The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford ~ 2007

This film, unfortunately did not receive it’s due.  It was nominated for only two awards at the Oscars, Best Supporting Actor, Casey Affleck, and Best Cinematography, winning neither.

An excellent film that was perfectly acted by Brad Pitt, and Casey Affleck, along with an outstanding supporting cast.  Directed masterfully by Andrew Dominick, the cinematography was one of the best in years.

From the opening credits, I loved this film.  The smoothness of the characters, the hold that it takes upon the audience and the flowing landscapes in which it was shot.

Casey Affleck was powerful in the role of Robert Ford.  He presented this character with a realness that is rarely seen on film.  He truly gave a performance of a lifetime.  Brad Pitt as Jesse James was masterful and calculated just as the man he portrayed.  I have said it before, Brad is unfortunately one of the most under-rated actors of our generation and needs to get his due by the Academy.

Not only was this one of my favorite films of 2007, it is alos one of my favorite so far for the decade. A+

Children of Men ~ 2006

What could have been, and should have been an outstanding piece of film making, this film left me cold and void after watching it.  Not because of the plot and story line of the film but of the poor acting by some of the best Hollywood has to offer.  Julianne Moore, was totally unfeeling and unemotional in this film.  It was as though she was forcing herself to act in this film.  Clive Owen was totally unbelievable and again it was though he was forcing his lines and really did not want to be where he was.  Thank goodness Michael Caine was excellent in this film, as always, or it would have been a total loss.

The plot and storyline was well written, the screenplay, could have had more depth to it, and the subplots were almost meaningless. The cinematographer was better than most, but still not par excellence as it should have been. 

This film was heralded as the film to beat for Best Picture of the year, unfortunately it did not live up to it’s hype and wasn’t even nominated. A very big disappointment.  D

Chicago ~ 2002

Winner of six Academy Awards at the 75th Annual Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Chicago was the first musical to win the Oscar since Oliver in 1968.

The movie is based on the Kander and Ebb Broadway musical, Chicago, which was based on the Maurine Watkins play, Chicago, which was in turn based on the stories of two Jazz-era killers, Beulah Annan and Belva Gaertner.

The film follows a similar plot to William Wellman’s 1942 film Roxie Hart, starring Ginger Rogers as Roxie and Adolphe Menjou as Billy Flynn. However, the only singing or dancing were performances by Rogers.

The film was to have been the next movie project for legendary stage and film choreographer and director Bob Fosse, who directed and choreographed the original Broadway production. Although he died before the film was made, the influence of his distinctive jazz choreography style can be detected throughout the film. In particular, the parallels to Cabaret are numerous and distinct. He is thanked in the movie’s credits.

Both Catherine Zeta-Jones and Renee Zelwegger are fantastic in this film, Jones went on to win best Supporting Actress Oscar. Amazingly, even though this was a musical, Only one song from the film was nominated for Best Song of the year, however it lost to Eminem’s song “Lose Yourself” from the film 8Mile.

A comeback for the film industry, the Musical was said to be on it’s way back after Chicago’s win and great acceptance, unfortunately though there really has not been any good musicals put to film other than Chicago and Moulin Rouge, since. A

Cheaper By The Dozen ~ 2003

A remake of the 1950 classic with Clifton Webb and Myrna Loy of the same name, this film bears no resemblance at all to that classic film or the novel written by Frank B. Gilbreath Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreath Carey.  But it still is a good wholesome family film for the new millennium.

Steve Martin plays the father of 12 children with his wife, played by Bonnie Hunt.  He finally realizes his dream, to coach his alma mater football team, at the same time his wife gets a publishing deal.  12 kids, tow parents, new town, new jobs, new schools…chaos.

A rare comedy for the 2000’s that shows wholesome fun and the emotional side to being a parent, and a kid for that matter.  Steve Martin is perfect as the father and Bonnie Hunt plays very well next to him.  Their children, the oldest played by Piper Perabo, Tom Welling and Hillary Duff are pretty good, but seem a little old.  Piper’s boyfriend, played by Ashton Kutcher is an added distraction that the film really didn’t need.

All in all a delightful film that I have no problem watching over and over again. B

Charlotte’s Web ~ 2006

Take a classic children’s book by E.B. White, and a classic animated feature film add in Dakota Fanning and some CGI animation that looks almost so real you think they are real…well until they start singing and talking of course and a great score and musical number “Ordinary Miracle.  Put all of that together and what do you have? An award winning, box office smash.

