Mini-Review: Traitor

Traitor
Directed by Jeffrey Nachmanoff
Released August 27, 2008

I went into this film with expectations that were perhaps far too high. I was hoping for a gripping thriller akin to Showtime’s excellent series “Sleeper Cell” from a few years ago. Unfortunately, this movie never really manages to amp itself up to the point of being truly thrilling. It’s rather uninventive, and nothing seems quite as compelling because it’s really just not believable. Don Cheadle has done far better work in the past, and he doesn’t carry this film like he should (his performance in “Traffic” is a great model for what his acting should have been in this movie). The film’s surprise twist provides a nice bit of irony, but it offsets the tone of the film and doesn’t make up for a lackluster first seven eighths. Simply put, it’s very much missable.

C

Mini-Review: The Duchess

The Duchess
Directed by Saul Dibb
Released September 19, 2008

To say that “The Duchess” just never quite gets interesting is probably the kindest way of putting it. Nothing about the film, no thanks to its slow pace, stands out as original or remotely exciting. There are lavish costumes and set pieces aplenty, but the film feels devastatingly empty and devoid of content. So little actually occurs and the film’s dramatic turning point is hardly even embellished. Keira Knightley is good at this time of role but she’s far more fascinating when she’s playing someone written a bit more three-dimensionally. Ralph Fiennes has earned raves for what I found to be a one-note disappointment, especially for the talented actor recently so villainous and terrific in “In Bruges.” I was impressed with Hayley Atwell’s performance as the third wheel in the duchess’s marriage, and I think we can expect great things from her in the future. As far as this film goes, it’s probably worth it to skip it and do something interesting instead.

C-

Mini-Review: The Lucky Ones

The Lucky Ones
Directed by Neil Burger
Released September 26, 2008

Neil Burger’s tale of three wandering soldiers home from Iraq on leave begins with an intriguing setup but never really goes anywhere. It’s very much a road movie, and as such doesn’t seem to have much of a destination. Tim Robbins and Michael Peña have each turned in far better performances, though they’re certainly not bad here. Rachel McAdams, on the other hand, does a wonderful job as a talkative, sympathetic army girl searching for the family of her dead boyfriend. The movie takes some unexpected and inexplicable turns, and as a result has a much better beginning than ending.

C

Film Review: Righteous Kill

Righteous Kill
Directed by Jon Avnet
Released September 12, 2008

“Righteous Kill” is a violent crime thriller directed by Jon Avnet and starring Oscar winners Robert De Niro and Al Pacino. The setup is simple – De Niro and Pacino are New York City cops hot on the trail of a serial killer, who may just be a cop. Both of the film’s stars are established, veteran actors who have more than proven themselves in crime and mobster films over the past three decades. This history sets up the actors, who previously starred together in “The Godfather: Part II” and “Heat,” for an exciting reunion. Unfortunately, it’s all too clear that the filmmakers are relying solely on the actors to carry the movie, rather than trying to craft a decent film around them.

To be fair, serial killer movies are tough. “Silence of the Lambs” and “Seven” are some of the few films that have managed to pull it off well. Other films like “Copycat,” “Taking Lives” and “Suspect Zero” have faded into the graveyards of movie history because they couldn’t hope to offer anything original. “Righteous Kill,” despite its pedigree stars, falls all too securely in the latter category. Its serial killer is described as incredibly clever and inventive, while the film shows that there’s really nothing daring or difficult about the way he offs his victims or sets up his pattern. The movie isn’t content to leave viewers dissatisfied with an unoriginal plot, and therefore a shocking twist comes at the end which is only surprising because it makes so little sense. Nothing in the film leads up to that moment – it’s as if the rug has been yanked out from under everything but there’s nothing to find under it.

