Ong Bak 2

Rating:R

Movie Release Date: December 4, 2008 (Thailand) / October 23, 2009 (USA)

DVD Release Date: February 2, 2010

Plot 411: An orphan learns the art of thieves and ventures on a journey of revenge.

Review: Tony Jaa stars as Tien, an orphan who is taken in by a gang of thieves when his parents are killed. He learns different styles of martial arts and after passing several tests is announced as the clan's successor. However, he is ill at ease knowing his parents' murderers are still out there and goes to seek his revenge. Like the first Ong Bak film, this one is action packed with tons of awesome martial arts sequences. There are great exhibitions of skill by Jaa and the other actors. If you like fight scenes, there are definitely some memorable action sequences and kill scenes. I mean, the film kicks off with a croc vs. human fight. What can get any better than that? Unlike the last film though, this one seems to have a better plot. It seemed more compelling, even though we all know the action is the focus of these types of movies. One thing to remember before going into this one is that it has nothing to do with the original film as far as plot is concerned. It's a completely different story with new characters.

Watch It: If you're a fan of kick-butt action movies.

Skip It: You like the more traditional Chinese kung fu movies. This one doesn't have the same fantasy elements (like the flying through the air or fighting across the bamboo forests).

Shutter Island

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: February 19, 2010

DVD Release Date: TBD

Plot 411: Two U.S. marshals go to Shutter Island, a facility that houses the criminally insane, to investigate a missing patient.

Review: Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his partner Chuck (Mark Ruffalo) are assigned to a case involving a missing woman who is believed to have escaped the mental ward. Dr. Crawley (Ben Kingsley) is the liaison at the island and tries to help them by giving them access to the buildings, grounds and patients. The facility is heavily guarded by armed officers as only the extremely violent or crazy people get sent to the island. The film uses dreams, hallucinations and visions to jump between the past and the present, creating doubt in the audience's mind as to what is real and what isn't. There have been movies like this in the past, but I think this one was carried out very well. While the twist is nothing new and almost too easy to figure out, I still felt that the film was able to take you on a ride. I wish that Ruffalo had a bigger, better part. However, he probably did the best that he could do with what he was given. All the juicy parts were given to DiCaprio, and I wouldn't be surprised if he was nominated for some awards. Also in this film are Max von Sydow, Patricia Clarkson, Michelle Williams, Emily Mortimer, Jackie Earle Haley and Elias Koteas.

Watch It: For a throwback to film noir that keeps you at the edge of your seat.

Skip It: If an intense Leo is a turn off. He's pretty much the focus of the show and you can't escape him or his frown lines.

Sex And Lucia / Lucía y el sexo

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: August 24, 2001 (Spain) / June 12, 2002 (USA)

DVD Release Date: October 19, 2004

Plot 411: Faced with the death of her boyfriend, a woman drifts literally and figuratively as she tries to cope.

Review: First off, this movie is foreign and there's a lot of nakedness. I mean, "sex" is in the title so how can it not be involved? If you're too conservatively American, you won't get past all that skin so you may as well skip this movie. However, if you can take it in stride, this film is really remarkable. Not only does it weave the past and the present together through flashbacks and memories, it also throws in scenes that may or may not have really happened. These scenes are based on Lorenzo's (Tristan Ulloa) writing. Lucia (Paz Vega), a waitress who happens to be infatuated with Lorenzo, meets him in her restaurant and confesses this to him. They quickly develop a relationship. Sex and passion are definite ingredients in their recipe as a couple. As the film progresses, it's difficult to pinpoint the timeframe of the scenes taking place. Is this a memory? Is it the present? The dream-like quality enhances the tone of the movie as it shifts from joy to pain, passion to heartbreak.

Watch It: If you're into the craziness that is foreign films dealing with romance. I'm not sure if it's a cultural divide or not, but it's definitely in a genre unto itself.

Skip It: As I said above, if you can't handle the erotic content.

2 Days In Paris

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: May 17, 2007 (Germany) / August 10, 2007 (USA)

DVD Release Date: February 2, 2008

Plot 411: After a romantic vacation, a quick stop in Paris to visit family should be easy, right?

Review: In this quirky, indie rom com, Marion (Julie Delpy) and Jack's (Adam Goldberg) relationship face many obstacles when they make a stop to visit her parents. As they walk through the streets of Paris, they meet many of Marion's former lovers. Jack, who is quite neurotic in everyday life, gets extremely paranoid about the stability of their relationship. After two years together, he finds that he doesn't really know the person he loves. The film cleverly portrays a love story that is more genuine and relatable than most. It's use of scenes with heavy dialogue will probably bore some viewers, but in those overly talkative scenes I found so much humor and truth. Delpy and Goldberg work well together and have a great chemistry with one another. The vibe I get from this film is similar to Delpy's Before Sunrise and Before Sunset, films that play like a peek into people's lives. The wittiness and irreverent way in which it looks at relationships cuts away at the rose-tinted romances of other movies.

