Rated G, 105 minutes
Pleasant Bieber concert film shows the boy has got it
No, I do NOT have Bieber fever, though I will admit that I liked "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never" more than I thought I would. I'm still not a huge fan of his music, but this enjoyable behind-the-scenes documentary concert film shows the boy wonder (and a Canadian no doubt!) does have talent, charm and the ability to attract a huge, huge female fan base. Even non-fans will have a little more respect for this young teen who has already sold millions of records and become a worldwide phenomenon.
The film tells the story of Bieber's discovery and rise to stardom, all as it follows Bieber on his 2010 concert tour. There are loads of interviews with family, friends, business associates and the like, not to mention lots of pictures and videos of a very young Justin before he got his start. Fans and non-fans will learn of Justin's humble upbringing - he was raised largely by a single mother and his grandparents in a suburb of Toronto, Canada - not to mention he was just a normal boy who enjoyed sports and had a keen interest in music. After he won a talent contest, his mother posted some of his videos on You Tube, and the rest is history.
"Justin Bieber: Never Say Never" is a pleasantly satisfying surprise for a couple of big reasons. For one, the boy has a charm and talent that few his age possess, and two, he isn't part of the faux-squeaky clean Disney or Nickelodeon machine. The insight into Bieber's background is what most revealing about the film, and he seems to be a genuinely nice, normal guy who has hit it big (he eats donuts out of the trash, dude please). Sure, the concert scenes are also fun, but his rags- to-riches story is by far the more interesting part of the movie.
The challenge with the film will be finding a large, mainstream audience outside of Bieber's large, almost exclusively female fan base, who seem to stalk the boy at every appearance. Initially it's fun to see some of his squealing young fans, but then a shade creepy when they show some of his fans who are a little old for something like this. Still, it's all good, clean fun, even with the likes of Miley Cyrus (Hannah who?), Usher (who helped discover Bieber), Boys II Men and Sean Kingston.
No, I won't be rushing to download any Bieber songs anytime soon, nor will I style my hair the way he does, but I'll say that the fresh-faced, lithe Bieber has the talent and charm to last longer than anyone named Miley or Jonas.
Friday, February 11, 2011
The Eagle - C-
Rated PG-13 for battle sequences and some disturbing images, 114 minutes
This lifeless "Eagle" doesn't fly
First bad sign for a film: it doesn't screen for critics. Second bad sign: it stars Channing Tatum, though in fact the second sign may the reason for the first sign. No more speaking in circles, the handsome but pallid historical drama "The Eagle" crash lands and has trouble getting off the ground early on. Tatum is bland eye candy, even when surrounded by costumes and decent actors like Donald Sutherland, a great actor now doing movies like this one strictly for the money.
In 140 AD, twenty years after the unexplained disappearance of the entire Ninth Legion in the mountains of Scotland, young centurion Marcus Aquila (Tatum) arrives from Rome to solve the mystery and restore the reputation of his father, the commander of the Ninth. Accompanied only by his British slave Esca (Jamie Bell), Marcus sets out across Hadrian's Wall into the uncharted highlands of Caledonia - to confront its savage tribes, make peace with his father's memory, and retrieve the lost legion's golden emblem, the Eagle of the Ninth.
"The Eagle" is a tedious, flavorless affair that's awkwardly staged, unevenly scripted and badly acted. That wouldn't come as a surprise given that one of Hollywood's hottest young stars, Tatum, headlines the film. Slap a Roman costume on him, give him a sword and place him in the middle of some handsome sets, and the guy still can't act. His woefully in-and-out half British accent is the worst this side of Kevin Costner's Robin Hood. Even Robin Hood couldn't save this dreary, uneven film, which has epic aspirations of "Braveheart" or "Gladiator" but is more geared to the Lifetime Channel, given the legions of his female fans that watch him just to watch him.
