Rated PG-13, 91 minutes
Poor Eddie Murphy. After the release of the comedy "Tower Heist" last fall there was hope that he was returning to his edgier comedic roots. Then things started to fall apart: there was his Oscar host fallout and now the utterly forgettable, genuinely terrible "A Thousand Words," a long-delayed comedy that was originally shot in 2008 and just now getting a wide release. There would be just two words to describe "A Thousand Words" the movie: it stinks. Scoot over "Tower Heist" and welcome back "Meet Dave" and "Norbit." Murphy is a loud-mouth, big-time Hollywood agent named Jack trying to sign a new-age guru to a big contract and he ends up with a tree in his backyard. Except that every time Jack speaks, leaves fall off, signaling the death of the tree and Jack himself and he must discover what to do to save his life from falling apart. Dismally and painfully unfunny, "A Thousand Words," directed by Murphy's "Norbit" and "Meet Dave" director Brian Robbins, it's a truly awful high-concept comedy that will only make you shudder in disbelief. The movie also takes down Allison Janney, Clark Duke (seen to much better effect in "Hot Tub Time Machine"), the lovely Kerry Washington and the always wonderful Ruby Dee, who should've slapped some sense into Eddie for making this piece of Razzie-award inducing dreck. Annoying and predictable until the end, when it becomes some maudlin clap trap about forgiveness and doing the right thing. Do the right thing and avoid "A Thousand Words" at all costs.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Silent House - B
Rated R, 88 minutes
Houses hold many secrets, and the spooky house in the stylish, tense new psychological horror film "Silent House," starring Elizabeth Olsen is no different. Sarah (Olsen, Ashley and Mary Kate's younger sister and a fine actress) is a young woman who finds herself sealed inside her family's secluded lake house. With no contact to the outside world, and no way out, panic turns to terror as events become increasingly ominous in and around the house. "Silent House" is a terrific low-budget horror film that's actually a remake of a 2010 Uruguayan super-low budget horror film "The Silent House." Like that film, this version unravels the chills in one, long extended real-time take, an unconventional feat that works in the film's favor most of the time. The first hour or so is a sharp, well-crafted piece with enough chills to keep you firmly glued to your seat; the stringy music and moody photography from co-directors Chris Kentis and Laura Lau perfectly draws you into the creepy house. However, the real revelation of "Silent House" isn't its technical marvels, but the terrific performance from Olsen, who expertly carries the film in a creepy one-woman show; she had a breakout performance last year in another low-budget independent film, "Martha Marcy Mae Marlene" and should gain more attention as the girl who finds the villain much closer than she thinks. As "Silent House's" secrets unravel, you have a sense of where it will end up, and may leave some a shade unsatisfied. But it's scary fun getting there, and Olsen will have you watching every step of the way. Definitely worth checking out, "Silent House" will have you anything but silent after it's over.
Friday, March 2, 2012
Tyler Perry's Good Deeds - C
Rated PG-13, 111 minutes
"Good Deeds" is the latest Tyler Perry effort about a rich man who is jolted out of his predictable routing and into the real world. Written and directed by and starring Perry as the title character, "Good Deeds" finds itself in the same territory as most of Perry's other films about people struggling to do the right thing. Here Perry is Wesley Deeds, a CEO of a company who begins an unlikely friendship with one of his employees, Lindsey (the lovely Thandie Newton), a down-on-her-luck single mother with an array of problems. Wesley has his own problems, such as a stale relationship with his fiancee (Gabrielle Union) or a fractured one with his family (Phylicia Rashad, Brian J. White). When you're as successful a filmmaker as Perry who knows his audience, you can do almost anything you want, which Perry generally does (including not screening the film for critics, a smart move on his part), and the mediocre "Good Deeds," while better acted and directed than some of his previous films, still struggles with cookie-cutter characters and second-rate, predictable storytelling. There are a handful of affecting scenes and the beautiful Newton is the best thing about it, probably too good for "Good Deeds." It's also hard to believe that Newton and Jamie Kennedy, along with Eddie Cibiran and Rebecca Romjin, are all in the same film, if that tells you anything about its quality. "Good Deeds," while a notch better than what Perry has done in the past, is much like what he has done in the past - and give him credit here where much of Hollywood fails at this - is filled with decent, honorable messages about doing the right thing, but unfortunately not much of it is memorable. "Good Deeds" isn't terrible, but not that great either.
