Kicking and Screaming (1995)

For some reason I'd forgotten I'd seen this, but remembered the moment it started. It's often very funny, often too knowingly witty, but generally shows promise.

3 stars; DVD; April 1st

Seconds (1966)

"The question of death selection may be the most important decision in your life."

"There never was a struggle in the soul of a good man that wasn't hard."

Incredible photography. Terrific movie.

4 stars; DVD; April 1st

Song of the South (1946)

"Uncle Remus, you tell the best tales in the United States of Georgia."

It should've been that those living in 1946 would've realized that cartoon depictions of blacks were inaccurate, unfair, and cruel, but we're a retarded species slow to learn. As such, there's far too much yassuh- and massuh-like speech from the black characters. With that baggage and more, I was surprised to find that the movie works at all, but it does - and actually quite well. It manages to be sweet and enjoyable, and the black characters, slathered in derogation and belittlement, to be sure, give the thing its heart.

I wouldn't want to watch this movie with others, or to see it shown in schools, but I'd watch it again and I'll think fondly of it. I didn't expect that beforehand.

4 stars; DVD/LD; April 1st

Oxford Blues (1984)

High-powered 1980s cheese that's predictable and unexciting, and, for some reason, likable. Ally Sheedy was incredibly cute.

3 stars; DVD/LD; April 1st

The Game (1997)

Yeah, I still like it quite a bit.

(I watched a rip of the old LaserDisc that included the only interesting slice-n-dice commentary I've heard; I listened to it after I finished watching the movie.)

2.5 stars; DVD/LD; March 28th

Caddyshack (1980)

This is a lot more adult than I remembered. (Is there a more disturbing line from an '80s film than "Man in the boat overload?")

3 stars; DVD; March 28

Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975)

I loved the pace of the thing and its almost hyper-dramatic tone.

3.5 stars; DVD; March 27th

Night of the Comet (1984)

Truly horrible movie that was a lot of fun to make fun of.

.5 stars; theater; March 26th

Klute (1971)

This movie has a huge amount, stylistically, in common with The Conversation. I expected to see a personnel overlap, but according to IMDb there isn't one.

My lone complaint is I never saw the connection between Tom and the abusive john. They both 'meet' the Fonda character around the same time, but after it's established that they're different people, I failed to get why it was anything more than coincidence. *Spoiler:*

The abusive John kills Tom, right, so that's how they tie together ultimately, but looking at it from Klute's point of view, chronologically, what kept him pursuing the john? Is that a plot hole or did I miss a thing?

It's a good performance by Fonda, especially in the final scene, but it's slightly odd casting, because, talented as she is, Fonda isn't sultry. Seemed like the part needed someone who was.

4 stars; theater; March 26th

Changeling (2008)

Good performance by Jolie, but the subject matter was unpleasant.

3 stars; DVD; March 24th

I Love You, Man (2009)

It doesn't amount to much, but it's laugh-heavy and enjoyable.

3 stars; theater; March 22nd

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2007)

The love story was really well handled, and was moving, but so much of the rest seemed like chunks taken from other movies. The lightning strikes for example. For some reason, they killed when I saw the movie, but they felt entirely out of place here. All the boat stuff should've been scrapped, too. There was no reason this thing should've been that long.

And another thing: how the hell was Robert Redford not cast as Pitt's father? Did they look too much alike?

2.5 stars (because of the love story, or in spite of it); theater; March 20th

Che (2008)

Likely in the top five from 2008.

4 stars; theater; March 18th

Harold & Kumar: Escape From Guantanamo Bay

It's weird how little of this movie actually takes place in Guantanamo, for all the press it got as being a satire of the place.

2.5 stars; DVD; March 1st

Son of Rambow

Terrific.

3.5 stars; DVD; February 24th

The American President

Good times.

4 stars; DVD; February 18th

Body of Lies

I loved the stuff between DiCaprio and Crowe and found the movie engaging enough, but I wonder what was with the black-n-white portrayal of the CIA and the Kingdom of Jordan. I realize the CIA's a mess and has almost certainly done us more harm than good, so fine, but the filmmakers seem oblivious to the fact that Jordan is hardly a wonderful place - it does routinely torture prisoners, for example.

3 stars; DVD; February 18th

Gomorrah

Very good.

3.5 stars; DVD; February 16th