Showing posts with label 2000. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2000. Show all posts

American Psycho

Viewed in
2010

Premise
Christian Bale's breakout role as a 1980's American powerful businessman with murder as a hobby. Based on the controversial novel, which I have not read.

Loved
Bale's performance.

Liked
The dark comedy.

Disliked
Getting confused at the end.

Thoughts
I loved Bale's performance, but I cannot say the same for the whole movie.

Christian Bale made this film go. He was detached, pretentious, vain, misogynistic, narcissistic, jealous, hot-headed, and all sorts of nasty rolled into one. You would think such a protagonist would be hard to like. But Bale was somehow able to embody all that with delightful charm and a magnetic presence. Despite his lack of human decency, I could still relate to his frustrations in office politics or finding how he did not have the coolest business card.

Because of Bale's wonderful execution as this character, his killings were justified and fun, from an entertainment standpoint. Some were suspenseful, others were darkly humorous, but they were all interesting. While they were bloody, they were not graphic or gory.

Throughout the film, it reminded me of Fight Club, only bloodier and more satirical. It had a similar style of snarky voice over protagonist narration. Also, it had themes of hate for and rebelling against the materialistic, dehumanizing aspect of American society.

What ruined it for me was the last act. Things started to get confusing (like the lawyer scene) to the point of frustration, and I was not sure what the resolution was. Was there a consequence (and therefore a meaningful arc) for Patrick Bateman? I had to look online to double-check the plot afterward. Turns out it was intentionally ambiguous. Maybe because I was comparing it to Fight Club that I expected a more straight-forward ending. In any case, if it's going to be open-ended like that, it could have been executed better for me to realize that.

Even though I did not like how it ended, I appreciated the film for its risks, themes, entertaining murders, and most importantly, Christian Bale portrayal of such an inhuman (but entrancing) character.

What I would change
Find a way to let the audience realize the ending was meant to be interpreted.

Amores Perros

Viewed in
2007

Premise
Alejandro González Iñárritu's and Gael García Bernal's breakout movie that's a Mexican 'Pulp Fiction' mixed with 'Crash' and Westminster Dog Show.

Who should watch
People who enjoy fancy multiple-storyline movies.

Thoughts
There was some good stuff, even though this style of story-telling was getting gimmicky. Bernal was a great presence. Despite all the coincidences and chance happenings, a lot of the character behavior was realistic and sympathetic. My favorite storyline was the former guerrilla-turned-wino-turned-hit man who was hired to kill a man by his business partner.

Just a warning: those no dogs were hurt, there were plenty of realistic scenes of animal cruelty. This may be a bigger deal in the post-Michael Vick era.

What I would change
A steadicam every once in while would have been nice. I was glad I did not try to watch this on a plane.

Art of War

Viewed in
2000

Premise
I don't remember, but it ends with Wesley Snipes impaling some dude into broken glass.

Who should watch
No one.

Thoughts
Other than how the fight ended, I do not remember a single bit about it other than it being a waste of time.

What I would change
Everything.

Best in Show

Viewed in
2001

Premise
A mockumentary about a dog show.

Who should watch
Dog lovers. Fans of the Christopher Guest mockumentaries.

Thoughts
Of all of Christopher Guest and company's films, this was my favorite. All the actors hit the right improvisational notes to make their characters hilarious yet not cartoonish. Students of comedy should study Fred Willard's masterpiece. While there were plenty of cute dogs, the human actors were the main reason to watch this very funny film.

What I would change
Nothing.

Billy Elliot

Viewed in
2010

Formats
HD TV

Premise
As a 1984 English mining town is beset by strike, young Billy Elliot learns ballet, and its therapeutic powers.

Liked
The acting, the complex family relationships.

Thoughts
A well-acted film that packs some emotion.

The acting, especially by Jamie Bell and Gary Lewis made the heart of the film. Bell wonderfully exuded the pain and frustrations living in a lower class family with issues. Gary Lewis had some cool moments as the father struggling to keep the family together during a strike. Everyone else was solid as well. Shame on me for not recognizing Mrs. Weasley as the chain-smoking teacher.

While the overall premise was formulaic, the complications and characters were well thought out and written. There was a lot of adult subtext and themes that were not spelled out to the audience, which worked for me because that's how a frustrated eleven year old boy would have seen the world. I was intrigued by the complex, crumbling relationships on a stressed out family. All these themes were a little dark and painful without being depressing.

Ebert thought the character swings were too convenient, especially the father. I disagree. I thought there were some subtle moments and subtext in Lewis performance to hint at a multi-dimensional character.

On the other hand, I heartily agree with Ebert that it was a shame this was rated R, mostly for foul language. While this was clearly too complex for young kids, I think it would be an entertaining, relatable film for teens. There were a lot of struggling suburban family themes that teens or adults can relate to.

I recommend this well-executed underdog story full of life, drama, and dance. I also recommend subtitles, as the English accent was too strong for me.

What I would change
Nothing.

Bring it on

Viewed in
2001

Premise
A cheerleader must redeem her team after discovering their best routine was not theirs.