"Good Deeds" is the latest Tyler Perry effort about a rich man who is jolted out of his predictable routing and into the real world. Written and directed by and starring Perry as the title character, "Good Deeds" finds itself in the same territory as most of Perry's other films about people struggling to do the right thing. Here Perry is Wesley Deeds, a CEO of a company who begins an unlikely friendship with one of his employees, Lindsey (the lovely Thandie Newton), a down-on-her-luck single mother with an array of problems. Wesley has his own problems, such as a stale relationship with his fiancee (Gabrielle Union) or a fractured one with his family (Phylicia Rashad, Brian J. White). When you're as successful a filmmaker as Perry who knows his audience, you can do almost anything you want, which Perry generally does (including not screening the film for critics, a smart move on his part), and the mediocre "Good Deeds," while better acted and directed than some of his previous films, still struggles with cookie-cutter characters and second-rate, predictable storytelling. There are a handful of affecting scenes and the beautiful Newton is the best thing about it, probably too good for "Good Deeds." It's also hard to believe that Newton and Jamie Kennedy, along with Eddie Cibiran and Rebecca Romjin, are all in the same film, if that tells you anything about its quality. "Good Deeds," while a notch better than what Perry has done in the past, is much like what he has done in the past - and give him credit here where much of Hollywood fails at this - is filled with decent, honorable messages about doing the right thing, but unfortunately not much of it is memorable. "Good Deeds" isn't terrible, but not that great either.
Project X- D-
Rated R, 87 minutes
"Project X" is the latest documentary-style, low-budget, cinema verite that takes advantage of shaky hand-held lost-footage style movies becoming increasingly cheap and popular to make. That doesn't mean that any of it's original, funny or good in any way, but "Project X" will have appeal to mostly young males who enjoy seeing this type of low-brow, T&A, drink-as-much-as-you-can party style debauchery (the young guys in the theater I saw it at were roaring if that tells you anything). Todd Phillips, the guy behind similar-themed filmed films such as "Old School" and "The Hangover," uses a largely unknown cast found though mostly open casting calls, which would supposedly help the film keep its budget pretty low, that and the fact no decent actor in Hollywood would likely want to be in it. "Project X," the film's name because the producers wanted to keep it secret (probably because it is so bad), is essentially one long all-night naked drinking pool party told via a handheld, ultra shaky camera. Annoying, painfully unfunny and ultimately needless, it's far from revealing (except for the pretty young girls who go topless through most of it) and most just a stupid excuse to drink beer and take off your clothes. On that note, it will likely be a huge hit and spawn more films like it. You've been warned. You know what you're in for. So stay as far away from "Project X" as possible and use your time much better.
"Project X" is the latest documentary-style, low-budget, cinema verite that takes advantage of shaky hand-held lost-footage style movies becoming increasingly cheap and popular to make. That doesn't mean that any of it's original, funny or good in any way, but "Project X" will have appeal to mostly young males who enjoy seeing this type of low-brow, T&A, drink-as-much-as-you-can party style debauchery (the young guys in the theater I saw it at were roaring if that tells you anything). Todd Phillips, the guy behind similar-themed filmed films such as "Old School" and "The Hangover," uses a largely unknown cast found though mostly open casting calls, which would supposedly help the film keep its budget pretty low, that and the fact no decent actor in Hollywood would likely want to be in it. "Project X," the film's name because the producers wanted to keep it secret (probably because it is so bad), is essentially one long all-night naked drinking pool party told via a handheld, ultra shaky camera. Annoying, painfully unfunny and ultimately needless, it's far from revealing (except for the pretty young girls who go topless through most of it) and most just a stupid excuse to drink beer and take off your clothes. On that note, it will likely be a huge hit and spawn more films like it. You've been warned. You know what you're in for. So stay as far away from "Project X" as possible and use your time much better.
