Twilight

2 out of 5 Stars




On a recent move to Forks, Washington, Bella finds herself at a new school in the middle of a semester. One of the first things she learns about is the Cullen family, known to be strange and mysterious. Pretty quickly Edward Cullen and Bella hit off a romance. Oh, and it turns out Edward is a vampire. Generally, this is the plot of Twilight, based on the best selling book by Stephenie Meyer.
Now I never read the book before seeing the film. This could cause a lot of people to ask why I would have grounds to review such a film. It seems, however, that having a vantage point from the outside perspective, rather than the inside, brings ideas that might otherwise be missed.
From a viewer’s perspective it is more than evident that the film is catered to teenage girls. This is why at a midnight showing I was surrounded by these young women, with a small sprinkling of young guys here and there. During the film there was all too many swoons over the “hot” men in the film. I understand making a film geared toward this age group, but this was a bit too much for me.
From a cinematic standpoint I must say that I enjoyed it overall. Does it mean that it was a great film? Not necessarily. But it was a decent one and what makes it good in Hollywood is that it’s going to bring in the money. The cinematography was well done as well as the soundtrack but the editing seemed off. On top of this there was also moments where the story felt more than cheesy and the acting not quite there. Other than that the film was really pretty good. I still think it could be improved, but for a vampire film, especially against the generic vampire ideas, it was intriguing. But one thing I have come to realize and understand from my viewing and conversations with book fans is that by seeing Twilight without having read the book you won’t appreciate the film as much … or possibly not at all.

Miracle At St. Anna

3 1/2 out of 5 Stars




Set primarily in World War II, Miracle at St. Anna follows the story of four Buffalo Soldiers from the US Army’s Negro 92nd Division as they find themselves separated from the rest of their division behind enemy lines, taking refuge within the small village of St. Anna di Stazzema. The film begins with Hector Negron, a veteran black man who earned a purple heart. One day he snaps and, while working, takes a German luger to the head of a white male. Upon investigation, police officers find an ancient statue head worth thousands of dollars, a statue that has apparently been missing for years. While being questioned by a young reporter, the only response Hector gives is “I know who the sleeping man is.” Shifting to the past, the story of the four black soldiers ensues, following the path of the statue head and it’s original carrier, Sam Train.

Following this film is at times difficult. Spike Lee has packed a lot into a two and a half hour time period. At times the film seems long. A lot of it is slow paced, but when the action picks up it hits with a bang, sometimes a very bloody bang. Questions are raised, ideas are portrayed, and sometimes elements of the story don’t feel resolved.

The story follows multiple plot lines, that of the black soldiers, a couple groups of Italians, and the Germans. Moving through each plot line on occasion begs the question of why we are seeing so many perspectives. This leads to scenarios much similar to films such as Crash and Babel where the characters all seem to have some sort of connection and part to play. But even at the end of the film, with all these plots, we are still left with unanswered questions.

The acting, however, is superb. If anything, the characters feel real. These are characters that in some way we can connect to. The soundtrack is simple, yet effective. The writing is intriguing.

Written by James McBride, based on his original book and author of The Color of Water, this film portrays the side of US soldiers from the perspective of the blacks during a time of segregation when blacks weren’t as appreciated for their war effort. Unlike most war films, Miracle at St. Anna focuses on a different side of the war effort, while still being effective and powerful.

This film will take patience to sit through. It is not a film you’ll want to watch just for entertainment. When I saw the film before the movie was more than half over I was the only person still sitting in the theater. Everyone else had left. This isn’t a film just to please the masses. It is evident that the director is making statements through this film and I think it’s a film that could raise discussion. It’s a story of war from a different perspective and different approach that tackles the art of story telling from yet another angle. I’d say it’s worth seeing at least once, even if you decide to wait until it’s on DVD.

Max Payne

2 out of 5 Stars




Max Payne is a cop in New York now working in an isolated division. Years previously his wife and baby son were murdered. Now Max spends his time tracking down the third man who escaped from the murder scene. As he delves further into the mystery, a government conspiracy begins to emerge involving a blue serum that causes those who drink to begin seeing what they consider to be angels or perhaps demons. Teaming up with Payne is Mona Sax, who is out to avenge her sister’s death.

Max Payne is based on the video game released in 2001. I never played the game so I can’t compare the story accuracy to that of the game but standing alone as a film, the story is lacking and jumps around. There are multiple subplots involving many characters that seem to pop into the story suddenly with little introduction and no further purpose after their little snippets of time have provided crucial plot information. Even the ones that do continue through the story at times feel disconnected. The only character that seems to have real purpose in the story is Max. But there is only so much that can be expected from story in a film based upon a video game.