On top of the unoriginal storyline, the dialogue is abysmal and the characters are one-note and entirely dense. De Niro and Pacino are way past their prime, giving the same tired performances in film after film, De Niro as the irritable old grump and Pacino as the crazy-eyed mentor. Donnie Wahlberg and John Leguizamo, so fascinating on opposite sides of the law in the recent TV miniseries “The Kill Point,” are here reduced to playing dumb cops whose startling realizations come at least half an hour after audience members should be able to solve the case. Add in a poorly used Carla Gugino, a lazy Brian Dennehy, and an unnecessarily cast 50 Cent and there’s not even one member of the cast to save the film. The film lasts only 101 minutes but feels like an unending eternity. Attempts to be gritty by using bizarre cinematography and unnecessary split-screen framing result in nothing good. It’s unusual that a film has absolutely no redeeming qualities, but this is a surefire example of how not to make a movie.

F-

Mini-Review: Burn After Reading

Burn After Reading
Directed by Joel and Ethan Coen
Released September 12, 2008

I love “Fargo.” It’s one of my favorite movies. “No Country for Old Men” was very good as well. I detested “Intolerable Cruelty” and “The Big Lebowski” just wasn’t for me. “Burn After Reading” falls extremely safely in the middle of those four. It’s not a great movie, but it’s certainly a hoot. Brad Pitt and Frances McDormand are especially hilarious, and the rest of the cast, including John Malkovich, J.K. Simmons, Richard Jenkins, and George Clooney, are terrific as well. It’s a movie devoid of intelligent characters, but that’s part of its brilliance. Overall, I didn’t exit the film feeling terribly satisfied, though I did have a great time throughout. It contains some surprising moments which upgrade it from being a forgettable comedy. I’d compare it to “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” – it’s an enjoyable ride that ultimately results in nothing too astounding. I am glad I saw it, though.

B-

Mini-Review: Towelhead

Towelhead
Directed by Alan Ball
Released September 12, 2008

Alan Ball has a wonderful creative mind, as the screenwriter of “American Beauty” and creator of HBO’s hit TV series “Six Feet Under” and “True Blood.” While it’s too serious to be as gruesomely enjoyable as his previous projects, “Towelhead” still contains a fair amount of the wit and sarcastic tone that Ball always employs. This time, he’s adapting from a novel, and the result is a success. It’s a well-made but thoroughly disturbing film with some terrific performances from debut lead actress Summer Bishil and “Six Feet Under” alumnus Peter Macdissi. It’s not for everyone, but if you’re willing to take a trip to dark, dark comedy and experience this troubling film, go for it.

B+

Further reading: Take a look at my feature article from The Washington Square News on the film, including interviews with Alan Ball, Summer Bishil, and Peter Macdissi.

Film Review: Transsiberian

Transsiberian
Directed by Brad Anderson
Released July 18, 2008

“Transsiberian” is a thriller from director Brad Anderson which chronicles a couple’s international voyage on a cross-country train. Anderson is best known for his previous film, “The Machinist,” and “Transsiberian” is in many respects a very similar film. While “The Machinist” followed one character’s psychological unraveling, “Transsiberian” externalizes that sense of unknowing and triviality while still delving headfirst into the emotions of its characters. Woody Harrelson and Emily Mortimer star as a couple traveling home from humanitarian work in China via the days-long train. Their chance meeting with a mysterious young couple leads to an unexpected sequence of events. The film does a terrific job of building suspense, creating a frantic, foreshadowed panic before there is even anything wrong. The snowy landscape provides an excellent backdrop for the film, in the same way that “Fargo” benefited tremendously from a blanket of white to hide the violence and terror occurring all around. The film is subtle and allows the tension to build before assaulting the viewer with thrills. As a result, it’s rather lopsided as a movie and the packed second act can’t make up for the slow pace of the first. Something seems missing for a good portion of the film, and it doesn’t quite arrive by the end. The performances are commendable, with Harrelson acting more serious than he might usually be inclined to do, and Mortimer putting on an American accent with ease. Eduardo Noriega and Kate Mara embody the other couple effectively with the right mix of friendliness and suspiciousness. Ben Kingsley adds his token screen presence to round out an able cast with no weak links. It’s an intriguing film that only gets more interesting as it goes on, but it would have been a stronger experience if it had been compelling from the very beginning.

B-

Minute with Abe: Rachel Getting Married

Film Review: Religulous

I recently wrote a review of the new Bill Maher documentary "Religulous" for the Washington Square News, available here.

