Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist: DVD Review

January 31, 2009

This is a genuine, original yet comfortable teen comedy. There’s nothing new yet somehow it manages to remain completely fresh. It’s never lewd. It’s purely honest and has its class awkward teenage romantic moments between two teens, Nick (Michael Cera) and Norah (Kat Dennings) who straddle the line between geeky and hipster. After a bad breakup with a girl who is all wrong for him (but of course he doesn’t realize it), Nick heads out to a gig with his queercore band, of which he is the only straight member. He meets Norah in the club, who happens to know his ex-girlfriend and has listened to the majority of mix DVDs he made the ex because Norah saved them when the ex threw them out. Through many of the songs, Norah developed a crush on Nick and got to know him. The two spend the entire night and morning together in the New York and find that they do get along and we go along for the ride and it’s lovely and has a real edge to it. Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist is kinda like Before Sunrise for the MySpace Generation.

Grade: A-

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Posted by Amy Steele

RockNRolla: DVD Review

January 24, 2009


Straight from the film’s opening shots, there is little doubt who the writer and director is behind RockNRolla. Containing all his favorite elements—London’s seedy underworld, sex, drugs, corrupt politicians and lavish excess– the film provides layers upon layer and rich, colorful characters. Writer/director Guy Ritchie brings together a stellar cast– Tom Wilkinson, Idris Elba [The Wire], Gerard Butler, Thandie Newton, Chris Bridges, Mark Strong [Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day]– a cool concept and a cunning storyline. Everything and everyone ties back together in the end.

The setting: London. Uri, a Russian mobster [Karel Roden], wants to build a sports arena and to avoid all that nuisance of building permits and piles of paperwork, he enters a deal with London mob boss Lenny Cole [a ruthless Wilkinson] who a few politicians in his back pocket. Uri just needs to deliver 7 million and he’s good to go. Of course he hired The Accountant Stella [a wonderfully devious Newton] who has the Wild Bunch of One-Two [ Butler], Mumbles [ Elba] and Handsome Bob [Tom Hardy] working for her to steal the money as soon as it is en route to Lenny– some really funny/bloody scenes here.

Add into the mix that Lenny’s stepson is a famous rocker, Johnny Quid, who the paper’s have reported as dead but Lenny knows better. He’s a junkie that one. When Uri lends Lenny his “favorite painting” as a good will/good luck gesture at the beginning of their relationship, no one would even guess it would end up missing and in the hands of said rocker. After the money keeps getting stolen and everyone loses trust in each other, Uri demands the painting back but it is gone. After some detective work, the painting is recovered, and One-Two, who has a crush on Stella, gives her the painting. But Uri also has a crush on his accountant and is furious when he sees the painting in her flat.

To reveal any more would give away too much of this film and RockNRolla brings it all back around in the snap-pop-gasp way that Ritchie can often deliver.RockNRolla is easily my favorite Ritchie film so far. This time the major deals, double- and triple-crosses are in real estate. It is the new heroin. RockNRolla twists and zips along and will keep you guessing more than a few times.

On DVD January 27
GRADE: A-

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Posted by Amy Steele

Burn Notice: TV Review

January 23, 2009

Do No Harm
Season Two, Episode 10

Burn Notice is a totally cool, unique show about an ex-CIA operative, Michael Westen [Jeffrey Donovan], who finds himself in Miami after receiving a burn notice which is when your cover gets blown. until he figures out who blew his cover, he is helping people using his spy skills. Keeping him company are: ex-girlfriend, explosives expert and ex-IRA operative Fiona [Gabrielle Anwar], his buddy Sam, a former military intelligence expert, and his worry-wart mother [Sharon Gless] with whom he used to spend very little time.

In a recent telephone interview, Bruce Campbell explained what attracted him to this project: “I really enjoyed the fact that it’s a good blend of a show that does have strong main characters, and not a lot of them. It’s got four main characters. And that’s what the emphasis is. And oh yes, stuff blows up and every week there is a caper where you defeat the jerk of the week. But I think it’s mostly you watch these characters from week to week, and that’s what I enjoy. And that’s what appealed to me and that’s what keeps me interested in the show is it’s not really about the explosions, it’s about the people who are doing the explosions.”

The season premiere carries over Michael’s conflict with Carla [the woman who burned him and has now forced him to be her new operative] while also highlighting the nation’s atrocious healthcare system via a downtrodden father and his young son who needs a liver transplant. After Michael narrowly escapes a bomb set by his nemesis Carla, Sam comes to his aid. Out in the street, Michael saves the guy about to jump in front of a bus. “Who are you?” the guy asks. “I’m someone who may be able to help you with your problems,” a soot-covered, scratched up Michael deadpans. And this sets up the caper of the week. Michael wants to help this guy get his money back from a drug scam so that he can save his son.

As a setting for a television show, Miami often becomes an additional character with its sunny surface, glitziness, scantily clad attractive men and women, extremely wealthy areas, party atmosphere and also the seamy underbelly, drug-running, and neglected neighborhoods. So much can go down in sleazy Florida with the Everglades, the coast, the endless mix of people and vast expanse of shoreline to get lost in. It’s the perfect state for crimes, criminals and social deviants.

