OscarSights 2003 Movie Reviews
Monster
Directed by Patty Jenkins
Starring Charlize Theron, Christina Ricci
Running Time: 109 Minutes
Rated R for some strong violence and sexual content, and for pervasive language
Newmarket Films
Seen on 01/28/04
Review by Shawn Elmore

The Plot...
Aileen Wuornos (Theron) had a difficult and cruel childhood plagued by abuse and drug use in Michigan, becoming a prostitute (and pregnant) by the age of 13. Wuornos eventually moved to Florida where she became a highway prostitute, servicing the desires of semi-truck drivers. This movie focuses on the nine month period in 1989 and 1990 during which she had a lesbian relationship with a woman named Selby (Ricci), and during which she also began murdering any of her clientele who tried to rape her. (Plot explanation courtesy of movies.yahoo.com)

My Review...
I go to see most Oscar-nominated movies with my father. This year he didn't see 21 Grams or House Of Sand & Fog (and he wants to now because they both were nominated), but we have seen all the rest together. I know my father like a book. He was a drama major in college and he knows what's good and not good, performance-wise. When he is watching a movie, he is DEAD silent during the movie. Except for the times when he leans over after a scene, and he says, "This is one fine performance." Well, he did it THREE times tonight, the most he has ever said it to me during a movie. This year he said it about Penn, Harden, Zellweger, and Morton, but not THREE times.

And I gotta agree with him. I was SHOCKED at this performance. With all the hype surrounding it, I was getting doubtful, much like I do with performances that have received high praise and I have to wait and see them and most of the time I am disappointed (Keaton, Castle-Hughes). But wow. WHAT a performance. Really chilling. She took the cake during the bus station scene. And then at the trial. A truly riveting performance that is completely worthy of all it' praise. Theron just floored me (and my father who said he knows that no one can top her) and underwent a transformation not just with makeup, but with it all. Great work.

As for the movie itself. Yeah, it was pretty flawed. The screenplay was just...there, if that makes sense. Ricci. Well, she wasn't AWFUL, but she wasn't good either. A rather blah performance and BOY was she miscast. Her and Theron had hardly any chemistry together, IMO.

But Charlize. Goodness. FINE performance. Completely deserves that Oscar.


Score for Theron: A
Score for Monster: C+

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House Of Sand & Fog
Directed by Vadim Perelman
Starring Sir Ben Kingsley, Jennifer Connelly, Shorheh Agdashloo
Running Time: 126 Minutes
Rated R for some violence/disturbing images, language, and a scene of sexuality
DreamWorks
Seen on 01/12/04
Review by Shawn Elmore

The Plot...
Massoud Amir Behrani (Kingsley) is living a lie to fulfill a dream. Once a member of the Shah of Iran's elite inner circle, he has brought his family to America to build a new life. Despite a pretense of continued affluence, he is barely making ends meet until he sees his opportunity in the auction of a house being sold for back taxes. It is a terrible mistake. Through a bureaucratic snafu, the house has been improperly seized from its rightful owner, Kathly Lazaro (Connelly). The loss of her home tears away her last hope of a stable life - a life nearly destroyed by addiction - and Kathy decides to fight to recover her home... at any cost. (Plot explanation courtesy of movies.yahoo.com)

My Review...
Most of the movies of 2003 have been disappointments. And guess what? This one just joined that list. I can't believe all of the disappointments in 2003 movies. Most have redeeming qualities like this one, but overall, wow I hope 2004 is better.

Start with the good. The acting here is, for the most part, outstanding. Jennifer Connelly plays her part very well and does the best with what is given to her. She especially shines in the last half hour of the movie. The stars of this picture though are Ben Kinglsey and the scene-stealing and truly award-worthy Shorheh Aghdashloo (shown left). Kinglsey really engulfs himself in his role and the last 30 minutes of the movie, Kingsley really shines so bright. Aghdashloo shines the whole way through. From the minute she first graces the screen, to the last, WOW. This really is on heck of a powerhouse performance completely worthy of Oscar buzz. Otherwise, the acting from the others was poor to wasted to PATHETIC. Frances Fisher was wasted, the actor playing the son was poor, and Ron Eldard was flat out AWFUL. Pathetic. Horrendous. Disgusting. A slap in the face to acting. He was an underwritten character and Eldard made it even worse.

So where was it bad? Well, the direction was average at best. Nothing really note-worthy much at all. The writing. Here's where I have my biggest problems. The first hour of this movie drags SO SO badly. To the point of not caring at all about the characters. It did pick up after the first hour and the last hour of the movie was really a great ride. I also liked how the audience is allowed to feel sypathetic for the main characters one minute and then feel the need to criticize them the next. Connelly and Eldard's characters were underwritten however and Eldard's character only immaturely made Kathy's problems worse. And he is supposed to be a trained cop. That doesn't add up to me.

So aside from the great acting from Connelly, Kingsley, and esp. Aghdashloo and the great and mesmerizing score from James Horner, a vastly disappointing film that I was oh so looking forward to loving. Mediocre at best when you add everything up.