Jamie Bell, that once eager "Billy Elliot" of long-ago, is better than Tatum though he needs to smile more, and Donald Sutherland, as the uncle figure here, gives another quick take-the-money and run performance that he learned from Sean Connery. The film has a few good action sequences, but the supposedly factual story, based on the 1954 historical novel "The Eagle of the Ninth" by Rosemary Sutcliff (itself a work of fiction), isn't given a great, or even entertaining, adaptation. Instead, we're treated to Tatum's posing and attempts at acting, not to mention a weird homerotic tension between the Tatum and Bell characters.
I wouldn't recommend it, unless you enjoy mediocre historical drama and awkward attempts at good acting.
This lifeless "Eagle" doesn't fly
First bad sign for a film: it doesn't screen for critics. Second bad sign: it stars Channing Tatum, though in fact the second sign may the reason for the first sign. No more speaking in circles, the handsome but pallid historical drama "The Eagle" crash lands and has trouble getting off the ground early on. Tatum is bland eye candy, even when surrounded by costumes and decent actors like Donald Sutherland, a great actor now doing movies like this one strictly for the money.
In 140 AD, twenty years after the unexplained disappearance of the entire Ninth Legion in the mountains of Scotland, young centurion Marcus Aquila (Tatum) arrives from Rome to solve the mystery and restore the reputation of his father, the commander of the Ninth. Accompanied only by his British slave Esca (Jamie Bell), Marcus sets out across Hadrian's Wall into the uncharted highlands of Caledonia - to confront its savage tribes, make peace with his father's memory, and retrieve the lost legion's golden emblem, the Eagle of the Ninth.
"The Eagle" is a tedious, flavorless affair that's awkwardly staged, unevenly scripted and badly acted. That wouldn't come as a surprise given that one of Hollywood's hottest young stars, Tatum, headlines the film. Slap a Roman costume on him, give him a sword and place him in the middle of some handsome sets, and the guy still can't act. His woefully in-and-out half British accent is the worst this side of Kevin Costner's Robin Hood. Even Robin Hood couldn't save this dreary, uneven film, which has epic aspirations of "Braveheart" or "Gladiator" but is more geared to the Lifetime Channel, given the legions of his female fans that watch him just to watch him.
Jamie Bell, that once eager "Billy Elliot" of long-ago, is better than Tatum though he needs to smile more, and Donald Sutherland, as the uncle figure here, gives another quick take-the-money and run performance that he learned from Sean Connery. The film has a few good action sequences, but the supposedly factual story, based on the 1954 historical novel "The Eagle of the Ninth" by Rosemary Sutcliff (itself a work of fiction), isn't given a great, or even entertaining, adaptation. Instead, we're treated to Tatum's posing and attempts at acting, not to mention a weird homerotic tension between the Tatum and Bell characters.
I wouldn't recommend it, unless you enjoy mediocre historical drama and awkward attempts at good acting.
The Illusionist - B
Rated PG for thematic elements and smoking, 85 minutes
Soft-spoken but wistful "Illusionist" tells a sad tale
"The Illusionist" shouldn't be confused with the 2006 Christian Bale thriller "The Illusionist." Though both are about magicians, this is an animated story from Sylvain Chomet, who directed the fun tale "The Triplets of Belleville" a few years back. It's a pensively wistful, unique tale with minimal dialogue; though suitable for children, adults will get the most out of the emotionally rich story of a magician who's lost his passion.
An aging French magician is forced to leave his homeland and now lives in Scotland with a young woman he met there. Alice is a teenage girl with all her capacity for childish wonder still intact. She longs to be a real woman without realizing the day to stop pretending is fast approaching. She doesn't know yet that she loves The Illusionist like she would a father; he already knows that he loves her as he would a daughter. Their destinies will collide, but nothing - not even magic or the power of illusion - can stop the voyage of discovery.
"The Illusionist" is Chomet's enertaining but intelligent, sad tale of love, growing older and life changes; it's an unconventional animated tale filled with some beautiful images. Based loosely on the life of French artist Jacques Tati and his daughter, it's really a father-daughter love story set against the backdrop of Scotland. It's also nominated for Best Animated Film at this month's Academy Awards, a surprise but worthy nominee in a year filled wih great animated films.
