Coffee & Cigarettes (2003)

Reviewed: 01.29.2005

Like a bad train wreck... you just can't turn away...

Jim Jarmush's 17-year film in the making is full of conversation over, well, coffee and cigarettes. Not being familiar with Jarmush (or his work), I can't compare it with anything.

But hey, where else can you see...

• Iggy Pop and Tom Waits try to intimidate each other. Or talk trash about Taco Bell and IHOP.
• Cate Blanchette talk to her cousin.
• Alfred Molina and Steve Coogin discuss family trees and tree huggers... er, I mean leaf people.
• Jack White show Meg White his Tesla coil.
• *RZA and GZA (Wu-Tang clan), discuss the perils of caffeine and nicotine with Bill 'mother-f---ing' Murray.

Coffee and cigarettes... it's not very healthy, but everyone needs a break

She's the Man (2006)

Reviewed: 10.28.2007

You don't really need another plot outline. Suffice to say it's a modern retelling of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.

Amanda Bynes is no good as a man; actually, she's not that good of an actress, but her comedic timing is perfect. Can't help myself-- I love her. Bynes dons a wig and fake sideburns to become the most socially awkward boy you're ever met. She's too cute to be a boy, but it works here because she's so adorably corny.

Everything is beautiful here. The rest of the cast is incredibly good looking.  The campuses are impeccable with facilities your local PTA would die for.

Director Andy Frickman takes this romantic retelling seriously. Fans of the Bard will enjoy the references, no matter how small, found throughout the film. The story might be funny, but cinematography is real. Soccer meets on the field are tight with a believable feel. I'd venture to say Bynes did most of her own work.

The soundtrack consists of pop from current 'it' bands like The All American Rejects and OK, Go. Thought hardly the core demographic, I found it rather enjoyable. I'd even venture to say She's the Man deserves a spot on the guilty pleasures shelf. It's just good entertainment that doesn't try too hard.

The A-Team: Season One (1983)

Reviewed: 12.30.2004

If this was only memory of the 80's I could have... Growing up The A-Team was where it was at! Me and my sibs would play A-Team in the neighborhood. We had to take turns being Mr. T. Seeing it again was fun. Yeah, sure, the acting is not the best, and stereotypes abound, but it WAS the 80's. Man, they sure blew up a whole lotta jeeps!!

The Bourne Trilogy

The Bourne Supremacy (2004) (reviewed 01.07.2005)

You know what happens when you @%$#! Jason Bourne off? Watch this movie.

The Bourne Supremacy begins two years later finding Jason and Marie living simply in Goa, India- but not any longer. When a CIA op winds up with the mark and field agent dead and a fingerprint, Jason must resurface to stay alive. Bourne's sporadic memories continue to be a source of frustration for him (and you).

This movie focuses more on his past and his search for it while staying on top of the CIA and his unknown enemy. Having said too much already, is the Supremacy better than Identity? I'll let you decide. As a huge fan of the books, I think Robert Ludlum would be proud.

The Bourne Supremacy continues with what works. Thrilling car chases, close escapes, tiring foot chases, explosions and a rolled up newspaper. (You can do THAT with a newspaper?!) The shaky camera angles get irritating. Director Paul Greenwood and right hand man, Oliver Wood don't figure that out until the movie's over. The edgy techno score continues into this movie. Moby also resurfaces with his "Extreme Ways".

***

The Bourne Ultimatum (2007) (originally reviewed 10.11.2007)

Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) is still running... from his haunted past, the death of Marie, and the CIA who is desperate to save face. With ever increasing flashbacks, Bourne needs the truth to find solice in who he is. To do that, he must return home.

The Bourne Ultimatum picks up running from where The Bourne Supremacy left off. Using a series of articles from about himself and his work for the CIA, Bourne finds his next clue in journalist Simon Ross (Paddy Considine, Hot Fuzz). Operation Blackbriar was the catalyst for Operation Treadstone of which Bourne was the elite assassin proto-type. He tracks down Ross to find his source. Meanwhile, CIA surveillance technology hones in on the same London newspaperman when the unsuspecting reporter utters the word "Blackbriar" during a cell phone conversation.

Deputy CIA director and black-ops chief Noah Vosen (David Stratharin) vows to find Ross and silence him and his source without remorse if it's the only way to maintain secrecy. When he discovers Bourne has been with Ross, he labels Bourne a threat to national security and orders operative to shoot him onsight. Tracing the source, Bourne stumbles across Nicky Parsons (Julia Stiles), CIA analyst who now works Neal Daniels (Colin Stinson), who funneled secret information to Ross. Briefly teaming up, the two travel to Morocco still in pursuit of Daniels. Vosen calls on CIA Supervisor and Bourne-sympathizer, Pamela Landy (Joan Allen) to advise on Bourne's M.O., but quickly confines her to the sidelines thanks to differing opinions. She wants to invite Bourne back for coffee. Vosen prefers to shoot first and hold an séance afterward for any questions.