Minute with Abe: Blindness

Minute with Abe: Eagle Eye

Minute with Abe: Miracle at St. Anna

Minute with Abe: Pineapple Express

Minute with Abe: Traitor

Minute with Abe: Righteous Kill

Read My Feature Article on "Towelhead"

I don't have a Minute with Abe for this one because it was a critics' screening, but I do have a front-page Washington Square News feature article about the new film "Towelhead," which includes quotes from my roundtable interviews with stars Peter Macdissi and Summer Bishil and director Alan Ball. Check it out here.

Minute with Abe: Burn After Reading

Home Video: Duck

Duck
Directed by Nicole Bettauer
Released June 3, 2008 (DVD)

I had been waiting to see this tiny film for such a long time, and I don’t think it ever made it to theatres. If it did, I missed it, and I was delighted to discover that it was in fact in stock at the local Blockbuster. It’s always a risk to make movies with essentially only two characters, especially when one of them is effectively mute (“Cast Away” is an example of doing it right). The attempt pays off here, and a wonderful film results. For those who need some sort of action throughout, this is not the way to go. The film proceeds along at a remarkably slow pace, yet still remains furtively engaging throughout. Philip Baker Hall turns in a terrific lead performance, playing his character the way I wish Richard Jenkins had in “The Visitor” earlier this year. It’s impossible not to love the duck, but Hall gives it his all with humor, wit, and an endearing nature that makes him equally entirely likeable. The slightly futuristic setting presents an interesting message about pollution and waste which doesn’t drown out the enjoyable tendencies o the film, but creates an additional frame of thinking to contemplate. I doubt many will see this film, but I highly recommend it as one of those tiny independent films I wish could reach a larger audience.

B+

Home Video: Sleepwalking

Sleepwalking
Directed by William Maher
Released March 14, 2008

I was completely unprepared for what this movie would be after looking at the DVD cover and presuming it would be a fantasy-filled wonder of an artistic film. Instead, it is an entirely generic broken family drama with falls far below the par. The setup is rushed and the film feels like it’s already midway through right at the beginning. It simply never gets off the ground, and the result is a painstakingly slow, unimaginative drawl. Charlize Theron does a decent enough job in a brief performance, as does Dennis Hopper. Their characters, however, are hardly developed enough to be fully engaging. Nick Stahl is especially disappointing, as he is an actor who is able to successfully deal with underwhelming material (“Terminator 3”, “Carnivale”), but his performance here falls flat. The true revelation is fifteen-year-old AnnaSophia Robb, who does a terrific job embodying the role of a girl far too mature for her age stuck in this unfortunate situation. There is a scene or two midway through the movie which provides a brief glimpse into what the movie could have been if it had attempted more to allow Robb’s character to lose herself in a fantasy world where all her problems were gone, but the movie as a whole is hopeless to recover any element of originality.

F

Home Video: Paranoid Park

Paranoid Park
Directed by Gus Van Sant
Released March 7, 2008

I was immediately intrigued with the extremely deliberate camerawork and distinctive style of this film. Unfortunately, the intoxication faded quickly. Much like Van Sant’s previous effort “Elephant”, the film is mostly a collection of replayed shots which attempt to lend further clues to the larger picture, with little development occurring along the way. I’m all for subtlety and artsy filmmaking, yet this is another time where a brief runtime of just over 80 minutes still feels like an eternity, and not in a good way. Van Sant’s choice of Gabe Nevins as the actor to play his protagonist, keeping with his usual preference to work with unknowns, doesn’t really pay off as Nevins doesn’t seem sure of what kind of character he is playing, often bouncing back and forth between a headstrong, cocky kid with no worries to a nervous little boy incapable of fitting in with the popular kids. I understand that his transformation is part of the movie, but the character feels far too uneven. The dialogue is particularly difficult to believe, as the attempted realism results far too often in conversations that feel terribly forced and simply unreal. The plot of the movie and the journaling narration also don’t do the film any favors – a mystery that needs solving hardly belongs in such an attempt at an artistic film.

D-