The animation is much like a painting or drawing that comes to life; the audiences is actually engaged more by the minimal dialogue and Chomet is able to draw you into the downbeat story, though that lack of dialogue and depressing story may not be for everyone. If you enjoyed Chomet's "The Triplets of Belleville," you will enjoy this too as it has a similar tone and scope to it as that film. Also, please know that while it's animated, know that young ones may get easily bored with it.
Soft-spoken but wistful "Illusionist" tells a sad tale
"The Illusionist" shouldn't be confused with the 2006 Christian Bale thriller "The Illusionist." Though both are about magicians, this is an animated story from Sylvain Chomet, who directed the fun tale "The Triplets of Belleville" a few years back. It's a pensively wistful, unique tale with minimal dialogue; though suitable for children, adults will get the most out of the emotionally rich story of a magician who's lost his passion.
An aging French magician is forced to leave his homeland and now lives in Scotland with a young woman he met there. Alice is a teenage girl with all her capacity for childish wonder still intact. She longs to be a real woman without realizing the day to stop pretending is fast approaching. She doesn't know yet that she loves The Illusionist like she would a father; he already knows that he loves her as he would a daughter. Their destinies will collide, but nothing - not even magic or the power of illusion - can stop the voyage of discovery.
"The Illusionist" is Chomet's enertaining but intelligent, sad tale of love, growing older and life changes; it's an unconventional animated tale filled with some beautiful images. Based loosely on the life of French artist Jacques Tati and his daughter, it's really a father-daughter love story set against the backdrop of Scotland. It's also nominated for Best Animated Film at this month's Academy Awards, a surprise but worthy nominee in a year filled wih great animated films.
The animation is much like a painting or drawing that comes to life; the audiences is actually engaged more by the minimal dialogue and Chomet is able to draw you into the downbeat story, though that lack of dialogue and depressing story may not be for everyone. If you enjoyed Chomet's "The Triplets of Belleville," you will enjoy this too as it has a similar tone and scope to it as that film. Also, please know that while it's animated, know that young ones may get easily bored with it.
Gnomeo and Juliet - C
Rated G, 84 minutes
Say no to the animated Shakespeare ripoff "Gnomeo and Juliet"
The new animated film "Gnomeo and Juliet" is based on the classic William Shakespeare "Romeo and Juliet," is directed by one of the "Shrek" directors and voiced by some of the most renowned actors in the world. With such hefty source material and talent involved you'd think that it'd be better. Though it's certainly an original idea, much like gnomes themselves, "Gnomeo and Juliet" is shapeless, kinda weird and rarely funny.
Kelly Asbury, the guy who directed "Shrek 2," takes Shakespeare's most beloved, tragic play and fashions into a contemporary animated comedy about a couple of young garden gnomes (James McAvoy and Emily Blunt) on the opposite side of the fence who fall in love to the chagrin of their family and friends, voiced by Maggie Smith, Michael Caine, Patrick Stewart, Ashley Jensen, Jason Statham and even Ozzy Osbourne. But with plastic pink flamingos and lawnmower races in this family feud, can this young couple find lasting happiness?
There are a handful of fun moments in "Gnomeo and Juliet" and while the animation is bright and colorful, the story would make Shakespeare turn over in his grave and is tragic in more ways than one. Gnomes are a bit of a strange sight anyway, and while some may fancy them, cute and cuddly don't always come to mind. Veteran director Asbury, who's had plenty of experience with kind of thing, wants to do the same with Shakespeare's story as he did with "Shrek," but this one falls flat, unfunny and in some ways, just plain bizarre.
Kids who don't know Shakespeare's story still won't after this, given that the story is completely changed and bares little resemblance to the play. Shakespeare purists, or anyone that likes decent animation, should probably stay away. A pale imitation and ripoff of Asbury's own "Shrek" and "Toy Story." Not worth the money, particularly the 3-D.