Watch It: For its honest look at two people's insecurities and imperfections.

Skip It: If your idea of a romance is heart-wrenching like The Notebook.

The Perfect Score

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: January 30, 2004

DVD Release Date: June 29, 2004

Plot 411: A diverse group of kids band together to beat the SATs and achieve their dreams.

Review: An ensemble cast of young actors star in this teen comedy about a random group of high school kids who try to steal the answers to the SATs before the exam. It all begins with two friends, Kyle (Chris Evans) and Matty (Bryan Greenberg), who really need to get great scores to get into their colleges of choice. A plan to steal the SATs hatches and they confront Francesca (Scarlett Johansson), whose father owns the building that houses the SATs. Next the plan is divulged to one of the top-ranking students in school (Erika Christensen) and overheard by the resident stoner (Leonardo Nam). Rounding out the motley crew is the school's basketball superstar (Darius Miles). This movie was definitely not a career builder but one of those things you do because you're trying to be somebody at some point in the future. Evans did manage to make a name for himself afterwards, however, he also starred in Push so I suppose he's still got a ways to go. This movie just didn't do it for me. It seemed to be inspired by hints of The Breakfast Club, yet it couldn't even get its act together. It was like TBC's ugly step-sister for the computer generation.

Watch It: If you're a fan of Evans. Johansson is also not bad. She's cast as one of those emo kids again, which is weird considering how she's all glammed up these days.

Skip It: Completely.

Away We Go

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: June 5, 2009

DVD Release Date: September 29, 2009

Plot 411: One couple's cross-country journey in search of home.

Review: Burt (John Krasinski) and Verona (Maya Rudolph) are soon-to-be parents searching for a place to start over and raise their family. On their journey, they visit friends and family across the US in hopes of finding the perfect location. As they travel, they encounter a diverse selection of parenting styles, child-rearing issues and potential marital problems. This is a sweet road movie about a couple who is ready for the next big stage in life. They begin by looking toward others for advice about how their lives should be. They wonder if they're screw ups. However, as they go along they grow as a couple and realize that nothing matters besides their family. There's no need to conpare notes with anyone because each family's goals are different. There are some great performances from supporting actors, like Catherine O'Hara, Jeff Daniels, Jim Gaffigan, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Chris Messina. But the best supporting role was performed by Allison Janey.

Watch It: For the very cool music by Alexi Murdoch.

Skip It: If you're not into indie romantic comedies because I'd say this is a pretty good representation of that genre.

An American Tail

Rating: G

Movie Release Date: November 21, 1986

DVD Release Date: January 20, 2004

Plot 411: An animated film about the immigration of the Mousekewitz family to America, a land where there are no cats.

Review: I used to love this film when I was younger. Fievel (Phillip Glasser) is a young mouse who is separated from his family when he gets washed overboard on the ship to America. His family believes him to be dead, but Fievel makes his way to America in a glass bottle. When he arrives, he meets all kinds of people - some honest, some devious. As he continues to look for his family, Fievel becomes wrapped up in a political rally against the cats that he now realizes are also in the new world. Fievel served as a strong protagonist because despite his small stature he had a big heart. He made you fall in love with him through his determination (not to mention his huge ears) to find his family. You cheered for him. You were upset with him. You were frightened for him. However, looking back on the plot now it's easy to see all the larger implications that were overlooked when I was a child. This story could've been a subplot in Gangs Of New York because it deals with the same time period and issues. I find it amazing that socio-political themes of the time could be translated into a children's film with such ease. All the same prejudices, poverty and corruption were there.

Watch It: For the inspirational jouney of one mouse in a land of many and to reminisce about the hand-drawn quality that was so prevalent in the '80s.

Skip It: If you like your animation to be more of the CG variety.

Into The Blue

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: September 30, 2005

DVD Release Date: December 26, 2005

Plot 411: An underwater discovery reveals a sunken treasure of cocaine and brings trouble to a group of friends.

