Following on from part 1 of my 20 second reviews of our Lovefilm selections, here are some more of our rental titles:
The Game Plan
24 August 2008
Ok so this film wont win any awards. I know this. But I love Dwayne Johnson (I am trying to stop calling him The Rock since it is clearly what he wants but Dwayne? Really? Ok then). This is a family movie, feel good, cute and funny. The child actor (pictured above) is toothache-cute and Dwayne is not afraid to laugh at himself which I admire. (I also admire his arms). This is a Sunday afternoon movie and I will probably watch it again if it happened to be on TV.
American Gangster
28 August 2008
I am not used to seeing Denzel is such a baddass, meanie role but he played it well which is hardly surprising. The film is an intricately woven account of drug trafficking and police corruption in Harlem in the early 1970s. Although there was a smart script, great performances from Washington and Russell Crowe and it was most enjoyable while I was watching it, it had no lasting impact. I am not sure I would watch this again.
National Treasure – The Book of Secrets
16 September 2008
Look, I know it’s very fashionable to mock Mr Cage and especially this franchise. He is a little odd. And his films of late do leave a lot to be desired (I am looking at you, Knowing). but I can’t help it. I liked this film! It was a fun, exciting, ridiculous, funny jaunt. Diane Kruger is rather lovely (although she is currently dating Pacey so she is not in my good books). All in all, it is harmless fun and should not be expected to be anything more.
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
16 September 2008
Despite it’s really long title, this film was sensational. Brad Pitt and Casey Affleck (Ben’s lil brother) delivered amazing performances both. Rather than be a good old western, the look of the film was exquisite and it is presented as a psychoanalytical historical epic rather than a shoot-em-up western. It was based on a novel with the same name which I would like to read at some point (although I don’t fancy my chances). I want to see this film again and soon.
We Own the Night
25 October 2008
The opening scene of this film was very raunchy (oh my god, I am turning into my mother!) but set the scene for the feel of the movie which shows the seedy lifestyle of a nightclub owner played by Joachim Phoenix as well as the possibly harder life of his dutiful policeman brother, played by Mark Wahlberg (who knew he would become such a big hitter with real talent?!). This review on Rotten Tomatoes sums it up for me:
A grown-up thriller about morality and the consequences of choice, We Own The Night harks back to an earlier era. A cast of heavy-hitters give it all a solid, polished sheen.
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