hb-boyd

When the film first started I wasn't paying attention because it looked like another lame movie that was so bad they were showing it on network TV on a Sunday afternoon. I was even listening to music and doing chores at the same time while, walking in and out of the room, when all of a sudden I found myself getting pulled into the storyline. Immediately I had to cut the music off and stop what I was doing and watch this movie. I couldn't believe the plot because it's a story you very rarely see depicted in film, it's a subject Hollywood basically ignores, HIV/AIDS. But what had me slowly pulling my chair up to my television screen with each scene was the phenomenal acting by the two male leads, both actors who are underrated in Hollywood. These guys knocked their scenes out of the park and made their characters believable. The dialogue felt authentic and the raw emotions were front and center. The use of flashbacks were a good touch and brought the back story to life and connected the missing dots. I felt the ending was abrupt but very effective in driving the severity of the mens' situation across to the audience. If you're a fan on either James Marsden or Scott Speedman, it would be safe to say this is both their most important work to date, hands down. No film is perfect but here's a film featuring a controversial subject matter, gripping storyline, believable characters and amazing acting. What more do you want? I'll be purchasing this for my DVD collection because it's a great picture that requires repeat viewing. Thank you.

Granted, this flick was entertaining but the following flaws ruined the experience for me.

1) The beginning 20 minutes and the final 5 mins felt like a cheap documentary spoof.

2) The aliens were just as stupid as the humans. Intelligent life forms my arse!

3) And too many WTF is going on in this film moments for my taste - very confusing at times.

I can't believe this was named on of the top flicks of 2009. And no, I didn't find it a very intelligent sci-fi film as some critics claimed. Someone described it as a real freak show and I sorta agree, this could've been a much better film in the right hands.

I thought this film was based on a true story, however, the director was inspired by the Manson murders and the events here are only a work of pure fiction. And it's this fact which makes the film a flop because it's dependent on the audience buying into the illusion it's something it's not. Strip away the whole tale we're spun at the beginning about this young couple and the film falls flat - all you've got is another empty, senseless horror film. If this had been a true event it would've carried far more weight and actually been believable and bone chilling scary. The two leads are attractive and competent in their roles (Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman) but the masked killers come off as lazy and brain dead cartoon characters - not convincing murderers. Also the relationship between Liv and Tyler isn't properly addressed, no explanation is given for anything. The couple never gets to resolve their issues before the killers enter the picture but by the end of the film we're led to believe things magically worked themselves out - wtf. In conclusion, this film is a lame excuse for entertainment. If you've seen one slasher flick you've seen this already and the killers are more boring than anything. Do we need any more ridiculous horror flicks that serve no purpose other then to remind us there are still evil, sick folks out there in the world? The Strangers wasn't moving since it lacked any real storyline. Wasn't funny since it was devoid of any humor and to top it off wasn't even scary. Thank God Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman serve as great eye candy because this dud is liable to put you to sleep. YAWN!

I hesitated for a very long time to watch this flick because I was convinced it was a stinker but to my surprise it was very funny. I thought the chemistry amongst the cast was excellent and helped a lot too. So many times you watch these films and the family is so poorly cast but I thought all the actors they got for the roles were a perfect match (even the actress that played Martin Lawrence's mother). When I saw in the previews that the family had a crazy pet pig I thought it was ridiculous and silly, but once you watch the film you quickly fall in love with the cute piggy. I don't think there is anything awful about this film, it's a harmless good time. In my opinion, it also had a very good message about parenting, being a teenager these days and understanding each other. So few films have valuable family messages to take away from them. And from time to time you might actually find yourself tearing up at the sentimental parts unless you're cold-hearted. Frankly, after watching this I don't get the hate other reviewers and critics have towards the film. I can't remember the last time I've seen a really good teen movie - they make so few that are actually worth viewing. It's also one of the few recent Martin Lawrence films I've enjoyed from beginning to end. And Donny Osmond was TOO funny! This should be must-see for parents whose kids will be leaving and going away to college and are finding it hard to let go. Watch this Disney movie with the whole family and have a good laugh. I highly recommend it.

