Review of film: "THE NUTCRACKER IN 3-D" ( having children talking with toys to fight Rats )

Review of film:  “THE NUTCRACKER IN 3-D”

The setting is VIENNA at Christmas-time, the producers are from the U.K. & Hungary, & the director is Russian veteran ANDREI KONCHALOVSKY…  The heroine is a nine-year-old named Mary (ELLE FANNING), who has a toy-destroying younger brother named Max (AARON MICHAEL DROZIN)…

…  Their father (RICHARD E. GRANT)  is somewhat stuffy, & their mother (YULIYA VYSOTSKAYA) tends to be fairly quiet when she isn’t performing as “The Snow Fairy”… 

…  The person the kids most enjoy is their eccentric uncle Albert (NATHAN LANE) who lives as a “free spirit” & regularly brings them gifts they enjoy, such as this year's magical wooden Nutcracker toy plus a doll house with animated mechanical characters Tinker (HUGH SACKS), Gielgud the chimp (voiced by PETER ELLIOTT), drum-player boy Sticks (AFRICA NILE)…

…  In time, the Nutcracker --  also known as “N C” -- (voiced by SHIRLEY HENDERSON) comes to life & entrances Elle and Aaron.  But, NC warns of the evil intentions of the Rats in the area.  Tho some start out as animated figures, certain ones come to life--  the Rat King (heartily played by JOHN TURTURRO), & the Rat Queen (FRANCES DE LA TOUR) who also is the kids’ housekeeper Frau Eva…

…  While the kids very much enjoy it when their toys are brought to life by NC, they are quite upset when the Rat leaders try to take control.  In time, they realize that NC is actually a Prince (CHARLIE ROWE) who’s been turned into a wooden toy by an evil spell.  The story revolves around trying to defeat the Rats & their army so the Prince can regain control…

…  The movie is shot in 3-D (tho it doesn’t really “ADD” much to the overall quality), & it alternates some of the familiar classic Tchaikovsky music with eight new tunes written by Sir Tim Rice & sung by various characters (including enthusiastic renditions by Nathan Lane)…        

…  There were lots of pre-teen kids brought to the advance screening, & they seemed generally pleased with the “magic” areas of the film (tho certain sequences appeared to be somewhat “intense” for very young kids).  The music is often “chipper” & tuneful, tho nothing especially “hummable”…

….  Given all that, plus the fact the film has just mid-level “special effects”, it all came across as “diverting” but nothing exceptional, & thus I’m rating it 7.00 out of 10 stars…

Review of film: "MADE IN DAGENHAM" (about women striking for equal pay for equal work)

Review of film:  “MADE IN DAGENHAM”

Times were often very DIFFERENT in 1968.  Life may have been “simpler” in many ways, yet it was also more DIFFICULT in certain situations…

…  The scene for this true-story movie is a town in England called Dagenham, main home plant of that country’s largest auto-builder, FORD.  As reported by union rep Albert Passingham (BOB HOSKINS) to the 187 female employees at the plant (which had many thousands of male workers), the plant bosses had once again delayed consideration of their complaint of having been “RE-GRADED” to being supposedly “UN-skilled labor”…

…  The women were very angry that their complaints about the matter kept being “DELAYED” by the plant’s big-shots:  they did all the work laboring under difficult conditions in sewing the SEATS used in the Ford cars…

…  The women had to construct the seats using NO “templates” for the designs, they considered that to be very definitely “SKILLED” labor, & deeply disliked the re-grading that REDUCED their PAY even more.  Times were hard at taking care of their families with such low pay, & --  as union shop-steward Connie (GERALDINE JAMES) pointed out --, they wanted to go on a short STRIKE to get back their grade-levels & pay…

…  Union rep Monty was actually just a “TOADY” for Ford & what it wanted, &, as Bob points out to Geraldine & her co-worker Rita O’Grady (SALLY HAWKINS), he feels the basic problem is that Ford & other companies didn’t want to come up with EQUAL PAY for women for equal work…

