Coming Soon

The beginning of the year is always a slow time as far as quality movies go. That coupled with the fact that I just have not been watching that many movies lately contributes to the lack of activity on the blog. However, I believe I am starting to come out of my post-Oscar night hibernation and will be bringing more posts in the near future.

My next foray to the cineplex will be this Friday to see Duplicity, so be sure to check in on Saturday for that review. Sunshine Cleaning will be under wider release starting the 27th so be sure to be looking for that one then. Here is a preview of Duplicity in case you haven't seen one yet.



There are also several good movies coming out on DVD that I have yet to see so I am planning on trying to get a review posted on anything interesting I see from that angle. As for future releases two movies that I am really looking forward to seeing just released their trailers so I will post those to give you a taste of what is to come later in the year. Here are the trailers for Inglorious Basterds and Public Enemies.

WATCHMEN

Maybe it was because I have never read the graphic novel, or perhaps my expectations were too high going in, or maybe it was just a bad movie. Whatever the reason, Watchmen failed to interest or impress me. Given the depth and creative premise, this movie should have been able to deliver a solid punch, but instead it meandered and failed to engage.

Set in the mid 1980's during the peak of the cold war, Watchmen centers around the idea of the escalating potential for nuclear war with one major difference. The United States possesses a group of superhero protectors that have played a part throughout the nation's history known as Watchmen. These masked avengers are dedicated to the idea of justice and protection, but some of their member's motivations, personalities and tactics are anything but innocent.

Following the death of one of the more controversial Watchmen, the Comedian, and the gradual withdraw of the other superheroes from the mainstream because of public fear and outrage, events seem to be in motion toward something sinister. As the doomsday clock ticks toward nuclear annihilation, the only stopgap is the last remaining employed Watchman Dr. Manhattan. He is the result of nuclear mishap that left him with the ability to manipulate matter and produce his own infinite supply of energy. However, as public outrage grows over his perceived dangerous risk, he is left feeling out of touch and questioning why he cares about any of these people who obviously no longer care about him.

This film travels back and forth between being a comic book movie and an attempt to be a political satirist. In its effort it fails to adequately become either as most of the movie feels unguided, disinterested and outdated. It possesses some very unique and interesting scenes and effects but as a whole it simply hits on the wrong notes. Watchmen's biggest failing is its inability to successfully incorporate all of its components into a unified, efficient machine, and instead comes across as competing against itself in a confusing, inconsistent ability to shift between action and its long drawn out sequences. Coming in at almost two and half hours, I found it unbelievable that with all of its dead and wasted time it was not edited down.

The overwhelming bright spot in the film was the impeccable acting of Jackie Earl Haley as Rorschach. The scenes that were dominated by him achieved the look and feel that I longed for from the rest of the movie. A dark character who considers his responsibility as a Watchmen as a badge of honor, he is fiercely dedicated to the idea of justice while at the same time recognizing the crumbling infrastructure of the system he is trying to enforce. This disconnect forces him to sacrifice his own ideals in the name of his ultimate responsibility. The deeds he commits strip him of his humanity as he retreats behind his mask and openly admits that the person behind it died a long time ago. Along with his excellent performance Jeffery Dean Morgan also gives a very strong turn as The Comedian. These two performances also stick out due to the very wooden and emotionally shallow performances of everyone else involved.

Overall a very disappointingly average film that I am sure will still have a strong following from its target audience of adolescent males. The levels of violence and gruesome acts of killing are on par with 300 and Sin City, but its language and displays of sexuality are above and beyond. In other words if you are easily offended this is not the film for you.

My Rating (B-)



Coming Soon:
-This Friday (March 13) Sunshine Cleaning is under limited release. While it will probably be hard to find initially , it will probably be worth seeing if you can find it. Here is a preview.

Very Early Predictions

-I decided that a "what to watch for" list would not be complete without a very early prediction on what the Oscar nominees will be for next year. I can almost guarantee that these will not be the actual nominees, but like I said in the last posting this is mainly for fun (and potential bragging rights). It is my goal to get at least one or maybe two out of the possible five... I would be very happy with that. This posting will officially end my coverage of the Oscars until next year, and this blog will begin focusing on reviews of movies in theaters along with some occasional reviews on other random movies I happen to watch. And my '09 predictions are...

Best Picture:
Shutter Island
The Human Factor
Nine
The Lovely Bones
Tree of Life

Best Director:
Martin Scorsese for Shutter Island
Peter Jackson for The Lovely Bones
Micheal Mann for Public Enemies
Clint Eastwood for The Human Factor
Ang Lee for Taking Woodstock

Best Actor:
Leonardo DiCaprio for Shutter Island
Robert Downey Jr. for Sherlock Holmes
Daniel-Day Lewis for Nine
Morgan Freeman for The Human Factor
Viggo Mortensen for The Road

Best Actress:
Hilary Swank for Amelie
Meryl Streep for Julia and Julia
Helen Mirren for The Tempest
Saorise Ronan for The Lovely Bones
Nicole Kidman for Nine

Best Supporting Actor:
Mark Ruffalo for Shutter Island
Jude Law for Sherlock Holmes
Jaime Fox for The Soloist
Kodi Smit-McPhee for The Road
Christian Bale/Johnny Depp/Billy Crudup/Giovanni Ribisi for Public Enemies (I am not sure if Bale/Depp or both will be considered lead, but I will bet that one of these guys gets a nomination here...Is it cheating to list four?)

Best Supporting Actress:
Amy Adams for Julia and Julia
Penelope Cruz for Nine
Rachel Weisz for The Lovely Bones
Michelle Williams for Shutter Island
Rachel McAdams for Sherlock Holmes


Coming Soon:
I am going to see Watchmen on Friday so look for that review on either Friday or Saturday... here is a preview if you haven't see one already.