Say no to the animated Shakespeare ripoff "Gnomeo and Juliet"
The new animated film "Gnomeo and Juliet" is based on the classic William Shakespeare "Romeo and Juliet," is directed by one of the "Shrek" directors and voiced by some of the most renowned actors in the world. With such hefty source material and talent involved you'd think that it'd be better. Though it's certainly an original idea, much like gnomes themselves, "Gnomeo and Juliet" is shapeless, kinda weird and rarely funny.
Kelly Asbury, the guy who directed "Shrek 2," takes Shakespeare's most beloved, tragic play and fashions into a contemporary animated comedy about a couple of young garden gnomes (James McAvoy and Emily Blunt) on the opposite side of the fence who fall in love to the chagrin of their family and friends, voiced by Maggie Smith, Michael Caine, Patrick Stewart, Ashley Jensen, Jason Statham and even Ozzy Osbourne. But with plastic pink flamingos and lawnmower races in this family feud, can this young couple find lasting happiness?
There are a handful of fun moments in "Gnomeo and Juliet" and while the animation is bright and colorful, the story would make Shakespeare turn over in his grave and is tragic in more ways than one. Gnomes are a bit of a strange sight anyway, and while some may fancy them, cute and cuddly don't always come to mind. Veteran director Asbury, who's had plenty of experience with kind of thing, wants to do the same with Shakespeare's story as he did with "Shrek," but this one falls flat, unfunny and in some ways, just plain bizarre.
Kids who don't know Shakespeare's story still won't after this, given that the story is completely changed and bares little resemblance to the play. Shakespeare purists, or anyone that likes decent animation, should probably stay away. A pale imitation and ripoff of Asbury's own "Shrek" and "Toy Story." Not worth the money, particularly the 3-D.
Friday, February 4, 2011
The Roomate - D
Rated PG-13 for violence and menace, sexual content, some language and partying, 93 minutes
You'll want to get rid of this dull, lazy "Roommate"
There's a good reason why I've never had a roommate, there are just too many issues with more than one person sharing a living space. "The Roommate" is one of the new year's worst films, a dull, predictable and unoriginal thriller that obviously fell apart in the editing room. It also wastes a few young talented stars in its wake, who won't want to add it to their cinematic resume.
University of Los Angeles freshman Sara (Minka Kelly) is randomly assigned a roommate for her first semester of college, the unassuming Rebecca (Leighton Meester). However, Rebecca turns out to be a disturubed psychotic as she obsesses over every aspect of Sara's life, relentlessly stalking her, leading to tragic results.
You can probably guess how the awful "The Roommate" turns out in the end, just by viewing the trailers for the film, and it isn't pretty, in more ways than one. Choppy, cheap and badly acted, it's unfortunately one of the first feature films from Danish director Christian E. Christiansen, he takes it down a path that all these types of films, geared toward the younger set, tend to go.
"Gossip Girl's" Meester has fun with the villain role but can't do anything about the fact that most of it isn't that scary; as the nice girl, "Friday Night Lights" Kelly is wasted, as is most of the rest of the cast (yes that's Billy Zane, with obviously nothing to do but dreck such as this). Fires are set, people are killed, even belly button rings are ripped out, but above all, the boring, dull "Roomate" is just a waste of time. Don't bother.
You'll want to get rid of this dull, lazy "Roommate"
There's a good reason why I've never had a roommate, there are just too many issues with more than one person sharing a living space. "The Roommate" is one of the new year's worst films, a dull, predictable and unoriginal thriller that obviously fell apart in the editing room. It also wastes a few young talented stars in its wake, who won't want to add it to their cinematic resume.
University of Los Angeles freshman Sara (Minka Kelly) is randomly assigned a roommate for her first semester of college, the unassuming Rebecca (Leighton Meester). However, Rebecca turns out to be a disturubed psychotic as she obsesses over every aspect of Sara's life, relentlessly stalking her, leading to tragic results.
You can probably guess how the awful "The Roommate" turns out in the end, just by viewing the trailers for the film, and it isn't pretty, in more ways than one. Choppy, cheap and badly acted, it's unfortunately one of the first feature films from Danish director Christian E. Christiansen, he takes it down a path that all these types of films, geared toward the younger set, tend to go.