…  During a meeting with the supposed main “union” reps, Geraldine & especially Sally speak up strongly AGAINST allowing the company to continue delaying a “decision” on their demands.  Sally points out how the women are actually doing SKILLED labor work & deserved to be PAID accordingly.  The male reps are horrified at the thought of “defying” the company’s wishes by demanding a prompt decision about their grievances…

…  Initially, Rita’s husband Eddie (DANIEL MAYS) is supportive of her protests.  He’s even impressed at the way she complains to the school attended by their son Graham (ROBBIE KAY), wanting them to dismiss the bullying teacher who keeps CANING the son for minor matters…

…  As the company keeps “stone-walling” against the complaints of the women, Sally & the others become more “MILITANT” in following-thru on their demands & protest strikes…  That causes life to become increasingly difficult for the MEN at the plant, which leads to a lot of family problems for the women & their “better halves” (& “quarters”)…

…  Will the British GOVERNMENT get involved in the protests, as desired by minister Barbara Castle (MIRANDA RICHARDSON)?...  Will they cave-in to the threats made by FORD?...  Will the striking women get ANY of what they want, & if so, what?...

…  It’s an UPLIFTING story of how a small number of people can make a real “DIFFERENCE”, & (after 2008’s “Happy-Go-Lucky”) shows the continuing powerfully-believable work of Sally Hawkins.  Bob Hoskins & the others also are fine in the cast, & I give a rating of 7.75 stars out of 10 for this well-done venture…

Review of film: “HARRY POTTER & THE DEATHLY HALLOWS – PART 1”

Review of film:  “HARRY POTTER & THE DEATHLY HALLOWS – PART 1”

So many CHARACTERS, so little time to get a “program” & a “scorecard”!...

…  The latest “HARRY POTTER” film (# 7) is the 1^st of a 2-part story whose ending is set for release in the summer of 2011.  This film is a “SET-UP” for that movie.

…  In Part 1, Lord Voldemort (RALPH FIENNES) is holding a congregation of the “BAD guys” in the story (including Professor Severus Snape = ALAN RICKMAN) & Draco Malfoy = TOM FELTON) to discuss the best ways to find and get RID of Harry Potter (DANIEL RADCLIFF)…

…  Harry is surrounded by his usual friends, including Ron Weasley (RUPERT GRINT) & other members of his family, and their dear and talented wizard companion Hermione Granger (EMILY WATSON), Rubeus Hagrid (ROBBIE COLTRANE) and others.  They devise a way to try to help him arrive at a “SAFE” house…

…  These are not “happy” times for Harry & his compatriots.  They have to expend huge efforts to try to find and destroy the remaining deadly Horcruxes--  only to find that there are even MORE DANGEROUS objects around in the form of three “DEATHLY HALLOWS”, which necessitates also seeking out them…

…  This film has the usual exceptionally creative & well-done SPECIAL EFFECTS, with changing images, scary creatures, multiple-direction “elevators” (involving having to confront Dolores Umbridge = IMELDA STAUNTON), numerous pursuits by Deatheaters, etc….

…  A good deal of time is spent by the 3 main “Harry Faction” friends spending time “escaping” & “searching” for various items in forests and rocky areas & the like.  At one point, “JEALOUSY” rears its head to complicate matters…

…  As you can tell, I am purposely NOT going into a lot of definitive “details” of the movie, because it’s those particulars that really make-up the “ESSENCE” of the film, which tends to include more “EMOTIONAL” involvements than previous entries in the series…

…  I found some of the film SLOW-going, mainly in the scenes of the 3 out in the “countryside”.  But, as unimpressive as the “pacing” was there, the SPECIAL-EFFECTS tend to “make-up” for that shortcoming…

…  Thus, I’m giving the film 8.25 stars (& being more on the lookout for its SEQUEL -- which I assume will “tie-up” the maddeningly-numerous “loose-ends”)…

Review of film: "SKYLINE" ( a sci-fi about unfriendly aliens who attack the Earth )

Review of film:  “SKYLINE”