Dr. Seuss' The Lorax - C+
Rated PG, 86 minutes
If you want a "green" cartoon, then "Dr. Seuss' The Lorax" might just be for you. Bright yet forgettable, the problem with "The Lorax" isn't the message but the weak, updated story that, well, waters down the original 1971 Dr. Seuss book. A boy named Ted (Zac Efron) searches for the one thing - a unique tree - that will enable him to win the affection of Audrey (Taylor Swift), the girl of his dreams. To find it he must discover the story of the Lorax (Danny DeVito), the grumpy yet charming creature who fights to protect his world against the Once-Ler (Ed Helms) and Mr. O'Hare (Rob Riggle), who feel threatened by the beauty of nature. Dr. Seuss himself might find issue with the fact that Hollywood has given his intelligent book about environmentalism a big-budgeted, dumbed-down take, but even tree huggers won't argue with the fact The Lorax, both the character and the film, are so darned charming it makes it difficult to be critical. "The Lorax" will appeal mostly to young kids, who likely won't care or notice the film's thin pro-environmental messages. On that note, "The Lorax" is safe, fun and appealing. Otherwise it's mostly everything Dr. Suess' didn't espouse: formulaic, cookie-cutter and mostly forgettable story and characters.
If you want a "green" cartoon, then "Dr. Seuss' The Lorax" might just be for you. Bright yet forgettable, the problem with "The Lorax" isn't the message but the weak, updated story that, well, waters down the original 1971 Dr. Seuss book. A boy named Ted (Zac Efron) searches for the one thing - a unique tree - that will enable him to win the affection of Audrey (Taylor Swift), the girl of his dreams. To find it he must discover the story of the Lorax (Danny DeVito), the grumpy yet charming creature who fights to protect his world against the Once-Ler (Ed Helms) and Mr. O'Hare (Rob Riggle), who feel threatened by the beauty of nature. Dr. Seuss himself might find issue with the fact that Hollywood has given his intelligent book about environmentalism a big-budgeted, dumbed-down take, but even tree huggers won't argue with the fact The Lorax, both the character and the film, are so darned charming it makes it difficult to be critical. "The Lorax" will appeal mostly to young kids, who likely won't care or notice the film's thin pro-environmental messages. On that note, "The Lorax" is safe, fun and appealing. Otherwise it's mostly everything Dr. Suess' didn't espouse: formulaic, cookie-cutter and mostly forgettable story and characters.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Coriolanus - B+
Rated R, 122 minutes
"Coriolanus" is the new military film directed by and starring Ralph Fiennes, though the source material is hardly new. It's based on the tragic Shakespeare play of the same name and while updated with contemporary references, it's still spoken in the King's English. Well-acted, sublimely directed by Fiennes and often mesmerizing, "Coriolanus" is a worthy, cerebral effort geared mostly for art-house audiences up for something like this. Caius Martius "Coriolanus (Fiennes) is a revered and feared Roman General at odds with the city of Rome and its citizens. Pushed by his controlling mother Volumnia (Vanessa Redgrave, in a stunning, memorable performance) to seek a higher postion, Coriolanus must engage himself with the masses to secure votes for office, something he loathes doing. When the public refuses to support Coriolanus, he's banished from the city and allies himself with a powerful enemy (Gerard Butler, scowling) that has tragic results for him and his family. "Coriolanus" is an auspicious directorial feature film debut for British actor Fiennes, best known to the masses as Voldemort in the "Harry Potter" series. The plot is thick and you must listen closely to the age-old dialogue, but overall it's a satisfying, if not, downbeat, effort, especially if you're familiar with Shakespeare's tragedies. Brian Cox and the ubiquitous, recently Oscar-nominated Jessica Chastain round out the great cast.