In the midst of multiple story issues, Mark Wahlberg did a good job as Payne. The film was well acted on his part. Not to say that acting on other fronts was bad, just not notable.

The highlight of the film came in the visual splendor. Max Payne is for certain eye candy. The cinematography is astounding and at times the effect with lighting is amazing. The visual effects are pleasing to the eye and the use of what we have come to know as “bullet time,” basically slow motion at the speed of a bullet, is well utilized for aesthetic value but also is not overused. It is also one effect I know was in the game and carried over onto the big screen.

Max Payne was good for entertainment and for eye candy. Other than that it is a poor story, lacking a flow that typically carries the audience through and holds their attention. And if you decide to stay past the credits then you’ll find an added scene, setting up for an unnecessary sequel.

Body of Lies

3 1/2 out of 5 Stars




CIA Agent, Roger Ferris, is fluent in Arabic with a grasp on the understanding of the culture of the Middle East. Working in the Middle East during the Iraq war he uncovers a lead to a major terrorist leader suspected to be operating out of Jordan and responsible for multiple bombings within Europe. Through the contact of his boss, Ed Hoffman, back in Langley and a partnership with the chief of Jordanian Intelligence, Hani Salaam, Ferris heads down a trail to capture the terrorist leader, finding himself in a world where it is difficult to know who to trust.

Based on the book by Washington Post columnist, David Ignatius, Body of Lies is an intense political thriller that starts with a bang; literally. The film begins with a bombing in Europe before introducing Roger Ferris. It is quickly discovered, though, that Ferris is the head of this story, fluent in Arabic and able to blend into the culture of the Middle East. Played by Leonardo DiCaprio, Ferris is a man who knows well how to do his job. His personal life is a wreck as he’s in the process of divorce while attempting to run operations in Amaan, Jordan.

Directed by Ridley Scott, who brought us American Gangster, Black Hawk Down, and most notably Gladiator, Body of Lies never truly lets up. The story picks up quickly, letting up only with enough time to jump back into the action and cause your heart to start racing once again. Corruption and deception saturate this Iraq war story surrounding a lone CIA agent. Who to trust and work with becomes a tough question. It seems evident that the film is a statement against the Iraq war, to a certain extent, and raises a question of how far we should go to capture terrorists.

Body of Lies is intense, at times graphic, and very well acted, not to mention that great cinematography that has also come out in many of his other films. Although two hours, the film moves quickly and to relieve the tension, comic relief is thrown in the middle of the film between Ferris and a Jordanian woman. Although it is perhaps not one of Scott’s best films, it is intriguing, raising some good ethical questions, and moves along nicely. It is a film that uses conventional styles that have been done many times before but in the midst of this Scott seems to get across his vision.

Charlie Bartlett

3 1/2 out of 5 Stars




Charlie Bartlett is an intelligent kid with the ambition to be popular, with a dream to stand up on stage while his peers cheer for him, a dream he’ll do almost anything to obtain. Hence forth, Charlie is thrown out of every prestigious private school, most recently for counterfeiting driver’s licenses and selling them to the students. Now left without private schools as options, Charlie must attend public school. Charlie befriends the gentle giant, falls for the thespian girl, Susan Gardner, and finds his head in a toilet as well as obtaining a black eye from the school bully, Murphey, all within the same day. The black eye causes his mother to send Charlie to the on call family psychiatrist and when the psychiatrist hears about the dream constantly on Charlie’s mind he decides to place Charlie on Ritalin to test for ADD.

Soon Charlie becomes the school “psychiatrist” having recruited Murphey as his business partner to diagnose students and sell them drugs that Charlie obtains from his psychiatrist by claiming other students problems as his own. He sets up an “office” in the boy’s restroom, using two stalls set up much like a confessional booth. Charlie’s popularity begins to rise to the position that it’s impossible not to hear about Charlie Bartlett and he finds himself hooking up with Susan Gardner. There’s only one problem. Charlie doesn’t know that Susan’s father is the principle . . . and he’s not about to let Charlie date his daughter.

On the outside Charlie may come across as problem free but as the film moves on we find that Charlie has just as many problems as the other teens. But he doesn’t admit to his problems, instead turning to listening to the issues of other students. Charlie is also different because he’s from a wealthy background. He’s the all around optimist that’s always there for the other students.

In Charlie’s eyes there is nothing more important than being popular. After all, isn’t that what high school is about? But Charlie begins to find out who he is as the story progresses and when he finally gets a chance to give the speech he’s always dreamed about he tells everyone to just be themselves, not to try and fit in.
The film is much less a comedy as it is a “dramedy”. The stereotypes are played up in the film but for effect in sending certain messages. Some might argue Charlie Bartlett is the R-rated version of Ferris Bueller, which in character relation I could see, but ultimately this film is a story about high school, finding acceptance, discovering who you are, and being yourself. If you go to the film with more than laughs in mind, since you probably won’t find many anyway, you might find some important life messages embedded within this teenage angst filled story.

