(2008) dir. Jon Avnet – w/ Robert De Niro and Al Pacino; also Brian Dennehy, Donnie Wahlberg, John Leguizamo, Carla Gugino, & 50 Cent. Synopsis: Two seasoned detectives stumble across the case of a “mysterious” vigilante… who only kills bad guys! Review: “Righteous Kill” has exactly one good idea. And unfortunately, that idea is: put […]
Trafficking in rumor and innuendo since 2008
This could be good, I think. Partly because it would be interesting to see Catherine Zeta-Jones in a different sort of role (time-travel is different, right?), but mostly because a movie with David Tennant would likely be excellent. But who knows. (WalesOnline: “Talk of Doctor Who Film Role for Zeta-Jones” [10 Sept 2008])
Posted by Ben on September 15, 2008
https://www.swordbilled.com/trafficking-in-rumor-and-innuendo-since-2008/
Versus
(2000) dir. Ryuhei Kitamura – w/ Tak Sakaguchi as Prisoner KSC2-303, and a bunch of other folks as random, ominous-sounding figures (e.g., “Motorcycle-riding yakuza with revolver,” and “Yakuza zombie in alligator-skin coat”). But you didn’t watch this for the characters. Yet. Synopsis: Really? Synopsis? Review: Open with a bunch of– Oh, come off it. The […]
Posted by Ben on September 11, 2008
https://www.swordbilled.com/versus/
And then this happened
I’ve seen better film editing… But I can’t say I’ve actually seen birds whistling the imperial march from Star Wars (or for that matter, any movie themes). I mean, now I can, sort of. (Although after a quick search, I am more impressed by birds performing the 1812 Overture and the Andy Griffith Show theme.) […]
Posted by Ben on September 7, 2008
https://www.swordbilled.com/and-then-this-happened/
Black Sheep
(2007) dir Jonathan King – w/ lots of actors you’ve probably never heard of — fresh faces — and, of course, the sheep. Really, it’s all about the sheep. Synopsis: A man, and his irrational fear of sheep. Animal rights activists, and their disgust of genetically modified sheep. A man, and his boundless greed. Then, […]
Posted by Ben on September 2, 2008
https://www.swordbilled.com/black-sheep/
Death of Mr. Lazarescu
(2005) dir Cristi Puiu – w/ Ion Fiscuteanu as the eponymous Lazarescu, and a few other people, hospitals. Synopsis: Mr. Lazarescu feels unwell, and calls an ambulance. His neighbors harangue him for drinking, his family doesn’t want much to do with him, and various doctors, nurses, and EMTs (their Romanian equivalents, anyway) poke fun and […]
Posted by Ben on August 28, 2008
https://www.swordbilled.com/death-of-mr-lazarescu/
Sleuth
(2007) dir Kenneth Branagh, screenplay by Harold Pinter – w/ Michael Caine and Jude Law. And a fancy necklace. Synopsis: Andrew’s (Caine’s) wife has left him for Milo (Law). Though of course the paperwork’s not entirely cleaned up yet. Like a good fellow, Milo wants to have a sit-down with Andrew, a man-to-man. A nice […]
Posted by Ben on August 21, 2008
https://www.swordbilled.com/sleuth/
Scientists tell us what we already know
Sort of. The (terribly informal) verdict: Believable: Iron Man, Batman Unbelievable: The Incredible Hulk Quote: Now, many people are aware that the most incredible thing about the Hulk is the way his pants always stay on when he expands to ten times his original volume. But did you also know: The good superhero stories require […]
Posted by Ben on August 17, 2008
https://www.swordbilled.com/scientists-tell-us-what-we-already-know/
I Am Legend
I’d always assumed the criteria were loose (at best), but I didn’t realize that the only necessary condition of stating that a movie is “Based On” the book is a cursory glance at the book’s cover and a $150 million budget. No, really; that’s it. And I know “the book” is traditionally supposed to be […]
Posted by Ben on July 15, 2008
https://www.swordbilled.com/i-am-legend/
Movies watched, Best of
Of the boatload of movies I watched in 2007 (see the complete list here), the following are my favorites. You get the 30-second version of why each movie makes the list, and nothing more. Movies Released In (Or Near) 2007: Stardust – [****] – 2007 / Matthew Vaughn: A fairy tale, but jazzy, expansive, and […]
Posted by Ben on January 14, 2008
https://www.swordbilled.com/movies-watched-best-of/