Well sort of.  It wasn’t the biggest draw to theaters in 2006, but it was one of the biggest.  Dakota Fanning is adorable as the young Fern who befriends a young piglet she names Wilbur.  She can talk to him along with all the other farm animals. 

A classic story put into a believable film that will live on for many ages.  Sure to be a classic as it’s Animated forerunner. B-

Charlotte’s Web ~ 1973

Even though I was 13 when this animated film came out, I loved it!  Voices of Paul Lynde, Agnes Moorehead, Henry Gibson, and even young Danny Bonaduce of the Partridge Family fame brought this classic book to life even if it was animated.

The songs, are somewhat syrupy sweet and in the worst early 1970’s sort of way, but this is a children’s film and not a film adaptation of a great Broadway musical.  The songs now add that nostalgia that makes this film likable.  The animation is not Disney, but it’s good and believable.  My favorite character is Templeton the Mouse, voiced by Paul Lynde.

 Certainly a classic in animated film history. C+

Charlie’s Angels ~ 2000 / Charlie’s Angels Full Throttle ~ 2003

Personally I preferred the second film in this reamke of the famous TV show of the same name.  Both films were action packed and full of the same corny storylines that made the 70’s TV show enduring.

I absolutely love Lucy Liu and Drew Barrymore, they are both outstanding in these two films, as always.  Not a big fan of Cameron Diaz (highly over-rated as an actress) I think someone else could have done a much better believeable job in the role of Natalie.  Bill Murray was exceptional as Bosley, but unfortunately was replaced in the second one by Bernie Mac, as Jimmy Bosley.  His humour grew on me and by the end of the film I had forgotten that Bill Murray had played the role in the first film.

If you like slapstick humore, and great moves by beautiful female detectives then you should love both these films, but to really enjoy either of these movies, go buy the TV show series on DVD, now that was some good TV! C

Cellular ~ 2005

This film promised to keep you on the edge of your seat.  And it did just that, for about 35 minutes.  After that it seemed to go on and on and on.  The stars, hotties, Chris Evans, Jason Stratham and Kim Basinger was able to make what could have been a really bad movie, actually pretty good.

Basinger plays a woman who is kidnapped by Jason Stratham and all she has is her cellphone and is able to call out to only one person, Chris Evans, a young irresponsible young man that has never done anything for anyone else in his life.  Suddenly realizing that the call he has received is not a prank, but real he soon tries to help the woman on the other end of the line.  Fast paced in the first half an hour or so, the film begins to wind down and should have come to a conclusion much sooner than it it.  Other than that it was well acted and directed.  Not a waste of time or money by no means. C

The Cave ~ 2005

A sci-fi / horror film, this film which was actually filmed inside a cave in many of it’s sequences, was a poor film and should have stayed in the cave.  Poor in the performances, direction and the really bad plot and storyline.  Of the three films that were released in 2005 with the same premeise (Undgerground explorers being attacked by sub-terranean creatures) this one was by far the worst. Not that any of them were actually any good, mind you.

Fortunately for these actors, Daniel Day-Kim, Cole Hauger and Piper Perabo they were able to go on to bigger and better avenues, but unffortuantely for this film it will become one of those DVD’s you can buy at Wal-Mart for $5.00 or less.  Actually I think that is exactly where I bought and paid for this movie… D-

Cats & Dogs ~ 2001

Unbeknown to humans a war has been waging for centuries between cats and dogs. This secret war between cats and dogs quickly peaks as a scientist (Jeff Goldblum) tries to create a serum to cure dog allergies in humans. As the unsuspecting humans go through their busy lives, the cats make several attempts to possess the formula, as their canine foes try tirelessly to stop them. Caught in the crossfire, a young beagle named Lou, adopted by the Brody family, tries hard to succeed as a secret agent, and in being a friend to the young Scotty Brody. A evil snow white cat named Mr. Tinkles is planning to make every person on Earth allergic to dogs so that he can take over the world with his army of evil cats.

A cute film, and one that was enjoyed to the tune of $95 million in the US, and more than $200 million worldwide ($107 million internationally) in its initial release.  Not a film of dramatic expertise, but fun nonetheless.  It certainly will make you look at your pets differently. D+