Compact Film Reviews 41-50

Before David began writing full-fledged film critiques, he crafted brief capsule reviews—here are numbers 41 through 50

 

41. Footloose (1984)

I spent a night having a modern American pop-culture revival, watching 1984’s Footloose and 1994’s Speed. While I’d characterize neither as a good film, they each delivered what they promised: a pleasant-enough way to pass a hundred or so minutes, with dancing to ’80s pop music on the one hand and exploding trains, planes, and buses on the other. Not good, no, but not that bad either.

**½ (out of *****)








1984 • 1 Hour, 47 MINUTES
Paramount Pictures

STARRING
• Kevin Bacon, Lori Singer

ALSO STARRING
• Dianne Wiest, John Lithgow, Chris Penn, Sarah Jessica Parker

WRITTEN BY
• Dean Pitchford

DIRECTED BY
• Herbert Ross

1984 ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATIONS (2)
• Best Original Song: “Footloose” (Lost to “I Just Called to Say I Love You” from The Woman in Red)
• Best Original Song: “Let’s Hear It For the Boy” (Lost to “I Just Called to Say I Love You” from The Woman in Red) 

42. Speed (1994)

I spent a night having a modern American pop-culture revival, watching 1984’s Footloose and 1994’s Speed. While I’d characterize neither as a good film, they each delivered what they promised: a pleasant-enough way to pass a hundred or so minutes, with dancing to ’80s pop music on the one hand and exploding trains, planes, and buses on the other. Not good, no, but not that bad either.

**½ (out of *****)







1994 • 1 Hour, 56 MINUTES
Twentieth Century Fox • The Mark Gordon Company

STARRING
• Keanu Reeves, Dennis Hopper, Sandra Bullock

ALSO STARRING
• Joe Morton, Jeff Daniels, Alan Ruck

WRITTEN BY
• Graham Yost

DIRECTED BY
• Jan de Bont

1994 ACADEMY AWARDs (2)
• Best Sound
• Best Sound Effects Editing

Additional 1994 Academy Award NOMINATIONS (1)
• Best Film Editing (Lost to Forrest Gump)

43. The Hurt Locker (2009)

The critically acclaimed The Hurt Locker felt manipulative and didn’t quite ring true (which isn’t to say it isn’t realistic, which it might actually be). Even so, the acting, directing and cinematography are all solid. Violent and intense, the film tells the story of a U.S. wartime bomb squad in Iraq. It contains some interesting plot points, but the motivations seem lacking, and the tale drags at times; good but not great.

**¾ (out of *****)








2009 • 2 Hours, 11 MINUTES
Summit Entertainment • Voltage Pictures • Grosvenor Park Media, LP • F.C.S.A. • First Light Production • Kingsgate Films

STARRING
• Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie

ALSO STARRING
• Brian Geraghty, Evangeline Lilly, Ralph Fiennes, David Morse, Guy Pearce

WRITTEN BY
• Mark Boal

DIRECTED BY
• Kathryn Bigelow

2009 ACADEMY AWARDs (6)
• Best Picture
• Best Director: Kathryn Bigelow
• Best Original Screenplay
• Best Film Editing
• Best Sound Editing
• Best Sound Mixing

Additional 2009 Academy Award NOMINATIONS (3)
• Best Actor: Jeremy Renner (Lost to Jeff Bridges for Crazy Heart)
• Best Cinematography (Lost to Avatar)
• Best Original Score (Lost to Up)

44. The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989)

Michelle Pfeiffer received a Best Actress nomination for The Fabulous Baker Boys, and deservedly so. She, Jeff Bridges, and Beau Bridges all give fine performances in this three-person drama. Both the writing and direction by Steve Kloves offer solid humor and adult emotion. Biting, realistic dialogue move the story forward to a believable and satisfying open ending.

***⅛ (out of *****)









1989 • 1 Hour, 54 MINUTES
Gladden Entertainment • Mirage

STARRING
• Jeff Bridges, Michelle Pfeiffer, Beau Bridges

ALSO STARRING
• Ellie Raab, Xander Berkeley, Dakin Matthews, Ken Lerner, Albert Hall

WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY
• Steve Kloves

1989 ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATIONS (4)
• Best Actress: Michelle Pfeiffer (Lost to Jessica Tandy for Driving Miss Daisy)
• Best Cinematography (Lost to Glory)
• Best Film Editing (Lost to Born on the Fourth of July)
• Best Original Score (Lost to The Little Mermaid)

45. The Falcon and the Snowman (1985)

The Falcon and the Snowman purports to tell a true story, which, while interesting, lacks motivations for the main characters. It also doesn’t exactly possess the highest quality production values, and the film seems oddly dated for one of such recent vintage. Still, Timothy Hutton and especially Sean Penn give pretty good performances.