Review: Paul Walker and Jessica Alba star as Jared and Sam, two lovers living the easy life in the Bahamas. When Jared's friend Bryce (Scott Caan) and his girlfriend Amanda (Ashley Scott) come down from New York, the two couples discover artifacts from a shipwreck rumored to have buried treasure. As they investigate, they also find a sunken plane filled with cocaine. Eager to look for the treasure, they agree not to report the drugs. However, Bryce and Amanda decide to grab some of the drugs and sell it to a club owner (Tyson Beckford). Unbeknownst to them, he is in cahoots with the drug lord who owns the cocaine. This sets off a dangerous chain reaction involving the recovery of drugs, the avoidance of tiger sharks and the greed for gold. This film was good if you're into tan, hardbodies and clear, blue oceans. The underwater shots were pretty amazing because the water was crystal clear. However, other than that, there isn't really much to it. I realized after watching this that Walker keeps playing the same characters over and over. This Jared character is almost identical to Brian in Fast & Furious. Did it all begin with 1998's Meet The Deedles? And the surfer boy 'tude he's got is reminiscent of Keanu Reeves in Point Break.

Watch It: Mostly for the eye candy - both of the human and Mother Nature variety.

Skip It: Because other than the eye candy, the actions kind of bad and the acting is even worse.

Paper Heart

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: August 7, 2009

DVD Release Date: December 1, 2009

Plot 411: A girl goes on the road with a team of documentary filmmakers to find out the meaning of love and finds love along the way.

Review: Charlyne Yi plays a character of herself in this faux documentary about love. She and her director Nick (Jake Johnson) travel across America and interview people to get to the truth of love. Charlyne the character isn't one who believes in love and doesn't know if she's capable of it herself. During their travels, they meet Michael Cera at a party. Charlyne and Michael hit it off and their blossoming relationship is incorporated into the documentary. Cameras follow them around and film their every move as Charlyne continues on her quest to find love. This was an interesting piece of work that blurred the lines between reality and fiction. While Yi and Cera are real people, they're also actors playing themselves. The concept is intriguing and reflects the current culture's obsession with reality TV. There are also some great scenes depicted with the use puppet-like figures. Totally cool.

Watch It: You're looking for a quirky rom com for the hipster generation.

Skip It: If all of these hipster flicks are getting on your last nerve.

Havoc

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: October 16, 2005 (Armenia)

DVD Release Date: November 29, 2005

Plot 411: Wiggers from Pacific Palisades check back into reality when they have an encounter with 16th Street gangsta.

Review: Rich kids Allison (Anne Hathaway) and Emily (Bijou Phillips), in an effort to be real and actually feel alive, venture into East L.A. and kick it with the 16th Street gangsters. Wary at first, they soon find themselves fitting in with these hardcore criminals, drug dealers and overall thugs. They meet Hector (Freddy Rodriguez) and think they're so cool to be with such dangerous people. Their lives cease to be boring because now they're living on the edge. However, they are naive and don't realize that in this case appearances are reality. They do not and cannot fit into this lifestyle. The film is an intense look at these kids' privileged lives as they appropriate hip hop and gangsta culture forming faux-gangsta crews. They walk the walk. They talk the talk. They listen to hardcore rap and even believe themselves to be hardcore. But none of it is real. It's all a game to them to fill the void that is their lives. With drugs and sex they become numb and are able to escape, if only for a little while, their lonely existences. Most of their parents are workaholics or have their own mental and emotional issues. Some even have their own substance abuse problems. This film makes a clear statement about the lives of the idle rich. Despite all their attempts, their lives are completely separate from the middle class and astronomically apart from the ghetto that inspires them. After watching this film, I wasn't sure who was the good guy and who was the bad guy. Are the gangs the truly evil part of this equation because they corrupt youth, advocate violence and make people dependent on chemical substances? Or are they victims just trying to make a living any way they can so they can support their family, even in the face of discrimination? Are the rich at fault for neglecting their children because they are blinded by ambition and wealth? Are their kids guilty of whatever happens to them because they go out asking for trouble in a powerplay that they hope draws their parents' attention? These are all legit questions and I guess no answers are ever easy. The film also stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt, in an almost unrecognizable role that I think he plays well, and brief appearances by Channing Tatum, Laura San Giacomo and Alexis Dziena.

Watch It: For a harsh dose of the reality we live in. This movie reminded me of Alpha Dog.

Skip It: Because Hathaway didn't really put on a believable performance of good girl gone bad.

The 24th Day

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: May 3, 2004

DVD Release Date: August 31, 2004

Plot 411: Five years ago, Tom had a one-night stand that he is still paying for when his HIV test results come back positive.

