Adann-Kennn's Movie Reviews June 27

By Adann-Kennn Alexxandar

VDT View June 27, 2009 12:42 pm

— “The Taking of Pelham 123” (Drama/Action: 1 hour, 45 minutes); Starring: Denzel Washington, John Travolta, Luis Guzmán, John Turturro, and James Gandolfini; Director: Tony Scott; Rated: R (Profanity, sexual innuendo and violence)
Movie Review: Walter Garber (Washington), a subway dispatcher chief for New York City, is having a great day until a person known as only Ryder (Travolta) radios to tell Garber he has commandeered subway train Pelham 123. Ryder tells Garber he wants $10 million and one cent in one hour, or he starts killing the 19 passengers one at a time until New York City pays the ransom. The police, the media, and even the city’s mayor (Gandolfini) are involved in trying to save the passengers of Pelham 123.
This high suspense piece works — thanks to the nice repartee between Washington and Travolta. As the two have dialogue over a CB radio, the plot becomes more interesting, making this a nice remake of the 1974 “The Taking of Pelham One Two Three” (Director Joseph Sargent, starring Walter Matthau and Robert Shaw).
Travolta plays villains very nicely because the roles allow him range and versatility he lacks elsewhere. He is at his nastiest here, but it is Washington who becomes the more believable character, playing a disgraced bureaucrat. The men give audiences an exciting rollercoaster ride of intense measures. Also, Gandolfini plays a disgruntled mayor with zing.
The end is lackluster and lacks the intelligence of the film’s beginning. If viewers pay close attention, a distinct prop goof involving weaponry is evident. Still, Director Scott, who teamed up with Washington for three other big films: “Deja Vu” (2006), “Man on Fire” (2004) and “Crimson Tide” (1995), gives audiences great entertainment via snappy dialogue.
Grade: B (All aboard!)

“Imagine That” (Comedy/Adventure: 1 hour, 47minutes); Starring: Eddie Murphy, Yara Shahidi, and Thomas Haden Church; Director: Karey Kirkpatrick; Rated: PG-13 (Mild language and crude behavior)
Movie Review: Evan (Murphy) is a financial executive. His career is not the best now. Within his company’s firm, he is constantly outmaneuvered by financial rival Whitefeather (played energetically by Church), who claims to be Native American and uses nature to help decide financial investments. Evan is not a good father. However, he becomes very attentive to his daughter, Olivia (Shahidi, in her film debut), after he realizes her imaginary friends are correctly providing tips about financial markets and corporate ventures.
The premise of this movie appears farfetched, but it works as a family film. While Murphy makes faces and dances around in familiar ways, he provides a unique presentation. His relationship with Shahidi is contagiously entrancing. At the center of this comedy is a competition between two men. Yet at the heart, a nice parent-offspring relationship exists.
Grade: B- (Imagine family fun)

“The Proposal” (Romance: 1 hour, 48 minutes); Starring: Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds, Mary Steenburgen, Craig T. Nelson and Betty White; Director: Anne Fletcher; Rated: PG-13 (Sexual innuendo, nudity and mild language)
Movie Review: Margaret Tate (Bullock) is the top editor of a publishing firm. Just as she is at the top of her game, the U.S. government informs her of her expired Visa status, so she faces deportation to Canada. To stop her return to Canada, Tate desperately blackmails her assistant, Andrew Paxton (Reynolds), into marrying her. The newly engaged couple — although no one appears to ask to see the ring— heads to Alaska to for the birthday of Paxton’s Grandmother Annie (humorously played White).
Usually these contrite, formulaic films are a nuisance because screenplay writers do not try something new with modern romances. So, comedy is the means to make many modern romance films work, and the comedy is better than the romance. “The Proposal” sets itself up as a comedy, leaving the romance to circumstance, even if still formulaic.
Some moments are ridiculously goofy. For instance, Bullock’s initial entry into her office is a scene similar “Devil Wears Prada” (Director David Frankel, 2006). Nevertheless, the characters provide laughs under the direction of Anne Fletcher (“27 Dresses,” 2008). Bullock, also an executive producer, and Reynolds work here, especially Reynolds, proving the lead male role is suited for him. Another reason to see this film is Betty White. She never bores.
Grade: B- (Say yes.)