Score for House Of Sand & Fog: C+

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Big Fish
Directed by Tim Burton
Starring Ewan McGregor, Albert Finney, Jessica Lange, Billy Crudup
Running Time: 125 Minutes
Rated PG-13 for a fight scene, some images of nudity, and a suggestive reference
Columbia Pictures
Seen on 01/10/04
Review by Shawn Elmore

The Plot...
Edward Bloom (Finney) has always been a teller of tall-tales about his oversized life as a young man (McGregor), when his wanderlust led him on an unlikely journey from a small-town in Alabama, around the world, and back again. His mythic exploits dart from the delightful to the delirious as he weaves epic tales about giants, a witch and conjoined-twin lounge singers. With his larger-than-life stories, Bloom charms almost everyone he encounters except for his estranged son Will (Crudup). When his mother Sandra (Lange) tries to reunite them, Will must learn how to separate fact from fiction as he comes to terms with his father's great feats and great failings. (Plot explanation courtesy of movies.yahoo.com)

My Review...
The new song from Pearl Jam called "Man Of The Hour" is a great one, but you can't really take in the full impact of the song and it's meaning unless you listen to it after seeing the movie Big Fish. The song completely and totally engulfs everything that the movie is about. Such a compelling and truly remarkable 'man of the hour.' That's Edward Bloom. This is one of the few movies of this disappointing year of movies that did not disappoint.

The first thing to talk about is the brilliant mind behind this movie, Tim Burton. He knows what he's doing and he does it so well. From the real life happenings in the film to the mystical and 'far fetched' moments of Bloom's mind, Burton never gets heavy-handed and he never goes over the top with his amazing direction. He knows his limits and he does such a remarkable job in visualizing the thoughts in the mind of Bloom.

Next is the exceptional cast. Leading the pack is Albert Finney (shown right), who gives an Oscar-award worthy performance as the senior Edward Bloom. His accuracy and passion that emits off of the screen is truly haunting. Finney always picks great roles and when he plays them, he knows how to protray that character to perfection. Also great in the movie was Ewan McGregor, who plays young Edward Bloom. McGregor once again proves why he is one of the most versatile actors in Hollywood. His performance here was both funny and touching. And where some have lacked this year in the accent department (*coughKidmancough*), McGregor and Finney both (and the whole cast) do such a great job in their accurate accents. Critique of accents is nit-picky I know, but if it's not accurate, it DOES take away from the performance. And then there's the amazingly beautiful and moving Jessica Lange (shown left), who plays the senior Sandra Bloom. I find it discouraging that Lange's Oscar buzz has dwindled because I found her performance to be completely worth of Oscar buzz and when my picks are made this year, I am pretty certain she could very well show up in my shortlist. Also great in the movie were performances from Billy Crudup, Alison Lohman, Helena Bonham Carter, Steve Buschemi, Ada and Arlene Tai and Danny de Vito. Overall it's a wonderfully acted film with hardly any flaws.

The story here is on the surface very odd and far-fetched. Edward Bloom is a man who has elaborate thoughts and tells elaborate stories about his life. So elaborate that they become fiction. The balance in fiction/truth in this story is very well done and shown well. The symbolism in the story is so compelling. I dare not give any of it away. You have to see it to 'get it' completely. Also to talk about is the emotional impact of the movie. Much of the movie is so elaborately imagined but the most real moments of the whole movie are completely tear-jerking moments. There are two scenes in particular that I don't want to give away that left me sobbing in the movie theater. I can usually contain myself until I leave the theater and get into my car, but not during this movie. I sobbed and on the way home thinking of the movie I sobbed some more. What I loved though is that it wasn't a forceful cry that is involved with some movie (like Titanic). Instead, it is such a genuine, heartfelt, and spine-inducing overtaking of emotions and you just have to let it out. Or at least I did. This could be the ultimate father/son movie. It's hard to talk too much about the script and the story because it's hard to not give anything away from the movie. The first thirty minutes dragged a bit but the movie picks up and when it does, wow. Bottom line, John August adapted this story beautifully (though I haven't read the book).

Technically it's a beautiful movie as well. As it should be being a story that contains mystical places and rather far-fetched images and beings, etc. The Art Direction, Costume Design, Make Up, and Score are nothing short of spectacular and are completely worthy of Oscar buzz. And so is the original song already mentioned, Eddie Vedder's "Man Of The Hour."

Also worth noting is that Big Fish is truly a wonderful family film. The symbolism may be hard for some children to completely understand, but they will be entertained nonetheless. There really is something here for everyone. Fans of Burton will not be disappointed at all either. So call it a drama, call it a comedy, call it a romance. It's all of those things rolled up into one. As I stated above, in an Oscar season where movies continued to disappoint, this one didn't. I'm so glad this fish didn't let me down, and I am proud of saying that corny pun by the way.

Score for Big Fish: A

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Something's Gotta Give
Directed by Nancy Meyers
Starring Jack Nicholson, Diane Keaton, Keanu Reeves, Frances McDormand, Amanda Peete
Running Time: 133 Minutes
Rated PG-13 for sexual content, brief nudity, and strong language
Columbia Pictures
Seen on 01/02/04
Review by Shawn Elmore

The Plot...
New York City music executive Harry Langer (Nicholson) is a man of some age and experience who generally dates younger women. His world is turned upside-down, however, when he has a heart attack while visiting the East Hampton beach home of the divorced playwright mother, Erica (Keaton), of his latest trophy girlfriend, Marin (Peet). With his girlfriend having gone back to the city, Harry is left in the care of Erica and his doctor (Reeves), but the two men soon find themselves competing with each other, as they both fall in love with Erica. (Plot explanation courtesy of movies.yahoo.com)

My Review...
Diane Keaton's (shown left) Oscar buzz is through the roof. And to be honest, that is the biggest reason I saw this movie. I like Jack Nicholson too and I have heard many wonderful things about the film as a whole. I wanted to love this movie, but unfortunately I didn't.