"Gossip Girl's" Meester has fun with the villain role but can't do anything about the fact that most of it isn't that scary; as the nice girl, "Friday Night Lights" Kelly is wasted, as is most of the rest of the cast (yes that's Billy Zane, with obviously nothing to do but dreck such as this). Fires are set, people are killed, even belly button rings are ripped out, but above all, the boring, dull "Roomate" is just a waste of time. Don't bother.
Another Year - B
Rated PG-13 for some language, 129 minutes
Superbly-acted British drama "Another Year" channels life over a year
"Another Year" is a film from renowned director Mike Leigh ("Secrets and Lies") that is just now getting it's release in the states and in this area for the new year. Make it a point to see the touching, believable, albeit overlong, drama that's superbly acted, directed and written. It's surprising that the acclaimed film was largely overlooked by Oscars, receiving only a single nomination for its screenplay.
Tom (Jim Broadbent) and Gerri (Ruth Sheen) are a happy couple in their sixties, with professional careers and a grown son, but during the course of one year we see that some of their friends are not as happy. Mary (Lesley Manville), of of Gerri's close friends, has been drinking too much since her husband left her. Gerri tried to set her up with Tom's friends Ken (Peter Wight), but it did not work out. Now Gerri is surprised to find Mary flirting with Gerri's son Joe (Oliver Maltman), a man much younger than herself. Mary's emotional state is not helped when she stops by Tom and Gerri's house and meets Joe's new girlfriend.
Mike Leigh's poignant new drama "Another Year" has some nice shades to it; the family issues are familiar Leigh issues and it goes on too long in its second act, but it's definitely worth seeing for the touching, warm performances. It's evident that the cast, all of whom have worked with Leigh in his films over the years, is comfortable with his relaxed, improvisational direction. Unsurprisingly, he elicits the film's strongest performances from the women in the film, something that Leigh is noted for (see Brenda Blethyn in "Secrets and Lies" and Imelda Staunton - who has a brief role here too - in "Vera Drake").
Sheen's straight-laced, caring Gerri grounds the film well, but it's British character actress Lesley Manville, as Gerri's flighty, overemotional best friend that bursts the film open to new territory. It's the type of character that Shelley Winters would've probably played back in the 1950's, and it's a tribute to Manville's remarkably touching perfomance that she steals the film, given that the film is a supporting role. The film's long stretches without her may have the audience missing her, though Leigh's strong direction and story hold up on their own.
Without Manville, the relationship-oriented "Another Year" wouldn't be as much fun, but it's still worth seeing. It's too long, especially in the final act, but you'll have yourself wondering why the deserving Manville wasn't nominated for an Oscar for Supporting Actress.
Superbly-acted British drama "Another Year" channels life over a year
"Another Year" is a film from renowned director Mike Leigh ("Secrets and Lies") that is just now getting it's release in the states and in this area for the new year. Make it a point to see the touching, believable, albeit overlong, drama that's superbly acted, directed and written. It's surprising that the acclaimed film was largely overlooked by Oscars, receiving only a single nomination for its screenplay.
Tom (Jim Broadbent) and Gerri (Ruth Sheen) are a happy couple in their sixties, with professional careers and a grown son, but during the course of one year we see that some of their friends are not as happy. Mary (Lesley Manville), of of Gerri's close friends, has been drinking too much since her husband left her. Gerri tried to set her up with Tom's friends Ken (Peter Wight), but it did not work out. Now Gerri is surprised to find Mary flirting with Gerri's son Joe (Oliver Maltman), a man much younger than herself. Mary's emotional state is not helped when she stops by Tom and Gerri's house and meets Joe's new girlfriend.
Mike Leigh's poignant new drama "Another Year" has some nice shades to it; the family issues are familiar Leigh issues and it goes on too long in its second act, but it's definitely worth seeing for the touching, warm performances. It's evident that the cast, all of whom have worked with Leigh in his films over the years, is comfortable with his relaxed, improvisational direction. Unsurprisingly, he elicits the film's strongest performances from the women in the film, something that Leigh is noted for (see Brenda Blethyn in "Secrets and Lies" and Imelda Staunton - who has a brief role here too - in "Vera Drake").