Even if you’ve missed the first season and a half of Burn Notice, it is not too late. In a dry, somewhat detached voice-over, Westen explains the ins-and-outs of being a spy and being an ex-spy. It’s a sophisticated, well-written, character-driven drama with humor, action and intrigue. I was immediately hooked after two episodes. The directing and cinematography keep this show bold and electric. Burn Notice possesses characters you want to know. A bit more gets revealed as the season carries along. Through sharp writing and witty dialogue, Burn Notice remains fresh and dynamic.

USA, Thursday, January 22, 2009

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Posted by Amy Steele

Lakeview Terrace: DVD Review

January 20, 2009

This is one of those films that smolders. An inter-racial couple [Kerry Washington and Patrick Wilson] moves in next to police officer Abel Turner [Samuel L. Jackson] and he doesn’t like it one bit. It starts with a few off-handed remarks that might or might not be racist. A few incidents that could be construed as annoying or bordering on threatening perhaps. Then he makes it downright scary and completely uncomfortable and impossible for these young people to live here. But they also aren’t going to get away very easy. Neil LaBute [In the Company of Men, The Shape of Things] knows discomfort and how to make you squirm. Lakeview Terrace succeeds by turning an idyllic suburbia into a creepy nightmare.

Grade: A-

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Eagle Eye: DVD Review

January 11, 2009


If I went to take out money from the ATM and the balance said $751,000, I would wait a few days and then withdraw as much as possible. [This did happen to me once but someone had put inheritance money into my account.] Most people know that there’s a limit to ATM withdrawal amounts, so when money begins flying everywhere as Jerry Shaw [Shia LaBeouf] makes a withdrawal, that was sign one Eagle Eye is going to be a ridiculous film. Then Jerry walks into his apartment to find it filled with packages labeled ammonium nitrate and containing guns and ammo. A rational individual would get out asap and call the police. Instead he takes a cell phone call. Sign number two that Eagle Eye is a preposterous film. When “the voice” enlists single mom Rachel [Michelle Monaghan], I’m ready to stop watching but the film manages to catch you up in its ridiculousness. Luckily it won’t take your complete focus or the depths of your intelligence to figure out what is going on in Eagle Eye. The problem with that is that it isn’t even that much fun along the way. It takes itself way too seriously.

Grade: C

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Brideshead Revisited: DVD Review

January 10, 2009

on DVD January 13
Miramax Films

For a film about the wealthy and privileged in England, Brideshead Revisited lacks the lushness and extravagance that pops in Evelyn Waugh’s literature exploring class differences in Britain. There are too few lavish events– only a 21st birthday gala celebration and trips to Venice. As Lady Marchmain, Emma Thompson [Last Chance Harvey, Sense and Sensibility] is quite stuffy and divine as the family matriarch devoting her life to divinity. She anchors and controls the family through unwavering choices based on Catholicism and stifles her poor little rich children. Her son and daughter have anything money can buy but lack experience and the ability for self-expression and most importantly, choice.

Sebastian (Ben Whishaw) is too closeted and attached to his teddy bear and becomes an alcoholic. His sister Julia (Hayley Atwell) marries a man carefully chosen by mum. In the mix is handsome, charming Charles Ryder (Matthew Goode) who becomes torn between his loyalty and friendship with Sebastian and his love for Julia. As with any English piece about the wealthy mixing with the working class (even if Charles is Oxford-educated), nothing ends well.

Brideshead Revisited contains too many missing elements and would have done better and just felt much more complete with greater character development.

Grade: B

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Burn After Reading: DVD Review

January 7, 2009


Strange little ditty from the Coen brothers. Funny at times. About ordinary people with feelings of grandiosity. Their lives are way more important than anyone or anything. The usual quirky characters (Brad Pitt is hysterical as a hyperactive personal trainer) and bizarre misunderstandings will make for an enjoyable night out but it’s not something to analyze and treasure like The Big Lebowski, Fargo or last year’s phenom No Country for Old Men. It’s just a bunch of friends (Pitt, George Clooney, Frances MacDormand, Tilda Swinton, John Malkovich) goofing off for a few hours.

Grade: B

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Ghost Town: DVD Review

January 4, 2009


It seems we’ve seen every type of ghost film there possibly could be and that’s why Ghost Town doesn’t seem to be venturing into any uncharted waters. This film lacks the romantic premise of Ghost where the murdered lover returns to simultaneously tie things up with the love of his life and solve his own murder. This film is not some zombie film where the undead return to wreak havoc on the living. No, here we have those who have died with little [or big] things that are bothering them and they seek some resolve.

A sarcastic, misanthropic dentist named Bertram Pincus [British funnyman Ricky Gervais] technically died on the operating table for seven minutes and suddenly sees dead people everywhere! And they are talking to him endlessly. This is certainly not an original or funny premise. It feels like we’ve seen it all before somewhere though I cannot immediately put my finger on it.

A ruthless cheater Frank Herlihy [the affable, cute Greg Kinnear] was engaged to Gwen [the even more adorable and talented Tea Leoni]. Now he sees she is engaged to another and he wants that broken off and he thinks that Bertram can make it happen. Frank is determined that Gwen never marries this new guy. Why? I guess even in death he wants her to be miserable. So Frank feeds Bertram material that only Frank and Gwen would know and bing, bang, soon Gwen and Bertram are friends and hitting it off. Gwen seems motivated and open-minded while Pincus is just annoyed at everyone and everything the majority of the time.

Ghost Town moves at an excruciatingly slow pace and is as enjoyable as having a cavity filled. It is a shame because Gervais, Leoni and Kinnear should be working with much better material.

Grade: C-

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