One of the best companies doing SPECIAL EFFECTS is HYDRAULX, run by the Brothers Colin & Gregor STRAUSE.  They’ve worked on films such as “BENJAMIN BUTTON”, “2012”, “IRON MAN 2” & “AVATAR”, & decided to make their OWN movie (using their expertise & some of their personal money), & the result is “SKYLINE”…

…  As the film starts, graphic artist / photographer Jarrod (ERIC BALFOUR) takes his girlfriend Elaine (SCOTTIE THOMPSON) to visit an old now-well-to-do friend Terry (DONALD FAISON) who was to celebrate his birthday at his expensive penthouse condo in the Los Angeles area…

…  At the party, they meet a bunch of Donald’s friends, such as Candice (BRITTANY DANIEL), Denise (CRYSTAL REED), Ray (NEIL HOPKINS), & a neighbor Oliver (DAVID ZAYAS) who complains about all the noise from the celebration…

…  As Eric & Scottie try to sleep after the festivities, they are awakened by loud rumblings, a shaking building and a city which is bathed in strange blue LIGHTS that seem to be falling down from the sky.  Neil (& others) are attracted by the bizarre lights-- & seem to suddenly disappear “INTO” those lights…

…  Those rays also cause people like Eric to develop disconcerting DEFECTS on their bodies, which grow worse as they’re hit by the light and better as they get away from the beams.  Clearly, things are “NOT RIGHT” in L.A. -- & the cause isn’t the usual “gossip-mongering”!...

…  Eric & gun-toting Donald decide to INVESTIGATE what’s going on.  The more they check into things around the building & view surrounding areas, the WORSE things look.  The illuminations quickly show themselves to be linked with a series of peculiar organic TENTACLED creatures that fly thru the air & stomp around as they work to ATTACK & GOBBLE-UP any people they see (& we aren’t talking a THANKSGIVING celebration here!)…

…  Seeing that the attacks of the “Blue Light” special Creatures are very widespread & increasingly violent, Eric & Donald & others try to determine a way to ESCAPE from the building area.  Things do NOT go well in their plans, & the group (often led by David) grows ever more distressed…

…  Will getting away to the nearby OCEAN provide a safe area for the group (as they hypothesize)?...  Will the gang actually be ABLE to escape to there (or anywhere)?...  Since the creatures at times appear able to RE-ANIMATE themselves even when they seem to be “killed” by military actions against them, will that prove to be disastrous to our Band of “Others”?...

…  An associate of mine said, the fact that the advance screening was being held at 11 PM on the day before the planned release of the film gave the impression that was being done to AVOID having critics who’d “slam” the film beforehand, a sign to him that it was likely to be a LOUSY film…

…  I did NOT find the film to be rotten:  as I’d forecast, it had some EXCELLENT SPECIAL-EFFECTS (more than 800 of them!).  Yes, the dialogue was not very well-done, but that’s true of loads of films nowadays, & thus it didn’t particularly “stand-out” in that regard.  And, I didn’t care that most of the cast was made up of “unknowns” (since their acting was OK given the story line)…

…  Another friend complained that the film had no definitive “END” to it.  But, as I pointed out, the actions just before the conclusion did NOT take the “easy way out” of a sappy “HAPPY” end--  & it all came across to me as a clear “SET-UP” for a possible SEQUEL based on what Eric’s character was “moving” towards at the finish (akin to some of the ideas in the “BORG” world of “STAR TREK” scenarios)…

…  The movie is certainly not “magnificent” in any way (outside of the CGI effects).  It was often overly-REPETITIVE in some of the scenes (with slight “variations” on what “happened” with the creatures)… 

…  But, looking for the “good elements”, I ENJOYED certain essentials of the sci-fi creativity inherent in it, & thus I’m rating it at 7.25 out of 10 stars…

Review of film: “BURLESQUE” ( with CHER & CHRISTINA AGUILERA )

Review of film:  “BURLESQUE”

It’s a TOUGH economy out there for “everyday” people.  Things become especially hard when your small-town employer won’t even pay the salary he owes you.  That situation causes Iowa waitress Ali Rose (CHRISTINA AGUILERA) to leave her job & head west to California…

