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2007 Winter Video Roundup, Vol. III

2/16/07

"United 93"

This round of Netflix came in as I was trying to make sure I saw most, if not all, of the Oscar-nominated films out there; man, I can't believe I didn't see "United 93" while it was in theaters.  Great movie, truly great, especially since it appears that writer/director Paul Greengrass didn't even use veteran actors in these parts...instead, the film works better because the fresh faces lend much more realism to a day that featured so many stock Americans in roles unfamiliar to them, be it FAA officials, or air traffic control operators and supervisors, or--in the worst-case scenario, pilots, stewardesses and passengers on four ill-fated flights bound to take out significant American targers on 9/11.  Only about a third of the film is set on the events that might have taken place on United's Flight 93--the one that crashed somewhere in Pennsylvania after it was assumed that the passengers overtook the terrorists in charge only as the plane was being driven to the ground.  Greengrass does a great job of putting you right at the heart of the drama, and how crazy it must have been to be watching much of this action from behind the monitor on a regular ol' Tuesday that turned out to be anything but.

Rating:  Opening Weekend

"Half Nelson"

Ryan Gosling was nominated for Best Actor for his performance in this small indie drama, which I swear no one I know has seen and by only making about $5 million in box office, something tells me that no one anywhere saw it, so it's a surprise that the role was even considered.  The work here by Gosling is great stuff, although movies featuring coked-out white guys are becoming a little old hat for me, you know?  Gosling plays a history teacher who spends his days barely awake from drug and alcohol hangovers the night before, but his kids love him, most notably the solemn self-starter (Shareeka Epps) who plays on the school basketball team (that's right--this cokehead is even the girls' hoops coach!).  Through their friendship, the teacher slowly learns the errors of his ways.  You know what?  I thought the movie was just alright; it didn't move me like I thought it would; the acting was stellar.  It's just not a movie that featured anything worth watching twice.

Rating:  Matinee

"Jesus Camp"

Wow!  As this was nominated for Best Documentary Feature at this year's Oscars, I added this one to the queue...and, I was very satisfied with the result.  The film follows a number of evangelical Christians as they prepare for a worship camp held Somewhere in the Mountains, giving us perspectives on religion in the middle of America from adults, teens and young'uns (those 12 and under) who celebrate the Lord's word.  You know, I give the filmmakers credit--they don't seem to take sides during the 90-minute film, even if not taking sides still leaves those crazy evangelicals looking like former strait jacket residents.  Worth a viewing, whether you are religious or not.

Rating:  Opening Weekend

"The Assassination of Richard Nixon"

I remember seeing the trailer for this Sean Penn film a few years back and thinking it had to be nothing short of amazing...but, then it was released, and its buzz was pretty quiet through its short run in theaters.  Video doesn't treat the drama any better; in 1974, a stereotypical loser (Penn) suffers through a messy separation from his wife (Naomi Watts) and kids, struggles to hold even a job selling office furniture, and has trouble relating with minorities at all points, most importantly with his buddy Bonny (Don Cheadle), who runs a tire and auto shop that the loser used to also work at a couple of years ago.  When everything implodes, he decides to go absolutely insane and try to kill random people on a plane at BWI Airport.  Yeah, I don't get it either, but apparently, the Penn character is based on a real person, so this movie's got THAT going for it...and, not much else!  This was disappointing, mostly because Penn has done this kind of crazy before and his character's backstory makes literally no sense at all.

Rating:  Rental

 

Comments?  Drop me a line at justin@bellviewmovies.com.

 

Bellview Rating System:

"Opening Weekend":  This is the highest rating a movie can receive.  Reserved for movies that exhibit the highest level of acting, plot, character development, setting...or Salma Hayek.  Not necessarily in that order. 

"$X.XX Show":  This price changes each year due to the inflation of movie prices; currently, it is the $9.50 Show.  While not technically perfect, this is a movie that will still entertain you at a very high level.  "Undercover Brother" falls into this category; it's no "Casablanca", but you'll have a great time watching.  The $9.50 Show won't win any Oscars, but you'll be quoting lines from the thing for ages (see "Office Space"). 

"Matinee":  An average movie that merits no more than a $6.50 viewing at your local theater.  Seeing it for less than $9.50 will make you feel a lot better about yourself.  A movie like "Blue Crush" fits this category; you leave the theater saying "That wasn't too bad...man, did you see that Lakers game last night?" 

"Rental":  This rating indicates a movie that you see in the previews and say to your friend, "I'll be sure to miss that one."  Mostly forgettable, you couldn't lose too much by going to Hollywood Video and paying $3 to watch it with your sig other, but you would only do that if the video store was out of copies of "Ronin."  If you can, see this movie for free.  This is what your TV Guide would give "one and a half stars." 

"Hard Vice":  This rating is the bottom of the barrel.  A movie that only six other human beings have witnessed, this is the worst movie I have ever seen.  A Shannon Tweed "thriller," it is so bad as to be funny during almost every one of its 84 minutes, and includes the worst ending ever put into a movie.  Marginally worse than "Cabin Boy", "The Avengers" or "Leonard, Part 6", this rating means that you should avoid this movie at all costs, or no costs, EVEN IF YOU CAN SEE IT FOR FREE!  (Warning:  strong profanity will be used in all reviews of "Hard Vice"-rated movies.)