20 second reviews – part 4

Here is part 4 of my 20 second-reviews of all the films we have rented from Lovefilm since our subscription started.

Semi-Pro
30 December 2008

As a BIG fan of Anchorman and Zoolander (and Will Ferrell generally), I was looking forward to this.  Whilst Blades of Glory made me laugh a lot, this effort fell short.  It was funny, in places, but it had nowhere near the re-watchability (invented word!) that Anchorman has.  Woody Harrellson provided some entertainment also but since I am straining to remember anything in the way of plot or jokes, it can’t have been very memborable.  As the great Randy Jackson would say, it was just aiit for me, dog.  Would watch again without protest but am unlikely to go out of way to do so.

Wanted
13 January 2009

I couldn’t resist this unflattering picture of Angelina – she is pulling a fairly ridiculous face which is fitting because this film is fairly ridiculous.  I still really enjoyed it, ridiculousness notwithstanding.  James McAvoy is one of those actors that seems to go down well with the ladies despite his less than classic good-looks.  He is pretty charming, I suppose.  But I think his inclusion in the film help balance things out and made you root for the character more than a Ryan Reynolds or [insert you own superficial action hero here].  It was great fun and I would definitely like to see this again, preferably in HD.

Forgetting Sarah Marshall
13 January 2009

I like this a LOT more than I was expecting.  At the time I watched it, I only knew Jason Segal from Knocked Up,  having never watched How I Met Your Mother or Freak and Geeks (I am remedying the first watching it daily on E4).  I hadn’t really watched Veronica Mars either, so seeing the usually perky Kristen Bell as the bitchy and eponymous Sarah Marshall probably did not have the impact it could have had.  That said, I DO know Mila Kunis from That 70s Show and Family Guy and I love her.  She made this movie for me.  It was both funny and sad.  Russel Brand was even alright in it although I do cringe whenever there is British stunt casting.  Would happily to see again.

Gone Baby Gone
14 February 2009

I am not sure we actually watched this on Valentine’s Day as the date above suggests since these dates are the dates the DVDs are returned to Lovefilm – I hope not since this is not really romantic fair.  What it is, though, is bloody good film making from the excellent cast (Casey Affleck was just superb as was Amy Ryan who was nominated for an Oscar for her role as the mother whose child goes missing) to the tight script and wonderful direction by Ben Affleck.  This film broke my heart a little and stayed with me for ages after.  I really want to see this again.

Michael Clayton
18 February 2009

I can’t remember the point at which George Clooney stopped being fun, cute Dr Ross / Ocean’s Eleven cheeky chappie but somewhere along the way, The Cloon became not just respected but credible and powerful.  The subject matter was not necessarily that exciting on the surface of it, but before it, I was hooked.  Richard Scickel (Time Magazine film review) said this:

A morally alert, persuasively realistic and increasingly suspenseful melodrama, impeccably acted and handsomely staged by Tony Gilroy.

I completely agree!  I will watch this again someday I expect – despite how much I liked it, I am bound to be reluctant to watch again for the same reason I was reluctant to watch in the first place – because it seems a very dry subject.

Part 1 can be found here.

Part 2 can be found here.

Part 3 can be found here.