…  Christina doesn’t have much success in her “Golden-state” job-seeking.  She chances to pass by a somewhat rundown place called the Burlesque Lounge & heads inside.  There, she sees an impressive performance by owner Tess (CHER) who sings up a storm as she’s surrounded by a bunch of burly-Q dancers including Nikki (KRISTIN BELL), Georgia (JULIANNE HOUGH), Brittany (KATERINA MIKAILENKO), Marla (WENDY BENSON-LANDES) & Scarlett (TANEE McCALL)…

…  Christina (being from the “prim & proper” Midwest) had never seen such a live performance, & wants to become PART of the show.  But, having no real experience, Cher & her ex-husband co-owner partner Vince Scali (PETER GALLAGHER) don’t care to hire her.  But, she talks to cute bartender Jack (CAM GIGANDET) & he helps get her a WAITRESS job there….

…  As she “waits”, Christina “watches” & learns the various lip-synched routines done by the dancers (including to Marilyn Monroe’s “Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend”)…  Outside of jealous Kristin, she’s liked by everyone at the lounge, including club manager Sean (STANLEY TUCCI) & Emcee Alexis (ALAN CUMMING)… 

…  When her rented room is ransacked, she moves in with frustrated song-writer Cam who’s a good-hearted guy…  The club is periodically visited by Marcus Gerber (ERIC DANE) who has a secret “agenda” in wanting to buy Cher’s Lounge.  When one of the dancing girls is unable to perform, CHRISTINA convinces Cher to let her join the group… 

…  As fate (& the plot) would have it, she eventually gets a chance to really SING (rather than lip-sync), displays a powerful voice, & becomes a STAR at the club…  Meanwhile, there are various sub-plots --  including growing closer with Cam and Eric, financial and relationship problems between various of the characters, etc…

…  Will Christina be able to get what she really WANTS out of life?...  Will Cher be able to avoid the ECONOMIC problems that are descending on the Club?...  Will there be positive ROMANTIC conclusions for the various characters?...

...  Elements of this film have certainly been seen BEFORE--  from Bob Fosse’s “All That Jazz”, the movie “Chicago”, “Nine”, etc.  But, what really counts is how SUCCESSFUL the “links” are, & this film really SUCCEEDS at what it attempts to do:

…  There’s an stirring & enjoyable ENERGY to the whole production, with loads of impressively-staged singing & dancing routines.  Some of the numbers may not stick in your mind as being particularly “hummable”, but they’re designed to be utilized to “propel” the general Burlesque mood & tone & “plot” rather than be romantic “love” songs or the like…       

…  Thus, because of the fine casting & acting, plus the very effective & pleasurable dancing & singing, I’m rating this 8.5 of 10 stars…

Review of film: "127 HOURS" ( with James Franco trying to escape from an accident )

Review of film:  “127 HOURS”

Some people are “ADRENALIN Junkies”.  Aron Ralston (JAMES FRANCO) is one of those people--  an engineer by “day”, who loves getting out in nature & doing hiking & rock-climbing & exploring on his “off” days…  As you may know, this film is based on the TRUE STORY of an incident that occurred in 2003…

…  As our story starts, James has an “off” period & happily prepares his equipment to go to the Canyonlands area of Utah.  He purposely isn’t in the “mood” to tell anyone just WHERE he’s going, & that attitude eventually plays an important part in what happens…

…  At one point in his biking & hiking around the canyons, James meets two hiker girls who are LOST.  Kristi (KATE MARA) & Megan (AMBER TAMBLYN) are initially a bit “leery” of the unshaven James, but realize he’s an enthusiastic, knowledgable & helpful person, & happily follow him as he leads them to where they’re going, showing them some “SPECIAL” sights on the way…

…  After parting ways with the young ladies (who invite him to a party they’re throwing soon in the area), James starts exploring more on his OWN.  At one point, while going thru crevice areas, he accidentally falls--  & is stunned that a large ROCK falls “behind” him & suddenly pins his RIGHT ARM between the rock & the crevice wall…