Let's start with the screenplay. I had the most problems here. For one thing, the movie was entirely TOO long. The ending was a total bore, totally predictable, and overdrawn. This movie should have been 30 minutes shorter and it would have been better. The first thirty minutes is rather blah and then when Keaton and Nicholson share screentime, it really picks up. But about an hour into the film, it becomes tiring and by the end I could hardly keep my eyes open and I didn't really care for the characters anymore. And then were times I felt I was supposed to laugh and I didn't. The script dragged on and on and it's my biggest complaint of the film.

As far as the acting goes, the place the film is pointed out as being great the most. I won't even spend time thinking of Keanu Reeves. The man needs to go to acting school. I think Jack Nicholson was the standout of the film. A truly wonderful comedic perf. He was the one during most of the movie that delivered most of the laughs for me. Diane Keaton. GOOD performance. Stress good. There were shining moments, such as the crying scenes, but overall not the perf. it is being made out to be. Not for me anyway. I do respect the perf., however, and see why people love it. I think both Nicholson and McDormand (who was hilarious in her scenes) outshined Keaton. I hold Nicholson in higher esteem here, though. And Nicholson and Keaton's chemistry was truly remarkable, until the movie went about 30 minutes too long. Then I didn't care about them anymore.

Not a long review I know, but overall the movie was a disappointment.

Score for Something's Gotta Give: C

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In America
Directed by Jim Sheridan
Starring Samantha Morton, Paddy Considine, Djimon Honsou, Sarah Bolger, Emma Bolger
Running Time: 103 Minutes
Rated PG-13 for some sexuality, drug references, brief violence, and language
Fox Searchlight
Seen on 12/27/03
Review by Shawn Elmore

The Plot...
Set in modern times, this is the story of an Irish immigrant (Considine) who moves with his wife (Morton) and two daughters, Kristie (Sarah Bolger) and Ariel (Emma Bolger), to a rundown New York apartment so that he can pursue an acting career. (Plot explanation courtesy of movies.yahoo.com)

My Review...
"There are some things you should wish for, and some things you shouldn't." That is the first line we hear from Jim Sheridan's new film, In America. The story is a simple one yet so deeply moving. A mother, father, and their two girls move to America from Ireland for a better life and happier existence. The trials and conflicts that the family goes through is not just on the level of being in a new country, but also on the level within the family itself. It is a deeply serious look at the immagrant life and dealing with the death of family, and loss of hope.

The best part of this movie is the acting. This is one acting powerhouse. First to talk about are the two young actresses in the film, Sarah & Emma Bolger (shown left). The character Christie is really the heart of the whole movie, but I felt that Emma Bolger as Ariel was a tad better performance-wise. Both are darn talented young actresses, that's for sure. I can't wait to see where they go in the future. They KNOW what they are doing here, and they totally got lost in their performances, as did the rest of the cast to where you didn't really think you were watching a movie with a bunch of actors in it, you think you are watching kind of a documentary on immigrant life and the struggles involved with it. Also outstanding and worthy of Oscar talk is one of the most amazing actresses working today, Samantha Morton (shown right). A lot have speculated whether or not it is a lead performance or not. I personally feel that it is the female lead of the movie, but overall, it feels like more of a supporting role. It's on the borderline of where she belongs category-wise. But that really doesn't matter, because she is riveting in this movie and her work here is so fresh. There are scenes in this movie in a hospital and Morton deserves an Oscar nomination for those spine-tingling scenes alone. It is such a REAL performance. Nothing forced or fake about it. She limits herself perfectly. Then there's Paddy Considine. For weeks, I have heard he is the strongest of the cast, but I highly disagree. He is great here, but I think the Bolger sisters and Morton are all a little better performance-wise. He does do a fine job though, I was just expecting a little more from the perf. Also, there's Djimon Honsou, who plays the African American man downstairs in the apartment the family lives in. Even though at times he gets a little over the top, it's still a very good perf. Acting-wise, this movie is pretty much brilliant.

Then there's the amazing Jim Sheridan, director and writer of the film. His direction here seems so basic, but it is moving at the same time. It's fresh and completely worthy of an Oscar nomination. Same thing with the screenplay, which was also written by his two daughters, Naomi and Kirsten. At the end of the movie I kept thinking that I shoulda gotten more from the movie. That is wasn't showy enough, but you know...it's not supposed to be. This is a story of a family seen through the eyes of two innocent children that see everything, as the trailer says. The ending of the movie sums it all up and it is really a spine-tingling ending that gives hope, above all. This movie is not meant to be over the top and outrageous eye-candy. It's simplicity is so staggering. And that is how it's supposed to be. A simple look at life. It's almost impossible to not fall in love with the picture and the characters within. It might not be for everyone, and yes I was a little disappointed, but still an overall great movie. "Some things you should wish for, and some things you shouldn't." I know one thing I do wish for. For everyone to go out and see this movie. It's one that needs to be seen.

Score for In America: A

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21 Grams
Directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu
Starring Sean Penn, Benicio Del Toro, Naomi Watts
Running Time: 125 Minutes
Rated R for language, sexuality, some violence, and drug use
Focus Features
Seen on 12/27/03
Review by Shawn Elmore

The Plot...
This film tells the complex interconnected story how the lives of a former drug addict and single mother, Christine (Watts), a terminally ill mathematics professor, Paul (Penn), and a spiritual ex-convict, Jack (Del Toro) intersect both tragically and redemptively following a car accident, including the fact that Christine and Paul have been lovers. (Plot explanation courtesy of movies.yahoo.com)

My Review...
This year has been a disappointing one as far as movies are concerned for me personally. There aren't as many great movies out this year as there was last year and the year before. I have been slightly disappointed in some movies such as Lost In Translation, Master & Commander, Seabiscuit, and even In America (even though I still highly recommend it). I saw this movie the same day I saw In America. Directly after. And I am so glad that the theater here finally brought it here, because I was expecting the worst from this movie, and it ended up being the biggest surprise of the year. Lately the movie has received very mixed reviews from fans, and the movie's Oscar chances have gone down, and that's too bad because this is one heck of a ride.

