..::Movie Reviews
*Insomnia*, Starring Al Pacino, Robin Williams, Hilary Swank
Last weekend, both my best friend, Lexi and myself decided to stay in town, on a Saturday night, and check the theater to see what movies were playing. We remembered seeing the previews for *Insomnia*, and both being fans of *Memento*, opted to go see it. I really wanted to enjoy this movie, but from the first moment Hilary Swank's character came on screen, in all her perky glory, I should have realized something was up. For those of you who are not familiar with this film, quick description, 'A sleep-deprived detective is sent to a small Alaskan town to investigate the murder of a teenage girl. Forced into a psychological game of cat-and-mouse by the primary suspect, events escalate and the detective finds his own stability dangerously threatened.' The detective is played by the great Al Pacino, that is desperately showing the signs of age, the 'primary suspect', Robin Williams, is in what many have noted as an unusual, out of character role for him, but we have been shown in the past that yes, Robin Williams does have serious roles in him (example: 'Dead Poet's Society'), but a psychologically manipulative killer? I had to see this. The movie starts out smart, it almost has a somewhat 'Seven' like feel to it. (Detective goes to suspect's home, suspect comes up the steps, a chase occurs.) The beginning plot is thick in complexity and suspense, as Pacino struggles between being a 'good' cop, 'bad' cop. Mid-movie though, things take a turn into both drawn out and cliche. The attention shifts from the girl's murder, which in your face or not is the underline plot of the film, and it becomes a battle of wits between Pacino and Williams. Sadly, it's not all that witty, the moments that should be more chilling and delivered with more of a 'bang' are mumbled out and muddled, and you soon find yourself just waiting for what you know what will happen to unfold and get it over with. Williams gives a decent performance, Swank is gritting on the nerves, and Pacino is predictable in the last half of the film. It's a decent film, but I would have rather waited for rental.
New for Rental:
*The Mothman Prophecies*, Starring Richard Gere, Debra Messing, Laura Linney
I'll cut to the chase: I enjoyed this film. The first half was perfect horror-atmosphere. The film builds up and delivers at just the right tones. 'Richard Gere brings adequate torment, portent, and ambiguity to his role as a Washington Post reporter and grieving widower plagued by a mysterious, unseen urban legend known as the Mothman. Pellington develops subtle doom and gloom that's as effective as the paranoid streak he brought to Arlington Road. As the Mothman terrifies a West Virginia town, he remains an enigma, glimpsed almost subliminally. This--along with a magnificently creepy soundtrack--amplifies the movie's surreal overtones while keeping everything else (unsettling phone calls, prophesied disasters, suggestions of the afterlife) completely unexplained.' (Theatrical Release) For the few moments Debra Messing (NBC's *Will & Grace*) was in the film, she was captivating. Though the characters remained a little bit underdeveloped, the movie had a good flow to it. Though it takes a lot to scare me, this film had me looking over my shoulder. I'm not sure if it was the fact that it was past Midnight or that the events in this film were based on true accounts/reports. The movie kind of lost me near the end, you basically knew what was going to happen, but the first half of the film was great. I recommend this, and if you don't like it, it beats paying the theater ticket prices.
*Vanilla Sky*, Starring Tom Cruise, Penelope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, Kurt Russell
Ok, first and foremost, I hated this film. This film didn't strike much of my attention in the first place to see it in theater, due to my distaste for both Tom Cruise and Peneople Cruz, but I decided to give it a try when I was eyeing the new rental racks. Visually a nice film to watch...setting wise. The plot took too many twists and turns and didn't deliver enough. You soon find yourself bored and by the end of the film disappointed. Remembering the previews, the film looked somewhat interesting, but when actually watching it, it seems that director, Cameron Crowe, tried too hard. Too hard to be controversial, too hard on being groundbreaking, too hard on trying to be psychologically thrilling. If you are a Cruise fan, go for it, but be prepared to be disappointed, and for those who, like me can't stand most of the people in the cast, don't even bother.
Recommendation from my favorites vault:
*Uncle Buck*, Starring John Candy
Say what you want, but I love this movie. It's a great lighthearted comedy, that will keep you both laughing and interested. It's hard to believe that John Candy is no longer alive, he was a genius. And of course, it's a John Hughes (*Breakfast Club*) film, so right there you know you cannot go wrong with this film. I wish I had an uncle like, Uncle Buck.