…  Being an experienced climber & all, James has a bunch of equipment in his back pack--  climbing ropes, a multi-tool device (pliers / screwdriver / knife, etc.), flashlite, water bottle, etc.  The story becomes one of his utilizing his equipment & his wits to try to EXTRICATE himself from being pinned between the proverbial -- & literal – “ROCK & a HARD place”…

…  Director Danny Boyle (who did “SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE”) starts to mix in various FLASHBACK memories for James’ character, including fun times with his father (TREAT WILLIAMS) & mother (KATE BURTON) & other family members, plus an old girlfriend Rana (CLEMENCE POESY), etc….

…  At different points in his circumstances, James shoots VIDEO reports of what has happened & messages to family & friends in case things don’t go well for his plans…  We’re really made to feel a “PART” of what James goes thru--  his running out of water, having too MUCH water (due to rain), his attempts to MOVE the rock (such as by trying to scrape away bits of it, etc.)… 

…  You may well have heard that, in order to get AWAY from being pinned in the crevice, after like 5 days (thus the title of the film), James resorts to some very “DRASTIC” measures to save his life.  It’s very INTENSE, to the point that James has been quoted as telling people to simply CLOSE their EYES if they find the on-screen scenes “too much” to take…

…  A sign of the intensity is how people (including the Black American senior citizen lady to my left) were CRYING at what James’ character does to escape his predicament & stay ALIVE.  At the end of the film, you can see a scene with the REAL Aron as he is nowadays…

…  While the film is a study in a “NEVER give up” way of thinking, essentially, this is really a “1-person” movie.  And that one person --  the often under-appreciated James Franco --  does an EXCEPTIONAL job in the role.  I feel he deserves to be nominated for an OSCAR, & the clever construction of the film might well get director BOYLE a similar nod (tho I think the film itself is a bit too “one-note” to garner a Best Picture nod). 

…  Overall, I’d rate the work a 9 out of 10 stars for its extraordinarily effective storytelling…

Review of film: "MORNING GLORY" ( with Harrison Ford & Rachel McAdams )

Review of film:  “MORNING GLORY”

There’s no “GOOD MORNING”, & there’s nothing “TODAY” in the early-morning world of TV producer Becky Fuller (RACHEL McADAMS).  Her mother (PATTI D’ARBANVILLE) feels she’s wasting her time being so super-involved in her little television world, & urges Rachel to STOP expending efforts for her chosen line of work when she’s unceremoniously “downsized” OUT of the little job she’d had…

…  Permanently “perky” Rachel DOESN’T WANT to give up, & keeps trying to apply for some NEW position in her field.  In time, she’s reluctantly given a chance by the IBS network’s Jerry Barnes (JEFF GOLDBLUM), who’s run-thru so many “loser” candidates in the past, he feels he has little to lose by giving her a shot as the producer of their low-rated national “DAYBREAK” morning program headquartered on Channel 9 in New York…

…  It turns out that the on-air program is composed of a bunch of ineffective personalities: anchor-person Colleen Peck (DIANE KEATON);  her sex-obsessed co-host Paul McVee (TY BURRELL);  their Al-Roker-“wannabee” weatherman (played by STEVE PARK);  a dipsy female who doesn’t know proper English;  and others…

…  Producer Fred (JEROME WEINSTEIN) is honest, straightforward & helpful to Rachel, making clear he knows what she’s “up” against…  In time, she tries to make wholesale improvements in the show to build up their ratings, including FIRING Ty…

…  Rachel gets the idea of trying to hire highly-respected “old-time” newsman Mike Pomeroy (HARRISON FORD) as a co-anchor.  He’s a renowned broadcaster who’s angry at having been shunted to a “do-nothing” job on the Evening news;  but he’s condescending & un-eager at the idea of  doing the “FLUFF” type news that their morning show is known for…