I saw the advance screening of Pride and Glory last night in NYC. It's an excellent film despite the first 30 minutes, which is riddled with enough F-bombs ((classic Collin Farrell)) and Spanish speaking between characters ((no subtitles!)) to make you question whether you'll ever understand what's happening on screen. It's not until after the 30 minute mark that the storyline is finally spelled out for those of us who can't cut through all the nonsense at the start. Thanks to outstanding performances by Edward Norton and Jon Voight this is definitely a MUST see film. All the action will literally have you on the edge of your seat towards the end. However, I'd advise you to spend the first 30 minutes doing something more productive with your time like standing outside in the concession line for popcorn and candy. In the bathroom washing your hands. Maybe on your cell phone having a conversation with your mother would be less punishment than watching the poor set up of this cop flick. But do go out and see this film!!! Just be sure to leave the kids at home, because the profanity, nudity and violence was even a bit too much for some of the adults in the audience. Enjoy.

I went to see the advanced screening of The Dark Knight on IMAX. My first IMAX experience and boy was I blown away - the screen is HUGE. The main reason I hated this film can be summed up in one word - Batman. I hate Christian Bale's portrayal of Batman. He's plain awful, sorry but that's my personal opinion. Bale is stiff, lifeless and even worst lacks charisma, regardless of whether he's playing Bruce Wayne or Batman. He's so disconnected emotionally that as an audience member I didn't care what happened with him. Heath's Joker knows how to grab you straight away and demand your full attention. While Heath's performance is stellar it does lack the wit and humor you'd expect from the Joker. Whereas Jack Nicholas brought us the fun, over-the-top, magically devious Joker; Heather brings us the sad, dark, and pitiful side of the character. He plays it well, so well in fact, that it becomes a complete downer as you pull into the final minutes of this 2.5 hour non-stop shoot 'em up, throw 'em down, car chase, mob flick. It's beyond me how this movie was able to secure a PG-13 rating when it truly deserves a D rating. D for dark, dreadful, depressing, deep, and distressing. This film takes itself so seriously it's nauseating. It's a superhero movie with zero heart, where even the so-called good guy turns bad in the end. And Batman usually has beautiful love interests. The love interest being played by Maggie Gyllenhaal was simply bad casting. While she's a great actress she lacks any sex appeal and doesn't light up the screen as past women have in the Batman series - counting both film and TV, which says a lot. If only the director could have found a way to inject some LIGHT into Dark Knight I would be able to call this a masterpiece, but alas it's more of a bad nightmare.

I urge everyone reading this to NOT listen to reviews written by Mariah haters who want nothing more than to hate this film or people who clearly haven't seen it. I watched the film tonight at the Tribeca Film Festival and enjoyed it. While this movie is about two brothers, it's really the role of Krystal that steals the film. It just so happens to be Mariah Carey's role but if any other actress were playing it I'd probably say the same. Mariah doesn't look lost and confused here as she did in Glitter. Here she's fully confident and it shows. It does help that her character seems to be the only one in the entire film to be fully thought out. The Krystal role really brightens up the screen and comes along at just the right point to move the story along - without her I don't think I'd recommend the film as much.

After the film was over the writer spoke to us about intentionally writing little dialogue so that the actors were allowed to bring their character to life on their own terms. However, it felt at times like the film was too silent and lacked dialogue in important places towards the beginning where the brothers appear at a lost for words because there were simply no lines written. Also, it's hard understanding the relationship between the two brothers and their father without adequate back story. I would have liked to know a little more about how the father came to be the way he was - the few flashbacks did not help explain it. But on another positive note, like an audience member pointed out the film does have a beautiful landscape. The scenery featured throughout include various mountains, valleys and day/evening aerial shots which brought life to the overall picture. I don't recall much of a soundtrack but the one Mariah song was clearly a throwaway from her songbook, which may have been intentional since we're to believe she's an amateur just starting out on her journey to stardom. In conclusion, I'd say the actors all did a fine job with the script they were given and put their best foot forward. However, I think it'd be fair to state that this could have been a much better film with stronger dialogue and better direction.