giving a frightening, but touching performance as the love-sick psycho-killer. Rachel Nichols is fine as well, while I wouldn't say she was exceptional, she's miles above your typical pretty bimbo. As with most thrillers, the film suffers from many implausible events as well as a bit of a lack for originality. Much of the film takes place in very dark (often pitch black) settings which sometimes gets a bit frustrating, but there is lots of suspense to keep you going. It's not something I'd watch again, but I would recommend it to thriller fans.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)

Interesting film but could have been better.

[7/10 · 12 March 2009]

This was an enjoyable film. Penelope Cruz was fantastic (although given a bit too much credit in my opinion), as was Javier Bardem. I also found Rebecca Hall's performance to be very interesting. Having never seen any of her other work, I'm not aware of her acting style, but her constant stuttering and her precise way of speaking were perfect for the character of Vicky and really helped illustrate her intellectual side and how critical that makes her. But I'm not sure if this is simply because she was speaking through an accent. Scarlett Johansson didn't really have much to her role, nor did she add anything, but at least she serves her purpose of looking pretty. Unfortunately, she is outshined by even Patricia Clarkson in a minor supporting part. But casting aside, the film is beautiful and Barcelona is the perfect setting for the story to take place. It's a complicated love story which I found interesting, particularly the three way relationship. I actually wish this was explored more in the film.

Married Life (2007)

An acquired taste...

[10/10 · 12 March 2009]

The lead cast was fantastic. Chris Cooper, whom I'm not very familiar with, was perfect, Patricia Clarkson as always, masters her supporting role, Rachel McAdams also shines in perhaps her strongest role to date. Pierce Brosnan may be forever plagued as James Bond, but he fit into this film very well and I was pleasantly surprised. Despite the strong performances, after seeing this film, I knew many people wouldn't have loved it as much as I did because many of the things I appreciated about the film isn't the type of stuff that would get a typical movie goer excited. Mainly, I adore irony and dark humor, which many people do not. Many people didn't find this film to be even a dark comedy and found it boring, but if you pick up on it this film is truly brilliant. I would recommend watching this film with an open mind and be prepared to think a little bit.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)

Good but not worth it's ridiculous $150 million production budget.

[8/10 · 12 March 2009]

I found this film to be very enjoyable. With an interesting storyline, a strong cast, and it's enormous budget, it had a lot going for it. For me, the highlight of the film was Taraji P. Henson. I'm not familiar with any of her other work but she delivered her comedic lines flawlessly and rightfully deserved that Oscar nomination this year. Brad Pitt on the other hand, maybe it's just because I'm not a Pitt fan but he was just, whatever. He played the role well I suppose, but there's nothing in the material to justify his nomination. The best part about his performance was the make-up, which he was not responsible for. I also felt the film dragged on a bit too long. There's a lot of ground to cover throughout the film, but there were some parts where I was just wondering "what is the point of this? Can we move on please to something more interesting?"