…  An IBS Exec Adam Bennett (PATRICK WILSON) attempts to caution Rachel AGAINST trying to utilize Harrison, warning that he’s the “3^rd worst person in the world” to deal with.  But Rachel (whom Patrick is attracted to) is adamant in her efforts to “recruit” (& “FORCE”) Harrison into taking the job…

…  Harrison wants to do nothing but “HARD” news reports, & his consistently arrogant & egotistical attitudes tend to “TURN-OFF” the rest of the people involved with the show, especially Diane (who’s very OPEN in her dislike & put-downs of him)…       

…  Desperate to improve their sinking ratings, Rachel urges the on-air cast to consider doing “CRAZY” things on the show.  Diane is quite funny in her “down-home” willingness to “go-along” with the program’s “program”…

…  Particularly funny is weatherman Steve, who’s really “PUT-upon” in the “stunts” they ask him to do--  but he soon grows really enthusastic & happy to carry out the plans, since it gets him a lot of favorable attention from the public…

…  Harrison is quite RESISTANT to the “Happy Talk” type format, & his fights with Diane are enjoyable to behold…  There are various guests who play THEMSELVES in the film, such as “50 CENT”,  BOB SCHIEFFER, MORLEY SAFER & others…

…  Will Harrison “CONFORM” to the new ideas?  Will Rachel’s efforts be “enough” to keep the threatened show on the AIR?...  Will she accept the romantic interests of Patrick?...  Will Rachel accept a potentially BETTER job she’s offered elsewhere?...  Tune-in to find out!...

…  The concept of the film is simple--  but it’s unusually EFFECTIVE in how well it “WORKS”, thanks to very good CASTING & acting efforts by the ensemble.  It’s considerably FUNNIER than I expected it to be in a number of places, & thus I’d rate it at 7.5 out of 10 stars…

Review of film: “I KILLED MY MOTHER” (“J'ai Tué Ma Mère”)

Review of film:  “I KILLED MY MOTHER”   (“J'ai Tué Ma Mère”)

Previously, I spoke of how XAVIER DOLAN impressed me as being one of the “BRIGHT lights” in the world of up-&-coming young film-makers, based on his writing, acting & directing the film “HEARTBEATS” screened during the 46^th Film Festival in Chicago…

…  In my write-up, I spoke of the great reception his FIRST film “I KILLED MY MOTHER” received at the 2009 CANNES FILM FESTIVAL in France, where it won THREE major awards ( & it won as Best Canadian Feature film at the 2010 Vancouver Int’l Film Festival)…

…  Thus, I was especially eager to see that French-language film on a “big screen”, which I was able to do (in sub-titled form) during the REELING 29 Film Festival currently unfolding in Chicago at various venues such as the Landmark Century Centre theater…

…  The title of the film describes what 16-year-old Hubert Minel (XAVIER DOLAN) CONSIDERS doing concerning his mother Chantale (ANNE DORVAL), not necessarily what he actually does…  He lives with just her, since she couldn’t get along with his father Richard (PIERRE CHAGNON) whom he seldom sees or talks to… 

…  Anne drives him “CRAZY” by regularly saying she wants to “TALK” to him, & then actually prefers watching her TV programs rather than listening to what he tries to say.  She also keeps pointing out that he reminds her of his father & how she couldn’t stand him at all…

…  Xavier much prefers spending time with his homosexual friend Antonin (FRANÇOIS ARNAUD), whose devil-may-care mother openly ACCEPTS her son’s being gay & knows that he & Xavier are actually lovers…  Seeing the relationship François has makes Xavier especially unhappy in putting-up with the constant COMPLAINTS & harping of his own mother…

…  Xavier loves being an artistic PAINTER, & specially appreciates being encouraged in that by his teacher Julie (SUZANNE CLÉMENT) whom he starts to confide in more and more & whom he starts to visit when things get particularly tough on him at home... 