Review: Tom (Scott Speedman) was unfaithful only one time in his life, and it happened to be with a guy named Dan (James Marsden). Now five years later, he brings Dan home with him to find out the truth. Dan's promiscuous nature prevents him from recognizing Tom and he thinks he's just gotten lucky. The next two days are spent in Tom's apartment with Dan as his hostage while they wait for test results of Dan's blood test. Despite being mainly confined to Tom's living room and spending most of the time with only two actors, this film had a good pace. The audience learns about their past through flashbacks that are presented with a harsh white light. I think it was a bit overdone. The two actors carry this film and keep it interesting. At the beginning, you believe Tom is the victim and is going vigilante on Dan. Dan's a full-on player and his arrogance is so annoying you almost believe he deserves what he gets. However, as the movie goes along you discover that Tom might be an unreliable narrator. Is what he's claiming to be true really true? Is he just insane? The juxtaposition of Tom and Dan become more evident as the plot is unveiled. The actors did a great job by keeping the intensity relatively high throughout the film. There were portions with a lot of exposition but it didn't seem to harm the overall film.

Watch It: For the strong performances by the two lead actors.

Skip It: Because this isn't really a thriller and the messages are sometimes delivered with a heavy hand.

The Hurt Locker

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: September 4, 2008 (Brazil) / June 26, 2009 (USA)

DVD Release Date: January 12, 2010

Plot 411: An Army bomb squad team count down their days to rotation in 2004 Iraq.

Review: Jeremy Renner plays Staff Sergeant James, an explosive ordinance disposal team leader who joins Bravo company midway through their rotation. His team is made of Sergeant Sanborn (Anthony Mackie) and Specialist Eldridge (Brian Geraghty). Unlike their previous leader, James is a reckless cowboy and Sanborn and Eldridge don't know what to make of his style. As the men proceed through different missions, the audience is able to see what makes each character tick, learn their motivating factors and experience what it might be like to be caught in the middle of a war. The movie was truly a wonderful piece of work, if you can call a war movie wonderful. It shot like a documentary with its gritty feel. The heat of the location came through in the sweat of the actors. Despite being fictitious, the movie had a lot of elements that made it very believable. The constant battle between James and Sanborn brought an interesting dynamic to the group. James liked to do things his way and one could argue that his actions put his team in jeopardy. Sanborn disagreed with his methods, but he wasn't the one face-to-face with an explosive. Even though there was a difference of opinion, James, Sanborn and Eldrige were a team and you had to trust your team with your life. I guess this is an example of intense situations bringing people together. I'm totally amazed that this movie didn't win any major awards.

Watch It: For a realistic portrayal of the war in Iraq and an interesting psychological study of the character. It's hard to understand what would make a person volunteer for this particular job?

Skip It: If you like your war movies to include lots of flying bullets, conflicts and dead bodies. This isn't Saving Private Ryan.

Cold Creek Manor

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: September 19, 2003

DVD Release Date: March 2, 2004

Plot 411: Fed up with city life, a family moves into an old manor and weird things begin to occur around the home.

Review: Cooper (Dennis Quaid) and Leah (Sharon Stone) decide to move to the country when their son is almost killed in an automobile accident. They purchase an old home and begin to renovate it. However, when Dale (Stephen Dorff), the former owner and an ex-con, returns to the home and offers to help with the renovations, weird things begin to happen around the home. Dorff did a good job at playing two sides of the coin, which kept the audience guessing as to his real motives. Was he just trying to get back on his feet or did he have a grudge about being kicked out of his family home? Besides Dorff, there wasn't really anything else that was interesting about the film. Despite trying to create suspense and tension, the film was just lukewarm. I kept waiting for something supernatural to happen, because of the location, age and condition of the home. However, I guess that's a different kind of movie altogether. Also in this film are Juliette Lewis, Christopher Plummer and a youn Kristen Stewart.

Watch It: If it happens to be on TV (like I did).

Skip It: If you're looking for a movie with a possessed house or upset spirits.

When In Rome

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: January 29, 2010

DVD Release Date: TBD

Plot 411: A girl is pursued by suitors after her trip to Rome and must figure out which guy is the real deal.

Review: When Beth (Kristen Bell) goes to Rome for her sister's wedding, she meets her brother-in-law's college roommate Nick (Josh Duhamel) and they hit it off. Previously shut off from love, she decides to take a chance on Nick. But as all her previous experience has revealed, she realizes that he's just like all the other guys she's dated. Drunkenly, she splashes around in the fountain of love outside the church. Disheartened with love and cynical about the powers of the fountain, she picks up five coins in an effort to save the coins' owners from a broken heart. Unfortunately, this causes the opposite effect. The coins' owners, who include Antonio (Will Arnett), Lance (Jon Heder), Gale (Dax Shepard), Al (Danny DeVito) and Nick, all fall in love with her. Upon her return to New York, Beth is confronted with each of the men as they attempt to woo her. This movie wasn't as disappointing to me as Dear John, but I didn't really have the same high hopes for it to begin with. It played out like a typical romantic comedy and didn't really have any twists, making it quite predictable. The romantic relationship between Beth and Nick was not successfully portrayed by Bell and Duhamel. In Rome, it looked like they might have potential, but once they were back in New York (most of the movie), the two actors didn't seem to have a lot of chemistry. It wasn't believable that they would fall in love with each other, which I suppose can only be attributed to the actors' performances. The comic relief provided by Beth's other suitors was just mediocre too.

