2.19.2010

Update

I will not have time to write any reviews this semester until my thesis is finished. I'm writing mine on the impact the Internet is having on film criticism.
Anyways, here's a brief rundown of some of the films I've seen so far, in no particular order:
(Note: It may seem like I'm throwing high ratings around, but the truth is a little more unfortunate. I don't have enough money to see every movie I want to, so I've become a little more selective about what I'm willing to pay full price for. You understand.)

The Wolfman: Long, boring, over the top, and almost entirely faithful to the source material. I caught it at a midnight showing for a dollar and didn't regret it. Avoid paying full price.
1.5 stars

The Box: Looks and feels like a classic episode of The Twilight Zone. Appropriate, considering it was based on a short story (by the great Richard Matheson) that was made into one of the best episodes of the series' first season. To this day, I can't stop thinking about the implications of the film's final minutes. One of the most thought-provoking new films I've seen in a long time.
4 stars

Up in the Air: George Clooney does it again. This movie is funny, sad, and almost painfully timely. Bonus points for not pulling any punches towards its satisfying ending. Worthy of all its Oscar nominations.
4 stars

The Road: I loved the book (by No Country for Old Men's Cormac McCarthy), and the prospect of a motion-picture adaptation made me nervous. I was even less excited after seeing some promotional material that seemed to depict vast departures from the source material. I'm happy to report those concerns were unnecessary. This movie is more faithful to the book that I ever imagined it would be. Kudos to director John Hillcoat and screenwriter Joe Penhall for not trying to make this story more like other contemporary films. Bleak, haunting, beautifully shot, and brilliantly acted, some viewers may ultimately find the movie repetitive, depressing, and pointless.
3.5 stars