…  Add the exceptional “difficulties” Xavier has with his mother to his being a teenager & finding it hard to “open-up” to his mom, & you have him regularly “RAGGING” on & yelling at her about how she treats him & all.  Thus, things keep getting worse & worse between them…

…  Anne learns about Xavier’s being gay thru a “3^rd party”, & that makes her particularly peeved at him.  That & her growing difficulty in controlling him leads her to convince his father to support sending him to a BOARDING SCHOOL, an idea Xavier hates…

…  At that school, he meets a handsome student named Éric (NIELS SCHNEIDER— who’s his co-star in “HEARTBEATS”), & is a bit upset when Nils is attracted to him…  Xavier is even more distressed when he’s BEATEN-UP by guys at the school because they don’t like his being gay (-- seemingly part of the “semi-autobiographical” part of this movie --)…

…  Xavier makes various attempts to try to be distinctly NICE to his mom, to try to convince her to let him LEAVE the boarding school.  He’s markedly hurt & upset when his actions don’t seem to “move” her sufficiently… 

…  The Reeling program accurately describes the situation about the “BLAME game” inherent in their relationship by saying that he & his mom BOTH have “… quick fuses and an inability to communicate--  just as love and hate can be two sides of the same coin”…

…  As was the case with his second film, Xavier (who was just 20 when “I KILLED MY MOTHER” was made!) wrote, acted-in & DIRECTED this motion picture.  He’s a EXCELLENT, thoroly-“believable” actor, as are the other main characters in the movie.  The fact of what he was able to create & achieve with this at his young age thus causes me to rate it at 9 out of 10 stars…

Review of film: "UNSTOPPABLE" (about a runaway train loaded with toxic chemicals )

                                                 Review of film "UNSTOPPABLE "

Twentieth Century Fox has been putting a good deal of money into running trailers on TV for this Tony Scott movie.  They make the film appear exciting--  but the reality is, it’s even BETTER than the teasers make it look!...

…  The story starts out in a train yard in Pennsylvania.  While some of the workers there are diligent, others are at times SLACKERS--  & one of those makes a number of screw-ups that cause a freight train to not have its AIR BRAKES connected & to not even have its ENGINEER on board…

…  It turns out that the “fail-safes” end up being more FAILURES than safe, & the train starts barreling down the tracks at an increasingly high speed around the countryside.  A female schedule-controller named Connie (ROSARIO DAWSON) tries to find a way to STOP the train--  but she has to deal with oblivious “big-shot” higher-ups like Galvin (KEVIN DUNN) & certain others who are either overly-concerned with the financial “bottom-line” or simply can’t properly get the job done…

…  In time, the scene shifts to some other rail workers handling another train, in the form of long-time train engineer Frank (DENZEL WASHINGTON) & his new comparatively-young assistant Will (CHRIS PINE) who’s having marital troubles that distract his attention…  Their train happens to be on the same track as the RUNAWAY train, & those two elements start to interact & shall-we-say “COLLIDE” with each other…

…  It’s bad enough having a train out of control, but it’s at least doubly bad when it happens to have a number of its cars containing TOXIC CHEMICALS.  As Rosario points out, it’s like having a traveling guided “MISSILE the size of the Chrysler Building”…  Clearly, the train needs to be stopped (lest it risk badly injuring the populace near the train tracks)— but HOW?!...

…  Those working in the train industry -- including another engineer named Judd Stewart (DAVID WARSHOFSKY) & safety inspector Wemer (KEVIN CORRIGAN) --  keep trying to come up with a SOLUTION to the problems:  Can they stop the train by getting someone ONTO it?...  Can they somehow CONTROL it?...  Can they DERAIL it in a way that there won’t be massive damage to the area?...  Can other train ENGINES be used to somehow affect its speed?... 