Who should watch
Kirsten Dunst fans.

Thoughts
An average, forgettable movie. Naturally, the girls looked hot in cheerleader outfits in a PG-13 flick. But after a while, I just got bored.

The best part was when the little brother came out of nowhere and farted in Kirsten Dunst's general direction.

What I would change
Nothing.

Cast Away

Viewed in
2001

Premise
A man survives an airplane crash only to be left alone on a deserted island.

Who should watch
Tom Hanks fans.

Thoughts
Overall, it was a good film. I liked some of the technical methods that were used. Tom Hanks was, as usual, a great presence that carried a story he was along most of the time.

I understand they wanted to explore the realistic behavior of people that return from such isolation, but that should have been its own movie, instead of elongating an already long film.

What I would change
Cut out that third act.

Charlie's Angels

Viewed in
2000

Premise
Remake of the television series.

Who should watch
Fans of the cast.

Thoughts
I hated this movie. If it was supposed to be cheeky, then why did the moviemakers bother with high-budgeted 'Matrix' wannabe action scenes? If it was supposed to be a cool action flick, then why the campiness?

The other thing that bugged me was the blatant abuse of the PG-13 rating. I know the Angels were eye candy, but the moviemakers did not need to make it look like a voyeur's video. That is what the internet is for.

What I would change
Either killed the cheese or the expensive action scenes.

Chicken Run

Viewed in
2000

Formats
Movie theater

Premise
A bunch of chickens try to escape their farm, a la The Great Escape.

Thoughts
I do not remember much, but I recall laughing a lot during it, and enjoying the parodies and references to old prison escape movies.

What I would change
No idea.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Viewed in
2000, 2001

Formats
Movie theater, DVD

Premise
Indie director Ang Lee's foray into the martial arts genre, starring Chow Yun-Fat and Michelle Yeoh.

Thoughts
Don't remember much, but it was very well-done, with a complex story and strong acting. The fight scenes were fun and lyrical at times. I was really glad it was not dubbed.

What I would change
No idea.

Dave Chappelle: Killin' Them Softly

Viewed in
2002 (2), 2004

Formats
Bootleg video, DVD

Premise
Dave Chappelle's masterpiece stand up performance in Washington D.C.

Thoughts
While technically not a film, this stand up was way too funny to not write about it. This was the beginning of Chappelle's peak, and his jokes and performance here was one of the best of my generation. The best stuff was about race and "Sesame Street". Even a decade of repeated listens to the audio track, those parts still crack me up.

What I would change
Nothing.

Gladiator

Viewed in
2001

Premise
An exiled prince enslaved as a gladiator seeks revenge against the Roman emperor.

Who should watch
Those who want to watch an MTV-styled entertaining gladiator movie.

Thoughts
As a summer movie, this was fun to watch; it had well-done special effects, Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix were good, and a decent, generic story. As an Oscar winner for Best Picture, it was a joke; the basic story was practically identical to 'Ben-Hur' and 'Spartacus'.

Ridley Scott was known for his action scenes, and this movie had plenty of exciting fights. Personally, I can only handle so much from him, because I do not like his chaotic, motion-sickening, hand-held camera style. That style was perfect for 'Black Hawk Down', but not here. I also enjoyed Hans Zimmer's accompanying, grandiose score.

However, the writer in me detested this movie. I once attended an event where the screenwriter, David Franzoni, explained his nightmare of an experience. The original screenplay was actually a social commentary about how self-indulgent and corrupt the Roman Empire was at the eve of its collapse. He intended to show parallels to modern America, for example, comparing gladiator with WWE. This was a warning that America was on the eve of a downhill spiral. Now that sounds more interesting.

Franzoni then explained how the original screenplay was butchered by actors, directors, and studio executives. Fed up, he left as screenwriter, or was he fired? After months of turmoil and numerous failed ghostwriters, the studios asked him back. By that time, there were months into production and were shooting without a script. Franzoni was asked back to whip up a new screenplay just to finish the movie.

The biggest joke of the whole thing was that he ended up winning for best screenplay. His acceptance speech was quite ironic.

What I would change
Made the movie the way the writer originally intended.

Godzilla vs. Megaguirus

Viewed in
2013

Formats
HDTV (dubbed)

Premise
Godzilla and a giant dragonfly attacks Japan.

Liked
Godzilla smash!

Disliked
Lack of charming characters, bad CGI.

Hated
Incomprehensible plot, annoying dubbing.

Thoughts
I've got to stop watching the dubbed versions. Not only was the dubbing hard to tolerate, but a nonsensical plot was exacerbated.

The best thing about it was that it had a decent amount of Godzilla destroying stuff, and its fight with Megaguirus brought back memories of Rodan and Mothra. For the most part, the practical/monster stunts held up and gave the movie the cheesy charm I hoped for.

However, when it came to the computer graphics. Woof. Even for low budget 2000's standards, it was laughable, with plastic-looking dragonflies and cartoonish black holes. Yes, you read correctly. The incredulous plot involved a satellite that fires a beam back at Earth and creates a mini-black hole. If it was meant to be cartoony, then Godzilla's "meaner" redesign contradicted that. Lastly, the humans were so annoying that I had to fast-forward to save my sanity.