Technically, this movie is a masterpiece. Especially the direction of Alejandro González Iñárritu, who of which completely deserves awards attention and it is a shame that he won't be nominated. Direction like this makes directing look so easy, yet so deep and difficult. With every frame, his brilliance leaps off of the screen. The editing in the movie is also stellar and the best I have seen this year. Not to mention the cinematography which left me breathless. The score is rather repetitive, but that tune will be in your head for days after you hear it throughout the movie.

As far as the acting goes, it's one of the best ensembles of the year. This is one helluva performance from Naomi Watts (shown left). No one in the Lead Actress category that I have seen even remotely compares to her work in this movie. There are four or five scenes she could pick as her Oscar clip (if she is even nodded. Sad if she is not), but not just particular scenes. As a whole, this is a stellar acting job. The best I have seen this year. Also great was Benicio Del Toro (shown right). The pain the character goes through can be seen just by looking at Del Toro's face and that is great acting. This is much better than his somewhat overrated work in "Traffic" (don't shoot me, I wasn't a big fan of that performance). And then there's the actor of the year, Sean Penn. He will get more attention for Mystic River and rightfully so, but his work here is great as well. There are also some great limited perfs. here too from people like Mellisa Leo (wife of Jack) and Clea DuVall (sister of Christine).

The screenplay by Guillermo Arriaga is stellar as well. This story of three people that have something to do with each other in the end is great. Some have criticized the screenplay, but I didn't have many problems with it. This story is highly engaging and will keep you on the edge of your seat.

The film's events are not seen in chronological order in this movie. It is kind of like 2001's Memento, but this movie is easier to figure out in the end. It's not as confusing either as a movie like Mulholland Dr. (another Watts movie). It might highly confuse some, but in the end I was quite surprised at how almost perfect the movie comes together in the end.

21 Grams is a piece of great filmmaking. It lasts with you for days after seeing it and will keep you thinking and entertained for months to come I am guessing, until you can finally own it yourself. If you have a chance to see it, do. This story of life, love, loss, forgiveness, redemption, and regret is worth seeing. Initially my grade was a little lower, but after thinking about it more and more, the movie garners a near-perfect score. A.

Score for 21 Grams: A

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Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King
Directed by Peter Jackson
Starring Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen, Orlando Bloom, Andy Serkis, Miranda Otto, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan
Running Time: 201 Minutes
Rated PG-13 for intense epic battle sequences and frightening images
New Line Cinema
Seen on 12/18/03 and 12/26/03
Review by Shawn Elmore

The Plot...
The Fellowship's journey is coming to an end. Sauron's forces have attacked Gondor's capital of Minas Tirith in his final siege against mankind. Watched over by a fading steward, the once great kingdom has never been in more desperate need of its king. But will Aragorn (Mortensen) find the strength to become what he was born to be and rise to meet his destiny? As Gandalf (McKellen) desperately tries to move the broken forces of Gondor to act, Théoden unites the warriors of Rohan to join in the fight. Even in their courage and passionate loyalty, the forces of men – with Éowyn (Otto) and Merry (Monaghan) hidden among them – are no match against the swarming legions of enemies raining down on the kingdom. With each victory comes great sacrifice. Despite their great losses, The Fellowship charges forward in the greatest battle of their lifetime, united in their singular goal to give Frodo (Wood) a chance to complete his quest. Traveling across treacherous enemy lands, Frodo must rely increasingly on Sam (Astin) and Gollum (Serkis) as The Ring continues to test his allegiance and, ultimately, his humanity. (Plot explanation courtesy of movies.yahoo.com)

My Review...
In The Two Towers, Galadriel says, "The time of the elves is over." And at the end of Return Of The King, that line kept ringing in my head, except it was more along the lines of "The greatest film ever made is over." I have watched the movie twice. Both times I watched it, I teared up many times and all out cried a few times. And after the first viewing, before starting my car, my emotions overtook me and I lost it. After viewing all three movies of the Lord Of The Rings series over the past week, there is no doubt in my mind that this is, as a whole, the best movie to ever grace the screen.

First up is the technical side of the movie, which truly is nothing short of brilliant. I think it's very sad that the movie might be disqualified from some technical Oscar categories, just because the work in the movie has been rewarded in either TTT or FOTR. I know it could happen in Cinematography, Costume Design, and Original Score, all categories in which the movie should be locks in getting nods in. This whole movie has been one massive technical achievement and I don't think any other movie will ever top or even match the technical masterpiece this movie is. From the battles of Helm's Deep and Minas Tirath to the character Gollum, it's brilliant. In this last installment, the technical achievements do not disappoint. Minas Tirith and Mordor were shown beautifully and the creatures & battles were great as well. This movie should sweep the technical categories. I am really pulling for it to take Score and Song ("Into The West"). Howard Shore's score and musical work in the movie was stellar and completely worthy of another Oscar. And at the heart of it all is the brilliant Peter Jackson. It's a sin that he was passed over last year in not even getting a nomination for his TTT work. If anyone else wins the Oscar director prize this year, it will truly be a huge travesty.