…  The movie is a wonderful THRILL RIDE of various attempts to fix the problems.  You can bet that DENZEL & CHRIS will be involved, but it’s handled with exceptionally superior expertise:  a friend of mine, whose father used to work in rail yards, commented that his dad would have LOVED seeing the film, since it does such a fine job in consistently giving you a feeling of the SPEED & POWER of the trains involved & what can go wrong if they’re not handled properly…

…  It’s a FINE adventure, with well-constructed & highly-delineated characters, first-rate acting, an intriguing action-filled story, & I’d rate it 8.5 out of 10 stars…    

Review: "MEGAMIND" animated film in 3-D ( about 2 competitive alien creatures )

Review:  "MEGAMIND” animated 3-D film

Animated films have been very prolific this year, & they increasingly are using 3-D to enhance their financial return (& sometimes even their quality).  “MEGAMIND” is the latest entry in that “sweepstakes”…

…  As our story begins, two different “alien” civilizations have launched a BABY into space.  They both “chance” to end up in the SAME general place, & immediately become OPPONENTS to each other (mainly because of the jealous actions of one of them):

…  The creature eventually called “METRO MAN” (voiced by BRAD PITT) is very handsome, charming, bright, powerful & WELL-LIKED.  He has various super-powers such as flight, & the populace soon begins to view him as a HERO (& builds a “monument” to him)…

…  More along the “ZERO” line is a somewhat klutzy character with certain other super powers.  His main ability seems to be in using his intelligence to concoct various unusual mechanical & other DEVICES to achieve prominence & power.  This blue-colored being is called “MEGAMIND” (& is voiced by WILL FARRELL), while his strange animal-like companion Minion (voiced by DAVID CROSS) tries to help him in his increasingly-evil intentions…

…  The alien creatures are conspicuously COMPETITIVE.  As they try to win the hearts & minds of the populace, we meet various side characters who either help or hinder the “stars”--  the creature Tighten (with JONAH HILL doing the voice), Roxanne Ritchi (TINA FEY), Bernard (BEN STILLER), and others…

…  The animation was decent, the 3-D was nothing very “special”, &, at most, I found the film just “DIVERTING”:  despite what the ads might claim, it’s NOT very funny (much less clever), &, in certain respects, I’m tempted to rate “MEGAMIND” as “NEVER mind” with a 6.5 star rating out of 10…

Review: "THE NEXT THREE DAYS" ( with Russell Crowe )

Review:  “THE NEXT THREE DAYS”

The workplace is not always a “HAPPY Spot”.  That’s shown by discussions at a dinner being attended by John Brennan (RUSSELL CROWE) & his wife Laura (ELIZABETH BANKS) who speaks about how she had a big fight with her female boss earlier… His brother Mike (TYRONE GIORDANO) & Mike’s woman Elaine (NAZANIN BONIADI) join in an argument about whether it’s better to have a male or female boss…

…  After the dinner, we see school-teacher Russell & office-worker Elizabeth have a cute blond-haired son Luke (mostly played by TY SIMPKINS), & they all seem very close--  until the POLICE bust in & take Olivia off to JAIL with a charge that she KILLED her boss that she’d had the fight with!...

…  The film by Paul Haggis (based on a French movie “POUR ELLE”) then tells the story of how Russell works to try to prove Olivia’s INNOCENCE, & how the failure of that effort leads him to consider using “FORCE” to get her out of her situation…  

…  As the story evolves, we meet Russell’s parents including his quiet dad George (BRIAN DENNEHY), a man named Damon (LIAM NEESON) whom he briefly consults about the prison system (since he has some “legally IN-correct” thoughts at one stage), various drug-dealers (concerning the “money” side of his potential plans), & others…

…  Because Russell eventually begins to feel “patience” is NOT a virtue concerning his wife’s circumstances, his actions ultimately start to involve various POLICE authorities including Detective Quinn (JASON BEGHE) & Lt. Nabulsi (LENNIE JAMES)…

…  There are some impressive “TWISTS & TURNS” in the story, which lead it into the “THRILLER” category…  Did Elizabeth have anything to DO with the crime for which she’s jailed?... Will Russell’s  tactics get DERAILED as various CHASES start to ensue?...  Will he be able to SUCCEED in his elaborate plans?...    Is there a special reason for me to describe this as a “BREAK-OUT” hit (& if so, why)?...

…  Since the “pot” will “boil” tonite, I found this an unusually EFFECTIVE action – suspense story, with some very good acting & clever plot devices & surprises assisting an ever-growing momentum to the film.  I’d rate it 8.25 out of 10 stars…