Cinematic Vacation July 2006

Stay - Interesting cinematically and slowly unwinds to reveal that the whole film is actually encapsulated in a very small moment in time. It might be scary to say but I could really identify with the feeling of going crazy and starting to question the definition of reality. 6 out of 10.

Ultraviolet - All action, pretty limited, some great effects, 2 out of 10.

Last Holiday - Fun, exactly what I expected, 5 out of 10.

Borthers Grimm - A little tedious at times, but there are moments that I really enjoyed the 2 guys, Matt Damon more so than Heath who felt like he was pushing his character a little too over the top. I think I like the idea of the film more than the execution of it. 4 out of 10.

Dick & Jane - For the most part it's what I expected and I had pretty low expectations. The one thing that was interesting was the idea that they connected the whole scam to the Enron and corporate scandals which was very timely. 3 out of 10.

Devil Wears Prada - Best thing about the film was the company! Saw it with Pilar and Catherine. It was a feel good movie, I swear that Anne Hathaway is like the ativan of actresses. It's not that she's vanilla or boring, but she makes you feel like everything is going to be ok. Both her and Meryl were a joy in this film, it manages to be a chick flick with a little weight so you don't feel completely like you were just watching air. For what it is I think it's a 7 out of 10, especially because it manages to focus more on Anne's path in life and not just on her happy Hollywood Ending.

Why We Fight - Watched it twice. Hard to watch and yet riveting at the same time. A great next puzzle peice in all of the information on why we start wars and what are all the agendas that drive the fighting. Key person in the documentary is the father that lost is son in 9/11 and has a dramatic shift during the shooting of the documentary as he starts to question what is being done on behalf of certain people and large corporations in the name of his son. 7 out of 10.

Underworld Evolution - As satisfying as the first one. Kate Beckinsale pretty much rocks the vampire thing and the action is great, good popcorn film. 4 out of 10.

Two for the $ - Surprisingly good. Pacino and Matthew McConaughey are actually a pretty good pair. It's the standard part for both of them so they both seem very comfortable living as the characters. Emotionally they both run a little deeper than you expect for what was sold as a sports movie on speed. 4 out of 10.

Prime - Meryl strikes a 2 for 2, she does a pretty goo mixture of therapist/Jewish Mom in this and Uma manages to not remind me of every other Uma movie (which is what usually happens) and plays the neurotic every-girl who finds love in the wrong place. 5 out of 10.

Find Me Guilty - True story. Both the plot and the following: Vin Diesel with bouffant hair as an italian mob member who will not snitch on his compadres. Gets a little slow, but Sidney Lumet stays out of the way of the story and you will truly forget that it is Vin at some point and actually feel somethng for the murderous mobster. Vin captures some of his characters real life charm, which evidently helped in real life as well. 4 out of 10.

Everything Illuminated - Fascinating. Interesting characters, excellent acting, the story unravels in an intriguing way and keeps you hooked. The cinematography is beautiful, helps paint the story along with music and directorial choices that you feel but don't mind being aware of. Completely agree with all the scenes they cut out (which were in the extras.) 7.5 out of 10.

Nine Lives - Nine short stories told cinematically. Watch it, the sketches are vibrant, heart breaking, some familiar, some fantastical, watch it and the extras with the Director who is an interesting fellow as well. 7 out of 10.

3 burials of Melquiades Estrada - You feel dusty just watching this movie about the border town and Mexico. The friendship between Tommy Lee Jones and Melquiades, although you hardly see them together, is the most pervasive part of the film. I didn't really understand what happened in Mexico - was Melquiades lying about his wife or was she re-married and too scared to admit that she loved him and wanted his body? 6 out of 10.

CARS - It is paint by numbers animation. Some very cute moments with some very familiar characters and structure. We seriously need to STOP putting music montages into animation, especially the ROMANTIC montages! Way too long, would be served by tightening some of the familiar sections and moving Owen Wilson's natural laidbackness along a little. All of us that saw it last night also seem to agree that we never forgot that it was Owen Wilson and never got into the character as his own character/world.