Watch It: If you don't care that it's a below average rom com.

Skip It: If you're watching it for the Italian scenery (like I did). Most of the film takes place in New York so no Italian countryside and barely any of the city is shown.

Dear John

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: February 5, 2010

DVD Release Date: TBD

Plot 411: A summer love gets real when he's shipped overseas and she returns to school.

Review: I had so much hope for this next installment of a Nicholas Sparks-based flick, but it let me down on pretty much every level. Dear John stars Channing Tatum as John, a special forces soldier who meets a girl during his two week leave. His love interest comes in the form of Savannah (Amanda Seyfried), a college student home on Spring Break. The couple spends two glorious weeks together before they must be separated for a year. During this time they write letters back and forth, keeping their love alive despite their physical distance. I'll just leave it at that for this plot synopsis as I don't want to get more into it. It'll only anger me. First off, there's absolutely no chemistry between Tatum and Seyfried. Even their two-week love affair wasn't entirely believable for some reason. I thought this would be a good role for Tatum to expand his acting capabilities and show that he could emote. However, he didn't do so until the end . . . when I think he had a great moment but went and spoiled it by getting overly dramatic. I did enjoy Seyfried's emotion though as it seemed to be more natural. Richard Jenkins played John's father and I think he did a great job with what he was given. The ending of the film was the most disappointing aspect of all. I don't even know what to say about it.

Watch It: If you want a long, drawn out storyline that wasn't really interesting. The best thing about the film is the shots of Tatum without his shirt (he was surfing), but even then he's not as ripped as he has been in previous films.

Skip It: For a more meaningful Sparks novel-come-movie like The Notebook.

District B13 / Banlieue 13

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: November 10, 2004 (France) / June 10, 2005 (USA)

DVD Release Date: September 5, 2006

Plot 411: A cop goes undercover to disarm a bomb with the help of a guy who grew up in the worst part of town.

Review: OMG, this was the best effin action flick I've seen in YEARS!!! This is not an exaggeration (okay, maybe it is but this movie was still hella dope). I'm so amped up just from watching it (if you can't already tell). This movie stars David Belle as Leito, an honorable guy despite a less-than-ideal upbringing in the ghetto of District 13 in France. He and his sister Lola (Dany Verissimo) have grown up in an area without schools and law enforcement. Criminals rule the world and chaos abounds. When a bomb gets stolen by a local drug thug Taha (Bibi Narceri), a captain in the French police force (Cyril Raffaelli) is ordered to go into District 13 and get it back. He must team up with Leito to get in and complete his mission before it is too late. For once, I seriously couldn't give a rip about the plot. It was pretty thin all the way through, but at least the movie did attempt to develop it. At the core of this film are the action sequences that use parkour, "the physical discipline of training to overcome any obstacle within one's path by adapting one's movements to the environment," according to Wikipedia. Belle is one of the founders of this discipline. As it is used in this film, it is the most exciting, dynamic physical display I've ever seen. It rivals the artistry in films like Ong-bak. To me, it is completely amazing to see Belle and Raffaelli scale walls, jump through windows, jump from building to building and all these other feats without the use of CGI or wires. It's almost like a martial art in its fluidity of movement. If I had it my way, they'd incorporate more of this into films as it's unconventional (at this point) and really explodes visually on the screen. Besides all the action sequences, I should also note that there are some cool camera effects (done with CGI) and the overall look of this film is sleek despite the gritty nature of the setting.

Watch It: For jaw-dropping leaps and bounds that you swear must be faked but is all real.

Skip It: Because the plot is pretty thin.

The Philadelphia Story

Rating: Not Rated

Movie Release Date: December 26, 1940

DVD Release Date: May 2, 2000

Plot 411: The original movie upon which High Society is based.

Review: In this cheeky rom com starring Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant and James Stewart, a privileged divorcee named Tracy (Hepburn) finds herself in an awkward position just days before her marriage to a blue-collar fiance George (John Howard). Known for being harsh and unforgiving of others' flaws, she is confronted with her own failings for the first time. While trying to fend off a society pages article written by a newspaper reporter (Grant) and photographer (Ruth Hussey), Tracy learns that life without flaws is no life at all. High Society used many of the lines from this film word-for-word. It was truly amazing how similar they were. I'd think they'd be embarrassed by the plagiarism, but I suppose they just call it a remake and be done with it. Despite my bias toward musicals, I have to say that The Philadelphia Story was tremendously better than High Society. At first I wasn't sure whether or not I liked Hepburn as Tracy, however, she began to grow on me because of her outstanding acting. Somehow she made the character more believable (and sympathetic) than Grace Kelly did. Even though much of the dialogue was the same, this movie was definitely more humorous. I think it had a lot to do with the quick deliveries from Stewart, the asides made by Grant and the sarcasm of Hussey. I really liked Hussey's character and have to say that she was quite beautiful. Despite not having a huge part her expressions, no matter how minute, conveyed so many feelings and emotions that she didn't really need to speak. I would definitely recommend this film over High Society.