**½ (out of *****)










1985 • 2 Hours, 11 MINUTES
Hemdale

STARRING
• Timothy Hutton, Sean Penn

ALSO STARRING
• Pat Hingle, Joyce Van Patten, Richard Dysart, Priscilla Pointer, Chris Makepeace, Dorian Harewood

WRITTEN BY
• Steven Zaillian (Screenplay)
• Robert Lindsey (Based on the book by)

DIRECTED BY
• John Schlesinger

No 1985 ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATIONS

46. Music for Millions (1944)

Seven-year-old Margaret O’Brien gives a fine performance alongside June Allyson, José Iturbi, and Jimmy Durante. The film features plenty of excellent orchestral pieces in a story about a pregnant woman fearing her husband has been lost in the war. Jimmy Durante is fun, and the film satisfying, despite the “music” of prayer. Not great, but mildly engaging, with some nice character moments.

**¾ (out of *****)







1944 • 1 Hour, 57 MINUTES
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

STARRING
• Margaret O’Brien, José Iturbi, Jimmy Durante, June Allyson

ALSO STARRING
• Marsha Hunt, Hugh Herbert, Harry Davenport, Marie Wilson, Larry Adler

WRITTEN BY
• Myles Connolly

DIRECTED BY
• Henry Koster

1945 ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATIONS (1)
• Best Original Screenplay (Lost to Marie-Louise)

47. District 9 (2009)

Documentary-style photography and impressive art direction provide a strong foundation for this contemporary science-fiction story. Part morality tale, part actioner, the film depicts the destructiveness of racism, greed, and the thirst for power, all while carrying its protagonist through an unlikely personal journey. High marks for setting, verisimilitude, and casting.

***¼ (out of *****)

 






2009 • 1 Hour, 52 MINUTES
TriStar Pictures • Block/Hanson • WingNut Films

STARRING
• Sharlto Copley, Jason Cope, David James

ALSO STARRING
• Nathalie Boltt, SYLVAine Strike, John Sumner, William Allen Young, Nick Blake, Jed Brophy, Louis Minnaar, Vanessa Haywood

WRITTEN BY
• Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell

DIRECTED BY
• Neill Blomkamp

2009 ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATIONS (4)
• Best Picture (Lost to The Hurt Locker)
• BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY (LOST TO PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL “PUSH” BY SAPPHIRE)
• BEST FILM EDITING (LOST TO The Hurt Locker)
• BESY VISUAL EFFECTS (LOST TO Avatar)

48. Adventureland (2009)

This angst-ridden, young-adult, alleged comedy lacks both heart and humor, though it’s clearly aiming for both. Youthful stars Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart aren’t really bad, but they are not served well by either the choppy script or the clumsy direction. For a better film in this genre, try last year’s Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist.

*½ (out of *****)









2009 • 1 Hour, 47 MINUTES
Miramax • Sidney Kimmel Entertainment • This Is That Productions

STARRING
• Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart

ALSO STARRING
• Martin Starr, Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig, Margarita Levieva, Ryan Reynolds

WRITTEN & DIRECTED BY
• Greg Mottola

No 2009 ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATIONS

49. HuRa Gâru [English title: Hula Girls] (2006)

Japan submitted this feature as the country’s official 2006 entry in the Best Foreign Language Film category for the Academy Awards. The story involves a rural coal-mining town facing its demise from the rise of oil. A moving and heartwarming movie, cast perfectly, this Capraesque work boasts wonderful acting and direction from a solid script. Recommended.

***½ (out of *****)








2006 • 2 Hours, 1 MINUTE
Cine Qua non • Happinet • Stardust Pictures

STARRING
• Yasuko Matsuyuki, Etsushi Toyokawa, Yû Aoi

ALSO STARRING
• Shizuyo Yamasaki, Shoko Ikezu, Eri Tokunaga, Kojo Miyake, Susumu Terajima, Masaru Shiga, Katsumi Takahashi, Ittoku Kishibe, Sumiko Fuji

WRITTEN by
• Sang-il Lee & Daisuke Habara

DIRECTED BY
• Sang-il Lee

NO 2006 ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATIONS

50. The Public Enemy (1931)

Classic gangster tale with James Cagney at his best. While the story—boy with stern father grows up in the city, turns to crime early and stays with it—may seem familiar, the execution is exceptional. Cagney is electric as Tom Powers, and the film is filled with indelible scenes and images—including the famous shot of Cagney planting a grapefruit in Mae Clark’s face.

***¼ (out of *****)










1931 • 1 Hour, 23 MINUTES
Warner Bros. • Vitaphone

STARRING
• James Cagney, Jean Harlow, Edward Woods, Joan Blondell

ALSO STARRING
• Donald Cook, Leslie Fenton, Beryl Mercer, Robert O’Connor, Murray Kinnell

WRITTEN BY
• Harvey F. Thew (Screen Adaptation)
• Kubec GLASMON and John Bright (Story)

DIRECTED BY
• William A. Wellman

1931 ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATIONS (1)
• Best Original Story (Lost to The Dawn Patrol)