Next is the acting. This is by far the LOTR movie that showcases the acting talents of this amazing cast the most. And the heart of the perfs. are Elijah Wood (who is being campaigned in the wrong category and shown right) and esp. the shocking acting job of the Oscar-worthy Sean Astin (shown left). Both are worthy of Oscar buzz. No one else could have played Sam and Frodo better and shown their amazing friendship (and non homosexual relationship, I say that b/c people are stupid and have to sexualize everything) better. Also great again is previous Oscar nominee for his work in FOTR, Ian McKellen. There is also a surprising turn from Billy Boyd, the actor playing Pippin. Mirando Otto is great too. I actually thought Viggo Mortensen was one of the weaker perfs. of this installment. But regardless, it's a great cast ensemble.

Then there's the writing, which truly is extraordinary. Jackson did an amazing job in cutting each movie off at the right times and telling this truly spectacular story. I love how this story (and I guess I should be crediting Tolkien more than anyone) shows that EVERYONE has a part in life. If one of these main characters were not present in the story, the conflicts and trials would not have been overcome. Or at least not so swiftly and easily. Everyone played a part. And then there's the emotional aspect of the movie. This installment was def. the most emotional intallment of the three. I am pretty emotional but I have talked to normally non-emotional people and they cried at the end of the film as well. It is a thrilling ride from start to finish. It's the ultimate good vs. evil movie. And that is what this whole movie boils down to. Such a simple premise, but so deep and developed.

So, was ROTK perfect? No. I respect Jackson for staying faithful to the story in the book, but the end of this movie felt too rushed and entirely too choppy. Jackson used blackouts and whiteouts too much, in that you think the movie is going to end in about 4 or 5 places until it really does. I usually hate long movies. This one was 3 1/2 hours long, but I was enthralled every minute of the film, and I actually wanted it to be longer.

I can't wait to watch all extended versions of the movie in the same day. It will be a truly great experience, because as I said before this is really the greatest cinematic achievement of all time. People keep talking of awards and such, but all I care about is that this movie was made. I don't think I'll ever have a more captivating time at the movies. Go see this movie. And then return (dorky pun intended) to see it again.

Score for The Return Of The King: A+

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Angels In America
Directed by Mike Nichols
Starring Al Pacino, Meryl Streep, Emma Thompson, Mary-Louise Parker, Jeffrey Wright, Justin Kirk, Patrick Wilson, Ben Shenkman
Running Time: 360 Minutes
Rated TV-MA for nudity, sexual content, and language
HBO Films
Seen on 12/07/03 and 12/14/03
Review by Shawn Elmore

My Review...
I know, no plot description for the movie but it is a really hard movie to describe and it is also one great ride. The HBO miniseries is 6 hours long and it's hard to write a full-length review over it, but I will try my best.

Technically, for a TV movie, it is brilliant. Heck, for any movie it's pretty impressive. The fantasy/Angel sequences are beautifully shot and the whole look of the film is stellar. Due mainly to the brilliance that is Mike Nichols. A truly outstanding director worthy of all of the accolades he has been receiving.

The cast. Wow. What a cast. It is almost impossible to pick apart this ensemble because it truly is an ensemble piece of acting. And a brilliant one at that. The standouts here are Streep (who should hands down with the Emmy and is shown left), Wright, and Wilson. Kirk was great too but upon further viewing of the movie, the other three actors mentioned are a tad better. He is still great though. In the first half of the movie Pacino was pretty typical Pacino, but in the second part he really soared. Also great was Mary-Louise Parker, a perf. that is growing on me more and more with repeated viewings. A true tour-de-force perf. The weakest of the cast were Shenkman and Thompson. Shenkman was better in the second half and I think Thompson was better in the first. They still did great, but left me feeling a little underwhelmed.

The story is here. A brilliant story about love, politics, AIDS, homophobia, religion, integrity, loyalty. Really it's a story about everything. I did have a flaw of how one character was handled in the end of the movie, but it was the same way in the play as well, so I digress.

But it wasn't a perfect movie either. There were times when it dragged. I also didn't like the handling of the fantasy/Angel scenes, even though they did LOOK stunning.

Acting = brilliance. A truly riveting cast. The direction and technical aspects = brilliance. Nichols knows what he is doing and he does it so well. Writing = great. I knock a few points off for my minor complaints but overall this is a film that NEEDS to be seen. It's an important film and it should be seen by everyone. I wonder how this movie would do if it would have been released in the theaters?? It would be up for many Oscars, I think. But in it's respected awards race, the Emmys, it is going to SWEEP come late 2004 when the Emmys air. As it should.

Score for Angels In America: A-

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Cold Mountain
Directed by Anthony Minghella
Starring Jude Law, Nicole Kidman, Renée Zellweger
Running Time: 155 Minutes
Rated R for violence and sexuality
Miramax Films
Seen on 12/25/03
Review by Shawn Elmore

The Plot...
Based on Charles Frazier's best-selling Civil War novel of the same name, Cold Mountain tells the story of Inman (Law), a wounded confederate soldier who is on a perilous journey home to his mountain community, hoping to reunite with his pre-war sweetheart, Ada (Kidman). In his absence, Ada struggles to survive, and revive her father's farm with the help of intrepid young drifter Ruby (Zellweger). (Plot explanation courtesy of movies.yahoo.com)

My Review...
Time for some honest truth. For the past four months, I have been dreading this movie. I had heard by many how it was packed full of cheese, the perfs. and accents were off, the story sucked. I came out of the the theater, however, genuinely surprised. This will go down as one of the biggest surprises of the year. Granted, it wasn't perfect, but it was SO much better than I thought it'd be.