Sheen's straight-laced, caring Gerri grounds the film well, but it's British character actress Lesley Manville, as Gerri's flighty, overemotional best friend that bursts the film open to new territory. It's the type of character that Shelley Winters would've probably played back in the 1950's, and it's a tribute to Manville's remarkably touching perfomance that she steals the film, given that the film is a supporting role. The film's long stretches without her may have the audience missing her, though Leigh's strong direction and story hold up on their own.
Without Manville, the relationship-oriented "Another Year" wouldn't be as much fun, but it's still worth seeing. It's too long, especially in the final act, but you'll have yourself wondering why the deserving Manville wasn't nominated for an Oscar for Supporting Actress.
Sanctum 3D - C-
Rated R for language, some violence and disturbing images, 109 minutes
Cave exploration thriller "Sanctum" comes up short
The new 3D thriller "Sanctum" is very fortunate to have Oscar-winning director James Cameron's name above the top as an executive producer. He may change his mind after he sees the flat, disappointing film that's inspired by true events. Some of the action sequences are OK, but everything else - the story, acting, dialogue and special effects - are second-rate at best.
Master diver Frank McGuire (Richard Roxburgh) has explored the South Pacific's Esa-ala Caves for months. But when his exit is cut off in a flash flood, Frank's team - including 17-year-old son Josh (Rhys Wakefield) and financier Carl Hurley (Ioan Gruffuld) - are forced to radically alter plans. With dwindling supplies, the crew must navigate an underwater labyrinth to make it out. Soon, they are confronted with the unavoidable question: Can they survive, or will they be trapped forever?
"Sanctum" is an unsatisfying, predictable 3D ride that definitely isn't worth it and seems a lame excuse to set up the cave sequences. The weak, weak story and unmemorable direction from newcomer Alister Grierson make this thriller a huge disappointment if you're expecting Cameron's size first-rate effects. Instead, the effects are second-rate, at best, and while some of the action sequences keep things moving, it ultimately becomes too predictable and unrevealing.
The story, based on the real experiences of the film's writer, Andrew Wright, it falters in its storytelling and presenting any shaded characters. The cave walls are far more memorable, but after while you come to know what to expect. As for the 3D, it also disappoints considerably, making "Sanctum" definitely not worth your movie dollar this weekend.
Cave exploration thriller "Sanctum" comes up short
The new 3D thriller "Sanctum" is very fortunate to have Oscar-winning director James Cameron's name above the top as an executive producer. He may change his mind after he sees the flat, disappointing film that's inspired by true events. Some of the action sequences are OK, but everything else - the story, acting, dialogue and special effects - are second-rate at best.
Master diver Frank McGuire (Richard Roxburgh) has explored the South Pacific's Esa-ala Caves for months. But when his exit is cut off in a flash flood, Frank's team - including 17-year-old son Josh (Rhys Wakefield) and financier Carl Hurley (Ioan Gruffuld) - are forced to radically alter plans. With dwindling supplies, the crew must navigate an underwater labyrinth to make it out. Soon, they are confronted with the unavoidable question: Can they survive, or will they be trapped forever?
"Sanctum" is an unsatisfying, predictable 3D ride that definitely isn't worth it and seems a lame excuse to set up the cave sequences. The weak, weak story and unmemorable direction from newcomer Alister Grierson make this thriller a huge disappointment if you're expecting Cameron's size first-rate effects. Instead, the effects are second-rate, at best, and while some of the action sequences keep things moving, it ultimately becomes too predictable and unrevealing.
The story, based on the real experiences of the film's writer, Andrew Wright, it falters in its storytelling and presenting any shaded characters. The cave walls are far more memorable, but after while you come to know what to expect. As for the 3D, it also disappoints considerably, making "Sanctum" definitely not worth your movie dollar this weekend.
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