It's the ultimate game of cat and mouse. Bourne travels from Moscow to Paris, Tangier to Waterloo, London to New York to reconstruct his past, eluding his pursuers by mere minutes.

This cast is seemingly tailor-made for these perfomances. Matt Damon embodies our resilient hero; his steely gaze is matched by his imposing gait. Joan Allen and Julia Stiles are solid foil to Damon's Bourne. Allen really gets to shine as Landy. In retrospect, Stiles gets shafted as her character is quickly dispensed with; the viewer gets left with hints as to what could have been. Among those new on the set are David Stratharin and Albert Finney.

Director Paul Greengrass and Exec Producer Doug Liman bring the gritty story back to life with sheer intensity. Greengrass has better control of his camera, providing steady coverage of everything, allowing the viewer full immersion into Bourne's existence. Action scenes are brutal, quick and choreographed almost instinctively. This time around Bourne gets to use a book for self defense. Nice.

Well-paced and gripping, Greengrass directs with purpose driving toward a conclusion. Flashbacks give distinct information, the script moves quickly but with clear instruction. Whether running through the streets of Tangier or using the phone in Waterloo, Greengrass develops this dramatic intensity that pressurizes before ultimately exploding onscreen and seizing the viewer. The film doesn't let go until the very last moment.

The conclusion could have gone either way. Fortunately, my worries were unfounded. Greengrass wraps things up nicely.

With intense action, an intelligent screenplay that even dares to delve into the ambiguity of national security, and brilliant acting, The Bourne Ultimatum is the ultimate ending to an heart-pumping, ears-pounding, breath-taking, and altogether phenominal series.

The Breakfast Club (1985)

Reviewed: 10.10.2007

The Breakfast Club is a shockingly good drama/comedy about going beyond stereotypes. I had suspected a dated oddity much like Dazed and Confused. Instead we have throughly engaging film with emotion and heart.

The young cast assembled by director John Hughes has something going for them. Dialogue perhaps, but the sheer believability is incredible. Emilio Estevez, leading the cast, comes out overly dramatic to settle in nicely. Judd Nelson is phenominal as the young hoodlum with abusive parents and principle. Nelson fills this role incredibly well, tempering angst with comedy and seriousness. Ringwald's Claire was a bit too whiny for a character with nothing to stand on. Sheedy managed well; neither girl got the dialouge or character development they deserved. Anthony Michael Hall is solid as a geek with a failing grade in shop class who's considering a drastic consequence.

Despite being steeped in 80's culture, everyone can relate to the story Hughes has created here. Whether jock or jerk, we've all struggled with peer pressure and parental expections. Anyone finding this film 'misoginic, homophobic or cliched' has undoubtedly forgotten what it was like as a misunderstood teen-- doesn't matter the decade, some things never change. Like Allison says, "As you grow up your heart dies."

Casablanca (1943)

Reviewed: 10.11.2007

Casablanca is one of the few parts of the world the Third Reich has yet to reach. Full of refugees seeking asylum in American, Casablanca is the clearing house. But in order to get out, you must first obtain an exit visa and those? Well, those are hard to come by. Rumor has it Rick's Cafe is the place for black market goods. Cafe' owner, Rick Blain (Bogart), cynical American expatriate facilitates these transaction, but under no means does he get involved. That is, until one of his regulars, Ugarte (Peter Lorre), entrusts to him some letters of transit. Informed by Captain Renault, the Chief of Police, who is neutral in his political views, that Victor Laszlo (Henreid), the European Resistance leader, is in Casablanca and will do anything to get an exit visa for him and his wife, Rick is told under no circumstances not get involved. Easy enough, Rick thinks until Ilsa Lund (Bergman) arrives on Laszlo's arm causing old wounds to reopen.

Well, I can't say my life is enriched by viewing it, but it is easy to see how Casablanca has become 'classic'. It's also nice to know the origination of some of the most copied and ballyhooed dialogue. Humphrey Bogart is the man. Calm, cool, collected. His style is quintessential film noir. Ingrid Bergman is simply beautiful and unfortunately, that's all she has to do. It's hard to be the stylings and sets of old Hollywood and there are plenty here.

Honestly, the film had me wondering why hasn't this film be remade, but best leave well enough alone. I would guess that what makes Casablanca classic is that it speaks to every viewer on some level. Ultimately, the story is one of redemption and who doesn't need some of that?