First let's talk technical. This movie just LOOKS beautiful. Lavish sets and settings, amazing cinematography, a haunting score, beautiful costumes, and great sound. With the exception of the at times hokey editing, technically it's a brilliant movie. I guess the one to thank for the overall look of the movie is the director, Anthony Minghella, who does a great and award-worthy job of directing this epic.

Next is the acting. The first person to talk about is the biggest scene stealer of the movie and one sustaining the most Oscar buzz. Of course I am talking about Renée Zellweger. Her perf. and role was the one I was telling myself to hate the most before the movie. But the minute Zellweger graces the screen, it is so so so hard to even try to hate the character. Due mainly to Zellweger's very powerful turn as Ada's help, that is. Zellweger really is becoming one of the most powerful and versatile actresses in Hollywood. A really great perf. here, even though at times it just screams at the top of it's lungs, "OSCAR!" Next up is Jude Law. The story really is all about his character getting home and mustering the hope to keep going. And Law plays it very well. He knows how to limit himself and not go over the top with his perf. Next is Nicole Kidman. The perf. is by no means BAD, but it is not perfect either. At times, Kidman's accent dips in and out very noticeably. So noticeably that her trying to force the accent gets annoying. But as far as ACTING goes (minus the 'accent'), this is a pretty good perf., though nowhere near her work in movies like "The Others" and "Moulin Rouge!". There are great limited roles in this movie too, such as Donald Sutherland, James Gannon, and Kathy Baker. But the biggest surprise of this movie is the perf. of Natalie Portman (shown right). If she had more screentime in this movie, she WOULD be Oscar nominated. I kinda wish there was a 'limited role' category, because she would take it easily. Her 5-10 minutes of screentime was, IMO, the best part of the whole movie. She gave one brilliant perf. I am hoping that she will choose better quality movies for leads and in the good movies she's in, get more screentime.

Next up is the writing and this is where I had the most problems with the movie. At times, the movie drags and the story seems a little too underdeveloped. Mainly the love story. If the flaws in the screenplay would have been more neat, this score would be a lot higher, def. A-grade-worthy. I do like how Minghella didn't end the movie in a packaged little bow in bringing all characters together and living together with everything hunky-dory. The story is also very true to what happened during the civil war and it's history.

Overall, I still can't believe how surprised I was by the movie. I was expecting to hate it and as I said, I practically told myself to hate it (mainly Kidman and Zellweger), but in the end I was impressed much more than I thought I'd be. Technically it is brilliant. Acting-wise, it is near brilliance (with the exception of Kidman), and the script needed a little work, so it musters only an 'above average' grade. But as I said, overall, a surprisingly good movie. Not perfect, but still pretty impressive.

Score for Cold Mountain: B+

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Master & Commander: The Far Side Of The World
Directed by Peter Weir
Starring Russell Crowe, Paul Bettany
Running Time: 138 Minutes
Rated PG-13 for intense battle sequences, related images, and brief language
20th Century Fox
Seen on 11/15/03
Review by Shawn Elmore

The Plot...
Russell Crowe is Lucky Jack Aubrey, the Navy’s greatest fighting captain and Paul Bettany is ship's doctor Stephen Maturin. The ship, the Surprise, is suddenly attacked by a superior enemy. With the Surprise badly damaged and much of his crew injured, Aubrey – the "Master" of the Surprise and "Commander" of his men – is torn between duty and friendship as he sets sail in a high-stakes chase across two oceans, to the far side of the world, to intercept and capture their foe. It's a mission that can decide the fate of a nation – or destroy Lucky Jack and his crew. The film is based on the narrative outline of the tenth book in Patrick O'Brian's legendary "Aubrey/Maturin" series of high seas novels about the British navy during the Napoleonic Wars. (Plot explanation courtesy of movies.yahoo.com)

My Review...
I went into this movie expecting to be blown away. Even though my socks weren't completely knocked off, I was still very much impressed with Master & Commander. Technically, it is in short, a masterpiece. Absolutely riveting technical achievements, and the movie deserves Oscar attention for Art Direction, Cinematography, Costume Design, Film Editing, Score, Sound, Sound Editing, and Visual FX. The technical achievements jumped right off the screen and you feel as if you are there on the ship with these men.

The performances are also top-notch, mainly from Russell Crowe, Paul Bettany (shown left), and a sure-fire up and comer, Max Pirkis. The relationship that we grow to know and eventually love between Aubrey and Maturin is exceptionally strong, and both Crowe and Bettany are the main reason for that strong bond. But the whole ensemble is great and they completely engulf themselves in their roles, and the environments of the sea-ridden life.

Also worth noting is the stunning, stirring, and superb directing job of Peter Weir, who is completely deserving of a Directing nod. His vision for this movie is apparent all throughout the film and he bared his heart and soul in his work.

So, why not a perfect review? Two reasons. First of all, the movie was too long. At times, it really did drag and you wondered where the film was going. Second, the story and script. I mainly blame this complaint on my personal dislike for most movies of this nature. The story seemed to not be completely organized of fully developed to me, but I also undertand again, that it was mainly because of my not being a big fan of movies and stories of this nature.

