Category: 4 stars

Good movies are reviewed in this category. These films are not necessarily masterpieces, but I enjoyed watching them. I would probably watch most of these films more than once. Have a look around for suggestions on what to grab for your Saturday evening.

Be Cool

“Be Cool” is ought to be one of the less promoted celebrity full movies of all times. I haven’t heard anything about this film until today – no posters, no trailers, no rumors – nothing.

Directed by: F. Gary Gray
Genres: Comedy, Crime, Music
Cast: John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Vince Vaughn, Cedric the Entertainer, André 3000, Steven Tyler, Robert Pastorelli, Christina Milian, Paul Adelstein, Debi Mazar, Gregory Alan Williams, Harvey Keitel, The Rock, Danny DeVito, James Woods
IMDB raintg: 5.5
My rating: 7.5 [rate 7.5]

John Travolta is dancing with Uma Thurman in the movie with Harvey Keitel and it’s not “Pulp Fiction”? Yes. Danny DeVito is in and the film is both a comedy and a crime movie? Yes. The Rock is playing a gay guy and he’s got more screen time than Aerosmith voice Steven Tyler who is also in the movie? Yes. Vince Vaughn is in too and he’s trying to make out for more than himself. See, he thinks that he’s black and he sounds like Samuel Jackson half the time and like Snoop Dog the other half. And I haven’t even named half of the people yet.

The story is rather cliche, but it’s done well. In a nutshell – lots of criminals and show businessmen are trying to get over each other over money and power. But it has lots of charm and humor to it. Cedric the Entertainer plays a leader of a crime gang. But he lives in a good neighborhood himself and has Harward education behind his back. The monologou on racism was outstanding! Oh, and his gang is great too. Especially his first assistant.

There are lots and lots of things happening on the background. They are those nice touches that make up a movie. A Russian mafia guy with two black eyes and a rig, floored armchairs in Uma’s house, her wearing a “Widow” t-shirt after her husband was killed in the first two minutes of the movie – these and lots more is what made the film so good.

Character development and dialogues were outstanding.

Additionally, it was perfect technically. Camera work was great. Soundtrack – excellent. Costume and decor designs – fantastic. Especially costumes. Some of them were changing like for every scene of the movie (Uma’s), and other’s stayed the same during all the time (Travolta’s).

Now, all of that was perfect. The only thing that is offsetting this film is the story. An original plot would have made this one into a perfect movie. As it is, it’ll stay on my “Very good” shelf.

Mr. & Mrs. Smith

One of the films that I was waiting to come out, but never managed to go to the cinema, was “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” Finally I saw it and can now participate in all those discussions…

Directed by: Doug Liman
Genres: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Romance, Thriller
Cast: Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Vince Vaughn, Adam Brody, Kerry Washington, Keith David, Chris Weitz, Rachael Huntley, Michelle Monaghan, Stephanie March, Jennifer Morrison, Theresa Barrera, Perrey Reeves, Jerry T. Adams, Melanie Tolbert
IMDB raintg: 6.7
My rating: 7.5 [rate 7.5]

Continue reading Mr. & Mrs. Smith

The Interpreter

While Maxim and Olga were sleeping exhausted with the trip to Cyprus Rally 2005 Finish ceremony, I decided to watch a movie. The only thing I had around was”The Interpreter“.

Directed by: Sydney Pollack
Genres: Drama, Thriller
Cast: Nicole Kidman, Sean Penn, Catherine Keener, Jesper Christensen, Yvan Attal, Earl Cameron, George Harris, Michael Wright, Clyde Kusatsu, Eric Keenleyside, Hugo Speer, Maz Jobrani, Yusuf Gatewood, Curtiss Cook, Byron Utley
IMDB raintg: 6.6
My rating: 7.0 [rate 7.0]

Continue reading The Interpreter

Basic

Just watched “Basic” on DVD. This movie anything, but basic. I think that I’ll have to watch it like another five times to get all facts together and understand the thing completely. Or maybe just once will do with some sleep hours beforehand.

Remember me recently complaining about more than half of the films that I watch having a simple story? Well, this film is surely an exception from that. Storyline changes several times during the course of the film. And just when I started to think that it’s getting pretty close to the end and that there were plenty of story changes already, and that this is the final one – ***BOOM*** – and it changed again. And repeat. 3 times. All of these changes are further confused by a pretty fast pace of the movie and a short duration (just one and a half hours for all of them).

There were many familiar actors here, but nothing particularly remarkable about the acting. John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, Connie Nielsen and others all did a good job, but I don’t see any awards rushing this direction.

Overall a good film with a good bit of entertainment. It could use some action and light over the jungle scenes, but these are pretty standard complains about any “U.S. Marine” movie.

4 out of 5.

Black Knight

Watched “Black Knight” on DVD. It is an excellent comedy with Martin Lawrence. If like him, watch it, if not – then you better not, because it is rather cliche.

This film has got me thinking about something. It seems that mixing Middle Age with Modern Times is always funny. I am trying hard and I cannot remember one film which was bad with it. “Army of Darkness“, “Robin Hood: Men in Tights“, “Just Visiting” and now “Black Knight” are all successful movies. Was there any bad one? Can anyone remind me?

7 out of 10. The boxing in the woods and training of the rebels are my two favourite scenes.