Watch It: For the verbal swordplay between the main characters.

Skip It: If you'd rather have the singing of High Society because otherwise the plots are pretty much the same.

Stick It

Rating:

Movie Release Date: April 28, 2006

DVD Release Date: September 19, 2006

Plot 411: Bring It On meets the X-Games.

Review: I enjoy these mindless teen sports comedies. So sue me! LOL! This one stars Jeff Bridges as Burt, a gymnastic coach, and Missy Peregrym as Haley, a former gymnast-turned-daredevil. After experiencing a personal tragedy, Missy walked out on her gymnastics team and got as far away from the mat as possible. She still caught air, but her equipment of choice was the bmx bike. Unfortunately, she's back in the gym by court order and, despite her initial resistence, is ready to shake up the girls and the gymnastics world. Alright, so the plot is barely there, the dialogue tries too hard to be cool and the acting is just alright, but I still liked this movie. There's just something about the rebellious nature in Missy that compelled me to keep watching. Dare to be different and all that.

Watch It: If you enjoyed Bring It On.

Skip It: Because The Mighty Ducks is a better movie any day of the week.

Shortbus

Rating: Not Rated

Movie Release Date: October 13, 2006

DVD Release Date: March 13, 2007

Plot 411: A movie that reveals a lot of skin but its themes penetrate far beyond skin deep.

Review: Realistically, I think this movie takes more than a single viewing to even begin to grasp at its themes. However, I've got to admit that I've only seen it once and it was several years ago. The plot focuses on Sofia (Sook-Yin Lee), a sex therapist who has never experienced an orgasm. Ironic isn't it? During one of her sessions, she meets a gay couple, James (Paul Dawson) and Jamie (PJ DeBoy), who are interested in opening up their relationship. They invite her to a weekly hipster, underground club that is basically a social, sexual and artistic orgy of humanity. Sophia's eyes are opened to the different kinds of intimacy that people share with one another. The plot also focuses on James, who continuously films his life and his relationships. To say this movie is extremely explicit in its portrayal of sex would be an understatement. Was it uncomfortable to watch, even alone? Yes. Was it pornographic? No. Sex, intimacy and nudity are all used to develop the plot and characters. They're not used for the purpose of erotic arousal, although some scenes are sensual. Artistically, I found this movie to be really cutting edge and pushing the boundaries of people's perception of love and sex. Even the conception of the storyline and characters was organic to the film and conceived through workshops and ad libbing by the actors.

Watch It: And have your mind blown.

Skip It: If you're easily offended or embarrassed by nudity and intimate scenes.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: August 14, 1975 (United Kingdom) / September 26, 1975 (USA)

DVD Release Date: September 3, 2002

Plot 411: A couple runs into some car trouble on a dark and stormy night and takes refuge at a creepy castle.

Review: Y'all know I love me some music and dancing, but this is one film that I can honestly say I will never watch again. This movie stars Susan Sarandon as Janet and Barry Bostwick as Brad, two lovers who find themselves in an awkward situation when their car breaks down. No, the problem isn't that they're two unchaperoned young people. It's more like they're situation goes from bad to worse when they seek shelter at a nearby home. The home's owner is Dr. Frank N. Furter (Tim Curry), a scientist who has created a Frankenstein-esque creature. The movie only gets more bizarre from here on in. I don't even know what else to tell you. There's singing and dancing and lots of weirdly dressed transexuals, cross dressers and what have you. I don't totally understand what happened as far as plot is concerned. To ask about the deeper implications of this film would just be foolish. The movie is a cult classic though, so there must be something redeeming about it. Unfortunately, I thoroughly fail to see what that is.

Watch It: At a midnight madness showing so you can really get into the act. People in the audience get up and participate in the show.

Skip It: If you don't like spending an hour and a half watching a movie and walking away more confused than when you walked in.

High Society

Rating: Not Rated

Movie Release Date: July 17, 1956

DVD Release Date: April 22, 2003

Plot 411: A rich girl takes the safe route and is engaged to a dull guy to protect her heart.