Overall, the movie succeeds. It is a very accurate and stirring look at the life of sailors and war of the time period. The action/fighting sequences were highly entertaining and kept me on the edge of my seat. Technically it is a masterpiece and deserves every bit of the Oscar buzz it is receiving for technical categories. Acting-wise, it is great as well. Half a star is taken off, however, for the story not keeping me completely satisfied due to it's dragging from time to time, as well as the script seeming to not have a unified feel to it. But again, overall, a success in movie-making.

Score for Master & Commander: B

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Mystic River
Directed by Clint Eastwood
Starring Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, Marcia Gay Harden, Tom Guiry, Kevin Bacon, Laurence Fishburne, Laura Linney
Running Time: 137 Minutes
Rated R for language and violence
Warner Bros.
Seen on 10/18/03
Review by Shawn Elmore

The Plot...
When they were kids growing up together in a rough section of Boston, Jimmy Markum (Penn), Dave Boyle (Robbins) and Sean Devine (Bacon) spent their days playing stickball on the street, the way most boys did in their blue-collar neighborhood of East Buckingham. Nothing much out of the ordinary ever happened, until a moment's decision drastically altered the course of each of their lives forever. Twenty-five years later, the three find themselves thrust back together by another tragic event--the murder of Jimmy's 19-year-old daughter. Now a cop, Sean is assigned to the case and he and his partner (Fishburne) are charged with unraveling the seemingly senseless crime. In the wake of the sudden and terrible loss of his child, Jimmy's mind becomes consumed with revenge--and his own plans to find the killer. Caught up in the maelstrom is Dave, now a lost and broken man fighting to keep his demons at bay. As the investigation creeps closer to home, his wife Celeste (Gay Harden) becomes consumed by suspicion and fear, while Jimmy's wife, Annabeth (Linney), draws her family tighter together in order to weather the storm. (Plot explanation courtesy of movies.yahoo.com)

My Review...
I went into seeing this movie expecting the best and preparing for the worst. I was very skeptical about this movie. It just seems like one that could really fail for me or really succeed. The latter, it did.

First to talk about is the stellar ensemble cast. Everyone in the cast gives really standout perfs., and Oscar nods should definitely be given to Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, and the standout of the film who was sheer perfection and chilled you to the bone with her perf., Marcia Gay Harden (shown right). Also (surprisingly) good was Kevin Bacon. I was quite surprised at this perf. and how good it was. The Footlooser has broken that stereotype for me. There's much more to this talented actor and this movie proves it. Fishburne and Linney did well, but their screen time was so limited (esp. Linney's) that I expected more from them.

The script is stellar as well. I love the way this movie messes with your mind and the characters in the story. Some people you feel sorry for throughout the whole movie and then you realize those people were not what you thought and that you were manipulated all throughout the movie. The same is said about some people you were condemning and then find out they are the ones you should have been feeling sorry for. It sounds sorted and muddled, but a movie that does this is one that gets me the most and impresses me the most. The adaptation of the story by Brian Helgeland is truly remarkable.

The direction by Clint Eastwood is also very well done, even though at times the direction gets a little too heavy-handed. At times it seemed as if he was trying to hard to make it good. Minor nitpick though b/c it's a great directing achievement. Also technically superb was the cinematography and the film editing. In both categories, the movie deserves Oscar nods.

So did I have any problems with the film? I have a couple. First is that the story did drag at times, but ultimately it wasn't a huge noticeable drawback of the film. The biggest problem I had with the film was the music. It was supposedly composed by Eastwood, but I have a CD that has the exact same piece on it. The problem I had is that the same piece of music was used over and over and over and over again. Again, it's a great piece of music, but I wish there could have been more pieces composed and used.

So, ultimately, it is a truly great movie. The best I have seen so far this year. Most notably standing out, again, is the amazing cast (mainly Robbins, Penn, and Gay Harden), the script, and the directing as well as cinematography and film editing. Overall, a thrilling ride that keeps you on the edge of your seat.


Score for Mystic River: B+

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Lost In Translation
Directed by Sofia Coppola
Starring Scarlett Johansson, Bill Murray
Running Time: 102 Minutes
Rated R for some sexual content
Focus Features
Seen on 10/12/03
Review by Shawn Elmore

The Plot...
This is the story of two Americans, a washed-up TV star (Murray) in town for a TV whiskey commercial shoot, and the (very) young wife (Johansson) of a photographer, who meet in Tokyo, Japan and end up spending a weekend hanging out there together on a "soul-searching mission." (Plot explanation courtesy of movies.yahoo.com)

My Review...
I just watched Lost In Translation on DVD. I wanted to watch it a second time after the theaters to see if I missed something that everyone else is gushing over and sadly I didn't miss anything. I just don't understand the praise for this movie. I respect the opinions of others and of the people who liked it, but half of this movie is just POINTLESS to me. Half of it is REALLY great, mainly the scenes b/w Murray and Johansson. But some scenes just baffled me at their being in the film. Parts of it were just so boring to me. And after watching it a second time, I really don't think it deserved a Best Picture nod. But that's JMHO.

I will say, however, that Bill Murray really knocked my socks off and in viewing it a second time I was reminded of how fresh, funny, and touching he was in this role. And I do think he and Sean Penn are neck and neck for the Oscar. Penn will not win easily. Right now I'm thinking Murray will prevail. Think of the demographics of the Academy voters, people.

Regarding Johansson, she was really good, but I remember being much more impressed upon first viewing. I can't wait to see GWAPE though. I do think she's going places and we need to watch out for her.