Most Godzilla movies are interchangeable. Sadly Godzilla vs. Megaguirus was such a title. The film makers excelled at making miniature city go boom, but the horrible CGI and dubbing overwhelmed any childish joy of mine.

Gunshy

Viewed in
2001

Formats
DVD

Premise
Liam Neeson plays a shaken undercover agent who consults with his therapist, Sandra Bullock.

Thoughts
I don't recall much, except the cast was likable and had some funny offbeat moments.

What I would change
No idea.

High Fidelity

Viewed in
2000, 2001

Formats
Movie theater, DVD

Premise
John Cusack stars as a music store owner who revisits his top five breakups. Based on a Nick Hornsby book.

Thoughts
My memory's a bit fuzzy, but I remember this being my favorite Cusack film. It had great acting, charming yet human characters, genuine character-driven relationships, Jack Black's breakout role, a hilarious Tim Robbin cameo, and a well-written story.

What I would change
Nothing.

Highlander: Endgame

Viewed in
2000

Premise
A new threat forces the MacLeods to team up.

Who should watch
Highlander fans?

Thoughts
Even as a Highlander fan, I found it a waste of time. Everything from the characters to the fight scenes were forgettable. What was worse was the ending that totally contradicted the prophecy and purpose of the first 'Highlander' movie.

What I would change
This never happened.

The Kid

Viewed in
2012

Formats
HDTV

Premise
Bruce Willis stars as a grumpy lonely guy, when he's suddenly visited by his 8 year old self.

Loved
Earnest story, lovable characters.

Liked
Strong themes.

Disliked
Constant vacillation between kid-oriented and adult-oriented.

Thoughts
Going in, I thought it was just a light-hearted cutesy flick.  Turned out it was a magical treat, full of heart, maximizing on the wonderful premise, and capturing a great theme of what turns a kid into a jerk.

The more and more non-action flicks I watch Willis in, the more and more I'm convinced he's the most underrated actor of his generation.  Here, he was completely natural as a charismatic, yet abrasive dick who transformed as the story progressed.  I was in stitches when Willis cranked up the sarcasm or bantered with the hilarious Lily Tomlin.  The rest of the cast was solid.  Emily Mortimer was adorable as usual.  And Spencer Breslin as the kid was really good at times.

I liked how it didn't bother to explain how Willis' younger self time-traveled.  Instead, I found myself swept away by the amusing situations, earnest subplots, and well-executed reveals that not only illuminated the leads' past/future but also their characters.  There was something magical and affecting about the younger self scolding the older one for not having a pet dog.

The story was never cynical, there were no bad guys, but the story was still compelling.  It was very clear early that Willis' character was of the Ebenezer Scrooge ilk.  But as I braced for the anticipated resolution, the writing unexpectedly hit me with a powerful uppercut, resulting in a very deserved emotional payoff.

What prevented it from being great was its lack of commitment to tone.  As if the film didn't know if it was meant to be for adults or kids.  Sometimes the message was heavy-handed, or you'd get curiously uneven performances by Willis or Breslin.  I'm not sure if kids will dig the complex messages.  At the same time, adults might be turned off by the amount of cheese in the first half.  Having two editors in the credits might be the smoking gun to its identity issue.

Nevertheless, I was very pleasantly surprised by The Kid, and highly recommend it, for adults.  The winning performances, strong themes and characters easily outshine the occasionally curious directing choices.

Random
One moment that took me out of the moment was a continuity miss.  There's a scene of Breslin spilling popcorn all over himself.   When he turns his head in the next shot, all the popcorn mysteriously disappeared from his sweater.  But the next and last shot of the sequence, he was once again covered in it.

The Legend of Bagger Vance

Viewed in
2000

Formats
Movie theater

Premise
A down-and-out golfer (Matt Damon) attempts to recover his game and his life with help from a mystical caddy (Will Smith).

Thoughts
Details are sketchy, but I recall liking the acting, but got bored by the slow pacing.

What I would change
No clue.

Me, Myself & Irene

Viewed in
2000

Formats
DVD

Premise
A nice-guy cop (Jim Carrey) with dissociative identity disorder must protect a woman (Renee Zellweger) on the run from a corrupt ex-boyfriend and his associates.

Thoughts
Don't remember much, except that it was not as funny as it should have been. The Farrelly brothers needed to go darker with the comedy.

What I would change
No idea.

Meet the Parents

Viewed in
2000

Formats
Movie theater

Premise
Male nurse Greg Focker (Ben Stiller) meets his girlfriend's parents before proposing, but her suspicious father (Robert De Niro) is every date's worst nightmare.

Thoughts
Details are hazy, but I recall laughing a lot. The tension between Stiller and De Niro was very fun to watch. Only thing I did not like was that the characters acted kind of stupidly, like lying all the time when one logical sentence would have resolved issues. One thing for sure I liked it a lot better than Analyze This.

What I would change
Not sure.