Review: The lovely Grace Kelly plays Tracy Lord, a socialite who is days away from marrying a "nice" guy George (John Lund). George doesn't come from wealth, but he has worked his way through the coal mining business, a business that Tracy's father runs. Tracy is divorced from Dexter (Bing Crosby), a songwriter and her family's neighbor. Because of her father's affair, Tracy doesn't allow herself to open up to people and can be cold and standoffish, but Dexter still loves her. When a magazine rag threatens to print a story on her father, Tracy's mother forces her to allow the magazine to cover her lavish wedding. The magazine sends a journalist (Frank Sinatra) and photographer (Celeste Holm). During the pre-wedding festivities, Tracy finds three men vying for her affections. I didn't find the plot all that interesting, even with several love triangles going on. The characters seem unrelatable, and I'm not sure if this was due to their wealth, the difference in time between now and the setting or if the acting was just bad. What I did enjoy though were the musical numbers. You can just imagine the quality of songs coming out of Cole Porter and being performed by Crosby, Sinatra and Louis Armstrong, who played both narrator and musical guest. Crosby and Sinatra have a great duet, which I believe is the first of its kind on film. The Cole Porter hit "True Love" can also be found in this film being sung by Kelly and Crosby.

Watch It: For the musical numbers that advance the so-so plot and develop the characters.

Skip It: If you're looking for substance.

Garden State

Rating: R

Movie Release Date: July 28, 2004

DVD Release Date: December 28, 2004

Plot 411: A struggling actor returns to New Jersey when his mother dies and learns to feel for the first time in his life.

Review: Andrew Largeman (Zach Braff) has lived in a medicated haze for almost his entire life. These drugs have moderated his emotions. Nothing moves him. When he is called home by his father for his mother's funeral, he leaves his meds behind and for the first time in his life allows himself to feel. He gets reacquainted with friends from high school and meets a girl named Sam (Natalie Portman) while at the doctor's office. Over the next couple of days, he begins to reassess his life and realizes that he has missed out on most of it. Also in this film are Peter Sarsgaard, Jean Smart and Method Man. I decided to rewatch this film because I hadn't seen it in several years. Apparently I wasn't paying much attention to it the first time around because this I didn't remember any of the scenes or even the main plot points. It was like watching it anew. For the most part, I liked how the film seemed to be one of those self-aware, societal commentaries shrouded in hipster music. As Largeman slowly came out of his drug haze, it seemed like his world opened up. In small increments, he became a living person instead of a shadow of a human. Portman is awesome in this movie. She plays a pathological liar and her quirky nature intrigues Largeman. She helps to integrate him into the world one emotion at a time. It's interesting that Largeman is detoxing from his prescribed medications yet there are tons of illegals all around him. The idea that he's finally able to move forward is contrasted by the way his friends have all remained the same. At times, you completely understand why he wanted to live in the medicated haze for so long.

Watch It: For what seemed to be a realistic portrayal of one man's emotional awakening.

Skip It: If you're anti uber-hipster movies. This feels like the grandfather of the current round of hipster flicks.

Out Of Time

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: October 3, 2003

DVD Release Date: January 6, 2004

Plot 411: A small town chief of police is tangled in a web of deception and murder.

Review: Denzel Washington is Matthias Whitlock, the chief of police in a small town in Florida. He is secretly having an affair with Ann (Sanaa Lathan), his high school sweetheart, despite her marriage to the abusive Chris (Dean Cain). However, when Ann and Chris are found burned to death in a possible homicide, all roads point back to Whitlock and he must cover his adulterous tracks. Luckily (or unluckily) for him, his soon-to-be ex-wife Alex (Eva Mendes) is on the case. She recently made detective and is out to prove herself. Despite the slow beginning, this film actually picked up steam about a third of the way into it. All the secrets and double crossings began to appear, which made the movie a bit more interesting. Lathan and Mendes looked great in this film. It might've been the humidity of the Florida air, but their skin always looked flushed and dewy. Cain thoroughly looked and played the part of the rogue. This wasn't the best mystery/thriller flick ever, but it was decent. I loved the county's medical examiner Chae (John Billingsley) the most for the comical relief he provided.

Watch It: If you like Washington's rather stoic and cool-headed demeanor.

Skip It: If you're seeking an action packed flick. This was more of a slow burn.

Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: September 23, 1969

DVD Release Date: May 16, 2000

Plot 411: Two bank robbers try to outrun the law and still maintain their illegal habits.