The direction here was pretty good. I wouldn't personally nominate it, but I can see why it gets the attention it does. I don't see why the screenplay gets attention though. I really hope it loses the Oscar. Sorry, but I just don't want it to win. There were funny moments. "Lip my stocking," the photo shoot, the hospital scene. I loved how the story showed two people lost and two people who were the only ones that understood each other in a strange and different culture. I loved the dialogue b/w Charlotte and Bob, but as I said, some of this stuff could have been left out and the movie, for me, would have been better.

I really tried to tell myself before to watch this and catch what everyone else is praising, but I couldn't, save the performances and I guess the directing.

Score for Lost In Translation: B-

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Seabiscuit
Directed by Gary Ross
Starring Tobey Maguire, Chris Cooper, Jeff Bridges, William H. Macy
Running Time: 141 Minutes
Rated PG-13 for some sexual situations and violent sports-related images
Universal Pictures
Seen on 07/26/03
Review by Shawn Elmore

The Plot...
This is the true story of a former bicycle repairman, Charles Howard (Bridges), who made his fortune introducing the automobile to the American West, and who owned a small, knobbly-kneed horse called Seabiscuit. Howard teamed up with a half-blind ex-boxing prize fighter, Red Pollard (Maguire), who became the horse's jockey and a former "mustang breaker" Wild West performer called "The Lone Plainsman", Tom Smith (Cooper), who became the horse's trainer. As the United States struggled through the Great Depression, people around the country followed with rapt interest of the Seabiscuit story, leading to his win of the Horse of the Year honors in 1938. (Plot explanation courtesy of movies.yahoo.com)

My Review...
This was yet another movie where I thought cheese would be the most apparent thing after seeing the movie. I was relatively wrong. Though it does get a little heavy-handed at times, it worked.

The story is simple. During the depression this horse gave great hope to people everywhere. The story here is very inspirational and heartfelt. A couple of times during the film, I teared up a bit.

As far as the acting, Maguire was okay, but not as good as I thought he'd be. Cooper did great, but the standout of the film is Bridges, who engulfs himself in this role and soars with it. A truly stellar perf. It's a shame this movie was releases as early as it was, b/c it hurts Bridges chances of an Oscar nod.

The direction by Gary Ross is great as well. Also technically standing out is the riveting Editing, Cinematography, and Score. All worthy of Oscar attention.

The biggest problem I had with the movie was the first hour. It was rather boring and tended to drag on and on. It felt like they wasted time in the first hour and could have gotten to the heart of the story sooner.

Overall, I was impressed. More than I thought I'd be. I was surprised at how heartfelt and heart-tugging it was. Maguire's perf. was disappointing as well, but still watchable. Cheesy at times, but ultimately a great story to watch unfold.

Score for Seabiscuit: C

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Finding Nemo
Directed by Andrew Stanton
Voices by Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, Alexander Gould, Willem Dafoe, Allison Janney, Brad Garrett
Running Time: 100 Minutes
Rated G
Walt Disney Pictures
Seen on 06/05/03
Review by Shawn Elmore

The Plot...
Follows the comedic and eventful journeys of two fish - Marlin and his son Nemo - who become separated in the Great Barrier Reef when Nemo is unexpectedly taken far from home and thrust into a fish tank in a dentist's office overlooking Sydney harbor. Buoyed by the companionship of a friendly-but-forgetful fish named Dory, the overly cautious father embarks on a dangerous trek and finds himself the unlikely hero of an epic journey to rescue his son - who hatches a few daring plans of his own to return safely home. (Plot explanation courtesy of movies.yahoo.com)

My Review...
I never thought I would rave about a movie about fish. Actually, this story is about much more than that. It is about family and love and a tender relationship between a father and a son. I am not going to lie. At the end of this movie, I really teared up and almost cried. This movie was very heartfelt and it's defintitely, without a doubt, the funniest movie I have seen this year.

The casting in this movie was sheer perfection. Brooks and Gould do great as the father and son, but the standout of the movie, is of course, Dory, voiced by the great Ellen DeGeneres. This is the best voice-over work since Robin Williams in Aladdin. A truly stellar voice over job with so many LOL moments. Also great was the 'tank gang,' as I like to call them. Great voice-over works from Garrett, Dafoe, and Janney.

The script for this movie is so fresh and so amazing that it crosses age barriers. It is a simple story that goes very far.

Two 50 year-olds, a 19 year-old, and a year-old all laughed equally during this movie. It truly is a movie for all ages. A funny and heart-tugging story for everyone.

Nothing more to say that hasn't already. This is one GREAT movie.

Score for Finding Nemo: A

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Down With Love
Directed by Peyton Reed
Starring Ewan McGregor, Renee Zellweger, David Hyde Pierce, Sarah Paulson
Running Time: 101 Minutes
Rated PG-13 for sexual humor and dialogue
20th Century Fox
Seen on 05/17/03
Review by Shawn Elmore

The Plot...
An homage to the early 1960s sex comedies that starred Rock Hudson and Doris Day. The story follows a best-selling female advice author (Zellweger) who has all the answers until a sly journalist playboy (McGregor) starts asking the questions. (Plot explanation courtesy of IMDB.com)

My Review...
This was a much better movie than I thought it'd be. The chemistry b/w Zellweger and McGregor is great and the story here was well done, though it started getting confusing and too overdone at times. Many scenes were LOL hilarious. The best thing about the movie was the Art Direction, Original Song ("Here's To Love"), and Cinematography. An overall enjoyable movie that tended to get a little too full of itself from time to time, but still good.

Score for Down With Love: B-

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