Deception

3 out of 5 Stars




John McQuarry is a lonely business accountant, working late hours with no social life . . . until he meets Wyatt Bose, a mysterious lawyer working for the same firm. Then John “meets” a girl by the subway. Soon enough John accidentally swaps phones with Wyatt and is receiving calls from anonymous numbers asking if he is free that night. John finds himself in the world of a sex club from the use of Wyatt’s phone and finds himself encountering the girl on the subway again, known to him only as “S,” but he cares too much about her to just do it and the next thing you know John is down spiraling into a world of deception after being knocked unconscious and “S” disappears.

When reviewing films, the decision of what film to see can be tough, especially when all the films out look mediocre. This was no exception. The current theatre selection is thin as far as quality looking films goes, but even poor films must be reviewed, thankfully this film could have been worse, depending on how you view films. If your highly cautious about content (particularly language and nudity), then this film is not for you. It’s the typical thriller with heightened moments to build tension that try to keep you guessing. Of course, there’s nothing completely original anymore so all the plot twists have been done before, it’s just a matter of figuring out which twist is coming and this film took a couple unexpected turns while still being predictable.

But as far as thrillers go, this is one that proved to be more than a tension builder. It was immorality mixed with morality and important life values. You want a movie about sex, lies, and important values in the same package? That’s Deception. Will you be disappointed? Depends if you let yourself be immersed in the world of the film or not and if you can get past a montage of sex scenes. If you try to be logical about the film then you’ll definitely hate it, but if you decide to look deeper you’ll find meaning behind the characters; the greedy con man, the accountant trying to get by that falls in love, and a mysterious woman known as “S.” They all have distinct personalities that, without a doubt, end up bringing out some of the most important values in life. Despite it’s first portrayal of sex clubs as glorious, Deception ends up delivering a message of faithfulness and the importance of personality over one night stands, a message that Hollywood often fails to convey.

Trade

3 out of 5 Stars



In every corner of the globe the powerful prey upon the weak and multitudes of people wake up everyday to go about their daily lives not knowing these acts of injustice are committed. If they do, often they will turn their backs to these atrocities. It’s easier than dealing with the pain of the persecuted. We have heard injustice most recently with the genocide in Rwanda and bonded slavery in third world countries. Then there is a form of pedophilia commonly known as sex trafficking. Children are being sold for monetary gain to be raped again, and again, every day. It’s a twisted mentality that could only come about through the corrupted minds of humans.

Trade follows the story of a 13 year old girl named Adriana who is suddenly kidnapped by a group of men driving by while riding her new bike that her brother, Jorge, gave her for her birthday. She is then shipped to the United States to be forced into prostitution. When Jorge discovers Adriana has been captured he embarks on a relentless journey to free his sister, and as the story progresses the film cuts between Adriana and Jorge, giving us both their stories.

When I began to view the film I was expecting an emotional piece, a film that would play with my emotions and cause a few tears. I was overall disappointed with the lack of emotion I felt throughout the film. If I wouldn’t have already been disturbed by the topic then I have a feeling I wouldn’t have much concern for the cause. The director does attempt to bring the audience into the story, though, and that is what helps viewers to become more than spectators. Most often while sitting and staring at the screen, we become a third party and we just sit back and coast through the ride. By using a hand held camera technique the director attempts to bring the audience as, not a spectator, but a witness of the events at hand, and when this happens the viewer can engage in the actions taking place.

Trade tells a story that is gripping and an important aspect to any story is its themes. Themes, aside from characters, help strengthen a story. The most dominant theme in is love. Jorge’s immense care for his sister and persistence to overcome all odds to rescue her from the situation showcase this theme. In the same direction is friendship. While the girls travel toward the United States, Adriana befriends a Polish girl. This friendship proves to be a blessing when the polish girl encourages Adriana through the grueling process. Then there’s justice, which is the only way to resolve a story such as this. This theme demonstrates there are people who care and want to help and on top of that all of the people in this film are from what’s labeled as “secular society.”

This film gives us a small taste of this twisted business. To hear about it should hurt and to see a recreation of it should have a greater reaction. It doesn’t quite accomplish as strong an emotional reaction as it should, but it should at least shed some light on the situation. As we go about our daily lives this occurs and goes unnoticed. As the credits rolled, a quote from a government official was stated that said we’re not finding the kids sold into prostitution in the United States because we’re not looking.