Review: Paul Newman and Robert Redford star as Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid respectively in this Western period piece. The two characters are lifelong friends and their relationship is thoroughly enjoyable despite their contrasting personalities. Butch was an affable and charismatic guy while Sundance was solemn and sometimes ornery. However, opposites attract and sometimes work well together. Butch was the leader and had all the great plans. Sundance stuck with the gunslinging duties. His love interest Etta (Katharine Ross) also has a friendly bond with Butch and there's a great scene in which they ride a bike together. The film is quite literally a chase movie. Besides the friendship, this is the next thing that occupies much of the runtime. The outlaws travel across flatlands, up mountains, through rivers and even head to a foreign country to escape the law. However, along the way they do not give up their illegal ways. There were some interesting cinematic selections, like sepia-toned photography or photo montages played over modern music, that kind of distracted me but I suppose it's an artistic choice. The dialogue was surprisingly modern. Overall though, I liked this film a lot. You don't get to see a lot of this genre anymore. Plus, with quality actors like Newman and Redford, how can it not work?

Watch It: For a great performance by Newman and Redford. I can now see why this film is considered iconic.

Skip It: If you're looking for a lot of action. While there are some gun fights and robberies, most of the movie is about evading the law and not confronting it.

Mansfield Park

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: November 17, 1999

DVD Release Date: July 11, 2000

Plot 411: A poor girl grows up in a rich household and perseveres despite a different kind of rough upbringing

Review: In this film based on Jane Austen's book of the same name, poor Fanny Price (Frances O'Connor) goes to live with her wealthy aunt as a young girl. Her family sends her for the developmental and educational benefit as well as for the financial relief of having one less mouth to feed. Depsite being a relative, she is treated harshly like a servant. Everyone is horrible except for her cousin Edmund (Jonny Lee Miller), and they quickly become friends. As they grow up, Fanny's love for Edmund deepens. However, it is threatened when Henry (Alessandro Nivola) and Mary (Embeth Davidtz) Crawford, relatives of the local clergy, arrive and begin insinuating themselves into their lives. Again, I'm loving this period piece, especially because it's another adaptation of Jane Austen. Somehow, she just gets all the angst and turmoil surrounding love in these impossible situations. She understands strong female characters and is determined to see them succeed. Miller is lovable and sometimes so darned respectful that you just want to bop him on the head! O'Connor does a nice job as Fanny.

Watch It: For a slightly different take on things than what's in the novel.

Skip It: If you don't like Austen to begin with. Why waste your time?

Vanity Fair

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: September 1, 2004

DVD Release Date: February 1, 2005

Plot 411: A girl ditches her humble beginnings to climb England's social ladder.

Review: Reese Witherspoon is Becky Sharp, a bright and ambitious girl who establishes herself as a nanny to a wealthy family. Here she rubs elbows with society's elite and further entrenches herself into the upper crust of society when she marries the family's eldest son (James Purefoy). She uses all of her assets to achieve her lifelong dreams of stability, credibility and social acceptance. Becky's actions are shockingly bold for a woman of the 1800s. However, viewed from today's standards, she's, in fact, a heroine for her ability to acheive her dreams. I totally love these period pieces and the wardrobe is wonderfully colorful and intricate. Witherspoon's gowns, jewelry and hair are really impressive. I also enjoy the witty repartee and banter between the men and women. With so many restrictions governing appropriate behavior, it's the lustful glances from across the room or the slightest touch of fingertips that really make the flirting so much more moving than today's thoroughly obvious efforts.

Watch It: If you want to see a woman who will stop at nothing to make it to the top.

Skip It: Witherspoon's pointy witch chin will be too much of a distraction to the action on screen.

Dog Bite Dog / Gau ngao gau

Rating: Not Rated

Movie Release Date: August 17, 2006 (Hong Kong) / June 23, 2007 (USA)

DVD Release Date: October 23, 2007

Plot 411: A man raised amidst savagery learns to love or a single-minded cop hunts a savage hitman . . . depending on your perspective.

Review: This was definitely a unique movie. The plot centered around a hitman (Edison Chen) who is hired to assassinate a judge's wife and the police who try to capture him. This may seem like old news, but the way in which the violence is carried out is astonishingly unique. The brutality and savagery of the action are explosive and seem to somehow push boundaries between film and reality. The horrifying efficiency in which the hitman kills people is pretty devastating. He is unemotional and detached, almost like a robot. However, despite being chased by an obsessive cop (Sam Lee) and unflinchingly beating and killing many people, the hitman shows his humanity when he meets a troubled girl. The hitman's character arc is pretty impressive, though I don't know how credible it is. Still, the capacity of the human heart is immeasurable so perhaps in spite of his untraditional Cambodian upbringing, the hitman is still capable of love and feelings of tenderness. The message at the end feels forced, but whatever. I'll go with it anyway.

Watch It: For a brutality that is rarely portrayed in film.

Skip It: Because of that very same brutality. You're either going to love it or hate it.