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by Sarah Star

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Archive for September, 2006

25/September/2006 [8:41 PM] -- Haven
I didn’t want to waste one more minute of my time on this movie but I really feel the need to warn as many people as possible how truly bad Haven is. I am a huge Orlando Bloom fan but not even his charm or good looks could save this completely uninspired, random, hap hazard excuse for a film. I can not stress enough to you how completely disappointed I was in this movie. Do not let your friends talk you into by telling you “Hey man but Legolas is in it!” NO NO NO!!! You have been warned!
- (Yari Film Group)
- Starring: Orlando Bloom, Zoe Saldana, Bill Paxton and Anthony Mackie
- Rated: R
- Running Time: 115 mins
- This film is not currently available in MoPix
THERE ARE NO SWORDS HERE FOR A REASON FOLKS!!!!

Posted in [Drama Reviews]
25/September/2006 [3:49 PM] -- Flyboys
Flyboys is set during World War I which began in Europe in 1914. Despite the fact that the United States had still not entered the war by 1917, many brave young American men went to France to fly planes and fight for the French. This movie is inspired by actual events in the Lafayette Escadrille fighter squadron. Even against odds, the Germans had better planes, weapons, and pilots and the average life expectancy for a fighter-pilot was three to six weeks these men risked their lives everyday for the greater good. This was a time when young men were full of hope, bravery and optimism but naive to embark on such an adventure. James Franco (Spiderman, Tristan & Isolde) plays Blaine Rawlings who was forced to leave his home in Arizona after the the bank foreclosed on his family ranch. Blaine sees a newsreel of fighter-pilots in France and feeling a sense of purpose he decides that he has nothing more to lose and heads to France. Other characters in the squadron include Briggs Lowry (Tyler Labine) who is shamed into joining the war by his rich father. African-American boxer Eugene Skinner (Abdul Salis) who had been living in France, at the time a more racially tolerant country and wanted to give something back to his new country. These brave Americans were under the command of French Captain Georges Thenault (Jean Reno, The Professional) and American Squadron Leader Reed Cassidy (Martin Henderson). They became some of the world’s first combat pilots. This film seemed to have all it needed to be epic but instead Flyboys just turned out to be dull and boring. The only time I felt myself drawn into the picture was during the parts of the film where the life of these men and what they went through was brought to life. Also the airial battle sequences were incredible and intense to watch. The special effects were amazing but the love story and character interactions were bland. The film is over two hours long and you felt every minute of it. It goes to show you that you need more then a great story to make a truly great movie. I also strongly feel this movie would be completely lost on the visually impaired. The characters are very one dimensional and the dialogue is poor. The fight scenes are great but completely visual. This film is also not available in MoPix so I would definitely skip this one. Ultimately Flyboys just doesn’t fly.
- (MGM)
- Starring: James Franco, Abdul Salis, David Ellison, Jean Reno and Martin Henderson
- Rated: PG 13
- Running Time: 139 mins to long
- This film is currently not available in MoPix
Posted in [Drama Reviews, Action Film Reviews]
25/September/2006 [12:49 PM] -- Aurora Borealis
Every year a movie comes out that I feel the need to see again and again, for me it is usually a small independent film about love, loss and coming of age. Last year I fell in love with Garden State this year I fell in love with Aurora Borealis. This film really has it all, a touching script, heart-felt award worthy performances and the wonderful wintry setting of Minneapolis. Joshua Jackson (Dawson’s Creek, The Skulls) plays Duncan Shorter becoming an outstanding leading man with his sensitive and charismatic performance. Duncan is a charming 25 year old man who has seemed to have lost his way in life. Never coming to terms with the death of his father who died ten years ago, Duncan is hesitant to find out the truth about how this tragedy happened. He hangs out with his friends, watches sports, plays hockey, and drifts through life with no real sense of purpose. During a visit to his grandparents home at their senior residence, Duncan is offered a handyman job and takes it to be closer to his grandfather, Ronald Shorter (Donald Sutherland, Pride & Prejudice, Buffy the Vampire Slayer), who is suffering from Parkinson’s Disease. Donald Sutherland gave a phenomenal and heartbreaking performance that made you want to laugh and cry simultaneously. If it doesn’t win him an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor this year, I will be very disappointed. Ronald and Duncan form a close bond because of the support they give one another. Ronald also plays matchmaker by encouraging Duncan’s relationship with Kate the always Oscar worthy Juliette Lewis (The Other Sister, Kalifornia), a free spirited care-giver who is assigned as a home assistant to Ronald. Ruth (Louise Fletcher, ER), Duncan’s grandmother, also welcomes his visits because she sees how happy Ronald is just having Duncan around. Kate shines light and paints color into Duncan’s life, both have a wacky sense of humor; they are insanely attracted to one another and give each other exactly what the