"Coriolanus" is the new military film directed by and starring Ralph Fiennes, though the source material is hardly new. It's based on the tragic Shakespeare play of the same name and while updated with contemporary references, it's still spoken in the King's English. Well-acted, sublimely directed by Fiennes and often mesmerizing, "Coriolanus" is a worthy, cerebral effort geared mostly for art-house audiences up for something like this. Caius Martius "Coriolanus (Fiennes) is a revered and feared Roman General at odds with the city of Rome and its citizens. Pushed by his controlling mother Volumnia (Vanessa Redgrave, in a stunning, memorable performance) to seek a higher postion, Coriolanus must engage himself with the masses to secure votes for office, something he loathes doing. When the public refuses to support Coriolanus, he's banished from the city and allies himself with a powerful enemy (Gerard Butler, scowling) that has tragic results for him and his family. "Coriolanus" is an auspicious directorial feature film debut for British actor Fiennes, best known to the masses as Voldemort in the "Harry Potter" series. The plot is thick and you must listen closely to the age-old dialogue, but overall it's a satisfying, if not, downbeat, effort, especially if you're familiar with Shakespeare's tragedies. Brian Cox and the ubiquitous, recently Oscar-nominated Jessica Chastain round out the great cast.
Undefeated - B+
Rated PG-13, 110 minutes
Uplifting and intelligent, the new documentary "Undefeated" is an inspiring look at a Tennessee high school football coach and his efforts to turn his team into winners on and off the field. In a real-life turn of events, the film itself was an underdog as it surprisingly won the Academy Award for Documentary Feature. It's worth a look for those who enjoy an entertaining, inspiring real underdog sports story, though the football aspect is really just the backdrop for the human story of the coach and players. "Undefeated" chronicles the story of the Manassas Tigers 2009 season in Manassas, Tennessee. They strive to win the school's first playoff game in the high school's 110-year history. Their coach is Bill Courtney, who's been coaching the team since 2004 and also owns a lumber business in addition to coaching. The players all come from underprivileged and mostly rough backgrounds but they're the most talented team from Manassas to take the field, and the documentary intimately tells all their stories in their attempts to make history. "Undefeated" isn't anything revelatory except that the stories, characters and their challenges are very real. It's also a touching, unforgettable story you won't want to miss. The moving, emotional story will require plenty of tissues, so don't forget them if you see "Undefeated." Inspiring, powerful and intelligently made, you will understand why it recently won the Oscar for Documentary Feature.
Uplifting and intelligent, the new documentary "Undefeated" is an inspiring look at a Tennessee high school football coach and his efforts to turn his team into winners on and off the field. In a real-life turn of events, the film itself was an underdog as it surprisingly won the Academy Award for Documentary Feature. It's worth a look for those who enjoy an entertaining, inspiring real underdog sports story, though the football aspect is really just the backdrop for the human story of the coach and players. "Undefeated" chronicles the story of the Manassas Tigers 2009 season in Manassas, Tennessee. They strive to win the school's first playoff game in the high school's 110-year history. Their coach is Bill Courtney, who's been coaching the team since 2004 and also owns a lumber business in addition to coaching. The players all come from underprivileged and mostly rough backgrounds but they're the most talented team from Manassas to take the field, and the documentary intimately tells all their stories in their attempts to make history. "Undefeated" isn't anything revelatory except that the stories, characters and their challenges are very real. It's also a touching, unforgettable story you won't want to miss. The moving, emotional story will require plenty of tissues, so don't forget them if you see "Undefeated." Inspiring, powerful and intelligently made, you will understand why it recently won the Oscar for Documentary Feature.
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