Easy Virtue (Period Comedy/Drama: 1 hour, 37 minutes); Starring: Jessica Biel, Colin Firth, Ben Barnes and Kristin Scott Thomas; Director: Stephan Elliot ; Rated: PG-13 (Brief nudity, thematic elements and strong language)
Movie Review: Alfred Hitchcock directed the first edition of “Easy Virtue” on the big screen in 1928, based on a play by Noel Coward. This tale follows the exploits of Larita Whittaker (Biel), a widow and Grand Prix automobile racer. She is blond, gorgeous and American. The last adjective is the one that irritates Mrs. Whittaker (Thomas), a cranky British lady who is disappointed her son John (Barnes) has married a scandalous, slightly older woman. Not all is bad news for Larita, her father-in-law (Firth) thinks she is wonderful.
A comical period piece, “Easy Virtue” delights in that it keeps throwing new comical and story material at its audience. Every scene plays like either a good drama, or a fine comedy. This screenplay nicely mixes the two, giving audience double the entertainment value.
Biel thrills here. Her beauty works, except that is not what makes her performance. She is brazen, much like a younger Katharine Hepburn. Biel’s character is fascinating, and the actress plays her as if she has something to hide. Maybe, she does?
Kristin Scott Thomas is dynamite in any film. Check out her performance in “I’ve Love You So Long (2007).” Thomas is the antagonist. She plays her part irritatingly. She is Biel’s adversary, and the two women appear to have fun playing against each other. Barnes (“Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian,” 2008) is Biel’s dashing husband. He works as the movie’s nice guy and singing cast member. Yet the person with the tough role — but he does a good job — is Colin Firth. He conveys much with few words. Firth never gives a bad performance.
This period piece works as a nice getaway from the heat of summer. Laughter and enjoyment are the easy virtues of this production. Great lines, cinematography and amusing cast are an easy diversion.
Grade: B (Virtuous)

Rudo y Cursi (Sports Drama: 1 hour, 41 minutes; Spanish with English subtitles); Starring: Gael García Bernal, Diego Luna, Jessica Mas, and Guillermo Francella; Director: Carlos Cuarón; Rated: R (Profanity, sexual innuendo, nudity, violence and sexuality)
Movie Review: Discovered by soccer scout/manager Batuta (Francella), Tato (Bernal), a.k.a. “Cursi,” and his brother Beto (Luna), known to fans as “Rudo,” are two of Mexico’s best soccer players. They go from playing in their neighborhood to being soccer super stars. They quickly become wealthy, famous, and sought after by many. Tato just wants to promote his singing career. Beto wants to be the best soccer player, but he gambles more than he plays soccer. The two find the life of the rich and famous comes with pluses and minuses.
As sport dramas go, this is one of the better films. “Rudo and Cursi” moves slow, evolving into a great dramatic plot, which the rest of the world calls football. Soccer merely serves as backdrop for three colorful characters to play out their lives.
Bernal and Luna are a great pairing. Their films, like others of Latin America, are very realistic. The audiences may remember them from unique “Y tu mamá también” (Director Alfonso Cuarón, 2001, which Carlos Cuarón wrote the screenplay). Bernal and Luna, like the Cuarón Brothers, have a genuine chemistry. Bernal and Luna are two of the best Latino actors. As Rudo and Cursi, they are dynamic. Each plays off the other in the most interesting manner. A neat touch to this drama is Francella. He narrates and gives the film an edge as a devious soccer manager. He is like a mix of boxing promoter Don King and wrestling’s Vince McMahon.
Grade: B+ (More than accomplishes its goal)

Year One (Adventure/Comedy: 1 hour, 36 minutes); Starring: Jack Black, Michael Cera, David Cross and Oliver Platt; Director: Harold Ramis; Rated: PG-13 (Crude humor, sexual innuendo, violence, thematic elements and profanity)
Movie Review: Zed (Black) and Oh (Cera) are two cavemen who leave their tribe for a better world. As they travel, they encounter Biblical personas: Cain and Abel, Isaac, Abraham and others, including visits to Sodom and Gamorrah.
From point one, this farce is ridiculous to the point it is almost good. Black plays goofy again, and Cera duplicates role from the hit “Juno” again. Neither guy rarely does anything new, yet they continue to making millions. While the Biblical interactions are cunning, the rest is dumb jokes, one after the next.
Grade: D+ (Viewers are clubbed over the head.)