other is lacking in life. However, Kate is a full of life and adventure traveling from town to town and Duncan is very reluctant of anything outside his secure walls of Minneapolis. Jackson and Lewis have amazingly sweet chemistry, we find ourselves rooting for them every step of the way. Aurora Borealis is my pick this year for being that one exceptional independent film where all the film-making elements come together and are molded into cinematic brilliance. Technically the film is composed into complete excellence but the way this movie makes you feel, is what stays with you for hours after you leave the theatre. It is a film about loving, living and humankind. Several times during the film I even wanted to reach out and hug each one of these well crafted characters. It even has a perfectly fitting title “Aurora Borealis” meaning “The Northern Lights” and in the words of Ronald Shorter you too begin to wish for beautiful lights, whether others see them or not, to help you face the critical phases of your own personal journey. This film is not available in MoPix but with the wonderful non-stop dialogue you will not need it. So go see it now! What are you still doing here? Seriously, stop reading this; put down whatever you are doing and go see this movie, I assure you, you will not be disappointed!
- (Regent Releasing)
- Starring: Joshua Jackson, Juliette Lewis, Donald Sutherland, Louise Fletcher and Steven Pasquale
- Rated: R
- Running Time: 110 mins
- This film is currently not available in MoPix
Posted in [Drama Reviews, Comedy Reviews]
18/September/2006 [2:35 PM] -- The Last Kiss
The Last Kiss might have a few laughs here and there but overall, it is a pretty somber look at love and relationships. Written by Oscar winner Paul Haggis (who also wrote Crash and Million Dollar Baby), the movie focuses on the varying degrees of relationships. Michael (Zach Braff) and Jenna (Jacinda Barrett) have been in a relationship for about three years, on the surface everything seems perfect, they joke together, they seem to want all the same things and she is 3 months pregnant with their child. However, Michael finds himself trapped thinking there are no more surprises in life for him, enter Kim (Rachel Bilson) whom he meets at a wedding. Kim is young and fun and full of life and Michael begins to flirt with disaster. Zach Braff (Scrubs, Garden State) is outstanding as Michael being able to do these unforgivable things but still able to have the audience sympathizing tremendously with his character. Chris (Casey Affleck), Kenny (Eric Christian Olsen) and Izzy (Michael Weston) play Michaels best friends who are also having relationship troubles of their own. As the movie unfolds it brings you into all of their intertwining lives and puts you right smack in the middle of every fight, every laugh, and every heartbreak penned so brilliantly by Haggis you can’t help but feel everything these characters are going through. Blythe Danner and Tom Wilkinson complete this magnificent ensemble cast as Jenna’s parents also struggling with their 30 year marriage. Director Tony Goldwyn creates some profoundly moving moments that are both tragic and heart-warming. The Last Kiss is not available in MoPix but offers plenty of terrific dialogue that will capture your heart! A definite must see!
- (Dreamworks)
- Starring: Zach Braff, Rachel Bilson, Jacinda Barrett, Casey Affleck, Eric Christian Olsen and Michael Weston
- Rated: R
- Running Time: 115 mins
- This film is currently not available in MoPix
Posted in [Drama Reviews]
18/September/2006 [10:49 AM] -- The Black Dahlia
The Black Dahlia is based on the novel by James Ellroy which is loosely based on the murder of the aspiring actress Elizabeth Short back in the 1940’s. The film is cinematically gorgeous from the gritty back streets to the sets and wardrobes and the bluesy musical track that all transport you back to the ‘40s. Unfortunately for me the film carries us deep in the depths of film noir. I am not a big fan of campy dialogue and over the top scenarios. Despite the poor script writing the acting is superb Josh Hartnett is flawless as the dark heroic detective Officer Dwight “Bucky” Bleichert, he is a perfect leading man. The always astonishing Scarlett Johansson plays Kay Lake the femme-fatale of this film noir. Aaron Eckhart plays Sgt. Leland “Lee” Blanchard in his best performance to date! Mia Kirshner is stunning as Elizabeth Short I believe we will be seeing much more of her in the cinema. Hilary Swank is the one that steals the show though with her ill-behaved character Madeleine Linscott. She is sexy and cunning with a free spirit that Hilary portrays luminously! Although visually stunning and wonderfully acted the storyline is obtuse and leaves the viewer floundering for far too long to stay emotionally invested in these characters. The film ends with an outburst of explanations and actions which are supposed to tie up the lose ends of what happened but really just leave you completely unsatisfied. Brian DePalma’s directing is so chaotic and bounces around so much that you end up getting lost in the mix of it all. The Black Dahlia film is available in MoPix and if you decide to see it for the marvelous performances you will definitely need it!
- (Universal)
- Starring: Josh Hartnett, Scarlett Johansson, Aaron Eckhart, Mia Kirshner and Hilary Swank
- Rated: R
- Running Time: 121 mins
- This film is currently available in MoPix
Posted in [Drama Reviews]

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by Sarah Star

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