[100M] American Gangster, Across the Universe, Enchanted, The Golden Compass
80 - American Gangster
December 3rd, theaters
It's weird that, telling the story of an unconventional gangster in the seventies (he's black, and deals heroine like a buisnessman), Ridley Scott makes a very conventional gangster movie and includes every cliché of the genre. As a result, you can't really feel the difference of Frank Lucas with every other gangster you've ever seen in a movie, which is quite contrary to the point. Exepted that one line at the end, it's really not obvious how different he is.
The movie is 2,5 hours long and you reaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaally feel its really slow pace. It's not bad, and I liked how most shots were constructed, but I spent more time watching them than the movie itself, because I'm not a big fan of gangster movies, although I can enjoy them. Just, not this one.
I also really can't feel anything for the hero in this. Denzel Washington is good, and I liked that although Frank Lucas is supposed to be gentleman-dealer, he's really creepy, but he's still selling hard drugs so I can't wait for him to be arrested and I'm not really in awe.
I kinda liked Richie Roberts although the family troubles get old quite quickly but he's scarily honnest, and that makes the ending quite satisfying for me. I'm not sure why, but I generally like Russel Crowe.
The women in there are not totally gangster wives but still answer to that every annoying cliché : as long as they're not confronted to how their husband makes money, they're ok with not wondering how they have so much of it, but they don't want to KNOW it otherwise they leaves them. Here, it's not totally that, but Mrs Lucas still appears dumb to be THAT scared after getting shot. What was she thinking ? That you can make so much money illegally and don't have ennemies ? This is the number one cliché I HAAATE about gangster movies, and although she's not the worst, it's still annoying.
Also, seing this two days after Eastern Promises make it look very mild. Ok, there's some shooting a but as I said in that review, since they're ALL gangsters (or cops) you don't care that much (also, totally not graphic here). The drug use scenes were fare worse (erk, needles).
* * (on a scale from 1 to 5)
I'm feeling unfair because it wasn't a bad movie, but I wasn't interested.
81 - Across the Universe
December 5th, theaters
A musical with only Beatles songs, by Julie Taymor, director of the amazing Frida.
Let's start with the negative. It sometimes feels quite artificial, like they tried to fit as many references and song as possible in the movie. I'm not even a big Beatles fan, so I'm sure I missed a lot, and some were just useless. Also, the general story is the usual coming of age in the sixties story, nothing you haven't seen before. It's not that much a problem considering the rest of the movie, but still not really original. And Bono, who I like, makes a unimpressive "I am the Walrus".
However, the visual imagination of the movie is insane. Some parts are brilliant. Really brilliant, with crazy visual ideas, more imagination you've seen in the year, and just perfect. The enrollement of Max, for example, is incredible. I'm still looking forward to anything Julie Taymor will do, based on THAT scene only.
And "Happiness is a warm gun", and "Strawberry fields forever".
And Salma Hayek <3
It made me smile so hard sometimes, I was giggling because it was so pretty and so clever and so joyful (well, not always, but a good balance).
The two boys, Max and Jude are adorable. I wanted to hug them both so hard. Jim Sturgess singing voice reminded me a lot of Ewan's.
It's too bad not all the movie is as good as the best scenes because they can be really amazing.
* * * (on a scale from 1 to 5) for the overall movie
* * * * * (on a scale from 1 to 5) for some parts that were some of the most brilliant I've seen this year
82 - Enchanted (Il était une fois)
December 6th, theaters
That was so cute, and silly, and cheerful, and adorable. It made me laugh a lot, especially Prince Edward who was so stupid, it was endearing. He was the one who made me laugh the most (the mirror) and I can't believe I liked James Mardsen so much. Edward is so clueless and adorable and he's chasing her because obviously he HAS to marry her and I really wanted him to get her back. I hope he was not supposed to be the bad guy you hate because he's the funniest part of the movie with his goofy grin and everything.
The actress playing Giselle nailed the Disney Princess body attitude. It's funny how silly those movements seems in real life (I LIKE the Disney princesses). And making her dresses from the curtains ! She looks so dumb it's adorable.
I love that the movie started with the book, like an old Disney movie, I was already laughing at that part, it was great.
It also reminded me that I liked McDreamy for a few episodes of Grey's Anatomy. When he was all pretty hair and puppy eyes and not an asshat. Anyway, Patrick Dempsey's charming in this. I loved his outfit at the ball too. And I loved that he wsa the damsel in distress.
I spent the whole movie thinking that Nathanael would make a good Peter Pettigrew...Err... I suppose I should pay more attention to non-Snape scenes in the Harry Potter movies ?
It was cheesy, but I kinda want to see it again because it's so cuuuuuuuuuute and funny.
* * * (on a scale from 1 to 5)
83 - The Golden Compass
December 3rd, theaters
It looks so much like what I imagined while reading the book. I actually thought it was quite impressive sometimes because really, exactly how I imagined things. It's also very pretty, and I liked the costumes, settings and everything.
Nicole is great, and I don't care you're all snickering, she really is. She's creepy and pretty and I loooooooooooooooove her. And her costumes. And also, Lee is fantastic. And I didn't know Iorek was Gandalf. That's cool. The actress playing Lyra is quite good too.
I laughed a lot at random!ChristopherLee!appearance.
My main concern about it isn't adaptation, what they left out and changed, because I understand the need to do this while turning a book into a movie and mostly it didn't change much from what I remember. The only thing is why they decided to end the movie at that point ? Anyway, adaptation is ok with me, the problem is that the movie isn't very fascinating. It's an adventure movie and it didn't feel very thrilling to me. I wasn't really bored, but given how I loved the book, it was disappointing.
* * * (on a scale from 1 to 5)